djgiron

All the funding for the Renesis was paid for with the money made from the Rx7, it was all done well before the Rx8 was out, and even before the concept of the Rx-01 from what I have read.

smrx8

iTrader: (1)

This guys funny people dont care about more horse power **** I"m trading in mines unless they make one with more power by the end of this year and Im sure i wont be the only one.to me more power = more sales in my book.

Shinka_518

I have to say that I agree that the interview was a bit suspect. Sounds like Drew Rosenhaus (T.O.'s agent). LOL! Maybe it's all G-14 classified or something??!! But after driving my 8 for 10 months now, I have to admit that I absolutely love everything about it except the damn sun visors! I've driven the G35/Z, Crossfire, and Vette. Just about everything under 50K. The only other car I would purchase would be a Boxter or the upcoming Cayman from Porsche. But they'd have to come down in price to compete with what the 8 offers.

Yeah, you could add power to get it at least to 300hp for those that really want it, but I'm not a track guy and I don't live in a 0-60 world. There aren't very many affordable cars in the states that offer the performace, balance and quality that the 8 does. I just drove my 8 across the southern US over the holidays and it was just as comfortable as my VW Touareg. The power was there when I needed it and every gas stopped was a photo shoot for my Shinka. In some small towns, they acted as if the car was some sort of space ship. LOL!

Bottom line, with sports cars, you have to be honest with yourself before making the purchase. The spec sheet is clearly available to all buyers. No offense, but some people sound like they expected there to be some sort of recall to give all owners a turbo or something. It's not going to change from the day you bought it. Maybe it's your driving habits fellas.

Just my opinions...No personal attacks.

globi

The RX-8 is a very good car for the price. And there's no reason to complain about what you get for the price.

Nevertheless I'm pretty sure if there was a Mazdaspeed RX-8 version with 300hp selling for $35'000 MSRP, it would sell well.

Shinka_518

Agreed.

zoom44

how exactly would them sellign a higher pwoer rx-8 by the end of this year make yours any more powerful? or are you saying that you would keep your less powerful just because they started selling a newer version that had more power? what if they dont start selling it until jan 1st?

ASH8

You are right on there mate...

I have never known any owner of a car not wanting just that little more HP, If they could step back into the car they had previously, they would appreciate what the RX-8 offers and how great a car it is.
As a general rule a car company has to have strong sales of a new model for at least 4 years BEFORE it starts to repay any of the initial development cost and investment.
I believe you will probably see little change in the RENISIS. IE..HP, because of the restriction associated with emission regulations, particularly in Europe, contrary to popular belief Mazda don't just make/design cars for the US market.

If I could add, The more extras you want changes the Retail price....Today IMO there is still after 3 years, NOTHING that comes close to the RX-8 for the money.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

unfortunelty, i don't think mazdaspeed cars sell all that well... at least my dealer had a MS Protege for 1.5 years on the lot and still has 2 MS Miata's on the lot

RX-Hachi

Now if Mazda can settle the SE3P vs. FE debate, we're really good to go once and for all.

JRichter

Well said. The RX-8 chassis can definately handle more power with the right tweaks.

I see the point your trying to make, but this only applies to very few cars - the Cobra being one of those. A car can be underpowered and handle excellent but 9 times out of 10 that same car with more power will be faster than with less power.

A '89 model FC RX-7 with 160hp would most likely get a slower lap time than a '89 FC Turbo RX-7 with 212 hp.

A 427 Cobra could get better lap times than 283 Cobra if the driver is experienced enough to handle the extra power or the track had any type of straights.

buzzardsluck

That interview is about what I expected. Why do I feel special when I see that my cars have hand built engines?

I wouldn't turn down more power but I have NEVER been in my 8 and said to myself "I HAVE to have more power". That said, if they made a 3 rotor 8 I would start looking for ways to buy it

globi

You have to take into account though, that both these cars came out just before the 3 and the new Miata were released. So if they were to sell a Mazdaspeed RX-8 just before a new RX-8 came out with similar performance numbers, where would be the incentive to purchase the Mazdaspeed version?

If the MS 6 sells I don't see why an RX-8 shouldn't sell as well. After all the RX-8 is more of an enthusiasts car.
I'd definitely buy a RX-8 MS version over a STi, Evo or even an M3 or a S4.

smrx8

iTrader: (1)

What i was trying to say was I'm sticking with my car till about november in whitch i hope by then i know if theres an improved rx8 or 7 if not i will be trading it for a 2007 evo.I love my car but I would want a few extra hp to really make me happy.

Tirminyl

Congrats on your new trade.

zoom44

there will not be.

rotary crazy

what I think was good in this interview was that he left the doors open, he dit not say the kabura is not going to get rotary, the rx-8 its not getting any more development, etc. and he said the rx-8 its a comercial succes thats very important in my book.

about the more hp more sales, I kind of agree, a more hp rx-8 is going to be more expensive and look what hapen to the fd, but I do think the 247 hp to 232 dit hurt sales.

globi

Well the FD was far more expensive. I don't know about the US market, but 1993 in Switzerland the RX-7 had the same sticker price as a Porsche 911.
If they were to sell a Mazdaspeed RX-8 version for the same price as a Porsche 911 - then I agree they wouldn't sell well.

BaronVonBigmeat

The FD was just about the same price as a Corvette. Enter $38k into an inflation calculator if you want, or look at the prices of Corvettes 10 years ago. It wasn't a huge financial success.

I think what the guy should have said was: "Yes, more HP will sell more RX-8's. Or most any other car. But at what cost? A turbo'd 8 will cost a lot more, and we don't think there are all that many potential customers to justify the extra cost."

Or he may be thinking to himself: "None of you will give a rat's *** about a turbo 8 when a 2500 lb. Kabura w/ a tweaked 250 HP Renesis is available in a couple of years." Which he isn't going to say, obviously.

I agree with his assessment that the Kabura should have a Miata 4-cylinder for sales volume and price. But maybe they could have an optional GT package with a renesis.

rotary crazy

the problem is mazda as a brand dont have the name an reputation as other cars, if mazda made a turbo rx-8 with suspension upgrades and diferent wheels and brakes the car price is goin to be 35,000+, it will be cross chop with porche(boxter), audi's and bmw's, people will allways prefer to say I own a bmw or a porche than a mazda even if is 6,000 more expensive.

mazda should built an economic car that handles well and its fast enoug like the firts gen rx-7 the best selling rx.

globi

If Mazda can make a RX-8 and sell for $27,000 profitably. I don't see why it couldn't make and sell a MX-5 with a Renesis for $27,000 profitably as well (keep in mind what they charge for the S2000).

If people buy Evo Lancers for $35,000, I don't see why people wouldn't buy a Mazdaspeed RX-8 for $35,000 as well.
If Mazda couldn't make a RX-8 Mazdaspeed version below $40'000 then it might be different.
Also it wouldn't necessarily need to be supercharged, Mazda could also adapt the ports and raise the redline with light weight rotors.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

here's an idea for all the people that nitpick about this car, go rent a lesser car like a stock cobalt or mazda 3, or a kia or whatever, drive around for a week or 2. then turn it in and get back in your 8 and tell me how bad it really is. I've had 3 cars in my life, a 89 ford festiva, a 97 s10 pickup, and now my bright *** yellow 8. Sure any car could benefit from more power (almost anyway) but in all honesty I really feel this car gets taken for granted something fierce. We should be stoked that Mazda brought the rotary back period, and priced it under 30k to boot. They needed this car to re-establish the rotary, to prove it can last, to prove that most (if not all) the past problems are solved etc etc. I mean, how many people on this forum have lost an Apex seal etc.? We should be stoked every time we get behind the wheel because our car is unlike any previous car ever, it's groundbreaking and unique and innovative, it's easy on the eyes, it handles exceptionally well, I truly think if you would have told me 10 years ago there would be another rotary powered car on the market that's not 40+ grand and it possess all the qualities the 8 has I'd have told you that you were higher than that little flag they put on the moon. But they did it, they're selling, they're holding up good (aside from normal "new model" bugs, all newly released models have those anyway) and now we get to experience a rotary and bring in a whole new generation of enthusiasts. This is all good stuff, yeah it's not the fastest car out there, so what? It's still comparable to many other models out there with more power and higher price tags, Mazda has opened the door to a lot of possibilities and we all should be grateful for what we got, not bitching about it because it doesn't look good on paper or win every stoplight race out there. Looking at all those no comments tells me that either they didn't know, or they're up to something good and either way that's fine with me

buzzardsluck

Your right, Mazda is not Porsche or BMW or Benz. It does have name recogition though with racing and car enthuiast people, not yuppies.

If Mazda came out with a MS FI 8 it would be better than a boxster or any mid or entry level car from Germany. I have no doubt Mazda would exceed the FD in power and handling IF they built a MS FI 8. This is the reason they will not build a FI 8, they don't want to spend the cash and couldn't charge enough to make a profit to make a better performing car than the FD. Probably the last guy at Mazda who said "lets build another turbo rotary" got a look and then got and the was told to sit in the corner . I was talking with a guy who bought his FD new in 93 and he said it was in the shop 66 times in one year with engine/turbo troubles. I just don't think Mazda wants to go through that again.

BTW people will not always prefer to drive BMW, porsche or Benz. I could of bought one of the three but I chose the 8 over them. Happy I did and have never had a second thought.

Mazda did build a economic good, handling car with the 8. When start adding on all the other stuff is where the extra money comes into the price. You can get a base or touring 8 for what 21-24k new (I have no idea just guessing)?

Also Mazda had already shown the rotary was reliable with all their previous NA engines. NA is the key here. I do think a well researched (tested in hot conditions, give me one to drive in the Texas summer ) smaller single turbo 8 could be reliable. Time will tell I guess

snizzle

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!? I hope '66' times is a joke.... even the FD isn't worth all that

Shinka_518

I agree with what canaryrx8 stated.

Furthermore, I drove a first generation Boxter while stationed in Germany and I have to say that the 8 is a much better ride IMO. I could give two sh*ts about the logo.

Also, I would have never purchased the previous overpriced 7. Just wasn't worth it IMO.

buzzardsluck

No, I'm not kidding. Now he didn't bust out his service history sheet (sheets lol) to prove it but he has no reason to lie. Remember that some of those are probably small stuff like a hard to find vaccum hose popping off or something similar but they still go down on the service history. He said that it was worth it when the car was running well.

He has since cured those problems by dropping a turbo 20B into his car and holy **** is it fast !!

As for the FD being overpriced, maybe that's true but remember that Mazda made it until 2002 so more than a few people felt it was a good buy just not in the USA.


I love mine and will never sell the thing.