Was getting my "8" washed the other day when this goofball starts this converstion:

HIM: Is that RX8 yours?

ME: Yes

HIM: I used to have a RX7 and loved it, when I was in Japan 6 (six) years ago I saw one there and fell in love with it, but couldn't accept it had a back seat.

ME: They didn't produce RX8's six years ago, did you se a concept or something?

HIM: No they were for sale. They just weren't for sale over in the US then, but they were in Japan.

I just walked away after that... they did not sale RX8's in Japan in 1999... right?

 

No RX8--but the JDM RX7s did have a vestigial back seat though.

 

No, the RX-8 didn't go into production until 2003 in any market I believe. Maybe he was confused with the Cosmo, or a 2+2 RX7?

 

in japan back in 1999, they had rx8 with turbo in it with 300 hp.

 

That's true. And in Canada they sold a four-seat Miata. A friend of mine saw one. No, really.

 

didnt they have the concept RX-Evolve then?

of course, not a production model, nor does it look like the 8, but it was the beginnings of the 8

 

japan DID make the FD RX-7s all the way up until 2002... and in Japan they DO have a 2+2 option for the FDs.... maybe he was talking about that?

 

The Mazda Sebring?

 

Im pretty shure he was because th RX-evolv concept didn't come out till 2003 or 2002 i think?
I know, I i fell inlove with the RX-8 when I first saw the RX-evolv concept and it wasn't in 99
In 99 I still had my FC and only dreamt of them bringing back the FD to the states.

 

sorry, they didn't. as has been mentioned, the 3rd Gen RX-7 was produced in japan until 2002 and it could be purchased as a 4 seater (power on that probably would have been around the 275-300hp area too, with twin-turbos), but no RX-8 before 2003...except the concepts. The RX-8 concept, as it appears today (mostly) was debuted in 2001, but it wasn't in production, and it wasn't for sale.

 

^i think termigni was being sarcastic lol

 

no, 'twas 99. i remember because thats what first got me on the RX bandwagon :D

Year: 1999
Engine: Water-cooled rotary
Power: 206 kW
Transmission: 6 speed auto-manual
0-60: n/a
Top speed: n/a

story:
http://www.21stcentury.co.uk/cars/mazda_rxevolve.asp

pictures:
http://features.conceptcar.co.uk/paris2000/mazda.php
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/rx7-r...rx_evolve.html

 

yes you could get an RX7 2+2, the max FACTORY power on the RX7 was 280hp for the twin turbo version in the Type RS and Type R...otherwise the twin turbo engine made 265hp.


you can see the 'back seat' on that one.

The announced the production version/release of the Mazda RX8 on April 9th 2003 in japan.

 

Yeah--a few US FD owners put the backseat into theirs.

 

lol. can they recline those seats any further? :D

 

thats straight up JDM gansta-style....

it looks like one of those 'insurance' back-seats. Neat idea though, might be good for a baby seat.

Personaly I would have gone with the 2002.5 Sprit R, that has the lowest weight, highest power and the sexyest body/wheels. Mmmmm MMmmmm BITCH

 

JDM? nah. that's MTV influenced seat positioning if i've ever seen it :D

 

reminds me of everyday when im sitting in trafic and look over...the guy next to me looks back at me thru the back window of his 4 door camry....mind you hes the guy driving....I totaly dont get that...i guess im to white.

 

People want to relax, people want to drive and get to their destination. Its like having your cake and eating it too! (if you don't have someone driving you around)

Anyways, its the gangsta lean.. the pillar is suppose to protect you in case of a driveby. :D