PhotoMunkey

Have you ever known a German who didn't drink heavily and couldn't handle a good beating? LOL

BlueEyes

The best out of how many?

Glyphon

another reason why the top gear test results need to be taken with a grain of salt is because they all aren't tested under similar conditions. some cars run on a bone dry track, and others run in monsoon like conditions. good for entertainment, poor for scientific validity.

BlueEyes

I'm glad someone else understands this.

9291150

Funny, here you are questioning these results from a well known source because they show the 8 as being fast. Yet on some other recent thread, you showed some obscure magazine article from overseas that showed that a RX8 with slower lap times than the previous generation N/A Miata!!! But, you presented that as fact.

You're kinda pathetic, no?

Otherwise, I agree, a E46 M3 should be a faster than an 8 in the right hands.

KYLiquid

damp track adds +3 secs to a good lap time
wet track adds +5 secs to a good lap time

on average, thats using the same tire in dry/wet....usualy a summer/dry performance tire on sports cars.

Beodude123

I honestly don't see why people come on to this forum after they have already signed on to get the car, and then ask if they made the right decision. What did you expect everybody to say? Honestly.

It's an RX-8 enthusiast forum. Of course most people (except Ike) will say yes you did.

What matters is if you like it. Will you mind the drop in performance and class? That is up to you. If you weren't sure if you wanted it, then don't get the car. Don't let other people make up your mind for you, that is just dumb.

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to jack the thread but something caught my eye that just didn't look right.

24 Lotus Exige 1.26.9
62 Lotus Elise 1.35.6

Is it possible that an added rear spoiler and hand made body pannels will make an almost 10 second difference in lap times?

BlueEyes

No. It was probably pissing rain when the Elise was tested. It's a perfect example of why the TG test times are ENTERTAINMENT ONLY. Despite what some people would love to believe.

Ike

That was a test done to determine the best drivers car in Britain. All the tests were done on the same day in the same conditions by professional race drivers. It's safe to say they weren't taking sloppy laps like Top Gear will for their TV show.
I never presented the article as definitive track times, I just said it will give you an idea of how a RX-8 compares to the STI in various track measurements.

What's really pathetic is you agree with me but you still had to take a swipe at me and whine about something.

KYLiquid

SMG is NOT automatic, it has a clutch and 6 different gears. Its a manual transmission, except the gear selector and clutch is hydraulicly controled by the computer, vs your arm and leg. it IS a manual trany. Same as the F1 gearbox in a Ferrari.

also one of the biggest handling mods you can do to a car is tires. Some of the cars tested by top gear are on NEAR track only tires, others (like the rx8) are on a performance street tire.

The only constant with the top gear tests is they have the same driver (usualy, how do you know the stig is always the same driver? Do you really think that renault let some TV show test driver take their F1 car out on the track for a few laps? Some of the cars they test are rare cars, dont you think the owner might want to drive the lap? Who know. Part of the reason they have the stig in a generic uniform is so that anyone could be the stig.

KYLiquid

right, i belive the elise time was in the wet, an the exige in the dry.

Lotus themselfs said the exige vs an elise (stock for stock) is only good for like 2-3 secs or something.

Ike

Call the SMG whatever you like, it's still slower than the 6 speed around the track.

cleoent

The rx8 is superior to the e36 m3 in every aspect except for straightline speed. Interior is much nicer, exterior is newer, handling is better, brakes are better, it's more comfy for a daily, it's more reliable etc etc.

Now, you will have worse gas mileage, and you will probably miss your torque, but i dont think you made a bad choice.

tekk's 8

I Couldn't have said it better myself.

Captain Amazing

RX-8 is a slow car. But how many times do you even race anyway? If you want power go turbo it or something.

Revolver

Point taken re: NSX - I wasn't aware of the comparison details. Still, you have to admit that it was pretty poor value for money towards the end of its life.

As for the M3 - my bad - I meant to say E36. I agree the E46 trumps the 8 and Z, even on tighter tracks.

Revolver

My point was time had passed it by, especially considering what Honda was still charging for it.

Chill. I'm awake.

Revolver

Perhaps the Elise had the old Rover engine?

There was a significant power upgrade when the Toyota engine was fitted to the Elise 111R and Exige.

jisoo26

I had the brake squeal too but I wouldn't say it's unfixable...went to another dealership and they replaced the brake pads. No squeal every since (2,000 miles and counting). I do have one rattle, the rear view mirror. There's a fix in the DIY section that I'm gonna try out to see if I can resolve that one. Hate the paint chips though, I have 3 already

Revolver

The brake squeal is by no means a universal problem.

I've never had it and nor have several other owners I know.

However, I'm not denying that some cars suffer from it.