Who drives a stock TSI anyway? I had a friend who had quite a turd of one and it was still 11s capable. Looked like a turd, ran like stink I guess.

I generally don't have anyone hating on my 8. Shop owners like it (Maximum Autosound, KDR, JPR). I get along with plenty of Rx7 owners. I work with a bunch of corvette owners and they generally like it. Then again, I generally don't get any underpowered comments anymore. I went to a dyno day maybe summer 2008? and put down 320 whp at the time - more than several evos/stis (fairly stockish).

They hate it because the women love it.

it just hit me on my way to work.
I think the problem with the 8 isnt the power or lack there of. I think its the price tag.
If the car was around 20k i think people would have had more respect for its overall handling and performance. But since its closer to 30k, Its hard to compete when Subaru and Mitsubishi are putting out car with loads of power for the same price.

IMO the 8 was a little too overpriced for the performance u get. Similar to the S2k. Dont get me wrong, I love both cars and know what there capable of. but Price for price you cant beat the package of a STI or EVO.

Evo's are getting up there in price. My buddy bought a 1 year old used evo for the price I paid for my new Rx8. Evo's have only gone up in price since I think. I think the biggest difference is a stock turbo car is a flash away from 50-75 more hp. And large displacement domestic motors tend to have a lot of hp left on the design table so they can gain 20 hp per part.

The rx8 is a driver's car - same as the S2k and the miata. Add to that the different style engine (and people hate stuff that is different) and you have a car that really will never be popular in the NASCAR crowd.

Yes, but STI's and Evos are just factory modified family sedans. S2K's and RX8's are both pure sports cars every step of the way. Just because a civic can have 400 bhp doesn't mean it's more fun to drive.

It's the chassis that sold me. I have reached the limit of the stock seats and belts many a time on the Olympic Peninsula back roads. With my current setup on the Zeals and 275/35R18 T1R's - I find myself more worried about my body making it around the corner rather than the car itself.

:D:

If it was 20k, it'd be pretty much unmatched.... throw in that extra 10k for a turbo system, and you get more whp than the 30k evo/sti.

In terms of sports cars, there aren't that many out there that do what the S2k and the RX-8 does. Does anyone know if the S2k have the same stigma as the RX-8? I'm not too familiar with that car.

Everything costs something.

Adding power costs money
Improving handling costs money
Improving ride quality costs money
Improving interior quality costs money
Making it safe costs money
Making it pass emissions costs money
Making it dead sexy costs money

If they dropped the price by 20% ($25,000 base to $20,000 base), then where do you suggest they cut back? I know that if it was ugly, I wouldn't have bought it. If it handled like a boat, I wouldn't have bought it. If the interior was like a Chevy, I seriously doubt I would have bought it. The only area I would be willing to give up would be ride quality, but then, not all that much. Government regulations keeps them from dropping emissions or safety.


No, Mazda did what they have learned works. Drop the power and make it a fun track toy. It works for the MX-5 / Miata with half the power....without complaint.


It's all a compromise I'm saying, and if you want it cheaper, you have to give up some of what you have. If you want more than it is, you have to add price. And adding power costs more than any other aspect. Take it up to 300hp, and we would be looking at $35k-$40k base price, competing with vettes, and still underpowered.



I love what compromise they settled on. She has a soul.

Ahhh cmon low blow..LOL...
STI's/Evo's have been proven race/Rally cars... for years...

all im saying is the 8 is a Sedan as well... and i think most people see it as "For 32k ill get a STI"
which i kinda agree with... because its a sure thing.... rather thank making a decision because of what the owner likes.

But as you can see i spent 17k on my 1994 FD..... I could have gotten a lot of other newer cars... But i just love the community and rarity of the vehicle.. which is the same case for the 8.

i guess i'll chip in as a new owner. there are a certainly legit gripes with this car, and anyone who says otherwise has blinders on.

the mileage is simply atrocious -- which would be ok if it were faster. but it's not. like i'm sure everyone has heard before, it gets the mpg of a v8 without the balls to back it up. low end torque is non existent. i have an mx-3 with a 2.5l klze swapped in, and it will smoke a stock rx-8 off the line, and get 30% better mpg while doing it. it is sad to me that an 18 year car that i paid 900 dollars for and put ~1k more into performance will do better in the 1/4 mile. granted the rx isn't a 1/4 mile car, but then it looks like it would be. i saw someone who sold his 8 say, ' everyone wants to race me, but i know i can't win'. both funny and sad. i think that kind of sums up the huge dichotomy between looks and performance. no one wants an all show and no go car -- that's like the quintessential definition of rice.

reliability is definitely a negative. everyone says it's not as bad as people think -- but the 8 didn't get the rep for no reason. and a fuel injected car made this millennium that floods is downright ridiculous. i cannot think of one single other car that this applies to.

of course the pluses are there and i'm more than happy with this car -- the tightest handling car i've ever driven. an rx-7 owner who thinks his car's better in that regard is lying or dreaming. the suicide doors rock -- the practicality of a 4 door with the looks of a coupe. the overall looks are killer and i didn't have to break the bank for it, and despite that i don't see 10 other ones in the same parking lot with me.

and of course just having a rotary with that smoooooth powerband revving all damn day to 9k can't be beat.

and it's NEW. for me that's just a big deal. i wanted a rotary, but i don't need another teenaged car. i don't want to stick aftermarket xenons into my stock housing. i don't want to buy altezza taillights. i don't want to fiberglass a push up monitor into my dash. i don't want cable driven climate controls. i can actually go to the dealership and buy oem floormats for this car. :SHOCKED: you're not going to get that same feel with even the most immaculate best cared for rx7 or supra or whatever.

no car's perfect, and the 8's no exception... but it's real easy to look past the flaws when you're in love :cuddle:

For the price and what I get, it is alot of sportscar for the buck. If you want a muscle car get a Mustang or g8. Except for the mpg the 8 is as good as it gets for what it is. I'm keeping it as a fun vehicle for as long as I can.:smoker:

Posted in a different thread:



Once the general populous stops thinking in terms of 1/4 mile, no one will think it is slow.


Of course, that will happen about the time that hell freezes over.

they hate cuz all the girls love it and and not there tricked out ricers....

Agreed ;)

I have a friend with a red shinka, and all the mustang drivers around here give him serious shit. They bring up the quarter mile times, the lack of torque, etc. They said they'd race him any day.

Well that day came, and they ended up racing on a highway called 474, which is a long, thin, windy road. They knew the Rx8 had immaculate handling, but figured they could win purely on muscle.

Needless to say, my friend SMOKED them, was parked on the side of the road when they finished the race. I think it hit them as a big surprise, especially after gaining a decent lead in the beginning of the race. They dont talk shit anymore. They dont have anything to say! Any true driver with an RX-8 will anihilate a mustang gt, srt8, camaro ss, etc, as long as you arent racing on a straightaway (which is pointless anyways)

Anywho, i think this little story says a lot about the RX-8. The RX-8 is not made for high school kids who want to talk about superchargers and 0-60 times. The RX-8 is a drivers car, a TRUE sports car. THAT'S why I want one.

Peace, and take care. Zoom Zoom.

It's just like what we said back in my racing days; you can make all the power you want but if you can't handle for shit, you're gonna get beat.

i agree.. i have let ppl drive.. and automatically.. its love at first drive.. speaking of i wanna go driving right now.. so laters guyz!! photoshoot time..

Agreed! :score:

These Top Gear video's i think say it all. One is the full version of the popular one on youtube where Jeremy reviews the rx8 but it also has the Stig's track time. The second is comparing the Audi TT, Alfa Romeo, and the RX-8. Stig's does track times again for all three cars 48 minutes into the video. Both are full episodes and not clips. Sorry if they're double posts, i didnt see any full episodes on the forum elsewhere.

http://www.casttv.com/shows/top-gear...sode-5/yo96g31

http://www.megavideo.com/?v=MENUE448

Mine is making close to 300awhp on 550cc injectors. I never said it was stock.
I have 720cc injectors waiting to be dropped in so...350awhp/12sec 1/4 - is my goal. I don't need a 500hp car. I want something fun for the snow/street, period. I don't really care okay.
BTW your comparing 90s technology to present? I'd hope a newer car would beat it. The 4g63 has made a name of it's own. Given all the advancements that Evos now have compare the two.

The sticker's irrelevant when there are always incentives; especially year-end cash back that makes the $27K to $33K MSRP a sub $20K to $26K car. With its long list of features econoboxes from Sub and Mistu at your $20K pricepoint don't even play in the same league with the 8.
http://denniswoo.multiply.com/journal/item/39

Those cars are both built off cheapo commuter-car platforms.....and in their top of the line configurations (EVO & STI) are much more expensive than the 8, and don't offer quite the driving experience.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/in-...he-mazda-rx-8/

http://www.speedsportlife.com/2008/0...ght-is-enough/

The renesis is todays technology in the only rotary sportscars of this age. Oh yeah, that's right, mopar has none ha, ha. Want hp install racing mods and turbo. 300+ hp is no great feat in ricers if you got mod money.
tsi had reliability problems. My2004 rx8 has none and is far advanced vehicle from 90's sportscars. No comparison dude.:boring:

Obviously you don't know what DSMs are. The engine, and practically everything is made by Mitsubishi. Yes, 300hp isn't a lot to jump up and down about. Like I said I don't care. My car came turbocharged from the factory. So by doing modifications to achieve 300hp, that makes me a ricer? Please, elaborate.

You really think the renisis is reliable when many people are on they're 3rd engine after only a whopping 60k? YOU might not have problems, but your talking about statistics of DSMs not being reliable. Point in case, DSMs are beat to death by "ricers" and kids who hop in and crank up the boost having NO idea what they're doing. Really, DSMs aren't reliable because you have people running no supporting mods, doing modifications before maintenance, and the ridiculous idea of launching at 6k. They had development errors through out the process - name cars that don't.

Your head is so far up your ass on numbers, you're not reading what I'm saying. Compare A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, to a Mazda RX-8. There is a comparison to be thought of.
The Evolution benefits from that of the the same engine in my car, just with minor modifications: Bigger cams, better flowing head, bigger turbo, bigger injectors, advancements in engine management. Add into the fact that's just the engine, not considering chassis alone and there is way more advancement from 90s technology.

I agree mopar of today sucks, don't like them one bit.

You obviously don't know what DSMs are so please don't tell me their inferior cars when the 4G63 Motor has made 800+awhp, 8sec 1/4mile times.

don't get excited. You said the rx8 is not modern 21st century technology then say I don't know anything about your dated tsi 90's car. I know it is 90's and is a HAS BEEN compared to modern transportation. Does it even have 1 air bag? probably rates 1 star on todays crash and safety scores. I don't care either cause I have a modern sportscar. The evo is a great evolvment from your car. It has to be, to compete in sales, with so many excellent modern sports cars. After all it is an econo sedan based car. I rather drive a true sportscar. I don't need to go off road racing or boast 300+ hp. Rx8 reliability problems were do to improper flash when it was rushed to market in 04. Was not the cars fault. Shame on Mazda. They deserve bad press for that even though it was corrected in 06 production and tsbs for earlier models.

Don't recall saying the RX-8 isn't modern. hmm.
Your going off of magazine 0-60 times and 1/4 mile times and calling my car mopar poop. Yet you know tons about my Talon somehow?
Yes it's dated, so there is a lot of information out there on the particular breed. I'm not sure what you're trying to get at here.

Automatic seat-belts as mandated in on cars produced after 1989. Are you just looking for cheap shots here? You know how to pick them.

I don't go off-road racing, I drive in the snow. Unless you consider snow off-road.
Would you rather have me list all of my modifications so you can sit here and bench-race on how much HP I'm making. There is a difference between boasting information and stating facts. I simply stated my Talon is around 300awhp and maybe that bothered you as coming off in a cocky mindset. Would I like my RX-8 to have 300rwhp, yes. But If I was so hardset on numbers and magazine statistics I wouldn't have bought it like I previously mentioned.

Well, I have nothing left for you. You love your car, great - shout it from a mountain top. I like my two cars and I'll leave it at that.

Please slow it down when your reading, because your not getting the message im trying to relay here.

Viprez,

I can't compare a modded talon to the modern technology of an rx8. It's still old tech in comparison. There is more to modern autos than HP. I don't care what hp you mod it to. Some 1960 musclecars had 400 hp. What you have is a classic from the 90's with some spit. Produced in the last century. More power to you. I'm not mis- interpreting you. You like your Talon. Hurray for Talon. You put some work into it. The rx8 is just too sexy the way it is. That is why it is hated by hp junkies. Turbos are not needed. Rotary 1.3 L = 232hp and shames the same displacement piston engine. Another reason to hate it etc,etc. I do appreciate you own an rx8. It feels so good driving an 8.