Agree, It's allways faster to put the power somewhere else if your wheels are spinning. But it's also fun to spin the RX8.

 

given the same whp/weight ratio and other things being similar (i.e. breaking and suspension), the car with awd will ALWAYS destroy the car with rwd on a track. main reason: like someone else mentioned, corner exit speed.

 

ONe thing I thing helps fix "funcky butt" is to get any extra lables off of the trunk lid. One forum member suggested the rotary accent and painted the top edge of his black plastic mesh (around the rotary area) silver. He posted a picture and I was so impressed that I too painted the grill mesh top edge silver. I think it tremendously improves the look.

 

I've had mine for ~60 days, with 2159 miles. Sadly I have a pretty short commute, though I make detours whenever possible.

Pros
Exterior styling
Interior Styling (look, feel AND sound)
very little road noise for a sports car
power
control
cornering
well refined/smooth shifter

Cons
GAS MILEAGE (13.5 MPG avg)
now that someone mentiones it, the butt does look a little funky...?
lack of a turbo...sigh

 

It's to bad the rear end labels are rivited on It would be costly to degage. Of couse the way the RX stops it would be easy to get rear ended. Is their anything like a rotary badge to replace the flying squirrel logo. What is that anyway a mazda bird? I like the idea of modifing the dark plastic.

 

You only get 13.5 mpg!!!! Are you on the gas alot?

 

Abusive Wombat hey

Eats roots and leaves .ha ha ha

cheers
michael

 

I am only getting around 13.9 mpg Its the only real negative thing I can say about the car.

On the AWD vs RWD issue. On general racing (not rally) AWD should give you an advantage on initial acceleration, but it loses out once the car gets in motion. Its one of the reasons the old skylines used to start in an AWD-like mode, then switch to RWD mode as the car got going (straightline).

 

AWD vs. RWD:

I can tell you from personal experience, having been a recent Audi TT owner, that AWD rocks.

The gain in traction outweighs the "fun" factor (slippin' and sliding).

I was never really able to get my TT sideways, I guess I didn't go crazy enough. But the AWD has gotten my out of serious trouble a few times (once in wet weather, boy was I thankful).

Anyway, when accelerating on wet pavement, the AWD car didn't even seem to be affected by the wet condition, while my 8 will definitely spin the wheels.

While the handling is still more flexible on the 8 (I feel I have every ounce of control with the 8), the AWD alway had the grip I need to keep from slipping..

As for speed, no comparison, the 8 wins out, as the TT is a much heavier car and has less HP and torque (effective torque).