CTC Review: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3

[CD_Editor]

Day 1:

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The year was 2003; the month was August; the car... the Mazda RX-8.  I remember it vividly: the first RX-8 to hit Ottawa was a 2004 Velocity Red GS model. I promptly headed to the dealership for a gander and fell in love with it. A few days later, it was in my driveway.  That was almost five years ago to the day, and once again I have an RX-8 in my driveway... eerie. More ...

[Andrews]

These cars get towed in a lot especialy during the winer because they flood their engines easily. The visibilty in the back is bad. The car whirs and the exhaust backfires. I think most people would have more fun in a miata.

[Demosthenes X]

I do appluad Mazda for continuing to pursue a rotary engine, and I think they've done a great job with the RX-8 overall.

But I still think this car, with Mazda's four-pot turbo in a RWD configuration, would be bloody brilliant. 

[Feds]

Andrew,

You've forced me to sign up and become a member!

Anyone who floods an RX-8 has never read the owner's manual.  Mazda has included an un-flooding proceedure since 1989 (floor gas pedal while cranking).

I also find it amazing how exotics are lauded for their burbly, flame shooting exhausts, yet in a car that is attainable by us common folk, it is a detriment.

The RX-8 stands nearly alone as an affordable car that has character, and is involving to own.  Yet so called enthusiasts still lambaste it for not being a vanilla transportation appliance.

So please, everyone, buy your CamCords, and stop asking Mazda to screw up a very desireable car.

[TopGun]

  Way to go Feds...great post...you're welcome any time in my books!

The visibilty in the back is bad. The car whirs and the exhaust backfires. I think most people would have more fun in a miata.

Call me purist, an 'ol guy, what-ever...I personally believe that an "enthusiast's" car must require some compromise.  That compromise can be rear visibility, winter traction, luggage space, finicky mechanicals, comfort, manually shifting...something that makes most people wonder "why?".

Andrews, I'm sure most people would have more than enough fun in a Corolla...and good for them.  I, for one, applaud the RX-8...and will turn down the radio to hear every whir of the rotary...and every burble of over-run.

[Vmango]

Feds, great first post. I agree. I've checked out the new R3 a few times and I think it's a fantastic package. I love everything about it - except the power...there's just not enough for me.

[johngenx]

I think the RX-8 is a cool car and and neat idea, but I still love the last RX-7 with it's "light is KING!" design mentality and raw race-car handling and feel.  The ZX/RX-7/Supra war of the early-mid 90's gave us some awesome cars...

[kymics]

Mazda got it right on so many levels with this car.  They basically built the whole Zoom Zoom philosophy starting with this as a halo car and look how well that's worked for them.

The definition of an exotic isn't necessarily tied to horsepower or the perfect car.  Cars that polarize opinion when they first come out (such as the RX-8's 4-seat, 3-door design with flared wheel housings) end up become legendary when they finally grow on people (think about the Porsche 911 styling, it never grows old).  This car has not changed its basic design in almost 5 years and it still appeals to me in the same way as when it was new.  Most cars have exhausted their design by that time and are dull compared to newer designs.  It's interesting to see Mazda using RX-8 design elements in their 2009 Mazda6.

The rotary engine also contributes to the exotic nature of the car.  It's a super light engine so that contributes toward it being a driver's car.  If it had a 4-cylinder turbo it would be compared to a myriad of small sporty cars out there and might not be held in the same regard.

I've never owned a sports car but if I ever decided to buy one, this or the MX-5 would be two of my top options because of their handling ability.  Zero to a gazillion km/h in X.X seconds gets old fast, but to me a car that thrills you every day you sit behind the wheel even if it's just to go out and buy a carton of milk, is the definition of an exotic car.

[ghost]

Motortrend just had a full comparison test on the best handling car in America. This RX-8 despite the "low" hp numbers is ranked 4th behind the heavy hitters like the R8, GTR, M3 and 911 GT3. Incredible is hardly the word to describe the driving dynamics of this car. Pro-Driver Pobsts ranks it 3rd ahead of the GT-R stating how fluid the RX-8's chassis is likening it to a willing dancer than a wrestler. I believe people who really knows how to drive will enjoy this car because it is not for the lazy. After all it is always easy to mash the pedal to make up for one's mistakes. This car is all about momentum.

[TopGun]

Motortrend just had a full comparison test on the best handling car in America....Pro-Driver Pobsts ranks it 3rd ahead of the GT-R

I just had to run upstairs and grab the issue and copy a excerpt from Pobst:

"In the sense of a sports car, the rear-drive RX-8 is the most satisfying through corners.  I felt like it was a glove on my hand...It's just so much fun to drive."

MT goes on to say "Big handling numbers are instructive and meaningful, but they often tell you nothing about the actual experience of driving a car, how it "feels"...the RX-8 has the grace and fluidity and balance like few other sports cars on the market today.  "The more powerful cars feel like riding a horse, " Pobst says.  "The RX-8 feels like wings bolted right to your arms."

Wings...bolted to your arms?  I knew I liked this car...

[Cortina]

I don't mean to dis Mazda. But isn't this design getting a bit long in the tooth. what is with sports cars. They design an exiting car for the first gen and never seamed to be able to top it. It is why I'm bored of Porsches.  Mazda seam slow to update there cars sometimes. Mazda really lost its momentum with wankel rotary engine. Almost all of Mazda cars had these engines at one point. I loved the MK1 Mazda Cosmo. The MK2 was sales flop here in NA. I'm going off topic now. 

[Blueprint]

Wing, just curious : you bailed out of the RX-8 for ... ?

Like most Mazdas, wait for year-end clearances before buying.  Many dealers in gtr Montreal had ads for new (or demo) RX-8s below 30k$.  Just take a look at the 18,500$ Mz6 to see just how much incentives Mazda can put down.

[Blueprint]

I don't mean to dis Mazda. But isn't this design getting a bit long in the tooth. what is with sports cars. They design an exiting car for the first gen and never seamed to be able to top it. It is why I'm bored of Porsches.  Mazda seam slow to update there cars sometimes. Mazda really lost its momentum with wankel rotary engine. Almost all of Mazda cars had these engines at one point. I loved the MK1 Mazda Cosmo. The MK2 was sales flop here in NA. I'm going off topic now. 

Even their pickup had a Wankel at a point !

[wing]

I bailed out and bought an S2k

[Jaeger]

I've really got to question that "true four-seater space" comment.  While getting in and out is aided by the little doorlets, I can't think of a "true four-seater" with such confined rear quarters.  I know, because I was at a Mazda dealer once, half-heartedly trying to convince my wife that the RX-8 was a practical choice.  So I climbed in back.  Would have fit just fine, if I hadn't brought my legs with me.

Love the looks, love the handling.  Hate the torquelessness and the oil consumption.  I'd also hate to have a Mazdaspeed 3 blow off my doors and suck out my headlights.

Jaeger

[Jameel]

I don't know why Mazda created the RX-8 with four seats. In that sense, haven't they shot themselves in the foot? Because it no longer appeals to either crowed.  They should have stayed with the old Formula of the RX-7 (2 seater, Wankel, RWD).  Although with that said the JDM RX-7 had seats in the back, but you wouldn't want to put anybody over 4 foot 11 in the back.

I hope the RX-9 (if there is one) will go back to the RX-7 formula.

[kymics]

I don't know why Mazda created the RX-8 with four seats. In that sense, haven't they shot themselves in the foot? Because it no longer appeals to either crowed.

I don't agree.  As soon as you provide only two seats, you're making a statement that this car is only to be used as a sports car.  What Mazda pulled off was convincing people that driving an RX-8 could be considered "practical" which helped a lot of guys make a good sales pitch to their wives/girlfriends.

Two-seater sports coupes that even suggest non-profitability get axed so quickly it will make your head spin.  Just look at some of the victims of the past: Fiero, MR2/MR2 Spyder, Thunderbird and most recently the Solstice/Sky are being axed.  The RX-7 had a pretty decent shelf life though.

[safristi]

..why NOT axe tha G/F's and Wifeys...........WHO THE HELL SAID  THAT.........

[rrocket]

I love everything about it - except the power...there's just not enough for me.

And there lies the problem.  This car would be mythical if it had some decent power to back up everything else.  It sucks when the starter motor makes more torque than the engine.

Does Mazda over-rate this engine? Every dyno pull I've seen from reputable sources show 180-190 RWHP and RWTQ in the 130's.... 

[Seafoam]

I don't know why Mazda created the RX-8 with four seats. In that sense, haven't they shot themselves in the foot? Because it no longer appeals to either crowed.

I don't agree.  As soon as you provide only two seats, you're making a statement that this car is only to be used as a sports car.  What Mazda pulled off was convincing people that driving an RX-8 could be considered "practical" which helped a lot of guys make a good sales pitch to their wives/girlfriends.

Two-seater sports coupes that even suggest non-profitability get axed so quickly it will make your head spin.  Just look at some of the victims of the past: Fiero, MR2/MR2 Spyder, Thunderbird and most recently the Solstice/Sky are being axed.  The RX-7 had a pretty decent shelf life though.

If this was true the MX5 miata would be a flop to with its two seats. I think mazda has been successful because of the driving dynamics these cars provide. This was evident
in the first generation miata. It's a lot more fun driving a slow car fast than it is driving a fast car slow.