BlueEyes

is that absolute?

My calculations indicate 14.5037738 psi absolute. (rounded to the 7th decimal place)
:p

RotaryManiac

If the STI didnt look like complete **** there is no doubt in my mind i would be getting one sometime soon. Then again, i have an 8 and i dont think i would trade it for a good looking car with more power (gotta love rotary). Point is, the STI simply outperforms the 8 for a relatively low price. Saying the rx8 with a turbo is the same price as the sti and is almost as fast is unfair, because the sti can be modded as well. Moreover, how many people do you know with a 500 horse rx8? I bet there are some (make that many) with 500 horse STI's. The minute i sat in the STI i understood why the car was so affordable. I havent driven the sti, so i dont know how it handles, but i bet the RX8 is better. If i had to race in any event, i would take the STI. it is just plain faster. I bought an 8 because its fun to drive, different from other cars, and it looks GREAT, not because its super fast.

VikingDJ

As owner of both, I personally have to give a slight edge to STI on handling. I'm not sure you can accurately claim one to be better though. It has less body roll, and it's steering is more responsive. In every day driving, the RX8 is clearly an easier car to handle because of it's more forviging steering, and significantly less HP and Torque. On handling vs HP, the RX8 has a much better ratio, so the STi tends to understeer if you don't let off gas while turning, because it simply reaches speeds too fast. Naturally the RX8 is a better looking vehicle, but overall I think one lacks what the other gives, so it's all about preference. I can clearly see why people would prefer the RX8 over STI and vice versa. It really comes down to personal preference, but the STI is such a well built machine, in longevity, I'd chose it over RX8 any day of week. So far, the STI has proven to me to be the most durable (not even a slight hint of a problem after 16k miles vs lots of small problems with RX8 after 11k miles), and I feel it will outlive my RX8 in long term, and be much less problematic.

elgueroloco

i wish they still had the rx7 in production

BlueEyes

meh, I don't think I would pay 60K for it.

StealthFox

it slaloms a bit faster so it makes sense that it handles a bit, but then again the STi is fitted with factory handling components, and is a lot tighter, unlike the rx8 which has a meat and potatoes type of suspension.

StealthFox

the rx8 doesnt handle better. and the interior in the sti isnt that bad, the rx8's interior rapes it in quality though, and i get good comments from people that daily drive bmw m3's and benz s55's on the good interior for a japanese sportscar.

Ike

Appearance sure, quality and durability I wouldn't be so sure.

crimson-rain

IMO, the 8 needs full on MS suspension to stiffen it up, an MS flywheel, new clutch, and a turbo. FULL ON. Dial the boost up to 10psi from 6 and pray those seals are as strong as Mazda and some other turners said they are (supposedly the Renesis' seals are pretty freakn strong).

RX8 - $24000 (what I paid)
Greddy turbo - $3500
MS Catalog bolted to the 8 - $2500 ~ (quick estimate)
Total - $30000

AFTER that said and put together, I could talk about killing STis, 350Zs, heck maybe even a Porche or two (stock). But my glory will be short lived as will my engine.

The STi cannot be beaten by an RX8 in most conditions (autox anybody???). The RX8 stock is not designed to tackle cars like the STi and EVO. But that's the beauty of the 8. You absolutely HAVE TO compare it with cars out of it's class and with significantly more hp cause it has aready competed and beaten pretty much every other car in it's class.

crimson-rain

As far as appearances the RX8 wins. The STi is an ... accquired taste. Some people like the way it looks.

AbusiveWombat

There's a video in the Multimedia section of this website of a RX8 with greddy turbo running a 14.1. That's not going to cut it against an STi, mustang GT, 350z, SRT4, or EVO.

dwill9578

i think the 8's suspension is far from meat and potatos.

th1rd3y3

Drive an STi for a while, you'll hate the squishy RX-8 suspension. Even with good tires it's less than confidence inspiring compared to the stock setup on the STi.

On flat roads you don't notice it so much, but where I live there really isn't any flat roads unless it's one of the very few highways. On a back country roads under spirited driving, roads that would scare me in the 8, the STi takes in stride and begs for more. That's what really made me notice the difference.

dwill9578

I think your the first person I have heard say that the suspension did not inspire confidence, thats the main reason it wins comparo's in mags the "feel" the car gives the driver. I feel both cars relay a ton back to the driver(in a good way to me). Although I have not taken a hard corner over bumps, but I'm sure the STI is great at it due to it's rally heritage. I've only drvien STI's over nothin but perfect roads so I wouldn't know, my 8 always keeps me in touch with the road sometimes good, sometimes not.

spork

yeah, I think people are overestimating the power of the greddy turbo.

right now it's definitely helping but not THAT much. i think people are assuming if they slap on the turbo they'll be out gunning nearly everything out there. maybe at some point in the future when people figure out the best setup for the rx-8 but as of right now from what i read on this board with people with turbos, it doesn't give that huge of a boost.

Drive an STi for a while, you'll hate the squishy RX-8 suspension. Even with good tires it's less than confidence inspiring compared to the stock setup on the STi.
I think it's more dependant on what you like. If you like the tight suspension because you constantly push your car or you only drive to push your car, then you'll get sick of the RX-8 "squishy" suspension. But if you're using it as a daily driver you'll probably love the RX-8's "squishy" suspension and get sick of the STi's tight one.

I think your the first person I have heard say that the suspension did not inspire confidence
Actually I've seen people have commented on the fact that the RX-8 has more body roll than other cars; but these people are the ones that really try to find the limits.

From what I understand (like I said I didn't get a chance to throw the STi in any corners), the RX-8 handles much better for the average driver. But when you talk about people who take their cars to the limit, the STi is better. Higher limit that's available for people who know how to use it.

For example, one of the 350Z/RX-8 comparos I saw had the 350Z with a better slalom time, but the driver said it was much easier getting a good time with the RX-8. So as I understood it they did multiple runs with both cars. The RX-8 had great times on all the runs. The 350Z had slower times usually but the 350Z's best was better than the RX-8's best. IIRC the driver said he felt like he had to force the Z where as the RX-8 came naturally. But in the end, it was the Z that pulled away with the best slalom (barely better tho).

th1rd3y3

Oh, I'm definitely not berating the suspension of the RX-8 in any way and I know for a fact that on a nice road it sticks VERY well.

On a perfect road, I'd have to say that both cars handle almost equally, however, the 8 is a bit more neutral compared to the STi. Unfortunately for me, I'd be hard pressed to find a perfect road around here

It all comes down to how and where you drive your car. When it's nice out and the back roads are empty, I generally drive my car for all it's worth. Or at least I did untill I traded it, the Titan won't be quite as fun, but the STi is still at my disposal

crimson-rain

What all does that person have, besides the turbo, on their 8? If I recall, that person was running 19" wheels. And that the run was their first time at the track with the 8 with the turbo set at Greddy's spec, 6psi. 10psi and stock wheels should get it down in the 13s; right with the STi, BUT even a 14.1 w/ the MS suspension and flywheel SHOULD keep up.

Like I said the STi is a BEAST. As far as performance, it has the total package. The 8 has most of the package available for purchase.

Ellar

It'd take far less money to buy an 8 and modify it to outperform a stock STi than it would to buy an STi and spend the money to make it stop breaking mirrors. In both cases, you'd end up with the total package.

elgueroloco

sti's look like poop, id rather get the evo, thinkin about selling my baby and gettin one of those bad boys next year. maybe ill win the lottery and keep both

AbusiveWombat

There's a lot of talk on this board and a lot of excuses. Let's just face the facts. The STi is faster and handles better. So far I have not seen anything offered from the tuners to change the fact that the RX8 is in the back of the pack for straightline acceleration. It's OK, there's always someone faster. And lets be honest, you guys didn't buy the car for it's straightline acceleration.

VikingDJ

I agree, but you can't change the way many rx8 owners feel. For whatever reason they feel the need to get defensive, and put down cars that outperform them. I think it's generally human nature, but being on the STi forum, I see people that are more comfortable and less defensive about the car they purchased. I admit, the RX8 couldn't give me what I truly wanted out of a sports car, and neither could the STI. It is nice to own both, and be objective. I guess the problem lies in the fact that to this day there is not a high performance RX8 available. Once we have one, people will get less defensive, and have something to argue about legitimately, rather then put down a car they subconsciously envy, but refuse to admit it. The RX8 just looks faster then it is, but it will change in due time, so my advice to the defensive RX8 owners is to hang in there, and be patient, because the car is still at it's early stages, and the best is yet to come.

Ellar

Defensive? The original poster was weighing his options, and discussion ensued. Strong opinions were expressed along with some minor skirmishes involving age, ***** size, etc.

StealthFox

screw mazdaspeed, go for UR, ACT or SR flywheel/clutch and go and get some tein or bilstein/koni suspension pieices and autoexe or racing beat anti sway bars and struts(the mazdaspeed struts look nice though)

dont forget the RP short shifter as well

i bet with all those parts and a 9/10psi turbo that car would kick MAJOR ***, you're talking about around 100hp of boost at least, look at SFR/SSR, it gets 100-110whp on like 7psi. so with 238bhp stock, be conservative and add 110bhp from the turbo, and add nothing from exhaust and intake and right there you have more power and better handling than the STi and evo, the EVO and STi slalom only a bit faster than the 8 and thats because their niche performance cars with super beefy anti sway bars, hard springs and shocks, and beefier strut bars, while the rx8 has bread n butter type suspension components, the interior ride absorbs a lot of the road imperfections, once you slap on some real suspension pieces you'll rape those cars in handling simply because the car is smaller, lower, and RWD(and lighter too i think)

think with 30k you can build a car thats better than the STi and Evo and still look slick.

Ike

Great, you've just spent a bunch of money on aftermarket stuff (no monthly finance payments here) and voided your warranty to have a finicky, less reliable car that can compete with an STi... The the STi gets a rear sway and a reflash for $600 total and it's bye bye modded RX-8. And guess what, the Subaru dealer can't even detect that reflash so your warranty is still intact.

VikingDJ

That is true. I can buy the ECU controller and easily add 30-40whp with just a push of a few buttons. I just don't think the current RX8 should even try and compete with an STI. It's not a car you buy to mod at that performance level. It's a great overall package of beauty, refinement, luxury and performance., so enjoy the RX8 for what it is.