By Gary Chan

Pros

• Rigid car
• Driving dynamics
• Driving position/seating
• Engine is turbine-like

Cons

• Fuel economy
• Oil consumption
• Small trunk and back seat
• Low height
• Low torque

I remember when a high school classmate got a brand new RX-7 in the mid 80’s … that was back when the BMW 320i and the Porsche 944’s were out … and have always liked the car especially the 3rd generation RX-7. Well, a lot has changed since then with updates and technology advances so I was excited to be able to drive this 40th Anniversary Edition. Having never driven a RX-7/8, I was excited to learn how a rotary felt and the driving dynamics of the RX-8. The last Mazda I drove was the phenomenal Mazdaspeed3. Thus, the bar was set high.

Driving Impressions
The gray metallic color of the car camouflages the sportiness of the car. Who would suspect a gray-colored Japanese car to perform so well; lucky for me, I never garnered any interest from the police.

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Sometimes you just have to let it all hang out. Sometimes you are inspired to drive the wheels off a car because you just can. And there are the times when it all comes together and you know everything is just right in the motoring universe. Such was the case when I took Mazda’s 40th Anniversary Edition RX-8 to (of all places) Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca located in Monterey, CA. Read the rest of this entry »