Rootski

iTrader: (1)

"The suspension takes hits from the road like a champion prizefighter, so much so that during our driving loop the RX-8 was actually the fastest car on real-world roads."

~Car & Driver, June 2007

rxAMZ

the higher torque in the rx8 is nullified by its higher kerb weight. If only it weighed 200 kgs less.

Roaddemon

If you want to go fast go to the track for HDPE. Then you will never say your 8 is slow.QUOTE:

SO TRUE, the 8 has alot of edge over cars more powerful by it's overall dynamics. Other than straight line racing it's hard to beat. It can put up a fight anywhere else on the road. It's the perfect back road racer. Reward yourself and buy one. You will see.

Zero_Rotary

buy the 8 n keep the evo

TheKDog

trade the econobox

Nopstnz

Performance wise-the evo will beat the s**t out of an rx8.
comfort and crusing-the 8 will beat the s**t out of an evo. (Especially if it has the GT package)

Since your looking for a car to just cruise in nowadays, I'd take the 8.

Roaddemon

Take away the awd and the Evo will lose in the curves to most sportcars with less hp on the track. Including the miata. It has no natural balance. It's all mechanical. do you want to drive a robot or a vehical with natural flow and balance. My body says Rx8 for everday life.

Nopstnz

But that's the thing. The fact is it DOES have AWD and no ones going to "take it away." Evo Vs. 8 (Performance)- Evo wins.

Cody Red

Sorry, around here or near here at least, all the evos are modified. therefore, getting as bad mpg as we get. In the future I do see myself getting an awd car for auto-x/track so I'm even on which is better.

Carry on.

Moonrover333

i had an 04 and it was nothing but problems. if i had the choice. i personally would go with the EVO. just the baseline is soo much higher. bigger better brakes, i love the looks and don;t consider it an econobox.
Maybe not a sports car in the traditional way but still undeniably a sports car at heart.
RX8 def has better interior, but thats not really something that truly concerns me.
I loved the way my 8 drove but it was just WAY too high maintenence, had to replace engine twice, had to have tranny rebuilt, etc. from what i've heard the 06+ is much better.
Evo's are really common but it seems like every 60yo lady with a midlife crisis here has an 8.
My final opinion is keep the Evo just do subtle comfort mods. It will be much more fun and just a better car all around.
Only if you want a car that has a neat sound, curvy outside and nice interior go with 8, but i don;t think you will be as happy.
also like previously stated def check out 350z, or hell if you want real comfort go Infinity g35, 350z heart with ubber comfy interior and sexy lines outside.

Renesis07

iTrader: (1)

I think if performance isnt a huge sacrafice for you, the RX-8 is a great transition into a sports car, picture your old s2000 as a coupe with 4 seats and a great interior, different looks and 2 spinning triangles and thats an RX-8. The RX8 is similar, but not the same as the s2000. If youre all about having a car thatll run low 13's and be fun in the snow, stick with the evo. I personally love both, the evo is also one of my favorite cars of all time, so either is a great pick in my opinion.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

the 8 has no low end torque. its a straight diagonal line up the power band. no bell curve of sudden torque. for power, you need to keep the rpms above 5k. but i suppose thats the same with the turbo of the evo. except with the evo, the power comes in all at once. you never feel the power in the 8, its not like, "oh crap gotta hold on!" its more like, "oh crap im doing 90 in a 35 in front of a school!"

i've never driven an evo. but as an aspiring graphic designer, i'd prefer the 8 simply for very good styling with both the interior and exterior. its an absolute blast to drive, and i miss mine. i've been in el salvador for the past 2+ weeks on vacation with my gf, and.. well.. the complete poverty we've been staying in aside, the thing i miss most about the usa is my car. :D

(thank god i decided we should go to a luxury resort for most of the rest of the trip. it is so much nicer here, and they have internet. :D )

Roaddemon

Sorry to hear about the problems. You got a lemon. I have to disagree that the EVO has the heart of a sportscar. That's like saying the miata and Rx8 have the heart of a rally car. They don't.

Nick R

I seriously looked at purchasing an EVO IX about 6 months back. I took one out for a test spin and it was wickedly quick but the interior felt lacking (my RalliArt Lancer had a nicer interior IMO). I'd always liked the RX-8 so I figured I ought to test drive one before I buy the EVO. Well needless to say I ended up buying the RX-8 over the EVO. Even though the EVO is an absolute hoot to drive, the RX-8 is definetly more refined and I think receives more respect instead of the immediate boy racer reaction most people give the EVO. Don't get me wrong, the EVO is a heck of a machine for the money beating vehicles stickered at twice as much, but its definetly all performance.

Roaddemon

Let me just say, if the Evo looked like the rx8 the sticker would be twice as much. Performance comes cheap in a small sedan.

Moonrover333

i really don't see the rx8 as a "Sports car" yes i know its got sporty looks and good handling but thats it. when i think sports car i think ferrari, lambo, maseratti, porsche etc. and in the evo's defense, they really shouldn't push the EVO as a rally car cause in WRC Mitsu sux pretty bad from what i've seen but thats not here or there. i think the evo is more sports car than the RX8. Its faster, handles better, and seems to be more fun to be in. The RX8 is definately more refined though. Its fun to drive, i gets ALOT of looks from all sorts of people. and you can just get in sink into the seat and cruise to the sound of the engine. its all in what you truly want. personally i'd rather have evo cause i like the more raw feel and you feel more connected to car. but if you want a weekend cruiser, get the 8

Evo8RX8

Thanks for all the responses. You guys really gave me insight and ideas to think about. Coming from the s2000 to the evo, i miss the luxuries and comfort. The evo is a hella of lot faster and more fun to drive then the S but reality hits me when I look at the interior and feel like im driving a very fast base lancer. Then I look at the extra 2 doors and realize im driving a very fast base lancer grocery getter. The only reason I got rid of the S was because I wanted something fast. Now that I have something fast I want something sportier and classy. The cockpit of the rx-8 just makes me feel in control and in a sports car (sorry but I do believe the rx-8 is a sports car, just not an exotic sports car. ex. the nsx is slower then most but is still considered a true sports car). Im thinkin about lookin towards a 05 and up rx-8 mainly because the 04 i was looking at has a broken driver side visor and seems to have trouble starting. I believe the 05s and after are more reliable correct me if Im wrong. Again thanks for all of the replys

Renesis07

iTrader: (1)

I think youll be happy with an RX8, good move looking at 05's and up. make sure all recalls are done on whatever RX8 you choose.

New Yorker

Au contraire, my poor, misinformed friend. No debate here—the 8 is a sports car through and through. So is the Miata, the most popular sports car in the world. (And most don't find the Miata particularly fast either.) Just wanted to set the record straight.

delhi

I think the STi would've been marginally better to the Mitsu in terms of interior design. And still goes like stink. The 8 is classified as a sedan (4drs) but it is a sports car like the rx7, miata, 911, S2000 etc. Mazda made the 8 from the ground up to be a sports GT and through innovativity, they also put in an extra set of suicide doors to make it practical. Kudos for their creativity. Otherwise it be just another 2dr coupe.

Stavesacre21

I find it a little hard to give you a completely accurate answer considering how i've never driven an EVO before, but I can tell you that after driving my 97 Cobra that carries 300HP, the stright line difference is night and day between the 8. It's not meant to win stoplight races.

HOWEVER, on the other end of the spectrum, even a car tuned like the Cobra feels like a BOAT lofting in the ocean on turns in comparison to the 8's snap-to-turn cornering agility. Also, the silky-smooth 9K redline is another thing that's hard to find anything in comparison to.

I'm well aware that the EVO isn't a car to be laughed at, but it's soul is a complete 180 at heart. Born from rally, it's not even on the same "sports car" page as the 8. If raw power means more then overall drivability and a well refined ride, the EVO is definetly a better choice. But if that's all that's holding you from the 8, you'll find a HECK of a lot more PRO's on the 8's side IMO.

Just my $.02

rxAMZ

I think you need both cars, the rx8 for comfort and cruising and the evo for the times when you need to go out and have a good thrash.

But I dont understand why people keep saying the evo is not a sports car, how can the evo do things it can do and still not be classified as a sports car, or is everyone just referring to the traditional sports car layout, FR. The evo's a sports car in my books.

just one more thing, what about the mugen CTR? its not a traditional sports car yet its kills the 8 around a track, I think people just need to keep an open mind about thing.

Evo8RX8

unfortunately, I cant have both. As a college student, that would kill both my play and beer money. For speed, ive been considering buying an rx-8 and then later down the road buying another gsxr 750 or 1000. That will cure my speeding needs and be cheaper then owning 2 fairly new vehicles. I just have one last questions. The 05s dont have any of the recalls do they? And as far as the 04s, if I do get one that doesnt have the recalls performed, do I just take it to any mazda dealer to have those done? for free? and about how long would it take them to perform them all if none had been done? I cant be without a vehicle to long since it would be my only car at that moment. Thanks

Roaddemon

You must be awfully young. You obviously do not know what a pure bred sportscar is. The rally car 4 dr sedan is NOT a sports car. It's a sport sedan factory made for rally racing. That's why it can outperform rwd on the track. You seem to be comming up with your own definitions of "sportscar". History has already established what a true sports car is. The 8 fits the bill perfectly.

Roaddemon

,,,,,,,,,For speed, ive been considering buying an rx-8 and then later down the road buying another gsxr 750 or 1000.QUOTE:,,,,,,,,,

Now your talking. Great combination. That's all you need.