Taka, what's the bet Matt Coleman never set up his own suspension, but rather the team race mechanics set it up and modifiied to suit not just his own driving habits but also the track and weather conditions based on his feedback. A well knowledged mechanic will put in a combination of bits which work well together for what you require (road or track driving) and it's up to you then to do the miniscule adjustment to suit the demands of your driving style. When I had my racer, even slight changes to tyre pressures in various weather conditions affected the handling of the car.

 

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Boys and Girls

Having driven all of these cars, including owning a HSV us RX 8 ers have nothing to worry about. There is a gap between a car that was was designed from the ground up and other cars that can never be traversed.
Yes they can load cars up with 4WD turbos, V8's big tyers spoilers fancy suspension etc etc but you can never ever get away from a car's origins.
A Clubsport is a dressed up fleet car, always was always will be. A Lancer is for someone's mum to go to the shop.
So yes these hairy legged monsters can go well but when you are in them you just cant help but be conscious of their beginnings.
I got my new Velocity Red RX 8 a couple of weeks ago (look for it around Samford Brisbane). Is it perfect ? Probably not but it is so far ahead of dressed up taxis and zooped up shopping trollies that the comparison is worthless. Wheels just doesn't get the big picture that an RX 8 is even fun to wash!! :D

Nugsdad :p :p

 

Welcome to the forum, nugsdad ... good to see you bought the right colour, too

Wow, this thread has ventured in many different directions.

First, the Wheels comparo: well, they can compare anything, can't they But neither of those other cars -- nor the WRX --- was on my shopping list. No, I was comparing the BMW 325ti, Audi A3 (including S3), Alfa 147 & 156, Lexus IS300 and Subaru Liberty GT. The RX-8 is a no brainer among this group, in terms of performance, style and value :p

I'm not into hissing and farting turbos with scoops and wings that look, let's face it, butt ugly. Sure they go, but so what.

Handling and gearshift. Yes, I've noticed a bit of what they describe, but you have to be pushing corners hard in the 8 to get it out of line. For normal driving it meets the necessary compromise between handling and comfort really, really well. I love the gearshift, but do notice some tailshaft feedback. Doesn't worry me but, like the clutch throw-out bearing noise, it's always there. I'm sure Mazda will address as part of future development.

There's nothing that I have read in this or the many other comparos that come anywhere near making me even contemplate changing my mind

 

The gearbox comment is a load of bull IMHO. The mid-range torque, while not exactly ejaculative like a V8... Well I leave my '8 in Cruise control up the gateway bridge in 6th gear and it is an 80 zone. No problems whatsoever.

It depends what you want from a car.

My previous 235rwkW (300+fwkW) via full exhaust, intake, PCM reprogram:
13.8s 1/4 mile, 60' = 2.2s (Street Tyres).
1:07 QR Sprint Circuit (Street Tyres).

RX-8 (a), dead stock except Hymee Enhanced Exhaust:
14.7s 1/4 mile, 60' = 2.0s (Street Tyres)
1:04 QR Sprint Circuit (Street Tyres)

RX-8 (b), Hymee Enhanced Exhaust, Racing Beat F&R Sway's
1:06 QR Sprint Circuit (Street tyres, different driver)

BTW - The Commodore needed the "Hymee Enhanced" powersteering oil cooler, and the brakes where only marginally adequate on the circuit even with the good fluid in them.

Both cars = lots of fun.

 

BTW Nugsdad,

Welcome. Nice color choice, and nice part of the woods. My family has a long time association with the Samford Garage But I don't use Caltex anymore on principle...

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

This reminds me of that stupid add on telly where they have a commy and a fal-coon lined up and say they are good on sealed roads, but what if it was dirt, then they drop in a AWD mitsubishi or something (show how much I paid attention). Making stupid comparisons.

You can go buy a friggin AWD Monaro if you really want.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

AWD MONARO for a $89,990 +on roads they must be kidding .

Lately i have noticed that car prices are becoming ridiculous , the new Alfa GT $ 80,000 +on road cost and from what i have read the ride is bouncy on uneven roads and handling is poor , front wheel drive with 176kw??? :p

Makes our mazdas even the top of the range leather pack seem as the bargain of the year . :D

cheers
michael

 

The RX8 *is* the bargain of the year.

 

More bang for buck from the Cloth pack - they are quicker

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Timbo said: "...First, the Wheels comparo: well, they can compare anything, can't they But neither of those other cars -- nor the WRX --- was on my shopping list. No, I was comparing the BMW 325ti, Audi A3 (including S3), Alfa 147 & 156, Lexus IS300 and Subaru Liberty GT. The RX-8 is a no brainer among this group, in terms of performance, style and value "


I'm with you on this one Timbo. Wheels has missed some of the obvious comparsions IMHO. I even wrote a letter to the ed a few months back suggesting they do exactly what you're indicating above. Needless to say there was no reply and no publication!

 

The editor from Motor magazine still occasionally reads this forum, and makes the occasional post.

I imagine if he is continuing to do so, then this is a thread that would be read (considering Wheels is a rival mag, with broader readership that the performance oriented Motor mag).

So, maybe this is a question that can be answered from Motor :

How do you decide which cars to compare?

Similar to other posters to this forum, I never considered a WRX or a Commodore or a insanely fast Lancer. I was looking at Alfa GTAs, S2000s etc.

 

The problem is all because of promotions... The EVO I am sure looking for publicity to lift up their Mitsubushi brand, not for selling their EVO coz they are all gone now! Mitsu is in a slump in term of form and need some excitement in their line up.

Wheels just conviniently pick RX-8 and the clubbie to compare as I suspect they have the cars ready! Every other European mag use EVO compare with the STi.

It is hard task if you think getting the COTY and PCOTY organised when the manufacture companies are not 100% cooperating. It is hard work, fellas! I dreamt of working for the Wheels but hey... I am lucky cutting up dead bodies

 

For me, one of the nice things about the RX-8 is that you can still actually derive pleasure from it when you are NOT driving at ten-tenths. If you are a normal road user ( as opposed to a club racer etc) that's going to be most of the time isn't? The lovely precise steering, slick shift, progressive brakes, agility, nicely controlled ride and sonorous, smooth engine are working with you all the time. With the Clubbie, Rex and Evo you're basically driving a caged animal that's constantly begging to be unleashed to show the World what it can really do. Like a stereo that only sounds decent at 110dB. Must be frustrating as hell I would think....

 

I personally thought the comparison was relevant. The two cars I was tossing up between were the RX8 and the GT Falcon. Two completely different types of cars but wasnt sure which I really wanted. Both cars were around the $60k mark and they both had their pro's and cons as to why/why not I should purchase. Unless comparisons like these take place, people who live and breathe big V8 fast cars, dont get exposure to these sorts of vehicles. Dont be too quick to judge wheels magazine. I have no affiliation with wheels other than my 12 month subscription. But if it wasn't for write up after write up in this magazine commenting on how good this car is and that I should consider the rx8 if I am looking at spending $60k on ANY type of car, then I would be trundling around in a GT Falcon instead of the awesome car that is the RX8!!!

 

Good point lexic.

 

I wanted a sports car that looks and feels like a sports car and have the convenience of 4 doors....nothing until Rx8 came along.

When you sit in a WRX or any other hotted up ordinaty car you cant help but recognise its humble beginings no matter how many extras they bolt on to the car.

skc

 

Good point skc. The Rex, evo etc are essentially exquisitely highly developed bog ordinary sedans. The 8 was developed as an agile sports car from the ground up, with proper attention to engine placement, centre of gravity, sports appearance etc from the outset. It's the purity of design and execution that impresses. An 8 with Mazda lavishing the proportional level of additional development lavished on the Colt and Impresa by Mitsubishi and Subaru would surely outrun and handle a GT3! :D

 

Yeah......., as soon as I mentioned the magic letters "GT" to the salesperson at City Mazda, the keys to the demo RX-8 were shoved down my throat and I was told to take the car home for an hour or two.....show it to the missus and kids!

Wheels' COTY bought the car to my attention, but it was the build quality and attention to detail that finally landed an RX-8 in my garage.......

Gomez.