But the standard features are aplenty for this sleek coefficient of drag is 0.31 four door RX-8 Mazda with its exceptional turning radius of 34.8 feet.

2005 Mazda RX-8 (photo: Mazda)

There are plethora of them such as air conditioning, anti-theft protection, AM/FM CD, external temperature readouts, front airbags and occupant sensors, low tire pressure warning, low washer fluid level warning, remote power locks and key fob, speed proportional power steering, remote audio controls on the tilt adjusting leather steering wheel, six speakers, terrific sun visors that you can actually look through to see stop lights, variable wiper speeds, and a four year warranty with mileage restrictions. Mazda is now offering a Sirius Satellite Radio option that is always worth considering if you travel a great deal and it would be an improvement over the weak reception that the standard radio provides.

What attracted me most to the Mazda was its strange look. It is different and I think most women take notice of the unusual. It is not a graceful car, but it is not undignified either. There is some aggression to its front view and a little humor around its backside with its small, bustle like trunk. The roof has a double-bubble to it and the hood has a hormonal bulge that you can't ignore. The design is sort of like watching a symphonic orchestra at a concert. At first each section sounds confused and disjointed until the start to play and a captivating unison emerges.

Mazda calls it front and rear doors that open in opposite directions, Freestyle, but like my dad said, they are suicide doors to those familiar with the history of car design. They make getting into the back the easiest of any coupe, especially since there isn't any pillar in the way. I liked this idea in the Saturn coupe and I like it even more in the RX-8 for even if you don't usually carry extra passengers it makes getting to items in the back seat so much easier.

Driving the RX-8 is fairly simple with a very soft clutch that's only weakness is a high take up point that makes if uncomfortable at first. If they ever turbocharged this engine you would have a world-beater, but for now there is amply power at higher rpms. In the mid-range the rotary is not at its best so don't let the melodic tones of this engine lull you to sleep so you forget to shift it otherwise you aren't going to go anywhere for a couple of seconds until the rotary winds itself tighter.

Mom's view: The Mazda has head airbags and side thorax airbags for the front passengers, and curtain airbags front and rear as well as having a

2005 Mazda RX-8 (photo: The Car Family)

brake pedal that is designed to release in an accident to help prevent a broken ankle or leg. Crash test results are above average in all areas and the RX had the best roll over resistance rating given, which is to be expected in a sports car. In other words, for a light car it does very well in safety tests and when you add its maneuverability you have car that may relieve some of mom's worry about driving such a vehicle in a world filled with gas hoggish SUVs driving by cell phone yakking pilots unskilled in the use of rear view mirrors or turn signals. Can you guess my feeling about large SUVs?

The seats in front and back of the RX-8 are quite comfortable. You can even get in and out without much fuss compared to other coupes and sporty cars. Unfortunately, when you sit in back you cannot see what is happening up the road, but at least the rear windows push out so you can get a little air circulation.