? for those coming from higher-torque cars
 

Hi all - just found this site today as I've started to think about my next car. Some background first. I currently have a 2002 C5, and previous cars have been FI VW's (1.8T GTI). My next car needs to have 4 doors and 4 seats, so the C5 will have to go. I'm currently shopping the new GTI (not driven yet as the 4-door isn't due out until mid-summer), the Audi A3 (bit disappointing) and the RX8.

I took an RX8 out for a test drive this afternoon, and the most glaring difference between it and what I'm used to is the characteristics of the engine. Obviously need to get the revs quite high before the car really gets going - now I understand the gas mileage issue ;)). I'm curious if anyone else has made a similar transistion and if you can give me your real world experiences of adjusting to the new required driving style. Love the transmission, btw.

I go to 4-5 HPDEs ever year, so want something that I can take out and have a good time with - but still have the practicality with needing a car seat in the back.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Dont expect the torque that the vette has, maybe not even the gas milage..However, the 8 is a super slick car with great handling and is ultra smooth.. It is also a sharp looking car...Enjoy!

Torque? LOL - I'm from the old muscle car days - born in '58 :)

This car is best setup for track days. Once you set it up correctly, it is a blast - trust me.

Forget the Audi and VW. Consumer reports rates them at the bottom of the heap for reliability. The only time the torque really bothers me is when I am caught off guard in traffic and stomp the accelerator at lower RPMs, nothing happens. Beyond that the car is fun and plenty fast.

I miss torque for everyday driving. I used to have a Plymouth Duster and it was great for going up hills, carrying a load of cargo when I was in college and cutting people off in traffic. However the 8 is a different car and is if fun when your in the high rpms taking a sharp turn.

It's really a driver's car. You have to enjoy shifting and staying in the proper power range. If you want a whole lot of torque and not have to change gears to speed up, this isn't the car for you.

The only thing to look out for is that due to the high rpms needed to get moving, you'll want to drive slowly till the car is warmed up (keep the revs under 5k). This isn't an issue for cars that have the powerband in 3k rpm... If you don't, you may end up with engine damage.

low torque means more gas around corners.

Ok, I haven't had to priveledge of driving a RX-8 yet. I came to this site to learn more about the car, pretty sure it is right for me.

Anyway, I don't think it takes too long to get used to. My previous cars were all low rpm torquers from the 70s and 80s. So I was used to cruising on the highway under 2500 rpms, then I bought my RS. This car has some decent low end torque, nothing compared to my old mustang, but you have to rev it to get a response. And it took me 3 weeks to get used to cruising the highway at 3200 rpms.

From what I understand about the RX, for what it lacks in torque it makes up in the corners. Thats enough to convince me to buy one. It has 4 seats and 4 doors which I couldn't do without.

Not to point you in another direction, but I come from the Subaru world. I own a 98 RS and my g/f owns a 04 WRX. Both are very reliable and fun to drive, my RS has 160,000 miles and still drives like new. I would go test drive a 06 WRX. I won't hold it against you if you don't like the body style though :)

Yup, that would be a problem. :) I could easily see how the RX8 would make my HPDE's very enjoyable - and certainly more so than a GTI/A3. I'll have to try driving them back-to-back and see if I could adjust for the normal driving for my 20+ mile commute each way. Unfortunately I can't afford a 2nd purpose-built track car, so realistically I should buy a car that I like driving daily, and works on the track. As opposed to a great track car, that I can also drive on the street (not saying the RX8 isn't a good car for driving on the street, but it clearly shines on the track). The reliability isn't really a concern of mine, as I tend to not keep my cars for more than a few years, and m previous VW products held up just fine.

Born in 57 :cwm27: , you dont know torque until you drive a new Vette Z !!!

I test drove the new Z06 at Epcot during the 'auto show in motion' event. They had a track setup and you got to go as fast as you could around it (they had a guy in the passenger seat with you though). I wasn't all that impressed with it. None of the GM transmissions felt nearly as good as the RX-8's.

Anyway, it's not as bad as you might think. When you're on the highway, shift to 3rd if you're 50 or under, otherwise shift to 4th. Then floor it :) Third gear can get you up to 90, but I don't like to trash my car.

Reguardless of what you think, it is one of the fastest cars on the road..

you can't compare the vette and the wrx with rx8, they are all in different class.
one is a all time american super car, the other is a all time rally champ. the rx8 is a daddy ride, who have to pick up their kids but still want to hit the track once in a while.

What's your point? Did I say it wasn't quick? The show car they had on the floor had body panels that weren't aligned properly, there was rubber seals around the window that were falling out. It didn't look like a well made car. But it was definately better than previous vettes.

I used to own several porsches - the price tag on the vette is well within my means. So don't assume I'm not a fan of the corvette because I didn't care for it.

I have owned a lot of cars over the years, some fast some not so fast. Before the rx8 I owned a 2005 Acura Tl; that car was deceptively fast although torgue came on with rpms. That is even more so with the rx8, it will sneak up on you rather than throw you back in the seat. The bottom line is you will have to really drive it and use the transmission and take advantage of its ability to rev so smoothly. You can actually be more engaged with this car than most which is what makes it fun. It won't run with a C5 and it won't feel or sound like one either, it is simply a different driving experience.

love that review..."feels like it's running on double cream"

To the OP...I only miss the torque in city driving....when i'm taking corners at <15mph and don't feel like double clutching into 1 gear. Passengers are always amazed by how it accelerates without pushing you into the seat.

It is a pretty quick car, you just don't FEEL like your going fasts.
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Park Royal 3 Condos

You said you were not impressed with the Vette.. What werent you impressed with? Lack of Torque seemed like your issue.. I assure you this is NOT the case ..Enjoy your 8...

I'm really trying to understand where you're coming from, but you're just not making any sense. Please quote where I said that.

your's still stock or you modified it. If I want to stop the wheel jump on the track what could I do.

[QUOTE=EZ99B5]Hi all - just found this site today as I've started to think about my next car. Some background first. I currently have a 2002 C5, and previous cars have been FI VW's (1.8T GTI). My next car needs to have 4 doors and 4 seats, so the C5 will have to go. I'm currently shopping the new GTI (not driven yet as the 4-door isn't due out until mid-summer), the Audi A3 (bit disappointing) and the RX8.

I took an RX8 out for a test drive this afternoon, and the most glaring difference between it and what I'm used to is the characteristics of the engine. Obviously need to get the revs quite high before the car really gets going - now I understand the gas mileage issue ;)). I'm curious if anyone else has made a similar transistion and if you can give me your real world experiences of adjusting to the new required driving style. Love the transmission, btw.
QUOTE]

I currently own an 03 Mustang GT (290 ft/lbs of torque at the rear wheels, magazine project car, $8500 in modifications) and an 04 Jetta GLI (Limited Edition w/ 6-speed, Recaros, Audi TT brakes, 18' BBS wheels, bodykit and suspension, all from the factory!). I've been doing the same "what will I drive next" dance and can honestly say having driven the new GTI, an 04 WRX STi, an 06 350Z, and an 04, 05, and 06 RX-8... that you'll prefer the RX-8. The GTI is okay but I've owned both a Mk1 and Mk2 varients and this one, while better in all aspects, doesn't set the world on fire. The Suby was fast, but shifting was clunky, and the entire vehicle simply felt "third class". If you've tried the A3, the 4-door GTI won't be any different. Driving an RX-8 is all about being smooth and using a sort of "conservation of motion" approach to cornering. If you want raw torque though, you're going to be shifting down a lot with the 8. It's still very fun that way!

I need better access to 4 seats soon so I'm going to be trading up to an RX-8 soon!

Something else to consider...

As Ike has pointed out in other threads... the GTI is close to the 8 in straights and in the curves... the 8 is definitely better, but the GTI isn't a slouch there either.

Modability... the 8 sucks in this department.

Bolt-on mods... intake and exhaust... give little improvement in performance... the most coming from a high-flow cat or cat-less mid-pipe.

There is 1 turbo kit on the market... the GReddy kit. The engine management solution that comes with it... is it so so... usable if you follow the mods in the performance parts forum. There are two other higher power turbo kits that have been under development for sometime. There are also three supercharger kits that have been underdevelopment for sometime now. When will any be released? The biggest issue... engine management. The 8, like most recent model cars, has a complex ECU that controls much and doesn't appreciate typical piggyback management. The best thing available to date is the Interceptor-X which costs $1,600... and it just a standalone ECU that "piggybacks" the stock ECU, but fully controls ignition and fuel. To date there are no ECU flash solutions available.

The GTI... there are several ECU flash products on the market and a "VAG COM" that you can use to for clearing codes and other tweaks (like turning off DRL). Intakes are starting to come out and there are a growing number of turbo-back exhaust systems on the market. ECU tuning alone nets some decent numbers (on an already underrated motor). Intake + Exhaust + ECU is netting something around 250-260hp. The Oettinger kit (car reviewed in Road and Track) is getting 310hp with their turbo upgrade.

Just something else for you to consider...

Why are you attacking the strawman?

He said he drove the car, wasn't impressed and he mentioned the transmission. Then later he said it was the various quality issues that he didn't like. You keep on harping on him having an issue with the speed of the car which he never mentioned. He never mentioned torque either. Read his posts again...

I don't think he'll claim that the Vette isn't way faster than the 8 (esp the Z06).

I can't really comment on this thread otherwise since this is the fastest car I've had. :D (I've driven faster cars, but not consistently enough so my 8 still feels very fast).

Yup, I'm quite knowledgable on the GTI - previous to my C5 I had a limited edition GTI (337, if anyone is familiar). The RX8 would win hands down if it had a little more in the "go" department, as it corners much better and I like the tranny much more. However as the GTI is over $4k less, I could get a set of track wheels/tires, new suspension, reflash the ECU and still have some cash left over.

As you mentioned, as much as Mazda is liberal with their hp numbers, VW is conservative with the 2.0t. I've seen numerous dyno's of the supposed 200hp motor putting down high 190s to the wheels, before chipping. Reflash the ECU and the numbers go up another 25/50 for hp/torque - and that is what I'm afraid I'm going to miss.

Decisions, decisions... :Eyecrazy: