Vote, is RX8 a sports car or a sports coupe?
08-02-2004, 08:38 PM
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Vote, is RX8 a sports car or a sports coupe?
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
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
Last edited by playdoh43; 08-02-2004 at 09:08 PM.
08-02-2004, 09:43 PM
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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
08-02-2004, 10:22 PM
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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!
08-02-2004, 10:51 PM
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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.
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.
Last edited by Brendan; 08-02-2004 at 11:50 PM.
08-02-2004, 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by playdoh43
just wondering what you owners think RX8 falls under?
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
08-02-2004, 11:10 PM
#12
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.
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.
08-03-2004, 12:46 AM
#16
Originally Posted by GiN
Nono but 2 Door = Coupé!
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.
08-03-2004, 02:31 AM
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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,
. 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,
Last edited by playdoh43; 08-03-2004 at 02:57 AM.
08-03-2004, 03:34 AM
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err, howsabout compact brougham?
Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
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.
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.
08-04-2004, 12:58 AM
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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.
08-04-2004, 05:15 AM
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Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
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.
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.
08-04-2004, 05:19 AM
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Originally Posted by clark
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.
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