- coupe 139,197
- 1,169 below average
- 5,995 good
- Charlotte, NC
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- autoshopper.com
- 1,169 below average coupe 139,197
2006 mazda rx-8 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. It reminds us of the brilliant third-generation rx-7, but it's $13,000 cheaper, and its muscular styling has a zoom-zoom edge. yet the rx-8 is surprisingly practical. There's enough room for a weekend's worth of luggage or two full-size golf bags, and the small rear doors and relatively spacious trunk make trips to the home improvement center possible. Granted, it's not as roomy as a sedan, but it can move people and stuff when needed. the rx-8 was launched as an all-new model for 2004. While the manual transmission model carries over with few changes, but the automatic is far more compelling for 2006 than last year's model. What's more, the automatic model gets a significant boost in horsepower. The six-speed automatic comes with steering-wheel mounted paddle controls for semi-manual shifting. This brings the automatic closer in character to the manual version, making it much more appealing to those who don't always want to do the shifting themselves. still, the manual and automatic are two different cars due to the specific tuning of the high-revving rotary engine as paired to each transmission. The six-speed manual benefits from 238 horsepower at 8500 rpm and 159 pound-feet of torque at 5500 rpm, while the automatic produces 212 horsepower at 7200 rpm and 164 pound-feet at 5000 rpm. The automatic comes packaged with smaller wheels and brakes and a softer suspension. The bottom line is that the manual is for driving enthusiasts willing to sacrifice some comfort and convenience for performance. The automatic is for drivers more interested in the looks and feel of a sports car than in ultimate performance, drivers who have to contend with stop-and-go commuting. lineupthe 2006 mazda rx-8 comes in two variants: the mt 26,435) with a six-speed manual transmission and the at 26,435) with the new six-speed automatic. optional packages: the sport package (mt: $1,300, at: $2,000) includes xenon headlights, fog lamps, dsc w/traction control (at models add a limited slip differential and the same wheels and brakes found on all mt models). It's about the most aggressive shape possible in stamped steel. From the double-bubble roof, down the hood and over the bulge that's shaped like one of the engine rotors, to those big wide ears of front fenders, to the headlamps and grille and air intakes that give the rx-8 a face: wide-eyed, startled, big dimples. Head-on, the rx-8 looks like it's getting gently goosed and is saying, 'oh!' from the rear it looks good, with upswept lines and wide fender flares. The headlights aren't as dramatic as they might be; mazda says it believes design should be expressed in sheet metal not lighting. the front and rear doors open in opposite directions, which mazda calls the freestyle door system. With no pillar between the doors, this allows very easy ingress and egress for the rear-seat passengers. As with similar systems in pickups, the front door must be opened before the rear door can open. To compensate for the lack of a b-pillar, mazda has carefully designed the structure with supporting steel crossmembers and braces, as well as reinforcements around the door perimeter and for rigidity and safety against a side impact. Getting into and out of the rear seat is easy. Due to the high front seatbacks, rear-seat passengers can't see much out front without leaning inboard, but they can see out the side windows. Unfortunately, they don't roll down, but just push outward. We were able to fit a desk chair and storage crate back there, a very impressive feat for a sports car. On the other end of the spectrum, the top-of-the-line shinka special version package includes much more attractive leather and suede-like upholstery. we like the stitched leather three-spoke steering wheel, both for its style and feel. Also nice were the drilled aluminum pedals and the solid dead pedal. There are three big rings, dominated by the 10,000-rpm tachometer in the center, with a digital speedometer readout on the tach face. We miss having a separate analog speedometer. The two large outside rings include gauges for water temp, fuel and oil pressure. The instruments are illuminated with indirect blue lighting. the panel forward of the shift lever is trimmed in a combination of leather and high-quality vinyl and glossy piano-black plastic. The stereo and climate control knobs are integrated; redundant controls are on the steering wheel spokes. The air conditioning wasn't as effective as we would have liked, a common complaint about many mazdas. the available navigation system is dvd-based and features a dedicated, retractable 7-inch screen on top of the dash above the radio and climate controls. The soft triangular shape of the engine rotors are a design theme found throughout the interior, most noticeably in the stylish headrests and atop the shift lever. driving impressionthe mazda rx-8 handles like a true sports car, with great balance and precise turn-in. The suspension is soft enough for daily comfortable use and not as stiff as that of the nissan 350z, which corners like a race car but pays the price with a stiffer ride. the dynamic stability control works effectively yet allows the driver to work the tires without intruding. The rx-8 wasn't completely forgiving when driven hard on an autocross circuit. We found with too much throttle the rx-8 would understeer (the front tires plow and the car keeps going straight instead of turning). When we pushed it still farther, driving like hacks, the dsc would kick in to limit the understeer. The electronic stability control systems in other cars correct skidding by cutting the throttle, which skilled drivers find intrusive. The rotary engine, which is extremely smooth and simple, has been developed b. Climate Control✔ Bucket Seats✔ Tachometer✔ Heated Seats✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning✔ Navigation System✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Sport Package✔ Alloy Wheels
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