I was flipping through the April issue of Evo magazine in B&N and in the back they have short summaries of a lot of different cars. For the 8 they say the engine sound is "dull". That hurts

 

With a few exceptions, the only kind of car the British automotive press will ever drool over and lavish praise upon is one that that bears a British name: Lotus, TVR, Jag, RR, Bentley, Mini, etc.

I love CAR magazine but it contains some of the most ridiculous criticisms I've ever read about mainland Euro, Japanese and even American manufacturers.

-Eric

 

How anyone could say the engine sound in the RX-8 is dull is most likely on crack, or some other severe drug. I actually think it is exciting and one of a kind. Those brits know it sounds cool, they just wont admit it because its a japanese car.

 

Hey these are the same "Chaps" that think a Caterham is a HOT car. To each his own, but it looks like a badly made homebuilt kit to me.
I bought an EVO mag last month just to see what the rest of the world drives and I honestly dont believe I am missing anything.

 

The funny thing there is that Lotus, Jag, RR and Mini are owned by non-British companies.

I traded my Mini Cooper in for the RX8. The Brazilian made Chrysler engine is definitely "dull" especially compared to the RX8.

Lotus was voted "The car most likely to leave you stranded".

 

just curious...do you think the Mini is over rated? Why did you trade it in for the 8?

 

Yeah, but don't tell them that!

-Eric

 

The Mini is a great car especially for it's price. Very nimble and fun to drive. DSC, runflats, Sports suspension, leather, heated seats, 2 sunroofs, climate control and more for $22,400. I don't think it's over rated at all.

Biggest problem is there are only 72 dealers and the closest one for me is Princeton. My tranny had to be replaced and it was such a hastle to get it fixed. The dealer did nothing wrong but getting the car there and going back to get it and other stuff was a real PITA.

 

Well, most of the British are not use to the "high" pitch rotary sound the RX8 makes. They're more use to the "low" piston hums from the BMW's, MBZ'z, and such.

 

I just got back from a 2500 mile roadtrip, and I never got tired of hearing that turbine wind up and respond whenever I stepped on the gas. Passing trucks on the Interstate was done in an instant, no more waiting for passing gears or turbos to throw you forward. Sixth gears response was quick and controlled.

 

/point
/laugh

You can build one yourself, but a lot are factory built, and styled after the old lotus 7.I guess you havnt either sat in a caterham or even seen the performance figures tho.

Theres precious few cars at any price that can get any where near the R500 acceleration figures and on track only similaly build cars like the readical SR3 can come close to them. 0-60 in 3.x seconds, weighing less than 1000llbs - its a track toy, not a road car tho, and Uk costs £34k - base price for a boxter or 330ci.

Personaly I dont find the engne noise anything other than exilerating, but if your used to v8-12 rumbles I guess its a lot different - far closer to motorbike than car.