Mazda Rev It Up - TEST DRIVE: RX-8, Mazda 3, Miata, etc.
03-21-2004
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Mazda Rev It Up - TEST DRIVE: RX-8, Mazda 3, Miata, etc.
We intended to go and watch our friends race the Mazda 3's today, but we just ended up test driving all of the Mazdas all day. They have a little slalom where you can just basically test drive the Mazdas. Just have to be 18+ and its free.
First one I wanted to drive was the 6-Speed Mazda RX-8. Man the rotary engine pulls so hard. Short shifting. Handling is so tight and stiff, so nice! This was by far (obviously) the best car there.
Second car I drove was the MPV, the minivan. I actually fell in love with this van, so I actually drove it twice. Shares the same 200hp engine as the Tribute SUV. For a van, this thing hauls ***! Beat our Civics anyday, even if it was filled with 10 year old soccer players and a soccer mom for a driver. It handle's great too, better than one of the Mazda 3's I was driving.
Third car I drove was the Mazda 3i. 148 hp, 4 door. Feels kinda heavy at first until you hit about between 4 and 5K rpm, then the Mazda style of the VTEC kicks in (VVTI? I don't know). Handles pretty good too, despite the fact that the brakes were all sticky from being driven all morning, and the fact that the rear tires were bald, literally.
Fourth car I drove was the Mazda 3s. 160 hp 5door wagon. I hated this car. Its only 100lbs heavier than the 3s 4 door, but it was slow! Handled like crap, the 3i handled better. Acceleration sucked, the 3i was prob faster. The only thing good about this car was that inside the glove box was a DVD player.
Fifth car was the Mazdaspeed Miata. 6 Speed, Turbo, I forgot how much horsepower. The brakes were also sticky on this car. If you rev it, its casual up to 4k. I guess its the turbo lag. After 4K rpms it just bullets! Handling was great too, kinda hard to compare to the RX-8 b/c they're not the same style of car. Miata is lighter and handles differently, but the RX-8 won't lose traction anywhere at all! Definitely a fun car.
My friend drove the Tribute SUV while I sat passenger. Same engine as the MPV, lighter, but seems a lot slower. She was flying through the cones too, and the car was just sliding everywhere. Too much understeer, or oversteer. Felt like understeer, even though the SUV is probably rear wheel drive. Anyway, this was probably the worst car, next to the 3s Wagon.
Didn't feel like driving the big ol heavy looking Mazda 6. Overall, Mazda's are pretty nice cars. I'd say the best attribute is the handling (ZOOM ZOOM).
Afterwards I went to the San Diego 7thgen meet. There were supposed to be 20+ people, but only 7 showed up. Everybody else fluked. I think all of the San Diego people showed, but I guess the guys didn't feel like driving from L.A. Sad, sad....
First one I wanted to drive was the 6-Speed Mazda RX-8. Man the rotary engine pulls so hard. Short shifting. Handling is so tight and stiff, so nice! This was by far (obviously) the best car there.
Second car I drove was the MPV, the minivan. I actually fell in love with this van, so I actually drove it twice. Shares the same 200hp engine as the Tribute SUV. For a van, this thing hauls ***! Beat our Civics anyday, even if it was filled with 10 year old soccer players and a soccer mom for a driver. It handle's great too, better than one of the Mazda 3's I was driving.
Third car I drove was the Mazda 3i. 148 hp, 4 door. Feels kinda heavy at first until you hit about between 4 and 5K rpm, then the Mazda style of the VTEC kicks in (VVTI? I don't know). Handles pretty good too, despite the fact that the brakes were all sticky from being driven all morning, and the fact that the rear tires were bald, literally.
Fourth car I drove was the Mazda 3s. 160 hp 5door wagon. I hated this car. Its only 100lbs heavier than the 3s 4 door, but it was slow! Handled like crap, the 3i handled better. Acceleration sucked, the 3i was prob faster. The only thing good about this car was that inside the glove box was a DVD player.
Fifth car was the Mazdaspeed Miata. 6 Speed, Turbo, I forgot how much horsepower. The brakes were also sticky on this car. If you rev it, its casual up to 4k. I guess its the turbo lag. After 4K rpms it just bullets! Handling was great too, kinda hard to compare to the RX-8 b/c they're not the same style of car. Miata is lighter and handles differently, but the RX-8 won't lose traction anywhere at all! Definitely a fun car.
My friend drove the Tribute SUV while I sat passenger. Same engine as the MPV, lighter, but seems a lot slower. She was flying through the cones too, and the car was just sliding everywhere. Too much understeer, or oversteer. Felt like understeer, even though the SUV is probably rear wheel drive. Anyway, this was probably the worst car, next to the 3s Wagon.
Didn't feel like driving the big ol heavy looking Mazda 6. Overall, Mazda's are pretty nice cars. I'd say the best attribute is the handling (ZOOM ZOOM).
Afterwards I went to the San Diego 7thgen meet. There were supposed to be 20+ people, but only 7 showed up. Everybody else fluked. I think all of the San Diego people showed, but I guess the guys didn't feel like driving from L.A. Sad, sad....
03-21-2004
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Rep Power: 0 i know what you mean about the 5door.
they seem very heavy.
that's why i bought the 3GT sedan. 3s 4door in the states.
i wish they had one in toronto. i'd love to drive the rx-8 around a track
they seem very heavy.
that's why i bought the 3GT sedan. 3s 4door in the states.
i wish they had one in toronto. i'd love to drive the rx-8 around a track
03-21-2004
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Rep Power: 0 Haven't they stopped manufacturing the Protege 5 since like last year? Or are they still making it? I didn't see it at Rev It Up.
03-22-2004
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Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by WannaBFast
mazda 3's "vtec" is called zetec.. same motor found in the focus...
mazda 3's "vtec" is called zetec.. same motor found in the focus...
( now awaits the 20 Focus / Ford bashing replies that have nothing to do with the topic of this thread )
03-22-2004
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Rep Power: 0 I would take a SVT Focus over the Si Civic any day. The Si is an embarrassment for Honda. I did drive a Mazda 3s Sedan 5 speed and liked it quite a bit - felt more refined than the Civic as well it should for the $19,000+ for the one I drove. I liked the 17" rims. Given the choice I would rather buy an 04 Accord LX coupe and buy a nice set of rims.
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