^What would that be? Handling? When there are sports cars in the same class that handle just as well as the RX-8, but have more power, than Mazda should at least take notice.


/me will work for FI

 

I'm sure they've noticed. There's gotta be an underlying reason we haven't seen FI yet. Mazda knows more about their rotary engines than anyone. They are seeing something they don't like in the R&D for sure.

 

It's probably a couple of things, they have teams working on other more profitable projects MS3, CX9 and so forth and they are not confident of the reliability of the Renesis.

If Mazda could up the HP and Torque 20%-30%, eliminate the chance of flooding and improve the MPG by 3-5 then the RX8 would go from being a great car to the perfect car IMO.

 

i thought it was supposed to be a sports car that had enough practicality to be an everyday car not an all out track monster. hence the 4 seats, decent ride quality, pretty quick ness, NA power, and competitive pricing. Plus unique styling.

Some of the cars that the 8 is rated 'against' dont offer some of its practical -ness. Some are also a bit more expensive. Some are also not quite as unique.

In some ways, the Rx8 was supposed to be the anti-FD. But today's crowd wants it to be the successor to the Fd, meaning faster. Those people have a right to be upset, but for everyone of those people, there's a bunch of happy people driving a unique sports car that had it not been for the uniqueness and decent practicality, would be driving just a 'normal' car.

I don't blame anyone who wants more power. But I wouldn't say Mazda messed up. Cause if not for Mazda i'd probalby be in a TSX or something. But I have what I consider a great sports car that's very practical for me.

 

No chance in hell that happens.

To have any chance getting 20-30% more TQ on the current Renesis, you'd have to go FI. FI means worse MPG and worse reliability.

 

Indeed, the practicality and uniqueness are two of the many things that made me choose the 8 over all the other cars for the price. But what defines practicality? Four seats and space? The Evo and STi have five seats and a trunk.

Still, I like the 8's balance of speed, handling, everyday driveability, reliability and uniqueness, especially for the price. Its power is behind the competition, though, and adding more power wouldn't hurt that balance. Some of us aren't going to mind a dent in reliability with FI, anyway (how many people are going to really need the same engine for 200k miles?).

 

Exactly why we haven't seen a MS RX8. The key there was IF. They could probably do it with a small gas/elec hybrid if they could get the batteries light enough and use more aluminum or some CF to save weight..

 

i dont care what it says i drove a new 06 speed 3 and its not half as fast as an 8.they suck in my opinion very uncomfortable and slow.

 

^^ Selling his 8 to get a Z.

 

Not half as fast? Are you serious?

 

Didnt you read Snizzle... the MS3 has a top speed of 78mph.

 

Suuuuure you did...

 

In a straight line : probably.
Round the 'Ring : no way!

F

 

Yeah, well they are developing hybrid tech on the rotary so maybe we'll see that one day but I doubt on the 8. The cost would simply skyrocket the 8 out of it's respective pricerange.

I know, I know you said IF.

 

And 0-60 in about 12 seconds.

 

But it'll hit its top speed in about 17 seconds which is mighty impressive.

 

A lawn mower can do that in .2 seconds.

 

*Goes to Home Depot for a trade-in*

 

I would love to own a car that has a top speed of 59mph, does it in 2 seconds, and looks like a lambo.

0-60 times? Uh nobody knows.

 

Nobody said they were 'half as fast' - they are 'measurably Faster'. "Faster" is NOT 'half as fast'.

 

He has joined the hall of shame in my sig.

 

I guess if you like crazy amounts of torque steer and 65/35 weight distribution, the MS 3 is the car for you. I guess the 3 is "faster" in terms of the acceleration, HP, and top speed, but it's debatable which car would circle a track quicker. I'm relatively sure the MS3 will not be anywhere near as fast as the RX-8 at an autocross. It will probably be slower than a Miata as well. So, "fast" is a relative term, that I know gets thrown out a lot around here by the street racing crowd.

OTOH I have mixed feelings about this MS3. You can get a close-out base model RX-8 for roughly the same amount of money, despite the difference in sticker prices. It seems like Mazda has suddenly decided to spend their R&D budget on making brutes, rather than on making the world's best affordable sports cars. I don't know if this is an influence from Ford or what. I'd like to see a MS RX-8, even if it's only getting a 40hp bump.

A piston engine would ruin the RX-8, so please don't suggest it. You don't understand the impact the small engine has on the handling of the car. The reason the HP numbers went down to 232 this year is because every manufacturer changed their rating system. It's the same motor that's been in the car since the beginning. If you don't think it's fast enough, please buy a Z or a Camaro.

 

Well folks, I have driven the MS3. Our dealer here in Honolulu is one of the first to get one. Does it feel faster than the RX-8? Yes, but it's still a Mazda3. If you like the Mazda3, you'll love the MS3. I for one am not a fan of front wheel drive cars. Yes the MS3 is faster than the RX-8, but it doesn't handle better and doesn't look better IMHO. The seating position is very upright, just like a sedan, and the shifter has longer throws. It does make a really nice exhaust sound growl though!!

Would I buy one? If I were in the market for a hatchback, yes. But as a sports car, no.

 

friends don't let friends drive FWD

 

^^Amen