I'll chime in as someone that the 8 appeals to because I can get my son back there more easily than a coupe, and so I can get people back there period, as opposed to my current 2 seater. It won't be primary transportation for the 3 of us, but primary is a WRX wagon, not exactly that much bigger.

While babies have tons of gear, and I sometimes understand the desire for a vehicle with tons of room (and I have considered a minivan), you really don't need that much room most of the time. Granted, my wife and I are relatively short, and this helps. The back seat of a WRX is perfectly comfortable for us.

There is the whole mass factor in a crash, true. But final US crash results haven't been released for the 8, but since it's a brand new design with safety as a priortity, I'll bet that it's pretty close to the 3 series in crash results. Most newly designed cars get a "good" (the best) rating from IIHS, for example. Plus I'll take active safety over passive safety. The 8 will outbrake, outhandle and generally involve me more (which means I pay more attention to driving) than any SUV or minivan.

 

To me it really doesn't matter what angle or what segment the marketing guys are trying to sell us the car at. Like most people I just want to get the most out of my money. That means I want a car that satisfies as much of my "needs" and "requirements" at the lowest possible price. In another words, the highest Value per dollar spend.

Sports car or not, Family sedan or not, all I need to know is this car give me performance "close to" a pure Sport car like the 350Z, particallity "close to" a small Sentra, run comfort "close to" a 3 series BMW and a price "around" the areas of a nice Maxima.

In another words, it truely does give me a some of everything that I want and really there isn't a lot of cars around that can do that at around this price.

That's why this car appeals to people from all different segments so of course we are going to have people wanted to get this car for different purposes.

Good job for Mazda.

 

FWIW, i would just like to iterate that the main appeal of the RX-8 (for me) is the 4 seats AND its sportiness. I want to continue to drive a sports car, but with a 1-yr-old and another one or two coming within the next several years, I cannot ignore that fact that this car will probably have to carry a small child on occasions. With a two-seater (like any roadster), that's impossible; and with a 2+2 (RSX, Celica, even my trusty MX-6, and stretching to an Accord coupe, G35C, et al) that's pretty inconvenient. (I remember taking 10 minutes to put the infant car seat into the back seat of my MX-6... NOT fun... especially in 90+° weather). for us, the *8* is not intended to be the family car and it will never be; we're thinking of getting an SUV for that... and i would venture to say that's applies to a lot of families; one SUV/sedan for family outings, one "secondary" car that serves as a daily / fun commuter or the occasional "mom needs to go here with kid#1, but dad needs to go there with kid #2" car.

anyway, as mazda did for rxeightr, they hit it right on the head for me too.

 

i was going to reply to that but thanks to Herc, Elara, Rexor, rxeightr, Maximus, deks, Smoker, med_mx6 and of course Katabuchi-san they hit all the points i needed to. :D

 

I'm trying to figure out why you're quoting all this. You're basically telling me that someone who WORKS FOR MAZDA is telling you it's a sports car. What do you think he would say otherwise? That it's a 4 door sedan?
You're basically quoting questions and answers from a "car salesman". Of course he's going to tell you what you want to hear. It would be suicidal for him to say otherwise. Do you actually think he's going to critique his own work with a negative slant? Personally, I think he wants to keep his job.

And as for all the mag quotes, what do you expect reviews to say? I've rarely read a review of ANYTHING (not just cars) that is truly negative. There's ALWAYS a positive slant on the items being reviewed. If a magazine (or website) doesn't put a positive slant on everything, do you really think that manufacturers would let them try out their products for review? If they don't get products to review, then less people would read the mag, then they sell less mags, then they go out of business.

It's all politics.....

The few mags that I've read that actually gave deserved harsh reviews (gaming magazines), are all out of business....Go figure...

So we should all take EVERYTHING with a grain of salt. ESPECIALLY the positive reviews.
Because in the end, you're your own best reviewer.

 

Yup, my take is that the RX-8 is really in a class of it's own. It's really hard to compare it with other sports cars out there. Mazda, from the beginning, set out to make a sports car like no other. From my point of view it looks like they are succeeding.

 

Interesting point. And since we have been talking here about the mags, with their choosing to call the RX-8 what Mazda hoped for, a Sports Car....

I was reading the May issue of Road & Track, and they did a 1st drive of the new Nissan Maxima. The article mentioned how Nissan was wanting to change the image of the Maxima to more of a sports sedan.

This mag saw it different for the Maxima, and were not afraid to tell it like they saw it. I certainly do not believe any magazine would call the RX-8 a Sports Car if it indeed wasn't.

 

I'm wary about magazines myself... only because sometimes there is conflicting information.

For example Motor Trend which I believe is probably the worst piece of automotive journalism on the market today... has rated cars I felt were terrible as "very good."

It makes you wonder how much advertising and sponsorship play a part in the writing of these articles. Evo and CAR however have been better and give more accurate reviews.

The only way you'll truly appreciate a car is when you drive it for yourself... but given the way Mazda has made past cars I think I'm satisfied in the decision I've made in the RX-8. And that decision is mine to make; just like it's anybody elses not to.

 

Shouldn't you at least test drive the car before making a FINAL DECISION? Test driving the car is the only way you will be able to tell whether or not you will like it. Magazine reviews are to be taken for its face values only. A car might look very good on paper, but when you drive it.... it blows in terms of driving excitement and handling. (Such as the last Audi S4, plenty of power, but handles like a boat) You are controdicting yourself by saying you are satisfied with a decision you made without ever drove the car. Wait a couple of months and drive the car before setting your mind up for the car. You don't want to regret your decision later on~

btw: this applies for every car out there, not just the RX-8. NEVER buy a car without a nice test drive first, unless we are talking about $150+ cars that you buy for show off purposes.

 

Im a torque loving wh0re .

i hate wut the dood said.

I still wanna test drive the rx8 .... and hope the higher range has more torque.

shoot. i hsould hae gotten the rx7

 

He says he thinks he is satisfy give his past experience with Mazda cars. It's called making an educated guess.

Also, I think Herc has backup plans for a G35c (in case he doesn't like the 8) if I'm not mistaken. I think most here are smart enough to test drive before buying. But that can't be said of some who reject the car (because of performance not situation) before trying it out...(alluding to member in another thread, hint name starts with S :p )

 

This is mostly true for the North American magazines, although Car and Driver is known to be quite critical at times, if a bit less frequently nowadays than they used to be.

However, outside of the US, car magazines are much more objective and critical where required. In the UK, magazines like CAR, EVO, Top Gear, etc. will often slam a rotten car - witness Top Gear's savaging of the previous generation Vauxhall Vectra as one of the most obvious examples - the review was so bad, that the factory workers at the Vectra plant went on strike to complain! The mags still get test cars, because most all the magazines will be critical when necessary, and are honest and objective, so there's no differences and the manufacturers need the press from the car mags - they just have to hope it's good. So - when CAR and EVO praise the RX-8 as a genuine sports car, then you can feel slightly more confident that it has some merit.

Regards,
Gordon

 

I saw the videos of the 8 at Laguna Seca, and the C&D TV test. I saw enough to KNOW I'm gonna like it!

 

Buy the car if you like it. Who cares what others think. . I honestly don't give a *** about what anybody else thinks. :D :p

 

damn straight.

 

You guys are funny, you prove my point everytime you speak. Look, I'm not trying to offend anyone and I'm not trying to bash this car. ****, I'm buying the thing, I was one of the first to pre-order. All I'm saying is that this should not be someone's primary car to travel with their kids in the back. Period. How can anyone argue with that? It's nice that it handles well and it's nice that it looks good etc... I agree with all of that. But when someone says that they are buying this car as their primary car because it has back seats which the 350Z and MX-6, Miata etc...that is a very selfish decision. Very selfish. You are comparing small sports cars to a small sports car with a limited back seat. All those that replied said the same thing. Between, the miata and the 350 etc... this one had a back seat and I can put my kid in the back bla bla bla. True and between those choices this one is probably better. But the problem is that you (those that responded to me saying I was wrong) aren't willing to put safety first for your family by getting say a Maxima or a Monte Carlo or a Grand Prix or any sizeable car. You can talk about safety ratings all you want but the point of those is to compare them to their class. Therefore, the *8* will be compared to other sports cars. You do a safety test with the *8* against any of the cars I mentioned nor any SUV or Mini-van and the *8* couldn't hold the other cars jock straps. Again the problem is that you aren't willing "grow-up" and take a "hit" for your family to put them in a safer car (if this is your primary car). You all aren't willing to part without a sports car for the sake of you family...sad. Do people buy mini-vans because they have performance? No. Do they buy them because they look good? No. They buy them because they hold lots of **** and they are safe for a family. Not just because they can transport them around; another point you are so missing. I am single and 25. I'm getting this car because I want it and can afford it. I have no responsibilities except to myself. If you can't afford 2 cars then wait until you can if you have a family, for the safety of your kids. Otherwise, again, it is an extremely selfish decision on your part because you want to show-off your car to strangers on the road with it's speed and *handling*.

 

So...what did he say?

 

nothing... he thinks he's some kind of expert on vehicle safety, and on a high horse about it too.

 

yeah crack a joke. Nothing intelligent to say huh. Whatever.

 

That is the sad part, you don't ahve to be an 'expert' to know this. It's common sense.

 

Well, see, I dispute the safety thing. For me I said the 8 isn't a primary kid car - a WRX is. A WRX is barely any bigger and a bit heavier, but I wouldn't say it'd be any safer in a crash. But I think both are safe cars. I think both are safer in a crash than just about any car (or truck) made before, say, 1995 or so.

But they aren't as safe in a crash as an Excursion or an Odyssey, probably. But those aren't as safe as taking a bus. And that's not as safe as staying in your house all the time. Which isn't as safe as living life in a bubble. Where is the line drawn?

There's a pervasive mindset, particularly in America, that is very safety oriented, or at least oriented on the image of safety. In my opinion, some of it is justified, but mostly it's very overblown, and I say that as someone with a child.

This isn't even getting into the whole active safety vs passive safety issue, where sporty/sports cars have it all over most of those land barges. I've been in zero accidents where the speed was greater than 5mph, and two minor ones in a parking lot because, yes, I wasn't paying attention because it was a parking lot. On the other hand, I've avoided many accidents because I was paying attention on the road and (in at least 2 cases) had a car with sufficient handling and braking to save me from a crash in the first place. I'm not sure I could have avoided those with a less nimble vehicle.

But anyway, go ahead and get an SUV and move to suburbia and be afraid of your own shadow when the time comes. It's a free country, at least for now.

 

I will ask the question again. How do you know the RX8 will have poor safety. It has not been tested. Your comments about safety are based on asumtions not hard facts. I think this thread sould be closed, It has started a flaming war

 

Completely and utterly ridiculous. Any of those I previouly listed or many others pre 1995!!! lol. Maybe pre-1980 but 1995?!


Ummm, PROBABLY? The *8* would be lucky not to be under those trucks.

Another great statement. Safety is over-rated. What other lengths will people go to to defend a car?

Stop the sarcasm.

Boy, by some of these responses you would think that Mazda was paying you guys.

 

I never said the car had bad safety ratings...I sais it shouldn't be used as a primary car to travel with kids because it is too small. I've that about 5 times now. It is just too small.

 

I'm not flaming anyone here or the car. Just backing up responses to other people's comments. Let the thread live.