RX8 VS 325i - rematch and conclusions
 

After my last post on the above I went back to the dealer and test drove a demo RX8 with 6000km ( about 4000miles) on the clock. The difference between this and the earlier, brand new demonstrator I drove was significant, especially at mid to high rpm. I also made sure I hit the redline buzzer quite a few times, so now have a better picture of the power at 7000rpm+. In this car there was in fact quite a pronounced extra surge from about 7000 rpm onwards. Very NICE indeed, and I can see that the car's gearing is well set up to minimise the torque deficiency, PROVIDED you are happy to extend the revs beyond 7000 before changing gear ( no chore for me I LURVE revs!).
I was also able to tackle some much more difficult roads, which extended the chassis further than my first drive . In some ways I reckon the RX8 chassis is remarkably similar to the Beemer. Like the Beemer, its strong suits are poise, balance and fluidity. Absorption of large bumps/dips is terrific, though small ridges etc are much more obvious than my 325i. The steering is just great, better than the Bimmer IMO - more precise, better feedback.
Importantly, this time around it was clear to me that the 8 is simply a more involving drive than my 325i.

My conclusion in a nutshell: the 325i is a desirable, impeccably built, wonderful sportSEDAN. The RX8 is a desirable, decently bulit, outstanding SPORTSCAR . I want one, and now it's just a matter of sorting the finances!


Postcript:
I think the choice between an RX8 and a 330ci would however be much more difficult. The 330ci's power is so incredibly accessible, and I reckon some 330ci owners could really struggle to come to terms with the torque deficit in the 8. For me here in Australia however, there is no real contest: the 330ci costs around A$30000 (US$22500) more than a fully laden RX8!! That's why BMW is now I think the second most profitable car company in the World! :p :

I think many people on test drives are not turning off the DSC, and that is so important in order to get a real feel of the acceleration. Flooring the car through first gear from a stop with the DSC on is a joke - turn it off, the tires chirp, the rear end slides a bit and then it takes off - it's a blast. I wish the DSC didn't automatically turn on, and I hope people are turning it off for test drives...

Actually, I'd call the normal 3 series of BMW sedans, the 3 compact a 'compact' and the rx-8 a sportssedan .. but in a different meaning than you probably meant, not emphaszing sedan. The rx-8 is pretty unique, having 4 really usable seats and still providing in a sportcar shaped hull. I'ts much larger than a porsche etc. These i'd call sportscars. Not because of performance, simply because of absence of 'sedany' features of the rx8.

noahprtlnd:
Good point for test drives, I'll make sure the DSC is turned off. Do you generally need the DSC? I'm thinking of getting the base model and don't know if DSC is a must.

Good stuff Nick!

My 2 finalists are the RX-8 and 325i as well, and I think you nailed it.

Due to special pricing (S-Plan) by being employed by a Ford Partner here in the US, I can get a much better deal on the 8 than the 325. That wasn't a huge factor for me, but it was for my wife, who even at 5-1 felt the rear of the 8 was cramped due to the small windows.

But the additional savings made her reconsider... so it's full-steam ahead for the 8!

well the question comes then next is how often do you bounce off the redline on a day to day, traffic light to traffic light driving? I cannot imagine revving the car all the time to >7000rpm to stay in the torque band. :( cheers.

Hmm, let's see:

Length: 911, 174.5 inches; RX-8, 174.3 in.
Width: 911, 69.7"; RX-8, 69.7"

(data from www.edmunds.com )

Whatta ya know, the RX-8 is identical in width and length to a 911! Guess that makes it a sports car after all! ;)

Regards,
Gordon

All I can say is Welcome aboard. Another new 8 owner!

In most motors, yeah, zinging the redline all day long would be a bit much, but driving this rotary necessitates a very different perspective as it revs as readily and smoothly as a Dremel tool with none of the thrash, strain and intensity of most piston motors. Indeed, it revs so deceivingly easily that the RX-8 even has some warning chime to let you even know your approacing the redline.

Obviously, if your bent is massive V8 style off-idle torque and power, and there is lots to recommend that, then the rotary style of power may not be yours. But if you have an open mind on these things, then you might be pleasantly surprised.

I sometimes wonder what a 325 would be like with the older power steering system. I'd heard BMW made it a bit softer than it used to be. I've still got to drive an RX-8 though :( but everyone seems to agree it has better steering feel than almost anything. For me that would be the biggest selling point.

Brandon,

The softer feel in newer BMW's has to do with the suspension and not the steering. BMW has a fantastic steering system just as the RX-8. The feeling will be different due to the feedback you feel in the suspension. How much of the road is dampened and how much can you feel? You can beef up the suspension on a 325 but expect a stiffer more jarring ride.

I have the older power steering system on my 325i. It's weightier than the latest version, but also a bit "treacly" - just a little like steering through molasses. The 3 series steering was lightened to satisfy the US market. IMHO they've never quite got it exactly right.
I think i'm correct in saying that the RX8 steering was fine tuned with unput by Ford UK's Richard Parry Jones. The current European Ford Focus, in its top spec form, has oustanding steering and handling balance.

Ah, I see. I can't compare the newer vs. older BMW, I've only driven a 2001 one, but I've heard people say the old "it ain't like it used to be" for whatever the reason (I think comparing to E36 ones). I didn't think it was like a Buick or anything though, haha. I'm just saying the thought of an even better steering feel is awful enticing (in the RX-8).

Well DSC is a safety feature, so the necessity of it is really up to you...in the snow, I have no idea; I live in Florida. I keep it turned on 90% of the time, just because if I have to make an emergency manuever I'd be better off with it activated. I turn it off when I want to have some fun; well I'm always having fun driving the car, but when I want to have some real fun...;)

The RX8 is very low geared - at least in first and second. This masks the torque deficit to some extent, but still enables quite high speeds in these low gears because of the very wide rev band. From the two drives I have had so far, I can easily see myself stetching the revs to 7000 and beyond in the City ( though not obviously in bumper to bumper traffiic). This is simply because at say 5000rpm in first and second, you are not actually travelling particularly fast at all.

My 325i is also quite low geared - second tops out at about 85km/hr ( 55 mph) at 6250rpm , and I can tell you it spends a lot of its time being spun out to 6000.

Using high revs is not a problem in a car which is designed for it, and with an engine smooth enough to do so without excessive vibration and noise. Both the 325i and the RX8 fall into this category, although obvioulsy the RX8 has an extra 3000rpm to play with! :D

Actually, it's in the E46 itself that the controversy exists - for the 2001 model year, IIRC, BMW significantly lightened the steering compared to the 2000 E46. There was a huge outcry from BMW aficianados and from the enthusiast press, to the point where they modified it back to much closer to the 2000 version before the end of the 02 model year, and if the owner of an 01 E46 complained right, BMW would replace the steering rack and setup with the earlier/later setup to return the legendary steering feel. BMW took a LOT of heat for the 01 E46 steering changes!

Regards,
Gordon

But not as much heat as for their new Bangled styling!

:)

That's interesting about it being a one year change, too bad that was the one year I happened to sample, haha. Now I'm kind of curious what a newer one is like, though it's sort of academic because a 3-series is pushing the money part of the equation for me.