Like to introduce myself.... (a little long)
 

What's up everyone....Just want to say hi and introduce myself.

This is a great site with a lot of useful information!

I curently own a 2002 Audi A4 3.0 that I absolutely love, which will be going to the wife when her lease is up. I'm looking for something a little more sporty to complement the AWD sedan. So obviously the RX-8 has peaked my interest (especially after reading that 100 page press kit).

I've been researching all of the new sporty cars that have come out recently, namely the new Z and the G35 coupe. Neither of them have grabbed me like I thought they would. I test drove the G35 coupe and was less than impressed. Let me tell you, if that is 280 hp/270 ft-lb, they can keep it. The car was uncomfortable and seemed pretty cheap actually. Contrary to popular opinion, I didn't feel it was worth the money (although the 18" wheels are beautiful).

The new Z is also on my list, but once again, it seems to remind me of an American car (big engine, no class, cheap interior). Also, it is extremely impractical. I am a newlywed and kids are definitely in the future. The Z has zero practicality.

So that brought me to the new RX-8. My brother had a 1990 RX-7 Turbo that was a blast to drive. It was actually the car I learned to drive stick on :D I have always been fond of the RX styling and the Rotary engine. When I first saw the RX-8, I was a little indifferent. I wasn't sure about the styling and the 4 doors. Yet now I have come to love the styling and really appreciate the 4 doors. The RX-8 is basically a super sporty coupe that can actually fit stuff (including a baby seat). And now that the price has been released, my interest is soaring.

Sorry to be so long winded, but my wife never wants to listen to my rambling, thats why I have to come to you guys :D I do have a couple of basic questions:

What type of LSD will the RX-8 have? Some research I have read mentioned a TORSN rear LSD. My Audi, as some of you may know, has a TORSEN center differential in the Quattro system, and let me tell you, it is unbelievable! I live in CT, so winter driving will be a concern, a TORSEN LSD along with Snows would be great. Another reason I am drawn to the RX-8 is the Germanic way Mazda seems to go about their cars. I am not a drag racer and could care less about 0-60 times. What I want is a fast, superior handling car with a high quality interior. The RX-8 seems to fit that criteria, and has room to boot. So I hope you guys don't mind if I hang around and pick your brains. I really want to learn as much as I can about the new RX-8. Thanks!

Welcome Matt! Feel free to pull up a chair and crack a cold one. ;)
There's lots of reading and articles to catch up on. :)

yea, welcome! but if you're gonna grack a cold one could ya bring some for the rest of us?:D :cool: ;)

LSD, etc.
 

Hi in CT!

I've owned 5 RX-7s, had a couple buddies back in TX when I lived there that were rotorheads and so I can to love to drive those cars. The last one is still owned by my buddy after he bought it from his friend to whom I sold it (a white 90 convertible) - who had ported the engine, added a new tranny, etc etc etc. It must have near 200K; know others with over 300K. I've been looking forward to owning an RX-8 since it was the RX-01, though I liked the interesting hood it had more than the production, but concepts always lose some new gadgets along the way (like the web seats the RX-Evolv had). At any rate - I believe you'll find out more about the LSD in the RX-8 in the press kit - found elsewhere in this forum. I believe it's called a "Tochigi" LSD and it has a different ratio than the 3rd gen RX-7 had. That's about where my knowledge ends. I'm sure you know that dedicated snow tires will transform any RWD terror into a capable snow driver (with smarts at the wheel, and esp, IMHO, w/ a manual). At any rate, I'd have probably ordered the RX-8 on the premise of the Renesis engine and 4 pax seating alone regardless of how badly they messed with the body design and standard features (like the lack of a 6CD changer, so far at least). I don't think you can go wrong with the RX-8. FWIW, I have a Subuaru XT6 to compliment bad weather needs (it's what most would consider a POS car, but it runs well).
Welcome!

P.S. My wife has suggested starting a support group for RX-8 enthusiast widows.

Check out the videos in the Media section, particularly the Car&Driver video. It seems almost everyone loves the handling in this car. And soon you'll be able to change your name to MattRX!

That would be the multimedia section.

Re: LSD, etc.
 

:D I'm sure my wife would be willing to be the co-founder of that group :D

I'm not that worried about the 8 in the snow. 4 snows and sensible driving will be plenty. Plus, I have the Audi for when it is really bad. The best of both worlds!

Thanks for the welcome everyone. I hope this forum is civilized unlike some of the other boards I go on. Silly comparisons, flaming etc...

Let's just celebrate this particular car for what it seems like it will be, a great drivers car.

Can you include widowers in that too? Last night my husband got trapped in the car with me, and was forced into a two hour discussion of Xenon headlights, rotary engines in general, and exhaust systems. And I thought his obsession with Quake was bad! It was nothing on my obsession with this car...


MattZ, this is a great car forum - I've learned more about cars (specifically rotarys) than I ever thought I'd need. And the trolls are almost non-existant. Welcome aboard- you'll be as bad as the rest of us soon!

*bursts in* TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL

Welcome. I think you will find this a great forum. I've joined other forums for cars I actually own and over several years my postcount never hit 100 - here I don't even have the car yet and yet am involved (for good or bad) on a daily basis.

Matt -- get out now while you still have a chance. Soon your life will revolve around:

**reading new posts on this forum.
**wondering if Herc, Buger and Wakeech really have jobs to be able to post so frequently.
** wondering if Boowana really knows anything or is just a scam -- where is he anyway? No new info lately :mad:
**dealing with the daily frustration of not yet having something you have been obsessing over for several years.
**trying to get every last little tidbit of information even though most of it is pure speculation and opinion.
**daily questioning your pre-order color choices
**wondering why the auto writers all complain about lack of torque -- yet smoke the tires off the car and pull massive drift manuvers around the track
**Nav or no Nav?, Nav or no Nav? Darn it - its just a useless toy NO NAV!
**constantly humming "zoom zoom zoom"
**explaining to your wife that you aren't crazed and obsessed over this car -- even though she spends most evenings looking at the back of your head while you scan the new posts.
**getting anxious and depressed when the site crashes and rechecking every 30 seconds to see if it is back up.

Oh well -- welcome to the RX-8 addicts club :D

welcome MattZ... :cool:
muwah ha ha... another minion to do my bidding...

jk ;) :D

Wow... that's an EXACT description of what my life has become since I ordered my RX-8 and joined this site!! Damn I need a life...

Re: Like to introduce myself.... (a little long)
 

Except for the part about the Audi, my situation is identical to yours. I also was checking out the G35, and there were two things that were preventing me from buying. 1 the cheap interior in the G35. It doesn't do anything for me. And that's truly the part your going to be looking at the most. If the interior doesn't excite me, why bother. (You know it what's inside that counts) :) sorry had to throw that in there.
All though I love the styling of the G35 coupe, the G35 Sedan rear end, is big and ugly. I actually had a G35 sedan on order, but after sitting in the pre-demo and being uninspired, I cancel my order. But I've got this really neat Infiniti clock they sent me. :)
So I had heard about the RX-8, but I thought it was going to be a newer model of the RX-7. But when I found out it had seating for 4. I was hooked, I needed something slightly practicle. This car let's me have my sporty car, and haul the kids around if need be. I think this car will really appeal to Fathers out there wanting more than just a typical sedan.

Hi there Matt! I there too was looking at the G35, G35C, and 350z. Almost 99 percent sure im gonna get the Rx8. Welcome to the board, I'd have to say, this board and the Nsxsc.com and Nsxprime.com boards are my favorite, all car enthusiasts here and friendly discussions. I check this damn page everyday! haha:D

politically correct mods
 

I agree with the above posts, allowing that to be politically correct, the term "she" and "wife" should be he/she and spouse.
I think from Matt's journey as he told it the good thing is he hasn't had to wait the 1, 2, 3, or even 4 years some of us have been waiting, patiently waiting, and waiting some more for this car to finally 'almost' be here. And I agree with him about the 4 person seating - that was a deciding factor when I bought a Protege at the end of 1990 instead of a Miata. I've only had the Miata since '99. Elara - thanks for the contribution! I think the journalists feel compelled to complain about the torque for lack of understanding and they feel the need to since it 'looks low'. If they want a lot of torque, they should get a turbodiesel truck.

God I just watched the C & D TV spot....I don't care what people say about the lack of torque...this car will have more than enough power than I should ever have in a car! Chirping tires, powerslides...Jesus, I will probably never maximize the ability of this car!

I'm not into pissing contests, and I'm not the only one who will be driving the car. I bet most of the people that complain about the lack of torque probably wouldn't know what to do with gobs of torque :D

hehehe we like you , you can stay!:D now go get yourself an RX-8!!
:cool: :)

:D Whew...the initiation is over already! That was pretty quick! :D

the initiation actually comes later, we're sneaky like that;)

*rolls eyes*

There's an initiation now? Damn! I missed out...oh, I forget sometimes that I am a girl...lmao!

Re: Like to introduce myself.... (a little long)
 

linear throttle response.

Re: Re: Like to introduce myself.... (a little long)
 

Believe me I know about linear throttle resonse...Have you ever driven a non-turbo Audi? They are the king of smooth linear throttle response. I agree the G35 has a smooth linear throttle response, even so, it just doesn't feel like 280 hp to me. My Audi has 220 hp and my fathers 330i has 225. They both feel equal to the latest VQ to me...just MHO :D

hey matt, wats up ?? the mazda website lists the LSD as a tochigi fuji LSD, watever that is. how do those A4's drive anyways ?? do they handle nice ?? good road feel or no ?? i love the way they look.

The A4 is an interesting car to drive. It is very smooth and very stable. Some say it is a bit heavy, and it is. It is definitely not a super tossable car. However, the AWD is unbelievable. The car is so safe and stable at any speed and in any weather conditions. The road feel is excellent, the handling is very good for a heavy AWD sedan. I think an A4 and an RX-8 is the perfect complement to each other. A luxurious, smooth AWD sedan, and a light sporty coupe. Best of both worlds :D