I know I’m not supposed to get emotional or sappy in a car review, but, dammit, I miss the Mazda RX-8. At the end of my week with this little Mazda sports car, the sky was gloomy and so was I. No, I didn’t cry, the wind just blew something into my eyes. I mean, I yawned. Uh, I was thinking about the ending of Gran Torino?
Nevermind.
Man, what a fun car.
What is it?
It might be easier to say what the RX-8 isn’t: It’s not like the other kids on the sports car block. Two full-size doors, coupled with two smaller, suicide-esque doors in the rear make this Mazda different. Its motor with the funny name, Wankel, only adds to its unique credentials.
The RX-8 Grand Touring presented here is the slightly softer little sibling of the RX-8 R3 Leftlane recently reviewed.
What’s it up against?
Figuring this out is a bit of a challenge, given the RX-8’s individuality. Nissan’s 370Z is an obvious competitor and Hyundai ’s forthcoming Genesis coupe is probably also a contender. Let’s go ahead and throw in BMW’s 1-Series for good measure.
Any breakthroughs?
If we’re talking the technology, the only thing worth mentioning on the RX-8 certainly isn’t new.
This Mazda is the only current, mass-produced vehicle that utilizes a rotary engine, AKA, a Wankel. Dating back to the 1950s, a Wankel motor doesn’t have pistons. What it does have is an oval-shaped combustion chamber, a triangle shaped rotor and a central drive shaft. The triangle rotates around the oval chamber while spinning around the drive shaft. I could try to explain that in more detail, but not without bleeding from my ears. All you really need to know is that a Wankel makes for a healthy amount of power, delivered smoothly, from a relatively small displacement motor, even if it does suck down a bit more fuel in the process.
How does it look?
Like an insect, at least from the front. The small, angular headlights are the eyes, the large pronounced fenders, the antennae; and the grill opening is, of course, the giant mouth waiting to bite you. A 232hp cricket, then.
The thing is, even with those obscenely large, rounded fenders and “smile wide” grill, it all works. The rising beltline leads to a stout rear end with a modest lip spoiler and pair of intimidating, dual lens taillights. It’s sleek, low slung and your butt is two inches off the pavement. Perfect.
And on the inside?
Sometimes an interior with red leather can look ridiculous. From sports car to clown car in under five seconds. In the Mazda, the crimson on black matches the car’s personality and driving experience perfectly. An overly fun interior for an overly fun car.
Once you’re done ogling the red leather, let your eyes wander to the many rounded triangle designs, such as the shifter, that take their cue from the Wankel under the hood. You’ve also got the middle of the headrests with a Wankel shape punched out in the middle. The shapes continue on the outside of the car as well, appearing in the wheels and stamped into the hood.
White and red gauges make for a very readable and handsome display. Red accent lighting on the door-mounted window switches was an elegant surprise in the RX-8 once the sun went down.
When riding in the RX-8, you’d better be the driver, or the driver’s date. The back seats in this four-door sports car (maybe two and two-halfs-door sports car) are more comedy than function. Fine for kids or short trips with adults, but not much else. Up front, the sporty, red seats will fit you like a custom tailored Armani. Watch out for the seat heaters though. There is only one setting, “on,” which turns out to be more like “stone fired!”
But does it go?
If you’re looking for a stoplight dragster, go buy a Mustang. Straight-line speed is not the RX-8’s strong suit. Put some bends in that straight line and now we’re talking. While Michigan’s less-than-friendly winter once again stopped us from exploring the cars true limits without also exploring the side curtain airbags, the briefs moments of semi-clear roadway showed us very sharp steering with great feel. This is a car that loves to dart in and out of corners on a back country road with ease and has more moves than the crazed squirrel that just evaded death-by-Bridgestone by a tail’s length.
The suspension is certainly on the firm side, but chances are you’ll be too busy smiling to care. Body roll is almost non-existent and overall, the chassis feels very tight with the addition of new strut braces on the 2009 model.
For lack of a better way to say it, the six-speed transmission is good. Short, fairly smooth shifts will greet you through all six gears. If you drive it in the winter, however, prepare to do battle with the shifter when the car is cold as the shifts do not come easy.
Another thing you will notice in the winter is the adaptive redline display in the tachometer. When the car is stone cold, it doesn’t want you to rev above 5,000 rpm. As the car warms, the redline rises all the way to 9,000 rpm. A beep will sound when you hit nine grand, a subtle reminder to downshift before small, metal missiles start flying through the hood.
In case you were wondering, 9,000 rpm is not a typo. In fact that brings us to what is potentially the best part of this car: The sound. When the needle starts to rise above 6,500 rpm, the 1.3-liter Wankel really starts to sing. For the love of God, don’t short shift. It’s hard to know how to describe it in text, but think of a baby Formula 1 race car sound with some turbine motor and sport motorcycle noises mixed in. Whatever it is, the noise this car makes is absolutely intoxicating.
Consider me drunk on it.
Why you would buy it:
The noise it makes? OK, that too, but to put it simply; looks great and drives wonderfully. If I had the means, my order would be placed.
Why you wouldn’t:
When driving it as it’s meant to be driven, the fuel economy sure ain’t great. To be perfectly honest, however, I was having too much to keep exact numbers. At about $28 a fill up, it’s certainly worthwhile. Traditionally, the Wankel will also burn some oil, so it’s back to the days of keeping a quart in the trunk.
2009 Mazda RX-8 Grand Touring base price, $31,000. As tested, $34,570.
Premium package, $900; Navigation, $2,000; Destination, $670.
Words and photos by Chris Doane.
