2010 Mazda RX-8 R3, an AutoWeek Drivers Log
 

I can't believe that guy didn't compare the handling/steering, etc of the 8 to his old 94! I'd like to know..

Perhaps you can tell us RX22.

this review :

First one is a VteC just kiCk in y0 kind of guy, he wants the car to be fast. no skills required

The second guy is more mature, he knows how to take advantage of a car's "special abilities" to go fast. not just "Where is the vTEc BuTTon ?"

Enough said.

First one, Roger Hart, executive editor, personally owns an Audi and an Oldsmobile. Take from that what you will. From what he says (over and over) he's into lazy torque, cares nothing particular for the rotary engine, and doesn't know how to use a side mirror. The others get it about spot on.

Surpisingly, even the reader comments are predominently positive!

Found that review very uninformative to be honest. And there was no comparison to any cars aside from "I would go with a mustang".... And the rotorhead didnt even make mention of how the R3 felt compared to his RX7.

Disappointing review IMO

"I'd love to see this car with the Mazdaspeed 3 turbo motor in it."
Is anyone else sick of hearing this on every single internet article that mentions the rotary? (Though it's usually in the comments. I didn't read the comments because they'll just make me mad.)

Thats what truly dissappointed me...... These guys are professional critiques that dont understand the RX badge is fit with a rotary....

That dumbass probably doesnt even know that the RX8's 50/50 balance and driver feel would be sacrificed for that engine.

He reminds me of a honda fanboy....and I try to avoid saying that.

This article was worthless

Besides, I'm not terribly fond of the engine in the MazdaSpeed3. I think Mazda really messed up on that one. They designed the engine to make a ton of low down torque, only to then have to neuter it in low gears, anyway. A much better setup for a front wheel drive car would be like the Tri-Point Engineering turbo kit for the first-gen Mazda3, which makes power all the way to redline, but isn't such a handful at low RPM. It makes more power than the MazdaSpeed3 engine, but I think less torque, which is appropriate for a FWD car. At least in OEM config, the MazdaSpeed3 engine falls flat on its face at fairly low RPM--not the kind of engine I would want in my RX-8. At least in a RWD car, Mazda wouldn't have to neuter the engine in low gears, but I still have no interest in that engine in an RX-8. Frankly, I'd take a 2011 Mustang, instead.

Those writers are useless....

While the rotary is a cool engine that wasn't the reason I bought an RX8.

I have to admit the R3 engine or at least in Mazdaspeed 6 trim would be nice. Its close to the rotary in weight so they would need to move the gearbox in back to offset it, but it would provide an answer to what many people want.

I've driven a Miata with a 2.3 Turbo in it; kind of like a Porsche Speedster looking thing; nicely rounded flared fenders on it that really compliment the bodywork. Its been slightly tweaked having the larger M6 exhaust it doesn't quite have the CX7 bottom end, but after 2500 RPM it begins to feel like a V8 that revs. 305 HP to the rear wheels. Daily driver with over 40,000 trouble free miles on the conversion. 22MPG around town and 28 MPG at a steady 80MPH.

Granted thats in a Miata but I can't help but to wonder what it be like in an RX8.

Maybe one day I'll find out. But I think I can get another 5 years outta the Renesis so it may be a while.

As far as the rest of the article as soon as he mentioned a mustang I put his car knowledge in the same bucket as the kids who can't check their own oil.

Larger Mazdaspeed 6 exhaust? That doesnt make sense.

The Turboed DISI MZR on the CX-7 has a smaller turbo and different tune.

An RX8 with a turbo 2.3 would be great....... It would have a massive understeer and would be contradicting considering the 'R' in RX8 stands for rotary; but hell, at least it would appease to all the whiny fanbois who don't appreciate a well balanced neutral car that has a story to tell about its engine.

Seriously, A 2.3T engine in a sports car with a new platform from Mazda with a different name would be cool, but an RX with a piston engine is fucking retarded (for lack of a better word).

If they put something else in it, sure, but it wouldn't be "R" any more. It would be something else. Like PX or P5 or POS or something.

If you have a different engine in a different looking car with a different price point and different performance dynamics....it's a different car right? I mean, Mazda3, Mazda5. Mazda6 Ford Fusion, etc...

People forget this little point.

RX = Rotary Sport

If they put a piston engine in a sports car it would be MX, like the Miata.

And that would be cool, another sports car that is designed for a different powerplant that has great handling characteristics would be awesome.

I get irked by these newbs that forget that the 'driver feels' everyone loves about the RX8 and really it's only attribute against the competition at this point; is not possible without a rotary.

and the R as mentioned before is reserved for Rotary.

People just don't get it......

It may be a different turbo; the donor engine was from the M6. When I bought my CX7 years ago the brochure mentioned the difference to be a different exhaust manifold with a smaller opening to the turbo.

As far as understeer goes thats a pretty easy suspension adjustment. Soften the front ARB and stiffen the rear springs.

No doubt it would no longer be an RX8, probably an MX8. I don't think the badge change would stop anyone from buying one.

Present RX8

Pros -

Front midship engine
50/50 Balance
Light (only 2960-3100lbs)
Won numerous awards for handling

All this is due to the rotary.

Cons-

159lbs of torque.


Your fantasy MX8

Pros-

Fast...kinda, but itll be easier to mod and have a lot more torque.

Cons-

Not possible unless you eliminate the freestyle door 2+2 cabin
If you used the current RX8 body, it would throw off the weight distribution which is the cars whole PURPOSE and it would feel (and more than likely drive) like a Mazdaspeed 3 rather than a well balanced car.


YOU GUYS ARENT GETTING IT, THE RX8 ISNT POSSIBLE WITHOUT A ROTARY. This car is engineered the way it is for a reason. If you swap engines, you will get the power you want with the sacrifice of ruining the cars 50/50 balance.

Not quite Renesis. I get your intention, and what you are going after, and agree...to a point.

The counter arguement is that other engines possible are about the same weight as the rotory. The counter arguement to that is that it has to sit up higher, and farther forward, so even if it is the same weight, it still shifts the center of gravity/mass.

Skipping that whole arguement and making a final conclusion is where people usually go wrong, in both directions and mentalities.

The fact is that the rotary engine DID NOT enable Mazda to build the world class suspension it has. It DID enable Mazda to build it far easier and cheaper than otherwise.

Piston powered cars can get 50/50 weight. They can be light doing it. They can be in world class chassis with world class suspensions.

The advantage Mazda has is that the rotary engine has inherent attributes that it lends a car in terms of placement within the chassis that do not have to be "engineered over". A piston powered car starts behind the curve, and it costs more to get it to the same point, costs which are transferred on to the buyer. BMW M3, Porsche 911, etc... With a rotary, there is just an inherent benefit that makes the suspension and chassis design much easier to accomplish.


The wonder of the RX-8's handling doesn't come from the engine, or even the suspension. It comes from how cheap it is for the level of handling it provides. Other cars DO beat it in handling after all, and they are all piston powered. They just cost more than the average person can afford.

No one is in shocking amazement when the 911 GT3 handled insanely well. It had better. The shock and amazement is that a $25,000 car does.

bumped

I would have like to have seen Ford put a turbo 4 into the 8s chassis and call it the Probe, say a 2 liter turbo making like 270 hp. If they were able to keep most of the 8 handling characteristics I'm pretty sure said Probe would have outsold the 8 2-1. Any opinions.

Then it would just be another 4-banger coupe.

True, it probably would have outsold the 8, but I'd still have bought an 8.

The 8s' plus is the rotary engine with its' packaging. The 8s' minuses is the rotary engine with it's lack of low-end (and high-end to some) power/torque, terrible gas mileage, poor reliability, use of oil (though while this is inherent in the rotarys' design, the average customer doesn't want to deal with this issue). In my mind that's 1 plus and 4 minuses. A piston engine could remove all minuses and then focus the one minus, being packaging, which affects handling.

Although I like my Rx-8, but my opinion is that Mazda pushed the 13B a little too far.

13B-MSP is more like a test bed for future Rotary Engine design.

Thats how I see it.

Anyone who says the 8 would be good with a piston engine has utterly missed the point of the car and should really be driving something else. GTFO.

And the shape, because the height of the piston engine would mean it no longer met pedestrian impact regulations, so you'd be kissing goodbye to that sleek, low bonnetline and hello to a a big bulbous nose like the 370Z has.