No More Oldsmobiles

I stand corrected. Thanks for the interesting info, AvitalBlue8. (But actually it still was a bit of a financial strategy to protect the Corvette. Mazda has no similar conflicts. They don't have to detune or restrict the RX-8, because there currently is no RX-7 for it to compete with.)

pritch

somtimes i think this club is all about bashing the car. most coundnt handle race car hp

RX8-CARL

Well said. All this not enough torque, Not enough power.
Why did you buy one ?
Did you do any research before you buy ?

Ps I know you got slightly less power than advertised. :p

pritch

still a very nice car i dont regret my purchase

RX8-CARL

Have too agree with that aswell.

bongoboyla

I'm well aware of the pro mazda specs. A good friend of mine is looking into raising capital to run in FM. If FM is what we are looking at, then the point of this whole thread is moot (from your link):

"Engine: 240 HP Mazda “Renesis” rotary engine with encrypted ECU including rev limiter, pit speed limiter, traction control, fuel trim."

I was assuming that the original poster was actually speaking more of the Le Mans cars from the early ninties which seem to actually have been powered by FOUR rotors:

"The 1991 race was the 13th time in 18 years that Mazda had competed at Le Mans, its best classification having been 7th place twice, in 1987 and 1989. This time the Mazda team was made up, as usual, of three cars, two new 787Bs and one of the earlier 787s, all powered by identical 4-rotor engines with 654-cc chamber volumes, featuring electronic fuel injection and three sparkplugs per rotor housing, firing sequentially."

My point was actually that Mazda ISN'T holding out, but rather making the car more reliable.

MTLbroker

Why do people buy an 8 over the z? Answer: They do because the 8 is a better overall package than the z - ie, power, weight handling, braking, suspension, comfort, ergonomics, fit&finish, materials, technology, sound system, seats, steering, shifter, etc. Don't take my word for it, read up on it in the auto mags.

Why would people buy a still hypothetical rx7 over 35th ann ed z? Answer: will depend on the rx7 package. I have to beleive that even with a shared rx7/8 platform, the resultant car will be an inherently better sports car than a z whose platform is shared with Altima, Murano, M45, G35, etc. The decision certainly won't come down to fuel economy, or hp.

I think that if the package is right, Mazda can go an addition U$4-5k to about $40k and people would still buy an rx7 over the z. In fact, I believe that if the 8 were just a tiny bit less radically styled, it would have absolutely trounced the z in sales. If there will be an rx7, styled right and with the same driving qualities of the 8, it will be an tough package to beat.

On your last point, believe it or not, there are people who would NEVER be caught in a vette. I count myself one. Call it an image thing, whatever..... I would gladly pay about the same money for less performance or more money for the same performance. Hey, that's just me. Besides, most people NEVER use the full performance envelope of their daily driver, let alone a sportscar. Can you honestly tell me that on your day in, day out commute to work you will be pulling 0-60 in 4.9sec, corner at 1.01g, and fly thru the 1/4 mile in 11.46? I think not.

The other day, I was tailing a Lambo Murcielago on the highway. It was surreal. He was in the middle lane, I was behind him. On the left was some sedan or other. On the right was some minivan. This thing was wide - Chrysler Pacifica wide. But it was about 2/3 the height of the sedan beside him. From behind, it didn't even look like a car! Guess how fast he was driving? At the speed limit.

Aseras

i bought this car because it was so well balanced. nothing is spectacular. but it's got plwnty of power it'll get going in a hurry, it's gas mileage so far for me seems fine and it's freaking comfortable. it handles like a dream. it's almost there everywhere and close enough in most categories for me at the pricepoint I got ( 21k and some change.. new ) to make it very worthwhile.

pritch

well this post seems to have some happy owners . screw tuning this car is what it is a real nice sports car with room for four . it handles as good as boxter and is nicer looking than that z thing

StealthFox

yeah i think the general consensus is that mazda isn't holding back and they did a good job doing what they did considering EPA and emissions and i agree. also mugatu noted how hard it is to squeeze HP out of it...when manufacturers quickly "juice up" cars a bit to boost sales(a pre meditated thing they do for more sales) they do something minor like do an exhaust, ecu or intake change. they're not going to knock the rx8's renesis to 280 with minor things like that, you'll need something like porting to get 280hp

pritch

but i think the car is plenty fast enough

StealthFox

yeah its not insufficient, its just not impressive, its just "average" for a sportscar, [rant on] or whatever the hell people like to call it nowadays, its certainly not a 4 door sedan which some people will call it and its not a sportscar, but its a hell of a lot closer to a 2+2 sportscar than 4 door sedan to me and 99% of the population[/rant off]

Sigma

Every manufacturer does this.

Nissan's popular 3.5L VQ ranges from close to 200hp to almost 300hp in different applications with minimal or no changes. The same engine is used in the 350Z, the G35, the Altima SE, and the Maxima, and much of their truck and SUV lineup -- yet they all get widely differing ratings.

Ford's 3.0L Duratec ranges from 197hp to 220hp with virtually the exact same engine. With minimal changes it's used by Jaguar at 240hp and with extensive changes used by Noble for almost 400hp.

And while I don't know enough about the respective automakers to give particular details, the exact same thing is done by GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Toyota and every one else out there. Most use only a very few engine designs, and just tune them to varying degrees to change the engine dynamics or just lower the power altogether.

Often times the engines tune isn't even changed, just the rating itself. A big example of this -- Dodge intentionally under-rated the SRT-4 significantly; by almost 30hp. It puts almost as much power to the wheels as Dodge claims at the flywheel. Manufacturers do this so that customers aren't sitting there going -- "why do I want the 350Z when I can get the exact same power out of the Altima and have a sedan?" or "What kind of sports coupe like the 350Z only has as much power as that little midsize sedan". So, despite the fact that the Altima will run just as fast as the 350Z, Nissan will under-rate the Altima.

It's make economic sense. Make lots of the exact (or almost exact) same engine but charge people $5000 more for the 'extra' 50hp when all you've got to do is change a variable in the ECU and maybe throw on some cheap intake technology to get a little extra bump and alter engine note. At worst all the manufacturer has to do is change out the cam to change from an engine from a torquey engine made for small SUVs to a high-revving high-power engine for a sports coupe.

StealthFox

well i dont know if a cam will change it from an SUV motor to a high revving high power sports coupe engine, but i see your point clearly and agree with you 100%

Razz1

Wait until you see the RE8.

Then there will be a ton o 8's on the road.

GM plans on installing 12000 pumps nationwide to support Hydrogen fuel.

Ike

I'll eat my shorts if Mazda is the first to introduce the hydrogen engine in an
RX-8. Maybe we'll see it in the next 10 years or so but it'll be after a couple manufacturers do it first.

StealthFox

say it isnt so, the rx8 the next toyota prius(the 30k econobox driven by hippies) i dont want hippies driving the rx8 and i certainly dont want a million on the street

StealthFox

you'll eat your shorts? i'll shoot myself.

crosswound

if they been holding back they better give it up especially if they want sales to sky rocket i mean if the car made its 238hp or the 250hp i'm sure it be doing a lot better overall.