Ok brits, Autoexpress.co.uk has a story about RX-8 costing 26k pounds, in the league with BMW 325i Coupe and Peugot 406 V6 Coupe. Thats a lot of dough. They still think it cheap but it is far away from $26k base price that R&T keeps telling us (BMW costs $30k in US market, and both BMW and Peugot cost around $35k in my market).

To illustrate the difference better, high end RX-5 (miata) costs 17k pounds in UK.

sucky

ugh, that's equal to $37k US dollars. Let's hope it doesn't convert over directly...

Brit prices are usually higher than anywhere else, but not that much...usually 15%-30$%, which still doesnt put the car under $30k..

If the Rx-8 is going to sell for 37k here in the u.s, it will sell worse than the FD and we'll never see another rotary powered car here or possibly anywhere ever again :( mazda is so stupid sometimes....

Well I just did some math. If things cost 15- 30 percent more over in the UK. Then figure roughly 25% more over there so that means a price of 27,000 dollars roughly over here. Does anyone know if thats the base price or as tested?

Example:

Mazda MX-5 (1.8 Sport)

Germany - 25.390,00 Euro
UK - 28,609.38 Euro
USA - 25,500 Euro

Price difference is 11%

RX-8
Uk - 42,543.82 Euro
USA (11%) - 37,900 Euro

which is around $33,000.

Additionally, BMW 325 Coupe costs around that price in USA (and Brit journalists were comparing RX-8's pricing to it in UK).

sucky I say...

that was a base price...

Originally posted by spwolf
that was a base price...

Ouch! What is mazda/ford thinking??? If its going to be anywhere over 24k base here i am not buying one, its a "mazda" for crying out loud! it shouldn't be anywhere near the price range of a BMW or Mercedes, mazda is screwing up once again...

Think that's bad? Canadian have to at least cough up another 10K over USD! The more I think about it, the more I get uneasy about the potential release price of the RX-8... I'm guessing the price of entry (based on R&T's 26K base price) is going to be more like high $30's for Canadians (much like the Inifinity G35 starting at $29K)...

For $40K, I don't want to buy a base car of any type, and we haven't even talked about options yet.

the most i will pay..out-the-door price for the car with the options that i want + tax..is going to be around 32-33K MAX..and that also i would have to think about..if its more than that then forget it

Johnny,

I doubt you can get 250 hp 4 seat sports car for 24k... I wish but I dont think so

The Rx-8 is not a sports car, 4 doors + 4 seats=sports car....i don't think so, its a sports sedan aka. family car, i can get a 255hp maxima for less than 24k

I would like to think that R&T has a good handle on the future price of the RX-8 but if they don't and the cost is comparible with the BMW 325 series then the Canadian dollar price would be between $38,900 and $42,000.

This may be pricy but worth every penny to hear that Rotary Engine Humm.........

Come on guys, if it's like the BMW325 then it's not that bad. I mean compare the two and I'd rather have the rx-8. If it was the 330xi, then it'd be a different story, but it's not

;)

I have feeling that the US$26k figures being thrown around are too good to be true. The RX8 is a sweet vehicle...Mazda is gonna make us pay.:(

Originally posted by Johnny
The Rx-8 is not a sports car, 4 doors + 4 seats=sports car....i don't think so, its a sports sedan aka. family car, i can get a 255hp maxima for less than 24k It NOT a family sedan. You really can't compare it to the Maxima. It may not be a sports car, but just because it has 4 doors doensn't make it a family sedan.

I think Mazda is really trying to make a new market by building a sort of hybrid sedan/sports car. Since there's nothing like it, I think many people will be willing to put down a pretty penny to buy it.

Any vehicle with 4 doors and 4 seats is a family car period, and the maxima is alot sportier than the Rx-8, the Rx-8 is not in any way related to the mazda sports cars (Rx-7 and miata) its just another mazda family car with a rotary.

4 doors 4 seats= Sports Sedan (i.e. 3 Series and Audi A4's) The mazda is hard to classify.

The class it does fit into in my budget is too expensive. I dont want all the options. But I dont want a stripped car.

At NYIAS, the MINI caught my eye. Go Kart Loaded to the hilt. For 26,500. Thats every option. Including the Parking meter. If the RX-8 costs that much. Consider me sold to the MINI.

Originally posted by Johnny
Any vehicle with 4 doors and 4 seats is a family car period, and the maxima is alot sportier than the Rx-8, the Rx-8 is not in any way related to the mazda sports cars (Rx-7 and miata) its just another mazda family car with a rotary.

Name another car that's got the suicide doors? How in the world is the Maxima more sportier then the rx-8??? :confused:

RX-8 is sportier outside with its design, lower center of gravity and nicer wheels, as well as inside (look at pics).

What other family car will rev up to 10k rpm's?


Mini will actually weigh 2550 pounds, so it will be quick, but not that light. I got no clue why it's so heavy for such a small car...

its bigger than previous mini's and it has a bigger motor and its made by bimmer and its loaded with standard features.

Originally posted by Johnny
Any vehicle with 4 doors and 4 seats is a family car period, and the maxima is alot sportier than the Rx-8, the Rx-8 is not in any way related to the mazda sports cars (Rx-7 and miata) its just another mazda family car with a rotary.

do you also have a mullet and go to monster truck shows? do you think nascar and drag racing is the end-all/be-all for racing?

Ugh...try not to be so close minded.

Well then i guess my cavalier is a sports car since its a two door and has 4 seats....whooohooo i own two sports cars now

Originally posted by Johnny
Well then i guess my cavalier is a sports car since its a two door and has 4 seats....whooohooo i own two sports cars now Dude, I don't think anybody here said the RX8 is strictly a sports car, but it isn't a family sedan either. So no your cavalier isn't a sport car.

Anyways this whole argument about what class the RX8 is in is pointless, but if I had to classify it, I'd say the RX8 is a hybrid sedan/sport car...that's one of the things that makes the RX8 appealing to me.

and avoid any more comparisons for a Maxima or Cavalier. There's no such thing as a FWD sports car, plain and simple. You will not win in an arguement against that...

So at least the RX-8 is RWD...which puts it in another class.

I thought the RSX Type-S was FWD. How would you classify that?

I really don't care how anyone classifies the RX-8, except maybe for insurance purposes. As long as the car performs like I hope it will, I will be happy driving it to work on the weekdays and on the track on the weekends.

sorry, RSX isn't a sports car. It's a sport luxury coupe.

Think about it, how can it be a sports car if you can't easily control all four wheels. In RWD, gas controls the rears, wheel the fronts. FWD, gas controls the fronts, and hey, so does the wheel... heh...

Originally posted by JGard18
and avoid any more comparisons for a Maxima or Cavalier. There's no such thing as a FWD sports car, plain and simple. You will not win in an arguement against that...

And there's no such thing as a 4-door sports car either, so even if the Rx-8 has two suicide doors it still has a total of 4 doors and 4 seats which falls under the family car category or sport sedan, and just because a car is FWD it dosen't make it unworthy for competing with other sports cars, i've seen one too many FWD cars walk all over RWD sport cars in autocross and 1/4's.

BTW there are FWD sports cars the Peugeot 306 GTi-6 is a FWD sports car and TRD is also in the process of designing a new FWD sports car. Don't be so closed minded :rolleyes: now where did i hear that one before.....

it's not being closed minded...it's knowing a thing or two about what affects a car's performance.

Sorry, but the number of doors won't change my 1/4 mile times, and it won't slow me down on an autocross track.

However, you try to put all the power to the ground on a FWD car, it won't happen. The only Peugeot sports car is the 206 rally car, 300hp, AWD. The 306, nah. Toyota? Nah, unless you're speaking of the MR-S. What good is a car that can't even efficiently put 120hp to the ground? I drove a Saturn for 6 months, when in between cars, and that thing could spin the tires through 3 gears. It was 124hp. I'd have to get on it in a new Maxima...you wouldn't be able to control the thing.

Oh, and understeer and torque steer are also lovely features. Something I think any sports car wouldn't be complete without :rolleyes:

Do you participate in any driving events? cause statements like yours make it sound like you don't, but I want to give you the benefit of the doubt.

At the rally school I just took, there was one thing they were always telling us. Oversteer = good, understeer = bad. It's VERY VERY hard to oversteer a FWD car...let alone control that oversteer. At least you can control the whole car with rear or all wheel drive. In front drive, you have no control over your rear tires.

4 doors, though...come on...where's the basis of your arguement? Cause I haven't heard anything at all from you...

I can see many faulty arguments here so I dont know where to start... what is sports car? Is it a fast car that handles well? Then sure, there are plenty of fine FWD cars...

Rally car is different breed of fastcar, sure it can be sports car but sports cars are not limited to rally cars either. Ask your instructors on what would make a better rally car, FWD or RWD... FWD wins any time, RWD is much harder to control on unstable surfaces. Give me Clio 172 and you go in BMW 330i in some gravel or mud road and we will see who wins.. if you make it to the finish.. or in rain... urgh...

306 GTI is a hot hatch... same as Clio 172 or any of those MG Rovers, even GTI 180 etc, etc... is it a sports car? It goes well, it handles well, but it aint a ferrari either.

Do you need to race car on the track in order for it to be a sports car? Definetly not... why would pay $50k for M3 and all its extras, just to trash it on the track...stupid. Get an SVT Mustang and enjoy yourself on the track w/o all those eletronic gadgets.

I think that what we all are looking is a sporty car, no matter if it is a hot hatch, 4x4 or Mazda RX-8.

Mini Cooper S is a nice car, hot hatch for sure, almost fully loaded it is around $24k... however, RX-8 will beat it in every possible acceleration test by a lot for $2k more plus it seats 4 and it is roomier. Nevertheless, Mini is all about style and handling and I like it.

Maxima a sports car? Sure engine is all right, but rest is shitty, including exterior looks and interior plastics that look like ones from Geo Metro.

JGard18 comparing Saturn to sporty FWD is ignorant really. You seem to think that WRX or EVO are only true sports cars... no they are not, they are shitty econoboxes with nice engine and AWD system... thats all it is.

Originally posted by JGard18
Sorry, but the number of doors won't change my 1/4 mile times, and it won't slow me down on an autocross track.

I agree, but the number of doors does change the class the car falls in.

Originally posted by JGard18
However, you try to put all the power to the ground on a FWD car, it won't happen.

Says who? You? Thats very untrue, if you're having trouble controlling a FWD vehicle then don't blame it on the car blame it on your driving skills. I understand thats its very difficult to oversteer a FWD car but people do it, so just because you can't oversteer fwd it dosen't mean no one else can, maybe you should take another school :rolleyes:

Originally posted by JGard18
The only Peugeot sports car is the 206 rally car, 300hp, AWD. The 306, nah.

Nah? Since when do you get to decide what a sports car is? The 306 is a Peugeot FWD sports car, get over it.


Originally posted by JGard18
What good is a car that can't even efficiently put 120hp to the ground? I drove a Saturn for 6 months, when in between cars, and that thing could spin the tires through 3 gears. It was 124hp.

This goes back to how you drive your car, maybe you needed some new tires i don't know but its hard as hell to spin the tires in my FWD v6 cavalier, and i also had a saturn i would have to pop the clutch at 5,000rpm to get some minimal wheelspin. Just because your car had bald tires it dosen't make every FWD car horrible.

Originally posted by JGard18
Do you participate in any driving events?

Not frequently, about six times a year.


Originally posted by JGard18
At the rally school I just took, there was one thing they were always telling us. Oversteer = good, understeer = bad.

Couldn't agree more.


Originally posted by JGard18
It's VERY VERY hard to oversteer a FWD car...let alone control that oversteer.

I somewhat agree with that statement, but there's people out there and people i personally know that race FWD and pretty much mastered the FWD oversteer, and there's people who control FWD better than RWD just because they have been racing FWD cars for a long time, like i said earlier its all about your driving skills.

Originally posted by JGard18
At least you can control the whole car with rear or all wheel drive. In front drive, you have no control over your rear tires.

(read above statement) I will agree with you on that one from *my* driving skills, in my cavalier and old saturn i almost have to stop the car to make a simple turn, but again its easy for some people

Originally posted by JGard18
4 doors, though...come on...where's the basis of your arguement? Cause I haven't heard anything at all from you...

My point is stop making the Rx-8 something its not. The Rx-8 is NOT a sports car, its a very, very sporty and great performing (from R&T drivers) 4 door (almost 2) sedan with a rotary ;) Its like trying to say the Rx-3 was a sports car.......Keep them flames coming Jgard , this is the first Rx-8 small flame war :)

first off, I never compared a POS Saturn to a sports car. I compared FWD to FWD. Even with an LSD, there will be traction problems. Simple issue of weight transfer. Nothing will make that go away.

Also, yes, there are quick cars out there that are on a FWD platform, but no, they are not sports cars.

I also never said the WRX and EVO were sports cars, and I never will say that. They are AWD turbocharged sedans.

Either way, there can be quick sporty FWD cars, but they are not sports cars.

a 911 Turbo is a sports car (if not a GT car), a Lotus Elise is a sports car. A VW GTI is not.

Originally posted by JGard18
first off, I never compared a POS Saturn to a sports car. I compared FWD to FWD. Even with an LSD, there will be traction problems. Simple issue of weight transfer. Nothing will make that go away.

Also, yes, there are quick cars out there that are on a FWD platform, but no, they are not sports cars.

I also never said the WRX and EVO were sports cars, and I never will say that. They are AWD turbocharged sedans.

Either way, there can be quick sporty FWD cars, but they are not sports cars.

a 911 Turbo is a sports car (if not a GT car), a Lotus Elise is a sports car. A VW GTI is not.

There are not many differences left anymore, it used to be that Sports cars were fast cars and everything else is slow... now you can beat NSX for more than half the price, in every speed category... sports cars are not what they used to be anymore, so not calling RX-8 a sports car is nothing to moan about really...what you are basically saying is that sports car is a overpriced car that is hard to use in day to day life...

I think we are all talking about sporty/fast/quick cars here, and not classic definition of Sports Car from 80's. Lotus Elise and Porsche Turbo are as different as two cars can be... elise has 120 hp for god sakes and it is totally stripped out...

Call it what you want, we are in market for quick cars.

johnny, no I didn't see your reply up there.

Anyway...

That saturn had good tires, not bald. Putting the power to the ground is somewhat a matter of driving skill, but the fact of the matter is, when you accelerate, all your weight goes to the rear of the car. Why would you not want weight on your drive tires? So, that being said, I don't care how good a driver one is, FWD will not put down power as efficiently as RWD. It's physics, plain and simple...you cannot argue it. It has little to do with the driver.

anyway, I wouldn't call this a flame war...just a difference in opinion :)

I couldn't agree more, RWD is a million times better than FWD in every driving condition, i wouldn't race or autox a FWD thats just dumb in my opinion, but people do it, and some people are so good at it i just want to throw up. I had no intention whatsoever to say FWD is better than RWD, well i'm glad we settled our difference in opinion

Originally posted by Johnny
I couldn't agree more, RWD is a million times better than FWD in every driving condition, i wouldn't race or autox a FWD thats just dumb in my opinion, but people do it, and some people are so good at it i just want to throw up. I had no intention whatsoever to say FWD is better than RWD, well i'm glad we settled our difference in opinion

blah, FWD is much better than RWD in rain or snow, did you ever race a car or at least drive a car fast?

FWD sucks when car has more than 200 HP, although new cars use better weight distribution to eliminate wheel spin @ FWD cars. Dont diss mazda just on basis of being FWD car.. if it actually spins its wheels like crazy, then diss it... although I dont mind the spin, its all about balancing ;-)

Originally posted by spwolf
Mini Cooper S is a nice car, hot hatch for sure, almost fully loaded it is around $24k... however, RX-8 will beat it in every possible acceleration test by a lot for $2k more plus it seats 4 and it is roomier. Nevertheless, Mini is all about style and handling and I like it.



The mini is very roomy. And the RX8 is only going to beat it in acceleration tests. But by less than a second (granted that is alot) how ever the MINI wil out handle the RX8 in every test and it IS FWD. Also the drive of the wheels does not affect wether or not it is a sports car or not. "sport" is a game or a challenge. Racing is a sport. Rally is a form of racing? so that means AWD can be sports car. AUTOX is a racing form and MINIs and many FWD cars do well there as well as RWD and MR cars. So the wheels dont designate what type of car it is. What is better? What ever suits the drivers needs and style. John Cooper was once criticized for putting the engine in the wrong place on an INDY car. Now all the engines are mounted behind the driver. Just as John Cooper had done by putting the engine in the "wrong place"

and for 2k More. You might not even get half the features. And it will still manhandle you on a nice twisty autox course, mountain road, traffic, city driving, buzzing around town.....

JGard In response to what you said. One of the biggest problems with FWD is the difference in size between the driveshafts. Not where the power comes out but how.

Originally posted by veloceracing
and for 2k More. You might not even get half the features. And it will still manhandle you on a nice twisty autox course, mountain road, traffic, city driving, buzzing around town.....

Hey, I already like the Mini... we will see what happens when RX-8 comes out...RX-8 will have 90hp more... thats a lot... although I wont buy only for HP, package needs to fit right... Mini is really nice car that handles like nothing ever did before... I love small cars, so Mini has the advantage there, we will see

I hear ya SpyWolf, the Mini has caught my attention as well.

Thankfully, Mini comes with equal length driveshafts to eliminate torque steer. Here's a stat to see if the Mini is "sporty" or not. A popular mag (R&D or MotorTrend) ran a Mini (non S) through the slalom at a third quickest time ever for a stock vehicle. THe two quicker vehicles were Porsche turbos. Here's the kicker, the Mini was on four season tires!!!

Sure it's narrow, but that will give you lines in AutoX and lapping that larger cars could only dream about. The biggest fault about the Mini is that it doesn't come with a lsd (their traction control kills power, not reroutes it), and the 162 hp factory is simply not enough, even for a rather porky 2675 lbs vehicle (I'm sure it's more like 2500 lbs though). Sure, John Cooper has a 200 kit, but the S already comes at $30K Cdn. No doubt though, with a lsd, 200 hp, and gummy tires, this car will do lots of spanking on th AutoX.

Definitely gonna take one out though. I love small cars as well. I'd easily give up big hp for a more nimble vehicle. The fact that it's really safe, available this summer, and good on gas are bonuses as well.

'03 looks like it's gonna be a great year for cars. Mazda with the 6 and the RX-8....Nissan with the 350Z, and the 6spd Maxima...Mistubishi with the EVOVII...I can't wait.

Originally posted by Johnny
The Rx-8 is not a sports car, 4 doors + 4 seats=sports car....i don't think so, its a sports sedan aka. family car, i can get a 255hp maxima for less than 24k


Please...

maximas are FWD, and Ive heard crappy things about them. Pretty much a sporty accord.

The RX-8 will be lighter, RWD.

its competators should be more like a 325/330ci , WRX, Evo, and maybe 350z

Originally posted by spwolf


Hey, I already like the Mini... we will see what happens when RX-8 comes out...RX-8 will have 90hp more... thats a lot... although I wont buy only for HP, package needs to fit right... Mini is really nice car that handles like nothing ever did before... I love small cars, so Mini has the advantage there, we will see

The Mini is not the end all be all of handling. That said, it's compact dimnsions will serve well at the autocross course, but on a real track I wouldn't be surprised to see a Mini way off the pace of an RX-8.

hi,

you think 250 hp car can beat 163 hp car on the track? wow... thanks for enlighting us :D :D :D

Ok Ponder this:

The original RX-7 (all 3 generations) were destined to failure. Why? Because of the limited market of only having two doors and two seats. With this problem the sales volume was down and as emmision limitations were changing, so became the death of the RX-7.

The new Renesis engine is the answer, but in order to keep the cost down, there has to be a large volume of sales. That is why the RX-8 holds 4 people. (Bigger market - follow me so far)
Now Mazda is a very creative, smart company and to make the back seats more usable, they put in a 3rd and 4th door instead of adding an extra 2 feet to the front ones.

Now a Porsche 911, or 944, and 928 of the past all had back seats, and I defy anyone in this forum to make a stand and claim that those cars are not sports cars.

So what makes a sports car? That question has many possabilities, depending on who is answering. My opinion is that the 8 is a sports car.

It is reported to be faster then any of the 3 previous RX-7 models. Stiffer suspension, better handling, probably better breaking and WOW even better gas mileage.

If the 7 was a sports car, and the 8 is not because it has extra doors, then you're near sited and should step down from this forum, go buy a Honda Civic 2 door and see how you make out on a race track against an 8.

So until then, keep saving your hard earned bux and get ready for the best 4 door sports car the world has ever seen.

EVOLV

lol... I doubt they will buy Honda Civic 2 door, more likely they will get 350Z or G35 Coupe or WRX... I could care less if RX-8 is marginally slower than any of those on the track, whats important is that it is usable, drivable, reliable (!) and nicely priced.

I definately wouldn't call the previous RX-7's "failures". They sold very well for a niche sports car, and essentially proved rotaries were reliable (to all those that aren't close-minded).

Great information about the definition of a sports car.

I understand the effects that supply and demand have on price, and why people will pay a premium to have the only RX-8 in the parking garage for a year or so. The truth is that the RX-8 is entering a competitive market with well-established brands like BMW, Audi, or even Lexus for that matter.

The point:

RX-8 should take on the IS 300 and the new Z head on. That means under $30,000 US dollars. If Ford is allowing Jaguar (in my opinion the strongest brand in the Ford portfolio) to participate in this market with the X-type - it has to let (if not make) Mazda follow suite.

The weakness of my argument:

I have never driven a RX-8.

Originally posted by spwolf
Johnny,

I doubt you can get 250 hp 4 seat sports car for 24k... I wish but I dont think so

Sure you can. It's called the Nissian Altima..

Wasn't this thread supposed to be about the cost at first? anyhoo-, Just wondering... :-)

Originally posted by spwolf
hi,

you think 250 hp car can beat 163 hp car on the track? wow... thanks for enlighting us :D :D :D

116-142 HP Miata's spank higher horsepower cars constantly in an autocross.

We can only hope that the price is kept down low. I would prefer to see many 8's on the road, similar to the 1st gen. RX-7.

I believe that the price, loaded will come in at 40K Canadian. So in preperation, I have been looking at everything that is available in that price range.

I will not make any decissions until I see the 8. But atleast I will be prepared to make that decission when the car arrives.

Just to make sure I get one, I will be making my pre-order as soon as they are accepting them here. Ofcourse I will add a clause that will allow me to get out of it, incase I don't like it.

Happy hunting,

Not a sports car because it has four doors???? This is a sports car with four doors. There has never been anything like it! If you dont believe its a sport car then read the specs and tell me what a sports car is. Mazda is going to price it well and clean-up!!! Props to mazda and their big bXXls.

speculation on price based on UK prices is silly... 'cause i'm sure very few of us on the forum are intimately familiar with US trade regs right now, or are an economist... a direct conversion from brit price to US$ minus some is really not going to give you a good indication if you want it accurate to a few thousand US$'s...
don't worry, 'm sure that mazda (and ford) recognize the higher sales potential in the US market, and wouldn't try to earn as much profit per car, as they would in the UK... don't forget too that to ship the cars to the States is going to cost FAR LESS than to ship them to the UK... just some thoughts guys

speculation on price based on UK prices is silly... 'cause i'm sure very few of us on the forum are intimately familiar with US trade regs right now, or are an economist... a direct conversion from brit price to US$ minus some is really not going to give you a good indication if you want it accurate to a few thousand US$'s...
don't worry, 'm sure that mazda (and ford) recognize the higher sales potential in the US market, and wouldn't try to earn as much profit per car, as they would in the UK... don't forget too that to ship the cars to the States is going to cost FAR LESS than to ship them to the UK... just some thoughts guys

Guys,

My view:

A car enthusiast knows a sports car when he sees it. It does not matter how many doors it has or how much power or which wheels get driven. When I look at the RX8 I know it's a sports car! The bonus is, it has 4 doors. As for price if it's much above the 26 K that R&T talked about, I won't be able to afford it. Keep it around 25 and I'll take one as soon as the rubber meets the road.

Todd

PS. IF the RX8 can out-perform a 3rd gen. RX7 then that is plenty of performance for me.

there's no way that the new rx-8 could ever beat the last 7... less torque, more mass are the biggest detriments... sure sure, "more rigid than the last 7" but it'll never make up for lack of turbos and the extra seats...

Originally posted by wakeech
there's no way that the new rx-8 could ever beat the last 7... less torque, more mass are the biggest detriments... sure sure, "more rigid than the last 7" but it'll never make up for lack of turbos and the extra seats...

The peak power figure is about equal, so if there were no weight difference it could match the rx-7s performance. Especially if it makes a good use of that extra gear (i.e. no overdrive). Another thing to think about is that it will have a 50:50 weight distribution because the engine is located behind the front axle. Should make for some sharp handling.

Besides, the estimated weight according to R&T is 2970lbs, the 1995 RX-7 weighed 2862. A hundred pounds is not that big of a difference, and there is no turbo lag to contend with anymore either (even though it is pretty negligible in with the sequential turbos).

1995 RX-7:
HP 255 @6500rpm
Torque 217 @5000rpm

2004 RX-8: (est by R&T)
HP 250 @ 8500 rpm
Torque 162 @7500rpm

Looks like the 7 would be faster in a straight line, but on the track is something the numbers can't show.

Well....honestly, anywhere near the 3rd gens. performance is more than enough for the street. You think that number is right for torque??? Seems strange that they would build that new engine with that much less torque.

Todd

the reason that the RENESIS has so much less torque than the 13BREW is because it doesn't have a forced induction system... the 13BREW had sequential twin turbos (first ever in a production car), but the RENESIS will be "all motor" (aspirated at atmospheric pressure)
BUT REMEMBER, that kind of torque for 1.3L is absolutely unparalleled by any other kind of gasoline engine in the world (not to mention the power!!)

but that 2862 lb. mass for the 1995 7, was that for the sport model (whatever it was called...)?? i thought it was considerably lighter (couple of hundred pounds)...
but on the track, because of the shorter wheel base, aero, (presumably) sportier setup, i don't htink that the RX-8 could keep up, although i've no doubts that it will be rather spectacular for a sedan.

the reason that the RENESIS has so much less torque than the 13BREW is because it doesn't have a forced induction system... the 13BREW had sequential twin turbos (first ever in a production car), but the RENESIS will be "all motor" (aspirated at atmospheric pressure)
BUT REMEMBER, that kind of torque for 1.3L is absolutely unparalleled by any other kind of gasoline engine in the world (not to mention the power!!)

but that 2862 lb. mass for the 1995 7, was that for the sport model (whatever it was called...)?? i thought it was considerably lighter (couple of hundred pounds)...
but on the track, because of the shorter wheel base, aero, (presumably) sportier setup, i don't think that the RX-8 could keep up, although i've no doubts that it will be rather spectacular for a sedan.

not gonna quote anyone,

there's alot of lines of fire here, all for stupid reasons IMHO

1. consider the 8 any way you want. the most unbiased opinion is: hybrid, and as someone in this disproportionately long thread said, the definition of sports cars is being streched with new models edging towards sales volume through practicality.

2. wait for it to come out, you can bet your bottom buck that it's gonna be pitted against it's predecessor, the spec sheets are too tight to compare with mere arguments (more weight, more hp, four door chassis BUT sturdier...) all this is inconclusive, don't forget we haven't even SEEN the thing move yet, not really...

but I digress: I posted a thread just prior to this one inquiring about the canadian prices, the current thread mentioned (at least at first) pricing, so does N E 1 have any idea what those might be in Canada (converting 26-30 us gives 39-45 canadian, but that's not the way cars cross the border...)

HOW MUCH IN CAD???

Originally posted by RX-pecting
...it's gonna be pitted against it's predecessor, the spec sheets are too tight to compare with mere arguments (more weight, more hp, four door chassis BUT sturdier...)

There was no predecessor for the RX-8. I agree that it will be compared to the RX-7, but the RX-8 is, to use the words of Shigeo Hirata, designer of RX-8 concept, "Absolutely not" the RX-7's successor. Click here for the link (http://rotary.cep.net/exclusive/Detroit-Report/interview.html).

The RX-7 was an all-out sports car, and the RX-8 is not.

Base model on the 325is is around 27k don't panic.

Remember Maxima's share an engine with most every Nissan out there, Renisis is unique.

Hmmm

The prices in the UK are normally a bit high compared to the US... I would suspect that if it's £26K over here then it'll definitely be less than $30K in the US... A lot of stuff has a 1:1 exchange rate in some areas... cars are a bit like that.

IMHO, £26K is pretty low for this car here... I was hoping it would be under 25K but 26 isn't too bad at all.

Can anyone post a link to that article as I couldn't find it.