DRIVEN: Mazda RX-8 - Rotary Rocket

By Robert K. Rooney
Photos by Ed Gatner
Drive Mazda's RX-8 for a day and it becomes pretty obvious that there is a tremendous reservoir of good will toward the company's unique rotary engines – mostly among former, and current, owners of the RX-7 sports car.

The rotary powerplant serves as something of a symbol for Mazda even though the vast majority of the company's products use conventional engines. The symbolism may be for internal, as well as external, consumption – serving as a reminder that Mazda does things differently.



The RX-8's basic configuration illustrates that Mazda product planners try to think 'outside the box' – how else could they have come up with a machine which drives and looks like a GT car but has a usable back seat and a price tag less than many top-end sedans?

Nobody can say the RX-8 looks like anything else on the road. From any angle it is distinctive and undeniably sporty. 'Sporty' pretty much defines its road manners, too. The ride is firm but not harsh, low profile tires on big wheels aren't the way to shoe a limo but make cornering a pure delight.



Lots of cars in the GT category don't really reach their level of competence unless they're wound up tight and pushed to the limit. The RX-8 is perfectly happy being driven as hard as one would care to, but it is also quite tractable on suburban streets and in downtown traffic. Like most Mazda gearboxes, the six-speed manual is a pleasure to use with short throws from gear to gear.

Apart from its unique engine configuration, what really sets the RX-8 apart is its unique ability to carry four normal-size adults. Getting into the rear seats falls somewhere between sedan-easy and coupe-tough but, once plugged into the rear bucket, even a six- footer will find sufficient legroom and headroom.



The best seat in the car, however, is the one behind the wheel. Our test car had the two-tone, leather-faced interior and finding a comfortable driving position was easy. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel - also two-tone - was almost perfect in terms of hand placement and thickness. The pedals were clearly designed with heel-and-toe downshifting in mind. With an engine which spins up as willingly as the rotary, rev- matching is loads of fun.

The Mazda RX-8 is a car full of contradictions. It's a serious high-performance car which doesn't complain in town. It's a driver's car in which the passengers aren't abused. It offers luxury touches and interesting technology at quite a reasonable price. All in all, it's a winner.