A nice run with an RX8
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From: Hawaii
A nice run with an RX8
I noticed bright HID's to my right rear, near my blind side. It was a white RX8.
The Mazda was side by side with me then I heard the car downshift and hold its speed (at roughly 50mph). There was traffic in front of him and he obviously wanted to pass. He moved over to the right but didn't speed up to make a pass.
Then a few seconds later, I saw the RX8 speed off about 3 lengths ahead and slowed to where I was (2 lanes to his left). I was curious to see what the new 8 had so I rev-matched and got into 2nd. Immediately after hearing me downshift, the RX8 took off.
I was behind but I saw that I'd run into traffic about 10 car lengths in front of me so I gradually moved over 2 lanes to my right and decided to follow the RX8 in the clear lane. I was shocked to see that I almost caught up to him in the middle of 3rd and I was about 1 length directly behind. Going into 4th, I started to gain at a steady pace and I moved 1 lane to my left and passed him.
He flashed his HID's and noticed that he slowed down and I did the same. He caught up to me and said something I couldn't really understand (wind and exhaust noise), then I saw the thumbs up and returned the gesture.
The Mazda was side by side with me then I heard the car downshift and hold its speed (at roughly 50mph). There was traffic in front of him and he obviously wanted to pass. He moved over to the right but didn't speed up to make a pass.
Then a few seconds later, I saw the RX8 speed off about 3 lengths ahead and slowed to where I was (2 lanes to his left). I was curious to see what the new 8 had so I rev-matched and got into 2nd. Immediately after hearing me downshift, the RX8 took off.
I was behind but I saw that I'd run into traffic about 10 car lengths in front of me so I gradually moved over 2 lanes to my right and decided to follow the RX8 in the clear lane. I was shocked to see that I almost caught up to him in the middle of 3rd and I was about 1 length directly behind. Going into 4th, I started to gain at a steady pace and I moved 1 lane to my left and passed him.
He flashed his HID's and noticed that he slowed down and I did the same. He caught up to me and said something I couldn't really understand (wind and exhaust noise), then I saw the thumbs up and returned the gesture.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Hawaii
That's true.
I'm the one perhaps that instigated that time. Once I downshifted, he took off (however, I think he was already in a lower gear expecting me to do what I did).
The problem was he had a clear lane, I didn't. I had to move into his lane behind him and play catch up. As you could imagine, it took a while since I "safely" moved 2 lanes over instead of just cutting off people.
At that point the Mazda was quite a distance away (took me to 4th to start reeling him in), but slowly but steadily I caught up, got side by side and passed him.
I like those RX8's. That engine is a major accomplishment on the part of Mazda for moving the intake/exhaust ports to the side making better emissions possible, and improving on gas mileage potential. I really believe that this is a start of a whole new generation of rotaries that's about to hit the public the way the first RX7 turbo did. (now if they can figure out how to get a turbo in the Renesis... it's cramped in there)
I'm the one perhaps that instigated that time. Once I downshifted, he took off (however, I think he was already in a lower gear expecting me to do what I did).
The problem was he had a clear lane, I didn't. I had to move into his lane behind him and play catch up. As you could imagine, it took a while since I "safely" moved 2 lanes over instead of just cutting off people.
At that point the Mazda was quite a distance away (took me to 4th to start reeling him in), but slowly but steadily I caught up, got side by side and passed him.
I like those RX8's. That engine is a major accomplishment on the part of Mazda for moving the intake/exhaust ports to the side making better emissions possible, and improving on gas mileage potential. I really believe that this is a start of a whole new generation of rotaries that's about to hit the public the way the first RX7 turbo did. (now if they can figure out how to get a turbo in the Renesis... it's cramped in there)
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From: Dallas
I 2nd that part about the rotaries. I'm waiting for the new RX-7 to reach our shore if they decide to build one. That would be a fun car. The RX-8s seem too slow for me by all accounts and the gas mileage is pretty poor. Some people are reporting 16mpg but I bet that is driving it like they stole it. Although the RX-8 is a step in the right direction for Mazda I think. They are building a reliable sporty 4 seater to try and change the perception that rotaries are unreliable. Then bring out the next gen RX-7 and othe rotary powered vehicles. Supposedly, the rotarty is very well suited to alternative fuels.
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From: Devil's Island
Well, I finally got a chance to go take a RX-8 out for a test drive. I like the wide open feel of the interior and the 4 doors are nice. The suspension and feel of the car reminds me alot of the S. The power is a bit less and torque proabaly about the same (feeling wise). If I didnt buy the S and I had to chose between those though, I still would have bought the S.
On a side note, after we got back from the test drive, the sales person (who had been drooling on our S since we rolled in), asked if he could go for a ride in our S
After he got back, he admited the S was better in all ways then the RX-7.
I still couldnt believe the price on them!!! $35K!!!
On a side note, after we got back from the test drive, the sales person (who had been drooling on our S since we rolled in), asked if he could go for a ride in our S
After he got back, he admited the S was better in all ways then the RX-7. I still couldnt believe the price on them!!! $35K!!!
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From: Richardson
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Murgen
I 2nd that part about the rotaries. I'm waiting for the new RX-7 to reach our shore if they decide to build one. That would be a fun car. The RX-8s seem too slow for me by all accounts and the gas mileage is pretty poor. Some people are reporting 16mpg but I bet that is driving it like they stole it. Although the RX-8 is a step in the right direction for Mazda I think.
I 2nd that part about the rotaries. I'm waiting for the new RX-7 to reach our shore if they decide to build one. That would be a fun car. The RX-8s seem too slow for me by all accounts and the gas mileage is pretty poor. Some people are reporting 16mpg but I bet that is driving it like they stole it. Although the RX-8 is a step in the right direction for Mazda I think.