MarkW

Lucozade,

You are right in that the RX-8 has an overall package that is second to none.

However, and I hate to say it, if you are expecting the performance to be anywhere near your M3 I think you will be dissappointed. Its nowhere near as quick as my STi, and I believe the M3 has another 70bhp or so.

Cheers
Mark

Lucozade

Thanks MarkW,

It is one of my main concerns at the moment.

If the RX-8 doesn't at least give me enough power, it doesn't have to be in the TVR/M3 league but it does have to be sufficient to be exciting. If not then I may have to reconsider.

The whole situation is crap. I'm still waiting on a test drive on the 8 and it's not looking encouraging for selling the M3 with plenty time left.

My dealer gets his demo at the end of Oct and then I am led to believe customers will get there cars soon afterwards. If that's the case then I won't have long to make up my mind and try to sell the BM.

I'm sure loads of us are in similar positions with trying to sell our current cars but to add to the problem the fact that the 8 might not meet up to expectation is even harder!

This is really starting to get on my t1ts!

Lucozade

Many thanks mate. Mines has loads of extras.

Basically I am selling myself short but needs must if I want to get rid quickly.

takahashi

LUCKY I was close buying exactly like yours.

MarkW

Lucozade,

It is still a quick car, and if you are prepared to do without the straight line speed, you will still be able to appreciate the fine handling, 50:50 weight distribution, excellent brakes, and that 9000rpm redline with the unique rotary sound. Combine that with a car that looks great both outside and in and it it still an excellent motor.

Way I look at it is that I tend to drive my STi too fast (not in bult up areas before anyone shouts) , as that is the only way to get any fun out of it. I think with the RX-8 I will probably have more fun at lower speeds which is good for me and my license

Cheers
Mark

oilman

Rock On Mark!

Mazda should make you their sales and marketing manager.

Cheers
Oilman

18ME

The only bit of advise I can offer to you here as you haven't driven the RX8 yet, is to compare the 330ci sport to the RX8, performance wise. The Mazda is down on torque to the 330 but it does offer similar levels of performance but in a different power delivery.
So if you think that you'd be happy with the performance of the 330 then I think you'd be happy with the RX8.

AndyPearce

I think you've highlighted the thing which splits opinion about the RX8. The car is plenty fast enough for the sort of speeds most people travel at on a daily basis. The reason that some people are disappointed with the 8's performance IMO is because the linear power delivery means it doesn't feel as quick as it is or have the punchy performance of it's peers. If you can get your head round the fact that the speed the car feels like it is doing is considerably less than the speed it is actually doing then you won't we disappointed with the RX8.

P.S. MarkW and Oilman - I've PM'd you both about CAP prices.

AnilS

18ME, as previously stated (a while ago now) I drove the 330ci, the day before my 8 test drive, and found the 8 only wanting some in gear flexibility ..... thats all. On all other counts the 8 tops the BM.

Anyway you're all missing the point when it comes to speed. Drive it slowly and show it off:D .

AnilS.

copperband

I only have a lowly 325ci to compare the 8 with bu the point I would make is that whilst the BM has a very smooth engine and good performance it does't feel that fast. a friend of mine has an Accord type r which on paper is almost identical performance but because of the higher revving and infinately better sounding engine it feels much quicker.

Another point to mention is that a 30 - 60 min test drive is no way to really judge how a car will be once you are used to driving it. i recently swapped cars with a work colleague who has a TT, I hated it at first as I found it unengaging and the only good point was the acceleration.Having said that after a week or so I found it more pleasurable to drive as i was more used to it and knew the engine and handling limits to get more fun out of it.that said though there are loads around and long term I prefer the BM.As stated in other posts the important thing is the whole package and for me the 8 is that - good looks, good spec, comfortable (essential when driving 35k+ miles a year) and important to me that its a bit different to the usual company exec cars like the TT's , BMs, merc, audi's etc. I have always been of the opinion that any car howver fast is something you get used to and become less noticable over time, as those thought fade it is the other matters like comfort, practicality and usability that come into place. i had a Golf V6 4 motion which was great at first but after 3 months or so gre to hate it as the radio was so crap i couldn't get anything on MW like 5 live, talk sport, trivial but true.

Ed

18ME

I know I had a 330ci sport myself a few months back. I was merely trying to point out the difference for Lucozade between his M3 and the RX8 as he was concerned about the performance defecit, and as the RX8 is similar to the 330's (on paper anyhow) performance then he would have a much better idea of what he is getting.

I disagree with you about driving it slowly to show it off....its mean't to be a drivers car and as such should be driven with great enthusiasm. If it was mean't to be a cat walk cruiser then Mazda would have just put a poxy 1.3lt engine in it.

Ohh they did.:D :D

RobDickinson

Yeah, but why put a hole in the fuel tank too? surely we can keep quite about the tiny engine....

rich606

I'm swapping a diesel rover 25 (works car!) for my 8.

It's actually a TURBO diesel and i just hope that after driving it for the last 12 months the 8 isn't a dissapointment!:D :D :D

MarkW

Well I sold the MP3 player out of my scoob today.

Just got to sell the rest of the car now. Maybe I should try to sell it all in bits :D

Lensman

Diesel Rover 25... LUXURY!!!
I'm currently driving an 'M' plate 214SEi which I'd have moved on from months ago were it not for the shennanigens of Mazda UK! At least it's the 2-door one though and it does have a decent Sony minidisc stereo (even if the speakers are rubbish)... The worst thing about 214SEi's is that when Rover decided to put small alloy wheels on them they didn't say 'oh, that means we'll have to alter the suspension then..' they just stuck them on anyway! All of the cars look like monster trucks and have a ride height akin to K2! That's why I didn't notice the dodgy ride height of the pre-production blue RX-8 we all saw. It was low compared to my usual mode of transport!!!