The Mazda RX-8 is, simply put, one of the most pure sports cars currently being sold.
At just over 3,000lb., it is incredibly agile and will stack up handling-wise with anything you can think of.
Like most ‘handling-first’ sports cars, its acceleration is not devastating. It’s the only passenger car to use a rotary engine, a 1.3L wonder of smoothness and revs, delivering 232 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and spinning all the way past 9,000!
It’s a bit short on torque, with just 159 lb.-ft at 5,500 rpm. But for those who like this kind of driving experience, that won’t matter. Other quirks are a high appetite for fuel, and Mazda’s own recommendation that you check the rotary’s oil level…every time you fill up the gas tank!
It’s nicely packaged, though, with real seating for four adults, suicide doors to access the rear seats, and plenty of storage and a rear-seat pass-through. At $33,055 as tested, it’s unlike anything else on the market. And that’s worth a lot more than $33 large.
—Ross Rapoport, Road Test Editor and Video Host
Visit http://roadflytv.com for more pictures and a downloadable window sticker.
Vehicle: 2011 Mazda RX-8
Base Price: $32,260
Price as tested: $33,055
Engine: 1.3L rotary
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Horsepower: 232 @ 8,500 rpm
Torque: 159 lb.-ft @
0-60 MPH: 6.5 sec.
Curb Weight: 3,029 lb.
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles (5 years/60,000 miles powertrain)
Fuel Economy: 16 city / 22 highway MPG
Roadfly.com – http://www.roadfly.com
Car Forum – http://www.roadfly.com/forums
RoadflyTV – http://www.youtube.com/roadflytv
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/roadfly
Twitter – http://twitter.com/roadfly