Love at first drive
12-09-2013, 12:39 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Love at first drive
Hi all, I just picked up a 2004 GT with a few mods (Eibach/KYB combo, Hotchkiss sway bars, Racing Beat 3" manifold-back exhaust, Racing Beat intake, Mazdaspeed front lip, sideskirts, rear) and some other minor stuff i'm forgetting. I bought the car having never actually driven an RX-8 before, but the deal was too good to pass up.
It took me about 10 minutes of driving and the first of a series of tight corners to absolutely fall in love with this car. It seems almost telepathic with its turn-in abilities, and i've never driven anything that is so easy to control during a slide. I'm winter driving this thing and it's currently on all-seasons (I live in one of Canada's northern-most cities) yet it has grip for days. Fuel consumption is hilariously bad, but I knew that going in.
Anyways, just wanted to introduce myself. I do a mix of time attack and autocross in the summertime (I have an MR2 also) so the car will eventually see some track time. Hoping to use this forum as a resource when I inevitably do break something
Blurry phone pic -
It took me about 10 minutes of driving and the first of a series of tight corners to absolutely fall in love with this car. It seems almost telepathic with its turn-in abilities, and i've never driven anything that is so easy to control during a slide. I'm winter driving this thing and it's currently on all-seasons (I live in one of Canada's northern-most cities) yet it has grip for days. Fuel consumption is hilariously bad, but I knew that going in.
Anyways, just wanted to introduce myself. I do a mix of time attack and autocross in the summertime (I have an MR2 also) so the car will eventually see some track time. Hoping to use this forum as a resource when I inevitably do break something
Blurry phone pic -
12-09-2013, 02:39 PM
#2
Glad you like, welcome aboard
When you say fuel consumption is hilariously bad, what are we talking? 10-11L/ 100km highway is more or less normal. However, if it's worse than that it could be a sign of engine trouble. There is a NEW AND POTENTIAL OWNERS thread here, check it out man.
When you say fuel consumption is hilariously bad, what are we talking? 10-11L/ 100km highway is more or less normal. However, if it's worse than that it could be a sign of engine trouble. There is a NEW AND POTENTIAL OWNERS thread here, check it out man.
12-09-2013, 08:17 PM
#3
Registered
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Congrats man....I'm in the market for one too. How in the world do you deal with snow and that low air dam? What deuce do you own? I'm a big fan of them and I'm kind of trying to decide between the two. Finding a nice 2 is really hard here in NJ.
12-09-2013, 08:31 PM
#4
Registered
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Montréal
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nice car you will like it a lot.
Check on YouTube for the video done by Top Gear. Listen carefully, you will hear it when he says: it's the best car.
The only negative point he found at the end is that he doesn't like the tires.
Check on YouTube for the video done by Top Gear. Listen carefully, you will hear it when he says: it's the best car.
The only negative point he found at the end is that he doesn't like the tires.
12-10-2013, 03:36 PM
#6
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad you like, welcome aboard
When you say fuel consumption is hilariously bad, what are we talking? 10-11L/ 100km highway is more or less normal. However, if it's worse than that it could be a sign of engine trouble. There is a NEW AND POTENTIAL OWNERS thread here, check it out man.
When you say fuel consumption is hilariously bad, what are we talking? 10-11L/ 100km highway is more or less normal. However, if it's worse than that it could be a sign of engine trouble. There is a NEW AND POTENTIAL OWNERS thread here, check it out man.
MR2s are really easy to find in Canada now due to our JDM import laws. Mine is a 1990 RHD G-Limited (160hp 3S-GE NA motor), but the engine recently blew up after its third straight year seeing duty as a road-course/AutoX car. Currently looking for a clean Gen II 3SGTE to drop in it for its next iteration as a turbo car.
I'm surprised you're cross-shopping the MR2 vs. RX-8 though - I find them to be very different cars. The RX-8 was the practical daily driver option for me in order to justify keeping my MR2. Back seats are nice to have sometimes!
The MR2 is a driving experience unlike any other (I should qualify that by saying it's the only mid-engine car i've driven). It took a bit of time to get used to the delayed turn-in that comes from not having any weight over the front wheels, but the mid-corner rotation is something that has to be experienced. It literally feels like a go-kart on wheels, it just keeps pushing through corners. Driving it on the edge is a visceral experience, totally different from the 8. When you mess up on the edge while driving it, you are probably going to go off track (or the roadway). I went off a few times until I learned what lift-off oversteer is and how to manage it, since then I firmly believe the car has taught me to be a much better driver. You constantly have to think about every single input, and being smooth is absolutely key. Contrast that with the RX-8 where I literally feel like I can toss it into a high speed drift with one hand while writing a research paper with the other. Slight exaggeration but I hope i'm conveying just how different they are to drive.
Wow, apparently i'm typing a wall of text here - feel free to ask any MR2-related driving questions though, apparently I have lots to say (lol).
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post