zerobanger

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS OMG!!! Sorry for SHOUTING but OMG it was fun.

I had never driven an rx8 but I was so upset about the lack of torque that I was going to buy a 350z as my daily driver.

I drove the Z and then decided against it, it had its moments but felt like a luxury iraqi tank. Anyway getting back to the Rx-8..

I was expecting a car that you hit the gas and you have to floor it to get it to move. I could not have been so wrong. The instant throttle response was great and as hard as I tried I could not get the car to bog no matter what rpm I was in. In my life I have never ever felt an engine so freaking smooth. I didn't want the dealer to know I liked the car cause I knew I wasn't buying it today, but damn I was smiling from ear to ear every second. I was at 9000 RPM in 2nd gear and it felt as smooth as 5 gear at 3000 RPM in my rx7. I was blown away. At one point I looked at the speedometer and I was at 90 MPH and didn't realize it.

Turning into corners is awesome also. While the handling didnt feel as neutral as my FD, it felt very natural and was so responsive. This car is so easy to drive and the sound from the engine at full throttle is invigorating. This car was inspiring. anybody that says the rx-8 isn't a sportscar either is blind or has not driven one or both.

I hate to admit this, but it was more fun to drive than my 350 HP 94 Rx-7.

I'll NEVER give up my FD, but I will be buying an RX-8.

moRotorMotor

I'm glad that you enjoy the car so much! You really don't know unless you've stepped into one and driven it hard I don't know about being 'more' fun than your 350 HP 94 RX-7 though lol

JimW

My thoughts exactly, when I was test driving the G35 M.T., TL, and Saab and then drove the RX8, I said "Yep", this is the one!

zerobanger

I do have to say there were almost no negatives, but the few I have I could get used to...

1) I dont like the door handles. They look odd to me. The FD has probably the greatest door handles in the history of the automobile, the Rx8's? boring.

2) The headrest was like way strange. Its probably cause Im am only 5 ft 6, but it doesnt fit my head and I cant adjust it. the 350Z seats were a much better fit.

I cant think of anything else. All I can say is that there is absolutely no comparison between this and the 350Z, the 8 is so much better and more fun.

Winning_BlueRX8

feel of the wheel seals the deal :p No, I don't sell cars. I was in the exact same position you were though. I knew I would be buying on the day I took the test drive. Still, I couldn't help but smile really big. The salesman could tell I loved th car...I bought the car at MSRP, back when getting $100 off MSRP was a great deal, so I was happy anyways.

djantlive

I drove one too and was impressed by the smoothness of the engine and the car overall. After driving the FD, anything is smooth.

I am concerned about the extremely low MPG and reliability. Early RX8s get 12-14 mpg, which is just unacceptable to me since I put 300mi each week. I've seem many with engine malfunction. Mazda has not been fulfilling its promise of $500 certificate card.

zerobanger

the FD engine is exceptionally smooth. Its the turbo that makes it feel edgy.

rotarypower

zero banger, i want to hear your opinion on the s2k if you've driven it. hopefully you have/will before you decide to buy the rx8. i just want to know how you'd compare the two.

thanks
glad you enjoyed the test drive. haha. can't wait till i drive one.

zerobanger

I drove my friends 2003 S2000 (the 04 has changed, more torque, but less vicious feel when the vtec kicks in). The handling felt near identical to my FD, the steering was 500 times superior. The brakes were weak. The s2000 is a consideration of mine too, but since im keeping my FD, I'm getting the RX8.

Rx8 has superior brakes, the S2000 has more neutral handling. The Rx8 so agile you have to drive to believe it. Steering is similar between the S2000 and Rx8, I'd give the nod to the Rx8 in that dept. In terms of feel, I felt more torque in the Rx8, believe it or not. The rx8's power band was very flat. I felt no peaks. If your looking for a car that has no power then explodes the s2000 is better for you. But the Rx8 revs so much easier than the S2000. I didn't even realize i was at 8300 RPM in the rx8. Its just amazing.

black8ter

check

elmalloc

mate

rotarypower

thanks a lot for the response. helped a lot zerobanger.

zerobanger

I bought the rx-8 yesterday, could not resist.

moRotorMotor

Congratulations on the purchase of your new toy! Did you drive around town and feel like a superstar yet? Because all of us did

zerobanger

yea, its amazing. I may even sell my FD....
actually I dont know if I can bring myself to sell the FD, I love it too much. But the 8 is AMAZING and every bit as fun (even if it takes twice as long to get there, lol).

Rob Tomlin

Hey Zero, did you ever sell your FD?

Now that you have had the 8 for 9 months, have any of your opinions changed?

(soon to be former FD owner in favor of a new RX-8)

StewC625

You drove an RX-8 today?

Funny, so did I!



Hope you buy it!

Rob Tomlin

Well, he may have very well drove drove an RX-8 today since he already bought it in December '03.

Just wanted to see if he thought the RX-8 provided enough driving enjoyment that he felt he could sell the FD or whether he held on to it since I am struggling with the same issue.

basisguy

I did not drive the Saab but did drive the others and once I drove the 8, I knew that was the car for me!!

Overport

The RX-8 needs more power...