Would you have bought the 8 if it was called the MX-8 and had a 250 bhp 3.0 litre piston engine, with the same body?

If they didn't make the RX-8 I would have bought a MX-8. That being said, there is nothing like a rotary engine... music to my ears.

Yep--but ditto ZoomZoom

no Way

If they didn't make the RX-8 I would have bought a MX-8. That being said, there is nothing like a rotary engine... music to my ears.

Me too- I originally wanted a Miata. I'm a hopeless Mazda addict, it appears. I decided to wait when I found out about the RX-8, though. who could resist such a unique and cool car??

Maybe, I had 2 RX7's previously and I wanted the rotory engine.

if it wasnt for the rotary, no rx8 for me

Me too- I originally wanted a Miata. I'm a hopeless Mazda addict, it appears. I decided to wait when I found out about the RX-8, though. who could resist such a unique and cool car??

I was all set to buy a Miata until I saw the RX-8 prototype… to this day I still think that the Miata is one of the sweetest rides available.

Mazda would have sold more 8's if it had a high-power piston engine, IMO

without the rotary engine, i wouldn't have gotten this car.

No, I would have bought the Mazdaspeed Miata.

It's all about the rotary. If it weren't all this is is an underpowered, 4 door GT car. If I wanted that, I could have had an Infinity G35. The rotary engine makes the car.

Consider:

Your rotary engine is TINY in size - about 15 inches front to back, 12 inches left to right and 17 inches tall with the manifold mounted (this is just the core engine - accessories not counted), and it weighs between 150 and 200 lbs. That little bitty package generates 238 horsepower.

The 3.2-Liter V6 in my Acura TL (good comparison engine since the same block is used by Honda for everything from the 2.8 V6 in the Accord to the 3.5 V6 in the MDX) measures about 24 inches tall (from pan to top of manifold), 27 inches wide (from edge of cylinder head cover to the opposite cylinder head cover) and 29 inches long (from accessory drive pulley to final drive seal). It weighs about 525 lbs.

What kind of car would the RX-8 be if it had that kind of engine under the hood?

Here's effects:

1) The hoodline would have to be drastically higher - this also affects the cowl height and the whole package

2) The engine would be mounted much further forward - the rotary is tucked underneath part of the cowl. This affects the suspension design and placement and also still the hood line and slope.

3) Weight distribution - currently 52% front/48% rear - this would shift to about 62% front, which would very negatively affect the handling balance.

and of course:

The cool factor. Then the car is just an ordinary car.

I dont know about you but I love driving something extraordinary!

Stew

id probably be an s2000 or 350z driver i think...this car was unique.

No rotary No 8. I would have waited for the Mazdaspeed 6.

Would probably still get the car if the car still has the same handling, however, i don't think I'd be in as much of a hurry to get it as I did with the Rx8.

I really wanted a RX-7 many years ago when I was getting out of college and got married instead (I know - what was I thinking). When the RX-8 came out, I was just getting separated and I lusted after it for a year before purchasing (one week after all was final!). No rotary - no purchase for me. I wanted that uniqueness...

One of the key benefits of a rotary is that it is small and light weight. Putting a V6 there will ruin the weight balance and the handling. No I will not buy a piston Mazda. I have two other cars with sweet straight six engines already.
Mazda would have sold more 8's if it had a high-power piston engine, IMO

I wouldn't have went with Mazda if they put a V6 into the 8. I would have gone with a 350Z or an S2k instead. Hehe, maybe I'm biased towards rotaries because my first car in high school was an 87 GXL and then I got another one during my senior year in college (yup, another 87 GXL).

Without the rotary, I probably wouldn't have even test driven the car, and would have upgraded from my old tacoma to a 4-by instead of even looking at sports cars (which is what I had been planning to do until I tested an 8 out of curiosity about how a rotary engine behaves....)

The M3 has a big straight 6 engine and it handles pretty well. With a few adjustments the 8 should handle well too.

One of the key benefits of a rotary is that it is small and light weight. Putting a V6 there will ruin the weight balance and the handling. No I will not buy a piston Mazda. I have two other cars with sweet straight six engines already.

what you are describing is 'A SATURN ION'

more hp than a AM RX8 same looks, same body

what you are describing is 'A SATURN ION'

more hp than a AM RX8 same looks, same bodyUh, same body? Even someone high on crack wouldn't confuse the two.

With a 3.0l V6 it would be another overweight me too sports car. I would be suprised if the current design would even be possible with a larger motor.

I think I would have went with a S2K.

No Wankel, no purchase.

I most likely would never have considered the car if it had pistons.

no

If it wasn't for the rotary I would have either gotten a G35 coupe, or an STI. I liked the pics of the 8, but I preordered this car mainly because of my love for the rotary. I actually ended up liking the car more in person than I even could have imagined.

RX-8 - rotary engine = teh stupid

no .... "mx - 8" is stupid..!! don't wanna waste my money on a v-6 stupid machine!! if it's v-6 8 has no reason to exist. if that's true.. I would buy evo.. or g35 instead.

With a V6, no. I lusted after an FD RX-7 for years, and was considering finding a well-loved and looked-after one that the owner had to finally part with for some reason. Then the 8 came along and won me over. A rotary I wanted, and a rotary I have, and that's where the story ends.

Happy motoring.

~ Geoff

Lets face it with a V-6, the RX-8 would just be a better handling mustang(presumably). There is a reason why we didn't all get stangs, we wanted to be different.

Nope. It's what gives this ride its soul! :D

Hard to know....the only reason I ever test drove an 8 was because of the rotary motor, and it goes a long way in contributing to the cars fun to drive factor.

Yea, I'd probably still get it, assuming it handled similar to the RX-8 and all other characteristics were close to the current design. Rotary engine was actually one of the very few turn-offs for me, but so far, so good. I like how all these people are saying "No Rotary- No way." What are you gonna drive otherwise? AFAIK, this is the only rotary engine on the market, so unless you'd rather ride the bus than drive a MX-8, you're full of it.

I would have bought a STI and waited for the next big rotary.

Only if I was sure they were never going to release the RX7 again.

No. :mad: The rotary and four seats got me in the door. :cool: The test drive sold me. :D

yes I would have, I dont race my car so speed isnt a factor for me. I bought it mostly because the way it looks, and the handling, im sure it would be just a great as a car with piston engine.

Nope, I wouldn't get the 8 unless it had the rotory, but I would have gotten a different Mazda instead. I've already had an MX-6 and Protege 5. Probably would have gone for a Mazdaspeed 6.

I would have bought an old Miata outright if I couldn't have leased the 8. It's not blind brand loyalty, either. Mazda happens to make all of the most capable sports cars under $27,000 new or $3000 used (90 Miata).

I just love the sound and elegance of a straight six. They've been in BMW's, Jaguar's, Aston Martin's, Mercedes, the original Z, the Supra, etc. It's the best piston configuration of all for smoothness and simplicity. And it sounds awesome! The only better sounding engines, IMHO, are the V-12 and V16.... both out of reach for me...
The rotary is nice and smooth, and it sounds better than an inline 4 or many V-6's, but it's tone doesn't have much complexity, a lot like a two stroke outboard motor. The fundamental tone is nice though. Just not much detail.

No RENESIS...no purchase!

The first time I saw the RX8 in the flesh was while visiting the International Auto Show in January '03. I was smitten. When it was announced that the RX8 would be hitting dealer showrooms in July '03, I drove one of the first ones to hit the pavement in the city (Cincinnati). That sealed the deal. Put a deposit down and got mine the last week of July '03.

Put a 6 cyl in it, and it's just another good looking, though still innovative, sports car.

Also test drove the 350Z and G35c (they felt like "pigs" in comparison). Drove a WRX (ahhhhhh....the dreaded turbo lag) and an EVO (felt like it was made with an reector set).

I will say that when it's time for me to get something else (usually trade every 3-4 years), a C6 'vette might be the only thing I'd consider over the RX8 (that is unless there's a 300+HP version that's rumored to come out in '06 MY).

Nope. The rotary is the car's heart & soul.

I would not have considered the car without a Wankel. For me, the Mazda rotary race heritage defines the experience. It's reflected throughout the car's design.