RX-Hachi

I agree that the 2ZZ-GE is a good engine for the Elise. In fact, I'm strongly tempted to buy one, having recently gone for a test drive. The weight or power of the 2ZZ-GE was never my point of contention. But to say the Renesis is only capable of 165-170 hp at the wheels is an exaggeration. (It maybe true in some cases, but certainly not all.)



What follows has nothing to do with Ike or this thread. I just need to get on my soap box…

The power output of the Renesis has been dragged through the mud and beaten to death. Why? Because of the dyno results. But these have been all over the map, from the lows of 165 hp to the highs of 206 hp at the wheels. So it’s a highly debated topic.

However, there are many articles that state why dynos may not be accurate and should be used mainly as a relative gage for performance upgrades. There are so many variables, so many unknowns, and so many myths, that nobody should trust the dyno results shown on any internet site as an accurate gage of true power. The fact that the RX-8 dyno results have been so wildly inconsistent tells you something just isn’t right with many of these dyno runs.

I really doubt that Mazda builds these engines with such a wide variance in output. The proof is in the performance. In 2003, R&T and Car&Driver tested pre-production models and got identical times for 0-60 and ¼ mi., 5.9 secs and 14.5 secs. Then in 2004, MotorTrend tested a production base model 6spd, got 6.0 secs and 14.5 secs. R&T tested a production GT 6spd, got 6.1 secs and 14.6 secs. (The added weight of the GT is probably the reason for it being a tenth slower). Four different tests, four different cars, and the results are extremely close. I’ve not ever noticed another vehicle to test so consistently in the big 3 US auto mags; there’s usually a variance of around 0.3-0.6 secs in one mag’s test vs. another.

These performance results are so consistent, that it makes the dyno results irrelevant. The wide range of dyno results just can’t be taken with any level confidence.

There, I’ve said my peace. I’ll say nothing more on this topic. (At least not in this thread)

…off of soap box

rXter

So I saw an Elise at a local dealer (there are about 30 in the US) and saw the sticker price and said 'what am I doing driving a Mazda'. As it happened the dealer had a racing green with touring package and hard top AVAILABLE due to some guy showing up without any $$. I was figuring out how to ditch my 8 and put a deposit on this honey - the best looking car out there if you like racing curves IMHO. Then I drove it.

Cons:
I'm short and it's really tough to get in and out of.
Seats are like rocks - now way you stay in that car for more than an hour at a time.
Radio is a joke - easy to fix though as it's a standard size unlike the 8.

Pros:
Fast - small engine likes to be revved. I only took it up to 6K in deference to it's need to be broken in and it flew.
Very responsive
Gear box is so tight that it almosts anticipates shifts - puts the 8 to shame
Toyota in line 4 will be reliable - great idea - who wants to mess with some limited edition British engine?

Bottom line for me was that although the Elise was a blast to drive, it is not a daily ride. I drove the 8 for 3 days straight and was never uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable after 20 minutes in the Elise. Great car for the track.

I'm keeping my 8.