Icemark

Yeah, Turbos done by the factory do add weight. The difference between a non turbo RX-7 and a Turbo RX-7 was 175-180 lbs. How many people would be screaming here about a 3200-3300 lbs RX-8?

Turbos had heavy duty trannys, rear ends, even axles, not just a turbo and intercooler.

Yep, if the Z4 coupe was available and a little less money, I would have considered buying it instead of my RX-8. The 3 is nice as a luxury coupe, but it would never be a sports car- and it is not supposed to be. Not sure why people think that it is.

When I go to replace my '8 I will directly be shopping the Z4 and what ever Mazda rotary is available at that time, as pretty much my only choices. As much as I love the rotary (and my wife says, "but you have always had a rotary"- which is true I have owned at least one rotary powered car every year since 1978) I gotta say that I would seriously consider a Z4.

rx8phase1

iTrader: (1)

my mom just got a new convertible whit 335i coupe lastnight and it is very nice and fast a bit pricey though $65,000

Raptor75

The Coupe is better looking then the roadster but I still haven't warmed up to the looks. My company owner has a Z4 and it rides like a buck board. Interior is also very vanilla a notch below the RX. For the money the Z370 is a better choice. Better in all performance aspects and 10 grand less with better reliability. That would be my route.

renesisgenesis

actually the 135i offers an LSD.

alienRX8

its an electronic LSD not a 'real' one

renesisgenesis

Hmmm, sounds interesting, although I am confused by this because cars such as the Ferrari F430 seem to advertise an electronic type of LSD, and surely that car has a 'real' LSD. But I wouldn't doubt that the LSD in the 135i is not really an lsd per say, given the extreme laziness of german cars, and the fact that BMW is stupid enough to make a car that puts down 275+ bhp at the wheels and not give it any kind of lsd as in the 335i.

alienRX8

yeah go check the info out at the site it basically uses the brakes to slow down the wheel that is slipping. Basically the same thing the new 2010 GTI will have, and what the Caliber SRT4 has.

renesisgenesis

haha wow. "let's waste RnD resources on something inferior to technology that's been available for at least half a century" Stupid **** like this makes me really glad I decided not to get a BMW.

Ha, although...similar logic could be used for the 8 i suppose regarding the usage of a relatively newly developed motor even though piston engines work just fine...

oh well.

alienRX8

I think they did it to save weight? idk how much weight an LSD adds.

shazy

like 60 pounds? If it's electronic, it shouldn't add much.

Kafka

BMW want to keep the real LSD in the real performance model "M" line. Otherwise, a chipped 135i with a LSD will be better than a M3 90% of the time!!!

Icemark

A typical 8 inch clutch type LSD weighs 20 lbs, and a Torsen (like in our cars) only weighs 18 lbs.

You might at the absolute most save 3 or 4 lbs using an open diff with the traction control over a clutch type or Torsen type LSD.

Its not the weight savings... its the cost and complexity savings.

renesisgenesis

yes using a real LSD is not going to add much weight. and who cares since that car weighs like over 3500 pounds anyway...


I think we can just assume it's a German car, thus it exudes lazy, backwards engineering despite other quality mechanics being present.


Audi: "hey lets put the entire engine in front of the front axle line..and then try to make it a performance car."


BMW: " Hey lets make a car that can accelerate almost as fast as a Ferrari f355, advertise it as a sporty, ultimate driving machine, and then not give it an LSD."

Ok men great ideas! let's go to work.

Kevo

LMAO! It is a curious decision that makes little sense.