My 600cc Honda does 0-60 before most even decide to shift into 2nd. 60-100 before one even thinks of 3rd. Plus it gets 45mpg, and is way more fun in the twisties. Also, it looks better. Oh and the whole thing costs less than a set of decent wheels and tyres.

What? Are you going to start going into useless stuff like comfort, safety, amenities, and practicality? Like that stuff has anything to do with judging a vehicle. psh.

 

Sounds normal to me. My attitude has changed too since I bought the RX8. I now view most other cars as inferior as I drive down the road. I feel so elite behind the wheel. I'm probably a ***** but it comes with the territory. It's my burden to bare.

 

The RX8 isn't really slow considering that it is a $27K car with few options. It gives very good $27K performance (though not the best) but looks like it is worth $45K and people assume it performs like that too. It is also compared to more expensive cars. In every comparison test the RX-8 is in, it loses the performance test but it is up against cars that cost $5K more.

By contrast, the similarly priced Lancer Evo performs like it is a $50K car, but looks like a $15K car. That is the car a performance freak would buy. But most 8 buyers aren't performance freaks. Really I bet that a lot of people here wanted a fairly comfortable car like the BMW 330 but didn't want to pay $45K for it. A Impreza WRX Sedan with a lot of options would offer similar performance for the same price.

 

While driving, I'm either dozing off or trying very hard to NOT fall asleep, so I hardly notices other people's car or their reactions.

 

The WRX was mentioned, and I test drove it alone and with my Wife and we both agreed...

The WRX has great performance for the money, and some good safety features that make it desirable - but hands down the ride as well as the fit and finish of the RX8 make it look and feel like a much more expensive car. The WRX looks like a $20,000 (Impreza 2.5S) and feels like one too...as TS said, my wife and I were looking for a great ride with some performance, and the RX-8 fit the bill to a T

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tschangrx7


By contrast, the similarly priced Lancer Evo performs like it is a $50K car, but looks like a $15K car. That is the car a performance freak would buy.

That confuses me about the EVO... yeah its got power, 4WD,
may even handle great, but it does look like a simple Lancer
with boost... Which is why I love the RX8.. your car (don't have
one yet ) is unique, so I'm pretty sure id feel a little elitist
once I have one.. Friend of mine loves the EVO, thats his choice,
bragging about the power, and mind you at the time I havent
even seen one, but when I did, yuck. My Suzuki Aerio looks the same
on the outside, just taller... Kinda off the subject, but other than
the exterior of the RX8, what I love the most is the interior!
You spend the most time "inside" the car, so that is very important to me! EVO, nope..

 

[And when you're in your car you're driving, some people would rather have the speed and feel of the EVO than look at some plastic that's been more fancifully molded. The seats in the EVO are top notch and so is the pedal placement, steering, and general driving experience, and that's all that takes top billing for some people.

 

Yeah they only make red and yellow enzos

Also I think I drive slower in my 8 than in my former CRV, because I have more of something to lose. I wasn't that concerned about losing the CRV, but I am much more concerned about losing the 8. But I do feel like the car is better than most of the other cars I see out there. But I did see a Maybach in Asheville, that was stunning and made me feel inferior.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Anubis Rising

Quote:

Originally posted by tschangrx7
That confuses me about the EVO... yeah its got power, 4WD,
may even handle great, but it does look like a simple Lancer
with boost... Which is why I love the RX8.. your car (don't have

Now let's be fair about this. There's no need to go around putting down fabulous cars like the Evo or WRX. I'm sure any RX-8 driver would be tickled pink if their 8 had 270+hp, turbo, and AWD. These are a totally different breed of car for a different kind of driver.

The US tends to get much neutered-down versions of Japanese sports cars. It's only recently that the Evolutions and WRXs have been showing up. Prior to that, we've only had the cheapo Lancers and Impreza 2.5s and such. Japan, on the other hand, has had the turbo and twin-turbo models for the longest time. Even the US spec Evos and WRXs aren't on par with the J spec models. On paper and on the track (which tend to be the proving grounds of sports cars) those such vehicles hold their own.

When speaking of looks, anyone wanting to make a diss at the RX-8 can say "it does look like a simple Mazda3" when speaking of design cues and interior parts.

 

except for the fact that the mazda 3 has has very nice interior, the nicest you can buy in that class, and nicer than most accords and other middle class cars. Anyways, the 3's interior is much better than the Lancer or WRX anyways. They are econoboxes, albeit extremely fast ones. I would love a 270 hp rx8, but i would rather not have it turbo or awd, unless it was skyline gtr type awd.

 

Thanks Gin, well said!

Oh what I wouldn't give for a 22B, Spec C, FQ330, or EVOVIII MR, or keep all those and give me a R34 GTR. <drools>

 

If you knew what you were talking about you'd realize that the Skyline in Japan is your average everyday car, and some would even call them econoboxes. So it's ok for Nissan to do it but not Mitsubishi and Subaru?

 

[drools as well] I would love to have a R34 GTR as well. I think they are like 100k here including importing costs. I doubt the new skyline gtr will be as good.

 

No, it is ok for Mitsu and Subaru to do it as well, it is just that I would rather have their J spec versions like the GTR34 is for the Skyline. Just cause I like a Skyline GTR doesn't mean I have to like the base Skyline. I appreciate the J-spec lancer and wrx more than the US versions. Just cause I like the J-Spec doesn't mean I have to like the toned down US versions. I like the toned down versions, just not as much as the RX8. The J spec versions might be a different story though. I don't think that the US Evo and Wrx look very good, or are as fun to drive as an 8, but that comes down to a matter of personal opinion, it is not something that you can convince me on. However due to facts, I would agree that both the Wrx and Evo are fast, and that is what they are designed to be. The main thing I love about the GTR34 is the torque varying AWD system in it. I think that would be worth having in any car.

 

Try an FD, all the performance of the EVO and STI (of course minus AWD, a factory warranty and even a moderate amount of practicality or relaibility) and beautiful, one of a kind looks as well. I feel I get some respect in an 8 on the road. But the FD (esp with big Greddy exhaust, Front Mount Intercooler, racing stripes and racing harnesses--those are the visible things) announces to everyone on the road "Get the hell out of the way". Of course I don't think I have the fastest car out there, but it is fun to be faster and better in the twisties than 99% of what you come up on.

 

Where did you get that from?

I lived in Japan for 3 years and Skyline's was not the average everyday car. Cooper mini's and other cars of similar size where average. Toyota and Mazda Vans where average.

 

I didn't say nor mean most common car, nor did I mean size wise.

 

This will sound silly but the way the car looks, sounds, and the low slung cockpit feel, one could easily imagine being in something exotic. I saw a g35c the other day and thought it looked very pedestrian.

 

Nope, they came in black too...and they look positively evil in that color as well.

Best put in CAR magazine: "In black the Enzo looks like the result of a drunken one-night-stand between a Formula 1 car and a stealth bomber"

 

no there were a few made in black

 

I heard there were some black Enzo's as well... :p

 

Hmm i guess 5th gear and C&D were both wrong, it is possible, i always thought it would look nice in black

 

I am a woman....am I a *****, too? hee, hee. Actually Ifeel like I am in the top end of automobiles now....in a real class of it's own and it's hard when someone is in front of me and I can't let her do her thing!!! Never felt like this before!!

 

Hi GiN, IkeWRX, value both of your opinions, sorry wasn't
online yesterday, I didnt mean any disrespect to either
WRX or EVO.. just was my opinion, thats all. My friend loves
his EVO, thats cool!! just the car wasnt for me... plus he didnt
let me drive it, nor did I ask, so about pedal placement or seats
didnt have a first hand experience with. the WRX would me my
cup of tea, but I love the RX8 even more! Don't see many EVO's
in the springs, but WRX's are everywhere in CO. Just love
sports cars, not wanting to be a troll :D

 

You're right on that one...yum! :D