Mazda RX-8 R3
Hard to believe, but Mazda's RX-8 sports car made its debut in 2003 as a 2004 model, and Mazda has just now gotten around to giving it a mid-cycle refresh. Improvements include updated styling, an improved interior, modified suspension, new performance model... you know, all the usual stuff.
So can this six-year-old sportster run still keep up with the big dogs? Read on. $27,105 base, $33,030 as tested, EPA fuel economy 16 MPG city, 22-23 MPG highway.
First Glance: Get down!
I don't know why so many people think short men are inherently angry. I'm short, and I'm not angry. To be honest, I rather like it down here: The world is designed around 6' tall men and 5' tall women, and being right smack in the middle at 5'6" is incredibly convenient, especially given what I do for a living. But being short does have its shortcomings.
First, you can't date six-foot supermodels. (Well, you can, but your chances of getting a good-night kiss shrink to near-zero when you break out the stepladder.) And second, most sports cars are designed for tall men. I can live without the supermodels -- they're all too thin, if you ask me -- but the sports car thing... well, that does sort of make me angry.
And that's one (but only one) of the reasons I love the Mazda RX-8: It's one of the few sports cars tailored for short people. Perhaps I should say short drivers, because unlike most sports cars, the RX-8 is a proper four-seater -- and you don't have to be built like Napoleon to fit in the back.
Before I go on, allow me to fill in the backstory: The RX-8 made its debut in 2004 (geez, has it been that long?) as the latest of Mazda's rotary-engine sports cars. (The rotary engine uses rounded-triangular rotors that spin rather than pistons that go up and down.) For 2009, Mazda has freshened the RX-8 with updated styling, which primarily consists of toning down the "rotor" motif that infested the original, and made some under-the-skin improvements. And they've added a new better-handling model, the R3, which is the one I tested.
In the Driver's Seat: Short guys up front, supermodels in back
So, as I was saying before I interrupted myself, if you're going to drive the RX-8, it pays to be small. The RX-8 has a compact cabin, more cozy than cramped, but I can't see it being very comfortable for anyone much taller than me. (Or much wider than me -- the R3's heavily-bolstered Recaro seats are a bit of a squeeze.) Even with the steering wheel adjusted as far up as it would go (it tilts, but doesn't telescope), I had a hard time getting in without banging my knees on the bottom of the rim. Once inside, though I found everything within easy reach, and I loved the view out over the bulging hood, though I wish the stereo and climate controls weren't so complicated -- the RX-8's quick steering demands that you keep your eyes on the road. The passenger seat is a bit more supermodel-friendly -- it doesn't feel as tight as driver's seat, although the footwell is narrow and cramped.
The big surprise is the back seat. Many sports cars have vestigial back seats which exist more to keep insurance rates down than to actually transport people, and the average adult would have to be folded, spindled and mutilated to actually sit back there. Not so the RX-8 -- it's no limousine, mind you, but the back seat is surprisingly roomy and comfortable, and thanks to the rear-hinged half-doors, getting into the back is almost easier than getting into the front. The back seats even have cupholders and a center console storage bin. The trunk is on the small side: 7.6 cubic feet, enough for a couple of overnight bags and maybe a small stepladder.
On the Road: :-D
The centerpiece of the RX-8 is its 232 hp rotary engine, which revs to a phenomenal 9,000 RPM (provided it’s a stick-shift -- automatics produce 212 hp and only rev to 7,500 RPM). Despite a four-cylinderish torque rating of just 159 lb-ft, the engine feels plenty powerful, and I love the engine note, which sounds like a cross between a jet plane and a psychotic motorcycle.
But it's the handling that really took my breath away. The R3 model I tested features stiffer suspension tuning than other RX-8 models and 19" wheels with summer performance tires. Out on the About.com Cars Top Secret Curvy Test Road, the RX-8 R3 feels like a classically trained sports car: Great grip, great power, and best of all, great seat-of-the-pants feedback. It's a little twitchy on bumpy corners, but the chassis is surprisingly tolerant of bad technique (a.k.a. my driving). A little deliberate man-handling will get the back end to slide out a bit, and the electronic stability control system waits a beat and gives you time to gather it up yourself before stepping in with a quick, gentle correction. The steering is very quick and responsive, though the feedback feels a little artificial; perhaps it's merely put into perspective by the natural, organic feel of the chassis. I had a hell of a lot of fun with the RX-8, and I don't think I'd ever get tired of driving it on curvy roads. But with the firm, busy ride, I’m sure I would get tired of it on a long highway trip. Non-R3 models are tuned for a softer ride, but they aren't a whole lot less enjoyable -- nor are they a whole lot more comfortable.
Journey's End: Nothing quite like it
A week with the RX-8 R3 launched it to the top of my list of favorite sports cars. I love the way it drives, I love the way it feels, and I love the way it sounds. Its family-friendly practicality is an added bonus, and a big one at that. Still, at the end of the day, the RX-8 is still a sports car, not a family car, and the hard ride makes it pretty hard-core. It's like really good fudge -- an absolute delight when you're in the mood, but you wouldn't want to eat it for every meal.
Priced in the high 20s to mid 30s, the RX-8 a small field of very good competitors. Best among them is probably the Nissan 370Z. It delivers a lot more power for similar coin, and its roomy cockpit means supermodels can enjoy it too. The Z is a pretty amazing handler, though I still prefer the way the RX-8 goes 'round corners. The V8-powered 2010 Ford Mustang GT is a good bet for those who prefer fast-in-a-straight-line over fast-in-the-curves. But the real thorn in the Mazda's side is Hyundai's new 2010 Genesis Coupe. It's not as talented straight out of the box, but it has a nice neutral chassis balance and lots of natural-born ability, and its price ($23k for 210 hp, $26k for 306 hp) leaves plenty of change for aftermarket improvements.
Bottom line: The RX-8 may be getting on in years, but it's still one of the best in the biz. If you're looking for true sports-car action, I highly recommend the RX-8 R3. Unless you're tall. And in that case, all I can say is... HAH! How do like us short guys now?
Details and specs:
Body style: 4-door coupe
Seating capacity: 4
Trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, R3
Price range (including options): $27,105 - $36,978
Test vehicle/price as tested: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3, $33,030
Base engine: 1.3 liter two-rotor rotary, 232 hp @ 8,500 RPM, 159 lb-ft @ 5,500 RPM (manual transmission)
Optional engine: 1.3 liter two-rotor rotary, 212 hp @ 7,500 RPM, 159 lb-ft @ 5,500 RPM (automatic transmission)
Premium fuel required? Yes
Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
Driveline: Front engine, rear-wheel-drive
EPA fuel economy estimates: 16 MPG city/22 MPG highway (manual), 16/23 (automatic)
Powertrain tested/observed fuel economy: 1.6/5-speed manual, 29.8 MPG
Where built: South Korea
Standard safety equipment: Front airbags, front-seat-mounted side airbags, two-row side curtain airbags, antilock brakes
Optional safety equipment: Electronic stability control
Major standard features: Power windows, mirrors and locks, air conditioning, CD player, alloy wheels
Major options: Navigation, upgraded stereo, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wupers, Bluetooth, leather upholstery, keyless ignition, sunroof, navigation
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain, 5 years/unlimited mileage outer body rust-through
Roadside assistance/free maintenance: 3 years/36,000 miles roadside assistance.
Best rivals:
Nissan 370Z
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Ford Mustang
source: cars.about.com
