ok i know this is a huge topic now..but to much to search.. i wana what are ppl. dynoing on the 8. and if anyone has took it on a 1/4 mile or 0-60 run and seen numbers? i personally think itsa quick car and i am happy but imagine if it had the 247 how much power is it HONESTLY pulling?

 

On dyno tests it delivers about 180hp at the wheels.
Based on usual figures for driveline loss that means the engine is making about 220HP at the engine.
Not the 238 that Mazda now claims, let alone the 247 they claimed until last Friday.

IF you talk to a dealer, point this out and offer him about $3K less than list.

If they laugh at you, do the same, laugh at them, and walk away.

 

i still maintain that rotaries don't make full power till well after the first few thousand miles (refering to your comment skeptical about the 238 hp figure)

 

Have you tried this yourself, zoomer? If so, what happened? I can't tell from your sig if you already own an '8 or not.

 

Have fun trying to find an RX-8 for 3K under MSRP, car salesman have to pay bills to.

 

I already have mine.
I was eager, and probably got the first one delivered in Canada.

If I knew then what I know now it would have been a different story.
Now I am trying to get people on board to force Mazda to do something about it, and fix the damned things.

Here, just to save the Mazda apologists the effort of writing:

Why are you reading this forum if you are happy with it??

 

Why are you if you're so damned unhappy with the car and with Mazda?

Personally I read this forum for the same reason I have since day one, to interact with others who have a passion for the RX-8, for the unique in the industry rotary engine and in general to follow the launch of one of the most unique sports cars (yes, it's actually still a sports car with 238 HP, imagine that) released in recent years.

if you want to commiserate with others that feel the way you do, that's fine, that's your right, but to run around basically saying "what's wrong, why isn't everyone here complaining about what gutless pieces of crap Mazda sold us" and question the motives of those of us who love the RX-8, many of whom would have been interested in it even if it had 175 HP as long as it felt peppy when driven, is a bit silly and sad, IMHO...

 

I find that beyond the Mazda blunder the Dyno numbers seem very dishartening. Ive been sold on this car from day one and I've been dying to get one... saving up for almost a year now.

But I have to admit this fiasco has me thinking twice. What some owners dont want to accept is that you in fact you paid 30K for the car because it had 250 hp.

Why do you think cars like the WRX and RSX are cheaper? Lower horsepower.

Its also easy for people to say well ill just get a catback and an intake and bring it back to 250. This doesnt make sense, you should have stock at 250 and be able to bring it up to 270-280, why should the owner have to take that extra step.

Dont get me wrong... I still want one but id be real hard pressed to pay full msrp for this car. Mazda should drop it a few thousand if they wanna compete with the likes of the G35, STi, Lancer etc...

 

I dont mind the HP issue (hopefully Uk spec isnt any further down on power than 231ps tho). And one of my fav sports cars here is a lotus Elise, only makes 118bhp at crank, but...


If your selling something, least here in the UK, it better contain what it says on the tin.

Imagine selling a PC with a 3.oGhz CPU (say as IBM/SONY), and only having a 2.5ghz CPU in it - its tantermount to theft.

Or buy a pint of milk and only get 7/8ths.

I dont think Mazda could have shipped a car without knowing exactly what HP it puts out, I cant belive that, its not how car companies work. And 9hp seems kinda short too, I've seen dyno's for 163hp at the wheels, thats still 75 short of new quoted numbers.

 

If you're going to bring up the computer analogy...

Consider buying an Intel processor that runs at 3.0 ghz. You could buy (for less mind you), an AMD processor running at 2.6 ghz that outperforms the Intel one. So the question is: do you car about a single number that honestly has no intrinsic meaning? Or do you car about performance? The car is fast. It handles great, and it is a quality product in every way.

The RSX and WRX are cheaper for reasons other than horsepower. I test drove an RSX this past weekend and it was a nice little car.... little being the operative word. I climbed in the back seat to test it and I could not sit up straight for my head smacking into the roof of the car. I'm 6'2" so it's not like I am a giant. I also climbed into the 'cockpit' of a WRX, and I have to say, you get what you pay for. Crummy and plain interior made of cheap-looking parts. The RX8 is a performance car that is beautifully engineered. An obvious effort has gone into not just the engine (which performs great), but pretty much every aspect of the car. One word: quality.

 

I hate to break this to all of you, but the price of a car isn't dependent on the horsepower it makes. If that was the case, then cars like the IS300 and the like should be priced at $24000 using your math.

The $30K pricetag is for the entire package. Show me an RSX that handles as nice as the RX8 or has a better interior, and then maybe you'll have an argument.

But you people that are saying that you can't justify paying $30k for a car that ONLY makes 220 or 238 HP...how about you sell your RX8 or your Preorder and go get something else.

 

Don't forget the Car and Driver picked the RX-8 over both the Infinity G35 Coupe and the Mustang Cobra SVO. Not too bad for a puny, underpowered 1.3 liter huh? Maybe it's because they take other factors into consideration (like handling and overall driveability) before making their decision. I doubt if they would have changed their posttest review if Mazda said "oh by the way guys, the car only has 238 HP." Knowing now that the power IS down in the car makes the feat of beating both of these cars (G35 and Mustang SVO) even more impressive!!

If 250+ power is essential to you, enjoy the car for now and wait for a supercharger kit. I'm sure that several aftermarket companies are working on them as we speak!

 

If that were the case, everyone in the world would be driving a Neon SRT-4. Best horsepower for the buck hands down.

I wouldn't be caught dead in one.

I also test drove the WRX and couldn't imagine paying $25,000 for that car. Very harsh ride, worst road noise I've ever heard, and the worst interior of any car I've ever owned.(and I've never owned a car that cost over $20,000 to this point).

Having power is obviously important for a sportscar, but its not the ONLY factor. Car and Driver understood this. They liked the RX-8 over the Cobra because it was better in EVERY category but power.

 

But thats not it, I know the AMD 2.6 may perform better, but I'd still expect the computer with an AMD 2.6 to actualy have that CPU in (and its a 'performance rating' so I know its not actualy running at 2.6 either).

As I said, the actual number is fairly meaningless, and performance has a lot to do with gearing, mass etc aswell as HP.

But it still doesnt get round the fact that they missold the car.

Nother analogy. Your sold a beutiful origonal paining , aparently by monet. Turns out to be pained by manuell, the salesguys neighbour. now you still have a beutiful, origonal painting, so why worry?

As to performance figures, manufacturers ones are always a bit dodgy anyhow, but I dont see how they have stayed the same with a 9hp drop, let alone some of the larger HP drops we've seen.

And how do they explain the rich runing?

 

IMHO, the RSX-S handled better than the RX8. Smaller, lighter and less body roll. In addition, the RSX-S'sinterior is better and classier IMHO.

 

Your analogy is ridiculous. By your reasoning, this essentially means you think that Mazda fooled everyone in thinking they bought a Mazda when in fact they bought a Hyundai, their neighbor.

What everyone doesn't get is that a horsepower humber means NOTHING. That car can still go fast, as a guy proved here a few days ago with a 1/4 run. If your SOLE reason is to buy a car based on horsepower numbers, go buy a Mustang.

But if I have to read one more person say they feel "cheated" because their poor RX8 makes 9 less horsepower (or you people that say since some dynos say it makes ~185 wheel horsepower, that means it makes 220 HP at the motor), then by all means go return your RX8, get your money back, and be done with it.

 

You think the RSX has a classier interior? Are you kidding me? The dashboard looks like it came straight out of a Civic...uninspiring and boring. And FAR from classy. The fact that you say this gets me worried why you are looking at the RX8 in the first place.

 

Its the RSX Type S. All leather and some of the best gauges I have seen. If classinees , quality and service are a priority (not for me), then Acura will always beat Mazda. BTW.. I ruled out the RX8 three months ago.

 

Then you're still here because.......?

 

Your priority was straight line speed and pure performance thus you got the right car. Thanks for your input (not).

 

Well put, but also understand that in America numbers do play a big role in in car buying. Sad but true. The average Joe will look at the Sti and say wow 300 hp vs 237 (if that?) for similar priced car.

But say that the RX8 is 2K less than its current price, that may make the buyer think twice.

Regardles, I think 30k is still a fair price for the car. But in today's market and economy I dont see mazda outselling many of its competitiors if this continues.

 

Thanks for the very insightful post. I'm glad you let me know what my priorities were.

 

Perhaps he said that because you own an EVO, which only has the purpose of straight line performance. I also find it humorous that you said the RSX-S has a classier interior than the RX8, yet you drive an EVO? If interior was so important to you, I would think you would have ruled your current car out. The EVO has the interior of a Kia.

 

You're kidding right? Do you even know what an Evo can do? I don't know if I would buy one, but I do know that an Evo will walk an RX8 on both the drag strip and on the road course track.

 

So the EVO is a muscle car and can only go in a strightline? Your ignorance is growing more apparent with each post. The EVO is all about handling, breaking, acceleration at an affordable price. It is one of the best handling cars in the world, at least according to Road and Track where they placed it fourth (behind the Ferrari 360 Modena, Porsche 911 Turbo and Lotus Elise).

I said before I couldn't care less about the interior. That being said, the EVO's interior is perfect where it counts (the grippiest racing seats I have ever seen, excellent steering wheel and gearbox and perfectly placement of everything to allow fabulous driving dynamics).

I still maintain the RSX Type S has a very nice interior and is more classy than the RX8's.