BIG IN JAPAN
‘Very comfortable & practical’ modern classic that Jeremy Clarkson hailed as ‘perfect’ can be bought for under £8,000
Despite its tiny engine, the little sports car packs plenty of punch
A MODERN classic sports car that was once described as "perfect" by Jeremy Clarkson can now be yours for £8,000 and under.
The second-hand bargain was a huge hit with the former Top Gear host when he first tested it in 2003.
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The sports car in question is the Mazda RX-8, built between 2003 and 2012 as a rival to the Honda S2000 and the Nissan 350Z, and as a sibling to the iconic MX-5.
Much to the surprise of car fans upon its release, it boasted a small 1.3-litre motor and was the last of Mazda's production road cars to have the famous Wankel rotary engine, before it re-emerged as a generator for the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV plug-in hybrid in 2023.
Capable of hitting up to 227 bhp, the RX-8 can reach 60 mph in around six seconds, while its top speed is around 148 mph.
Power aside, the the Japanese coupe can surprise in other ways - not least in practicality.
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In his , Clarkson praised the RX-8 for being the "best of both worlds" - by being a sporty coupe that also had enough room in its backseats for small children.
Adding to that, the motoring legend said at the time: "On the downside, the styling is a bit fussy.
"On the upside though, it's got a great engine, it makes a great noise, it goes like stink, it's very comfortable, it's practical, it's well-priced, and it's well equipped."
Behind the wheel, Clarkson waxed lyrical on the RX-8's handling, saying: "This is one of the easiest cars to drive fast that I've ever come across; it's just so forgiving.
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"It's kind of like a punch bag, you can give it absolute hell and it just never fights back.
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"It's got the perfect layout; front engine, rear wheel drive with a limited slip differential."
Summarising the RX-8 as "sensational", Clarkson said: "You get all the benefits of the coupe with none of the drawbacks, and all the practicality of a saloon with none of the tedium.
"Of all the cars I've driven this year, I'm pretty sure this one is the best."
Sales of the RX-8 ended in 2010 in Europe after it failed to meet emission standards, and - aside from the MX-5 Roadster - Mazda have yet to build a replacement sports car.
Today, drivers keen to pick up an RX-8 can buy them second-hand for as little as £2,500, although it's strongly recommended that potential buyers look for a low mileage example with a proven record of good ownership.
To this end, a 2008 model with around 25,000 miles on the clock can be found for around £8,000, as per .
Petrolheads looking for something similar to the RX-8 might be keen on two other modern classics that for under £10,000 - including a stylish Porsche.
Elsewhere, drivers looking for something a bit more economical can find four fuel efficient motors for under £3k that’ll save £100s every year.
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