I was thinking, why is the RX8 so heavy? It is a sports car, so I assume that Mazda tried to make it fairly lightweight. It has back wheel drive, instead of all-wheel drive, that saves weight. It has a rotary engine, which reduces weight compared to a piston engine. It isn't 4 doors, yet it isn't a coupe.

Yet, it is still over 3000 pounds.



Can anyone enlighten me as to why it is this heavy.

I would think it should be more in the range of 2800.

Maybe, I should say, I wish that it was in the range of 2800.

Any ideas???

4 doors and a backseat add a decent amount of weight and current safety standards probably add a few pounds as well (side airbags).
3000 pounds isn't that heavy for a four door car with a back seat.

I would expect the next RX7 to come in at or well under the 2800 pound mark.

I would think that due to the lack of B-Pillars, the center reinforced tunnel would be much heavier than normal.

Then consideration has to be taken for the rigidity of the car and it's capability in running much more power than stock levels. I would think that would add weight also.

Either way, it's still much lighter than a G35c.

It's lighter than a typical AWD car, and heavier than a typical FWD car...what do you expect? FWD - Lightest, RWD- Middle, AWD- Heaviest.

Now a light car is the new lotus. 2000lbs? imagine it with a RENESIS. :)

3000+llb is a speced car with full tank of fuel and driver.

Look here :
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12268

2860 llb race weight.

So there :P

Originally posted by Tronics
Now a light car is the new lotus. 2000lbs? imagine it with a RENESIS. :)

Bah your lotus elise is lardy, ours is only 1650 llbs :P

Caterham r500 is only 990llb tho !

Im sure you damn brits don't want us have a better lotus than you guys, haters ;) . Please get over the american revolution, it was a while ago, can't we just be friends?

Originally posted by Tronics
Im sure you damn brits don't want us have a better lotus than you guys, haters ;) . Please get over the american revolution, it was a while ago, can't we just be friends?

Bah, you get a car thats is same hp/weigth as our new Exige S2 but for less than we pay for a speced 118bhp elise :P

Originally posted by RobDickinson
Bah, you get a car thats is same hp/weigth as our new Exige S2 but for less than we pay for a speced 118bhp elise :P

How much less? Is that with the exchange rates?

It's all about execution. The RX8 certainly is NOT heavy for a modern production RWD vehicle with a backseat and VERY rigid unibody and frame.

The 350Z and G35c are great cars in their own right, but they certainly are much heavier (3200-3300 for a Z and 3400+ for a G35c). The extra weight means stiffer springs, shocks, and suspension; lager brakes; and more power to meet the requirements to move, stop, and turn those cars.

The suspension and "feel" of all the components together were my main complaints when driving them in comparison comparing to the 8 -- much "heavier", less "lively", and less "responsive" driving experience than the 8.

Suicide doors and related structural reinforcements. If it was two doors, it would mopst likely be significantly lighter.

The "popular options model weighs 3,029 lbs. If you add a spare tire, it would weigh around 3,075 lbs. The WRX (a mass-market car) weighs 3,085 lbs. and has a turbo powered engine, AWD and seating for five. The rotary's weight savings measures are nearly negated completely by the excess weight added from its attempt for mass-market appeal.

Originally posted by revhappy
Suicide doors and related structural reinforcements. If it was two doors, it would mopst likely be significantly lighter.

The "popular options model weighs 3,029 lbs. If you add a spare tire, it would weigh around 3,075 lbs. The WRX (a mass-market car) weighs 3,085 lbs. and has a turbo powered engine, AWD and seating for five. The rotary's weight savings measures are nearly negated completely by the excess weight added from its attempt for mass-market appeal.


The RX-8 has features that are not available in the WRX and they add weight, all the safety features (Airbags) the Xenon lights (with auto leveling), 6 speeds instead of 5, a longer wheelbase 106 vs 99, better quality materials (most likely heavier) used on the interior, leather (which probably weighs more than fabric) 18 inch wheels/tires, larger brake rotors, Navigation system, 9 speakers instead of 6. auto dimming mirror with Homelink, heated seats, nice interior lighting, a magnificent wiring harness, etc... I'll bet this all adds up.

By the way in a comparo test in Car and driver between the RX-8, G35C and Mustang (Cobra I think) they said the RX-8 has great handling BECAUSE of it's light weight that cannot be duplicated no matter how wide the tires etc....

The S2000 is 2700+ lbs and does not have rear seats and metal roof! All things considered the '8' is about the right weight

Originally posted by 6speed8
The RX-8 has features that are not available in the WRX and they add weight, all the safety features (Airbags) the Xenon lights (with auto leveling), 6 speeds instead of 5, a longer wheelbase 106 vs 99, better quality materials (most likely heavier) used on the interior, leather (which probably weighs more than fabric) 18 inch wheels/tires, larger brake rotors, Navigation system, 9 speakers instead of 6. auto dimming mirror with Homelink, heated seats, nice interior lighting, a magnificent wiring harness, etc... I'll bet this all adds up.

By the way in a comparo test in Car and driver between the RX-8, G35C and Mustang (Cobra I think) they said the RX-8 has great handling BECAUSE of it's light weight that cannot be duplicated no matter how wide the tires etc....

The S2000 is 2700+ lbs and does not have rear seats and metal roof! All things considered the '8' is about the right weight

I believe the WRX has most of those items (front and side airbags, auto dimming mirror, etc.). You say it has a longer wheelbase, but the WRX offers better rear passenger seating, so that claim is kind of irrelevant.

As for the other things (which don't add the bulk of the weight IMHO - the suicide doors and the realted bracing does), are they really necessary in a sporty coupe? I guess that's why there are different trims available again.

Again I'm not saying the RX8 is a bad car, I just think if they made it a two door it would have looked and performed better.

Originally posted by revhappy
I believe the WRX has most of those items (front and side airbags, auto dimming mirror, etc.). You say it has a longer wheelbase, but the WRX offers better rear passenger seating, so that claim is kind of irrelevant.

As for the other things (which don't add the bulk of the weight IMHO - the suicide doors and the realted bracing does), are they really necessary in a sporty coupe? I guess that's why there are different trims available again.

Again I'm not saying the RX8 is a bad car, I just think if they made it a two door it would have looked and performed better.

The longer wheelbase means there is more metal between the wheels and allows the engine mounted mid front, yet the WRX and the EVO are both longer than the RX-8. This increased length is mostly made up of overhang, which is mostly rubber bumper cover. As for the looks, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but IMO it is no contest in regards to either the WRX and the EVO, both look like (and are) economy cars with added on parts (including turbos). Any car under 3000 lbs that can comfortably seat 4 people (and the base RX-8 is 2940) is a remarkable acheivement regardless of cost.

THe RX-8 does not share an econobox platform and is a specific made automobile. As for 'performance' once again there is more to any car than just acceleration. It's just as well the RX-8 isn't blindingly fast because it gives all the onlookers that crane their necks to see it, a little extra to enjoy the car.

on a separate note:

I stopped at a Mitsubishi dealer on Saturday to claim a free prize from a mailer that I received. When I pulled up (with my gf) there were 4 salespeople standing in front, and they drooled over the RX-8. They asked me to open the doors, they crawled in , looked under the hood and went over it inch by inch. They also thought it was a 37-38k dollar car. When I told them the price their jaws dropped. Yeah theses are the people trying to sell the EVOs that were less than 20 ft away. Need I say any more?

Originally posted by 6speed8
The longer wheelbase means there is more metal between the wheels and allows the engine mounted mid front, yet the WRX and the EVO are both longer than the RX-8. This increased length is mostly made up of overhang, which is mostly rubber bumper cover. As for the looks, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but IMO it is no contest in regards to either the WRX and the EVO, both look like (and are) economy cars with added on parts (including turbos). Any car under 3000 lbs that can comfortably seat 4 people (and the base RX-8 is 2940) is a remarkable acheivement regardless of cost.

Ahh...but the S2000 has a MUCH shorter wheelbase, yet has a similar placement of the engine. In addition, an extra-long wheelbase in relation to the total length of the car makes the car look "weird". IMHO, if the rear seat passnger room was not an issue, the car and wheelbase would be a bit shorter.

The "Sport Package" RX8 was weighed in at 2,983 lbs. by a board member awhile back. That is without the spare tire. Put the spare tire back in (to compare to most cars) and its around 3,030 lbs. Not terrific for a high reving sports car, but good for a sports sedan (exluding the rally-inspired cars of course).


Originally posted by 6speed8
THe RX-8 does not share an econobox platform and is a specific made automobile. As for 'performance' once again there is more to any car than just acceleration. It's just as well the RX-8 isn't blindingly fast because it gives all the onlookers that crane their necks to see it, a little extra to enjoy the car.

on a separate note:

I stopped at a Mitsubishi dealer on Saturday to claim a free prize from a mailer that I received. When I pulled up (with my gf) there were 4 salespeople standing in front, and they drooled over the RX-8. They asked me to open the doors, they crawled in , looked under the hood and went over it inch by inch. They also thought it was a 37-38k dollar car. When I told them the price their jaws dropped. Yeah theses are the people trying to sell the EVOs that were less than 20 ft away. Need I say any more? [/B]

If a specifically-designed automobile is not better than one derived off another platform (strictly performance here), then I really don't care where it evolved from. That's why I'm comfortable with the theory of evolution. :)

I'm sorry the RX8 is not "a great sports car with everything except acceleration". Your smooth, nice and comfortable ride, comes with a price: understeer and body-roll. Its been noted in the magazines (and me personally). Again, it is very good when compared to sports sedans..so-so when you compare it to true sports cars (and the EVO and STI).

Impressing salesman isn't something to brag about. The Subie Finance Manager (I was with my friend buiying his WRX) didn't know the EVO was AWD! :eek:

Originally posted by revhappy
The "Sport Package" RX8 was weighed in at 2,983 lbs. by a board member awhile back.On the scales at San Antonio Raceway, my Sport Package with 1/4-tank of gas and the spare removed (i.e. in "autocross trim") weighed in at 2860lb.

Originally posted by revhappy
Ahh...but the S2000 has a MUCH shorter wheelbase, yet has a similar placement of the engine. In addition, an extra-long wheelbase in relation to the total length of the car makes the car look "weird". IMHO, if the rear seat passnger room was not an issue, the car and wheelbase would be a bit shorter.

The "Sport Package" RX8 was weighed in at 2,983 lbs. by a board member awhile back. That is without the spare tire. Put the spare tire back in (to compare to most cars) and its around 3,030 lbs. Not terrific for a high reving sports car, but good for a sports sedan (exluding the rally-inspired cars of course).




If a specifically-designed automobile is not better than one derived off another platform (strictly performance here), then I really don't care where it evolved from. That's why I'm comfortable with the theory of evolution. :)

I'm sorry the RX8 is not "a great sports car with everything except acceleration". Your smooth, nice and comfortable ride, comes with a price: understeer and body-roll. Its been noted in the magazines (and me personally). Again, it is very good when compared to sports sedans..so-so when you compare it to true sports cars (and the EVO and STI).

Impressing salesman isn't something to brag about. The Subie Finance Manager (I was with my friend buiying his WRX) didn't know the EVO was AWD! :eek:



yes it understeers when pushed, so does a 350Z and a Porsche, so what? You seem almost bitter toward the RX-8, so why do you hang out here? you are obsessed with 'performance' and trhat's fine. Do you care that the time you spend enjoying the car is INSIDE it? I do and prefer to have a nice interior, since that's where I will be between redlights.

Enjoy your EVOlutionary car, as I will enjoy my Revolutionary one.

The xtra heaft comes from saftey, comfort, and advanced technological features and devices.

This is a comparison that i wish would just GO AWAY!!!!

FACT: WRX is a damn SPORT SEDAN

FACT: RX-8 a damn SPORTS CAR.


GET over the weight issue if you want the damn thing lighter rip out the seats and all the intirior lose your big ass wheels, oh and while your at it why dont you guys that are bitching about the weight of your 8 just sell the car if its that big of a deal to you.
The fact of the matter is, with the safty standards always getting stricter in the states you can count on the weights to continue to go up especially if you are going to make a 200+ hp, 150 mph hot rod that MANY 17,18,19, year old KIDS will be able to get their hands on.

GOOD GOD the WRX is a sedan so quit comparing it to a sports car.

Originally posted by Jhouse
GOOD GOD the WRX is a sedan so quit comparing it to a sports car.

Depends on your definition of sports car doesnt it? Scooby WRX has been involved in a lot more motorsport than the RX-8 will ever be.


IMO A 'sports' car should be a one or two seater, with low weight (under 2500llb) and very high power/weight (350bhp/ton up).

Should be able to be tracked all day without toasting brakes etc.

Very few showroom cars actualy fall into my definition. Oh, I get my RX-8 in 2 weeks.

I don't want to sound like i'm flaming anyone here but im sorry, i dont car if the wrx is a 1000 lbs. 400 hp rocket.

it is still a SEDAN period.

ps and did i mention FUGLY!!!!

Originally posted by eccles
On the scales at San Antonio Raceway, my Sport Package with 1/4-tank of gas and the spare removed (i.e. in "autocross trim") weighed in at 2860lb.

However, that's not curb weight (to compare against other cars).

Converting to curb weight, we would do the following calculation:


.75 tank to fill * 15.9 gallon capacity:


11.925 Gallons * 6.5 lbs./gallon of gasoline = 77.5 lbs.

2,860 + 77.5 = 2,937.5

Adding a spare tire and tools would be another 45 lbs. or so.

Total Curb Weight of the Sports Package Model (with a spare and tools) = 2,983 lbs.

I'd like to see a few more cars get weighed, since a specific curb weight is not given by Mazda.

Sure its ugly. So what? I dont like it , I wont buy one.

But its looks are nothing to do with its performance, and its sport pedigre (of which the RX-8 has none).

I'm not suer how you can class the RX-8 and the WRX differently. Both have 4 doors, boot + high performance (and the RX-8 arguably looses in both real world performance and international competitions like the world rally championship).

Well this will be my final response to this one. Not only is it getting us rx-8 owners nowhere but i'd like to let senior member
rob feel good about himself and his secret love for the WRX.

IMO it is still a FUGLY sedan that isn't a sports car.

Now if you want to talk ralley car then fine, hail the WRX then.

Originally posted by Jhouse
Well this will be my final response to this one. Not only is it getting us rx-8 owners nowhere but i'd like to let senior member
rob feel good about himself and his secret love for the WRX.

IMO it is still a FUGLY sedan that isn't a sports car.

Now if you want to talk ralley car then fine, hail the WRX then.

OMG...someone also likes another car!!! "Ban the troll...ban him ban him.":o

I would never want to see anyone try to do world rally in the RX-8, it would get dirty and cover it's beauty. The WRX on the other hand NEEDS to be covered in dirt to hide it's appearance.

WRX, STI, and EVO are in a diffrent class than a RX-8. For one, WRX, STI, and EVO are AWD turbo cars, with 4 full doors and back seat. The RX-8 is a RWD NA car. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Another thing, you talk about understeer like you know what it is. You act as if the EVO is gods gift is to the auto industry. Car companies should just stop everything and make nothing but EVO's. I don't know of any races that involve FI and NA racing against each other.

Originally posted by Tronics
WRX, STI, and EVO are in a diffrent class than a RX-8. For one, WRX, STI, and EVO are AWD turbo cars, with 4 full doors and back seat. The RX-8 is a RWD NA car. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Another thing, you talk about understeer like you know what it is. You act as if the EVO is gods gift is to the auto industry. Car companies should just stop everything and make nothing but EVO's. I don't know of any races that involve FI and NA racing against each other.

You missed my point. IMHO, a four door/four passenger performance car is better suited for the AWD/tubro combination. A high reving NA engine is better suited for a 2 seat or 2X2 car.

This is from a pure performance view only and I fully realize the RX8 offers many unique qualities that make the car preferable for the owners. I FULLY SEE WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM AND RESPECT THEIR PREFERENCES ALTHOUGH MINE ARE DIFFERENT. The topic here is why the car weighs what it does and my responses are geared to that.

Originally posted by Jhouse
This is a comparison that i wish would just GO AWAY!!!!

FACT: WRX is a damn SPORT SEDAN

FACT: RX-8 a damn SPORTS CAR.


GET over the weight issue if you want the damn thing lighter rip out the seats and all the intirior lose your big ass wheels, oh and while your at it why dont you guys that are bitching about the weight of your 8 just sell the car if its that big of a deal to you.
The fact of the matter is, with the safty standards always getting stricter in the states you can count on the weights to continue to go up especially if you are going to make a 200+ hp, 150 mph hot rod that MANY 17,18,19, year old KIDS will be able to get their hands on.

GOOD GOD the WRX is a sedan so quit comparing it to a sports car.


So, how do you explain the Lotus Elise? :D Yeah, it's heavier here than in Europe, but it's still a light car. So is the 4 seater Toyota Celica at less than 2500 pounds. So is the Toyota MR-Spyder and so is the Miata.

The reason cars are getting porkier is because everyone WANTS their fricking 17 airbags and 22 cupholders and their power stink analyzers and their 35 inch wheels. They want their car to be like an RV and have every convenience of home and be safer than your mom's lap. A car like this should have very few "features". The feature is driving the car itself. It's a driver's car, not a family room.

Heavy cars make it harder to avoid accidents are worse on fuel economy, require more power, etc.

And why should we not complain about cars getting heavier? Just because you don't care?


By the way, I wouldn't say that the RX-8 is a SPORTS CAR any more than a 911. It's a GT. ;)


I don't understand why your pride gets so hurt when an RX-8 is compared to a WRX. It's not a bad car to have the RX-8 be compared to. It's hard to avoid comparing the RX-8 being about the same weight as the WRX, when the WRX has the heavier AWD, the heavier piston motor, all the airbags and features,etc.

FYI I think it is safe to say
I WAS TALKING ABOUT 2 CARS DESIGNED MORE AROUND AMERICAN STANDARDS, UNLIKE THE ELISE.

p.s. WRX is still FUGLY.

Originally posted by revhappy



I'm sorry the RX8 is not "a great sports car with everything except acceleration". Your smooth, nice and comfortable ride, comes with a price: understeer and body-roll. Its been noted in the magazines (and me personally). Again, it is very good when compared to sports sedans..so-so when you compare it to true sports cars (and the EVO and STI).



I disagree on the understeer statement. If you turn off the DSC the car is very balanced, I have a bit of oversteer actually. With the DSC on I have some understeer. There is nothing wrong with body roll, if done properly it can enhance grip. I bet that if canzoomer raced his "normalized 8" against the STi or EVo on the track the 8 would win no question. Even without the power the 8 has taken on EVOs and won at the AutoX tracks.

getting in before a possible lock!

Originally posted by Jhouse
[B]rob feel good about himself and his secret love for the WRX.

IMO it is still a FUGLY sedan that isn't a sports car.


I agree its ugly. One of the reasons I wont buy a WRX (one of several). And as we in UK have been messed about by mazda and had 5+ months of delays, if I was at all intrested in any other car in the price range I'd have that now.

Enjoy the RX-8 for what it is - as a complete package. Its not the best at anything. Its not the quickest, the best handling, best looking , or the most usefull car on the road, but as a combination of everything, for the price, its way ahead of anything else on offer.

I can pick another car that will do 1 or 2 things better than an RX-8 , for the same money, easily. Nothing does it all remotly close.

Okay let's look at the weight (and sports car moniker) one more time:

April 2003 Car and Driver:
The Verdict 'A genuine sports car that holds fout adults' - in that test (the RX-8 vs the G35C Vs the Mustang SVT Cobra) they say the 'RX-8 weighs 560 lbs less than the G35C and even 200 lbs less than the ... 911 Porsche'

April 2003 Road and Track -
'So what we have here is an excellent, civilized sports car that just happens to have four doors'

'Our testing sees 60 mph in 5.9 sec...a match for the Porsche Boxster and certainly quick by modern sports-car standards'

'Its a remarkably well finished and appealling interior at this, or any price point'


May 2003 Sports Car International -
'Mazda has developed a breakthrough sports car here'

on it's steering: '...all sports cars should be so well endowed'

'the car feels light, quick on its feet'

Ironically the Mitsu Evo is tested in the same issue, and not once is the word sports car used'


Modern sports car weights:
(these are base weights, the RX8 base weight = 2940 lbs)

2004 Audi TT = 3131 lbs
2004 MB SLK230 = 3627 lbs
2003 BMW Z4 = 2998 lbs
2003 Porsche Boxster = 2811 lbs
2003 Acura NSX = 3153 lbs
2003 Chevy Corvette = 3214 lbs
2003 Honda S-2000 = 2809 lbs

NOTE: these are all TWO seaters, if you add 2 more seats, 2 more doors and a solid roof, they would weigh MUCH more than an RX-8. So please spare us any comments on WEIGHT.