jj123

At first, i thought the wrx would be the car for me, but after reading a little bit more about rx-8, it caught my attention. The reason is because not only does it have a sporty look to it, it can seat 4 ppl! and also i hear the handling of this car is quite magnificent.

One thing that im worrying about, however, is the low-end torque of this car. I currently drive an i4 accord with about the same torque as the rx-8 and i have to rev it up high to gain speed when im in the hills, is the same with rx-8? and another thing is the fuel economy. but i understand what i need to sacrifice to gain such a nice car.

Also, i'm a newb in car mechanics so does owning a rotary car recommended? My friend have been telling me rx-8 can have a lot of problem if i dont maintain it properly. And since im new, im afraid that i cant handle it. Also i live in socal so it gets really hot here. People have been telling me that the motor can overheat easily under hot temperature.

What do you guys think?

CosmosMpower

Yes, you have to rev the **** out of the Renesis to get any real power. The powerband is very smooth and linear though. Yes the fuel economy sucks but if you drive it sanely on a normal basis you can get 18-21 mpg combined fairly easily. Most other sports cars that the RX8 competes with get slightly better with 6 cylinder engines but that's life.

You don't really need to know how to work on a rotary because of a simple thing called the 4 year 50k mile warranty. Besides, it's not like you're going to take an engine apart often whether rotary or I4 unless you're a hardcore mechanic. Changing the oil, brake fluid, diff fluid, tranny fluid, brake pads etc is just like a honda or any other car and the spark plugs are underneath the car instead of near the top.

hoosier

Just keep up on the oil as recommended by the owners manual. Rotories inject oil into the fuel to lubricate the rotor seals. Owned an RX-3 in 72 and never had any problems until it died from my abuse. Power feels different than a piston engine and it does not feel like you are straining it going to redline. Everything is a trade-off. If you are looking for power off the line and 1/4 mile, try a Mustang GT. If you like twisty sports cars, try the RX. If you are looking for gas mileage, try something boring; although, I did like the mileage on a VW Jetta diesel stick at 50mpg I had. Many complain about the oil usage but I just got out of an 03 VW Passat V6 and it used a quart every 2500 miles since new. Some of the VW 4cyl use one every 1000 miles and VW does not consider it a problem until you use one every 600 miles. That is with thier new cars. I like the RX because you don't see alot of them on the road and they are a unique ride. I can live with everything else.

jj123

i see. the lack of low-end power really concerns me though =/

RX26b

Go to your local dealer and take a used one out on the highway and run it from 3 thousand to the redline in 4th gear. You'll forget all about the Accord and its 4 banger. No piston engine can give you that smooth-as-a-turbine feel anywhere in the rev range, and certainly not at 9000 revs. Give it a try then report back.

khtm

Yeah dude, you really need a testdrive. You'll notice a huge difference between the RX-8 and your Accord in terms of power. I'm assuming you want a 6-speed though, not an A/T.

jj123

alright ill definately do that and yes im oging for the 6mt. just outta curiosity, im sure most of u have considered 350z b4 u purchased your rx-8. what was your reason for going with rx-8?

rodrigo67

Ok, low end torque. This is not a mustang killer so if your looking for an off the line drag racer, this is not it. Yes, it has low torque and yes you have to rev it to get the power, but from about 4K rpm to 9k is where your power comes on and I doubt the accord did that. 0-60 comes in just under 6 seconds and since that engine revs so high you get pretty high mph numbers from the gears. 1st gear goes to almost 40, 2nd to 69, 3rd to 97ish, 4th to 125, 5th to 154, and 6th is the overgear but you still get pretty good umph from it when passing on the highway.

Fuel gets about 17-18 in city and 21-23 on highway. Figure about 260 miles per tank at 14 gal. tank.

Maintenance is actually alot less then you think ( or the rumors on the internet suggest). Check your oil every so often, I check mine once a month, and change the oil regularly. It usually takes a quart of oil in between each oil change. Some use more, some less, but that seems about average.

The engine NEEDS to rev to keep the carbon from building up, so highly recomended to rev to redline fairly often. It has a rev limiter so you can't hurt anything, and it's good for the engine. Don't shut it down cold
( flooding issues), and since it runs hot it doesn't take too long to warm up anyway. Thats it. Thats all I do for maint. and so far 2 years and the only issue I had was a dead battery.

Take one for a test drive and if you can live with the torque, then the rest will just make you smile...

rodrigo67

The only real benefit the 350 has over the 8 is straigh line performance. 0-60 and 1/4 mile times are slightly better in the z. Some of the reasons many don't go with the z is the cheap interior, harsh bone jarring ride, clunky shifter, 2 seats, no trunk space, and early model z's had tire feathering issues and were going thru a set of tires in 8000 miles.

The z is a nice car and wouldn't be a bad choice, it just doesn't handle as well as an 8, doesn't have the space or the interior quality, feels heavy and beats you up on the ride, but it is faster then an 8...

top gears review. they compare it to the Z at the end. I have the 350z review by top gear and they hated it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=O2emH4ihqMU

camaro194

Very true. But, just Clarkson hated the Z. I believe that Top Gear did end up giving the Z the 'car of the year' award or something like that.

As for which car is better for you, test drive them. No one will be able to tell you how it will compare to your Accord except for you. Drive them (and any other sports car < 30,000) and see for yourself which is better suited. They are all great cars.

Rx-A-Ho

The 8 is a great car. And yes you have to adjust your driving habits to get the most of it, but for the better. Would I buy another? Yep in a second.

Now here is one of my favorite quotes by friends, and no you are not the first to post this.

Why do I love this quote? Glad you asked!


My friends have been telling me ________ can have a lot of problem if i dont maintain it properly.

Choose from below to make the above statement true.
a. Engine
b. House
c. Girlfriend
d. Pets
e. Carrot
f. Finances
g. Pick about any noun

kartweb

Having owed several sports cars over the years I am particularly pleased with the RX8. It fits my desires. Seating 4 people is nice when you still have a 14 year old daughter to shuttle around. It's a second car for me, actually a third if you include the family beater. Between the 3 drivers in my household we have 5 cars, 3 of them Mazdas.

It's not a torquer, it's a twister. The gearbox is a tad notchy and it's got more of an appetite for petrol then it justifies, but few people really appreciate the best part of it - the chassis. A rotary makes the perfect weight distribution possible.

The platform is about as rigid as anything I've ever driven including a real Hummer. The suspension is as close to a formula car as is found in a street worthy production car. Practicality in a sports car. But it's not a 1/4 mile rocket and never will be, unless you stuff a different motor in it. Why bother? In that case just buy a vette.

Razz1

Welcome, and you won't have a problem here in So. Calf.

Differance between your accord and the 8 is we have a linear power increase, so yes you have to increase the Rev's in the Mountains.

The car feels like a Motorcycle, that's why it's a blast to drive.

As far as maintence all you need to do is check the oil every 1000 miles as it is used to lube the Apex seals. This is normal. Oil consumption varies, but you must check it regularly.

Raptor75

Maintenance and reliability are blown way out of proportion. As long as you check the oil from time to time you are fine. As long as you keep the oil filled and don't over heat it your rotary will last at least as long as a piston.

As for the gas look out. If you drive pure high way you can expect 20 to 22 mph. Add 10 to 20% city and that drops to 17 to 20 mph. Now if you drive like I do 100% city (Chicago) you will get 11 to 12mpg. Mazda said this is normal and to be expected.

Great car and I love it but the gas mileage is the worst I have experienced. Also Mazda customer service is the worst and this isn't just my opinion, JD power rated Mazda 3rd from the bottom of all car makes. If you ask them to fix something which the computer doesn't pick up good luck, you pretty much screwed.

Again great car but Mazda and the gas mileage are a real issue.

rddragoness

I traded in an 05 Mustang Gt for my baby, which i dearly loved, but it being a Ford, I desided that resale value would be at its highest now, rather than wait.. I have never had to deal with a rotary engine either, and as a female, i dont know much about normal engines, but I can say this from what i have learned in the month and a half I have had my RX8. The gas mileage sucks if you have a lead foot, but if you maintain a normal driving speed of 65-75, you will at least meet what the expected fuel stats are. Also i have learned to make lists and get all my errands done in one trip. this is not a gas advantage auto that you can just jump in every time you feel like running to the nearest take out place....It does use the fuel.. In handling, it beats the mustang hands down, no possible comparison. In get up and go, I have no problem getting through traffic, and i have learned that with a 6 spd the gear ratio is different so you may have to downshift into a lower gear for climbing steep inclines, but the power is there. YOU DONT WANT AN AUTOMATIC IN THIS CAR!!!!!!!!LOL As far as maintainence, Do it regularly, and promptly, and your vehicle will last as well as the next one, and follow the intructions you'll be given at the dealership about cold cranking your engine. Remember it works different.. It will take care of you if you take care of it. That is a rule the japanese have had since they started making cars. ..I drove a Toyota supra, 89 model, and this is the closest thing that I have found to the handling capability of that car. I have no complaints, they are well built, safe with at least 6 airbags or curtains, awesome stereos although the bose 300 watt i think they could have gone a little higher with the wattage, but as far as calarity, they are most impressive. I love classical and intrumentals, so i plan on adding an amp and a 10 inch sub to pull in the base a little, and not blow the mids and highs.... otherwise, its all thumbs up.

saturn

Clarkson had an early edition Z. In fact it may have been the prototype version for the British market. The real Z probably isn't anywhere near as bad as he says it is and the 8 probably isn't as good as he says. Top Gear is mostly about entertainment and if you base you decision on what Clarkson says, you got some major problems.

Endor

Want off-the-line torque and maximum acceleration? Feather-drop the clutch at 5K RPM.

Want fast acceleration when you're already moving? Shift to keep the RPMs at >5K during spirited driving above 15 MPH. You can cruise at 7000 RPM in 3rd gear and feel like you're in 5th in your Accord, until you tap the gas at least.

Are you a tightwad that wants >18 MPG? Shift below 3K RPMs (the weak shift points that the manual recommends), and you'll get it even during total stop-and-go city traffic.

Choose your choice.

Raptor75

BULL.......I've tied this and the car almost hit 13mpg, stop and go city driving. Again Mazda has looked over all the information and proclaimed that 11 to 12mpg stop and go city driving is normal for the RX-8. I have heard of others getting better but have not seen it on my car which is a late year 05. So plan for the worst and be happy if you do better.

jj123

yaa i see. by the way guys, are there a lot of potentials lately? ive been considering an s2k too. same power, high revvng engine, lots of potential, and better fuel economy. but something keeps telling me i shouldd stick to rx8

jj123

oh by the way, how does this car handle in the snow? I plan on driving this car tto the hills for snowboarding when season comes. I read that 350z is a no-no in the ice, does anyone know why? and does it apply to rx-8 as well? since they are both RWD.

Raptor75

As to the S2000, it is a very nice car. It is a bit faster and some say maybe a little better handling but I have seen races where either car has beat the other so I'd call it a tie. Of course it dose have beater gas mileage. On the RX side you have a better riding car with 4 seats. They are so close in performance that I'd make my call on how well I like the car and if I need the 4 seats. The RX-8 is a more practical car day to day. I could only use the S2000 for a weekend toy.

As to the snow, you'll need all season tire or better yet winter snow tires. I run All Season performance tires in Chicago, the streets are well plowed so it is not an issue for me. If you get a lot of snow and sometimes it is unplowed go with winter tires. I hear the RX-8 dose well with winter tires in the snow. The stock tires are undrivable in the snow.

PS Good luck dragging a S2000 with a snow board into the hills.

bascho

Coming from an Accord to a RX8 will feel like you purchased a Ferrari. The RX8 is a purpose built sports car and the Accord is a grocery getter. You will think the RX8 has tons of torque coming from an I4 Accord........had you owned a Mustang/350Z/EVO/STI then it would be disappointing. What other cars have you owned?

VikingDJ

The S2K is most certainly now, and will be a more reliable vehicle overall/long term, and is top on holding it's value after 5 years. These cars are built to last, and if you maintain it, it will last like all other Hondas.

jj123

accord is the only car that i have driven before. haha i understand that theres gonna be difficulty hauling snowboards up with the s2000, thats why i opt for the rx-8...which should be able to do it..right??

Raptor75

Get the snow tires and you'll do as good as any rwd out there and better then most. The car is light and has a Torsen rear differential. Leave some questions on this in the regional forums for the state you live in I bet you can hear from people who do what you want to do.