Pray tell, can you describe the failure mode or end result in a few succinct technical words, five max. Obviously I'm not in the Koni Challange, but I have had a unique engine failure mode that I've not heard discussed generally.... wondering....?

 

Side Seal Spring Failure.

 

Thanks Eric, no match however. But that's a bitch...

 

To get us back on topic...
I have to agree here. I also didn't want a convertible, just not my thing. But I bought the 8 for the sole purpose of tracking it.

I have to admit though, I took a friend's S2000 touge once when I still had my 8, and it really did make me love my car a little bit less. It handles just as phenomenally as the 8, but unlike the 8 it actually can put the power down coming out of a turn at less than redline RPMs. If i had the money for a dedicated track car, I think I would build an S2000 over an RX-8.

My 8 had a terrible time in the winter this year, and left home on a tow truck to get de-flooded at the dealer after sitting in a garage 2 weeks in sub-freezing temps. There must be some winter rotary secret I didn't know about...

 

side seal thing needs a thread
lot going on
olddragger

 

don't let ALFY see the pix! or we all know what will happen... hahahahaha

 

both are really great cars performance wise, but once you're done racing, which will you want to see yourself in?

s2k: as fun as a go kart, looks like a go kart
rx8: as fun as a go kart, looks like a million bucks, in and out.

imo, honda:mazda
s2k:miata
nsx:rx8

 

With all due respect, speaking as an independent party who's run both cars extensively but owns neither:

The S2000 is head and shoulders more fun to drive in anger than an RX-8 due to its much faster reflexes. Sorry, but there's really no comparison -- I've never seen anyone assert otherwise anywhere but on this board.

Neither the RX-8 nor the S2000 is much of a looker in the eyes of non-owners -- people think the RX-8 looks oddly proportioned and over-detailed, while people think the S2000 is just a Miata.

I thought seriously about an RX-8 -- the key draws for me versus an S2000 were:

• Price
• Has a back seat but doesn't look like a four door sedan
• Essentially the spec car in SCCA B Stock autocross
• More tolerant of driver errors
• Factory support

 

You nailed it. You can't even compare the two cars, they are literally not in the same class, and I am not just talking about racing.

I would say only people who have not driven the S2K on the track or at an autox thinks the RX-8 is better, its not. I am not a Honda fanbio, I to think it is just the mans version of a Miata, but it is hands down a better car on the track. For daily use and overall utility the RX-8 wins.

 

That was the biggest part of it for me, although I now leave my 8 at home and have an old miata to track with. There is a great brotherhood in my area of 8 drivers who enjoy viewing and driving on track.
And then you meet the folks who drive and support Mazda like Eric, the Speedsource gang, ROAR when they were more active, etc and it is hard not to be a fan.

The car itself is great for a weekend DE'er and pulling double duty as your regular car. It steps up nicely into time trials also.
(I don't know about the boat towing, but want to see pics too!)

Comparing it to the S2000 - well, as a track car the S2000 is classed as a faster car for Time Trial. All being equal, an 8 will have a hard time keeping up. Not to say the 8 isn't a fabulous platform to drive.
But as Eric said, your long term goals should play a large part in the conversation.

 

I think the biggest plus for anyone would be Mazda's factory backing of racing.
Try that at any other manufacturer, and it's pretty difficult to get their support. Mazda openly supports racing their cars.

 

This sums up any debate between the S2000 and the RX8. They are not competitors - they are in two different classes, and the S2000 is $10,000 more expensive.

If you want a dedicated track car and have the money get an S2000 CR. If you don't have the money get a miata. If you're looking for a car to do double duty as a daily driver and track car, now you're in the ballpark for the RX8. Hands down the RX8 is the best handling four door car with back seats possibly ever made - but that really is it's distinction between the other sports cars. Apologies to those who think otherwise, but the back seats adds a dynamic to the car that the other 2 seaters don't have to worry about. Particularly weight, wheelbase, structural rigidity, etc. It's really not a fair comparison in the end. The fact that the RX8 gives performance close to the S2000 is saying a whole lot for a 4 door GT car, so be proud of that fact RX8 owners and stop thinking that it's any more than it is.

 

add a little power booster and see what the rx8 turns into.
olddragger

 

It will never cease to amuse me how morons on message boards can make zero-information blanket statements as absurd as this. I know a prince in Nigeria just waiting to give you some money.

 

Do you have numbers on the S2K's rigidity?

 

Nope. Just lap times, and the S2000 wins.

 

You proving your point by making your own blanket zero-information statement about morons making statements. So I am not accused of providing zero information.........2000-1992=8.

 

My Dad has an S2000 and I have an RX8. Although he is in his late 50s, he says he loves that car because he is all about convertibles. However it does not compare to the RX8. The motor is very abrupt and raspy compared to the RX8, it doesn't really stop all that well for such a light car, and if you want to run solo 2 in the car you will constantly be shifting. Personally, the only thing I really like about the S2000 over the RX8 is the gearbox. Other than that, the RX8 takes the cake.

 

Is true that,

Is all depends how you mod it or where to race.

--Because of the S2k's shorter wheelbase, it's more sensitive than the 8 for the lower speed corners, and faster than the 8 on the low speed corners
--and Because of the 8's longer wheelbase, it's really stable at high speed corners, and faster than the s2k at higher speed corners

Weight
the stock s2k and the stock 8 have 200 pounds different, but they have similar torque and horsepower, so the s2k wins.
If you dont mind to be noisy, you can shave down the weight of your 8 easily, the 8 i know, the boss of the Speedtrial, the Autoworld 8, he shaved down his 8 to under 2200pounds, stock engine, always runs first or second place at the races.

Mod
if you build a race car, the 8 is better than the s2k, you've seen the 3 rotor 8 run at the Gran am, Rolex, and beat down those Porsche and others, can S2k do that?? I dont think so...

for a smaller track, s2k wins, for bigger track, rx8 wins
but over all, i still love my even it loss on the track, at least i have a wonderful interior that s2k dont have ( and I feel more safe to race in a couple rather than a convertible )

 

Why don't you think so? The S2000 is lighter, more powerful, and more stiffly suspended. How exactly is the RX-8 superior?

 

i never said one was better than the other, those were my opinions and views.

the op wants to see our side of it.

you on the other hand have made no contribution, but to point me out and think you are clever.

 

one major thing i think some have missed ---is that the 8 is EASIER to drive faster than the s2. The wheelbase point is well taken too--thanks for bringing that up.
olddragger

 

I'm from central wisconsin! I thought I was the only one way up here in the crazy snow and ****!

 

You can't even use that argument, the 3 rotor 8 in the Rolex is purpose built race car. It's only an RX8 cuz they call it that. This is like apples and oranges...

Hands down if the S2K was allowed in ST KONI racing, I think you would see a huge following from the race teams. It really is nice platform from the factory. I love my 8 but if I could get my hands on a CR S2K I'd be all over it.

OD, is right though, the 8 is EASIER to drive faster due to the wheel base. But with proper aero on an S2K such as in some of the Time Attack cars, they have proven themselves.

 

+1 s2k is hard to drive on edge.