Well, here's an illustration. The $300k Maybach 57 can do 0-60mph in 5.2 sec. (link). It will definately kick the *** of over 95% of the cars out there in straight times. I don't consider this a sports car. Obviously you would since this car meets your criteria for a sports car.



I'm sorry no confetti for you, IMO.

 

The RX-8 is a Tweener. Mazda and some others promote it as roomy enough for 4 full sized adults. I tried it out and it simply doesn't have enough room for 4. However, the car has enough compromises away from a sports car that I find it impossible to classify as sports car like. Therefore I call it a tweener.

Unfortunately for me, I think the RX-8 is a bad concept. The rear seats are worthless for seating normal humans yet they create many performance compromises. What is the point? Make the seats real or don't make them at all!

I want an RX-8 with another 3" of cabin length and proper rear doors that are not cocoon like. I want this even at the expense of a tad of it's sports car like quality. I also want an RX-7 without the utilitarian compromise of the rear seat.

 

Why wouldn't it be a "sports car"? The number of doors? If it's not, how is the 8 one? Aesthetics?

-bd

 

You missed my point. It's all subjective. You believe a sports car should be more defined as performance "kick-***" speed criteria only. No matter of how many doors. That's OK. I consider a sports car more defined as things like looks (aesthetics) and handling, road connection, fun factor. So according to my criteria, the RX-8 is more a sports car than the Maybach (fast sedan) or the EVO. That's OK too. Before you "flame on", I did not just say that the EVO WAS NOT a sports car.

So if you reread my first post on this thread instead of being so defensive of your EVO, you will see that I did not classify the RX-8 as a sports car, just a sports coupe. That's why I agree with Hercules that this thread posts a stupid question. It's all subjective as how one would define a sports car in their mind.

 

Doesn't the term 'cross-over' mean anything? For example, what would you call a RX330? wagon? truck? SUV? Modern Minivan? RX8: sporty handling, suicide door quad-coupe design, sports car styling, coupe space with extra headroom. I think I'll say 'cross over'

 

Crossover? Sports car, sports sedan, sports coupe... Fair enough.

 

You obviously don't have kids.

 

This made me laugh (in a pained way). Not all of us are sensitive about the S2000 (or Solara) being considerably faster than the RX-8...

I would have to say I don't know if the RX-8 is a sports car - perhaps it is a new breed of vehicle. It has the performance, handling and design intent of a sports car, but with the practicality of a small sedan. I do not think it is a sports coupe (like the G35C or the BMW 330ci) as it is both more sporty and more sedan-like. I believe there will be a lot of other cars in this new class in the future.

 

That's odd - my RX-8 has more space for 4 adults than my IS300 (about the same as a BMW 3 series I would guess). I test drove an RX-8 with 4 adults in it and sat in the back while my wife drove - very comfortable. Of course the adults in question were all 5'9" or less - perhaps your test group are all over 6' tall.

THIS is why I got an RX-8 instead of the S2000 I wanted very badly:

 

Definitely not a sports car. Most of today's so called "sports cars" are really not sports cars.

 

4 doors + back seats = sedan or sports sedan.

Sports car = 2 seater.

 

I think that's a very narrow-minded approach. The whole idea with this car is to shatter that exact thought. They might not have completely shattered it, but they've gotten closer than anyone else to date, IMO.

 

So then the porsche carrera 4 is not a sports car? It's a sports sedan ?

It's not that simple unfortunately.

IMO: If it looks like a sports car and is RWD it is.

 

My (and most people's) definition of a sports car.

Powerful
Lightwieght
Good handling
2 door
2 seater

The only 2 current Japanese cars I can think of that can be called sports cars are the NSX and 350Z. Although the Z COULD lose a few pounds.

 

So we're creating our own car category now?

This is like saying. "It's a sports car, but with 4 doors." "It's a sports car, but is FWD!" "It's a sports car, but is really slow!"

It falls into the sporty sedan category. Like the M5 or G35 sedan. It's fast and has 4 doors and can seat 4 adults.

I'm not dissing the 8 or anything.

 

So the Carerra 4S isn't a sports car because it's AWD? (There's a 911 with 4 doors? news to me...)

-bd

 

Originally quoted by Butt Dyno
Frankly, you can have the S2K... not a bad car but the RX8 is a great drive with super handling, road grip, and space (everyone who has been a passenger loves it) - neck pulling speed with a sports car feel. Try putting 3 or 4 in your S2K!:p

 

Hi people,

I remember reading from a magazine and it kindda defined whats a sports car...

1. rear-wheel drive.
2. manual transmission (I guess SMG counts..)
3. good balance (near 50:50)
4. lightweight
5. high reving

I think that was it.
Some people are saying 4 seaters or 2 + 2 are not sports car
How about supra or M3? Not saying people are wrong, just that Im confused whats the definition of a sports car too...

 

Back seats = sporty coupe.
I never said anything about AWD. Some sports cars have AWD. The 911 turbo for instance.

 

Sport coupe or GT car.

 

I meant in autox... the S2K has a very solid grip in B stock (where the RX8 is) that I don't see it letting go...

-bd

 

Sorry, was an inference from "if it looks like a sports car and it's RWD it is"

-bd

 

Does it try to be a sports car?
Yes (has the performance)

Does it try to be a sedan?
Yes (why else put 4 doors and 4 seats and make a fuss about how "roomy" it is?)

So it's a sports car...that's also a sedan?
Gee....I think those types of automobiles are called SPORTS SEDANS!


From what I know (granted, what I know is limited), a "coupe" means a 2 door car, so the RX-8 CAN'T be a "sports coupe".

 

The car is a sports sedan. I've driven it, I love it. I've also driven a few 3rd Gen RX7's. The 7 was a sports car, the 8 is not. (and yes, I know the 8 is not a replacement for the 7)

I have to agree with the previous post that the vast majority of people use the following criteria to define a 'sports car'

1. Manual Transmission
2. Two seats
3. Two doors
4. Light Weight
5. RWD
(and my personal addition, no power accessories)
The rest is debatable I guess, but that's the gist of it.


This said, I loved the 8 I test drove, and i'm currently planning on it being the replacement for my wife's 96 Altima. It will NOT, however, be a replacement for my desire to get an FD3S

 

Id concider it a sports car and so far everyone who has sat in mine has called it so.

However it could be a grand touring car too but im thinking more sports car than grand touring.