I read this article today.
02-09-2010 | 10:05 PM
#26
"I wanna go fast!"
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 330
Likes: 1
From: East Fishkill NY
rofl
This.
I love my car. Ive driven so many kinds of cars, from SUV's to luxury BMW's, Audi's, Mercedes, Lexus's, to Toyota's, Honda's, and Mitsubishi's.
Let me tell you. The ONLY thing that almost puts a smile on my face as big as my Rx8 is my friends '06 Z4. That thing is nice and it handles so damn good. Mainly though, cuz its a much shorter wheelbase like all roadsters.
I remember when i had my old 626 in AT, and i drove my friends '06 Tc in stick. I loved driving it. Was fun. Then i bought my Rx8 finally after wanting it for 6 years and let me tell you... I got in the Tc the other day and drove it and i almost threw up. ITS TERRIBLE IN COMPARISON LOL. Wtf was i thinking!
Anywayz, this car makes my heart pound like i fell in love at first sight.
I love my car. Ive driven so many kinds of cars, from SUV's to luxury BMW's, Audi's, Mercedes, Lexus's, to Toyota's, Honda's, and Mitsubishi's.
Let me tell you. The ONLY thing that almost puts a smile on my face as big as my Rx8 is my friends '06 Z4. That thing is nice and it handles so damn good. Mainly though, cuz its a much shorter wheelbase like all roadsters.
I remember when i had my old 626 in AT, and i drove my friends '06 Tc in stick. I loved driving it. Was fun. Then i bought my Rx8 finally after wanting it for 6 years and let me tell you... I got in the Tc the other day and drove it and i almost threw up. ITS TERRIBLE IN COMPARISON LOL. Wtf was i thinking!
Anywayz, this car makes my heart pound like i fell in love at first sight.
Last edited by CrazyJek; 02-10-2010 at 12:33 AM.
02-10-2010 | 12:19 AM
#27
Great article, this car is truely a hidden gem, hurt by a bad reputation. Most of the folks who don't "get it" are the ones that have yet to drive an 8. I've only met one person to date that has driven an RX8 and didn't like it, of course his opinion was immediately discredited when he uttered "the handling is mediocre, it's not fast enough to handle well." 
. I'm glad I "get it", even with the oil burning, poor fuel economy, and "no torks", this is by far the most agile, fun car I've driven short of the C6 Corvette. I just feel sorry for those that are missing out.
. I'm glad I "get it", even with the oil burning, poor fuel economy, and "no torks", this is by far the most agile, fun car I've driven short of the C6 Corvette. I just feel sorry for those that are missing out.
04-20-2010 | 11:38 AM
#29
Thread Starter
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,786
Likes: 455
From: San Antonio, Texas
This was back in 2008...the writer was the brother of a famous vwvortex car lounge poster.
He also compete in national level in autocross in his Rx8 as well if I recall correctly...
If you REALLY have TONS of time...then read this.
Rx8: You either get it or you don't
He also compete in national level in autocross in his Rx8 as well if I recall correctly...
If you REALLY have TONS of time...then read this.
Rx8: You either get it or you don't
That's a good one too
Bump.
03-15-2011 | 10:58 PM
#34
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: New Providence, PA
The 8 reminds me of riding a 600. It's not the fastest car out there and you have to wring its neck to get it to move! Not to mention all the shifting! But you can just pound the corners without any real fear of it getting out of control or stepping out on you. I can't drive the Trans Am the same way, that's for sure. It's just fun to drive!
03-16-2011 | 01:41 PM
#36
Registered
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: NoVA
Author checking in.
I was looking over our search engine results and link-backs for the last few days and saw this piece had come roaring back from (seemingly) nowhere.
The response to this piece has always been overwhelmingly positive, and it's good to see that folks still stumble upon it from time to time. This was my first article on SSL and to this day is probably still my most popular.
We no longer own our '05, but it was very good to us and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I were in a position to do so. It's a great experience on many levels, and despite its flaws, one of the best driver-oriented cars of the last decade.
Glad you guys enjoyed it.
I was looking over our search engine results and link-backs for the last few days and saw this piece had come roaring back from (seemingly) nowhere.
The response to this piece has always been overwhelmingly positive, and it's good to see that folks still stumble upon it from time to time. This was my first article on SSL and to this day is probably still my most popular.
We no longer own our '05, but it was very good to us and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I were in a position to do so. It's a great experience on many levels, and despite its flaws, one of the best driver-oriented cars of the last decade.
Glad you guys enjoyed it.
03-16-2011 | 07:08 PM
#37
Registered
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio
... but an honest drive in an RX-8 will leave you wondering what group of pucker-assed wannabes decided a “true” sports car can only have two seats
I can't decide which is more fun to drive. My 98 M3 Sedan or my 2004 RX8.
Nice article....
03-17-2011 | 11:02 AM
#38
Thread Starter
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33,786
Likes: 455
From: San Antonio, Texas
Author checking in.
I was looking over our search engine results and link-backs for the last few days and saw this piece had come roaring back from (seemingly) nowhere.
The response to this piece has always been overwhelmingly positive, and it's good to see that folks still stumble upon it from time to time. This was my first article on SSL and to this day is probably still my most popular.
We no longer own our '05, but it was very good to us and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I were in a position to do so. It's a great experience on many levels, and despite its flaws, one of the best driver-oriented cars of the last decade.
Glad you guys enjoyed it.
I was looking over our search engine results and link-backs for the last few days and saw this piece had come roaring back from (seemingly) nowhere.
The response to this piece has always been overwhelmingly positive, and it's good to see that folks still stumble upon it from time to time. This was my first article on SSL and to this day is probably still my most popular.
We no longer own our '05, but it was very good to us and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I were in a position to do so. It's a great experience on many levels, and despite its flaws, one of the best driver-oriented cars of the last decade.
Glad you guys enjoyed it.
Glad you posted. I like too and plan on bumping this thread from time to time just so new guys or members who may have missed it can enjoy a good read.
03-17-2011 | 12:19 PM
#39
Registered
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
This was back in 2008...the writer was the brother of a famous vwvortex car lounge poster.
He also compete in national level in autocross in his Rx8 as well if I recall correctly...
If you REALLY have TONS of time...then read this.
Rx8: You either get it or you don't
He also compete in national level in autocross in his Rx8 as well if I recall correctly...
If you REALLY have TONS of time...then read this.
Rx8: You either get it or you don't
Facts about the RX8 brought to you by TrueBlueTitan
The RX-8 has an aluminum hood that incorporates “Shock Cone” technology to minimize head injuries in the event of an accident with a pedestrian
The RX-8 has an electric power steering system. If your RX-8 engine stalls for whatever reason (i.e. run out of fuel) then the electric power steering continues to operate allowing you to steer safely to the side of the road.
The RX-8’s fuel tanks contain two roll-over valves that close and stop your charcoal canister from being contaminated with fuel in the unlikely event of an RX-8 rollover.
The high frequency sound you hear under the hood when the key is on but the engine is off is the electric throttle actuator pushing the throttle butterfly toward closed, waiting for you to start the engine.
The catalytic converters contain Platinum and that’s why they’re so expensive to replace.
It is possible to listen to sounds coming from each individual speaker of your car, in a prescribed order. With the radio on, Press the power button and AUTO-M at the same time for 1 s. The speakers will then sound in the following order: Front passenger side speaker and tweeter, drivers side Front speaker and tweeter, drivers side rear speaker, and finally passenger side rear speaker.
The RX-8 has drive-by-wire. There is no accelerator cable. The accelerator pedal sensor is a dual sensor that outputs to the PCM dependant on pedal position. Each sensor is a backup to the other if one fails. The PCM outputs to the throttle body which also has dual sensors.
The Power train Control Module (PCM) carries out a full sixty step test of the Metering Oil Pump (MOP) every twelfth time the engine is turned off.
The roof on the RX-8 has structural members that are constructed of nitride treated steel? Nitriding fuses titanium to the steel with nitrogen through heat. This produces a very strong, yet lighter weight (2.2 lbs less than ordinary steel) roof and contributes to better handling.
The RX-8 employs mode control panels which are 2 circular depressions in the floor panels. These two circles vibrate alternately creating “waves” which cancel each other out and reduce noise and vibration in the cabin.
Never heard of this before, extremely cool! Is this something common in modern cars?
At about 13,000rpm harmonic vibrations will destroy a RENESIS, but it could theoretically live its entire, long life just shy of that.
The 4 speed AT has larger secondary fuel injectors than the 6 speed manual.
Maybe this is why the auto's were more prone to carbon buildup/engine failure?
The RX-8 steering wheel has a magnesium core to save weight.
This one is funny to me because I remember Mitsubishi really advertised the crap out of the EVO's "mangesium paddle shifters" like it was a major selling point. Meanwhile Mazda is using magnesium to save weight like its no big deal.
The fender vents are not just for show, but do indeed help to vent hot air from the engine bay.
I thought the general consensus around here is the vents lead to a dead end?
The RX-8 has an aluminum hood that incorporates “Shock Cone” technology to minimize head injuries in the event of an accident with a pedestrian
The RX-8 has an electric power steering system. If your RX-8 engine stalls for whatever reason (i.e. run out of fuel) then the electric power steering continues to operate allowing you to steer safely to the side of the road.
The RX-8’s fuel tanks contain two roll-over valves that close and stop your charcoal canister from being contaminated with fuel in the unlikely event of an RX-8 rollover.
The high frequency sound you hear under the hood when the key is on but the engine is off is the electric throttle actuator pushing the throttle butterfly toward closed, waiting for you to start the engine.
The catalytic converters contain Platinum and that’s why they’re so expensive to replace.
It is possible to listen to sounds coming from each individual speaker of your car, in a prescribed order. With the radio on, Press the power button and AUTO-M at the same time for 1 s. The speakers will then sound in the following order: Front passenger side speaker and tweeter, drivers side Front speaker and tweeter, drivers side rear speaker, and finally passenger side rear speaker.
The RX-8 has drive-by-wire. There is no accelerator cable. The accelerator pedal sensor is a dual sensor that outputs to the PCM dependant on pedal position. Each sensor is a backup to the other if one fails. The PCM outputs to the throttle body which also has dual sensors.
The Power train Control Module (PCM) carries out a full sixty step test of the Metering Oil Pump (MOP) every twelfth time the engine is turned off.
The roof on the RX-8 has structural members that are constructed of nitride treated steel? Nitriding fuses titanium to the steel with nitrogen through heat. This produces a very strong, yet lighter weight (2.2 lbs less than ordinary steel) roof and contributes to better handling.
The RX-8 employs mode control panels which are 2 circular depressions in the floor panels. These two circles vibrate alternately creating “waves” which cancel each other out and reduce noise and vibration in the cabin.
Never heard of this before, extremely cool! Is this something common in modern cars?
At about 13,000rpm harmonic vibrations will destroy a RENESIS, but it could theoretically live its entire, long life just shy of that.
The 4 speed AT has larger secondary fuel injectors than the 6 speed manual.
Maybe this is why the auto's were more prone to carbon buildup/engine failure?
The RX-8 steering wheel has a magnesium core to save weight.
This one is funny to me because I remember Mitsubishi really advertised the crap out of the EVO's "mangesium paddle shifters" like it was a major selling point. Meanwhile Mazda is using magnesium to save weight like its no big deal.
The fender vents are not just for show, but do indeed help to vent hot air from the engine bay.
I thought the general consensus around here is the vents lead to a dead end?
03-17-2011 | 12:25 PM
#41
Fact: The RX-8's engine is a panty-dropping wonder that self detonates every 10,000 miles unless you have a 10% alcohol 90% water solution mix filling your left rear taillight exactly 42.3% of max capacity. Assuming you maintain this level and mix religiously to avoid that detonation, you still have to swap your apex seals every 30,000 miles, but at least it's a quick 20 minute job with $70 in parts from your local dealer.
11-24-2011 | 01:13 PM
#46
Registered
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 1
From: Cacti Land, AZ
I've been on the forum for a while, but never came across this article until now.
I particularly liked this line:
"It’s a driving experience so pure and so fulfilling that it almost feels like you’re cheating when you get it for so little money."
After owning my 40th AE for several months, now I'm finally learning what that means, lol. I think I got a LOT of car for my money - especially since I bought used.
Eventually I also learned the real "driving experience" the author was talking about in the article is often found by learning how to drive in the upper RPM range consistently and safely.
For some reason it took me a while to realize that the "upper RPMs" are not just there to redline the car every once in a while.
