krillin_boi

Hello everyone first off lemme introduce myself, my name is Jason, i'm 21 soon to be 22 and i'm falling in love with the RX-8s hah. My question is, I know the RX-8s are a bit underpowered compared to other competition such as WRXs and 350Z but the style/interior of the car makes up for it... so do you guys think the 2007 RX-8s will have a lil more power and upgrade to it like the new 350z or 06 is as good as it gets for the 8s? Thanks

tee_rx8

I dont think there any big improvement in the next rx8. If 2007 rx8 gonna be as fast as 350z or has an addition of 60 hp, i think it will be more expensive than 06. If u want a fast 8. Go FI. By the way, I m jason, 21 turn 22 too.

saturn

There's no way to know what's going to happen with the 8. Most people here want to believe that they'll toss in more power, but there's no real solid evidence they will. Aftermarket mods are great, but they can void your warranty.

I sorta am in the same boat as you. I have a very reliable car (knock on wood) right now and I'm debating about whether I should go for the 8 now or hold off and see what's down the pipe. All I'll say is that if you are thinking about buying right now you can get AMAZING deals on new '05s (we're talking $6k-8k off MSRP). That makes this car even more attractive when you get a fully loaded model (w/o nav) for around ~$26k.

RX-Aight

I think mazda loves the hype about what's going to happen in a few year etc. look at how many times it's been talked about here already. to answer the question: who knows, i don't think mazda really knows. the one thing they do know is that they like people talking about it over, and over, and over, and over, and over... well, you get the point.

saturn

I get what you're saying, but on the other hand, many of the people who are constantly talking about what's coming down the pipe with Mazda are probably putting off purchasing an RX-8 that they may have otherwise bought if there wasn't so much hype. Sure something newer is always coming, but the more hype, the more likely the average person is to believe it and potentially hold of purchasing.

Cooder

So basically the "hype" of what's down the pipe that's making you hesitate isn't right. Get to the point.

krillin_boi

i'm not in a hurry to buy or anything...if anything i want to graduate first which will be Spring 07. 8000 off MSRP i admit is very good deal and tempting but seeing how cars upgrade every couple of years or so (facelifts/power/etc.) maybe the 8s will get a lil bit too. I'm not looking for the power of the 350zs otherwise that will be one of my top choices but i dread 2 seaters so that's y i think the WRXs are a good choice also.

krillin_boi

anymore inputs and/or opinions?

jaguargod

I don't think the RX8 will ever be like the RX7. So if raw power is what motivates you, you should probably look elsewhere, whether it be now, or in 2007. The RX8 has plenty of power for me, but I guess it is more important to some people. But the RX8 will outperform any of those other cars that you mentioned. I think it looks alot better as well. The only car that I think gives it a run for the money in the looks department is the S2000. Alot of the competitors's cars will have a little more power, but you will sacrifice styling, comfort, build quality or all three if you go with any of them, in my opinion.

Groo

All I know is that as soon as mazda breaths the words "Mazdaspeed 8" every rx8 on the lot at the time is going to rot there! :-)

jaguargod

Not true, in my opinion. I am 33 years old, and probably 60% of the other RX8's I see on the road are driven by people older than me. I don't think the "mazdaspeed" name means much to many people in that age range. On the flip side, alot of the younger drivers probably won't be able to afford it. I think it would be a small section of the sales, similar to the Shinka. I think they would lower the price of the regular ones, but I think they would still sell.

Groo

Yeah, could be. With a family of 5 I don't know where I fit into the RX-8 owner demographics, but I can say with certainty if I could have purchased a supercharged/turbod or otherwise enhanced RX-8 I would have been all over it!!

khtm

Here's what I think, but it's just my opinion. Note that the years below are CALENDAR years, not model years.

2002 - Mazda 6
2003 - Mazda 3 / RX-8
2004 - Mazdaspeed MX-5
2005 - Mazdaspeed 6 / new MX-5
2006 - Mazdaspeed 3 / new Mazda 6
2007 - Mazdaspeed RX-8 / new Mazda 3
2008 - new RX-8 or another rotary vehicle

Xantium

There better not be a new rx8 in 07.

Japan8

That's a little off. By model year:

2003 - Mazda6
2004 - Mazda3 / RX-8
2005 - Mazdaspeed MX-5
2006 - Mazdaspeed6/ Facelift Mazda6/new MX-5
2007 - Mazdaspeed3/ Facelift Mazda3/ CX-7
2008 - Likely Mazdaspeed8/ Facelift RX-8/New Mazda6 (bigger... Ford Fusion size)
2009/ 2010 - CX-9?/New Mazda3/New RX-8/ Possible RX-7/Possible Kabura based coupe

6 year model cycle (or is it 5 year?) with a mid-cycle facelift is generally how all automakers do it.

The RX-8 SHOULD be getting something for MY2007, but there has been little word about it other than an occasional comment about a facelift. There have supposedly been repeated discussions about a power increase... the method changing each time... increased displacement (yes this is not just a rumor... mentioned in a couple JDM magazines)... turbo... supercharger... but nothing has been finalized. So I am suspecting that it will be delayed a year to 2008 so mazda can focus on the Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3, new Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9.

ALP22

Given that thay spent god knows how many years R&D'ing the renesis, to squeeze lots of HP from it, and had to do all kinds of funny things to the ECU and the intake and run it super-rich to get the power out, I seriously doubt they'll make a renesis with significantly more horsepower normally aspirated. Maybe 20 horses or so, but nothing up near 280-300 range.
Maybe thats why everyone is talking turbo rx8, but from what you read here, that makes the mileage even worse. To appeal to the masses, they just HAVE to do something about the mileage. Personally, I think hybrid would be the way to go - all that extra power without the sucky gas mileage.

Latch

No, he was right about the Mazdaspeed MX-5. It was an 04 car.

There have been rumors of a FI RX-8 since it first came out. The idiot salesman who my friend bought his MS3 from swore up and down that Mazda REALLY REALLY ANNOUNCED IT IN JAPAN, FOR REAL! I'd totally sell my left nut to own one, but I just don't think Mazda can fix the fuel mileage issue, redesign the transmission to handle the extra power, then get the price down low enough that it would be accessible.

Hopefully they'll make a new Mazdaspeed Miata with some derivative of the 2.3 DISI turbo. Now that would be a 350Z killer.