I'm not entirely sure a sports car is about superior all-around transportation. It really depends on ones needs. For some a Jeep is superior all-around transportation. Subjectively I agree with you though. For *ME* a sports car is about superior all around transportation- with tons of features while also being a "drivers" car, but my friend who races Porsches on the pro circuit, thinks sports cars are about being track capable, like the new S2000 CR I guess, and he doesn't care about creature comforts.

I totally see your point and aside from the semantics, I completely agree. That's why so many people buy the 911's. Navi, dual zone climate control, heated seats- the works. Oh and it's one hell of a "sports car".

I can't wait to see the new 8 in person. I think it's incredibly ugly in the photos- but I thought the same thing about the original 8 when I saw it in the mags years ago. I was absolutely appalled at what had happened to the RX-7. When I saw it in person I did a 180 (or as Bush would say a "360"). It was love at first sight. Now, 5 years later, I bought one. Who knows, I could feel the same way about the rev 2. I just doubt it...but it has auto climate control DAMNIT.

 

This is an unfair comparison. I don't like the automatic climate control options where you're forced to set a temperature number and then a computer calculates whether to blow hot or cold air for you; I quite like my AC and would never get a car without it. As far as I can tell, cars that have the automatic climate control feature won't let you default to the manual control type that allows you to choose whether you want hot or cold air. The beauty of the current system is that I get to choose the approximate range of the temperature air that is blowing out. I find automatic systems to be too distracting as it'll be hot one moment and then cold the next. I like my AC, but I like the older manual versions better.

Of course, there are some people that only seem to set their AC to full hot or full cold and I supposed for their climate control is a godsend. However, I use the full range of adjustment on the **** and find it to work much better than any automatic system I've been in, be they Lexus, BMW, Mazda, or otherwise. Granted in the RX-8, the adjustment is not as linear as some other cars out there, but it still suffices. I will say of the cars I've tried, Acura and Lexus had the best automatic climate system; BMW's was horrendous.

 

It really is the different strokes for different folks argument. A sports car to some is a stripped down roadster in the English sense of the word; manual everything with seats and a steering wheel. To others, it's mostly about style. Something flashy and impressive. Despite countless internet arguments, there is no real definition of a sports car.

As for me, I want my sports car to be a well handling machine that has the minimum of creature comforts I need; basically AC and a sound system. I don't need satnav or heated and powered seats as they're just extra weight to me, but I know some people would like them. More power to them, but I know what I want.

 

I don't see any need for climate control. Have humans became too lazy to..."Oh, it's too cold in here, lets turn the heater on." or "Oh, it's too hot in here, lets turn the AC on."...?

 

LOL. I hope you're kidding. That's not lazy, that's comfort. You want your seats to be comfortable right? And I'm sure you want your windows to open. If not, get a Lotus, they're pretty cheap. But the windows still open. Do you want your home to have climate control? I'm pretty sure you do...

My Acura had the ability to completely override the auto climate control so it became exactly like what we have in the 8. I could turn it off and just use the ****. The G35 is the same way- except the auto climate control sucks. BUT it can be turned off. I'd just like the option- that's all I'm saying. And the new 8 has it. Cool.

 

I have to say, the new Mazdaspeed kit looks very nice.

But part of that could just be that it's in silver, which is my preferred color for the RX8 anyway.

 

umm no it shouldn't, if I wanted all that I'll go buy an Accord/Camry/whatever or some other generic, boring commuter car that has no soul..
As far as the 2009 goes, I agree with rotarygod 100%, this car got exactly what it needed styling wise, it's just too bad they couldn't have yanked a tad more power out of the engine as well as that would have made it even more amazing. (I can live with the steering wheel too)

 

Atleast the warmth indicator is pretty cool.


I think buses use the same steering wheel.

 

whattt..? do i see r,1,2,3,4,5,6..? reverse is in the front now..? lol

 

my 8 has auto climate control........its called my wife...

 

is that hot air only chancejat??? lol

the uk models for auto climate control, its handy on a warm day (a rare thing) here in ireland to have the air con/heater come on and off according to the set temp, and not have to muck about switching the fan on and off, or raise/lower temp.

 

i think the look of the new 8 will grow on us. i pretty much agree with what rotary god said. i also don't like the steering wheel and the rear bumper.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car

 

Man, styling really IS a personal thing.

Frankly, the rear treatment is the ONLY "improvement" in design that I see. When I first saw the '09 at the NY Auto Show, I was kind of relieved it didn't look as bad as it did in the photos. But in my eyes, the proportions of the new grille are way oversized, and they should have left well enough alone with the side vents. They look tacky and tacked on.

The problem with Japanese styling, in the main, is that they sacrifice proportion and line for sheer modernity. Same with the new Mitsubishis. No one can call them "beautiful" or "graceful." Europe still "gets" this better than almost anyone.

As far as the automatic climate control, it's a good thing. I would even call it a safety feature- no need to fiddle while you drive.

 

Here is a slight PS of the 09 version compared to the Audi R8. They look really identical in the front, even the fenders look the same! Even the name is almost the same RX8 & R8.

 

lol that PS'd version of the rx8 looks strange.. but cool!

 

The Photoshop RX-8 looks better than the present facelifted 09 RX-8 one because it has a more symmetrical and clean look. The plastic "mustache" across the grille still looks nasty.

The Photoshop RX-8 looks like a nice reference point for an aftermarket front for the 09 RX-8.

 

To be honest, the PS version of the 8 doesn't look dramatically different than the facelifted 8 to me. Its kind of like they just stretched the front lip down four or five inches and put in a second horizontal divider in the oil cooler holes.

 

I like your Pshop better than the refresh, gratz!

 

EWWW

 

Sorry im a late chiming in here, but i was looking at picking up a RX-8 today. just figured i would see what the 09 was supposed to look like, and i would have to agree with RG. I like the new body style, but i think that blue makes it look a little off. well maybe a lot off. seeing something in a picture and in real life can be totally different.

So why is everyone so pissed about their fuel economy? It is a sports car after all.

One more thing, has anyone seen any update to the 16X rotary? All the info i can find was published in mid 2007. Maybe put it in the 2010 RX-8? It is new emissions year an all.

(sorry i had this all typed out better, but i killed the wrong tab and had to retype)

 

lol, i should have held off a bit cause i found it!


http://www.autoblog.com/tag/16X%20renesis


(hmmmm, i quoted myself... thats gotta be illegal in 7 different countries)

 

Those would be Grand Tourers. Pure sport's cars are simple and light like Lotus Elise/Exige's and earlier gen Miata's.

 

I'm not sure "pure sports cars" need to be defined as lightweight. I'd consider old camaros, firebirds, corvettes, or even most ferraris (and many other cars) pure sports cars and they are not lightweight. Lightweight is just one path to a pure sports car.

I'd say an absence of nonsense is my definition of "pure". The sport part is obvious.

 

Most of us would strongly differentiate between traditional light-weight sports cars and traditional heavy American muscle cars. Very different categories indeed.