Hello, all!
I know that this has been discussed number of times but I am curious to know something very specific & this relates to only those who have experience with both IS300 AT & RX-8 AT.

Forget about all the HP & TORQUE MUMBO JUMBO. How does RX-8 AT really compare to IS300 AT in terms of handling & actual power on wheel?

Please do not compare MT models. AT to AT only please. Thank you.

 

Never driven either but...

Handling will be like chalk and cheese from what I've heard. The IS300 (at least in the UK) has had its handling slated (much worse than the IS200 - which was slated for being underpowered).

BUT please, please, learn to drive a manual, it'll only take an hout, and its so much more fun, I dont see why anyone would buy a sports car with auto...

 

Most US magazines rate the IS300 as the best handling sport sedan short of an M3. The car has some issues but handling/steering is not one of them.

I have not driven an auto RX-8, but the handling on my 6MT RX-8 is so far beyond the IS300 5AT I owned for 45k miles that it still shocks me to this day. I won't claim the RX-8 4AT will be as good as I have not driven it and so have no valid opinion.

Go ahead and drive both and decide for yourself, don't pay attention to the biases of people on the internet (including me).

 

I have driven both vehicles and my opinion is that the RX is much better. The handling is stiffer, less roll in the corners. The acceleration is as good or better. The one significant difference is the response of the shifter. The IS has a noticeable lag from the time you hit the paddle to when you feel a change. The RX reacts much quicker. Also, the IS and the BMW as I recall require you to be near a dead stop to downshift to first. The RX allows you to shift while still at a pretty good pace to slow yourself down for a sharp curve.

On difference in favor of the IS is the response to floorboarding it off the line. The RX doesn't respond well, it accelerates much faster with a gradual but aggressive application of the throttle. This is not an issue with the IS. I still think if properly accelerated the RX can meet or beat the IS in 0-60.

For two years I have thought about buying the IS, but as soon as I drove the RX I put down a deposit.

 

hoorruu,

The new Subaru Legacy GT is now on sale in New Zealand.
Test drive the Turbo sedan at your local Subaru dealer.

 

The IS300 has little 'e-shift' buttons on the steering wheel to change gear which can be hard to hit when you are turning the wheel. The paddles on the RX-8 would be preferable. I sat with a professional rally driver in an IS300 on an auto-cross course and he used L-2-3 with the gearstick rather than the buttons on the wheel for this reason (what a blast BTW).

Also I would be surprised if the 197hp RX-8 4AT is as fast accelerating as the 215hp IS300 5AT (0-60 in 7.3sec in 3rd gear). I would expect the RX-8 to be more fun to drive however.

 

I have driven an IS300 as a loaner car from the Lexus dealership and the e-shifting isn't very fun. You put it over to manual and it starts in 2nd gear. I want 1st gear.

Also, the IS300 doesn't handle the same.

And I don't like the front end.

And the front seats amd the front interior space seems cramped.

 

I have driven both. Nothing the size of the rx8
(4 seater 3000lb +) handles as good as the
rx8. Sure some cars may circle a skid pad
as well (that is more a measure of the tires),
the turn-in response of the rx8 is amazing. The way you can late brake. The rx8 is a lot more
fun to drive. For just having fun in the hills I
like the rx8 more than 1994 rx7.


If you added 100,000 miles to each car. The IS300
will probable be screwed together better.
(less ratles, seats/interior looks news,etc ...)