just wondering what you owners think RX8 falls under?

traditionally, true sports car has been RWD, 2 seater, no moon roof. ala s2000, 350z, most ferraris, toyota mr2 etc.

"sport coupe" is kinda in the veins of, eclipse, rsx, celica, mustang/cobra, camaro, bmw M3 coupe etc.

to me, either is good or bad, Id take a M3 over s2k or 350z neday

 

I categorize it as one-of-a-kind. The tuba boy from the Saturn commericals has nothing on the Zoom Zoom kid.

 

can't classify it. try as you might.

 

Question: Sports car or sports coupe???
Answer: Yes!

 

I also think it is one of a kind and doesn't fit in either category. :D

 

ahh geez, u guys are skillfully dodging ur way around the question like a bunch of filthy politicians!, but i guess its really not a bad answer. there goes my hopes of starting a fight :p

 

I wish it was classified as a sport sedan, so my insurance would go down.

 

Mazda says "The 1st four door sports car"

 

despite the fact that this has been discused before TO DEATH i will answer your question. Mazda says it's a sports car. Motor Trend,Car and DRiver, Road and Track and any other car mag you can think of call it a sports car and if you click the link to best sports car in this CNN Money article you will find they picked it as the BEST sports car over the corvette. who am i or you to argue with the experts? have you driven one? if you haven't before you decide what you think it is GO DRIVE IT!

 

Is Elle Mcpherson a supermodel or not?

The answer is clearly "YES", but that doesn't mean everyone will agree.

By the same token the RX-8 is a sports car in every single sense of the word, but not everyone will agree.

For those holding onto to such ridiculously rigid rules, my last car -- a Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo with 320hp -- was not a sports car either because it was technically possible (although not recommended) to fit two people in the back bucket seats and it had all-wheel drive, not to mention a sun roof.

It's well past time to bury these tired definitions.

 

Sports car. Why? Because it was designed from the beginning to be one, as was the S2000 and "most ferraris."

The original MR2 isn't a sports car, regardess of how fun it is, because it was designed to be a cheap commuter (like the CRX).

The Z is tricky, because it was sorta cobbled together.

The eclipse, rsx, celica, mustang/cobra, camaro, bmw M3 coupe etc. were all designed to be Something Else (commuter, luxury, etc.), but were modified (not sure about the M3 actually) for performance.

It's a highly subjective interpretation. But that's how I look at it

 

A coupé, by its very definition, is a two-door car.

coupé
Variant(s): or coupe /kü-'pA, 2 often 'küp/
Function: noun
Etymology: French coupé, from past participle of couper to cut, strike

2 usually coupe : a 2-door automobile often seating only two persons; also : one with a tight-spaced rear seat -- compare SEDAN

sedan
Pronunciation: si-'dan
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown

2 a : a 2- or 4-door automobile seating 4 or more persons and usually having a permanent top -- compare COUPE b : a motorboat having one passenger compartment

The RX-8, by definition, is a sedan. Probably the best sample of a sports-sedan ever made.
Compare that to other cars that are given the title sports-sedan and you will agree.

 

howsaboot a 2 door saloon with auxiliary rear passenger entry passages?

 

Saloon = Sedan

see Merriam-Webster

 

Nono but 2 Door = Coupé!

 

I said that already. Go back a few posts.

The RX-8 is a sedan. Alternatively, it is a saloon, if you prefer.
However, "saloon" is a better term for a much bigger sedan when you take the word's origin into consideration.

 

lol technically, i think this sport sedan theory makes a lot of sense . I guess this gives us a good reason to stop all this 350z vs rx8 vs s2000 comparisons which has been beaten to death by now, maybe a new topic called Mazda RX8 vs BMW M5 :p?

I hope some people arnt offended by this, its not like not being a true sports car is necessarily a bad thing. As long as the performance/handling is there, does it really matter? How many people here would take a miata over a M5? ohh wait.. this is a mazda board.. :p , How many people here would take a ... toyota MR 2 (current gen, its designed from get go to be a MR sports car) over a monster 2005 BMW M5 just because the MR2 is a true sports car? I know i sure wouldnt.

I testdrove the rx8 (pushed it pretty hard too) at Rev it Up, and it sure felt like a sports car to me though. I personally think the answers from those politicians like shelleyman who made the first couple of posts sounded the best (dont they always?). its just too unique to be catagorized. Apparently Mazda is smartly cheating, they want the RX8 to be viable for honors in several categories instead of just 1!
*And yep, the tuba kids got nothing on the Zoom Zoom kid,

 

err, howsabout compact brougham?

 

one of a kind design solution to a sports car desire with the versitility of a coupe.

 

My insurance card says 4 door coupe.

 

Yep, its a coupe....but a damn "sporty" one!

:D

 

going by that definition, a mustang, firebird, and any other 2 or 4 door four seater is a sedan...

 

Well, gee, if it looks like a sportscar, drives like a sportscar, and sounds like a sportscar, I'd say it's a sportscar. I've taken this thing down some pretty gnarly roads (the wine country, and highway 1) and believe me, there's nothing psuedo about it. As most of you know, it's a real joy to drive. Just because I can get my grandaughter in the back seat doesn't mean that I'm going to call it a "sporty car" or a "sports sedan." I've been driving for a long time, and believe me, for price/performance, this car is special.

 

Game, set and match for me... this is exactly how I see it.

 

I don't think anyone is going to argue that a BMW M3 or M5 can't take out some twisty backroads too and we all agree that they are sports sedans or coupes.

That being said... I think all of us would agree that the 8 is the best of all worlds...price, performance and everyday usability. :D