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RX-8 First 48 hours / 150 KM Report

I mentioned the 6 requirements for my new car in the last aricle I posted here.

Here is how the new RX-8 measures up point by point in my first 48 hour / 150 km experience.

1) Warrantee: It has one, by default 3 years 60,000 km bumper to bumper. I leased this car for 4 years, so I will at a minimum have to buy the addtional year, if bought within a year it's less than $400 CDN which is reasonable. It's only $2,500 for the 7 year / 180,000 km version, and based on my first 24 hours I may just keep this thing so it's starting to look good

2) Costs: I actually saved a few dollars a month on the payment / insurance combo with this move, so definitely a check on this one.

3) 4 Doors: Hmmmmm

Check.

4) Attention to Detail: The interior ergonomics, useability, and safety features are shocking for the price range of this car. Everything is thought through in detail, right down to the way the sun visors are semi-transparent so you can see through them when pulled down. Wow, I'm really getting blown away so far.

5) Fun Factor: This has been the part that's been killing me. I have to take it easy on this thing for the first 1,000 km's and the process is just painfull. So far, when driving like a grandma, I'm very impressed. When under 4,000 rpm she is very refined, you can barely hear the engine at all and I keep having to tap the gas pedal to make sure it's still running.

I can barely hold back from going over 4,000 rpm though, that 9,000 mark seems sooooooo far away, maybe I can get a liiiiittttlllee closer…. NO! I have to behave. More on this section in a couple of weeks once I'm through the break-in period.

6) Uniqueness: In the last 48 hours of driving I've seen one Blue RX-8 on the highway, one black behind me on College street, and about 1,000 BMW's all over the place ….So far so good…