pelucidor

The perfect contradiction - I expected you to say the 911 is a sporty coupe.

DanThMan

To steal an acronym from Nissan, the RX-8 is a 4DSC. That's "Four Door Sports Car."

-Dan

vudoodoodoo

Didn't I say sporty coupe for the Carrera 4S? Check my post again w/ the quote.

I said the 911 TURBO is a sports car. The TURBO is a 2 seater as far as I remember.

BRx8

S2000, RX-8, NSX, and 350Z are sports cars...

Evo and Impreza are not...

why? very simple...cuz chicks dig it...chicks can smell sports cars from a mile away and if they say so, who am i to argue? (momma always told me not to argue with women)...

now ask them if an Evo or Impreza is a sports car...Evo and Impreza owners will say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but it seems the only beholders are the owners themselves...definitely not chicks

all joking aside, i think it's a sports coupe...dunno if i can call it a Grand Touring Sports Car since i'm accustomed to GT's as being much larger so i think a coupe would suffice...

Zaphod

You finally get it! Congrats.

Zaphod

How do you know what "most people's" definition is? You're making an assumption, which means that your comment is an opinion, which is perfectly fine because that's what forums are for.

I don't know why a "sports car" has to have just 2 seats. It's already been established that the RX-8 has practically the same dimensions as the 911. I do think a sports car should have rear-wheel drive. But put an engine as powerful as the 911's in this car and would you still say it's not a sports car? If so, your last two criteria are incorrect. If not, I'd like to hear how you defend that.

That only leaves engine performance, which is highly subjective. I've never owned an NSX so I'm not going to compare it to that. But it feels like a sports car to me, and therefore it is. To me. And that's all that matters. To me.

DanThMan

I liked this...

-----

From: http://www.davewin.com/articles/sports-car.shtml

Definition of A Sports Car

A true sports car is a performance car whose primary function is to provide driving pleasure, and to allow the driver to immerse himself in that experience and communicate with the road as directly as possible. Its purpose is pure and singleminded.

The idea of a sports car has always been the same and it will never change. The designs will change as times change. But the concept will always remain.

A true sports car is light, direct and does without the things that more pedestrian vehicles possess. It is often derived from a race car in some fashion. The car may be a direct variation of a race car. It may feature technology and design from a race car. Or the people who designed and developed it have a competition background. It has heritage.

The car rewards drivers who are skilled and able. All drivers are not created equal. Those who can best feel and understand the subtle messages of the machine are rewarded with the greatest satisfaction. A sports car is meant to be driven well quickly.


What do sports cars look like?

They turn your head, they get you interested. You know just from looking at them that they offer performance and excitement. They are not ordinary cars. Even when parked, a sports car gives the impression that it is in forward motion.


What A Sports Car Is Not

Heavy cars are not sports cars. Sedans, wagons, SUVs, and the like are not sports cars. No matter how much power they make, how well they corner, how quickly they can accelerate or stop, or how much they've been modified, they are not sports cars. They may be performance cars. They may have very impressive performance. But they can never be sports cars. Thoroughbreds are horses. But not all horses are thoroughbreds.

-----

-Dan

Genom

I agree with you Zaphod. Who really cares what category it is in? It's the car you wanted for whatever reasons and thats it. Saying it's a sports sedan and not a sports car doesnt make sense. The whole sport car elitism that a lot of people have here is about as logical as the superpriced luxury car people. They think what the have is the best cause it costs an unreasonable amount of money.

You all need to stop letting other peoples opinion matter to you over something so personally subjective as this. For me the RX-8 is the best car. I have had it for almost 3 weeks and enjoy it inmensely. I dont care in the least if someone thinks it's a POS. It's pretty damn obvious I disagree, so why argue over it?

RX-8 Zoomster

Or he obviously hasn't sat in the back himself. I see he has a RX-8 on order, but did he sit in it, before he made his statement?

Normal human beings? If babylou considers a normal human being 6'2, weighing 350 lbs or more, then I can see his point. But jeez, the rear seating is not worthless.

My brother-in-law is 5'10, heavy built and weighs 240. He is definately above average in height and weight. He didn't have one problem sitting in the back, or getting in or out of the car.

mikeb

its a SPORT CAR

Squidward

who gives a rats ****.. if some think it's a sedan and others think it's a sportscar..

sports car?? = uh it's too weak to be a real sports car..

sedan? But but but it looks like a sports car it must be one..

gimme a break.

GREAT TASTE or LESS FILLING argument would be just as relevant here...

Tweety-nator

DanThMan's post about the definition of a sports car seems to fit the RX-8 pretty well...

Therefore my vote is that the RX-8 is a sports car!

Zaphod

Tastes Great!!!

8_wannabe

There's enough old farts here to remember the old Certs commercials: "It's a breath mint! It's a candy mint! It's two, two, two mints in one!" So there's your answer: "It's two, two, two cars in one!"

8_wannabe

The '8 designers and marketeers gotta be grinnin' ear to ear as they read this thread. This was exactly the kind of debate they hoped to stir up. Go back and read from page 3 on if you haven't already; comments like "It's both" or "We're creating our own category." They gotta be loving it.

babylou

Or he obviously hasn't sat in the back himself. I see he has a RX-8 on order, but did he sit in it, before he made his statement?

Normal human beings? If babylou considers a normal human being 6'2, weighing 350 lbs or more, then I can see his point. But jeez, the rear seating is not worthless.

My brother-in-law is 5'10, heavy built and weighs 240. He is definately above average in height and weight. He didn't have one problem sitting in the back, or getting in or out of the car. [/QUOTE]

Well I've got some news for you. I did sit in the back with a 6 footer in the front. My knees were crushed by the seat back. I am 5"-7". I don't consider that enough room for "normal" adults of say 5'-10" average height.

Also, I didn't know I have an RX-8 on order. I wanted one...badly. However, I waited to until there were cars at the dealership because I thought Mazda's claim of rear seat room was exagerrated. It is. Kinda like some other claims.

vudoodoodoo

:D

MWG

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ELK
[B]The RX8 is a sports coupe and a very good one.

It is too softly sprung, has too much roll, not enough feedback (steering, clutch, shifter, seat-of-the-pants) to be a sports car.

It is incredibly well done, pretty and fun. But it has too many compromises sacrificing performance for comfort and convenience to be a sports car.

And yes, I have driven one.

And I think it is a great car for everyday use.

Genom

Remember that everybody has a different body shape. I am 5'11" and setting the drivers seat to my liking I still fit immediatly behind it very well. My legs are not "crushed", although they do touch the back of the seat. However I have sat in that seat like that for 1 1/2 hour drive and it felt fine to me.

Dont assume it will be custom made to you is all.

babylou

It appears to me that I am not the one making assumptions. Earlier it was assumed that I do not have kids or am not married. It was also assumed that I had not actually sat in the rear seat of the car. Now you assume I want the car to be custom made to me.

The fact is the rear seat room is very limited. All of the magazine tests have confirmed this. The rear seat room is nearly the exact same as an IS300 and one of the big knocks on that vehicle is lack of rear seat room.

RX-8 Zoomster

Obviously the RX-8 is not the right car for you. Go buy a 4-door sedan which you feel is a better car for you.

'Nuf said.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

quad cab coupe

:D

donald121

it's a luxury sport car

CarEnthusiast

overrated sports sedan/coupe but i like ZoomZoomH's idea of quad cab coupe. :p

Wankeler

Here's another one for the Mazda Engineers...

Duck Season!
Rabbit Season!
Duck Season!
Rabbit Season!

Tha, the, tha, the, tha... that's all folks!!!!!
:D

Peace