800Degrees

I agree that most of the SUV buyers are thinking BIG and BIGGER... but why the 4x4? Most SUVs are 4-wheel drive. And they'll never use it - 97% won't ever take them off road. It makes them feel good. I think HP, cubic inches, "Hemis" and 0-60 times are more important to the sale than the drive.

Of course the buyers of RX-8s, Miatas, most British sports cars, etc. "get it". It's not about bragging about cubic inches, HP and times. It's about the drive.

patiwood

The first one I drove was the 350Z, automatic and manual. It does get up and go, but as someone said, no room for 2 sets of golf clubs, bags for a trip and passenger. That one was ruled out. My hubby works with someone that has had one for about 6 months and they're ready to sell it. Then we test drove the RX-8. The automatic first, which was disappointing after driving the 350Z. But the manual had the WOW factor! Last we drove the G35 coupe, which gives you the power with the 4 seats, but forget having even a medium sized adult in the back seat for any length of time. Not to mention the price tag for it!! Nothing we drove takes the corners like the RX8.
We decided on the RX8 of course. I fell in love with it the first commercial I saw when it came out. I picked up a brochure on it and had been carrying it around in my minivan for 6 months. Showing it to everyone saying "This is the car I want!"

My minivan days are over! Mid life crisis here I come :p

Since I only drive 1 mile to work and just drive to the local stores, I feel like I never get to enjoy driving it. Once a week I HAVE to hit the interstate just to get it out of my system. The car just drives better around 50-80 MPH. I almost always get behind someone going 5 miles under the speed limit (which happens a lot in Florida). Even the traffic on the interstate is so thick as times I can't get the full enjoyment driving it.

I think I'm going to have to join NASA and hit the track. I only worry about something happening to it. Anyone know if accidents happen often? I don't worry about me, it's the other driver.

I FEEL THE NEED.... THE NEED FOR SPEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shelleys_man_06

Well, if you want more low-end torque from a rotary engine, try increasing the displacement. It never hurts.

I hope one day Mazda will move away from the 1.3 liter, and expand its rotary engine program to include larger displacements. I believe multiple rotors will simply not do, as with forced induction. Maybe in an aftermarket setting, anything goes. However, to make a reliable OEM application, I believe natural aspiration is the way to go.

VikingDJ

Well as was said in previous post, the rx8 is not making 238hp. I know some of us want to believe it, but it's denial plain and simple. The car is realistically around 220hp. I don't know whether mazda will keep the exxageration going or not though. I guess they can't make the car a real 238hp, and not change the specs, because it will prove that current model is not producing the hp stated. They may call it 260 in future, and have it actually produce 238. If they can get the car to prudce a real 247hp like initially stated, then you are right, the car will hold up well, and the lack of power compared to 350z and g35 will not have much of a factor. As of now, the car really isn't much faster then a 210hp Eclipse GTS. I won't verify my proof by making a racing story, but take my word for it, they are very similiar in staaight line performance. The price range of the rx8 makes the need for some slight hp increases, and every sports car out there must improve in small amounts as the years go by. Even though the rx8 isn't doing bad in sales, it's not up to par for the amount of vehicles produced, so I see a drop in production for 05. Subaru did it with the STI. 7200 were produced in 2004, and they project less then 6k to be produced for 05. I tend to think the rx8 will follow that same pattern, due to the large inventory still left as they are desparately trying to get the 05 out, but are forced to stall it. I'd like to see some final production numbers on the 04 rx8, so if anyone has them, please post. Wel know there's more potential in this car then the current models produce, so I think Mazda will work with what they have to gain some extra hp, and improves on the performance numbers. For me it doesn't matter that the rx8 is not producing the claimed hp, but people in this country have a habit of looking at paper stats, so in order to increas popularity of rx8, it does need some minor tuning to add some extra juice that we all know the renesis is capable of producing.

scorp76

*sigh* Whatever. There's not much left of that dead horse to beat.

Again, whatever. I've seen otherwise, and tests show otherwise, but I won't 'verify my proof by making a racing story.'

I wonder why. Guess not many people are rushing to waste $30k plus on a 300 HP economy car.

Sure doesn't sound like it doesn't matter to you: sounds very much like you should have went the nissan way.
The wager of the Pepsi stands though; M/S notwithstanding, I don't see Mazda wasting the resources trying to wring out any more power, since '220' or 238, they still make a nicer car than both the nissans.

TwiBlueG35

Being fast is just one of the many things we love about cars isn't it? Many super fast cars don't attract me because of different reasons. I like RX-8 a lot more than Ferrari Enzo, even though I am sure the Italian is much faster.

BlueFrenzy

Bah ... I'm with TwiBlue ... I like the 8 cuz of its good looks and performance/handling. I don't exactly live out "The Fast and Furious" every time I go to get some milk at the store.

Shiri

You have an incredibly big chip on your shoulder. What the hell happened to you to be so cynical about other cars?

Its ok to defend your cars if somebody's criticising it, but what are you doing?

Oh BTW, Nissan is doing very well, both in sales and in racing.

Thanks for playing.

Shiri

I think Mazda has a lot to think about other than Nissan. Subaru, Toyota, HOnda, GM, Ford can all raise their games and play the HP war. Everybody is waiting on Nissan and the future GTR, then they start playing. Nissan deserves a lot of credit for at least getting the ball rolling. They did it before with abandon, thus resulting in a financial crisis, but now they are better controlled.

BTW, What is Mazda's answer to the GTR? Nothing. I'm thinking Mazda will go family, making semi economical cars for a while before they can have a budget to play with the big boys. By the time that happens, it may be too late.

shelleys_man_06

In the real world, it doesn't matter who has the fastest car. What does matter is which car is the most useful. Mazda doesn't need a rival for the GT-R. They never have, and they never will. Mazda is smart to stay in the sports car race, but not so much that they blow all their money campaigning a car only a small percentage of people want.

VikingDJ

Nice bias, chip on your shoulder you have there. Some people can't handle the truth, so if you feel you need to shoot of your mouth, by all means, enjoy. You have some serious flaws in your responses, and they arent' even worth questioning. If you want to rip the STI, and any other car except for the rx8, by all means knock yourself out. I'm more then happy with my rx8 as a fun summer car, and as long as it's reliable and lasts a long time, I don't care how fast or slow it is. I think the lack of power bothers you, because you are getting WAY too defensive. If it didnt' bother you, you wouldn't even bother posting. Don't worry, Mazda will add power to the rx8, and you'll be able to get this chip off your shoulder one day.

scorp76

No chips here, and no bias here. For the fifty-eleventh time, I don't have or want an RX8. It is a fav of mine however, and frankly I get sick of people beating the HP issue into the ground. This car is easily the best car in its class, yet it gets dogged by tiny dik types who need to be fastest because they don't think it offers enough HP.

You were the one who spoke up first, so I suppose the same goes for you. If you REALLY thought it had enough power, you never would have opened your mouth. But what more can one expect from a WRX owner.

scorp76

Again, no chips here, just not a fan of trash.

Same thing you are.

Oh BTW, no one gives a shiet.

My pleasure. Come again.

Ike

Fanboi supreme strikes again!

VikingDJ

Yep! Fanboi supreme wanna be rx8 owner chip on shoulder. The day you actually own an rx8, is the day you can defend the car and have people listen to you. Until then, stop digging that ditch and looking like a fanBOI fool.

Racer X-8

Ike, anything new here? Just looks like another September 2003 thread to me, then I stopped reading it. Cheers...

Shiri

You seem to speak on Mazda's behalf, what a joke. The RX7 came out in 93-94 and has been releasing version after version trying to keep up with the R32, R33, R34. You should have seen it back in 89, when the R32 kicked the old RX7 back to the drawing boards (and didn't appear until more than 4 years later). The final year RX7, although an improvement in certain parts, was still prone to reliability problems. Something that Mazda refused to resolve from the beginning because the car would go beyond budget and ruin the entire company. How I know? I have one, the reliability upgrade is the first thing to do on ANY RX7 no matter if its 1 day old or 10 years old. Some of the stock parts are a joke.

Nissan, like Honda have actively been involved in motorsports. Its all part of the development in engine and car design. Since Mazda has little participation in motor racing, there's not much else to do except make economy cars.

Shiri

Chip on the shoulder aside, provide examples of how the RX8 is the best in its class in terms of performance.

Furthermore, I see no RX8 at the dragstripes, autoX or motor racing, so just how is it superior performance wise?

Shiri

He could be an RX8 salesman, hence the lousy attitude.

scorp76

WTFE. I will defend it and anything else I want to defend, since I have a right to. Much like you have a right to lick Ike's crusty *** and talk **** like you do.

scorp76

Typical-for-nissan-owner-low-IQ aside, look up every review or comparo where the 8 has been pitted against either datsun twin or the honduh. I believe the word 'balance' is used a lot in every one. Something you won't see about the others, unless they're taking tires.

Yeah, we all know you can single-handedly account for each and every 8's whereabouts on any given day, so because YOU don't see any means there aren't any.

scorp76

Or maybe I'm a Nissan service tech, hence the stress and loooooooong hours.

Skyline Maniac

Sounds more like a crappy Nissan tech who got fired.

Feras

iTrader: (1)

i hate to enter into this pissing contest but mazda has a long and storied history of racing whether you like it or not. They are the only japanese manufacturer to win a Le Mans (theres road racing, and btw currently Mazda RX8s are racing at the GT level just flip on speedvision actually looking at the screen helps.), the RENESIS is being used in a formula series that is very popular. The 20B and 13BREW have classically been very popular engines at the dragstrip (when an aftermarket comes out, you may see more RX8s there). And just from this board and the many people here autox 8s believe it or not, and it handles itself just fine. Mazda always has been a niche market type car, and that niche isnt economy.

Guess what Nissan has a similar history, and the 350Z most definitely is a fine sports car. leave the economy cars to toyota and honda. Nissan and Mazda have always been racing first, building cars second.


Cheers