U.S. cars versus the RX-8?
 

with all the comparo's flying around between the rx-8 and various cars i noticed that they were all asian or european. what is a good comparison to the rx-8 in an american car? or is there one. should it be compared to the chrysler crossfire coupe do out in the fall? thoughts?

That's a tough one...

Mustang GT maybe? RWD, HP = 260, Torque = 302, 0-60 = 5.7 sec., has back seats, $25 - 26K.

Obviously not a very sophisticated platform (used for the past 20 years), and kinda homley, but it is good cheap V8 fun. Maybe the 2004 model based on the DEW platform used for the Lincoln LS and Jag E-Type will be a Mustang for enthusiasts to "enthuse" over.

Corvette is in another league both performance and price -wise.

Whatever Chrysler makes...all I see under the surface is minivans and K cars.

Re: U.S. cars versus the RX-8?
 

Well that's going to be a hard one. Isn't that a two seater? Plus the drivetrain is from a real German Mercedes. My only problem with this car is that the concept car was so much better looking with the stacked headlights. It looks like it is intended for a much more sedate crowd now. :(

:p LMAO.....I agree!! Bring on the wood side paneling!!

The best domestic car to match up will be the upcoming GTO (loosely used "domestic" I think they are gonna be made in Australia), sadly other than that we have no rear wheel drive cars with 4 wheel independent suspension geared toward spirited driving.

well here is a link to some pics and a story. it is hardly a minivan. please don't mention kcars again, my mom had one (shudders).

yeah that was one of my thoughts along time ago. the 8 definetly is the better car imo especially than the 6cyl versions of the 'stang. but i see much else to compare to other then the holden monaro that is coming as the gto.

That looks pretty sharp.

IMO Chrysler has truly world class styling and design capabilities. Heck, I think the Mercedes S class is looking more and more like an Intrepid! The problem seems to be their engineering. Maybe it's unfair, but their poor quality reputation still haunts.

The Chrysler Crossfire is very sweet!

This has a Mercedes engine and drive train.

I'll wait for it to come out this summer and then compare it to the RX-8.

oh goodness, (imo) the crossfire is one fugly car.

And if it's anything like a Merc then the RX-8 has nothing to worry about.

Soft cushy ride, floaty suspension, BUT good interior, materials, layout, and engine.

with ya on that one snow_tyres... :D

Judging by those pics, chrysler took a risk with that car. It has the kind of styling you are either going to love or hate (I happen to love it). At least with mostly a merc engine, tranny, etc. the reliability concerns many of us have will be addressed.

I also love the car, but can you consider it "American" if the Crossfire will be built in Germany, by Karmann, and will be comprised of nearly 40 percent Mercedes parts, including its engine and transmission? I also think the Crossfire might be more expensive than the RX8, it has "only" 215hp and it is a strict two seater. And as Hercules says if it handles like a merc the RX8 has nothing to worry about.

Well this looks like a good thread for me to post in, considering I'm looking at replacing my '96 Camaro Z28. Currently, I'm considering replacing it with the RX-8 or a 2001 TransAM WS6. I know that both cars are entirely different, and that the 2001 WS6 will woop up on the RX-8 in a straight line any day. However, I'm also out of the race myself to death phase of my life, and my license can't take driving like an immature kid on the road anymore. So, given my current daily driving never exceeds 75-80, and I don't push my '96 to its limits, I think I'd like to be able to get some better handling from a car. The RX-8 should handle the twisties many folds over my '96 Z28, and out due the 2k1 Firebird as well. However, I'd still like it to be able to kick up to 60 nice and quick for on-ramp accellaration, and maybe even push me back in my seat a little bit. I still can't decide...it's getting rough, and surprisingly I can't even use insurance quotes to make my choice since I called my carrier and got an "idea" of a quote for the RX-8 and it is very similar to what I'm going to be paying for the 2K1 TransAM. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR :(.

Well, I guess trying to compare those two cars I'd better put my flame suit on around here...but, flame/compare away. What would you guys do?

I guess this post got me thinking too much...I bought a Mustang GT this past weekend. This is my second GT so I have some happy experiences with them. I got a dark blue 2001 with 13,500 mi for $17,500 (US).

The RX-8 is definitely in my future. But I need to see and drive one before I decide. Also, I don't buy new cars. I'll let someone else eat the depreciation...

When the time comes,however,I expect it'll be a good combination of my Miata's handling and the Mustang's power!

American competition
 

Golly this is a good crowd! No mention of FWD competitors...

However, if you do want to bring up FWD, then the SVT Focus should warrant a look.

One of the neat things about the Crossfire is the horizontal crease running on the flanks. Its indentation flips at mid door and has to be a real booger to pull out of the dies. I thought only Toyota did things like this (see the rear quarter panel on the Celica - Toyota did this basically as a "See what we can do, nah nah nah").

One vehicle that could be a real contender is the Dodge Razor (if they ever decide to build it). And Pontiac may have a coupe based on the Solstice (with which they have targeted the Miata). The Pontiac product folks have been tasked with making their product match their PR (anyone want to take bets on the outcome? ;-).

Yeah! The RX-8 has a lot of similar American cars to compare to! You know, all of those American mid-engined RWD cars that are available for under $30k... :p

i think the new mustang will be a pretty good competitor. com'on, as far as configuartions go, (front) mid-engine, 4-seat, 4-doors (kinda), rotary, there is NOTHING equivalent to the 8. few cars will probably look as great as the 8. but in the general sports car category, the new 'stang should definitely be a competitor, although the crowd they're reaching would be a bit different. it'll probably be a pretty worthy competitor, too. the DEW platform from LS/T-Bird/S-Type is pretty good, and you know it's going to have a strong V8, porbably in the vicinity of ~300hp for the GT. handling-wise it'll be better than the current car (no more Fox cars), but it'll also be heavier, likely MUCH heavier, than the 8, so it'll not be as nimble and spunky, more muscle-car-ish. you can just see one of those car & drive comparison, 350z (or g35), rx-8, mustang, crossfire, even the GTO. exciting!

corvette is a step up, much more expensive, much more pure sports, would be something the next rx-7 would go against

i don't think it'd be fair to group FWD cars here

hell yeah! RX-7 vs Corvette, but would that also mean RX-7 will be significantly more expensive than the RX-8???

and ditto on the FWD comment :D

hmm...

well, the 8 tops off at 33k (which i think is great for such a car). the final FD topped off at 40k (in japan, Spirit R Type A, instantly sold out). full out no compromise sports car. w/ the new 7, i hope that's still the case. so if the top-of-the-line goes up that high i'd be ok with it, just because it's an rx-7 =)

but mazda probably won't do that, 'cuz they'd want it to be able to compete w/ 350z price

so here's the question...which is better, the no-compromise-awesome-full-out-assault rx-7, but have to pay the price (ie 40 grand)... OR the 350z-priced not-as-awesome-but-just-as-cool-as-the-z rx-7 (ie 30 grand)?

IMHO Mazda should not go too overboard with the prices on the next RX-7 - just look what happened to the sales figures when FC became FD!
What I think they ought do is to have an entry-level RX-7 with the standard RX-8 Renesis engine with a base price of around 30.000$, I think that would move quite a few cars!
The RX-7 RZ (or something like that), with the slightly larger engine, should start off at around 35.000$. If Mazda decides to put out another sports car with FD pricing, I'm afraid it might once again kill the rotary - it's great to be ambitious, but necesary to be realistic!

Cheers

Eske

I will keep saying this in the hopes that Mazda will take it to heart. :D

"Horsepower figures without weight figures are meaningless but the general public is not aware of this. Mazda does not need to get caught up in a horsepower race when they have the perfect engine to turn things into a weight race.

No other manufacturer has the capability to produce an engine as small, as light and as powerful as the rotary. Honda tuned the hell out of the s2000 engine but it is still bigger, heavier, produces less hp and less torque than the renesis. Early estimates even have the rx-8 beating the lighter s2000 in fuel economy!?!?!

Mazda needs to emphasize their individuality by creating a next rx-7 as light as they can. They are afforded the opportunity to do this because a small impractical RX-7 will attract a different market than the practical RX-8 even if they are priced similarly. Nissan has great V6s that produce a lot of power and torque but they can't put it in a car under 3000 lbs. Why should Mazda participate in a horsepower war when they have the ability to produce a small lightweight car with unmatched acceleration, handling and braking for the price? How many people would buy a small 2600 lb rx-7 with 285 hp/180 torque that could go 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and cost $32,000 US? "

Pricing to compete with the 350z will be a smart idea.

Brian

I agree completely! If (and I stress if) Mazda decides to make this car the single-most impractical beast on the planet, a sports car by any other name, they should try to produce something truly unique - and they certainly could do worse than following the example of the Elise: Less weight = more fun!
If Mazda could hit the 2600-2800 lb mark and, as rumour has it, bore up the Renesis and if they could keep the price around 30.000$... Whoah, just had a wet dream people :cool:

Cheers

Eske

Hmmm, Brian, you never worked for Colin Chapman did you? :D

Not only that but the S2000, the same size as a Miata, weighs 2800 lbs.

Very few coupes these days could come in under 3000 lbs, thank safety regulations for a lot of it. Back to the Lotus position; 'adding lightness' in one place allows you to add lightness in another. The inverse is 'adding weight' in one place demands you add weight in another (brakes, suspension) and pretty soon the whole thing goes to hell in a handbasket. Where Mazda is truly out in front of other manufacturers is where they place their weight on their sporting cars.

[in the voice of excited Beavis with bubbles coming out of his head]
Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Yeah... heheheheh... Weight! Weight! Weight!

[in the voice of excited Beavis with bubbles coming out of his head]
Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Yeah... heheheheh... Weight! Weight! Weight!

[Butthead]
Uhhh.... Dammit Beavis! What do you want me to wait for?!?? We're talking about horsepower and torque!

[in the voice of Beavis with bubbles coming out of his head]
Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Weight! Yeah... heheheheh... That's the ticket... Weight! Weight! Weight!

:D