Ike

Most Japanese auto manufacturers have a pretty strong hand in autoracing, some use the things they learn from their racing programs and apply it to their cars, some don't seem to. Toyota and Honda actually have a very large part in autoracing, moreso than Nissan and Mazda. Nissan and Mazda have never been about racing first but certainly have campaigned some successful cars, in fact I don't think you can say racing comes first for many car manufacturer save for maybe Ferrari back in the early days and a few of the other highend niche automakers. Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, etc, are about building and selling cars first and foremost, not winning any major autoracing championships.

I do think Shiri had a point about not seeing many RX-8s in any form of amateur racing. It's just not a car that many weekend warriors will seek out and it seems a large number of RX-8 owners bought the cars primarily based on looks. Also, autox drivers have a tendency for people to seek out the best car in a class which is why you see so many S2Ks and to a lesser degree Boxsters in BS. The WRX is a great car in the street tire classes, STX, and SM so you will always see a lot of WRXs, Miatas abound due to the great showings they have in their classes. Then there are the niche cars that people regularly seek out such as the MR2s, ITRs, and Z06. The RX-8 is a compromise car, it's not the best at any one thing, but as an overall package it's great, but that's not going to attract a lot of true enthusiats, amateur racers, and tuners.

You also won't see many RX-8s at the strip because in stock form it's pretty ordinary, and there isn't much out there to trim time off your ET. Thus far it doesn't have a whole lot of potential, so for someone looking to have a car they can make faster for not a lot of money as they go along and take to the strip when they want it's just not going to have a lot of appeal. This may change in the future but thus far it looks pretty bleak.

Racer X-8

IKE, that's not going to win you ANY bonus points.

Broken record too, if I might add...

:p

Ike

I'm so far in the rears with my bonus points that's it just doesn't matter anymore. :p


If I'm repeating myself and sounding like a broken record, it's because I'm 30 (which some here seem to think is old) and losing my short term memory

shelleys_man_06

Don't feel bad Ike. I'm 20 and I feel like Methuselah.

Overport

you took those words out of my mouth. exactly.

Feras

iTrader: (1)

arrears the term is arrears not 'the rears'

VikingDJ

Now that is utterly stupid. Just keep spouting utter garbage like that, so we can keep on laughing. HOW PATHETIC.

Racer X-8

Oh, I dunno... :D


(Take another look at his avatar. )


>>>> And, yes, I am totally kidding!!! <<<<

Shiri

You are so very sad.

Shiri

Bwahahaha!! No I don't he knows too much about cars actually. Sounds more and more like a PS fanboi.

Shiri

Perhaps one of the main reason why Mazda is not participating in big name racing is because of the competition. Its just all too late for them.

The drag racing you're talking about are the FI rotaries from the enthusiasts rather than Mazda. Mazda has never taken the rotary to F1, the pinnical(sp) of racing. They might have taken part in rally briefly with the Mazda 323 GTR, just not enough to make an impact.

Right now, we are all taking about the RX8, which according to some people here, is classified a sports car, can keep up with the 350z (or equal it says Top Gear), has equal handling to the Honda S2000. All I'm asking is that if this is true, then where are they on the track? The Z is currently leading the JGTC GT500 TEAM championship by a mile :

http://www.jgtc.net/race/2004/04srank/04sranking_en.htm

The only Mazda racing is the older RX7 in the GT300, the same class as a Toyota Celica!

Shiri

The key to this is, how much can you push an NA rotary's potential?

Any success stories from the older NA RX7s?

Shiri

In addition, if you think that I'm trying to bash the RX8, I'm not. I've defended the RX8 quite a bit on other forums like S2ki. I'm asking Mazda to take up the challenge of racing, push for further rotary development and make better sports cars so that we all can enjoy, not money making pretenders.

VikingDJ

No matter how much mazda has tried to make the rx8 a completely different breed of car that's much more about performance, it cannot avoid the criticism because many people expect it to compete in stock performance with it's past rivals. Unfortunately, it just wasn't built that way. Those of us who own one can enjoy it for being a completely different car that is really in a class by itself. I guess the rx8 cannot withstand comparison performance wise to the likes of it's previous generation. I guess that's due to the fact that it's lost more of it's performance quality then the 350z has by going n/a. It's just such a beautiful and refined car, but I believe there needs to be a considerate performance upgrade in the near future in order to match the expectations that come along with the RX title . Mazda can continue to make the car in it's current form, because of how daily driver friendly it is, and how it appeals to more then just an enthusiast. I do believe that if you gave this car about 40 more hp, it would be untouchable, and there would be nothing that can really compete with it for the overall package. Even if they can get the car to achieve it's original 247hp it was supposed to have, that will be huge for this car. There is nothing wrong with the rx8 in it's current form, but it just has such big shoes to follow performance wise to it's previous generation, and I can't see it ever getting rid of that shadow that performance gurus will bring upon it using the FD RX7 untol a model comes out that can reach or surpass the FD in performance. I am satisfied with the car as it is, but it's understandable how many fans want to see it rise to occasion. There's really no need to defend the rx8, and get offended, because in a world of performance, it's going to have to absorb criticism just like any other car out there will.

shelleys_man_06

Guys, also remember the Wankel rotary engine is only 30+ years old. Compare that to the 150+ years of piston engine technology. I've said this before, but I want to pound this into your heads until you get it.

Luckily, Mazda's rotary engine came at a time when technology was on the rise. Also, remember that rotary engines may never run as efficiently, or as strong as a piston engine, due to its design. Is it flawed? Hell no. If it was, it wouldn't even work.

In addition, the RX-8 is not an RX-7 replacement. If you want RX-7 performance, buy an RX-7. However, the RX-8 is a sports car in its essence, whether it has 238, or 3000 hp. My belief is that us RX-8 owners are getting restless due to the fact we don't have parts that make big power, just useless theories that get thrown around. Cause for alarm? No. Just wait it out. Contrary to what anyone else thinks, I still believe this car has a bright future. This car needs our support.

Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and enjoy you car.

Shiri

So tell me, what kind of advantages do rotaries have over piston engines?

Ike

Oh man... I'm keeping my mouth shut on this one, I've already had this debate a few times and don't want to sound like a broken record again. Get the flame suit ready and strap in Shiri, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. :p

emailists

Not that this really adds anything to the original question, but all cars are a compromise in one way or another. No matter how much power the G35/350Z will be coming out with, the RX-8 juts fit's my lifestyle better (especially only having 1 car) The combination of practicality 4-seats- 4 doors, great styling and handling is what I need. (I also like the exotic/quirky nature of it- rotary, suicide doors, etc)- it fits my personality to a T) Sure I'd love an Elise, but it doesn't flt my lifesyle (and living in a large city- I doubt I'll ever own one- or any dedicated 2 seater for that matter). The 8 was built around compromises for sure, but for a certain market segment, it just fits. I see 8's quite a lot here in teh NY area. Who knows what mazda will com up with- One thing is for sure- the high cost of the turbo's on the 3rd gen RX7 is what killed it in the US- and I'm sure Mazda remembers that all too well.

As far as better aftermarket performance, sure I'd love it- but in terms of the cost and questionable reliability, I'm thinking I should just learn to drive the 8 better, wringing every last bit of performance out of it by learning to keep it in the best powerband for each given gear and situation. Ultimatley I also think that's alot more fun and challenging than just raw power any unskilled driver can command with a high torque car. I'm still constantly trying to master every shift and every apex- and I have a long way to go.

shelleys_man_06

I'm staying out of this thread. Too much **** being flung around. Monkeys...

scorp76

I cant tell you how little I care that an adult stupid enough to drive a hideous, riced-out $30k economy car thinks my posts are 'pathetic.'

Do keep laughing. I know I sure as hell do whenever I see or hear one of those ugly *** WRX things.

scorp76

I know enough to know newer nissans=crap. But that's ok, maybe they'll get to where they were 10-15 years ago.

VikingDJ

UMM. I own both the rx8 and STI. I decided to not put a massive amount of miles on rx8 so I can enjoy it for a longer amount of time. It's not a bad deal to have an STI as your daily beater commuter car, no matter how ugly one thinks it is. It gets me to where I need to go, and gives me the power and performance that a basic daily driver could not give you, which makes your commute to work a lot of fun. The rx8 is clearly a better overall car, which is why it's my fun car that I truly cherish for it's looks and refinement. If you want to criticize my daily driver beater car, go right ahead. I'm sure you can mock plenty of people on here for what vehicle they use for a winter commute. As far as your last post, it's pure immaturity at it's finest, so what else is there to say. I'd like to see others who own a second car and use it for work or winter, so you can mock it just as you did mine. It makes absolutely no sense, but if you feel the need to vent, the by all means knock yourself out.

scorp76

If theirs are half as ugly and ridiculous as yours, then yea, I'd mock them too.

Shiri

I cannot imagine the STi to be a beater car, unless your first car is an Elise or a real sports car (I figure you're just saying that as a matter of speech). The STi is capable of entering high quality races out of the box. You'll probably want to maintain the car properly with all the high tech stuff on it. I'd suggest changing your beater car to the RX8, and preserve the STi more. If you ever learn to drift and rally race in that thing, its a whole new world.

VikingDJ

Well, it is a figure of speech, but the reality is, I drive 35k miles per year so you can certainly call it my beater. It is being used for long work commutes, and I am purchasing a set of cheap rims and all seasons to pound through the snow this winter. I was supposed to buy either VW Golf TDI, or a regular Impreza to get me to work and back, and I just took a plunge and spent big bucks and got the STI. I know it's not your common thing, but I figured there's nothing wrong with buying an STI, and letting it be like a Toyota Corolla. I know it's a performance car, but I really didn't buy it for that purpose. Having it there is just an added bonus. Preserving STI and driving RX8 would be foolish. The rx8 is a more valuable car, and will retain a lot more of it's value down the road. The STI also gets better gas mileage as well. As far as maintanence goes, I maintain all my cars to highest level, and I have a 6 year 80k bumper to bumper on the STI, so all is good. Naturally people look at STI as a pure performer, but in reality, it can be used daily, and I believe it will last a long time if properly maintained. As far as that young punk scorp76fanboi, well, he just kees sounding more like an idiot everytime he posts.