There's an undercurrent of negativity pervading some threads on this forum. Whenever the dread subject of torque rears it's head it seems that 50% are for the RX-8 and 50% against. Despite every review stating how wonderful the car is to drive I just wondered if anyone had got cold feet and cancelled their preorder. Kind of a bad question because if they have then they're probably over on the 350Z forum but I'd be interested.
I'm fine so far in case you wondered, just waiting until July when the first deliveries start and the definitive truth emerges.

 

i've tossed the idea around cancelling, but my deposit is refundable so i'll just leave it there...im currently looking at miata's and FD's and if something too good to pass up comes along then, /wave 8 even at 10yrs old i think i'd have much more fun blowing up an FD motor 2x a year =)

 

Are you crazy . . . we've been waiting too long for this car.

 

a better deal would be getting a miata over an 8? Hmmm, might as well go for a Geo Metro. javascript:smilie('')

 

A lot of that 'undercurrent' is coming from the FreshAlloy/Nissan forums because the RX-8 just beat out the G35 Coupe in every category that matters. Braking, handling, fun to drive and price. The one thing I'll give the Z/G35C is the power.. it's definately nice but I wouldn't take it at the expense of a less nimble and agile car.

So these threads we have been seeing for the past week or so are generally started by the trolls that are wafting over from the other forums to put down the car that beat theirs, and starting threads on their OWN forums to say how 'wrong' the articles are.

They are only right when they judge the cars THEY own better... otherwise they have no idea what they're talkin about.

 

Hercules, so I suppose anyone who does not own a RX8 in your opinion would be considered a troll? I am not planning on getting a RX8, and yes, I do own a G35C which you seem to hold against me for whatever reason. Some people browse through these forums because they are interested in the RX8, its design, concept and technology. I suppose some people on the other hand, feel so threatened that they have to insult others base on the car they drive. I could careless if RX-8 had beaten the G35C 0-60 handling on the track or whatever. I am interested in the RX8 because it is a new type of cross over vehicles we havn't seen before. (sort of a S2000 and Mazda6 mix) Your accusations only accents your insecurity for your decision and doubts regarding your choice. If anything, you seem more unsure about the RX8 than most in this forum. Again, value a car for its own merits, not through comparisons and magazine articles. If I hadn't bought the G35C, if Nissan didn't make the 350Z.... guess what, people would still say the Renesis can use more low end torque.

My only complaint with the RX8 had been its low torque, something that is indicated by EVERY publication on the RX-8. The reason we are complaining is not because of the 350Z, G35C, 330ci or whatever other car, but merely because we KNOW the rotary engine has more potentials. If you have to take that as a 'trolling' comment, then I suppose the editors at C&D, R&T, Motor Trend and Automibile are also trolling in that they agree with me the RX8 could use more low end torque.

 

So what you're saying is that you wish Mazda had completely blown the competition out of the water by making the RX-8 even more powerful right off the bat? Most curious.

Mazda is using something called strategic marketing where they are matching, if not beating the competition in the performance department, giving the car a great appearance and interior design, maintaining reliability, AND making it cheaper than the competition with an excellent "fun to drive" all around package.

Sounds to me like Mazda has a good grip on what the public wants and needs!

:D

 

SkylineManiac, I agree with you.

Lately I have noticed, not only on this forum but forums for other cars as well that if anyone has any questions or concerns in any way about the car that he is attacked immediately by immature and insecure sounding members and the word "troll" is used as a substitue and in lieu of any material arguments as to why they consider the concerns to be immaterial.

These forums should be a place where enthusiasts, owners and otherwise, can exchange information and ideas openly and freely about their love for the automobile and not a place where a particular car is lavished with blind love and admiration by the forum members.

As for the FACT that the RX8 lacks low end torque and needs to be revved to generate whatever torque it has, is my gripe too. I feel the same way about the S2000. Both of these cars are more of what I consider "driver's" cars than the Z though. The Z being heavier could benefit from more hp and if they could upgrade the interior materials, it would be truly phenomenal.

I am personally more interested in the lighter and more powerful RX7 which is rumored to be in production and hope that the RX8 would be successful so that the RX7 would be produced.

 

ain't nothing wrong with a miata, i figure, the money i could save getting a miata...instead of the 8, well could do a lot of fun stuff to a miata =p or an FD for that matter.

practicality isn't really much of an issue for me so i'm not locked into the 4 seats deal, anyhow was just considering options

 

Perhaps the problem some of you are noticing on this board and other boards is happening because people don't always know the best way to post an opinion in a diplomatic way (this is NOT saying anyone here is guilty of this). And anyway, you can't come on a board full of enthusiasts for a particular car, start posting problems you see with the car, (even if you're posting things you like at the same time) and not expect you're going to get yelled at by at least a few people. Especially when things you're listing as potential issues have been discussed repeatedly, over and over and over, in other places. I expect that if I go to one of the 350z forums and start posting that I like the car because it has a lot of torque and really takes off and has great handling, except that I've heard it needs a really heavy hand to drive (as is being reported elsewhere) I'd get yelled at there too.

And for the record- I have never, ever, considered canceling my order. I don't even know what color I'm getting for sure (as it seems to be the only one we haven't seen the car in yet) and I'm not considering canceling my order. I love this car- it is exactly what I want and need right now. The lines on the car are beautiful, and it won't ever be mistaken for anything else on the road. I am excited about the high revs and the handling, and I don't feel the torque (which is ALL anyone has been discussing recently) is any kind of an issue. I can't wait to drive this car, and see it (again) in person, preferably in my parking lot.

 

Elara makes and excellent point. This is an RX8 forum, so we have a tendency to stick up for our car. I think that the whole torque thing is getting blown out of proportion. Generally there is someone, for what ever reason, brings up the lack of low end torque. This may be a valid point to SOME people. Not everyone is in the market for something that is high revving and nimble to drive. Some would prefer a Mustang-like car. Something that has tons of torque off the line. After someone brings up the issue there is usually a quick response about how torque doesn't directly relate to power yada yada yada. A few more people then repeat that point and then the person who started that thread or someone with a similar point of view give their rebuttal. This is all fine and good until someone says the dreaded troll. For whatever reason, valid or not, saying this word sets off a firestorm. So what I am trying to say in this long rambling post is that 90% of the time the torque issue is talked about in a civilized manner. It is not until someone says troll that all hell breaks loose.

 

I second that Elara!

Also, good post cueball!

 

The problem with this complaint is there's a disconnect between the judgment and the driving experience. If you had said "I wished it jumped off the line faster" (and, indeed, maybe that's what you meant), that would be a valid criticism. As it is, however, your comment is susceptible to the inference that what you've done is compare two torque numbers (159 to 260, or whatever the other torque figure is) and figured out which one is higher. Which, unlike a 0-60 time or slalom time or some purer measure of performance, is meaningless.

Put it this way: the driveshaft (I apologize if I've got the term wrong -- I'm not a mechanic or even mechanically inclined) of a piston engine rotates once for each time the piston moves up and down. The driveshaft of a rotary rotates three times for each rotation of the rotor. If I measured torque to reflect force on the rotor (or piston, which would be identical in any case) rather than force on the driveshaft (which might be justifiable because it's proportional to the wear on the engine), blammo, the RX-8's got peak torque of 477, which I think is higher than anything else out there.

Which is why, I think, anyone who posts something here complaining about the "low end torque" is going to be disregarded as a troll. It's language reflecting a number on a piece of paper, not actual driving experience.

 

Take a look at this and for S2000 read Rx-8 (but smoother):

http://www.teutonic.ca/articles/techCorner/hpTorque/

 

Considering this is a RX8 forum and the car is not actually in anybodies ownership I am somewhat surprised at the in-fighting on this site, most of which is repeats of old threads anyway.

Lets leave the car alone until we can actual make some sort of proper judgement later this year, once we have driven it. We all have our own expectations based on our driving history and will therefore get different reward from the RX8.

One thing I will g'tee, once the car is delivered there will be a minority who will be disappointed with the car (for whatever reason) and unfortunately these will represent the majority of postings on this site. The majority who enjoy the car will not bother and much of the positive vibes now seen on this site will probably be lost.

So lets all enjoy our expectations.

rael.

 

Hell no. I've allways wanted a Rotary powered Car

 

True, because the ones that find fault will still be sitting at home/work while the rest of us will be driving, washing, driving, waxing, driving, showing off, driving and... did I mention driving?... our RX-8s :D

 

Considering you have ordered black I think you may be out there washing & waxing more than most :D

rael

 

Actually, I think most people here are pretty satisfied with the way the RX-8 is turning out. We're not really fighting amongst ourselves, but rather with people who come here and basically repost things that could've been found with the search function. I think most of us are sick and tired of hearing the same things over and over again.

 

OK,
Back on subject, I have cancelled my pre-order. But will wait and buy one before next winter. As I have to take advantage of the interest rates and buy a house. I am getting married and everyone seems to think this is the sensible decision. I know it is but damnit I want my 8. Oh well I'll just get one of the better RX-8's because they will have made so many by the time mine gets made that it will be perfect.:D

 

awww..fritts....come on! Where are your priorities???

J/k- but I'm actually putting off buying a house until next winter- I just can't wait any longer to get a car, and we'll finally have our wedding completely paid off (it will have taken us over a year at that point- next time, I'll elope). And anyway, interest rates aren't going to leap up any time soon, so I think we'll probably still manage to get in under 7%- anything under that is just gravy, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm sorry you have to wait though

 

There's a man with a plan and priorities. Good Luck!

 

No way Jose.
Can't wait any longer.