Most companies refining their sports car, what will Mazda do?
 

Most of us have seen that the top companies are refining their sports cars, making them better, faster, and generally less expensive. We have the Genesis Coupe comming out from Hyundai which should set a benchmark for sub 30k sport compact cars. Rumors are running around that Honda is bringing back the Prelude, and the upgrades to the S2000 have put it ahead of its class once again. Nissan is comming out with the 370Z which should be quite a bit faster, and is also bringing back the Silvia (Nissan is clearly stepping ahead of the others in sports cars).

What will Mazda do to meet the growing market for sport compact cars? Bring out a TT RX8? Anyone have any thoughts on this?

they will search the forum and find answers.

i dont know but mazdas gotta grow balls and handle their scandle...

What's that talk about some crappy engine called the 16X Mazda was making??

OOHh, I can't be bothered to remember.

^^^ What he said.

most likely, they wil put out antoher balanced car IMO

Well, mazda is ahead indeed for what i see.
They don't develop a new restyle every year, they make a good project from the beginning. Having a 5+2 years of productions (5 being the model, 2 being the restyling years) gives us way more stability and capability to sell a model that's not "old" or "restyled" every 6 months or every year.
Look at the nissans, who's buying lev 1 z's? first models of s2k?
Mazda did a wonderful job keeping the same power and working on other aspects. I really hope to see a real sports car from mazda, like nissan and honda are producing (2 seats etc) BUT with a light weight, something that manufacturers tend to forget in projects.

But will it meet standards with the Genesis coupe? All the reviews on it are outstanding in performance, handling, and comfort thus far.

Lightweight is hard at this point while still meeting safety standards.

I don't think that lightweight is hard to reach.
Dump the heated seats and all of the bells and whistles. We're talking about sportcars but all i see around here (incl. the rx8) are sportsaloons in a certain way.

Only the V6 has more power than the 8, and come on do you really think that they can beat the 8's handling? Mazda is one of the best chassis makers around, they have got it down. And no car has the balance the 8 does.

but its a Hyundai :rollingla sure Ill drive one, after I tape my dick down in between my legs

The Turbo 4 is also going to be around the price of what the tiburon currently is (If I'm remembering correctly) and the V6 just barely above 26k..

And, will they beat the 8's handling? No, but they will come close to it. Mazda has to step up and do something. Even pushing another 20-30 to the wheels would be good. Alot of cars have the balance of the 8, they are just.. either really expensive, or not available in the US.

And to the above post, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda?.. They're all pretty much equal in reliablity now. People shop by name which is stupid now. With Hyundai offering a 100k BB warranty on their vehicles now, and with their price they are at the top. When you see the Genesis Coupe beating you at the track for a lower sticker value, high quality interior and engine, you will rethink your laugh. They also won't be as anal as Honda or Nissan with warranty issues because they need the customers more than Honda / Nissan does.

I for one, wouldn't turn my back on the Genesis because it's a Hyundai. S2000's a Honda. GTR is a Nissan. Company names mean little now (other than how much hassle you'll have with the dealers)

Mazda already has a piston sports car, the Miata MX-5 (or what ever they are calling it today). Mazda has said that they are dedicated to continuing the rotary. We will continue to have a RX model. It may not have the horsepower figures you want. But, with reduced weight, it won't need them.

True, I'm not saying anything against the 8. I love the 8, wish I could own one. But what will they do to keep up with how the market is going, is my question. Reducing weight is a good start, I agree. For the 8 I personally would like to see a step forward in reducing weight, increasing horsepower, and a little bit more reliability from the powerhouse.

The ITR and the RX8 are fairly close to eachother for price, handling, and performance. If the ITR was offered in the states I think Mazda would try a little bit more to make their customers shitfaced grins turn into something even bigger.

I owned the ITR's brother, RSX, but sold it and went to a Prelude. Now I notice how bad the RSX was.. the problem with the US Import Sportscar market is that the really good performers never make it to the states for retail.

Amen, if you know how to drive and have a wonderful handling car powers really comes after. Look at the old rx7. Just 250hp but lightweight. What were the competitors like?
How can you talk about reliability if you don't own one? The problem with the rotary engine is not the engine itself 99% of the times, it's the owner!
I broke the gearbox, gutted catalyzers of every kind and so on in many track days, and the engine runs smooth! i wonder why thoug... Yes, it's a hands on car but you can't say it is not reliable.
AND... mazda did some improvements on the restyled car to improve reliability (or to make this engine a bit more idiot-proof...)

put me in the stupid column then b/c i would never drive, let alone own, a hyundai.

I really think Mazda is just stretching this RX8 until 2012. The recent refresh was just that.. hoping to bring any other people over. If they are actively developing something else to call their sports car then why waste resources on the current model? They are holding over until 2012 when they introduce the 16x into their new sports car.

Yea, I shouldn't have said reliability. Should have said idiotproof it more. The average American can't change their oil on a regular schedule.

I usually stay away from these types of threads. Because I don’t know if the rx8 is the first time rotary for a lot of these owners who feel Mazda needs to stet up their game with their cars. But as for me rx8 is not my first rotary car, in fact it’s my second. Before moving to the US I owned a FC.

Now I wasn’t into racing, but I was into drifting. My friends are hard core Nissan fans, yes their car power vs. My power owns my car, but as for handling vs. handling, they prefer my car over theirs. Even my friends FD when you compared power vs. power Nissan always won. But as for handing it’s the same as the FC. They prefer the Mazda over their cars.



Now for some strange reason, I always hear RX7 owns RX8 in the power department (which is very true) as for handling I feel they are equal. But when you compare rx7 vs. other cars in its category during the same generation, it’s not winning the power department (stock vs. stock). Same can be said rx8 and the cars they are compared to during the rx8 generation.


Just like in the Rolex series. Mazda underpowered compared to the ponti’s and Porsche. But since the Mazda is lighter then their cars, they have less ware on their tires.

So I guess what I am trying to say is, IF Mazda has not try to beat its competition in the power department (since the rx7), but does in their handling department. Its makes you wonder if Mazda just prefer a well balanced car over a well powered car.

But like I said, I stay away from these type of threads. Because I don’t know if these ppl are just new to the rotary and I feel its just waste of my time posting about it.

there's nothing wrong with driving a hyundai.

there's nothing wrong with driving a dodge srt-4

would you rather drive one of those or an rx-8?

it comes down to one's reason's for choosing the car they choose.

Mazda is refining their cars and making them better. It's just not in the same way as the general public expects to see improvement.

Mazda does not care, and that is what must be understood. Mazda will always design a car for the buyer who feels the same way they do...

zoom zoom for life
________
LIVE SEX

Has mazda ever followed the other companies?
Or do they usually do their own thing?

It's called the 16X.

... and 200 lbs less weight

and a redesigned chassis :)
many new cars actually aren't "new". Some chassis are extensively abused for decades.
Starting from scratch is a good symptom.