Ok picked it up, first things first some pics:
I really didn't think I would like it that much but i really did.
INTERIOR: Loved the red/black leather combo all be it slightly plasticy feeling. All the plastics were typical jap style not that great and a bit flimsy. Liked the gauges though, a nice blue glow.
ENIGINE BAY: Not impressed simply a big bit of black plastic covering a tiny wee rusty lump.
EXTERIOR: Love the look, the colour, the alloys were pretty bubbled but generally ok.
DRIVE: I was very impressed with this, takes a fair bit of revs to get started off, dont even think about moving off in second you will fail miserably. Its only the 190bhp version but it felt very quick up to 60 and kept on revving and revving it never seemed to stop. 5th gear was a bit of a let down though not much pick up at lower revs. One thing about the Rex you need to keep the revs high to get any kind of torque from the engine.
HANDLING: The Rex felt very tidy, nible and agile round the corners, the steering was light and I even managed to get the back end out at the roundabout.
VERDICT: I really liked the Rex I could definatly live with it if I had to swap the zed for something with more seats. I would miss the torque though and accelleration above 70mph.
I have to share a moment with the salesman that made me laugh though. He was one of these typical "know it all but knows nothing type", he was having a bit of banter with me about the zed, the converstation finished like this:
SALESMAN: "So Is everything in order under the hood of the RX-8" (kind of taking the **** and I recon he thought I was going through the tyre kicking motions)
SROBRIEN: "Yeah its fine, although the engines a bit small isn't it?" (jokingly)
SALEMAN: SNORT "I think you'll be surprised it will have a lot more power than the nissan"
SROBRIEN: "Hmmm I don't think so"
SALEMAN: "Emmm I think you'll find it does"
SROBRIEN: "Emmm I think you'll find it doesn't"
SALEMAN: "So what power is the nissan?"
SROBRIEN: "Just under 300"
SALESMAN: "Ah....ok your right then"
I would have thought being a car sales person you might want to indulge in a bit of market research from time to time.
R