Archive for the ‘Sports cars’ Category
2010 Mazda RX-8 GT Base price: $26,645
In Sports cars on August 30, 2010 at 9:37 pmZIPPY, HANDSOME RX-8 DELIVERS
The RX-8 is one Mazda's handsomest rides.
The RX-8’s sleek, mid-sized body belies an interior that’s more akin to its kid brother, the pint-sized Mazda RX-5 Miata, than a coupe fit for a family of four as its press materials claim. I ain’t no Jolly Green but even I had to squeeze into the RX-8’s rear. And what’s with the suicide doors? I thought we decided those sucked in the 50s.
You may think I’m picking on the RX-8, but it comes from a place of peace and luv, Ringo. I mostly dug this zippy, hippy, peppy speedster, its 6 speeds, its get-up-and-go, its whole vibe. It’s got some stupidity in its interior design—we’ll get to that later—but it was a joy to drive over a week’s test and I was sorry to see it go.
Looks good comin' or goin.'
Besides, it doesn’t matter what I think. Since its launch in 2003, this ride has cleaned up awards-wise. Dig this—-
2003: Japanese Car of the Year, Australia’s Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year, International Engine of the Year,
2004: Singapore Car of the Year, U.S. Best Sports Car, U.K. Car of the Year,
It’s also been on Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best list for 2004, 2005, and 2006, and the car’s Renesis Rotary Engine has won nine awards since 2003.
The car’s what?
Rotary engine, man. Let me explain.
The Mazda RX-8’s Renesis rotary engine is an advanced three-stage intake system with an electronic throttle. What that means for you is it’s got cojones aplenty, delivers smooth, linear power, and is frequent stupid fun. The only thing is doesn’t provide is good gas mileage. In this case, that means about 16/24 city/highway, a rather crummy showing for a car this size. But it sure makes for fun rollin’.
An electric rack-and-pinion power-steering system transmits just the right amount of road information back to your fingers, and its electric motor lends additional assistance at low speeds to ease street parking but also reduces steering assistance at higher speeds. That means you can smack it around and still feel every pebble under your wheels.
Safety features are many, and state-of-the-art. ABS-equipped disc brakes are standard on all wheels, and Dynamic Stability Control with TCS, standard on Grand Touring and R3, delivers a superior level of handling that can be disabled when you want to rip it up out there if conditions warrant.
Along with front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side-curtain airbags, the front end and engine bay have ample crumple zones, the front seats are designed to reduce whiplash injuries, the brake pedal is designed to break away in the event of a collision of sufficient force to protect feet and legs and all four seating positions are fitted with three-point seatbelts. Even pedestrian protection was considered for you jackasses who text while you drive, as the RX-8 is fitted with Mazda’s “shock-cone” hood design that yields more to the impact of a pedestrian onto the hood than a standard design, yet is strong enough to not deform in normal use.
Oh, and the “stupidity” I mentioned before regarding the interior design—the seat warmers buttons are placed just inches rear of the manual shift. Unless you have hands and no forearms, prepare to keep turning them on and accidentally lighting your butt on fire. Also, there is a 1/8th inch jack for your portable sound system, but no USB cable for your iPod hookup/charge.
The cockpit's got some design weirdness, but looks great.
The system itself provides sharp sound, though, and the cockpit flaws are forgivable. I liked this little guy, and I’m happy to give it my thumbs-up.
- Josh Max, Auto Gigolo
Pricing:
Sport - $26,664
Grand Touring – $29,704
R3 - $32,140
For more information, clicky: 2010 Mazda R8
2009 Audi TT $45,500 As tested: $52,550
In Sports cars on June 4, 2009 at 5:16 pm
The TT's signature snout
The TT’s formerly eggshaped visage was wisely jettisoned two years ago in favor of a…slightly less-eggy but more sporty body design—and then and now, it’s one of the most singularly recognizable and rightly coveted cars in Audi’s fleet.
This year’s model remains unchanged from 2008, and provided a week’s swank, sweet ride.
The body is a tight collection of well-merged color-coded, artful and unmistakeably Audi shapes, topped with their signature waterfall grille. Inside, it’s a tight squeeze up front and even tighter in the back, though I managed to fold up a third 5’8 and 1/2 passenger and deposit her in the rear without damage. One unique interior feature are the Alcantara seating inserts, comprised of a faux-suede material but far more hardy than cowskin (and more humane.) Brushed aluminum galore, cool red and ice-blue cockpit lights and the flat-bottom steering wheel make the cockpit your own little high-tech headquarters.
Comin' or goin', the TT's a looker.
The TT’s available in roadster (convertible) form or my test model, the coupe, and transmission choices include a six-speed manual and a six-speed S tronic twin-clutch sequential transmission, formerly titled the Direct Shift Gearbox, or DSG.
Getting the most out of your TT demands the recognition of its engine strengths and weaknesses, though.
Despite a well-tuned engine note, I found my test car slightly numb in the acceleration and braking department. There is a decided hesitation between gear changes, and the car needs a moment or two of play before discovering you’ve thrown it in reverse. Many times, while waiting for reverse to engage, I had to look down and make sure I was not in neutral—it takes that long.. One reason for the TT’s lack of real lightning is its weight of 3600 pounds (for some models), which makes it more a sporty sedan than a truly ferocious bonafide sports car. But at speed, shift down and you’ll get most, if not all, the power you get from similar German sportsters.
Also, while the sound system is first-rate, the whole unit needs a POWER button. Without it, you get music, talk or the game upon startup each and every time whether you like it or not, and it matters not whether you lower the volume to nothing, or press MUTE—the sound system deploys upon startup with a little light reading “TRY TO SHUT ME UP, WILL YOU?”. (Kidding) I’ll tell you when I want tunes, thanks, Audi. - Josh Max/Autogigolo.com
The TT's cockpit's one of the swankiest available in its class.
For spects, more info: http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/new_cars/Audi_TT.html
2009 BMW 135i Coupe Base price: $35,600 As tested: $42,42
In Sports cars on March 5, 2009 at 11:46 pm
SCRAPPY SEDAN FLUNKS POTHOLE TEST, SOARS ON SMOOTH HIGHWAYS
The badge on the front of my otherwise stylish and fast 135i should have read “Emeril.” Why? Because—BAM!—the slightest road divot and bump wheels its way to your spine, and actual potholes—BAM!—explode into the cockpit with enough boom to infer a certain flat within—BAM!— 60 seconds.
But to its credit, the car never let me down, absorbing every blow of New York City’s crumbling roads with corresponding bangs and booms but keeping tires intact—and Goddess bless that Tire Pressure Monitor that comes with the car.
When driven on a smooth road, the 135i shows off its looks and manners as well as Beemers costing tens of thousands more. Acceleration is fierce via a 3.0 liter, dual overhead cam, 24-valve 6 cylinder engine with a mule-kick turbocharger. The car’s “Dynamic stability control”(DSC) which includes Brake Fade Compensation, Start-off assistant, Brake Drying and Dynamic Traction control all work well, but a tight grip is necessary on the wheel to keep the car from shimming left or right as you step on it. Such is the price one pays for a “cheaper” BMW.
Outside, the car is carved, sexy yet ballsy, and is a definite looker especially when compared to Audi, Benz, Infiniti and other similar wheels in its price range. There isn’t any real need to feel you’re missing out on what you could get if you could swing a 3-series, or a Z.
My only complaint was with the car’s numb satellite radio system—it takes a second or two to find stations when scrolling—but once you settle, the sound is rich and crisp.
A convertible’s also available; AutoGigolo will check it out when the weather warms. 
