That's exactly it: the roadster fanatics obviously won't consider the RX-8 a possible alternative, but RX-8 shoppers will naturally include a wider range of cars in their comparisons. Heck, I compared an S2000, TSX, RSX-S, Evo, WRX, GLI... none of which are direct competitors in a mechanical sense, but they're all fun to drive cars of roughly similar price.

 

well I'm a bit puzzled by it, but on the national autox scene so far this year the fastest stock S2000's have not been keeping pace with the fastest stock RX-8's

 

I find your puzzlementm puzzlinig... :p

 

Heck, that's easy.

One by one, the best S2000 drivers are bailing out, since the S2000 is not the best car in A stock. I know thar Ron Bauer is driving a Porsche 968 in Stock B, and Joe Goeke just put his S2000 up for sale.

For someone like me, the limiting factor is the driver, and the fraction of a second I might gain by going to a C4 is swallowed up by the 3 or 4 seconds that I need to get by learning to drive better. For those already driving their cars at the limit of the car, they look for the best car in the class.

Last year, the best car in Stock B was the S2000, so it had all the best drivers. They kicked the S2000 up to Stock A, where it doesn't appear to be a true contender, so the best drivers aren't driving the S2000 any more. The RX-8 is a contender in Stock B, so some of the best are driving it.

 

Can I get an amen?

 

I'm not sure why you're so confident that the S2K isn't the best car in AS, and certainly don't understand why you would think the S2K isn't a contender. The top AS driver at nationals last year would not have finished in the top 3 in BS, the previous year in '03 the S2K would have taken 2nd -4th in AS.

Goeke and Bauer are excellent drivers but I wouldn't say they're the top drivers from the old BS. I'd say they're bailing because they not only have to contend with the other excellent drivers in the old BS but not have to compete with the best drivers that were in C4 Vettes the past couple years. I think a lot of them saw an oppotunity to carve out their place in the new BS. Smart money will be on Saini to win AS this year in his S2K and I bet he or whoever else wins AS is faster than any BS driver despite some of the results we've seen at some national tour events.

That aside I think it may have been hasty of the SCCA to make the class changes they did. So far it looks like it may have been a smarter move to move the C4 down to BS and had the Evo, STi, S4, 911, and perhaps some of the other cars that were lagging behind the S2Ks in the old BS duke it out in AS.

 

it's easy if you ignore a lot of facts, but whatever ...

 

aaaahhhmeeen

 

Ha! None of you know what you are talking about!

Page 8 of my FORZA MOTORSPORT booklet clearly states

"C. Sport production class. Examples include the Mazda RX8 and the Honda S2000"

Are you telling me that you know more about racing then Microsoft? Are you telling me that the game booklet does not reflect real life?

And yes, this is sarcasm. Not directed at anyone. Really just to boost my postcount.

 

Although, I do find it odd that spider has both cars, Races, you guys do not (not you Ike.) and you are getting nasty with him. I do not get it.

 

i was actually thinking about an s2k, 350z, and evo befored deciding to go with the rx8. while i was at the mazda dealership, i saw a guy with an s2k checking out rx8s as well. it seems to me that there are, indeed, people out there cross-shopping the two cars.

 

Oh enlightened one, could you please shed some light on those of us who just don't get it (despite owning both cars)? We would be eternally in your debt.

 

he's quite qualified to the point where contest is almost pointless. if his credibility was high(not saying you have bad credibility) but if you had like 5000 posts or something i dont think anybody would be naysaying you.

 

I believe in quality over quantity.

 

Aw geeze! I get busy with work and a good post comes by and I miss it. An opportunity to argue with all the idiots who don't own RX-8s, yet pretend to be experts on them, and point out pointless number-oriented crap under the guise of making sure us RX-8 owners aren't "hiding from the truth".

Answering the FIRST post in this thread and then even only the topic line - "own an S2000, will the RX-8 disappoint?":

1) Performance: Depends on what your expectations of the RX-8 are. If you expect a pure track-only experience, then yes. If you want a terrific handling, well balanced sports car you can drive every day, then no. The S2000's NUMBERS beat the RX-8's. That said, I think the RX-8 is more enjoyable to drive every day. But, on an autocross track or roadcourse, I think I'd rather have an S2000. Since I can't justify a track car and a daily driver side by side my garage ... RX-8 gets the spot. I looked at both cars long and hard. In the end, I needed day to day driveability more than pure track performance.

2) If you love sunny days with the top down and live somewhere warm where you can do that frequently, then why even look at the RX-8? You're a rag top guy - stay with what you like.

3) If you want to take more people with you other than one other person, and you can tolerate not having a rag top, then the RX-8 is for you.

Posts like this are pointless. Go test drive the car and make your own decision - don't rely on a forum like this to tell you.

 

Gee, Stew, it's no fun when someone writes a perfectly reasonable, comprehensive answer in one post! :p

 

What made me buy the RX8 over the S2k is the fact that it had 2 extra seats in the back. Other wise i was suppose to buy an s2k ever since they first hit production in 00'. But then i opted for an E36- which in the end was alot of fun but tons of maintainence and now i have the RX8....

If you dont need to extra seats in the back, keep your s2k....

 

You make me laugh.

Now if Ike agrees with me, then I'll know that this thread has jumped the shark.

 

This really happened to me.

I went to Colorado from California with my wife. There had been snow and her freind said "you have to four wheel drive". I wanted a Focus, and would have driven it, but wanted no part of an SUV. Gave her the SUV, but refused to drive it. She tools along the freeway at about 55, and an electric blue RX8 flies past us about 15MPH faster and to rub it in deftly hops into the lane in front of us. I sat in my cold passenger seat in a morbid silence.

The long and short is that DSC is pretty good. Kind of like an angel tugging at your coattails gently pulling the car back into line. Like all little helpers even AWD has its limits, and when it lets go, all is lost. DSC slows the car down and keeps it straight, but is much better than ABS. DSC is always there, while ABS only goes when you hit the brakes. By then it is already too late.

 

As a previous S2000 owner who sold it when his wife had a baby, let me say that they are both good cars.

Performance is better in the S2k.

The RX-8 is smoother and more refined.

My recommendation is get a RX-8 and a sports bike and you can have the best of both worlds

 

haaha never thought of that :P

 

This is quite intresting... i just joined the club and i just sold my s2k and bought a 8.

both fun cars.. different feeling to both.. 8 is smooth, refined. s2k is more raw.
i think it all depends on how old you are, or going to get.

 

why did you trade baka? the s2k corners better and is a bit faster

 

i own an rx8 myself and i have to say that the s2k would be better than the rx8 in winter because the 8 has a rotary engine and this type of engine is not that great in cold weathers. you would have to warm it up a pretty long time before start driving or else it might studder for a while. this car is great in warm weathers and many other conditions. its a very fun car to drive cause of the great handling it has. but im just disappointed in the hp and torque this car produces.

 

Ever drive a rotary in extreme cold? If you have, and it behaved like that, your car needed service.