really? do most people add this quart by themselves? you just add another quart without getting an oil change?

 

most of us just get our oil changed every 2500 miles and you'll never have to add a drop. oil is cheap, rotary engines aren't

 

Here is another one.

Better ride quality.

 

When I wrote "more comfortable", I meant the ride.

Yep. I keep a quart of 5W20 in the passthrough compartment between the trunk and the back seat. I check the oil about once every 1000 miles and dump in a quart every 2000 or 3000.

This is normal for rotaries, which consume oil by design. Some people complain about it, but I never understood what the big deal is... there is 1.8 quarts between high and low on the dipstick, you don't need to constantly top it off or anything.

 

I keep a quart of oil in my truck in that nice lil compartment in the middle. Aparently our nice lil rotary engine enjoys gobbling up oil every so often, just a lil quark of orginality of it. Its no biggie so far for me atleast and for most of us here.

 

I think most people will see 1 quart low per 3k miles, which also happens to be about the time period I change my oil

Also the shutdown procedure you listed will not prevent the car from flooding. If your car doesn't flood after performing it, it is only coincidence that the car started up again afterwards. Reving it for 10 sec doesn't warm the car up enough to matter.

 

Some observations:

The S2000 is slightly faster 0-60 & 1/4 but you have to thrash it to hit those high RPM's. The RX8 is so smooth that mazda had to put in a beeper at 8500RPM to remind you "hey stupid, shift" at 9400, where it hits the rev limiter. The engine on the 8 is so smooth you can sometime's forget where your RPM's are. The 2000 weighs less and has slightly more hp. Power is decent on the 8, 0-60 under 6 sec's is not exactly slow, but many people don't feel the pull or the rush as the 8's power is delivered so smoothly that it is deceptive how fast you get up there. YOu will not feel the vtec pull, but it goes.

The S2000 is slightly better handling but you have to ride the edge hard to get it, while the 8 is much more driver friendly, allowing you to push up to the edge and know where it is. The clutch is light and requires little effort. The shifts are short and smooth with a knotchy feel to it. 1st gear goes almost to 40 mph, 2-67, 3-90+, 4-120+, 5-154. 6th is an overdrive to save gas but it will pull decent at highway speeds, but not overwhelmingly. Nothing like going 70 on the highway in 6th, drop to 3rd and punch it. You will get your torque.

Both are so simular, that you could almost consider the S2000 a RX8 convertable, so the real question is, can you do without a convertable?

 

like i said earlier, yea, i can live without the convertible top. i got sick of it. i think i would love the convertible top in like california, but i don't feel the need for it in atlanta. summer gets too hot and winters get too cold. yea, i might sound like a wuss, but i don't need the convertible top. i think the rx8 will be much more convenient for me than a s2000. we'll see after the test drive!

 

I think you will like the 8. Better interior, more room, real rear seats, decent truck, good looks, and more refinement. Comfortable front seats. In winter, put snow tires on it and it drives great due to low torque and 50/50 weight.

Some advise, get at least the sports option. It gives you bigger wheels, upgrade suspension, stability control, and traction control. Definitely worht it...

Good luck...

 

if i do get it, i will buy it with full options. ^_^
gosh, now i can't wait to test drive it!
just wondering, is there a big difference between the older models and the new 05/06?
i'll probably buy the new 06, but i was just wondering because there were talks about recalls and stuff all throughout the forums...

 

If you want to save a lot of money get a leftover '05, the changes are VERY minor and most of the recalls and TSBs should be taken care of. 8-10k off MSRP isn't unheard of for a new '05.

 

The S2000 and RX-8 are very similar in performance. The S2k has a slight edge, but the RX-8 has the extra seats and room you require.

 

I wouldn't do it, the RX8 is a decent sports car and the extra space is nice but the power and handling of the S2000 is much better. S2000's dyno around 200 rwhp stock and weigh 300 pounds less than the 8, the acceleration difference up top is noticable.

I think you'd miss the S, I have both a 00 S2000 and a 05 RX8 and I drive the S every chance I can.

 

got pics of the S?

 

I too have been on this fine line dillema with my S2000. I have an 05 S2000 (2.2L) and to think of the depreciation hit just turns me sour, which is why I haven't jumped ship yet.

While I've driven the RX-8 many times, I find that is it a more toned down car (for obvious reasons) for my liking. It is hard to come from something that was already purpose built and factory tuned to a car that trys to do 'everything' with compromises (esp. for those that auto cross and do HPDE lapping sessions).

Yes there is a trade off, as said, you will lose the open road experience. I am trying to enjoy it while I can because nothing compares to those 'perfect summer evenings/nights'. You will lose the "extention/fits like a glove" cockpit feel. The precision snick-snick shifter feel. Honda quality, VTEC, S2000 image, and so forth.

I am awaiting Mazda to give their rotary model more incentives (mid life refresh?) enough to either give up the convertable experience in favor for a rotary experience or to just add it alongside the Honda eventually, like one of the rx-8 members here.

 

It's not supposed to warm the car up... it's just supposed to expel unpent fuel from the chambers. Out of curiosity, did Mazda explain the procedure to you when you bought your RX8? They also covered cold-engine shut-off on a DVD that they sent out.

I doubt you have to actually hold it at 3k for 10 seconds... it seems more likely that Mazda picked a longer length of time just to be on the safe side.

 

The 2.2L S2k weighs around 2850 pounds while the 6-speed RX8 weighs 2880-3029 pounds (depending on options). Older 2.0L S2ks were a bit lighter... in the range of 2770-2810 pounds (if memory serves).

 

While I don't own an S2000, i've been in a buds of mine, whom ironically acquired it the same WEEK I got my 8. From what I could tell, it could pull just a lil more, and that VTECH "2nd wind" is noticable. Another slightly surprising issue was that i found there to be slightly more headroom in the S2K then in the 8...very surprising indeed! I'm almost 6'1", and I can easily fit in the 8, but have to tilt the seat back a hair for max comfort.

However, the engine in the S2K kinda scared me up high...as others put it...it sounded like it would explode. I can't describe the first time I finally took my 8 over 5K, and heard the infamous RX "whine". I loved it! Although toned down in comparison, the whirrrr of the 8 kinda reminded me of the superchager whine you'l hear on higher HP vehicles! The pull up-top isn't weak by any means, but is a steadily rising inclination of speed as opposed to feeling "bursts" of speed as you run up the line.

Give her a drive and come back this way. I've got a vert too, so I know that not having it there when you want it can kinda suck...but I think the advantages are 10-fold. Pick up an 05 for no less the $8K knocked off the MSRP, or walk on them. You'll get a call shortly thereafter

 

I didnt read page two and first half of page three so I dont have whats going on, but ironically two of my friends bought used S2000 ( '00 and'01) within a month of my RX8 purchase and I would definitly pick RX8 > S2000. you are basically trading in the convertable top for : 2 extra seats, a real truck, MUCH nicer interior, MUCH nicer Stereo, heated seats, homelink/autodimming mirrow, better road noise.. etc and RX8 also turns as much heads as the S2000

I think the S2000 cool for the 90 days of the year ( I live in Canada) where the weather is perfect, but it is the other 255 days that makes RX8 a much better car ( if you can only own one).

 

Swap quieter exhaust, buy hardtop and remove all soft top assembly for cargo room, make it a strictly you and partner car. All problems solved.

 

Me and the wife drive 04 8 and 02 s2k. if you like the s2k you will like the rx8. both almost handles the same. I think of the 8 is a 4dr 2 seater car , because the way it handles. I think think the only thing is the 8 seems more quiet (stock) then a s2k (stock) when high on rpms or at hwy speeds.

Its funny its so easy to compare 8 or s2k vs 350z. but for 8 vs s2k its hard for me. because both are so much alike in handling its.... any how this how i i feel about those 2 cars.

well gl to you.

 

i love switching into 3rd gear going between 60-70 its so smooth at high rpms and has plenty of power.

i was on a stretch of road late at night single lane and keeping the car at 60 mpg in 3rd at 6k rpm when i came behind a car just had to barely hit the gas and by the time my front end was at their drivers side door i was at 90+ it has very nice pickup but its so smooth u dont even realize u are at 9k rpm.

i cannot stand driving other cars anymore saturday i had my wife my friend his girlfriend and her baby going up to shaver lake so i had to take the navigator and it was just so boring.

also my 13 year old sister had no problem driving my 8 it was her first time driving a stick and i let her drive on our private property its about a mile of driveway she only stalled once and not even on her first try she just got over excited and now wants an 8 as her first car lol

 

WOW

any specific tips on keeping my 8 at 60MPG?! It MUST be that 3rd gear...it's the efficient gear!

I'd even settle for a 1/3 of that fuel efficiency...

 

sorry it's late and i dont have time to read over all 4 pages, so hoepfully i dont repeate something that ppl have repeatedly said already...

the rx8 has been called a 4 seat s2000. i own an s2k, and have driven the rx8 considerably. the biggest difference is the rigidity of the car's chassis. the rx8 though very balanced and handles really well, doesn't inspire as much confidence as the s2k due to softer suspension and chassis IMHO. the s2k is more prone to snap oversteer due to a shorter wheelbase.

the rx8 doesn't have the dramatic vtec (not v-tec.....u should know how to spell this if u own the s2k ); it's smooth all the way up to redline.

if u're willing to put up with worse MPG and minor oil consumption (nature of rotaries) and just a less reliable car in general, u'll be happy with the rx8 IMO. it's a better compromise btwn comfort and sportiness than the s2k, however for me, the s2k's more fun to drive, and i have another car for more practical uses.

hope this helps a bit.

 

dont get the rx8 if u have a problem with space.. rx8 is a fun car.. but its not meant for space at all.. u want speed and space... get an evo8 or an sti.