PedalFaster

Your development comment only applies if modifications are taken into account -- obviously development isn't a factor if you compare stock cars as the original poster requested. I would expect that some of the more experienced people who have driven both cars and offered their opinions on the subject will have taken modification potential into consideration.

Despite your statement to the contrary, I've never seen a test where the RX-8 keeps up with the S2000; it's always close, but never completely even. For SCCA Stock class autocross, the RX-8 will definitely benefit from better shocks, but that won't change the fact that it will still have a much softer suspension, a worse power-to-weight ratio, and rather more weight than the S2000.

The SAC and SEB evidently feel that the S2000 is the superior car for Stock class competition, given that it's now in AS while the RX-8's still in BS. On top of that, I think most consider the S2000 a contender in AS, while the jury's still out on the RX-8 in BS.

I don't know why this is such a difficult conversation. Admitting that other cars are faster than the RX-8 is not the same as admitting that other cars are "better" than the RX-8. The fact that other cars are faster doesn't make the RX-8 less of a car.

Steve

Tigster

Personally I think the S2000 motor would be the way to go, my Dad has a vortec supercharger S2000, aem, 4:44 gears, 550 cc injectors and that thing flies. I don't think the Elise with how light the car is could hold down that much power. It would be fun to drive but the power in my opinion would greatly surpass the handling of the car.

Banannie

What he said :D

(this from someone who sold her 2-month-old RX8 for her fifth S2000)

Annie
968 co-pilot, you're all going down, let the trash talking begin!

fastmike

AH!
I accept the challenge.
Loser changes the others tires???
LOL!
FM

Banannie

Dude, you make Shelbi change your tires, how likely is it you'll change ours? Yeah, like THAT'S gonna happen!!!

clyde

Why?

124Spider

Just guessing here, but it might have something to do with this

DARKMAZ8

This thread is full of whining babies...........first off who cares if an s2000 can beat the rx8 stock for stock........I don't!!!! They are in different classes and were made to suite different consumers.......and to top it off they are not even in the same price range.....

I'll tell you one thing tho,,,,the s2000 will have some serious competition with the mazdaspeed miata which i believe is still less $$$$....hence the true roadster

clyde

Wouldn't a vid of one of her own S2K Nationals winning runs be a better example?

Not following, though...

124Spider

Thinking of myself as a car enthusiast rather than a car chauvinist, I was very pleased to see the Mazdaspeed Miata hit the market (the more attractive choices, the merrier). Imagine my surprise, then, when they were practically giving them away at the end of the year (and probably still are). You could get any of a large number of leftover '04s for under $20,000! For reasons I cannot begin to understand, the Mazdaspeed Miata, which should have been a rousing success, neatly filling the gap between the cars like the normal Miata or the MR2 Spyder and the cars like the S2000 and the Boxster, is going begging.

PedalFaster

The original poster did.

The Mazdaspeed came, tried, and got rocked -- both in sales (as noted by S2k above) and in performance (which, unlike the normally aspirated Miatas, is worse than you'd think based from the stats).

I was as hopeful as anyone that the Mazdaspeed Miata could have stood up to the S2000 for nearly $10k less, but it didn't turn out that way. The RX-8's probably faster around both a track and an autocross course.

Hopefully the oft-rumored Mazdaspeed RX-8 will be a different story...

Steve

DARKMAZ8

The reason that the mazdaspeed miata wasn't a popular sale is because mazda already leaked news of the redesigning of the roadster........which will have similar #'s non-turboed....we will soon see but nevertheless all roadster sales are slower due to the economy and practicality.....

DARKMAZ8

ya it was a disapointment ....Imo the s2000 and miata still have catching up to do with the elise......stock for stock that is

I'd take a turboed first gen miata any day for a purpose track car :p

124Spider

Yeah, but I didn't have a video of one of hers. This guy's a national champion, B Stock 2003, so I thought that would convey the idea.

John V

iTrader: (1)

Careful. That same car is also rumored to be significantly heavier. A 2300lbs, 140hp Miata is going to be a lot more fun than a 2800lb, 170hp Miata.

The B Stock battle is certainly going to be fun this year, and it's the race I have a horse in. But what I'm really looking forward to is the S2000 / C4 Corvette battle. THAT will be a good one.. :D

Banannie

Ok, just to clear things up, yes, running the Saini/Pokorny-mobile at Nationals (and winning, which was cool considering the first time I drove the car was up to the start line) made me want another S2K. I'm a Honda gal, and LOVE the S2K. I've owned many many cars and a majority have been Honda/Acura products.

As for the RX8, I didn't like how high-maintenance the rotary was, it wasn't a convertible, hated the MPG, it wasn't a convertible, was worried about reliability, it wasn't a convertible, didn't particularly like that it was a bit soft (**in comparison to the S2K**), it wasn't a convertible, so basically, it wasn't a S2K. I wanted a S2K. Nuff said!

Anyway, I've driven some awesome S2000's - the aforementioned Saini/Pokorny-mobile, and Andy & Heather Howe's (ex-Andy McKee-mobile). S2Ks rock. I set up my RX8 some and autocrossed it a few times before selling it. It's fun, but soft and was a bit on the pushy side (no, I didn't have shocks, but I had a bar, alignment, and fresh Hoosiers). I think the S2K will beat the RX8 in all categories except practicality. And who needs that? Then two weeks ago I drove Steve's 968. He he he he he he he..... as I said, y'all are going DOWN!

DARKMAZ8

Where you all from? I'd love to battle your precious s2k with my old beat up '94 rx7 r2,,,,,and bring the 968 too!!!I already have a 2001 911 turbo,and a modded nsx on my kill list so if you got some $$$$ to lose lmk ill come down and show you the difference between quick and fast....btw s2k's are slow hun but your right it is a convertable......please stop trying to big up a 14 second race car.....lol my rx8 was bought for daily driving purposes only.....If i wanted to inject the $10,000 diff. for race purposes you would have your hands full with my 8 but that is what my 7 is for........so go by an elise if you like convertables and want real handling and speed.......at 2800lbs the s2000 is a pig for a convertable roadster!!!!

Banannie

dude, go back to the street kill forums

W're not saying that the S2K or RX8 is the be-all of sports cars. This thread is for a comparison of the two, in *stock form* (or in a few of our cases, SCCA Solo II Stock Class form).

clyde

Say no more. I get ya... You wanted an Accord coupe and you're going to cut the roof off. :D

Well, when that P-car breaks at some event and you're scambling to find a ride, just let us know if we're there. Ron and Steve can find their own rides...we don't need the competition.

DARKMAZ8

Im talking about racing on a track...... but yes an s2k is better stock for stock.....considering all the multi purposes the rx8 has, im surprised that s2k still can't destroy it on a track......but this comparison is silly b/c we r still comparing apples and oranges

clyde

Even if the cars are night and day different, the questions can still apply for someone that is trying to decide between the two of them.

Talking about apple and oranges...I bought a BMW 325xiT (AWD station wagon) a few years ago. The one other car on the short list at the end was a C5 Corvette. Go figure...

bmcc49er

Did you not know it wasn't a convertible when you bought it? What clued you in finally?

RatedR_RX-8

Your development comment only applies if modifications are taken into account --

Despite your statement to the contrary, I've never seen a test where the RX-8 keeps up with the S2000; it's always close, but never completely even.

I don't know why this is such a difficult conversation. Admitting that other cars are faster than the RX-8 is not the same as admitting that other cars are "better" than the RX-8. The fact that other cars are faster doesn't make the RX-8 less of a car.

Steve[/QUOTE]


when you say "if modifications are taken into account" i wonder if you mean through people modifying their own cars or through specialty cars (ie. Mazdaspeed) I was refering to fine tuning aspects of the car so that the ones you see on show room floors and buy straight from the lot are more finely tuned as to get every bit of performance possible from the car before you start to put aftermarket parts on. Now correct me if im wrong but when i have read about new model s2ks coming out there have always been some kind of refinement to extract more performance potential, and all im saying is that given a couple of years the rx-8 may be a level to give the s2k a really good run for its money stock to stock.

As for the second statement i may have chosen the wrong way to explain it but i in no way meant to say that the cars were completely even. But all the tests that i have read in car and driver and other magazines of the sort say that in terms of handling and other areas the rx-8 doesn't get blown out of the water like most people seem to claim and that, yes, the rx-8 always finishes close but never even with the s2k

Like you said just cause the s2k still beats the rx-8 ,not excessivly like a lot of people make it sound like, it doesn't mean that the rx-8 sucks and is a lesser car, because after all to each his/her own and this is forum is a prime example of how there are people that are die hard honda/s2k fans, mazda/rx-8 fans, and everything else in between. It all comes down to what the person buying the car wants, how much they want to spend, and what they are happy with when they test drive.

I guess in the end all im trying to say is don't judge a book by its cover and say the s2k is the car to end all cars because it out preforms the rx-8 in tests and comparisons.

Rotator

So the 8's roof isn't removable? Dang! :D
What does an old tired wheezing 7 have to do with a stock 8 vs S2000?

My dad can beat up your dad!

Curious - What cars make up the various classes of A-Stock and B-Stock?

DARKMAZ8

same as the tired old 968 she mentioned :p

and my mom can beat up your mom! :D