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dern
12,790 posts
148 months
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Bit of feedback on our car after owning it for a few weeks...
I have made a huge mistake. The day I said to the wife that she should have the fun car and I have the family barge for a few years was a massive error. I absolutely adore this car.
Sure it's thirsty (20mpg), the tyres are expensive and the engine is a potential risk but this car is a wonderful car to drive. I've done a few small trips in it and we took it up to Alton Towers for the weekend and it's brilliant at everything we want from it.
The handling is great for a 4 seat car (a proper 4 seat car, not 2 adults and 2 midgets). It gives a fair bit of feed back for such a practical car and while it's no elise it's really communicative. It sticks to the road really well and tells you when it's about to let go. The stability electronic stuff works really well and brings things back in line very quickly when you've got over enthusiastic on cold tyres in the rain. I doubt it would save you if you were completely stupid with it but the way it works is superb and coupled with the relatively low levels of torque I'm not concerned about it flinging itself off the road in my wife's hands.
The engine is sublime. There's no big rush of power, it's completely linear and always responds immediately... love it. It sounds utterly wonderful without being annoying.
It's very comfortable, everything falls to hand and you get a great view of the road. All the controls feel natural and solid.
It's my very favourite road car of all the cars I've had that isn't really focussed like the elise and the kit cars I've had.
I wish I'd bought it for me and gave the volvo to the wife. I wish she didn't like it as much as I do but sadly she does
Cheers,
Mark
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wolves_wanderer
7,946 posts
106 months
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dern said: Bit of feedback on our car after owning it for a few weeks...
I have made a huge mistake. The day I said to the wife that she should have the fun car and I have the family barge for a few years was a massive error. I absolutely adore this car.
Sure it's thirsty (20mpg), the tyres are expensive and the engine is a potential risk but this car is a wonderful car to drive. I've done a few small trips in it and we took it up to Alton Towers for the weekend and it's brilliant at everything we want from it.
The handling is great for a 4 seat car (a proper 4 seat car, not 2 adults and 2 midgets). It gives a fair bit of feed back for such a practical car and while it's no elise it's really communicative. It sticks to the road really well and tells you when it's about to let go. The stability electronic stuff works really well and brings things back in line very quickly when you've got over enthusiastic on cold tyres in the rain. I doubt it would save you if you were completely stupid with it but the way it works is superb and coupled with the relatively low levels of torque I'm not concerned about it flinging itself off the road in my wife's hands.
The engine is sublime. There's no big rush of power, it's completely linear and always responds immediately... love it. It sounds utterly wonderful without being annoying.
It's very comfortable, everything falls to hand and you get a great view of the road. All the controls feel natural and solid.
It's my very favourite road car of all the cars I've had that isn't really focussed like the elise and the kit cars I've had.
I wish I'd bought it for me and gave the volvo to the wife. I wish she didn't like it as much as I do but sadly she does
Cheers,
Mark You've caught the fever now  As I have said on a million threads about RX8s on here, the way they drive really gets under your skin. I still think they are an absolute bargain, glad you are enjoying yours. Edit to say: I've had mine for 3 years now and was looking around at replacing it but I haven't got a clue what would be as good, let alone better, for sensible money. I can see me spending the money on modding it to justify the thirst rather than buying something quicker.
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otolith
19,403 posts
73 months
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I replaced mine with an Elise and an estate car. For reasonable money, there isn't a comparable one car solution with the same practicality, IMO.
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C350
2,184 posts
87 months
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Wish I hadnt sold mine (have asked the buyer to give me first dibs if he sells).
They are sooooo cheap at the moment but looking at the cars on the market there are some complete dogs. Still, there is no shortage of choice. Im even surprised how cheap they are at Mazda dealers. Even R3 are around the 10K mark (shame the seat backs are too narrow).
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vrod
506 posts
59 months
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vrod said: Just had my first 'problem' at 55K - coil pack has never been replaced and now causing lack of power, just ordered a set and will fit the weekend. Fitted new coil packs this morning, took 1 hour - problem sorted, drives like a dream again. Well pleased 
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Ephraim
227 posts
58 months
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Got mine on Friday and love it. Proper sports car handling with space for my daughter in the back (go fast, daddy!)
It's refined on the motorway and a hoot on the back roads.
And a bargain too!
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GM182
265 posts
94 months
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otolith said: so to a great extent Mazda was casting pearls before swine. I think this sums it up - I drove my colleague's and loved it but the fact that many were sold as company cars illustrates that although it was sales success it didn't help Mazda's reputation a great deal in the Uk. However, the reason I'm looking at the thread is I'm seriously considering one for myself now. A lot more interesting than a TT at the £4k mark... will let you know how I get on.
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Colinbentley
154 posts
17 months
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Looking at these comments about the RX8 reminds me about my own when I first got the car and read the horror stories and thought maybe I was just lucky or people didn't know how to treat their cars until after about a year problems started to develop, and I don't really blame the car, which is a blast to drive, but the problem for me was Mazda, who were absolutely hopeless in serviceing the car and had no idea what they were doing. It got to the very expensive point where it was spending more time at Mazda than it waas with me so it had to go. If you can find a good mechanic these cars are fantastic fun and in their price range they have little competition. I've had to go to a Mercedes at twice the price.
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