:rant: Never posted until now. Compelled to do so because of my extreme disappointment that our beloved 8 has not received even the SLIGHTEST increase in HP or torque with the 2009 model revision.

Trust me I am no HP addict, I chose the 8 for all the usual reasons -- superb handling, style and rear seat utility. Just seems to me the 8 should be the FASTEST car in Mazda's stable, not a front wheel drive hatchback.

Mazda has truly squandered a great opportunity here to rectify an imbalance in the Universe. Agree or disagree?

Who cares?

disagree. They have an engine with 1.6L displacement in the stable. so it would be putting down about 250hp-270 to the ground with intake, exhaust in N/A form.

turbo that baby and your looking at 450-500 easily.

:rant: Never posted until now. Compelled to do so because of my extreme disappointment that our beloved 8 has not received even the SLIGHTEST increase in HP or torque with the 2009 model revision.

Trust me I am no HP addict, I chose the 8 for all the usual reasons -- superb handling, style and rear seat utility. Just seems to me the 8 should be the FASTEST car in Mazda's stable, not a front wheel drive hatchback.

Mazda has truly squandered a great opportunity here to rectify an imbalance in the Universe. Agree or disagree?

Actually the rx8 is the fastest car in their stable, just not the quickest to 60mph stock.

non-issue

I'm sure Mazda has squeezed just about everything they can from this engine without compromising regulations/emissions. If they could have made more usable power/torque then they would have - it's obvious to them that people want more power by now. That's why the 1.6l is under development. I would rather them dump more time/money into a significant change (which this new rotary would be) then try to squeeze another 3 or 4 hp out of the Renesis. It's only been 5 years...

Wow, great first post. :uhh:

The Universe is not in balance because of the MS8. :lol:

blah blah blah, our cars aren't powerful enough whaaa whaaa. so don't buy a new one. Problem solved.

disagree. They have an engine with 1.6L displacement in the stable. so it would be putting down about 250hp-270 to the ground with intake, exhaust in N/A form.

turbo that baby and your looking at 450-500 easily.

I would like to bet it will be 215-225 whp out of the box. Look at how much Mazda boasted the RX8 numbers then had to change them. Then there is so much loss in the drivetrain as well.

Actually the rx8 is the fastest car in their stable, just not the quickest to 60mph stock.

Not quite.

My buddies with bone stock MS6 and MS3 destroy my car in a line. Soon the MS Miata will trounce all over the RX8 as well.

Best of all, these cars are all more reliable and easier to maintain. I should have gotten a MS6.

I would like to bet it will be 215-225 whp out of the box. Look at how much Mazda boasted the RX8 numbers then had to change them. Then there is so much loss in the drivetrain as well.

and the sad thing about that is even at that improved output I bet the mass majority still wouldn't be satisfied by the time it's competitors rolls out as well. I had an 05 S2K with probably that amt of whp and it felt just as slow as our 8's. It certainly isn't the rush of turbo power so I hope the people do not expect the same for the upcoming 16x. To put this in another perspective, how many of you test drove a 350z and can actually say that VQ35 is fast? That doesn't feel fast to me and maybe it's because I drove an STi beforehand, but 278 NA hp and no push in your seat feeling? I suspect the current VQ power is what one would feel when the 16x debuts.

And I doubt Mazda would do another turbo route again. Let's hope that at least the supposive 16x does respond well to your typical bolt-ons unlike our wrung out renny.

Not quite.

My buddies with bone stock MS6 and MS3 destroy my car in a line. Soon the MS Miata will trounce all over the RX8 as well.

Best of all, these cars are all more reliable and easier to maintain. I should have gotten a MS6.

Yes, it sounds like you probably should have.

hp is an issue with me.

sure im happy with my 180-190whp. but if my car had 350z level hp i'd be, uh.. my happiness would be cranked to 11.

Not quite.

My buddies with bone stock MS6 and MS3 destroy my car in a line. Soon the MS Miata will trounce all over the RX8 as well.

Best of all, these cars are all more reliable and easier to maintain. I should have gotten a MS6.

Its my understanding that all traditional piston engines can beat the rotary off the line due to torque,but the rotary should be able to pull away from most cars from 60-100+ MPH :dunno:

hmmm, I'll let you guys dream of owning a MS3 and MS6 while I pwn your whiny asses with 300 - 350 whp in my 8.

Its my understanding that all traditional piston engines can beat the rotary off the line due to torque,but the rotary should be able to pull away from most cars from 60-100+ MPH :dunno:

You'd be incorrect. The Rx-8 still has 130-140 tq PEAK. So while it has a wide powerband, the acceleration is just as anemic from a dead stop as it is when you're rolling. Torque = acceleration even from a roll.

You'd be incorrect. The Rx-8 still has 130-140 tq PEAK. So while it has a wide powerband, the acceleration is just as anemic from a dead stop as it is when you're rolling. Torque = acceleration even from a roll.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

yeah.. I'm sorry to say it. But you can gain quite a bit of torque with a turbo. We've seen over 250 rwtq with the greddy kit.

hmmm, I'll let you guys dream of owning a MS3 and MS6 while I pwn your whiny asses with 300 - 350 whp in my 8.

Not doubting that, but I think ATP has a turbo upgrade kit for the MS3 and MS6 that nets 400whp.

Keep browsing, John.

Not doubting that, but I think ATP has a turbo upgrade kit for the MS3 and MS6 that nets 400whp.

Sometimes I think there are too many people who look at numbers alone, as if numbers make a car.

There's a huge difference between a sporty sedan or sub-compact and a sports car. Seating position is only one aspect of it. Also don't forget that the MS3 is FWD and the MS6 can only put 50% power to the rear wheels.

Universe still not in balance ?

it actually might be accelerating

im a realist.......and i almost guarantee that every one on this forum would like more power.....if not they wouldnt mod so much......if you say you wouldnt like more power than your a liar.....or your just lying to your self. even though the 8 is a little underpowered it still a blast to drive, and looks badass. kinda off topics but.... im still not used to people looking at me while driving.......im like what the hell are you looking at and my wife says "theyre looking at your car....duh", i say oh yeah.....

I am disapointed that Mazda ignores their customers for more HP. They had 5years to improve the engine and did nothing!

Shame, shame, shame...

I want the rx8 to earn more respect from other people and other car companies. In my eyes the rx8 is a legend, everyone that knows what the car is recognizes it for its uniqueness, everyone who doesn't have a faint clue as to what the rx8 praises it's beauty. I like the rx8 just the way it is, let mazda develop the new engine and throw it into a new chassis, we need another legend in the books.

bitch bitch bitch

actually the fact that we have the rx-8 at all is an act of the gods. Ford tried to kill off the rotary after the rx-7, so when the engineers didn't get paid to develop a new engine, they did it on their own time and came up with something good enough to persuade ford into continuing rotary production. I still think we need a factory made turboed rotary tho, maybe the 1.6 will be it.

Who cares?

Thank you.

"The Z may be faster, but the RX-8 is the better sports car."—Edmunds.com, 350Z vs RX-8 shootout

How many times have we read quotes like this over the past five years? Happily, the universe—well, at least the sports car universe—is very much in balance. Whether you see it or not is another matter.

Amen.

why can the ms6 only put 50% of its power to the rear wheels? is it awd?

^The MazdaSpeed 6? I think so yeah.

Thank you, I am well aware the accolades our 8 has generated from the automotive press over the years -- deservedly so.

That doesn't mean one cannot hope for improvement. Five years into its life cycle Mazda refuses to offer even a modest increase in HP and torque even though it has done so for 2 lesser cars in its stable.

Instead the "much anticipated 2009 model unveiling" in Detroit revealed revised rear suspension, improved seats and cosmetic tweaks -- but still the exact same HP numbers.

If a small company in West Palm Beach (Pettit)could come up with a modest, reliable supercharging solution for our 8, don't tell me Mazda couldn't come up with something along the same lines after 5 years, as well.

Sometimes I think there are too many people who look at numbers alone, as if numbers make a car.

There's a huge difference between a sporty sedan or sub-compact and a sports car. Seating position is only one aspect of it. Also don't forget that the MS3 is FWD and the MS6 can only put 50% power to the rear wheels.

I completely agree with you. LOL. We could have this argument of AWD vs RWD for years.

I just get PO'd that Im driving the "flagship" of Mazda and yet 2 other cars romp it in acceleration, about the add the MS Miata. I really wished they would have given it some more quality parts; tranny for one, and taken more time to get the Renesis working a bit better.

im a realist.......and i almost guarantee that every one on this forum would like more power.....if not they wouldnt mod so much......if you say you wouldnt like more power than your a liar.....or your just lying to your self. even though the 8 is a little underpowered it still a blast to drive, and looks badass. kinda off topics but.... im still not used to people looking at me while driving.......im like what the hell are you looking at and my wife says "theyre looking at your car....duh", i say oh yeah.....

I agreed with you a 100%. If giving a choice everyone would like more power/torque on any car .

I would like to have a situation in which the sales person tells you , pick this car or this car, same exact car with different HP . Who would select the one with less HP?

RX8 400 HP or RX8 240 HP

Please make a selection ........

I agreed with you a 100%. If giving a choice everyone would like more power/torque on any car .

I would like to have a situation in which the sales person tells you , pick this car or this car, same exact car with different HP . Who would select the one with less HP?

RX8 400 HP or RX8 240 HP

Please make a selection ........

and what about the mileage?

and what about the mileage?

Let keep it about the same .... here I'll give you # , 16 mpg - 18 mpg which is what I get .

Let keep it about the same .... here I'll give you # , 16 mpg - 18 mpg which is what I get .

well if everything else was the exact same then obviously you would go with the higher HP.

well if everything else was the exact same then obviously you would go with the higher HP.

Thank You .......:)

Thank You .......:)

It's like if a company offered you either 50K/year or 100K/year as your starting salary...I wonder which one you would pick...

Who cares?


I do

Yes this is the most enjoyable car I have owned. It handles great. It feels great.

But when grandma in her Toyota Avalon can leave you in the dust while getting a loaf of bread it kind of makes all this talk of the RX8 being unique/great handling/etc. a form of sour grapes.

Part of being a sports car is being fast. A lot of open road times I have seen show the 8 being left behind because it just cant pull hard enough on the straights or out of a curve. A car that is faster on the fast parts of the track will beat a car that is faster only on the slow parts of the track.

Dont get me wrong. I really do like this car. I am happy driving it the way it is. I get a thrill every time I drive this car and I am not exactly sure why. :) But a little more umph under the hood wouldnt be a bad idea.

Yes a little more HP/Torque would be nice. But to tell you the truth if I did have more, I'd probably kill myself. I've never owned a high HP/torque car so this is a great step for me. I'm scared when I drive my friend's modded 95 Mustang.

The thing I really want fixed is fuel economy.

I just drove an HR engine 350z. When gunning it, I was often left disappointed after the short run to redline. Ya the thing had power, but it was not how I thought it would be. The Z gave all its power for a short duration. Back in the 8, I was LoLing to myself about how much sweeter our cars are. The wind to 9k is just so much more thrilling and engaging, it made the Zs torque seem dull. Maybe not everyone will agree that the 8 needs more power, but I'm sure we could all agree that the 8, already imo more fun than a Z, would be absolutedly more fun. Just imagine the more b*tchier whine of the renesis with more power. It wouldn't even have to be significant enough to trump a new Z, it would just make one aspect of the car even so much better for enthusiasts, which is really who the car is meant for.

im a realist.......and i almost guarantee that every one on this forum would like more power.....if not they wouldnt mod so much......if you say you wouldnt like more power than your a liar.....or your just lying to your self. even though the 8 is a little underpowered it still a blast to drive, and looks badass. kinda off topics but.... im still not used to people looking at me while driving.......im like what the hell are you looking at and my wife says "theyre looking at your car....duh", i say oh yeah.....

I don't need more torque. It's my learner's car. Learn to friggin drive. If I fuck up a corner, stomping my foot down won't save me. Either I get it right or get nothing. That is what makes the 8 such a driver's car.

If you're really dissatisfied with the 8, don't keep it (I'm approaching 1 year of ownership, and I am 100% satisfied). Sell it off and get another car loaded with raw power and tons of electronics to keep that power from killing you.