dmclone

I'm a big car fan so I thought I would test out the RX-8, Here are my thoughts in case anyone cares:

I drove it for about 15 minutes and it seems to handle like a miata and have the power of an RSX-S. I haven't drove a high revving motor in a couple years and I forgot how much I enjoyed it. I think it's a good combination. I own a Z and a lot of people like to compare the 2 but I think they are completely different cars. I don't like the styling but the interior is very nice. It also has a lot more room then the miata which is a big plus for someone 6'3 230. I don't hang on these boards much but I'm guessing a lot of people have moved from the Miata to the 8 and are probably very happy. In addition, at $30K it's a very good deal.

Long story short, I think the 8 is a very nice car and a pretty good value.

In addition, the power thing is blown way out of proportion. I wish Nissan would tell me the Z was 10hp shy and then offer me some $$$. I would be more worried about the crappy gas mileage.

mikeb

I'm confused
is this a good review or flame

khoney

I'm not feelin' any heat! BTW, just broke 20MPG today. I'm satisfied with the mileage - it's better than the RX-7 was.

Spin9k

Thanks for taking the time to give us your test drive thoughts. You make some good points and glad you can see the fun driving to be had in an 8 even through you didn't like the car's exterior.

Goes to show beauty is in the beholder's eye, as I think it is just awesome looking from most angles. I think the milege thing is way better for most owners than you may think...18-20+ is not out of line for a sports car.

dmclone

I didn't mean to sound negative because I really did like most everything about the car. Like you said styling is up to each person. At least the design is original. I've never driven/owned a car that didn't have a few negative aspects.


If you guys are really getting 20mpg then that isn't anything to worry about. Please don't flame me for this but I don't see what advantage the Rotory in the 8 has over lets say a S2000 motor?

nash

The rotary offers an extremely linear powerband, with torque (albeit not much) available down low. The S2000 engine really only comes to life in the upper RPMs, when the VTEC kicks in. Both are great engines, the S2000 just needs more concious effort to remain in the powerband, though both motors are rev-happy.

P00Man

its smoother, quieter and way more potent (238 from 1.3 litres)

plus revs a lot easier and rev higher
________
Replays starcraft 2 zerg

Ike

From the sounds of it Honda took care of a lot of that with the new model. It's getting glowing reviews and they say the gearbox is impoved??? If you've ever driven one that's pretty hard to believe.

lip

I haven't driven the S2000 but any car that requires you to rev sooooooooooooooooooo high to get any torque is almost useless for everyday driving.

I don't know what the torque curve of the RX8 is like compared to the S2000 but I believe the S2000 is not as flat as the RX8 so you would probably get more of a "jolt" from the S2000 when it gets high in the rpm compared to the RX8?!

I think the major benefit from the rotary is how small the engine is...it is tiny...this gives a HUGE weight advantage compared to other cars that use standard engine designs. That's why although the HP/torque on the RX8 is completely pathetic, you will probably see rather good 1/4 mile times and 0-60 times for such a puny engine...and it also helps the handling of the car (something Mazda has always been pretty good with)...

Personally, I love the look of the S2000 but I can't drive cars with such low torque where you are forced to rev the engine to 5000 or 6000 rpm all the time...yes, it's fun sometimes but give be displacement anytime!!!

LIP

Broker73

you should probably drive both cars before you make guesses on torque or performance...........I have driven both, and the RX-8 and the s2000 have the same torque, but the power band in the 8 is more smooth than the s2000.........read all the reviews, they will say the same thing..........and the cars almost put identical 0-60 times...............take a look at car and driver, road and track etc, and compare the hp and torque numbers.............one thing that stood out was the fact that the s2000 was much noisier in the cabin than the 8, and the power down low was not quite the same??...........but they are very close

RussellP

The main advantages of the rotary is that its small and lightweight allowing idealpositioning to give the car 50/50 weight balance. Also allows more room for backseats and still pumps out 238HP into a lightweight car.

The rotary is essentially responsible for the practicality of the car, the power of the car and the handling of the car. Thus, international engine of the year.

Ike

It also turns faster 1/4 mile times, yes it's noisier but a lot of that has to do with the fact that it's a vert so it's almost not fair to compare interior noise. You guys talk like the RX-8 is a quiet car, from the comparison in C&D the RX-8 is louder than a G35 at WOT and 70 mph cruising, it's also louder than a 03 Cobra cruising at 70 mph. You also talk like the RX-8 is a lightweight car, it's over 3000 lbs., that's not heavy but it's not exactly light, the WRX for instance is with a very heavy AWD system weighs about the same. The rotary does help with balance and weight distribution but the weight savings over todays faster 4 cylinders is minimal. With the vtec on a honda the toque curve will be more spikey but that often makes a car feel faster so it's not really a bad thing. As for the renesis being a 1.3 that translates into 2.6 in a cylinder engine which makes it look far less impressive to the current S2Ks engine which puts out 120hp per litre from an N/A engine. Even if the S2K does not have the perfect 50/50 balance it will tear up any road course and is an amazing example of honda engineering. I'm hardly a honda fan, but the S2K is an incredible car, and unless you've seen it on a track you won't realize just how incredible it is.

Ike

U. N. O.

oh gss here we go again, ..

so in conclusion fellwas... the 8 is great in handling, and looks, it lacks in power and fuel efficienci.. The S2k is a 2 sitter convertible and a fun bullet fast little toy with many, many options out there to make it even faster/better (it also debuted in the 2 fast furious movies). the wrxsti is a 4 cilinder MONSTER all wheel drive that is in a different cathegory than the 8, you can make the 8 fast, but the sti can always go faster...

I would put the sti, evo and skyline in the same cathegory of its own, i dunno about the supra, thats another beast!!


edit: I GOT IT the supra, with the Z and the G35..:D

Ike

The Supra would actually fit better with some american muscle, mod em up a little and go take out your local 03 Cobra guys on the highway. Or mod the bejezus out of it and go pull some Gixxers and Busas on the highway.

lip

IKEWRX:
What are your "launches" like with the AWD? Do you have an sti or a standard WRX?
I don't mind the look of the new WRX as I was not a huge fan of the bug eyes before...

I'm itching to take a Mits EVO and WRX sti out for a spin. I drove a Probe GT in the past which handled like it was on rails and I can imagine that with all the power of the STI or WRX and AWD it must just be insane!!!!

LIP

Broker73

there is a guy in town that is working on mods for the 8 to get back the lost hp due to emissions regulations in some US states............he has been posting for a while.......and has a great knowledge of the car..........he is working with an individual that has a relationship with the likes of Apexi etc.........they have spent hrs doingtesting for a number of mods, but especially a fuel control system that boosts HP by 20+, without doing any other mods to the car....he is also doing a map for something more extensive so those who want to do exhaust etc, will be able to get up to 50+hp..........I luv the 8, and think it can keeo pace with the s2000 and easily the G35.......but plan to add this little fuel mod to get the extra 20-25hp.......I spoke with him on the phone recently, and he commented on how much potential and extra HP the engine has......but strick emissions in some states really put a cap on some of that power.........this little mod is a minor job, and releases some extra HP and more.........and he is going to show dynos after he gets his car outfitted with the production mod..........based on his tests already, and his trial runs in his car, he said CONSERVATIVELY, the fuel control system gets the car back to 250hp, and then some (total of 20-25hp)...........I for one think the 8 with that kind of extra power would surprise alot of s2000's at a light................but not why I am getting it.........just simply even more fun to drive, with already amazing handling

Ike

I love the AWD launches, just do it right and not often because it's not exactly good for the drivetrain.I went from a DSM to a Maxima and then just couldn't resist getting another AWD turbo car. The launches aren't the only fun part, rain, snow, dirt, you'll have a new appreciation for all these things.

If you can afford the EVO or STi go for that, but if not the regular WRX will have as much power with pretty minimal mods. You'll be lacking in the handling department compared to those cars but it's still a great handler, and will certainly handle better than just about any probe GT out there. I actually got the 03 model on purpose after the 04s had been released because I liked the more unique bugeyes, but to each his own.

Broker, sentences and paragraphs are your friends.

Ike