CarAndDriver

AutoWeek Drivers Log (05/14/07)
2007 Mazda RX-8 (6M)
As Tested Price: $34,095
Fuel Economy: (EPA/AW): 20/15.8

MORRISON: I have a love/hate relationship with the Mazda RX-8. I love the relative practicality, the flat-out made handling, the steering feel, the suspension. But the Renesis engine delivers no torque and drinks gasoline like an F-22 fighter on full afterburner. And for what? A whole 232 hp? Cue the angry letters from rotary-engine nuts, but we've spent a lot of time with this car, and it doesn't intrigue me as it once did. That's a shame, because this Mazda was conceived with much more than raw power in mind, but the chassis is so good that it makes you dream of just that.

dbright007

I think we all feel it. That little extra oomph that would make it perfect.

Ike

Queue up the delusional people that are trying to convince themselves that the RX-8 wouldn't be more fun with more power.

CarAndDriver

Not me!

eforer

I have several potential solutions to the much lamented lack 'o power problem:

One solution is to just dial alot of tow-out into the rear suspension making it undriveably evil. It will just spin out every where and we'll be content to drive with the mo-ped power supplied by mazda. You can also be justified in screaming "tokyo drift!" at confused bystanders who are wondering how you spun your car in the WalMart parking lot.

Better yet, lets all buy expensive exhausts and intakes to make the car noisy so we can be deluded by an auditory sensation of speed.... Oh wait...

Finally, you can always yell out the window to the SRT-4 passing you "I will pwn you in da twistizzes!" Just try not to get distracted and have a "togue disaster." I guess thats the price of being super mega awesome.

NoTears316

Everyone smart enough would have had a chance to test drive their car before buying it. If it was too slow, then why the hell did they buy it?

MP3Guy

Exactly. As far as I'm concerned (not being a pre-pubescent bench racer,) the car is quite fast, and I have no desire to make it any faster. It may drink fuel like an F-22, but goddamit if it doesn't DRIVE like one. Small wonder the car comes out on top in every comparison test even after 5 years. The testers, who drive dozens of cars in a year, including the very latest, know it won't get any better at this price point for a long time to come. You cannot beat this car in terms of chassis dynamics, comfort, reliability, and practicality, and if you want something else for the sake of a faster quarter mile time, you will sacrifice more than you're willing to in nearly every other area.

That's a choice most of us owners know we're not going to make.

Case closed.

TimzSI

You're trying way to hard and allthatshitbyyou.txt is lacking anything funny.

eforer

For the price point that they are selling at now, around or below invoice, you can't complain too much about the power as its clocking in much cheaper than all the competition. The window sticker price of a shinka though makes it open to comparison with alot of really potent competition like evo's and sti's. Still a great car, but with some other really fast 4 door options, its a tougher sell for alot of people.

Also, TimzSI, thank you for your constructive criticism. You're a swell guy.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

i wrote them an e-mail requesting they save their time writing about lack of power for the next year and our time reading about lack of power for the next year and get a supercharger...

1.3L

^ what he said.

1.3L

eforer

There isn't really any car that really has it all. I think in the US, we have such a big drag racing heritage that our consumer base is going to be more critical of a car that isn't necessarily a rocket ship in a straight line, than a car that doesn't handle well. Its sort of a cultrual thing. I bet in europe where gas is much more expensive and small low power nible cars are much more en vogue, the general population is very sensitive to cars that don't handle well.

Also, its alot easier to peg a car on the street in a straight line and get pushed back in your seat than it is to find some corners you can safely drive at or approaching the limit. For alot of people thats a good justification for a car with alot of power. Its just easier for them to get a buzz out of blasting from stop light to stop light than it is to enjoy sliding a well balanced car around. Obviously, I bought the 8 so I don't think that way, and I'm sure most people on this board don't either. That said, I can apreciate why someone might want to go the other way. A car like an srt-4 or MS3 is great for some quick and easy acceleration thrills, and there's nothing wrong with that. Its just a difference in values between consumers.

Temptone

I think there's too many young pups out there that don't remember the difference in driving cars when they were the real deal. Let's compare an MG-B to a Torqueflite Dodge Polara circa 1964. That Dodge was fast as hell off the line as long as you went straight it was cool...but give me some twistys and i'll take the 100 HP MG any day...Face it young dudes , there's really no place to go 0-60 fast any more so who cares...Take your 8 out on a mountain road and get exhilerated not accelerated. The speed is OVERRATED. You can go 45 and have a great time without putting anyone in danger. What's with all this torque stuff. I just had an A4 , a TT coupe...This RX8 handles better and is way more fun to drive. Nobody ever looked twice at the A4...The TT attracted attention but even that didn't handle like the 8. When you go 0 to 60 in this car it just seems fast enough and much more fun. I never have trouble getting onto a road as I did with those damn turbo engines and that lag time that left me sitting in the middle of the road with an 18 wheeler coming . If you wanna get torque , drive a rail dragster against Don Garlits. I'd rather be driving against Sterling Moss . Want torque...get a 'Vette...you can drive from stoplight to stoplight really quick...DUH ! You can get an Aston Martin DB7 for a meager $350,000...that has torque...I'm not sure where to drive it or where in the whole US of A that I would park it. Maybe next to some dweeby old lady in a Taurus that can DING the door for $1000.....Then again, you could drive a NASCAR Chevy around in a circle for 500 miles at 200 mph...now there's some fun. 4 hours of " This place looks the same as the place I was two miles back".....8 miles /gallon...new tires every 125 miles...Wow ! That's what I want...NOT ! Why do RX 8 owners complain...Is it because they never really DROVE a real car before ? You can DRIVE at 40 mph and have a great time.

mysql101

I agree with you. What we need is less power, then the car would be perfect.

SmokeyTheBalrog

toast

TheKDog

Que up ike to start attacking people before they've even posted.

Every car in this price range is some sort of compromise. The RX8 lacks in power but makes up elsewhere.

New Yorker

I'm in the minority but, for me at least, the 8 has all the power it needs. Listen, just because cars get faster every year doesn't necessarily mean that faster is always better. What's fast enough? 0-60 in 7 seconds? Six? Five? Is 0-60 in 4 seconds fast enough? What if other cars can do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds—is 4 seconds then too slow?

I'm suggesting that maybe—just maybe—there's a point where going faster is not necessarily… better. And, for me, at least, the 8 is at that point. The 8 trades some power for its sublime feel and handling—and very attractive price. What I give up in power by having that tiny engine—not much bigger than a bowling ball bag—is more than made up for in the way the car feels and handles. Would I like the 8 better if it had a little more power? Maybe, but I kinda doubt it. It's like, if you gave me the perfect hot fudge sundae, with just the right amount of hot fudge, and then asked me if I'd like it better if it had more hot fudge. Well, on some level, yes—but not really. Already have enough, thanks.

If you want more hp and torque, that's fine, I respect that. Lots of people love it—the more the better. (Particularly people who live away from the coasts, where the roads are ruler straight for hours at a time. I can understand why they love power over handling.) But for me, the 8 works great pretty much the way it is.

TheKDog

Agreed, the car has enough power for ME as a daily driver. My last car had only 175 hp and I racked up speeding tickets left and right. If you take it to the track, then ok more power would be awesome on the RX8.

I seriously don't see how people are using all the power in the mustang gt, 350z, and new 335i. How can you use that much power on the streets?

Of course others may disagree.

New Yorker

Yes, and we must remember that for many, it's fun just to have all that power, even if you never use it. Who ever said loving your car (whatever car it is) is totally logical?

Ike

I use all my power several times a day when I drive. In fact I can guarantee you I use it a hell of a lot more than any of you use your handling potential. Anyone that thinks it's easier and safer to use your handling potential on the streets more so than all your horsepower potential is out of their mind. That said, believe it or not, there are cars out there that handle really well and are fast at the same time. Just because a car is fast doesn't make it a drag car. Wacky stuff, huh?

imput1234

iTrader: (6)

ahhh...
I think we have enough power, certainly a little bit more would be nice. But once we get to speed, our car's are amazing. I do think Mazda should do something about getting more mpg, something, anything...
little more power, better millage + RX-8 = FUNNEST CAR THE WORLD HAS SEEN!!!! lol

ASH8

Some just don't see class and balance when its staring them in the face....

Clavius

I could be mad about this posting but thing is the guy fell outa love with the car. To me its no big deal, once you fall outa love with something you nitpick the hell out of it. Lack of Power well Mazsport and Pettit just released great kits that deliver that power. Torque um.. I love the fact that this car isnt a torque monster, saves me from getting into trouble really as I tend to have a lead foot. The mileage well this has been beaten to death, its a sports car thats my reasoning dillulisional or not I dont care lol. I have a feeling this guys next car will most likely be a Challenger or the G8 so he can have his straight line torque monster he seems to secretly want. lol..

CarAndDriver

They use all that power to end up into poles, walls and barriers and other obstacles.

1.3L

I have a question, but before I post it I would like to say that I did a thorough test drive of my 6-speed 8 before I bought it and I was perfectly satisfied with the power and just about everything else about the car. Having said that, the question:

Just for S's & G's, let's assume the 8 has 300 HP at the flywheel. Could the current drive train and suspension handle it or would the added power push the chassis to a point where some undesirable things show up?
1.3L