2004 Mazda RX-8 Review Arkansas

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Introduction

Mazda RX-8 -- 2004 Review: Fantasy and reality are normally mutually exclusive concepts. Think of the Hollywood stars that comprise your "list," and now gaze over at your significant other. Imagine the exotic locale at which you most wish you could be relaxing with your favorite ice-cold beverage in hand, and now stare ahead at the brake lights of creeping morning rush-hour traffic while you're late to your eight o'clock meeting. Dream of slicing through canyons on perfect blacktop two-lane, and then go look in the garage at your humdrum sedan.

Wait a minute. Rewind to that last fantasy vs. reality scenario. Mazda's got you covered with the RX-8 sports car. Sometimes, fantasy can become reality.

A sports car and a family car in one package

Seriously, the Mazda RX-8 is a true sports car, but with four doors and room aboard for four average-sized adults. Even the trunk is configured to meet the requirements of a daily driver, if not a family road tripper. If there's anything to complain about here, it's a dearth of engine power at low revs, natural design concessions given the RX-8's dual-intent mission, and cartoonish styling that appeals from few angles.

Stylish, but not attractive

Perhaps too stylish for its own good, the Mazda RX-8 is most handsome in profile, with its smiley face front end and boy-racer taillights hidden from view. The front fenders bulge prominently, and side gills add visual interest. The simple five-spoke alloy wheels on our test car, part of the highly recommended Sport package, are gorgeous. In front, the RX-8 possesses a disconcerting smile through its five-point air intake and narrow, upswept headlamps, looking more like a toothless, angry, Bozo the Clown than a menacing sports car. At the rear, especially from a three-quarter viewpoint, we're reminded of the Studebaker Avanti, a groundbreaking design that, in various permutations, lasted about three decades longer than it should have. Beautiful, like the 1993-95 RX-7, the RX-8 is not, but at least it's got style and won't get lost in a crowd.

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Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
Service Rd
Bend, OK
http://www.getsavy.com/

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.