Test Drove a new RX-8 R3
07-13-2008 | 02:40 PM
#1
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Test Drove a new RX-8 R3
Hi All,
I just had to write. When I first read about the latest iteration of Mazda's RX-8, I had to be first in line for a test drive. Especially after reading about all the little things Mazda did to improve the car overall. I last test drove an RX-8 at a dealer in 2004, upon which I wasn't impressed. It was just plain slow... I mean, I mashed the throttle and NOTHING happened. Some time later, I drove a student's RX-8 on track... still wasn't impressed, and he had upgraded the intake and exhaust. To add insult to injury, the thing suffered major oversteer. Then tested an '06 on track that suffered major understeer.
So now, a couple of years later, Mazda introduces a new performance model with numerous updates to key elements such as suspension, transmission gearing, final drive ratio, oiling, etc. I was the first to drive this particular RX-8 R3 (by that, I mean THE first... it had only 5 miles on it). But before the salesman even made it out to say hello, I managed to accidentally pull a piece of trim off the front of the car. It was one of those silver strakes just below the headlight. I touched it to see if it was plastic or metal and noticed it seemed kinda chincy. So I giggled it and the dang thing fell off! NOT a very good first impression. The other side was the same way. Finally, it came time for the drive. The car was light on fuel and I turned off the DSC, so I expected more than the last time I drove one.
Sadly, after all the little improvements, I was disappointed once again. The thing had no acceleration whatsoever, even with the changed gearing and final drive. I couldn't believe that punching the gas pedal to the floor had no effect. I might as well have coasted and saved on gas! I know it wasn't "broken in", but it felt so slow, that couple extra ponies wouldn't have made a difference. To make matters worse, the new gearing had the RENESIS revving at 3K RPM going 60mph in 6th gear (instead of the previous year's 2750). !!! I was really hoping to be impressed this time around, but alas, I was disgusted. I'm sorry, but I just don't get it... where's the appeal in spending $33K on a car that offers such poor performance and fuel economy? I even took my check book along just in case. Looks like I'll be saving my money a little longer. I wonder what's going on with the 16X project? If that engine were in the RX-8 I drove, I'd probably be writing to
a different tune and willing to forgive the gawdawful trim work.
To accentuated the positive, I felt that the R3 did handle better than any previous RX-8 I drove, which all had either excessive understeer, oversteer, and/or body roll. This one felt more nuetral right out of the box... very tight and tossable. But to digress, what's the use in having awesome handling without what it takes to get up to speed quickly?
Regards,
Dale
I just had to write. When I first read about the latest iteration of Mazda's RX-8, I had to be first in line for a test drive. Especially after reading about all the little things Mazda did to improve the car overall. I last test drove an RX-8 at a dealer in 2004, upon which I wasn't impressed. It was just plain slow... I mean, I mashed the throttle and NOTHING happened. Some time later, I drove a student's RX-8 on track... still wasn't impressed, and he had upgraded the intake and exhaust. To add insult to injury, the thing suffered major oversteer. Then tested an '06 on track that suffered major understeer.
So now, a couple of years later, Mazda introduces a new performance model with numerous updates to key elements such as suspension, transmission gearing, final drive ratio, oiling, etc. I was the first to drive this particular RX-8 R3 (by that, I mean THE first... it had only 5 miles on it). But before the salesman even made it out to say hello, I managed to accidentally pull a piece of trim off the front of the car. It was one of those silver strakes just below the headlight. I touched it to see if it was plastic or metal and noticed it seemed kinda chincy. So I giggled it and the dang thing fell off! NOT a very good first impression. The other side was the same way. Finally, it came time for the drive. The car was light on fuel and I turned off the DSC, so I expected more than the last time I drove one.
Sadly, after all the little improvements, I was disappointed once again. The thing had no acceleration whatsoever, even with the changed gearing and final drive. I couldn't believe that punching the gas pedal to the floor had no effect. I might as well have coasted and saved on gas! I know it wasn't "broken in", but it felt so slow, that couple extra ponies wouldn't have made a difference. To make matters worse, the new gearing had the RENESIS revving at 3K RPM going 60mph in 6th gear (instead of the previous year's 2750). !!! I was really hoping to be impressed this time around, but alas, I was disgusted. I'm sorry, but I just don't get it... where's the appeal in spending $33K on a car that offers such poor performance and fuel economy? I even took my check book along just in case. Looks like I'll be saving my money a little longer. I wonder what's going on with the 16X project? If that engine were in the RX-8 I drove, I'd probably be writing to
a different tune and willing to forgive the gawdawful trim work.
To accentuated the positive, I felt that the R3 did handle better than any previous RX-8 I drove, which all had either excessive understeer, oversteer, and/or body roll. This one felt more nuetral right out of the box... very tight and tossable. But to digress, what's the use in having awesome handling without what it takes to get up to speed quickly?
Regards,
Dale
07-13-2008 | 03:04 PM
#4
RX-8 is a drivers car, it is a car that connects you and the road. It's extremely responsive, very very fun to drive. You clearly are not a driver. The rx8 isn't a fast car, but it certainly is not slow, 0-60 in 6seconds is still respectable, not slow by any means. There is a reason why the rx8 won a comparison test a while back after the car has been out for 4 years.
07-13-2008 | 03:05 PM
#5
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From: Florida
I don't mind saying negative things about the car. But saying the 04(?) has major oversteer and the 06 has major understeer when they both have the same suspension setup is not helping his review. Especially when the Rx-8 is widely known for having a neutral setup.
07-13-2008 | 03:07 PM
#6
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From: Owings Mills, near Baltimore MD
I've driven VERY few cars that were less prone to understeer. Get in a 360z if you want to feel understeer.
They are called Rev's. put the engine where it wants to be, and it will reward you.
You forgot to understand that the transmission gearing changed as well, NOt to metion that they lowered the gearing so low and behold, it revs higher at the same speed... DUH?
They are called Rev's. put the engine where it wants to be, and it will reward you.
You forgot to understand that the transmission gearing changed as well, NOt to metion that they lowered the gearing so low and behold, it revs higher at the same speed... DUH?
07-13-2008 | 03:12 PM
#9
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From: private area in south florida
as far as the op, i cant say i disagree with all of what he is saying, but we should all know by now you cant jus punch the car and expect it to go, and the poor fuel economy... so my question is why come in here and stir our **** up, why come and tell a group of rx8/rotary enthusiasts things we all ready know. the r3 is still basicly a 2004 rx8 with a few tweaks, its not drastically changed so we didnt expect drastic improvements.
can we ask what yo are driving so we know what you are basing your profound opinion on.
07-13-2008 | 04:46 PM
#12
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 51
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From: Biloxi, Mississippi
dear dale,
first off.... ?
second thing....
You arnt a member of top gear so stop trying to act like one...
i think this is what you ment to say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRiPSlx8PxA
first off.... ?
second thing....
You arnt a member of top gear so stop trying to act like one...
i think this is what you ment to say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRiPSlx8PxA
07-13-2008 | 04:50 PM
#13
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Posts: 203
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From: Sunny Florida
I also enjoyed the oversteer for '04 and understeer '06 comment . Hmm.... The cars handling characteristics haven't been altered in those years, yet trollboy senses two totally different characteristics. I've driven many nice expensive sport cars and the 8's handling is exceptional, especially for the price. Power is a bit on the low side, but definitely not slow. MazdaMan423yrs probably got pwned by an '8 and is having a temper tantrum.
07-13-2008 | 05:06 PM
#16
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Posts: 75
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From: Santa Cruz, CA
Sadly, after all the little improvements, I was disappointed once again. The thing had no acceleration whatsoever, even with the changed gearing and final drive. I couldn't believe that punching the gas pedal to the floor had no effect. I might as well have coasted and saved on gas! I know it wasn't "broken in", but it felt so slow, that couple extra ponies wouldn't have made a difference. To make matters worse, the new gearing had the RENESIS revving at 3K RPM going 60mph in 6th gear (instead of the previous year's 2750). !!! I was really hoping to be impressed this time around, but alas, I was disgusted.
This has gotta be a joke.
07-13-2008 | 05:06 PM
#17
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 6
From: Under the Dumbarton Bridge
Well I'm glad you didn't get an RX-8 then. It's clearly not the car for you.
Go drive a Civic or something. The 8 is a car you either get, or you don't. You don't get it.
Were you driving an automatic?
Go drive a Civic or something. The 8 is a car you either get, or you don't. You don't get it.
Were you driving an automatic?
Last edited by Socket7; 07-13-2008 at 05:18 PM.
07-13-2008 | 05:20 PM
#20
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Just another dumbass posting about not being able to drive...
The oversteer/understeer thing is a product of not understanding how to properly drive. The understeer was probably caused by doing something dumb, and oversteer happens very easily in a RWD car when you lift the throttle in the middle of a turn...
The RX-8 doesn't have a V8 in it, you have to downshift to get into the higher revs where the power is.
The oversteer/understeer thing is a product of not understanding how to properly drive. The understeer was probably caused by doing something dumb, and oversteer happens very easily in a RWD car when you lift the throttle in the middle of a turn...
The RX-8 doesn't have a V8 in it, you have to downshift to get into the higher revs where the power is.
07-13-2008 | 05:22 PM
#21
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 133
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From: San Antonio, TX
dear dale,
first off.... ?
second thing....
You arnt a member of top gear so stop trying to act like one...
i think this is what you ment to say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRiPSlx8PxA
first off.... ?
second thing....
You arnt a member of top gear so stop trying to act like one...
i think this is what you ment to say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRiPSlx8PxA
07-13-2008 | 09:37 PM
#24
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 817
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From: Connecticut
To the OP:
How high are you revving the engine?? If you are only taking it to 4 - 5k and then shifting, no wonder you are disappointed with the performance. Between 6 - 9k the engine comes alive....you do realize the rotary is different than a piston engine, don't you? If you are insulting the 8 driving it wrong, you are a dumbass.
How high are you revving the engine?? If you are only taking it to 4 - 5k and then shifting, no wonder you are disappointed with the performance. Between 6 - 9k the engine comes alive....you do realize the rotary is different than a piston engine, don't you? If you are insulting the 8 driving it wrong, you are a dumbass.
