The RX-8 is arguably the creme de la creme of the one-time Ford-owned import company Mazda. The owner is also not your average tuner, a fact well-attested to by the fully customized vinyl wraps that make her car look like something out of “The Fast and the Furious,” although quite at home in the less-star-studded department of motor vehicles.
Brittany Donohue was faced with the real-world travails of car ownership. In 2008, after its transmission was changed three times, her Honda Accord was badly in need of replacement. Instead of taking her search to the local dealer lots, she opted to visit local car shows, where a wide variety of makes and models would be available for study and closer inspection.
“I’ve always loved cars. Ever since I can remember, it was never Barbie dolls I was playing with. I always had my Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars on hand, even in church,” Donohue said.
As she visited different shows, she was struck by one particular model — the sleek and newly designed RX-8. As she circled the car to get a better look, a young man was circling to get a better look at her. Gathering up his nerve, he approached to ask whether the car was hers. When she told him it wasn’t, he offered to take her for a ride in his, and the rest was history. Donohue got the boy. And on Christmas morning of 2008, with some intervention from her new love interest, Donohue got the car as well, a 2006 Mazda RX-8.
As vinyl graphics become more passe with each year, with many tuners saving their pennies to opt for custom paint jobs, vinyl has to be bigger and bolder than ever to compete. The unique exterior wrap on Donohue’s RX-8 came courtesy of boyfriend Brandon, whose professional work in the field became the inspiration for Donohue’s bubblegum pop vinyl wrap. Adding to this theme, the interior trim had been selectively painted pink to match portions of the exterior vinyl. Even the calipers and parking lights are pink.
To give the headlights a more aggressive look, Donohue had fashioned vinyl “eyebrows” sloping upward toward the quarter panels, while a custom pink carbon fiber inlay gives the boring factory stereo fascia new life.
A 10-inch Kenwood subwoofer is assisted by a 500-watt Kenwood amplifier, which operates directly through the factory head unit. And when she hits the road, her treads are a foursome of 18-inch KDR wheels, which help fill out the wells and prevent embarrassing wheel gap from ruining her style.
Donohue said her greatest challenge with the car has been the disadvantage of age, experience and a paycheck to afford her more expensive upgrades.
“I work as a server and the money isn’t exactly pouring in,” Donohue said. “I take everything one step at a time.”
What do you drive? A 2006 Mazda RX-8.
Why do you drive it? It fits me in every way, shape and form. It’s also pretty fun to see the looks on people’s faces when I drive by.
What makes this car so special? Brandon and I have been dating now for about half a year, and he talked my father into getting me my car for Christmas. He test-drove it and everything for my dad and got him to bring it home for me. Within the month, I got my graphics on it, and everyone says my car is so me. I love it so much!
What is your most memorable driving experience? The first drive in it, of course. I had a smile from ear to ear, and we still left the big red bow on it going down Route 40 at 8:30 in the morning until we had to pull over because it was flying off. That bow stayed in my car for the first couple of months.
What is the first car you owned? The first car I owned was my ’98 Honda Accord coupe V-6.
What music are you currently listening to in your car? My favorite band is The Audition.
And your first ticket? What was it for? Speeding in my old Jeep. I was up in Harford County [Md.], and the cop pulled a U-turn on me.
