...one suggestion will ends this for good..... FACTORY TURBOCHARGED RX8...plain and simple, and when that does happen you most likely see me back in an RX8.

 

It'll take 300 HP for me, and I don't see it happening, but I sure hope it does someday.

And to answer dmp earlier about the spec Miata....yeah, if the RX-8 lost about 600-800 pounds, it might give the Viper grief too. Those spec Miatas are STRIPPED to the max. I want one.

Anybody see the new Road and Track where they evaluated 10 sports cars for the "best all-around sportscar" title? No, the 8 wasn't invited, but it was an interesting article nonetheless. The 2005 Corvette won.

 

I see your factory turbo'ed 8, and raise you a factory cobra with IRS.

 

No, not as long as you let the car warm up to normal temps before shutting down. I just like poking a little fun back at the guys that think the 8 is a technological marvel and all V-8 powered cars are outdated with no engineering involved at all.

I hear you Blue eyes. I took a Cobra out for a test when I bought the Mach1, but just could not swing the extra $$. Rebates where great on the Mach at the time and they would not come down much on the SVT. That thing really rocks from a 60mph roll

 

hmmm factory turbo, 300hp...hey that was enough for me to trade in my RX8 for an STI

 

Why does it flood? Is the warrany any good on them? I know Mazda stopped making the RX-7 because they were losing too much on warranty work or something to that effect.

 

I think the ECU pumps extra gas when it is cold, if you shut it down that gas does not have a chance to burn off. Pretty sure warranty covers it if this happens. Don't take my posts as negative on the rx-8, I love the car but I appreciate other cars as well. Enjoy your new ride.

Not sure about the rx-7, I thought they stopped due to issues with passing new emmissions laws. These problems where resolved with the newer rotary design in the rx-8

 

IF YOU HAVE THE PROPER ECU FLASH LEVEL (M), THE CAR DOES NOT FLOOD. THIS ISSUE DOESN'T EXIST AFTER THAT.

Also:

They stopped selling the RX-7 in the USA because the car wasn't selling. Had nothing to do with warranty work, emissions issues, etc. There was no longer a market for a two-seat $43,000 sports car, 300 HP or not. They weren't making money on it, therefore they stopped importing it to the USA. That car lived on in Japan for several more model years before they killed it off.

 

Well, it was a handy photo - that's MY yellow car the stupid mullet-head is leaning against. I should kill him.

Oh wait, that's a photoshop job and I did that ... must rethink ...

 

be honested dude..!! how many times u race on hill road .?! and how many times u race on straight road.(like stop light to stop light)
U can't expect a 1.3L engine can kill a muscle car on a straight road.!! I beileve 8 is a better sport car overall..!! but in the real racing..!! the weight of HP is way heavier then handling and that kinda stuffs..!! (this theory in U.S only) haha..!!

 

Not sure how to read your post...but I've seen 04 Cobras whoop-up on RX8s on a road course. Stock vs. Stock.

 

Looking good.....

 

I like it more the more I see it.

This one will be a goer too....the Shelby GR-1 (550-605 hp, depending on sources)



http://www.cardesignnews.com/news/2004/040813ford-gr1/

 

AKA Booming SUV market that also killed the likes of the Supra, 300ZX, and 3000GT!

 

That really didn't have much to do with it. At that time people just weren't willing to spend 40k for a japanese sportscar. There still aren't a whole lot today, wait for someone to come out with a 50 or 55k Japanese sportscar now and see how well it sells...

 

Read any auto publication (and I do mean about any) from that time and that is one of the main thing the auto industry points at! They probably talked directly to the manufacturers to find out what caused them to stop making these cars! I mean, think about it and it even makes sense! What one type of vehicle flooded the market starting in those years? What one type of vehicle does Toyota have 6 seperate models of yet still no higher level sports car. Matter of fact here is something for you to check out! I went to build a vehicle at Toyota's site and selected a 4Runner 4x4 Limited V8 with 5-speed automatic and entered a northern California zip code and it jumped right up to $42,110. I then went in and added a few things in that brought it up to $43,301 (you know as well as anybody the dealership is going to add things in to bump price up)! The Landcruiser starts at about $55,000! I know you will probably point out inflation but I know I saw a lot of Landcruisers in those days! Maybe enough to be an indicator of a shift in the buyer interests! I am curious to see how well the GTR does when it gets to the U.S. because I think it might be the car coming close to that price point of $50K plus (Nissan probably set expectations within reason so it will probably meet their expectations). Maybe a simplified way of putting it is those buyers with the money to buy those japanese sports cars opted for the SUV and didn't buy a sports car of any type, maybe they weren't going to buy a sports car no matter who made it but the manufacturers saw it as losses of sales to SUVs.

 

There was certainly a shift in auto buying trends during that time. But take a look at the car market today and there are more performance cars available than any time in recent history, at the same time I bet there are far more SuVs moving off the lots than there were in the mid 90s, that's just a wild guess though.

 

Agreed! Probably SUV and mid-size sedans (and Civics :D ).

 

I see alot of ignorance on this thread... "guys with mullets?"... cmon guys

If you dont like the styling... fine

But you guys as entusiasts should give credit where credit is due and learn to appreciate cars for what they are.... both cars offer alot of enjoyment to the driver... the rest is simply subjective

oh btw.... dont think that knocking the mustang because it can "only go fast in a straight line" makes everything better because the '05 can actually handle quite well (it doesnt handle like a boat as many of you seem to think).

 

Well said. I think most of general public prefers pure power, so who are we to cricize it. I do think the new Mustang is a nice looking machine, and it makes absolutely no sense in defending what an RX8 can do, that a Mustang can't and vice versa. I do wonder where the appreciation and respect has gone for other cars. People need to wake up and realize that these cars are built for different people in mind, so you saying or thinking RX8 is a better machine is a pure subjective opinion. It's not better, it's not worse, it's just different.

 

Just my $.02....

Both cars are indeed quite different from one another. I can certainly appreciate both. Both have their respective pros and cons and even the pros and cons are related to what a driver expects out of their vehicle. I looked at the Stang and considered the purchase. The reasons why I did not purchase the Mustang was due to the fact that I wanted something that not a lot of people were driving. That doesn't put the Mustang down. It just shows the popularity of it and people are putting the money down on it for a reason.

I wanted something a little more unique. Owning a rotary engine has scared a lot of potential buyers off and well, that helps keep this car more unique than say a Z28 or Mustang. I am glad I have to do a few extra things with my 8 in order to keep it in topshape. That just makes ownership more rewarding. I do not see a lot of 8s on the road and I appreciate that.

 

Last two posts hit the nail on the head. Personally, I wish I had both cars in my garage.

 

There are a few of us- on this site- that race-some a recent as last sunday/California Speedway- The 05 Mustangs, are extermely quick in the quarter (low13's) not bad for stock. If you can get your rear tires hooked, you might be able to squeak out a 14 sec. quarter mile run, with a street legal 8. No doubt the 8 would win in the twisties.

 

I would take a Mustang to go alongside my 8 no problem. Wish my wife wanted that instead of the Mazda 6. Hmmm, time for a trade? Only thing I don't like is from the mid to back. Its too long. The front end looks great on the GT but they extended the back too much IMHO.

 

You mean a 14.999? Seriously though, I took my '8 to the track one night and I couldn't break into the 14s... I believe I could do it with some more practice, and I believe some "special" 8s can get into the mid 14s. It's just a very hard car to launch.

That same night at the track, someone I know in his SVT Cobra was easily pulling mid to high 12s. His friend (not me) was driving a stock RX-8 and couldn't break into the 14s. The Cobra owner thought he could drive the RX-8 better than his friend so he gave it a shot for a couple of runs... his best was a 15.5. Whether or not the RX-8 is CAPABLE of mid 14s is one thing. Actually getting that perfect launch is another. The RX-8 is way out of its element at the drag strip... at least in stock form. Hey, at least I was able to beat a stock Civic SI