Mazda RX8

[System]

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/6940/rx86hn.th.jpg (http://img236.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rx86hn.jpg)

[Honda_PoD]

for the engine....cool

[crayzayjay]

Pros - rotary engine, suicide doors

Cons - messy styling

Conclusion: cool (just)

[graywolf624]

unique.....Needs a new category..
Styling is somewhat cool.

Effinity for burning oil- seriously uncool to have to refil at every gas station.

gas mileage- also seriously uncool

doors- uncool truckish..

performance- cool

On the balance its barely cool.

[stmoritzer]

well, the engine is cool, but the rest not
and it's a Mazda
sorry, but uncool

[taygunho]

Rx8 isa cool car. I like this car. I like it is design and its back door oppening style.

[Banchi105]

Pro: Handling / Engine
Con: Reliability / Maintence


Pro - Con = Cool

[chest3r]

Just cool!!

I don't like the way how it looks!
The doors idea is really good and the interior looks great.

...but I rather prefer the 350Z.

[Vansquish]

Definitely cool+ in my book, though that may be a slightly biased opinion seeing as there's one parked about 15 feet from me as I type this. The rotary engine is a blast, extremely refined and unbelievably smooth at anything above idle speed. Revs to more than 9000rpm and has a slick-shifting 6-speed gearbox attached to a carbon fiber driveshaft coupled to a limited slip differential driving the rear wheels. What could be bad!?

As for gas mileage, yes, if you're on the gas all the time then you suffer at the pumps, 17-20 miles per gallon is about what to expect. However, if you're a bit more judicious I've seen upwards of 25 on the highway and 21 city, so it's certainly possible to get fairly decent mileage.

[Mattk]

Not fond of the styling, or the four doors. Who the hell needs four doors on a sports car? The use of the rotary engine is good though, and performance wise, it's probably pretty good, so I'l say cool, just cool.

[qoompel]

Offcourse it's cool !
Great engine, stability, good gearbox, transmission and...design :)

[Fleischmann]

Sorry Vansquish, the RX8 is not cool IMO :P The styling is way too fidly, it seems the designers wanted to fit every idea possible and though 225BHP from a 1.3 is an awesome power output, it lacks torque and pulling uphill it's porabably slow. It's a 4 door in a coupe style shell that is trying too desperatelly to be practical.

[TopGearNL]

Its cool, it makes a buzzing sound when you take it all the way to 9000 RPM, then its time to change gear :shock: :D

[redrumx77]

badly chosen picture, was that on purpose ?

[HeilSvenska]

badly chosen picture, was that on purpose ?
Hardly. It's just a press shot.

[simona]

how is a ford cool? The only ford that is cool is the gt40.

[chedisme]

Wankel=cool


just say it out loud.

and im pretty sure ford only owns 1/3 of mazda so i wouldn't really say its a ford.
i was gunna make some funny remark about nationality, but after i typed it out i realized it was only funny in my head.

[HeilSvenska]

how is a ford cool? The only ford that is cool is the gt40.
First of all, it's not a Ford. (Although RX-8's being a 4 door was pretty much mandated by Ford.)

And there's been plenty of cool Fords if you give your prejudice a rest.

[simona]

First of all, it's not a Ford. (Although RX-8's being a 4 door was pretty much mandated by Ford.)

And there's been plenty of cool Fords if you give your prejudice a rest.



Name a ford sold in the US that is cool. Only fords that are cool are all in Europe.

Correction: sold in recent years...that don't use cave man tech.

[HeilSvenska]

http://jimsgarage.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/bullitt5.jpg
http://www.dealsonwheels.com/database/cars/000188-200707-000002big.jpg
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/articles/images01/ford_gt_heritage.jpg
Whole bunch of classic cars.
Fairlane, Thunderbird, all sorts of Mustangs

Something new?
http://image.automobilemag.com/f/car-ramblings-reviews/editors-notebook-2008-ford-mustang-bullitt-day-1/8058006+w480+cr1+re0+ar1/2008-ford-mustang-bullitt-front-three-quarter.jpg
300hp RWD for well under $30,000

The new upcoming Taurus looks good, and we'll get the "global" Focus based on C1 platform too.

[79TA]

Name a ford sold in the US that is cool. Only fords that are cool are all in Europe.

I don't know what time period you're talking about, but if you look to the past, there are an overwhelming number of examples.

- '32 Ford 3 window - the most recognized hot rod ever

- '40 Ford

- '55 Thunderbird

- '56 Fairlane

- '63 Galaxy

- '69 Mustang

- '87 Mustang

- '97 Crown Victoria - I say this because hardly anyone was making V8 rwd sedans at that time

- '01 Bullitt edition Mustang

- '03 Cobra R

That's just a smattering of cool Fords through the years. I pretty much skipped the malaise era, but there are probably a couple of cool cars in there, not to mention many more in the other years.

Now, as for cars currently for sale, Ford America recently discontinued the GT so that's not available on either side of the pond. We had the Thunderbird which I thought was pretty neat.

Right now, people in the States have access to all the sticker job and tuner Mustangs that Europeans would have a harder time obtaining. That is, Saleen, Roush, Steeda, and Shelby Mustangs are sold here by default, are more plentiful, and much cheaper.

While I like the "kinetic design" language used by the current Euro Fords, they don't have any overwhelming line up to make me terribly jealous. There's the Mondeo and the Focus. I can't say I'd rave over a Fiesta or a Ka.