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How .5 seconds impacts the perception of the RX8

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Old 03-27-2006 | 11:44 AM
  #101  
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at the same time you cant down play acceleration either, its still one of the most important aspect of defining performance. especially in daily driving, where most of us do 99% of our driving.
Old 03-27-2006 | 11:51 AM
  #102  
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Last night, i'm driving along and an SUV comes FLYING from way behind to just slightly past me.. I was already doing a little over the speed limit.. we headed into a large curve that merges into another road and he slammed on his brakes and I cruised through at the same speed I was already travelling at.. He ended up WAY behind me. He was midway through the curve when I was well beyond it. He eventually caught up but then there was a little traffic and he was stuck behind me anyway.

I guess he was working off or your acceleration is most important theory
Old 03-27-2006 | 12:02 PM
  #103  
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Originally Posted by DreRX8
At the end of the day--you have what I like to consider faux car enthusiast--those that immediatly look for the 0-60 time in the magazines. You are gonna always have misinformed people--to some acceleration is the definitive benchmark of a sports car to the informed world the complete synthesis of a cars mechanicals is ultimate. The RX8 is far more confidence inspiring than my FD was--even though the FD pulled better skidpad numbers--I never felt like it 'had my back' so to speak in a turn.
At the end of the day--you [are] what I like to consider snobby car enthusiast. Just because Jeremy Clarkson says something doesn't make it right. You criticize some people for caring solely about 0-60 times (which no one here is doing IMO), but don't get that there are tons of people here who are brainwashed into thinking that the 8 is the ultimate driving machine with no faults without ever even driving one. Which is more dangerous?

You jump on someone for even considering performance benchmarks that every car magazine in the history of time has considered and written about. All the numbers are a quasi-objective way of comparing cars that are sometimes very different. But the only "pure" way to concern yourself with a car is to "feel" it and anyone who doesn't agree with you is just some punk kid who doesn't "get it".

This forum is way, way too reactionary and defensive. It's more important that people get a fair and balanced review of this car than for everyone to tip-toe around your sensitive ego which alows you only to be happy with your car if everyone congratulates you on truly understanding what it means to be a car enthusiast.

The RX-8 is NOT the best car ever made. It has very real drawbacks that should be highlighted when we're discussing such topics (as in this thread). I for one, very much appreciate the people who "keep it real" and let me know exactly where the 8 stands in ALL its facets. It keeps me from letting my visceral enthusiasm for this car cloud my ability to make an informed decision.

Last edited by saturn; 03-27-2006 at 12:05 PM.
Old 03-27-2006 | 12:15 PM
  #104  
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Originally Posted by guy321
Last night, i'm driving along and an SUV comes FLYING from way behind to just slightly past me.. I was already doing a little over the speed limit.. we headed into a large curve that merges into another road and he slammed on his brakes and I cruised through at the same speed I was already travelling at.. He ended up WAY behind me. He was midway through the curve when I was well beyond it. He eventually caught up but then there was a little traffic and he was stuck behind me anyway.

I guess he was working off or your acceleration is most important theory
ONE of the most important. are you feeling great about your self because you beat a SUV around the curve? j/k
Old 03-27-2006 | 12:28 PM
  #105  
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I kind of agree with what sti eric says if i understand him correctly.

5-60 is a valuable thing to look at. It is more real world. I'd only say to him that is not the only thing, but worth looking at and a valuable point.

While the rx8s time of 5.9 is (IMO ) fast and fine for me, (especially concerning its price), none of us are doing 8K clutch drops on the way to the store. So we just have to be careful how much we use that number to indicate the cars speed.

Take the car like the R32. its 0-60 time is damn near identical to the 8. But from 5-60, the r32 retains its 0-60 time, while the rx8 drops.

What does all that mean? well, a bunch of stuff, many of which I don't really care about too much. But I think what sti eric is trying to say is just be careful and dont think you can smoke every car that has a 0-60 time close to the 8.
Old 03-27-2006 | 12:40 PM
  #106  
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Nah, I just thought it was funny. An SUV driver flying past me doing nearly twice my speed (estimate) then forced to stop abruptly. Honestly, I don't think that driver had to stop as much as they did, as quick as they did.. I don't know what they were doing.. They probably didn't either

Originally Posted by playdoh43
ONE of the most important. are you feeling great about your self because you beat a SUV around the curve? j/k

Last edited by guy321; 03-27-2006 at 12:42 PM.
Old 03-27-2006 | 01:13 PM
  #107  
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Originally Posted by sti_eric
Get a life.

I think you NEED to get a life.

The rx8 isn't fast but it's fast enough for everyday driving by far. You make it sound like everyone races at a red light. FYI, I'll be taking delivery of a ninja zx-6r in a months time. With that bike, I will make sti/evo look like shopping carts standing still. You have no concept of real speed eric. sure the 8 is slow but so is your sti the way I see it.

To me, you're just here trying to justify driving an ugly car. Yes the 8 is slow but the sti is slow and ugly. sorry if the truth hurts.......move on already.
Old 03-27-2006 | 01:17 PM
  #108  
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I LOVE the rx8, ( i own one ), I also think rx7's are a great example of a reasonable sports car. Both are fast, the rx8 can be VERY fast. but stock
http://videos.streetfire.net/categor...C3CFD0DFE3.htm

the rx7 wins, and im not surpriced
Old 03-27-2006 | 01:53 PM
  #109  
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Originally Posted by wantan8
What numbers? Not sure what you're talking about. The STI has a schtick to it though. Near super-car performance for 30 grand. The Rx8 is it's rotary. But other then its light weight, its hard to sell what is so genuinely unique about it if it isn't That fast and has horrible mileage. The four door idea was done by Saturn, so to me that isn't that attractive. Plus having 4 doors might scare off some true to sports car enthusiasts.

.



ok what super car are you comparing it to?

you do know the impreza line has 4 doors right?
Old 03-27-2006 | 01:58 PM
  #110  
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This is not a "I could have xxx horsepower for $xx,xxx" debate. Those are stupid. The OP posted "what if the RX-8 was .5 second faster", would sales be better?
Yeah, lol…I am the original poster…lol

It was not about sales so much as it was what the lack of that .5 had on the perception of the RX8 as slow or not as good as it’s price ranged competitors. It was also about how that related to the other RX brotheren’s view of the RX8.

Yes, I brought up sales…but as more of a minor topic point. I think more power would help sales but suggested that honestly I think the rotary engine itself also held sales down a bit because frankly people are afraid of what they don’t’ understand.

So…sure there have been a lot of talk about sales and other topics, but my main paint has been that such a small amount of time has really hurt the perception of the RX8 leaving a lot of people on the outside forming opinions of the 8 while missing out completely on what it does really well.

The street start is a valid thing to bring up and I can’t argue with CD, I’m just going by the butt-dyno, but now that you have brought it up I really want to test it out because honestly every 5-60 run I’ve made NEVER felt like 7.5 sec….maybe I’ll be surprised when I try this out.

The only thing is…saying you need a 8K clutch dump to hit so and so number and saying that 5-60mph is slow, while then saying that since us 8 owners don’t take our cars to the track (which is true for most of us) and track time’s don’t really count is unfair to the car.

Hence…the meaning of this thread, people are so caught up on certain acceleration numbers that they conclude the car is slow…when in fact it isn’t and you can’t be fair and discount the track performance of the car. Cause again…it’s overall performance verse drag performance.

The RX8 is not a dragster…it’s a track car, or true sports car in my opinion.

It’s more of a F1 (loosely used lol) than it is a dragster.


at the same time you cant down play acceleration either, its still one of the most important aspect of defining performance. especially in daily driving, where most of us do 99% of our driving.
TRUE! All area’s are important to a sports car and if the RX8 made up that .5 I think people would be singing a different tune. I’m all for more power…I just wished people didn’t base their view of a car, IF they call themselves true sports car enthusiast, on just acceleration.

As we keep saying…it’s more than that, BUT that does not mean you ignore that aspect of a sports car also. Mazda has shown in it’s past that their focus is in handling and balance, but I think it’s time they focus at least a bit more on acceleration also. If getting that magical .5 means you gain another 30% in sales…then it’s worth the effort.

NOTE: That was a side topic to the main topic of this thread…lol

OK…I’ll come back later, lunch time.
Old 03-27-2006 | 02:20 PM
  #111  
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Originally Posted by saturn
At the end of the day--you [are] what I like to consider snobby car enthusiast. Just because Jeremy Clarkson says something doesn't make it right. You criticize some people for caring solely about 0-60 times (which no one here is doing IMO), but don't get that there are tons of people here who are brainwashed into thinking that the 8 is the ultimate driving machine with no faults without ever even driving one. Which is more dangerous?

You jump on someone for even considering performance benchmarks that every car magazine in the history of time has considered and written about. All the numbers are a quasi-objective way of comparing cars that are sometimes very different. But the only "pure" way to concern yourself with a car is to "feel" it and anyone who doesn't agree with you is just some punk kid who doesn't "get it".

This forum is way, way too reactionary and defensive. It's more important that people get a fair and balanced review of this car than for everyone to tip-toe around your sensitive ego which alows you only to be happy with your car if everyone congratulates you on truly understanding what it means to be a car enthusiast.

The RX-8 is NOT the best car ever made. It has very real drawbacks that should be highlighted when we're discussing such topics (as in this thread). I for one, very much appreciate the people who "keep it real" and let me know exactly where the 8 stands in ALL its facets. It keeps me from letting my visceral enthusiasm for this car cloud my ability to make an informed decision.
Wrong again...I never said anything about the 8 being the best car ever made--but people that only look at one aspect of a cars performance are not car enthusiast. Just like I think that people that argue that the twisties are the only facet are in the same boat. "This forum is way, way too reactionary and defensive. It's more important that people get a fair and balanced review of this car than for everyone to tip-toe around your sensitive ego which alows you only to be happy with your car if everyone congratulates you on truly understanding what it means to be a car enthusiast." is exactly what I am saying. I'd advise you to read peoples comments before commenting out of context.
Old 03-27-2006 | 02:37 PM
  #112  
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Eric Sti and Ike need the following subforums:

"My ***** is really small, but I feel better because I can obtain quick rolling starts with my riced-out Impreza and/or Lancer."

"Oh no! My ***** is really small AND there are cars that obtain faster rolling starts than my riced-out Impreza and/or Lancer. Is this world made for suffering? Shrinkage."

Last edited by RotoRocket; 03-27-2006 at 02:41 PM.
Old 03-27-2006 | 02:40 PM
  #113  
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Originally Posted by buzzardsluck


ok what super car are you comparing it to?

you do know the impreza line has 4 doors right?

Try to be "clever" as an additive to trying to be "funny"
Old 03-27-2006 | 03:38 PM
  #114  
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Here is my opinion on the overall performance of my RX8:

0-60
Fast enough for normal driving on the street and faster than most cars on the road.

5-60
If 7.5 is right, that’s a huge drop off on speed and should be worked on…IF that is true, but CD states it is and I can’t argue with their results.

¼ mile
Again, fast enough for normal driving on the street and faster than most cars on the road.

Track time
It’s an overachiever which humbles cars much stronger than it HP wise. With more power who knows who it could humble in the upper priced sports car world.

Balance
Pretty near perfect, predictable, and it allows you to enter in faster and leave a corner faster mitigating the HP disadvantage to its competitors. 50/50 weight distribution really helps. Makes an inexperienced driver better/safer and an experienced driver can push it to higher limits with little "I'm going to die" drama.

Grip
Good, but not RX7 like (remember, there is a reason why it rides so smooth)

Breaking
Yet another reason why it does so well on the track, I think at its price range NOTHING can outbreak the RX8

Slalom
Pretty good, probably mid pack in the sports car world (IF I remember right)

What does it lack in my opinion (performance wise), torque, about 50HP, a bit of at the limit grip.

Conclusion: A very good sports car, not the best of all time and sure a bit lacking in HP, but as an overall sports car it does a fine job.

Move on people…or the flaming will get this thing closed.
Old 03-27-2006 | 03:40 PM
  #115  
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Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
5-60
If 7.5 is right, that’s a huge drop off on speed and should be worked on…IF that is true, but CD states it is and I can’t argue with their results.
Is that starting in 1st or 2nd?
Old 03-27-2006 | 03:46 PM
  #116  
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It's funny how threads like this always blow and get a ton of posts. It's clear that RX-8 owners don't care that their car is slower than a lot of the competition.

Also, I love when fanbois insult me when I don't even participate in a thread. Grow the **** up and get over your fascination with me!
Old 03-27-2006 | 03:55 PM
  #117  
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Originally Posted by Raptor2k
Is that starting in 1st or 2nd?
First gear. The point of that test is to negate the benefit of the tire-smoking starts that often accompany the 0-60 test, and is a good measure of the engine's torque. Obviously a car like the RX8 that needs a 7500rpm clutch drop to get the best acceleration times will be hurt in this test, primarily because of the meager torque on offer from the rotary.
Old 03-27-2006 | 04:20 PM
  #118  
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Originally Posted by DreRX8
Wrong again...I never said anything about the 8 being the best car ever made--but people that only look at one aspect of a cars performance are not car enthusiast. Just like I think that people that argue that the twisties are the only facet are in the same boat. "This forum is way, way too reactionary and defensive. It's more important that people get a fair and balanced review of this car than for everyone to tip-toe around your sensitive ego which alows you only to be happy with your car if everyone congratulates you on truly understanding what it means to be a car enthusiast." is exactly what I am saying. I'd advise you to read peoples comments before commenting out of context.
But you didn't anything about anyone who declares that the "8 pwns in the twisties". You singled out one guy, labeled him a fake car enthusiast for commenting about acceleration, and ignored the rest. He is allowed to break down what being a sports car entails and then comment on the 8. Since everyone is constantly belaboring the greatness of the 8, maybe it's not a bad idea to mention the points that are quickly skirted under the rug in this forum.

Maybe you agree with what I'm saying, but you're going about it in a way that just makes you sound like every other fanboi out there. If you're gunna call one guy fake for concerning himself mainly with acceleration then you're going to have to call out a couple thousand other people who concern themselves mainly with handling.
Old 03-27-2006 | 04:24 PM
  #119  
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see what you started with your thread wannahave lol

this thread isn't gonna end well at all, so IBTL lol
Old 03-27-2006 | 05:29 PM
  #120  
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Originally Posted by wantan8
Try to be "clever" as an additive to trying to be "funny"
I was trying to be neither. Just laughing at you for saying a STi has near super car performance.

I haven't even seen Ike defend that statement.

RX8 is a great car, if its not fast enough for you don't buy it. Same arguement for looks/comfort/etc. for ANY car. No need to keep ripping apart this subject.

Besides "the 7 cant lose!" lol

Almost forgot, IBTL
Old 03-27-2006 | 05:34 PM
  #121  
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Yeah I know...I even tried to move it along...but it's not working out.
Old 03-27-2006 | 07:28 PM
  #122  
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Um I was arguing why people might not like the 8. I wasn't in anyway trying to ditch it. Try comprehending that next time. And seeing as one chip can put the Sti at a 0-60 of 4.5 seconds, yeah I'd say thats pretty darn near super car.
Old 03-27-2006 | 07:52 PM
  #123  
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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Old 03-27-2006 | 08:29 PM
  #124  
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its funny how in threads like this, its so easy to tell whose really satisfied with their car and love their car for what it is. Its even easier to tell which ones are feeling insecure and feels the need to bash other people and other cars in order to make them selves feel better about their purchase
Old 03-27-2006 | 08:37 PM
  #125  
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Originally Posted by wantan8
And seeing as one chip can put the Sti at a 0-60 of 4.5 seconds, yeah I'd say thats pretty darn near super car.
Right up there with a C5 Vette, and slower than a C6 (non Z06). Get there in the mid 3's and you're getting close (which would probably take about 600hp on the Sti), at least close to supercar 0-60 times. As far as supercar looks and desirability, I don't think it'll ever happen.


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