Stangonline

Nope, loaded, GT 6-speed.

I have years of experience driving various sports cars. I know that these things need to rev. I was surprised to hear the little "beep" that told me it was time to shift without ever really feeling like it came into its powerband. This car might feel fast to someone whos first car was a 3-cyl geo metro and they moved into the 8. I knew it didnt have that much peak HP, but I was expecting perhaps its weight would help me out there... now, i will say that I weight over 200, my wife is 130 and the little sales dude couldnt have been 120. That IS some extra weight and I imagine it would feel faster by myself....

I mean, my wife - the one that doesnt like to drive fast at all, even asked me if I was flooring it because her 99 Mazda 626 4cyl felt faster....

I have a feeling that Im not the only enthusiast that likes this car but feels its seriously down on power. If anyone is in the Tampa, FL area and wants to show me how the car is supposed to perform (I dont know how I could have drivin it any different), let me know - Im always up for a spirited ride... Otherwise, I stick to my original request " MAZDA, TURBO THIS THING, NOW!"

Take care guys.

Rupes

I drove a Z28 Camaro before this car, had 320 HP, and 300 pounds of torque. It was and felt a lot faster than my RX-8, but I still find my RX-8 more enjoyable. Everyone has a mustang/camaro. Theres just nothing great about them except straight line power. The car was falling apart at 30k miles ugh! I don't get the chance to drive super fast very often, so I like cruising, going slower than traffic so people have to pass me and can check me out.

I love hearing the only production car on the planet with that awesome hum of the rotary engine! When I need to pass someone i'll drop 3 gears go into third and zoom past them, it's not the fastest, but it gets the job done. I think most people don't worry about how their car could be faster, because we bought it knowning that it's more about style than anything else. Hell a 355 Ferrari isn't even as fast as a new Mustang Cobra, that doens't mean I wouldn't take it in a heatbeat! Sometimes it's not how fast you get somewhere, it's how good you look doing it.

EDIT: 0-60 is around 5.9 - 6.1. I don't think your 4 banger mazda is faster than that.

-Rupes

Stangonline

It needs more power, in my opinion.

You drive slow so people can look at you? Maybe they're looking at you because your HOLDING UP FRICKIN TRAFFIC!

As for sound, it sounds nice, but not unlike every other import out there.

Glad you like the image that your car gives you but im not the only one that thinks if a car has a "fast" image, it should actually kinda be fast... the RX8 isnt as its delivered... That said, does anyone make a turbo or other power-adder kit for it?

Straight line power.... my mustang will eat the new RX8 alive in corners, stopping, and HP - although my car rides like total crap, has a ton of road/exhaust noise, and gets 10mpg, if im lucky... I definately know my car doesnt have it all, but I was just hoping for some balance in the 8... It just looks a lot faster than it is... I guess thats my main beef when it boils down to it.

Im actually pissed that it wasnt a little faster, as I was liking everything else about it... Its like meeting the perfect girl and finding out she has some crazy STD

Jeff

BTW:

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

well we now see what your priorities are from your pics of the mustang....

Speed over, well, everything else.

Don't get me wrong, I am not bashing you. If speed is your thing, then of course the RX8 isn't for you. But since we are all being honest here, I'd rather drive in my RX8 that is slower than an 80's Rustang anyday.

But, different strokes for different folks.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

I have a VERY hard time to believe the first two.
HP, yes, but corners and stopping? Not likely, unless you have some serious mods that would enhance the braking and cornering of that old Mustang.

spork

Am I missing something here?

Car and Driver pretty much said the new Cobra killed both the G35 and the RX-8 in straight line power but the RX-8 was the best stopper and it was incredible on the turns. I read another review where the RX-8 again was one of the best stoppers. The TopGear review also loved the way it cornered too and it pulled the same times as the 350Z and M3 on their track. The RX-8 earned the highest marks possible for roll over saftey.

It baffles me how people can have such different opinions on the car. I mean it's like night and day.

Personally, I think there's only two legitamite complaints that I can see with the car and they are the lack of torque and mpg.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

well, you'll never convince Mr. Mustang of anything otherwise. He thinks a Mazda 4-banger is faster than the RX8.

Furby

I have that exact same car. It does feel kinda fast cuz it makes a lot of noise and hoopla over a little acceleration, but i can tell the difference, the rx blows it away. maybe the smoothness of a rotary was deceiving.

Stangonline

You obviously do not know that Mustangs have the single largest aftermarket following of any car. Parts galore... so yes, I have some mods... Like I said, my car handles better and stops better (except for no abs, so a little skill is involved), but I admit, it rides like crap!

Stangonline

THe power was the only thing I was complaining about. I enjoyed every other aspect. I just wanted to point out that I know what a fast car is, because I own one. You guys can bash away - I can admit the shortcomings of one of my favorite cars - some of you people are in denial. Again, what greater compliment can I give the 8 above what I am saying?? -give it power, I will come.

Stangonline

This is possible. The 626 is slow, no doubt - I guess the best thing to say here is that the RX8 didnt FEEL "noticably" faster than our 626. Guys, its possible that I will not be viewing this forum for a while, so if you hear any updates about the 8 getting more power, email me!

Jeff

DreRX8

in that old 5.0 you need mods--cause those only put out what--205HP stock.

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

Guess what - I know that

Stangonline

Ok, since people are stooping so low....

stock, mine dyno'd at 215 to the wheels and 300 TQ...... Torque is what gets you going anyways... and at twice what an 8 makes, I didnt have any problems dispatching them left and right. Now that I dyno at 429/440, I dont even have to downshift..

BUT, you guys are missing my point... I like the 8, I want one.. it just needs more power!

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

perhaps you should click on the aftermarket/performance section on this site, rather than the general discussion section.. You'll get more answers there than here.

spork

you'll notice that i'm countering your indirectly dissing of the cornering and stopping of the 8, which are very good in nearly everyone's opinion. and not the horsepower/torque issue.

the car definitely can use more torque, i think everyone will agree on that. heck, i agree with that statement and i don't even race. It's just your comparisons that are pissing people off. (Ie slower than a 626, an old mustang will stop and corner better, etc). I mean unless your 626 has been heavily modified, there's no way it's faster than the 8. then again the 8 is deceptively fast at times. i remember asking my brother how fast he thot i was going once and he said 50. i was going 70. And I'm skeptical about the stopping and cornering thing like the other guy is. I mean the 8 is comparable or better than the S2000 and 350Z in those aspects.

RX8-TX

STOP scaring people away..don't be a bunch of babies, for Christ sake!
Just STOP IT!

former_s2k'r

Quoted for accuracy and importance!

Throw in an ultra quiet cabin to the mix and you really can't feel the speed.
6 sec 0-60's aren't slow by any means. I still can't figure out why people bash the 8's speed all the time when its only .5-.8 seconds slower than the competition (s2K, G35, 350Z)




I felt and heard every MPH in the s2k, eapecially with the top down. I'm constantly checking the gerars on the highway in the 8 because I've been guilty of driving in fourth thinking I was in 6th! Stup[id smooth engine..

RX8-TX

Nice...any under the hood and jacked up?

Ellar

I know the 8 is slower straight-line but realize the engine doesn't try to shake itself apart as it approaches redline, so that can confuse the butt-dyno a bit, too.

Check out this thread for track day impressions from a driver who runs a heavily modified Mustang and a stock RX-8:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...spension+track

Stangonline

All I was saying is that my car exceeds the performance of an 8 in many areas, but I can still appreciate the 8 for what it is - or what its potential is... The only thing that is not balanced in the car is the power. Maybe im retarded, but IMO, if a car looks fast, it should be fast.

I've never understood 0-60 being such a huge benchmark, really. When you have to drop the clutch, obliterate the drivetrain, hope for traction, and waste your tires to even get close to the 0-60 times that most manufacturers claim... then again, you can do that on very crappy cars and still get decent results.... .5-.8 is actually a LOT in 0-60 anyways and you are comparing that to cars that already arent that fast (but are balanced).
To me, the real test of a cars power is seat of the pants... I mean, were not racing the clock everytime we drive our cars, are we? From a roll, stepping on the gas, feeling the power... thats what its all about. You can take any car, rev the **** out of it, and get a good 0-60 becuause you are taking advantage of the engine/flywheel/clutch momentum and mementarily using it as horsepower.

Serious as a heart attack - if anyone is in the Tampa, FL area and wants to give me a longer ride than the 15 minutes that I test drove the other night, let me know. I will be happy to return the favor in the mustang.

Jeff

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

Nice link to that Mustang thread.

Stangonline

Wow, this is excatly what I am saying. The mustang is faster.. in every way... but the rx8, coming from the factory as a package, is going to be more refined, and a nice driver... This is what I liked about the 8 as well.... I swear, its the last time Im going to say it - IT JUST NEEDS MORE POWER If you guys would just agree and echo my point, maybe we all would be driving 300hp rx8s or rx9s in the next year or two!

Jeff

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

I think the reason people are giving you a hard time (myself included) is the fact that you are one of HUNDREDS of new members that sign up here and say that the RX8 needs more power.

"When's the turbo coming?"

"Any superchargers out there?"

We've heard it all before. The fact of the matter is we know that the RX8's power isnt as high as some of the competition, but for most of us it matters very little, since we look at the overall package, and don't let the one thing get to us that obviously is getting to you. We certainly don't need to hear AGAIN from you.

There are turbo kits that are being worked on, but none are ready. So until then, if you cant deal with the RX8 in its current form, go to 350z.com or somwhere else where speed is primary and everything else is secondary.

Ellar

You said "my mustang will eat the new RX8 alive in corners, stopping, and HP". That's hardly what the person says in that thread. At this point, unless you have your own experiences from a roadcourse to share, I think any real discussion is over.

As Mugatu said, the power thing pops up in just about every thread on this forum that doesn't have video of, a poll about, or reference to guy's ***** in it. Gotta be like 70% at least.