So my summer bomber is an 83 GSL with a de Lorto carb on it.

The 8 felt Very similar to my 7 in a lot of ways, but also very different. Seems impossible, but maybe someone out there with an FB can relate? It took me quite a while to get used to the clutch and gear-ratios.

Heat: I don't really have an issue with this because of my location. It seemed hot in there. But at the end of the test drive I noticed the air-conditioner was on low(oops). On my 7, I never use it because it drops the idle and HP. Do you think it would have made a noticeable difference if it was off? (power-wise)

Visibility: I noticed that the shoulder check is a bit more laborious in this car than my FB. Comments? (note: this is not a complaint, just an observation).

Traction control: I took a sharp corner at a wicked speed with traction control OFF. The thing still felt like it was on rails. Where might the TC come into play?

All in all, a nice ride. My impression is that once I get used to it, it will feel as comfortable as my FB. Any comments from FB owners?

Thanks.

i took a corner hot the other day and the tcs light on the dash flickered on and of, telling me it decided to do something but i really didn't feel anything. it is very unobtrusive so you just might have missed it doing it's job:)

The visibility was definitely an issue with me. However, a couple of 1 1/2" stick on wide angle mirrors in the cornes of each rear view took care of that.

Also it took a good weeks worth of driving to start getting used to the short gears.

Well I don't have the TC or the DSC but I would suspect it would come on when things get hairy.

Like yesterday in the rain when I was turning left and sped up and went sideways :) or after when I left a light and my back tires bounced for a good 50 feet or so.

Originally posted by Literatii
Traction control: I took a sharp corner at a wicked speed with traction control OFF. The thing still felt like it was on rails. Where might the TC come into play?

Um, when you break traction? and when its switched ON!

The RX-8 sticks to the road, handles very well as you found out, its past those limits that DSC will intervene, and from what I hear its enough past the limits not to get in the way of spirited driving, only when things are going wrong.

At stop, turn your steering wheel to the left, then gas the engine and drop the clutch to burn out.

With DSC on, your car will behave very strangely.

I have noticed NO difference in power with the A/C on or off...My 2001 Turbo Golf used to bog down completely with the A/C on. I'm really glad it makes no difference in this car!!!

I have an FB, 83 GS. The Rx8 I test drove handled a hell of a lot better than my FB. It had a hell of a lot more power than my FB, but my FB have 146K on it. Great Car, can't wait to own one.

John

Originally posted by Dugless
The visibility was definitely an issue with me. However, a couple of 1 1/2" stick on wide angle mirrors in the cornes of each rear view took care of that.

Also it took a good weeks worth of driving to start getting used to the short gears.
I'm going to try and get side-mirror glass from the UK. Theirs has a crease down the center with the outer half angled out a bit.

A/C turns off with 65% throttle.