I recently heard a comment at our local rx8 club (flrx8club.net) from a RX7 owner, who did not bash the RX8 mind but he called it a step brother and how the RX7 is the holy trinity of the RX world. Also, as we are all aware the comments fly how the RX8 is slow…it’s not as good as the RX7, it’s a girls car, etc etc etc.

Reflecting on that, I’m amazed what .5 sec in the ¼ mile can do to change someone’s outlook on a car. While I realize there are “haters” out there (not the guy above, he just preferred the RX7) which I ignore with their mindless dribble it’s amazing what roughly .5 sec did to the RX8.

Why .5 sec…because that was basically the difference between the RX7 and RX8 and also what would have put the RX8 slightly ahead, equal, or slightly behind it’s main competition at it’s price range.

So, it makes me wonder what 50HP or .5 seconds of acceleration could have done for the RX8 sales. No, I don’t think that’s the sole reason for lower sales (frankly, misinformation and unfamiliarity with the rotary for the common Joe counts too) but honestly it’s not the looks, quality, comfort, reliability, fun to drive factor, utility, or poor ergonomics that have kept people out of the show room.

I’m aware history and the legend status of the last RX7, hey…I loved that car, but often times the RX8 is treated as a red headed stepchild.

I’m basically new to the Mazda family but from what I hear and have seen they tend to under power their cars a bit while making great handling and very fun to drive cars. The recent MS6 seems to indicate things are starting to change but if anything I hope Mazda has learned a lesson through all of this.

While not all cars at the RX8’s price point are “true” competitors, you can’t afford to ignore acceleration that so many American leadfoot’s out there care about. Yes…I know it’s foolish really to make a purchase mainly based on a number that you won’t be able to test MOST OF THE TIME…but I hope Mazda is listening to us…and those non-haters who simply think the RX8 should have been faster than it is.

I’m more than satisfied with my 8 so this is not a complaint on my part (while yes I wouldn’t mind those extra 50HP)…just more about my amazement on what the impact of .5 seconds has had on what people think of the RX8.

A lot of people are really missing out on the qualities of this car…

 

amen.

 

Your probably right. If this car hit 60 in 5.5 and the 1/4 in 14 flat, it probably would have better sales in America. That said, the reputation of the rotary coupled with the 8's reputation for being difficult to mod doesn't help. If the 8 was easy to extract power from, it probably would get more sales also.

Really, though, this argument can be made for any car.

 

The rx7 is nice, but it was overpriced and impractical. Twin Turbo's only netting about 250 or so hp? weak.

this is an age old discussion I guess, chevy vs ford. Mustang GT vs Cobra.......etc.

Can't we all just get along?

 

I test drove the RX-8 and was content in it's "lower" horsepower, in change for its handling. The car handled like a dream. It shifted like a dream.

Most of all, the car was fun to drive. You step into a 2002 Trans Am, and while its nice to have your body thrust back into the seat on a launch, it's kind of a chore to drive. This car was nothing but pleasure to drive.

I do think the rotary engien scares people and I do think that its a little expensive. Some people really hate how this car looks, but I think its beautiful, inside and out. The interior is exceedingly comfortable for a sports car, and it has the versitility of four doors. You can't ask for much more than that.

 

Ill trade you for an 02 ws6 or 30th/35 ann. t/a

 

The day I bought my car i was initially out driving a 6spd 540 (to replace my auto 540 i had at the time), and I went to infiniti to take the g35 for a spin (having driven the 350 the night before and loved it but it was too small). The infiniti guys blew me off, no one came out to help me and on top of that there wasn't one 6spd coupe on the lot.

I had some time to kill so i wandered over accross the street to the mazda dealership i had bought a 3 from less then a year prior. Saw my future car. Navi (something i wanted), 6spd, leather etc. I got all excited. I had read so many things about the rx8, but never considered it because my perception was from what i had read, the car was slow. One drive and I was sold. The car isn't slow, half the people that say it is are going by what mags say, it's not as fast as others, but it certainly isn't slow.

When i hear the word slow i think of my old 84, that thing was slow... but a lot of fun!

 

Competition isnspires new things...maybe faster and better things

 

Off-topic, but tranamkid, I had a black 99 Firebird for a few years. I just recently sold it, and am selling my 2000 Grand AM GT to put money down on the 8.

I loved my Firebird, big boatiness, numb response and all.

 

I have an AT 8, it's even slower, and I freaking love it. I drove the MT 8 a while back and went back to test drive it again recently. I also test drove the Mazdaspeed 6 and that thing felt like a rocket. I think the 8's sales are hurting because people haven't caught on to mazda's build quality yet. $30.000 is alot to spend if you're not 100% sure. I'm 100% satisfied with my car and it is probably the slowest out of all the cars I've ever owned.

 

everyone seems to forget that there are other rx7s than the FD, and yeah, they are good cars, but they are far from the performance pinnacle that the 3rd gen set.

 

I'll bet the horsepower number alone would make an impact. Think about all the marketing around cars, trucks, SUVs... even minivans. Most consumers have no clue what their car's 0-60 or 1/4 mile are. But they know that HP number. If the car had 285 hp but was no faster, I'm sure more people would want it.

It's too bad that most people never stop to think about how much heavier a 350z (for example) is, what 6 speeds and a 9,000 RPM do for performance, etc. Hell, my wife's minivan has more horsepower (really) than my RX... but does that mean it's faster? More fun to drive?

 

When people hear the word rotory (not all people but car people) they think of the FD and it's unreliable setup. I think that has also damaged the rep...

I hear all the time, "Your car may have a rotary, but at least i wont have to replace my engine at 50k miles" or something along those lines. They have no clue.

 

So do most people I've run across. I just came back from Starbucks and reached a new personal record of FIVE people asking me about it. I pulled up right in front of the store in the five-minute zone, and as I was waiting for my coffee, two guys walked over to me and started commenting about the car (nice-lookin' machine, love the color, real swoopy, etc.), and while this was going on I noticed two guys outside orbiting the car... Both of whom descended upon me as I exited the store. They gave me the full quiz show about the engine, doors, exhaust (is that stock? it sounds cool), the body kit (no, that's just the appearance package, it's stock), the wheels/tires (no, those are NOT stock, those are my Blizzaks on 17's, the stockers are 18's), do the back seats recline (uhhh, no...), etc.

While all this was going on, a fifth person, an attractive twentysomething woman, joined the fray and simply gushed over the thing.

God, I love this car.

As an aside, I'd pulled up in front of the store behind a mildly worked-over WRX, and that guy and his car got no attention whatsoever (the body kit and huge wheels notwithstanding). So... He'd probably leave me for dead in a drag race (there's that half second again!), but my ride gets all the tongues wagging.

I can live with that.

 

Nice post - it's all a perception of some RX7 owners, that bash the 8, that since the RX8 did not come out with a Turbo, that's what makes it slow - that's all. Now that FI is out for us, this perception will suddenly change. I know there will be those that will say, yeah the RX8 now has a turbo, but it did not come from the factory that way. That's fine, but tell me how many RX7 owners out there are running their cars with the stock turbo setup?

Of interest, when I was driving over the Grapevine in Cali on my way to Sevenstock7 in '04, I was tailing two FD's. They were litterally amazed that I was hanging with them the whole way. I think that was when Zoom44, TheDosDog, Fanman and I got separated. For a minute there, I thought I was going to get lost, so I just paced the FD's right on their bumpers.

 

Another good point. I've never ever ever recieved as many looks as I have in this car. It's some what rare for a mass production car, it has IMO exotic car styling cues like the headlights, sharp edges etc, and it just gets noticed.

Not that important being married, but definitely cool

 

When I first saw the 8 I was 100% sure it was the car I wanted. I loved the look both inside and out. In fact there was no other car that I liked better regardless of price (within reason of course). When I took it for a test drive I have to admit I was sorely disappointed with the power. I was expecting soooo much more. I had just come from a mustang though, so I was used to tons of torque. I almost didn't buy the car, but it was so much fun to drive and I liked everything else about it so much I did. Now with the turbo kit I am 100% happy. Its a great car.

I am also certain that the sales are suffering greatly mainly due to the reputatino the 8 has for being slow. And compared to other cars in its class it is slower than them, but I think it makes up for it in other ways. But, you have to try out the car with an open mind in order to see those other things.

 

The FD has about 220rwhp bone stock. Good luck getting a ride/finding one. With a few mods it pretty easy to get 250rwhp+.

I do agree with the original comments. Only on a race track does 1 second make a difference.

 

wannahave, i understand your point completely-

i will say though that .5 doesn't just make a difference on our 8, but every car.

imagine how they could hype the civic si for example if it was .5 faster.
Altimas, Eclipses...everything... imagine if an s2000 was .5 faster, it d be damn near the high 4s to 60.

so it kind of cancels it out. the thing about the 8 is that it looks crazy fast. plus its competition is just a tad quicker. Throw in that the previous 7 was faster. So i can't blame anyone for calling it slow. I only wish they looked at the bigger picture.

In the real world, when im driving, 90 percent of the time when i look at the cars in my peripheal, im still usually the 'fastest' of the bunch. So i agree that its odd how many 'stats' often drive buyers out there...

 

I have yet to have any panties drop. Once I do then I can ignore the .5 time deficit

 

LOL

Go Chiefs

 

Some 7 owners are the worst. I went to a dealership with a friend and was looking at one (edit: an RX-8 that is) in the showroom. We were taking turns sitting in the back and messing around with the shifter and realized that there was a man and woman standing near the door. We both got out and asked if they wanted to get in it and look around (meaning we'd get out of the way). The guy promptly said, "I have a 7, I hate this car". Dude, a simple "no" would have sufficed. Don't be such a douche and rain on my parade when it's obvious I'm interested in the car. Even say something like, "no thanks, I already have a 7 -- this one doesn't quite have the power I'm looking for" or anything.

Shoulda kicked him sqwa in the nuts.

 

No kidding!!! Some people are completely lacking in the tact department.

 

Living here on this forum, it's easy to assume that most people "out there" are gearheads obsessed with quarter-mile times. They're not. I think the main reason the 8 hasn't sold in big numbers is because, to the ordinary buyer, it's a strange car with a weird engine that gets terrible mileage. A half-second would not make a big difference in sales.

 

Most definitely, rx8wannahave.

Now if the rx-8 was just a little more battle-hardened by Mazda...rip off 200-300 pounds, the car might be able to get into the 5.5 range.

Hell, just make another two-seat RX roadster (7)