Don't forget I traded my M3 in on my RX-8...

What car was I weighing in before I decided on the 8? An '04 M3 w/ smg II shifting ladeedada, etc., etc.

Mine was a 2 door coupe and I had Dinan upgrades. I still may go back to the M3 as my regular driver in the next coupla years at which time I will try to get my Renesis engine close to the 450hp mark and turn it into a real track car like my MR2 was. I love the M3 but when I think of the other sports cars I've owned I will say that it really seems to me more like an S4 than a Lotus. All of them are wonderful cars but there is too much bulk in the M3 and M5 to be true sports cars. Otherwise we could call the Camaro and G35 coupe sports cars too.

 

Here's just one pic of the Wide Open Spaces in the West... see it and weep! :D

 

Oh MY...

Yea, that looks just like around here.

Well, except ya gotta add trees, deer, suicidal squirrels, tons of cars with people doing everything except actually driving, joggers, bicyclists, horses, women pushing strollers ("be right back honey, I'm gonna go push little samantha down the public highway for bit, mmmK?")...

Oh, and we have them, whatcamecallits... CORNERS

So, dare I ask... what's that bike been up to?

 

Yeah when I was in northern Arizona it looked just like that, and there were no other cars on the road practically the whole time. Too bad I was with my dad and too young to drive .

 

I wouldn't know since it isn't mine. I just stole the picture of Nevada to show you what much of Central and Southern Idaho, parts of Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, parts of California, Nevada (obviously), and many other states over here look like. And yes there are highways that you can literally park your car in the middle and may not see another car for hours.

Now can we all get off our high horses and just enjoy the beauty of driving the 8 no matter what speed it is? We are all enthusiasts and we all have things in common. We should just look at the fact that some of us have roads we can drive at incredible speeds on and some of us don't. If any of you find yourself driving over to this area and you want to light up some empty road that you can see ahead and behind you for miles just let me know. I am always down for a good drive. So let this thread go back to it's original subject and spread the love for open spaces.

 

Hrm.. this is just my opinion on the speed issue. A nice open road like the one 93rdcurrent posted is tempting to speed. 99.99% chance you won't get caught and nothing would happen. If I had a fast car, I would definately go over the speed limit.

But when that 0.001% occurs and someone gets hurt or killed, you will then view everything differently. Even the best drivers in the world know these odds. Being in a car is already a risk. Speeding just increases that risk. No point arguing whether its safe or not. Some people won't understand until something happens to them.

 

you mean when that 0.01% happens...

 

Exactly.

And I admit it's a matter of degree. It's not like <= 55 is perfectly safe, and only suicidal maniacs drive 56+ mph.

But because of that, we all have to decide where to draw the line. We have to take into account all the risk factors (other cars, wildlife, road conditions, etc.) and balance that against our desire for fun.

We won't all come up with the same exact answers, but odds are the drivers with some sense of responsibility will end up in the same general area.

What scares me is when drivers don't take into account ANYTHING other than their desire for a cheap thrill - and the possibility of being caught.

 

Of course it is a risk, so is walking on a sidewalk, swimming, breathing and ultimately even living... If I would sweat and dwell on what is a risk I wouldn't have time for anything else, and ultimately I wouldn't have a choice but to lock myself in an incubator, because this is where such a progress of thinking will lead you.

 

Choose life! I love life and I live it to the best of my abillity. And sometimes that means the exhilliration of a high rate of speed on a patch of highway! Enough guys, get over it and move on.

 

race car drivers crash all the time at speed, and they are trained professionals on closed tracks. even the best in the business crash...mario andretti's car flipped 5 times after running over a small piece of plastic during a practice run!

...i mean i speed too...but come on there is nothing safe nor any amount of skill thats going to save you at speeds that high...you drive that fast and you will eventually crash it happens to the best in the business, so when it comes to the average driver the risk is even higher. so be safe out there, the roads are open and you have to worry about yourself, others on the road, animals crossing, debris, and the car

 

My $.02
I am a good driver, and I speed...BUT....
You never know what the other guy might do, you have to plan defensively. He might swerve suddenly (not saying he is at fault).

So, I would never drive 100+ when other cars are on the road. A nice open stretch where you can see for miles that no one is around, is your risk (and I take it sometimes). But you can rely on the other guy not doing something (he might not even see you coming).

 

exactly, get over it and move on

 

I understand all of your concerns about driving at a high speed, but consider the age and the adrenaline rush.

Many teens say they are responsible however are not and most know it. But i am different, i have to much to lose if i get in an accident or kill myself. Why? because i hold an executive position in my own company.

Now that you know i am responsible, that doesn't change the fact that i'm driving a mazda rx8 on an empty road headed towards the beach with the tunes on and the windows down (and the bird poo just splattering on the windshield :p hehe).

Its a damn rush to drive fast however going 125 really didn't feel that fast, i dunno why.

And i purchased an auto for location and future purposes.

However i do feel that i want to switch for a manual, but i don't think anyone wants to at this point, no owner would trade his manual for my auto (even though it looks very nice with a ms spoiler/painted calipers/clear corners/ipod) hehe.

And what a user stated before about how mazda doens't want you to purcahse the automatic, i honeslty agree.

WHAT THE HELL!!! Less hp! Less top speed! BARELY ANY ACCELERATION!!! (i couldn't spin the tires to save my life).

But overall its a great car to drive around in. Hey, it gets me from A to B :D with all the people lookin on at me.

 

When I was around 21 I took my MX-3 around 120 one time on a long country road. A dog ran out of the woods and I almost had to hit it. Now that I'm 30 I would never do something like that on a public road. I'm not saying that going over the speed limit makes someone evil or anything like that. I go over the limit by about 5 mph in the city and 10 on the highway sometimes. You are talking about going 120+ on the other hand like it's no big thing. And I agree that many roads have ridiculous speed limits on them but that's the way it is. When people tell you that you shouldn't do something like that it's not because they are wimps. We do it so hopefully you won't kill someone. I would LOVE to see you if or when a cop pulled you over for going 124 and see if your such a bad *** with him about it like you are with us. And I don't know about the area you live in but I've seen many a car totally fu*ked up by deer on the east coast so don't talk to be about animals in the road.

 

Is thisdiscussion ever goingto get back on topic or iseveryone going to keep postingtheir own bullshit opinions aboutwhat is wrong and right? Yourenot going to change eachothers beliefs no matterhow convincing your claims are so whywaste anymore time?

We are talkingabout the automatic Rx8being limited to 125mph not whether or not you think its okay to go that fast.

 

I think its retarded and they need to change it. I mean a V6 Accord can probably do well over 125.

 

I guess it depends. I know the AT8 will do more than 125.
Is there differences? Maybe someone else knows.
Could be the AT GT has the speed limiter set different.
Maybe it's in the ECU. All I know is that an AT will go faster than
125. Just don't do it on a public road. At least not often.

 

wow you think iraq is anarchy. Maybe you think we should 'save the hethens'? who do you think created it? And YOU call others arrogant... what a blatant hypocrisy. Pick on a country the U.S. politicians and their corporate friends rob of its resources and riches, wave the banner of democracy and righteousness around to keep the voting public content, and you can feel safe labeling them a country in anarchy. I didn't live the 60s but I know that there weren't as many ********* like you walking around. And we wonder why the rest of the world thinks of americans as arrogant...go figure

 

I got my 8 up to 130+ and it was rock solid. I took it out to watkins glen speedway and did some laps. You can't appreciate how good this car handles unless you get it out on a track. My friend has a cobra svt and couldn't keep up in the twisties.

 

couldn't agree more

 

Thanks vrimmick. And TX is supposed to be full of republicans, HA! (kidding)

 

I've had mine at 138 MPH on I-81 (but then again, I have a stick), the only reason it didn't go faster is I got scared

 

He had a 6-spd.

 

Its not just you. Automatic RX8's top out at 125mph, as you've found out for yourself.

Thats what you get for not buying a manual transmission.

You should have known when the dealer sticker was more for the MT.... :D