hi guys im new here on the forums and have recently become a fan of the rx-8. i did some research on the rotery engine and the care in general and i was impressed with it on paper so i decided to go test one out myself (well actually with my friend). so i was first to try it out and i picked an automatic (i dont know how to drive stick yet) to sum it up i was very impressed with every aspect of the car, cornering, brakes, acceleration, and the awsome responsiveness of the car. id also like to say i was very impressed with the fact that my friend took the car around a 90 degree turn at 45 mph and was able to stay in the lane and kept full control (funny thing is the guy who came with us said it was cool).

 

You drove an AT and you were impressed with the acceleration? What do you drive now?

 

Geo Metro? Beetle? ..beats me!

 

So are you getting one? Don't fall for the autocraptic if you do.

 

Jeez a 90-degree turn at 45 mph? Was it a right turn at a intersection?

 

i drive a 1997 4 door honda civic so that why i thought it was fast(even though it was slugish off the line) i also plan to mod it out for performance and im getting a manual trany. and the 90 degree turn was on a back road so the guy said go as fast as you want (my friend wanted to do it at 60 but he didn't want the guy to crap himeself).

 

good luck with the mods, the RX-8 is notorious for being mod-unfriendly as the engineers already got most of the power out of it while still being able to meet emission requirements. Turbo-ing will get you more torque but not too much more power.

good call on the manual, yet another one who turns to the dark side of the shift

 

Did the tires squeal at all from doing the turn that fast?

 

the tires did a little bit but he didn't drop the gear and let the rear end slid out.

 

Im new to the forum as well, Im picking up my RX-8 next week. I test drove the car a couple times at different dealers and both times the sales people that were with me for the test drive let me push the car really hard.

The first time I chirped the tires a couple times and the guy was just smiling, plus I took some pretty fast last minute corners, the second time I was told to take the next right hand turn at the green as fast as I wanted, it was drizzling a little and the sales guy wanted to show me how well the Traction Control would work under these circumstance, I was impressed to say the least, oh and both test drives were with manual transmission, I still have no clue why anybody would ever buy an automatic if they had the choice, even if they dont know how to drive manual, how long does it take to learn the basics, maybe a week of practice!

 

Less than a few days. The rx8's tranny is especially forgiving and is easy to grasp.

 

If you think it handels well now, wait til you buy one and throw a new set of sway bars on it :-)

 

The guy I test drove it with was pretty cool too. I didn't get too crazy though. However, the NIssan guy I was with was a jertk when I test drove the z. I wanted to go back and do donuts in fron of the dealership with my new Rx-8 once I bought it a week later!
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Vape info

 

 

I think you will find that AT or MT this car can handle

 

I"ve only had my car for a little more than a week. Today was the first time it's been in rain since I bought it. It handled the rain much better than I expected, still feeling strong and sure. Unfortunately, I had to drive through rushing water; with such a low-slung car, I was worried. But, it made it fine.

I haven't driven a new automatics, but only the earlier versions. Still, I definitely think manuals are the way to go.

 

This will be my first expensive mod (aside from wheels) and it can't happen soon enough. Now if only my money tree would arrive soon . . .

 

Operating a car with a standard tanny=driving.

Operating a car with auto tranny=using an appliance. Blender anyone?

 

Yeah, I'm definately looking for the sway bars next.


On Topic: Yeah, this car definately handles tightly. You treat her well, and she treats you well.

 

90 deg turn at 45 mph? Don't tell me that was a right-hander. Is that car stock? Stock sways and stock tires? The handling aspect of this car is just awesome but I don't think it can pull a tight 90 deg right-hander at 45 mph. I have RB sways (love them) and stock tires, don't think I ever did anything more than 32, 33 mph without the stablity control kicking-in. It can however do some left-handers (outside lane of 2 lanes) at 43-45 mph.

Those stock brakes are just outstanding.

 

Hey sunil, where in socal do you live?

 

I have always driven stick - but when I tried a used 2004 - I did not like the stick! it had some odd 'notchs' and it just didn't do what I wanted, when I wanted. I simply bought an automatic 2005, and expected to be disappointed - but, it can be switched over to hand control and I found it handled so well it is easy to get lazy! In just the automatic mode it has rapid entrance onto freeways, pickup on hills, and once you figure out that it can go faster if you don't stomp down hard, but just let it build and build - it doesn't matter - this is the easiest car I have ever driven and I still haven't found the bottom of it for speed - I think I would really need to let it out on a track to see just what it can really do!

 

Winfree, only 1-to-2 is notchy or difficult on my 05. But barely.

 

santa monica. are u in so cal too?

 

Ok guys, stop bashing the AT...
I've owned both and they're both great cars...

The MT is just a little more fun to drive...