rx8wannahave

I never modified a car but with my up and coming purchase I know I’m going, with time, to modify it. So I ask the following to anyone that has experience modifying a car or just has thoughts on it.

Note: Remember that my 3 finalist were RX8, GTO, & G35
(Recently the G35 fell out of the running based on price and rear seat headroom)

So, it’s down to the RX8 & GTO. This is my current thinking on both cars:

RX8
I love that its light, as a sports car should be
I love its looks which are unique and sexy
I love its 2 extra little doors for easy entry & exit for rear passengers
I love its interior
I love that it is an all around good to great performing sports car

I don’t love its lack of torque
I don’t love its AVG fuel economy for a sports car (but I care about this less and less)
I don’t love that the rear seats don’t fold down (non-factor I just thought I’d mention it)
I’m new to the Rotary so it will be a little scary as my first NEWish car
It seems it’s hard to pull out more HP out of the Renesis (for now at least)


GTO
I love its American V8
I love the interior
I love its performance, straight line more than in the curves
Its highway fuel economy is GREAT
It can easily be made into a SUPER CAR with some work

Its looks are so so
Its rims are so so
Its weight is porkly to say the least (no sports car should weigh more than 3500 pounds & that’s pushing it)
Its handling is unproven (cause MT said it gets .82g’s while CD said it gets .88g/s??? wide margin)


This is what I tell myself…

If I got the GTO it would be really fast already and I could then work on its handling and weight problem. I would have to bring down the weight by about 350-425 pounds. I’m not worried about its looks too much because it looks are decent enough now but with some of the kits I’ve seen it would look great.

If I got the RX8 I really would not have to mess with its handling too much at all. I would only cut about 100-150 pounds off the car if possible. Then all that would be left is to bring its HP up to about 300 or 350 in my dreams. Also, I might get a body kit to personalize it a bit but that’s optional.

My question is how hard or easy is it to cut down the weight on a car. I think with the RX8 it’s not a major concern at all but with the GTO it is. Do you guys/gals think it’s realistic to think I can take about 350-425 pounds off the GTO without removing the back seats or AC. I would also cut the weight on the RX8 but only as an extra thing to do because the car is light already.

I’m asking because being able to modify my next car does have a factor into the purchase. Not that I’m going to spend $15,000 (I don’t have that kind of money nor can justify the cost unless I keep this car forever…LOL)on mods but I would like to make either car better than it is out of the box. Who knows, I might never touch it because I have NO experiences modifying a car but I thought I’d ask to see what you guys/gals thought.

RX8 Mods

Cut 100-150 pounds off the car
Increase the HP up to 300HP (350 in my dreams)


GTO Mods
Cut 350-425 pounds off the car
Increase its handling and rim/tire size
Maybe take it to 400HP

Let me know…THANKS! :D

w0rm

If you cant look back at your car as you're walking away in the parking lot and grin stupidly.. then I think you've got the wrong car.

Keep that in mind with the 'so-so' GTO.

dmp

fwiw, skid pad numbers have little to do with handling. The skid pad shows the ability of the tire to grip whichever surface the test is being conducted on.

rx8wannahave

I know there are other things involved like slalum numbers, etc but I only listed the tire grip. Sorry, but I know that the RX8 is head and shoulders a better handling car than the GTO.

My question is more in regards to the weight and increaseing HP issue with the GTO & RX8.

I agree, I know...the RX8 is a great looking car while the GTO is um...well, a little tough looking but more so so than anything else. I've seen kits for it and they really make it look pretty dang good...but no question, the RX8 is a looker!

VividRacing.com

When a reliable supercharger/turbo comes out for the 8 thats the only way to fly. The GTO is gonna be a big car no matter what way you look at it. And 400 pounds is a LOT of weight to take out of any car. Espically if you want to keep your back seats glass windows and A/C. I dont know how heavy there stock hoods are..Or if they make a Titanium hood for them but those are some options you have to lighten up either vehicle.

dmp

I'm facing similiar issues, frankly, with an RX8 vs STi vs Legacy GT... (sigh). I need more money.

I'd love the power of either of the Subarus. They just aren't as 'exotic' looking, however.

rx8wannahave

Yeah, I agree and I think that with time the RX8 will be making some serious HP. Since the RX8 is already light it would probably be easier to mod.

I thought so, I thought taking 400 pounds from a car would be pretty hard. Thanks for your opinion on this!

VividRacing.com

Wait tell the 07 STI. Its exotic looking alright..

VividRacing.com

it can be done. It just wouldnt be to Streetable..Or comfortable. And the cabin noise would be horriable! But if you did drop a GTO 400 lbs

rx8wannahave

Yeah, the looks of the RX8 make up for alot of it's little issues here and there. It's tough to make these important decisions when we have alot of issues we care about when buying a car which auto companies don't always realize.

Good luck with your search...hopefully we both will make the right choice!

Note: The RX8 is fast enough for me, but I would love to make it even better and that's why I care of this issue.

rx8wannahave

LOL, the challenge of taking 400 pounds off the car is something that makes it interesting for me. I have been wondering HOW would you take that much weight off the car and so far I can think of the following:

Lighter hood, battery, rims, break system, suspension, exhaust.....

I don't know if the above is enough, worth the effort, or would effect the car's streetablity too much to make it livable...this is my question.

I wonder....I wonder.....hummmmm

xxdevilzeroxx

dude that things uglYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!



http://autospies.com/images/10-21/Subaru/2.JPG

rx8wannahave

Well, the tail is the main UGLY part with a little of the front included...LOL

DreRX8

You will not be able to cut 300lbs from a GTO while keeping it useful and street legal. You would need to take out radio/ac, sound deadening material, back seats, change glass, to a light weight material, not to mention change to light weigh sheet metal--its just not going to happen. Your best bet on modding a GTO is overcompensating with more power which is easy to do with the LS1 or the upcoming LS2. I like the GTO I just wish its exterior was more alluring. I ended up with the RX8 for practicality issues and styling. Everytime I walk away and look at it I'm like "That's a bad muthaf***er". Not to mention the looks that the women give it when you drive by. The GTO will only command looks from auto enthusiast--it looks like a Grand Prix--which isn't all that bad--but no hint of performance in the styling. Once turbos come out for the RX8 and the possibility of Mazdaspeed RX8 being boosted--you will experience automotive nirvana. Good luck.

goforwand

IMHO, if you're going to modify any car, it should be a car that you REALLY love and that you plan on keeping for a long time.

If you feel that way about the GTO, then you'll be just fine. But, after a year or so, if you can't look back at the car and still grin, then you'll have a car with 10's of thousands of dollars which you've invested that you will never recover (especially considering Pontiac's historical resale values), and be left with a feeling of buyer's and financial remorse.

I'm not saying you'll "recoup" more with the 8, but at least in my case, I know that my car is going to be around for a very long time (knock on wood), and I can't see myself ever not smiling when I turn to look back at it.

I realize that most of this is intangible wishy-washy stuff and doesn't address your real question, but I try not to underestimate the "emotional" longevity of purchasing a sports car.

xxdevilzeroxx

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

w0rm

I never had a problem with the current STi, but that 07 is fugly.

AbusiveWombat

Let's be honest. You won't be able to reduce the GTO's weight that much. 400+ lbs is a lot of weight...you'll be lucky if you can knock off 200 lbs and still have a realitively streetable car. And on the flip side, you won't be able to increase the RX8 horsepower that much without investing a lot more money. You'll not only need to upgrade the engine but the entire drivetrain. There are guys that are blowing out the transmision with stock power levels...add 100+ hp and you're going to need to be pretty delicate.

You're best bet is find a car that meets your needs. You want acceleration and handling...personally I'd try to find a Z06, C5, EVO, or STi. All of these will offer the acceleration and handling you're looking for out of the box. These also have very good aftermarket support. I feel that trying to reduce the weight of the GTO is a losing battle and trying to make the RX8 fast will cost more than you want to spend. But hey, that's just my $0.02.

dmp

When I want my car to drop 300lbs, I make my wife get out!

:p

(just kidding honey)

Frankly, I want the best-handling, most powerfull car I can find for $25,000...If a car had the power of an STi, Handling of the RX8 and cost that amount, I'd be on it

Cygenic

if u are in great need of power, the rx is not the car you're looking for...go test drive the sti, it handles good too

yamajj

dude, have you been watching me? i'll admit, i walk to work doing this very thing. i also looked at the gto because my friend had a '67 goat and his uncle has a '69 judge. (sweet) the gto lost my interest when i saw the test on car and driver television. they said the suspension was made for the roads in australia and sucks on the roads in america.

you need to choose which car you want to drive, period. i can attest to the fact of just wanting to get in my rx-8 and drive. i've passed up riding my r1 to drive my car already. even my girlfriend knows she stands behind my bikes in preference. lol

yamajj

rx8wannahave

Yeah, I thought I was dreaming about that.

Me too, I also agree what it looks like a Grand Prix with some muscle. I wonder what the 07 GTO will look like…probably MUCH better but they will need to cut the price on the car cause over $30,000 they are just not making significant sales.

Thanks for keeping me honest, I think my plan for the GTO is a little unrealistic from what you guys have said.


Naa, it’s not wishy-washy…I think it’s true what you are saying. I think the RX8, my love, will ONCE again beat out yet another car. The 8 does look SO SEXY…I love it!



The problem with some of the cars you listed is that I need it to be a 2+2. The problem with the EVO & STI, while they look pretty good, I’m not a fan of their looks or cars they are based on. Also…I heard the EVO has bad crash test results.

Note: Like I’ve said before, I take A LOT of factors into my up and coming purchase

Thanks for your 2 cents…I needed them, now how about $24,000 for a RX8…LOL


OUCH!!!!! Get that sofa ready…ouch…LOL

Me too! But, my price is $24,000…

With all the, and I mean ALL, the research I’ve done the RX8 keeps winning the battle. The GTO, Audi A6 2.7T, G35, and EVO have come close to taking out the RX8…but with all I read I still think that the RX8 is the best sports car for the $24,000 or so I plan on spending.

Thanks!

dmp

here's another into the mix...2001 S4. yikes.

I'm just hoping 95-96mph trap speeds are the kind of power I'll be happy with for a LONG while. Of course, compared to my 82-83 mph trap speeds of my CURRENT car...lol

rx8wannahave

S4 & S6 are SWEET but very rare and I think they still might cost too much. I think the RX8 as it is is fast enough for me considering both my previous cars (one still present) did not crack the 15.5 1/4 mile mark to a sec faster than that...is ENOUGH!

I just want to be able to pull out more out of the RX8 to match its looks.

The GTO has an engine that I REALLY LOVE, it looks pretty good and with an aftermarket kit would look REALLY TOUGH...but it's high weight and poor handling is what keeps it in 2nd place.

rx8wannahave

Note: I think it's time I test drive another RX8 to remind me how I felt the first time I drove it....