kvc@scgvaxd.UUCP (Kevin Carosso) (10/12/85)
I went down to the local Mazda dealer yesterday to check out the new
RX-7's. I got some prices and drove a GXL. The factory list for both
the sport version and the luxury version (GS and LX) is about $13,100
without options. The GXL they had was listed at $19,000, but had all
the options I think you can get (back seat, auto transmission, and leather).
The base car and the GS and LX seem pretty reasonable. The GXL seems
to be very expensive. Dealer markup on all the cars was a uniform
$2000. (This is in the Los Angeles area, probably different elsewhere).
The $17,800 estimate on the base GXL that was mentioned earlier is
probably pretty accurate.
The only one they had driveable yet was the GXL. It was very nice, though
I didn't get a good idea of the power since it had an automatic and I
didn't like it's idea of where to shift. It corners incredibly quickly.
The back end seems to snap right around the curve. You can also whip it
from lane to lane very fast. I like the handling, and can't wait to test
drive the sport suspension with the 5-speed.
The biggest disappointment is the sunroof. It now slides back, and you don't
get more than about 8 inches (if that) of space in the roof when fully open!
My '79 comes all the way out and is great for cruising about in the sun.
Oh well... I'm off to find the new R&T article...
/Kevin Carosso {allegra|ihnp4|seismo}!scgvaxd!engvax!kvc
Hughes Aircraft Co.