That proves my point even more. :)

OMG I'm agreeing with Pidge.... :D

here here

I've only owned my RX-8 for a couple of weeks and been a member here for a little over a month and I can't believe how often someone complains about the power or acceleration.

If you want a drag racer, get a $5000 Camaro and spend $25,000 on go fast bits and you'll have a monster straight line car that can't turn or stop and will last about 10,000 mi.

If you want a practical, sophisicated, balanced and pretty quick car, GET THE 8!

Sorry, I didn't want to come off sounding hateful, just stating the facts about some car nuts I know personally.

I actually do like the Celica and considered one in early 2003, but it's apples and oranges when comparing with the 8. Like I and so many others have said, drive it, drive it hard and let us know what you think.

JKonquer has clearly stated that his priority is a car for autoexing. Shouldn't we advise him to go for the sti or the evo, which would be better cars for that.

You just answered your question right THERE. Buy something without grandeur that is for auto-xing. You said it yourself... you need TORQUE.

As far as the Celica, I've owned a GTS (that's what I traded in for my 8). You may be used to driving over 8.5k rpms... but WHY would you?! The power loss above 7.8k rpms is RIDICULOUS! The power band isn't as linear as the 8 because it is two completely different engines. TRUST me, the 8 is a much quicker sport (even with the mods I had made to my Celica before I sold it!!!!!)

Hey Jkonquer,

If you are seriously looking for a car to autox, why do you care about 1/4mile times? last i checked autox wasnt about 1/4mile drag racing.......

Get a motorcycle! :D For about $5g you can have a sexy 600cc or 1 liter machine that goes from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds, and run quarter mile times that would make most V-8's jealous.

Yeah I drive my RX-8 for the curves and comfort. When I want to drag I bust out my modded VTX1800 with 140 horsepower that will do 0-60 in about 2.5 seconds while burning the tire off the rear wheel from second gear. Now that's speed. I don't consider the RX-8 a quarter mile car but it would hold it's own, and it really shines in the twisties.

I drove a Black/leather even has the rare ABS Celica GTS 6sp for about 12 months with TRD springs, exhaust and air filter and let me tell you, it is nothing like the RX8; not even close... Even stock the RX8 is a much better car than the Celica (In every sense...), and now with the mods I put into her she is that much better...

If you want quarter mile times buy a 302 Mustang stroke it to a 347 put about another 10,000 into it and you will be in the 9s...

amen

I've been visiting these forums for a while now. I just wanted to say how refreshing it is to see a thread like this that didn't turn into a total flamefest.

Thanks everyone for your maturity in this thread. When I first say it I thought, "Uh oh... here we go again." It's threads like this that make me want to visit and read more often.

Thanks again.

By the way I had a VTX1800 and even modified she is not doing 2.5 0-60 (Sorry, no way no how...), get a Hayabusa or another fast bike...

Well a stock VTX1800 (not to get off the subject of cars) is 12.3 seconds in the 1/4 and 3.81 seconds 0 to 60, stock 99.4 horses at the rear wheel. My bike has 136 horses at the rear wheel and it's almost 20 pounds lighter than stock and I can pretty much guarentee it's under 3 seconds on the zero to sixty. It's not Hayabusa fast, but then again, it's not a sport-bike. Hayabusa's 0 to 60 is 2.7 seconds but has a much higher top-speed. I can give you credit cortc that i'm probably not beating a Hayabusa time but it's close. But we are only talking about a 1/2 second so it would be hard to tell by the human mind.

Re: rx-8 = slow??
 

DO NOT BUY THE 8...go get a neon srt.....just right for your age group..

oh damn!!! hahahahaha!!!

JKonquer: Judge Ito ran a 14.3 1/4 in the RX8 stock. It does have the potential to get better times if your interested in drag times. The other cars have forced induction and without turbos they would be much slower than the 8. There is so much more in the 8 than going fast. It is a complete package of a car that is designed right. It is fun, comfortable, very nimble, and extension with the driver (aka drivers car) excellent workmanship, fit, finish and quality to both inside and exterior ergonomics and looks incredible with a touch of class. But like the others have said, you need to drive one in a spirited manner and then you will know if this is the car for you. Good luck!

JKonquer,

In some instances, the Celica is almost like the RX-8. Among its peers (RSX-S, Sentra SE-R v-spec, SRT-4), the Celica is seen as a "looks fast only" car. Not many people appreciate the fact that the Celica is the best handling of the bunch. The light weight and excellent suspension on the Celica makes it a great car for the twisties. It has what a sports coupe should have: low and snug cockpit with good pedal placement and smooth shifter. It also has the stype of a proper coupe. However, all people cared about is that the Celica has the lowest hp rating of the bunch. If you hated that perception people have on your Celica, you may have to consider your choice on the RX-8, as this car also has been given the same prejudice.

If you liked your Celica for what it is meant for, you'll understand why we chose the RX-8 over the other cars despite its hp/$ deficit. If you're tired of the low torque and the emphasis of hp among your peers, I suggest you go for something like the SRT-4, WRX or the 350Z.

heh. I find it amusing that people would pick the SRT-4 in order to get respect among peers.

I am not sure what this guy is really asking. He already has all the answers. damn...

i love my 8
i hve spent a couple thousand dollars on upgrades that made a world of difference...but, the car out of the box would have kept me happy too. i have not timed my car in the qtr mile, but it does a 1:54 at Gingerman raceway...a nice roadcourse. against a highly modified Mini, (new), my rx8 was faster by a couple of seconds.
my car is genuinely fast and a great daily driver.

thanks for all of your inputs. i really appreciate..
i am going to test drive the rx-8 tomorrow and i'll make sure to take it to freeway where i can feel the top-end power of rotary engine.

answer = quote "celica gt-s redlines at 8.2k rpm stock, and the power-bend doesn't drop at all during that time. i have power fc(apexi), intake, exhaust, and clutch and the power fc makes the car redline up to 8.7k rpm and gives little bit better low-end torque. therefor the second gear lands on the power-bend. currently with only these mod, i'm running 13.7 in quarter mile. believe it or not celica has crazy top-end power, i raced sti and he took me, but when it was rolling, i was able to keep up with my celica with only these mods. this is only year where celica made variable valve timing lift with intellegent(lack of torque at the low-end, very strong top-end where the lift is), which is same engine on upcoming lotus elise."

Sorry to go back to the first page but I really do have to comment on this. It is unfair to compare any highly modified car to any other stock car regadless of what it is. I can make an RX-7 faster than an Enzo Ferrari in a straight line. So what? This proves nothing. If you do full suspension mods to that 911 you'll be wondering if you aren't turning at all or if he is on rails. The 911 would be laughing all the way around the corners. That was an irrelevant comparison that proved nothing.

Remember also that many of the quarter mile times you see are with the older ecu tunings. Since the "L" and "M" flashes have become available, many people are getting better power everywhere. The quarter mile times may not be affected that much but the feel of the engine is. The Renesis isn't a peaky engine like you think it is. Maybe compared to an LS-1 but compared to the Celica it has a powerband as broad as the Pacific Ocean. You are going to be very surprised. Power is also very linear. It isn't like VTEC or VVTi where all of a sudden it feels like you stepped on the gas after a certain rpm. You accelerate through the rpm's and it just keeps getting faster and faster. It is very smooth and very deceiving.

i totally understand what you are coming from on this.
but the day when hotchkis tested this, they were at buttonwillow racing way where porsches have their meetings and race.
this celica has stock engine with exhaust and full suspension.
and so are other porsches at the races. those porsche people have money to buy themself full suspension which were tuned and modified from a mechanic. and from their lap time, out of all the porsches they had, the celica got the best time out of all of them, not to mention, the buttonwillow is known for their straight aways, where celica doesn't take a chance against 911's