DaveRX4

I had three rotary Mazdas before buying a 68 Corvette convertible back in 79. Why? Girls, of course! However, I knew that I'd someday have another RX and soon after I moved to CA, I bought an RX3 as a second car. Sadly, I had to give it away a few years ago, but vowed to have another once again. There will always be a huge difference in feel between a rotary and a V8. When I sold my 68, it had almost 400 lbs-ft of torque from a ZZ3 crate engine. My 01 has 375, but I still miss the silky-smooth nature of the rotary. I guess you could always keep your Z AND get the 8.

Ahh, if I only had Jay Leno's money.........

rockin

I to have a LT1 car and enjoy it very much. I have been looking at the RX-8 for 2 years. I am very concerned about the lack of low end torque compared to our cars. But the screem of the RX-8 engine to 9000 RPM'S could be magic also. I have not driven the RX-8 so I can't comment on how fast the car feels. One thing is for sure after looking at the car at a dealer this week, there is no comparing the built quality of GM vs. RX-8 (I am impressed)

akrx8

im also a big fan of tq(my race car has over 600lbs of it)but i love a hirevn engine (this is my plate for the 8)and there is know comparing these to gm/ford,i would love to buy a reliable domestic car,but there are none!

Rx4FUN

Sandberglar- I think we had the same sales "person". At first I played dumb to see if she knew anything about the car. She didn't. And then during my test drive she kept spouting off facts about the car that she had memorized. At one point I got tired of it so I asked her is she even knew what multi-link suspension meant. That got her to stop. When we got back to the show room I sent her off to get a brochure and her business card and ended up talking directly to the sales manager about my concerns.

Boozehound

Well all you big torquers out there - don't worry about the stop and go nature in traffic. I commute around 45 miles to/from work everyday in the worst traffic in Texas, in my RX8 - getting 19 mpg - and I certainly have control in traffic. This car is about learning to drive differently. You dont drive it like you would a F-body or a Mustang - there's a learning curve there, and the rewards are pretty sweet. I learned how to drive on an 83 RX7 w/ 101 hp and torque figures below 100. There's only one way to milk power out of that engine, and it was with keeping the revs up. At the same time, I also spent all of my afternoons working on my friends various and sundry mustangs (68, 87, 90, 95) and seeing the other side of the coin. If you want a tossable car with a gearshift and power that goad you into keep going higher and higher, look no further. If you want low-end torque that doesn't like the rare air above 5500 RPM, and doesn't do very well in the twisties, go with a pony car.

Test Drive, Test Drive, Test Drive - just make it scream through some elevation and winding roads - it's killer.