DonG35Miata

After reading all the positive things on here about the RX-8's handling and steering, I am starting to think the car I drove was an anomaly. Yesterday I called another dealer (actually closer to me than the original one) and they are going to contact me when an unsold RX-8 comes in. He said they would have several available within two weeks and is going to call me for a test drive as soon as they come in.

The big buzz on the RX-8 right now is the missing horsepower, but personally I loved the sound and feel of the drivetrain. It's the subjective handling feel I found lacking. Here's hoping the second impression is better than the first.

BillK

It all depends on what you're used to.

First the RX-8 has electric power steering so that will immediately eliminate some road feel as there is much less of a feedback loop from the road as compared to a hydraulic system.

Second, it all depends on how much road feel you have now. In my experience it seems to have as much road feel as an Audi TT but less than a Porsche Boxster.

Handling is comparable to though a bit worse than an S2000, and notably worse than a Boxster.

So if you're currently driving an S2000 or Boxster, the car will likely seem to have somewhat flawed steering and handling. If you're driving just about anything else it will seem to handle and corner as if on rails. It's all subjective...

Prowla

Good luck, Don. I hope your second impression leaves you with a really great feeling.

Rich

Don't know how this (the test drive) will turn out, but if I were you I'd make sure the tires were properly inflated. As you probably already know from the Miata forum, the cars are shipped with extremely high tire pressure, and the dealers often don't bring it back down to a reasonable level.

chikai

don...

which dealership did you make an appointment with? I called the Tomsic guys last Saturday morning and the guy told me that Titanium one was sold literally five minutes before I called

It seems like there is a huge deal of shipments around da' burgh. I've called every single dealership around here at least twice a week and they all say "any day now..." Yeah, right. Next time they say that, I'm going to tell them, "Um...yeah...that's what you said last week...and the week before...".

Anyway...let me know how this test drive goes. I just want to see ONE in person.

chikai

edit: BTW, there is a car cruise today at the wexford church...and Saturday they are doing the pittsburgh thunder. A bunch of muscle/classic cars are getting together in the north side near the stadiums. I think they are going to drag race on that one road between the stadiums.

also Beaverun is having an event as well...some kinda of charity thing. I think I may run my CL on the North Course just for fun.

DonG35Miata

Chikai,

Check your PM box...