chinx

right on 2

that's impossible. an s2000 would have a hard time keeping up even with a regular c5, let alone a z06...which is legions above the s2000 (talking about 911, M3 territory here)

now perhaps that s2000 was following a z06 going REALLY slowly on the freeway

people keeps lauding s2000 over and above what it is, cracks me up...

rx8...that's different...:D

DreamWarrior

What do you mean "rx8...that's different?" If you are implying that the RX-8 will hang with a vette...well, it won't. I want one, but I'm not under any misconceptions that it'd hang with a vette, hell it won't even hang (in a straight line) with my Z28. However, I'm out of that phase, my license can have no more of it, and while it's fun pushing passengers back in their seats, I want a more comfortable, better handling, sporty car.

Buger

I don't think Chinx meant that the RX-8 could hang with a vette. His previous sentence said:

"people keeps lauding s2000 over and above what it is, cracks me up..."

It appears he was saying that when people keep lauding the RX-8 over and above what it is, it's "different" and it doesn't crack him up.

Then again, I could be wrong and Chinx will probably speak for himself when he has the time.

chinx

chill guys...and thanks, Buger

i didn't mean the 8 will smoke a 'vette. that was just an innocent i-love-rx-8 comment in the face of s2000...

sorry for the confusion

Grimace

Thanks Ray, I'll check that site out. You have any pictures of your car anywhere?

Pablo

Would you mind explaining to me why you only buy American? I simply don't get it! You even make an effort to note that American cars lack the quality of European and Japanese makes.
There must be something here that I'm missing. In Denmark, American cars simply don't sell. Chrysler did reasonably well with the Neon and the PT Cruiser (for an American manufacturer, that is), but other than those two cars, you see nothing American around here.
Why? Well, poor handling, poor quality and poor fuel efficiency aren't really the best sales arguments this side of the pond!

I'm not trying to flame you, I'm just trying to figure out the reasoning behind your choice... it strikes me as being a bit odd, you see

Cheers

Eske

chenpin

I suppose the reasoning is Patriotism.
:p

babylou

The statistics show that American cars are more reliable than European cars. If you doubt it check JD Power (Initial Quality and Long Term Quality surveys) and Consumer Guide to confirm. These are pure statistical databases without ignorant opinions folded in. Since most people say "quality" when they mean "reliabilty" I ask if American cars have "poor quality" then what do Euro cars have?

Ray G

Patriotism is the answer exactly. A concept perhaps unfamiliar to you in Denmark. What does Denmark do anyway?? Sorry a bit harsh, and I'm just kidding but I couldn't help myself!!

Dodge SRT-4 fast as a WRX and faster than many other cars, cheaper than a WRX and many other cars, and made in the US!

Corvette, made in the US and kicks the tail out of most cars twice its price.

I'd rather have my money go to the US economy than to another country that doesn't do jack for the US. And yes I realize that Dodge is now Daimler Chrysler but still a good portion of the proceeds remains in the US.

jonalan

Ray G, just curious, what will you be replacing your Contour with?

Ray G

I just placed a deposit on the Dodge SRT-4:D

pelucidor

But what is an American car nowadays. Toyota has 6+ plants in the USA - the way they are going they will one day produce MORE CARS (but not trucks/SUVS) in America than Chrysler and perhaps even Ford. That's American labor, factories, parts, steel etc and sold via American dealerships to Americans consumers. How is it more patriotic to buy an American badge but where some parts and assembly is done overseas. How on earth is it patriotic to buy an RX-8 (not one iota is designed or manufactured in America) just because currently Ford owns part of Mazda.

Patriotism is a great thing when applied correctly, but I think you are being somewhat simplistic/naive in your rationale to buying cars. Back in England we went through the same nonsense 15 years ago when the Japanese companies started doing really well. Some English folks (who thought Ford was British because they dominated the UK car industry) thought it was more patriotic to buy a Ford Fiesta completely built in Spain than a (vastly better) Nissan Micra completely built in England with local parts and labor.

Going back to the original topic - I personally prefer the styling and behaviour (suspension, performance, engine tuning, gearshift and steering feel) of European and Japanese cars, but have tremendous respect for a select few 'American' vehicles such as the Corvette (the performance for the money is incredible). I cannot think of any US car that is comparable to the RX-8 (the Lincoln LS and Caddy CTS are too big, expensive and luxury oriented) and cars like the Pontiac Grand AM, Neon SRT and SVT Focus etc are too cheap and originally based around practicality rather than sports car performance.

zoom44

this must be the most succesful thread i have started. ask a simple question and 62 posts later it's still going!:D it hasn't been going as long as that rx-8 sport wagon thread(and do not start another one please) but it's still got legs.

very good points pelucidor. it shouldn't be about the badge but where it is actually produced. i originally asked the question because in my mind the only thing that comes close is the ford mustang and while i have been a fan of that car since i was a very small child, i have to say that the rx-8 beats it hands down. at the recent car show i asked a salesman who must have only been about 5'6" tall if people actually fit in the back seat of the 'stang and he tried to quickly show me how easy it was and how much room there was. well, he had a hell of a time getting the seat belt off a hook type device on the front seat (it was a convertible model) and then when he sat down and pulled the front seat back it slammed him in the knees! he tried to blow it off like it was no big thing but i left with a big smile on my face :D

pelucidor

How could I forget the Mustang - especially the next generation due in 2004 (I actually like the styling for once). Similar price, different goals but I am sure a non-base model could be fun. Best RX-8 competitor yet IMO...

As for the Neon SRT-4 - yes it's very fast (and well priced), but I have never liked the idea of high-power FWD cars because of torque steer. Once you are above 200hp it should be RWD or AWD IMO.

Ray G

I see what you mean but up here in New England I prefer FWD for the snow.

How on earth is it patriotic to buy an RX-8 (not one iota is designed or manufactured in America? You got me here, I just really wanted one and was trying to justify my buy american obsession. The Dodge is made in the US however so I will sleep better at night. You make very good points though, it is increasingly more difficult to find a 100% American car.

Pablo

:D Well, we make Lego bricks and propably 95% of every stereo system shown in US movies. The stereos are called B&O (Bang & Olufsen), if you ever heard of them - very classy looking but exceedingly expensive. The largest shipping company in the world (Maersk) is also Danish and we are world leaders in the field of windmills. Ever heard of Carlsberg or Tuborg beer? Yup, Danish as well!
Keep in mind that Denmark has a grand total of 5 million inhabitants, so we don't really get companies the (diminishing) size of United Airlines

Also, Denmark is the country in the world that gives the largest percentage of its GNP to 3rd world countries... So that we hopefully can help them maintain a decent standard of living, while you are busy spending more money bombing places most Americans will never be able to find on a map. And no, I'm not talking about Canada.

Actually, what you are describing isn't patriotism, but economic isolationism... not really what the US was supposed to be about, being the liberalist poll bearers of the world and all. The true American solution would be to let American companies deliver the goods or perrish. Double standards simply are twice as good, aeh?

Cheers

Eske

P.s.: congratulations on your new (American) car, it doesn't look half-bad, i must admit

wakeech

yikes!! careful or BlueAdept will get all pissed off about the "fallacy" of FWD cars being better in slippery conditions... what was it he said?? "If they ever make cars that are only FWD, i'll be going backwards everywhere" or something... :D

Ray G

Keep in mind if the USA didn't do that you would be speaking German right now

b2k2000

Pablo, if you were to look it up, you will find that in any natural disaster, post war area, etc the USA gives the MOST of everything (money, food, clothing, etc) to that area period. We, as a country, are the most generous people on the planet! And if you don't think that fixing Iraq, which the UN should have let us do the first time around, will help more than just us in the long run, unless you like terrorists running around bombing everything they deam "unholy". And if we were not in S Korea the North would probably destroy Japan with there stupidity and we would lose our beloved 8 and future 7 (like how I brought this rant back to the rx-8 area ) ok getting off the soapbox now!

wakeech

I DO NOT WANT THIS TO GET OFF TOPIC!! SIMPLY RAISING THE POINT!!

actually, if you looked it up you'd find that the USA gives very little according to its collective means, which really puts it in context...
check out all this stuff i've said already in the "hate bush" thread...

it's not a personal thing, and it's not an attack... i just want people to have it straight.

anyhoo, i too am wary of North Korea doing something stupid like disrupting our supply of rotary powered cars!! this cannot happen!!

zoom44

funny how just a few hours ago i was lauding the success of my thread and now it has degenerated into an arguement about whether or not the U.S.A. gives it's share to the world. people in south korea have forgotten why there is a south korea. people in france and other countries in europe, as well as countries in africa have forgotten why they are not speaking german. Eastern europe seems to forget that they could be speaking russian now instead of their native languages. other countries around the world have forgotten that we do not go around annexing or trying to annex them, even though we could, but instead try to keep other counties from doing so. maybe people don't like us sticking our noses in their business, but if we didn't than they may not have a business to speak of or a country to live in. it seems to me that our allies are always saying "oh you guys in the U.S.A. should do something about this or that situation or this or that dictator". but when we finally do all we hear back is "oh you shouldn't have done it that way" or "don't use our airspace to do it". one day our government is going to get sick of that crap and do things that need to be done with asking any more. that is when all of those countries should be scared. remember we are the good guys here. and it's about time the rest of the world remembered that.

*steps off his patriotic soap box *

zoom44

please post any response in the lounge. unless you have an american car to compare and contrast to the rx-8.

how 'bout those 'vettes?

wakeech

letsee... i started a thread way way way way waaaaaaaay back in the day, like what, last august or september or something about the real competitors for the RX-8...

the deal with most american cars is that they're nearly all FWD these days, which is something i guess you'd have to ignore... a major difference, but whatever.

the one car that comes to my mind is the Pontiac GrandPrix GT-something-something, with the supercharger...

(sorry moderatin'-rotary-dog, i had to reply :o)

zoom44

oh i know i sorted copped your thread. but not many(if any) americans cars were mentioned. so i was hoping by saying specifically american cars in mine we could see what the state of american produced cars really is.

and you are right about the fwd. it's very hard to find good vehicles these days that aren't front wheel drive (we hear ya blueadept but perhaps the pendulum is on its way back).

the grand prix gtp i think is what you were talking about. good car although i bet some will trash it for it's suspension.

whats really hard to find these days from the big 3 is any kind of sporty sedan that you can get a manny tranny on. try to find the american equivalent of a mazda6, camry or accord on a lot in the US with a 5-speed. its practically impossible.

at least you were on topic 'keech

Ray G

I'm sorry it was mostly my fault, keeping on topic though.

Pontiac Grand Prix GTP - My wife has one, fast straight line but terrible in the turns.

How about the new Pontiac GTO?? Should be seriously fast with the LS1 engine in it, it is a 6 speed, and is rear wheel drive. It should also be in the same price range as the RX-8 perhaps slightly more. This seems like the best contender.