[AF]

I just read the first drive review on the RX-8 and it sounds like a winner.

Here are some of the details:

6 speed manual
0-60 in 6.0 seconds
1/4 mile 14.5 seconds
50/50 weight distribution

They say the transmission is similiar to the Miata's
They compared the handling to a 911
price they are guessing should be $26 - 30k though I would say it's going to be a little higher

It's a tough call because they also say it's a true 4 seater with room in the back for adults

Is this going to be my next car . . .

 

[Teej]

I wish I had a Road & Track subscription. Looks like I'm headed to Barnes and Nobles across the street to see if they have the new issue!

I've been thinking the same thing....is this going to be my next car?? And from whatever brief comments you made, looks like the R&T guys definitely liked it. :thumb:

 

[AF]

I wish I had a Road & Track subscription. Looks like I'm headed to Barnes and Nobles across the street to see if they have the new issue!

I've been thinking the same thing....is this going to be my next car?? And from whatever brief comments you made, looks like the R&T guys definitely liked it. :thumb:

Oh yeah . . . they liked it alot :thumb: :thumb:

It was a very postive review !!

 

[ALEX325i]

Hmmm... I just can't bring myself to like that car... :dunno:

 

[nate]

I'll buy it at the airport tomorrow

 

[JST]

Unless the RX-8 is a massive disappointment when it comes to the drive, it's hard to imagine me buying anything else for my next (2nd) car (sell the M3? Yeah, right).

Combined with the RWD, 6 speed manual, 4 door body, the sub-30K price point is simply too compelling an argument to pass up.

Edit: All this, and no Bangle, too.

I just read the first drive review on the RX-8 and it sounds like a winner.

Here are some of the details:

6 speed manual
0-60 in 6.0 seconds
1/4 mile 14.5 seconds
50/50 weight distribution

They say the transmission is similiar to the Miata's
They compared the handling to a 911
price they are guessing should be $26 - 30k though I would say it's going to be a little higher

It's a tough call because they also say it's a true 4 seater with room in the back for adults

Is this going to be my next car . . .

 

[Dan]

R&T was impressed with everything about the RX-8, even commenting that this is the best styling job ever to come out of Japan. I did not like the styling when I saw it as a show car, but I have warmed up to it now - especially the rear end. This might be my next car.

 

[Teej]

Barnes and Nobles didn't have it last night... Guess I'll be stopping by again today, and tomorrow, and the day after, and... till I get my hands on that issue! Did any of the other mags test the RX-8 in their latest issue? If not this month, then I'm sure they'll have a full road test next month just like R&T. My stupid C&D subscription got screwed up when I moved. They say they didn't get my change of address notice and I'm not gonna get any issues till June!!

 

[blackdawg]

what's the curb weight?

just curious.

you guys realize how little torque this baby has?

it only puts out 153ft-#'s of torque but it spools all the way to 13,000 rpms.

:thumb:

that sounds like nothing but fun, fun, fun. all the things i probably loved/miss about our track-miata but with some added power.

 

[JST]

Re: what's the curb weight?

just curious.

you guys realize how little torque this baby has?

it only puts out 153ft-#'s of torque but it spools all the way to 13,000 rpms.

:thumb:

that sounds like nothing but fun, fun, fun. all the things i probably loved/miss about our track-miata but with some added power.

Less than 3K lbs. I think the figure R/T used was 2970, but I don't have the article in front of me.

R/T also said 90 percent of the torque is available by 3200 RPM, which means it doesn't have much low end, but at least it has some. My biggest worry about the RX-8 is that it will drive very much like the Honda S2K, which I do not find at all fun around town. We'll see.

 

[blackdawg]

less than 3000lbs. food for thought.

wow.

that must mean, according to some of the arguments on the M board, that the car is "unsafe" because it's too light to possibly have the proper safety measure intact. (heavy sarcasm intended).

one of the other engineering feats i also like about the car is the structural rigidity even with the funky door plan. it's hard for me to imagine all that amount of torque (the integrated area under the torque curve) with the rotary engine......are they still able to play with variable intake/exhaust valve timing on those rotaary engines?

one of hte beauties of dual vanos and variocam plus is the torque throughout the rev band. while they aren't stunning at peak numbers, it's more accessible.

this is why also i feel as though the S2000 isn't my idea of fun. it still has to be wrung out for its 153ft#'s of torque at 6000rpms or so?

 

[JST]

Hmmm... I just can't bring myself to like that car... :dunno:

It's because it isn't sufficiently flame surfaced.

How about now? :thumb:

 

[Guest]

It's because it isn't sufficiently flame surfaced.

How about now? :thumb:

LOL.

Yup. It now official. Alex and I have VASTLY different tastes.

He thinks the E65 is attractive and the RX-8 is not. Hmm...

Don't let this guy set you up on a blind date.

 

[JST]

LOL.

Yup. It now official. Alex and I have VASTLY different tastes.

He thinks the E65 is attractive and the RX-8 is not. Hmm...

Don't let this guy set you up on a blind date.

Tom, which car are you going to sell to buy the RX-8? Or will it be a 3rd car?

 

[Guest]

Tom, which car are you going to sell to buy the RX-8? Or will it be a 3rd car?

I was pondering that. There's a lot of choices out there enticing me right now. A next gen S4 Avant sounds good too.

But I cannot see EVER giving up the M3/4 and we had hopes of keeping the 323iC for Meaghan to drive 14 years from now. And the cash flow is far from unlimited...

With the M3/4, there truly is no need for the RX8. And the S4 Avant would be a damn expensive grocery-getter.

So, bottom line, I look forward to driving one and am glad that there is yet another potentially viable alternative to BMW out there, but I probably won't be buying one.

I'll drive yours when you get it.

 

[blackdawg]

nice point, TD.

could be one of those cars, while many of us won't run out to grab one, is significant for what it will do for the marketplace.

i.e. if the RX8 and the 350Z are true hits, that certainly refocuses bmw on its next gen Z4/5 car platform, doesn't it?

on the other hand: these cars are a far better proposition for track cars than 40K+ cars from germany. i would rather be wringing out a 30k car anyday than a 40-55k car. especially if, dynamically speaking, i'm not giving anything up.

 

[ed325i]

RX8 looks great, and has excellent performance stats. However, I would be a little worried about it's reliably, given that it's a rotary engine and is built by Mazda. I am also wondering if it's as crash-worthy as an E46 or an A4. Gosh, I must be getting old!

Ed

 

[blackdawg]

hi ed.

dunno about crashproofing the car.

i don't worry about it, because manufacturers aren't stupid. if cars get poor crash test results, they don't sell.

so, maybe i'm naive, but i tend to trust market forces int hat dept.

as far as the rotary goes, i think by definition, they eat oil, even more than air cooled porsche engines do; but since it's mechanically less complex, it's got much better longevity long term.

my uncle still runs a 1981 first generation RX7.

 

[AF]

RX8 looks great, and has excellent performance stats. However, I would be a little worried about it's reliably, given that it's a rotary engine and is built by Mazda. I am also wondering if it's as crash-worthy as an E46 or an A4. Gosh, I must be getting old!

Ed

Don't worry about reliability . . . I had a 85 RX-7 when it was brand new with the 13b engine (at the timie it was the 1st generation RX7 with the bigger engine) and that car got the Sh*t beaten out of it.

One thing that never had a problem was the engine, it always run well . . . as far as the rear differential and the transmission . . . well that's a different story

One piece of advice, NEVER give a 17 yr old a brand new sports car :yikes: :yikes:

BTW my sister had an 88 anniversary edition RX-7 turbo and she never had a problem with it either.

I had a 94 RX7 but that was for only a few months so I can't speak of the reliability on that one !!

And Mazda in general are excellent cars, I had a Millenia S and never had one thing go wrong with it and my family had Miata's in the past and again perfecto !!!

 

[AF]

Hmmm... I just can't bring myself to like that car... :dunno:

Take another look, it's a real sweet looking car though the rear 1/3rd took a little getting used to but I think the close to production version is starting to look.