Everyone has a dream car. At least it’s safe to assume anyone taking the time from their day to read this blog would. This week Nathan Holt, a programmer here at our headquarters of awesome took the plunge into owning his. Nate had this to say about his new ride:
“Ever since 2004 when Mazda began production on the RX8, my head would turn every time I saw one cruising down the street. The rotary engine is quick, revving at lightening speeds and providing the wheels with immediate power, and the exterior is just damn sexy!
Since the transmission on my old car was dying, I found an excuse to get myself a sweet new ride! It is a 2008 RX8 40th Anniversary Edition with the appearance package, polished rotary accents, rear spoiler, and fender strakes; this includes the front air dams, the side aero flares, and the rear flares; the interior of the vehicle has copper-red and black leather seats, which is just icing on the cake. The cake is what is under the hood: a 1.3-liter dual-rotary RENISIS engine that is controlled by a 6-speed manual transmission.
Immediately after driving the beast off the lot, I took it on a predetermined circuit that I had previously mapped out just for the occasion. To sample its cornering limits and suspension, I zoomed around the cloverleaf onto the freeway. I shifted through all its gears along the straights of the freeway and Maple Valley, cruised over the scenic-north along Lake Sammamish, and returned through the twisty hills of Paradise Lake where the DTCS probably kicked in and saved me from my over zealousness. This car is simply amazing!
Here at Turn 10 there is a rivalry between the rotary engine and the piston engine, and I have to admit, I am a little biased toward the rotary not just because of its simplicity and aesthetics, but for its power and thrill. Now since I have obtained my dream car, the rotary fan club has just earned a lifetime member.”
Nate's outstanding RX-8 wasn’t the only new ride to find its way into the Turn 10 parking lot this week. Our resident drift expert Landin Williams found himself writing a check for an astonishingly mint 1985 AE86 Corolla complete with everything you need to get all sorts of sideways. Also newcomer Aaron Brooks claimed a beautiful Black 1995 BMW E36 M3 Coupe. Aaron originally had his eye on a 4-door M3, but after a persuasive conversation with his wife changed his focus to the two door. Both vehicles are true enthusiasts’ cars once hailed as break through advancements in their own time which, sadly, are becoming harder and harder to find.
Which car takes the cake for best new addition to our ever growing collection? It’s actually a much closer call than you might expect. All are well sorted, respectable FR machines designed more for high RPM action than stump pulling torque and yet each has a style all its own. Despite how ‘JDM tight’ Landin might claim his Corolla to be Nate’s Mazda is an undeniably classy choice, an all around package… even if it is missing a few cam shafts!