Rant about the RX-8
 

How many of you are actually tired of the performance of your stock or mildly modded RX8?

I love rotary cars now, ever since 1998 when I drove my neighbors TKT FD3S RX-7. That chassis and the boost, and the rotary sound just felt so racey! So, eventually after I was feeling all VTECed-out, I got ahold of my own 1993 FD3S Rx-7 and did a few bolt-ons plus reliability mods. I had an absolute blast driving that car, and can't wait to own one again (that's driveable, I do own a shell). I have owned my RX8 for a year now and put 21k miles on it. It is bone stock. I enjoy the car, and love it's ease of use. I do however, no longer like the weakness in performance compared to all other "Sports" cars of today.

My main rant here is about how since the release of the RX-8 5-years ago, that mazda has released 2 other 4-door models that have much more useable power and greatly out accelerate their "sports" car. Then, we get a revised version update after 5 years, and the only car it MIGHT out accelerate is an MX-5 and an RSX-S. The RX-8 is just really lacking, and i'm tired of trying to convince myself and other people that it is really a neat car and it's performance is actually good. IT'S NOT, actually, other than the way I can toss it into a corner, and rev match to the moon while braking hard, it really sucks in the performance department. When i think of a true sports car, and the raw adreneline igniting power, quirkyness of a featherweight chassis, and dead sex appeal; I just can't help thinking about how nice it was driving my RX-7 twin turbo. It's too bad the FD3S is becoming even more scarce, they are racking up miles, and the parts are so damn exspensive and sometimes hard to find.

Lets face the facts... The S2000 has had many updates and the new CR model will no doubt kill the R3 on the track (while stopping less at the pump). The 350z now has over 300hp and has various Nismo packages that will beat even the S2K CR. Shoot, next year they will introduce the 370z and it will be pushing about 335hp stock! Then, look at the mazdaspeed 3 and 6, both those cars will wow your friends with boost and power as you zip off to lunch, don't foget your bolt-on options that actually produce power! haha The Lancer models now offer 2 boosted models.... should we even go there, or to Subaru offerings?? We can get spanked all day long by a wagon STi both on and off the track, or even some models of legacy wagons! SHEESH The new camaro is coming out with 422 hp, IRS, and better gas mileage than any other previous camaro. The mustang is just retarded still (from my standpoint) but it does go pretty fast now and have a strong dealer-backed perfomance assortment. BMW has a 330i with twin turbos and an M3 with a 480hp V8 engine that probably gets better gas mileage than an RX8. I dont pay attention to audi, but I know their turbo awd cars get more power all the time and even their diesel cars are fast now, arent they?




I'm not saying that i don't like my RX-8 any longer, but I am seriously considering ripping out my renesis drivetrain, even with my 3000 mile warranty engine, and fabbing a 13B RE or 13B REW into my RX8. I am just really stuck on how I wont have a nice stock exhaust tone, and oem fitting parts, and the re-sale value of my car will be about destroyed. I just really need to feel the joy of rolling on the throttle and having to drive the rear of the car. That is the kind of ZOOM-ZOOM feeling that I bought into with the RX-7. WAKE UP Mazda, I am alive and ready for some rear drive action with some balls. Build a hydro/E85 3-rotor car, or something with a "working" turbo rotary. Make it about as light as an S2000, but with the horsepower of a 370z. Make even C6 Corvettes run back to the pits for more tweaks when we're on the track!


I have yet to see any spy shots of test beds, or anything saying that we are getting anything more than a hydro/petrol RX model to improve mileage. That's nice and all, but it's also weak. I hope you guys are doing something with those 3-Rotor GT cars that are winning Grand Am! We all know that rotaries are able to make power reliably, but i want that kind of technology fresh, and well, and sitting in my garage. it doesn't matter to me if it costs $38,000-$43,000 and gets 15 miles per gallon ( I only get 16-17.8 now anyways), i just am tired of waiting, and tired of hoping that there is more to come.:confused:



END RANT!:Peace:

Have a nice day! :grouphug:

Good rant :wink2:

good job,

yawn.

beers :beer:

Does that mean your tired too? :) LOL

nope.

crap like this bores me..

if you want to reinvent the wheel, well do it. the car is what it is.

make a choice, mod it or go away.

simple. duh..

or is your way to large sig. just an add? lame, very lame...

beers :beer:

Take a deep breath and then go for a drive on a nice twisty road :)

You know, this might shock some of you, but I agree with Swoope.

I have a 2008 350Z. And I am getting rid of it. Why? Because how much power do you f-ing need? It gets old.. quick. Its hell to drive in traffic and its way uncomfortable for any length of time.

You don't need to wonder about the comparison between the RX-8 and a high power car such as the 350Z. Im here to tell you.. There is NO comparison. On a day to day basis, too much power sucks and is a royal pain to deal with.. from traffic, to parking lots, to stoplight to stopsign.. Not only does it GO fast, it gets OLD fast.


I have test driven enough RX'8's right after I pulled into the dealership in my 350Z You would think I notice the lack of power but honestly I will tell you, I prefer the RX8 every stinking time

The RX8 may not have double D's like the 350Z does or the rx7 turbo but by god, the C cups it DOES have are awfully nice to handle and get the job done just nicely.

odd,

last i heard you could not get financed for a rx8. which is really sad, as they are giving away the 08s. or are you so upside down in the z you just spend your time here?

just wondering.

beers :beer:

I honestly have no complaints about the RX-8's power.

It provides plenty for day-to-day driving. I've never had any trouble accelerating to pass another car, even on the freeway.

Plus, the power you do have is so smooth. I test drove the Mazdaspeed6 and, yeah, it was faster in a straight line, but the turbo seemed very peaky and rough after driving the RX-8.

Maybe if I was tracking the car or if my previous car had more power I would think otherwise, but, so far, there's nothing that I have asked my RX-8 to do that it hasn't done with grace and agility.

Just having a good time...
 

Good job captain negativity! I was actually being nice. Now that I know that "Swoope" "does not play well with others", i'll stock up on some enema products, some giftwrap, and some shipping labels..... no, really, I insist. What's your address?:)

why swap engines...you can just go FI with yours

just my 2 cents if you are unhappy with the power of the RX8 then get rid of it buy something with more power. Turboing the RX8 is very expensive and often the returns are frankly not worth it. Either enjoy the RX for what it is or move on to another ride.
D.

the 8 is not about power or drag racing. it is about balance and fun.

the other day i borrowed a relatives 1999 Porsche 911 coupe. 6 speed. it's rated at 300 hp, but it honestly did not feel all that fast. quick...not corvette Z06 in your face fast... BUT, man was it fun. it handled great, sounded amazing...

it, like the 8, is about the whole experience. if someone just want sto go fast, get a big v8 muscle car...it's no fun.

balance = fun. combine the rx8s balanced chassis, with it's high revving motor and amzing transmission and you have a VERY fun car. and I don't even own an 8...i'm shoppng for one.

i'm probably goin to wind up buying a boxster...but the rx8 is on my list of cars i'm considering. i have test driven a few and realy really like it. i would take an 8 over a Z anyday. i drove one of those and it was awful. cheapy, sounded horrible... yuck.

go drive a "regular" car for a few days then get back in your 8. you'll appreciate it.

^^^I agree. I have been away from my 8 for almost 3 months now and my rental is a found on road dead (FORD) focus. I miss my 8 every single day I drive this thing.

anytime I'm stuck with a rental I miss the 8.

Swap in a 13B-REW and call it a day.

I got tired of 386 to the wheels. A friend of mine got tired with 600awhp in his 3000GT (running two 16G turbos from an Evo III) and is now doing a 1000awhp build using two stock turbos from a diesel Dodge Ram (HX35). When you can annihilate Evo's and 350Z's you don't even bother flooring it unless it's a 911 Turbo or a Z06. Same old shit.

As for a 13B REW (or RE, I recommend the RE as the mounting will be easier)... you better figure out how to mate the an Rx-8 dash harness and interior wiring/switches with a Haltech E8 flying lead engine harness, then do a throttle cable and return fuel system conversion, then fabricate engine mounts, then figure out how to put an FD shifter into the stock Rx-8 location... the list goes on...

I hate the gas mileage. I love everything else about it.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=132628 <--- read here.

I never said it was a breeze, it was just a suggestion for the guy if he really likes his 8 but hates the 8's performance.

i think most of you speed junkies are just that.. dangerously addicted to something that will never satisfy you until you either die in a horrible accident or kill yourself over depression.

When does it end? When will you be satisfied? Will you ever be happy with what you have or will you turn into an old man like sw**pe who sits and criticises others all day long because he has nothing to find joy in anymore in his car so he figures to make others miserable :icon_no2: ( ain't working by the way so go home little boy and play with your sister)

Be happy with what you have.. some of us are struggling just to even get one of these awesome machines..

it never ends... it NEVER ends.

I have driven both the G35 and Z and didnt think either of them were overpowering at all. On the contrary they were quite easy to drive around. They are 220-230 whp at 3,300 pounds.....I would hardly call them "high power" cars that are hard to DD. More power than the 8, for sure, but not nearly enough power to be considered as a "pain":dunno: