originally posted up on RX8OC forum, as my 1000th post..... So…. You want to buy an RX8 do you? Said the salesman from Newbury Mazda
Eh… well um yes…. We think so….
Well what do you want it to do?
Good question …..
We’re looking for something that’s sporty, a little bit different, a daily driver, can take 4 adults if needs be, a bit of fun for weekends and reasonably quick.
Not much to ask for then….
So, after a year has the RX8 lived up to the brief?
Well… the test drives of a 192 & 231 didn’t go well – this is gutless I remember saying to Mel as we drove around Newbury, ‘I think this guys made a mistake with which ones which because the ‘192’ definitely feels faster than the \'231’ but it’s only got 5 gears so maybe there’s something wrong with the \'231’ ? We decided to be polite and hand the keys back and think on.
Back to the drawing board then….
As is my way, I had done a bit of research before the test drives and something kept bugging me….so between the web, this forum and a certain Mr Clarkson’s top gear review of ‘a man’s wash bag’ decided it was my driving style or lack of it rather than the car. Upon reflection, I think the reason why the ‘192’ felt quicker was because I was changing up too quickly in the ‘231’
A further few weeks of discussion ensued, looking on Autotrader deciding on what car to go for – we decided sat nav / sunroof wasn’t that important, that winning blue was our favourite colour and that we weren’t going for a PZ because Mel didn’t like the boot spoiler (don’t even go there).And bumping into the club at the Romsey Pageant helped.
Next up….found an ‘Evolve’ at a dealers in Oxford - What’s an Evolve then? It’s a 231 that’s raided the parts bin – special colour / interior – Mel loved the advert – so off we went….
We took the car out for a test drive…. Me driving, salesman in the front seat, Mel in the back – thrashed the nuts off of it around a twisty route and the thing came alive – hooked
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Never buy the first car you see
…..well we bought it and haven’t looked back
Having floated about on the forum for a while, the opportunity arose for my first meet – arranged in the new forest by someone called AcceleRX-8ted and a chap named GreySilver Beast, it sounded slightly ominous but I decided to give it a go.
So off I went one bright sunny and chilly Sunday morning in March not knowing what to expect, everyone was friendly and once we settled into ourselves got on well. Highlights of that day were fluffy the Shetland pony who took a shine to us and this chap called Ken (AcceleRX-8ted) who offered to help me fit front grills –(I drank the coffee he got his hands dirty) - that was nice I thought - so again I’m hooked this time with the people.
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Next up… a guy called countzero posts up something about Goodwood Breakfast Club….its free lots of stuff to look at and you can be there and back before lunch…so this works for me - I can go out, Mel can stay in her warm bed having a Sunday morning read – everyone’s a winner. Oh and a duff sausage from the frozen breakfast buffet
gives me the ‘opportunity’ to stay in bed the next day and put my website together – not bad for a bloke that struggles with SKY+
Disaster strikes – Main dealer uses diesel oil when the car is serviced
– panic reigns – post to forum – lots of advice – a way forward – problem solved – Thank you to everyone that helped.
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Then onto our first national event… JAPFEST 1 – three overriding memories firstly what a nice bunch of people on the club stand, secondly just how fast was Nigel, Joanie and the others going on the M4? and finally Mike’s new friends
Forum highlight has got to be ‘How to ask a Tesco girl out’ – this is laugh out loud funny.
Other event highs - a split decision between the jolly boys outing to Wings and Wheels with Ken & John ‘3 large 99’s please mister’ and the Haynes meet last week.
So has the RX8 lived up to its brief – as a car yes
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I’m still hooked and the funniest thing about all of this – it’s not even my car
As I’ve said in a number of my previous 999 posts – don’t tell Mel
Roll on year 2
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