I had the pleasure of rolling in an RX-8, 40th Anniversary Edition, for five days, both in the city and in the canyons of Southern California.

Driving a 1300cc rotary powered four door sports car with only 238bhp at 8500rpm is unique to Mazda as the RX-8 is the last of the Mohecans and at first look would seem to be underpowered. Mazda redesigned the rotary in the RX-8 by locating the exhaust ports on the side of each combustion chamber instead of at the edge of the rotary housing. This change yields better economy, more power and lower emissions.

Okay, that’s enough about the technology, how is the RX-8 to drive?

The cockpit is coccoonish, comfortable seats nice finishes, zoomy design, with fuel and temp gauges on either side of a large central tach. What, no speedo, the speedo is a small digital window in the lower right of the tach. The Boise Audio system is top of the line with satellite radio. My car was missing a GPS which is a must event if you don’t need one as they look dope. The six speed manual, the only way to go, is operated by a short shifter that is as good as it gets.
This ride is all about RPM. It has decent torque off the line but around 5000rpm the engine starts to buzz, right up to the 9000rpm red line. The zero to sixty is 6.5 seconds.

But drag racing is not the RX-8’s thing. The RX-8 is a canyon runner at 3000lbs and a 50/50 wieght distribution. A stiffer chassis for 2009 with revised rear suspension make for some fun runs at the limit. I haven’t driven a street car that didn’t under steer of over steer or both. The RX-8 is completely neutral. Turn in is sharp and the car goes where you point it.

Ride quality is firm but not objectionable with enough suspension compliance that it doesn’t get upset easily by rough road surfaces.

The back seat, roomy enough for two six footers for a half hour trip or an eight year old with an Nintendo DX forever, is easily accessed by the rear doors.

The price for all this is around $32,000. I liked the car so well, and we drive them all, I have asked Mazda for one to test for a year with all the Mazda Speed accesories including the lightened fly wheel, cold air intake, front air dam, side sill moldings, adjustable rear spoiler and Mazda Speed Ben Hur wheels. I want one!