Mazda Mustang

[sleekism]

I went to the Mazda Roadshow the other day and I have to say it was very tempting.

Mazdas are really nice looking cars and I have to admit if I wasn't going to buy a Falcon I'd probably buy a Mazda RX8, MX5 or a 6 MPS.

And I know a lot people wont agree with me but I believe the Mazda RX8 is a real pony car.

I guess there are two type of Mustang people:

The ones who believe the original 289 Mustang is the best Mustang.
And the ones who believe the big block Mustangs are the best Mustangs.

The Mustang started off as a light sports car and turned into a big heavy drag strip monstrosity thats why Lee Iacocca took it back smallll again in the Mustang 2.

Anyway I know Im rambling but the RX8 made me think Mustang like the MX5 made me think MG when I first saw it.

Anyway I've actually got three questions in this thread then:

1#What car would you buy if you couldn't buy a Falcon?

2#Is the RX8 a pony car?

3#Is it just me or does it look like Mazdas look modified straight out of the factory with the clear tail lenses etc.(hint hint ford everyone always buys clear lenses aftermarket so why dont you just make it an option)?

Anyway looking forward to your abuse...

[Ray]

1. Honda Civic
2. Yes
3. Pretty Much, looks great on the Mazda 6 At least.

[Fordman1]

1 Subaru Liberty Wagon (Black) Mmmmmm

2 Yes

3 They do & I think they all look great. Mazda have reenergised their brand. If only Ford could do the same.....

[pertuan]

1. Golf GTI, Golf R32, Mazda3 MPS, Focus
2. I guess so.
3. Yeah, and I think it looks good.

[matt-chops]

1. A '66 289 Mustang
2. Yes
3. They can pull it off. Doesn't look too much like its been attached with scotch tape like alot of other modern mods.

[majin_andrew]

Hmmm. Depends on how "pony car" is defined. The RX-8 is certainly a compact, affordable sports car. If that is the definition of a pony car then I guess it is.

However, I'm sure some people would argue that a pony car would have to be American, and have a resonably largish engine (at least about 250 ci).
America is a geographically large country with a lot of straight, long highways; and as a result of this the American pony cars had a greater emphisis on power/torque and low maintanence reliability than the European (and now Japanese) sports cars, which placed a greater emphisis on nimble handling etc, due to their compact, urbanised society.

I believe the RX-8 is in a different catagory to the American pony cars, but as I said; it depends on the definition.

[rns-11z]

my fathers owned an rx8 since 04,

1 issue: needs more power. Other then that, bloody awesome


h.

[andrewts]

1. Holden Commodore
2. Yes
3. Yeah, it looks alright on most of the cars that do it.

[InfernoSR]

1. Wont buy a new car, but 2nd hand would be a Mazda Cosmo with worked and boosted 20B.

2. No, not enough raw power...long live the RX7

3. Mazda's have the street scene in mind these days, shame about the rim and exhaust choices though.

[MRJUCY]

It's a bit of a stretch comparing a timeless classic design to one of the ugliest ever.

[Conrad]

Were you on crack when u wrote that?

[MRJUCY]

Unlike it's designers no the RX8 is feral, it has some nice detail work that look great on there own but you put it all together & the proportions make it look like something from SsangYong.

[majin_andrew]

I actually really like the design of the RX-8. Very classy and unique, but that's just my opinion.

[Bling]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

It's a bit of a stretch comparing a timeless classic design to one of the ugliest ever.

At last - sum1 with taste.
Sure they may go, but sum things just don't make up for tackiness

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by MRJUCY

Unlike it's designers no the RX8 is feral, it has some nice detail work that look great on there own but you put it all together & the proportions make it look like something from SsangYong.

Mazda has done a superb job of making nearly every car it has desirable.

Alright lets add a fourth question to the thread...

4. Do you think the RX8 is more modern than the Mustang?

Ill answer the questions. Lets assume you are talking about a car in the same price range

1. New Mondeo ST or whatever it will be
2. Not quite, but not far off, it definitely lacks power
3. Like I said, just about every Mazda is a looker, I find the CX7 attractive!
4. Absolutely, its modern, flows well and is not relying on its heritage to sell (other than its engine)

[Powdered Toast Man]

1. Golf, Focus, V50 or many other options

2. I think I'm with majin andrew on this one. When I think pony car I think reasonable displacement and Amercan design cues. But I guess it does fit the criteria, long bonnet, short boot, short overhangs, medium sized and has good performance.

3.They're following their performance market trends. Many of their customers make their cars look like this aftermarket so why not cash in on it from the factory.

4. More modern maybe but the Mustang is about heritige and American muscle nowadays. They were going to make a FWD Mustang based on a Mazda platform in the '90s but there was too much backlash. That car became the Ford Probe instead.

[Polyal]

Problem for FoMoCo now is what do they do for the next mustang? They have shot themselves in the foot. If they stay retro then thats just ridiculous, if they go new styling (which you would think is whats going to happen) then they are going to polarize peoples opinions.

Retro is good for motorshows and thats about it, you cant hold onto the past forever.

[Rev28K]

The RX8 seems to have more “chassis” then “power”…sounds like a DC2 ITR. Some of them have turned in fine lap times for a slightly underpowered 2+2. Some people in the US have labeled them “RX lates” because of their straight line performance, maybe they were talking about the autos. I still like them and love the double doors, Zagato bubble roof and rotary motifs.

Rumours of the 2 seater RX7 version with either a larger or an FI engine seem to have dropped off which is a shame. Look at the potential of the SP turbo show car RX8.

It’s a shame that the latest model ‘Stang (and Shelbys) didn’t come out with the planned IRS. Remember back to when Ford were thinking of replacing the Mustang with a Probe/MX6 and before that the SVO 4 cyl turbo version? I think that won’t happen for some time because the hero car of the range is aimed at customers that want RWD (and torque from an easily hotted up engine).

If the original Mustang was sometimes labelled a “secretary’s car” especially the 6 cylinder models then the RX8 is definitely comparable.

[mcnews]

The RX8 is the most impressively designed car I have ever sampled. I never expected to like it but every minute I spent with it I found something else surprising that I liked. The interior is so well packaged, it is beautifully comfortable and an adult can actually sit in the back without holding their breath, storage places everywhere, it is just so incredibley clever. I liked the 350Z Nissan more from the outside but the inside design is just plain dumb, two seats, bugger all storage, just plain jane dumb design. The interior designers of the RX8 must be the smartest such folk in the world I reckon. It really is awesome how accommadating they have made that interior. The coming Turbo RX8 I expect will be incredible. As it is the car is big time fun for a sporting driver, but with a snail on it to give it some bottom and mid range it will be soooo hard not to go into hock and buy one.

[STHSV8]

i'm with jucy there is something not quite right about the rx8, its not far off looking like a hyundai they could have done a better job.

[sleekism]

I think the RX8 is nearly perfect.
Its affordable, stlish, RWD coupe with 2+2 seating the only thing thats missing is a V8 donk.

Hmmm I wonder if you could fit a BOSS 302 in the tight engine bay.

Does anyone know of the dimensions im assuming its tight because its built for a rotary and I guess a 5L would mess up the 50:50 weight.

Maybe the next RX8 and Mustang can be built on the same platform......

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by sleekism

I think the RX8 is nearly perfect.
Its affordable, stlish, RWD coupe with 2+2 seating the only thing thats missing is a V8 donk.

Hmmm I wonder if you could fit a BOSS 302 in the tight engine bay.

Does anyone know of the dimensions im assuming its tight because its built for a rotary and I guess a 5L would mess up the 50:50 weight.

Maybe the next RX8 and Mustang can be built on the same platform......

All it needs is a turbo, and you can get kits for it anyway.

Mazda are apparently putting a big effort into the next one, should be good.

[sleekism]

Come on Ford you own Mazda go get some help from those crazy japs.....

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Come on Ford you own Mazda go get some help from those crazy japs.....

Well I think things will get better, some good products are coming out. Everything in Europe looks hot, orion will be similar, and America are taking baby steps.

[AU dude]

1. Toyota Altezza or IS300, for whatever country your in.
2. Yes
3. Mazda copied Toyota with the tail light design. The Altezza started it all so, it really is the best car with them on, but i guess every car maker copies every other car maker.