Top gun
Space, style and speed — this Mazda has the lot, "Some cars look better/faster than they really are, but the RX-8 GT isn’t one of them."
She says
Robyn Riley
I used to think sports cars were just an indulgence; the dream of the young and the desire of those wanting to stay young. Then you get to a certain age and you appreciate more the lure of something that is still sleek and fast. That’s what I liked about the Mazda RX-8 ... it made me feel young at heart.
Some years ago a friend and I were both on the market for a new car. Our needs were very different; she was single, I had a young baby. She went for the Mazda convertible — red, naturally. I drove off in a sensible sedan.
Sixteen years on I still drive a sedan. I thought it necessary with a growing family, but the Mazda RX-8 made me realise you can have the best of both worlds. It is a four-seater — and it is not a hollow claim. The quirky rear door design gives back-seat passengers easy access, but the fit is snug.
We had the six-speed manual GT model — the three in the range are the entry level at $49,720, the luxury at $55,520 and the GT, which promises a leaner, meaner performance. If you are a fan of this brand’s sports car, you will not be disappointed with its new version. The thing that excites car enthusiasts is its Renesis rotary engine. If
looks are what appeals more, the RX-8 has had some styling changes that see a new-look rear bumper, front panels and headlamps.
He says
Ross Brundrett
Some cars look better/faster than they really are, but the RX-8 GT isn’t one of them. It doesn’t make any promises it can’t keep. Of course, the fact it looks fast, feels fast and — when the pedal hits the metal — is fast, might be frowned upon by some, but that’s
not really what this coupe is about.
This is not a car where you just look down at the speedometer and notice you are doing 30km/h over the limit. No, you feel every kilometre of acceleration in the RX, in a good way. Just getting to 60km/h in this thing can make you feel good about yourself. It’s one of the vehicles that brings joy to the driver every time you get behind the wheel. And the manual gearbox is the only way to go — technically precise, no glorious, and powered by an amazing 1.3-litre, ground-breaking rotary engine that has its own name, Renesis.
Away from the technical stuff, there are enough other innovations to win new fans, such as the impressive, but unfortunately nicknamed, “suicide doors’’, which give access to the rear without vaulting the front seats. And, at the very back, another pleasant
surprise. The indented boot provides an amazing amount of storage space. I reckon about double what I found in a recent SUV.
The dash and instrumentation are pretty effective although, like so many new cars these days, the more complicated the airconditioning system the more frustrating it becomes. But that’s a small quibble for a coupe that will excite just about every bloke who hops in one, and quite a few women as well.
Mazda RX-8
Price // From $49,720
Fuel consumption // The RX-8 GT offers 12.9 litres per 100km combined
Dealers // Sunshine Coast Mazda, Maroochydore 5475 5755, Noosaville 5430 6100, Currimundi 5413 8400
Story: Ross Brundrett and Robyn Riley
Space, style and speed — this Mazda has the lot, "Some cars look better/faster than they really are, but the RX-8 GT isn’t one of them."
She says
Robyn Riley
I used to think sports cars were just an indulgence; the dream of the young and the desire of those wanting to stay young. Then you get to a certain age and you appreciate more the lure of something that is still sleek and fast. That’s what I liked about the Mazda RX-8 ... it made me feel young at heart.
Some years ago a friend and I were both on the market for a new car. Our needs were very different; she was single, I had a young baby. She went for the Mazda convertible — red, naturally. I drove off in a sensible sedan.
Sixteen years on I still drive a sedan. I thought it necessary with a growing family, but the Mazda RX-8 made me realise you can have the best of both worlds. It is a four-seater — and it is not a hollow claim. The quirky rear door design gives back-seat passengers easy access, but the fit is snug.
We had the six-speed manual GT model — the three in the range are the entry level at $49,720, the luxury at $55,520 and the GT, which promises a leaner, meaner performance. If you are a fan of this brand’s sports car, you will not be disappointed with its new version. The thing that excites car enthusiasts is its Renesis rotary engine. If
looks are what appeals more, the RX-8 has had some styling changes that see a new-look rear bumper, front panels and headlamps.
He says
Ross Brundrett
Some cars look better/faster than they really are, but the RX-8 GT isn’t one of them. It doesn’t make any promises it can’t keep. Of course, the fact it looks fast, feels fast and — when the pedal hits the metal — is fast, might be frowned upon by some, but that’s
not really what this coupe is about.
This is not a car where you just look down at the speedometer and notice you are doing 30km/h over the limit. No, you feel every kilometre of acceleration in the RX, in a good way. Just getting to 60km/h in this thing can make you feel good about yourself. It’s one of the vehicles that brings joy to the driver every time you get behind the wheel. And the manual gearbox is the only way to go — technically precise, no glorious, and powered by an amazing 1.3-litre, ground-breaking rotary engine that has its own name, Renesis.
Away from the technical stuff, there are enough other innovations to win new fans, such as the impressive, but unfortunately nicknamed, “suicide doors’’, which give access to the rear without vaulting the front seats. And, at the very back, another pleasant
surprise. The indented boot provides an amazing amount of storage space. I reckon about double what I found in a recent SUV.
The dash and instrumentation are pretty effective although, like so many new cars these days, the more complicated the airconditioning system the more frustrating it becomes. But that’s a small quibble for a coupe that will excite just about every bloke who hops in one, and quite a few women as well.
Mazda RX-8
Price // From $49,720
Fuel consumption // The RX-8 GT offers 12.9 litres per 100km combined
Dealers // Sunshine Coast Mazda, Maroochydore 5475 5755, Noosaville 5430 6100, Currimundi 5413 8400
Story: Ross Brundrett and Robyn Riley
