Is it just me or has everyone's opinion of this once invincible car slipped?

From the weight to the loss of the 6 stacker CD. And, close to my heart, the loss in Australia of the moonroof and the heated seats.

I think that we will find that the RX-8 will not be accepted by a lot of people because of the way it is. Kinda like the X-men funnily enough. I think a lot of people will not see it as a sports car because of the 4-door 4-seats, but it is then just a family sedan? I don't think it has a true category to belong to. Sure the people on this site will say that it's a sports car for the family and whatever, but that is because a lot of us have already put in orders, hell there is a guy in this forum from Aus. who has had 1 grand on one down at the local Geelong dealership since it was the EVOLVE concept!!!!!

I just feel that like the WRX in recent times, that the RX-8 will not live up to many of our high expectations, from the rooting we've had from Mazda in our respective regions, to Mazda in general.

For the sake of the car, the people who worked on it, and indeed the people who have ordered one, I hope it is welcomed into the car world as a pathfinder in a new category, but I can't help feel that it won't be.

 

First of all, I don't think the general public will have any problem seeing the RX-8 as a sports car even with four doors and four seats. Actually, I think that the general public with think of it more as a powerful sports coupe that happens to have four doors and more room than your average 2+2. I think that we on this list are over analyzing the situation.

Take for example the previous generation M3 sedan with 4 doors. I didn't hear ppl or magazine complain up and down about how the general public will not see the forest from the trees, in this case the sports car from the doors.

In addition, the RX name is synonymous with sports car. I think when ppl hear the RX-8 name, they will instantly think of the three generation of RX-7's, then see that RX-8 and the 4 doors and 4 seats and think that this is a bonus. If any potential buyers wants a dedicated 2 door, 2 seat sports cars, hopefully the Mazda salesperson will let them know that the RX-7/9 will be out in a couple of years.

Initially, when I heard that the automatic tranny version of the RX-8 will have only 210HP, I thought that was a terrible move, but when I started to think about it, it might not be so bad after all. In price, power, and practicallity, it compares well with the Integras, RSX, and even the mighty WRX.

I think the RX-8 will do very well. Even the with lack of low end grunt, I think the general public will be interested in the fact that they can have a sports car and tote around their kids and friends at the same time will be a selling point.

 

My opinion about the RX-8 isn't changed; amazing looking car with great technology. I'm only angry at our stupid country, because our prices are too high (+ 45.000 euro). Okey, there are two things: the licenseplate (but I already saw that coming) and the 0-100 km/h performance: 6.5 seconds... I hoped it would be more to 6.0 or maybe 5.8

 

0 to 60 mph is 6 seconds flat I understand on the high power version.

What is the name plate problem?

rael

 

I think you have to be realistic....you can't expect EVERYTHING to be in place upon the launch of any car. Look at VW..when I got my 99.5 GTI, it was with a 12 valve VR6 with 16' wheels and a 5 speed, the only other option was the 4cyl Golf/GTI. That's all there was.

About 6 months later they started offering a sports suspension as an upgrade/option.

The next year they introduced the 1.8 T which was about as fast as the VR6.

The following year the VR6 got 24 valves and bumped up over 200hp. A 6 speed was added too.

Then came the 337 with 18" wheels and upgrades to the interior exterior.

Now coming is the R32 with 4wheel drive and a 3.2 liter V6 240 hp engine.

My point is, it's basically the same car that improves year upon year. There is no was VW could have come out of the gate with the R32 in 1999, no matter how much I would have liked it.

If the RX-8 is a success, I'm sure that many improvements and options will be available in time. And I have to believe that the guys that have maintained the integrity of the Miata all these years are not likely to fumble the RX-8. Especially as a read that the chassis of the RX-8 is planned for the next gen Miata

 

0-100 km/h is 6.2 (official spec) but a lot of (European) magazines tested 6.5
Looks ugly; is in the way of the frontgrille

 

Nobody has tested the car, it's all been on stopwatch times which are always inaccurate. Until Mazda delivers the car to each magazine's testing grounds there is no way of knowing the dash to 60 yet.

I'd peg it at around 6 seconds though, but that's my own guess.

 

One of the reasons Mazda doesn't want official 0-60 times is because all test cars to date have been custom handmade jobs for demo purposes only. When rotarynews.com did their Laguna Seca writeup it was on one of those handbuilt cars.

As a side note, one motor was replaced just before that event. They flew in five techs from japan who spent seven hours completely tearing down and rebuilding that car.
________
Weed bubblers

 

Don't worry. You are just going through the seventeen stages of new-car-buying jitters.

I think you are on stage 7 right now, doubt. Don't worry by the time you reach stage 14: releif, 15: glee, 16 wow, and 17, zoom... you'll have said, "those things don't matter that much, since the car is that good" or "hey, those numbers aren't that bad" or "hey, they actually did it"

Now, don't give up questioning decisions made about your car. Make them vocal. If you don't like something, write Mazda. The listen. As proof: the RX-8 isn't the RX-Evolv.

 

I believe this is just a perception issue.
My prediction is that once the RX-8 is seen on the streets and in a properly launch TV ad campaign, (Lets all pray hard for Mazda to pull that off) I predict that alot of the buying public that currently own new Mitsu Eclipses and those who are considering the Mitsu will see the RX-8 as a better performance and handling alternative. Lets face it, Mitsubitchi has done a great job of marketing their product. I have been watching Mazda commercials since the '70s and I always get the impression that Mazda does not take marketing seriously. This latest "Zoom-Zoom" campaign does not have me wanting to buy their product. All it does for me is conjure up images of a couple of Jamaican guys smoking a bong. (disclaimer here - I am Not trying to stereotype Jamaican citizens) Oh, I know that the RX-8 will be several thousands more than a comparably equiped Eclipse, but I believe the comparison is valid.

 

Not an issue for me, Florida doesn't have a front plate. I wonder how many States actually do.

 

I agree, what I miss most about my ex RX-7 TII is the finesse, not the grunt. Two years after selling it I still missed it. After buying a Mustang GT Convertible (lots of low-end grunt, required rear seat for the kids) I miss it even more.

I'm looking forward to that "wave of nostalgia" one of the articles mentions. I'm _really_ looking forward to my 8 - I even gave it a web site - www.my-rx-8.com. I think the only thing I might miss is the kick in the pants when I hit 4k in the TII. :D

On order with Crystal Mazda:
2004 RX-8 Red/Red/Black Loaded (I hope - haven't received that order confirmation # folks were chatting about in another thread )

 

Too bad us Californians are required to have one.

 

"Although we understand we must make changes, we have no intention of casting aside our identity. True, in the past we may have concentrated too much on engineering and not enough on marketing -such as with the RX-7- but we realize now that we must consider both with equal importance." Tadahiko Takiguchi, managing director of Mazda, 1995

I believe that this quote applies more to marketing from a "listening to what the market wants" perspective than from an advertising perspective, but I find it interesting that perhaps it was this commitment that led Mazda to develop the RX-8 rather than a new RX-7. I believe, in other words, that Mazda might have more on the ball here with this 8 than we know... so stop worrying!

 

:D

 

Just don't put one on. I haven't had a front plate for 3 years now. F*ck the law. lol :D

 

I haven't had one on in 14 years. I only got cited for it when I parked illegally once. Hell if I'll ever allow a plate to srew up the front end of my 8.

For the record though, The upper part of the 8's grill is actually solid. The plate does not block the air intake. The huge grill is mostly for show. All of the intake occurs on the bottom.

 

i don't put it on either. what do you do if your car doesn't have a front bracket? tape it on? glue it on? kind of a stupid law...

although friend's dad w/ a camaro got cited for it out of the blues

 

i think it'll be fine. the "sports car" category seems to be pretty loose for japanese cars. look at the wrx and lancer evo, don't look like sports cars by the sritctest sense, but sure look sporty and tuned out, and sure run the heck like sports cars. and people sure love them for the sports car-ness. the 8 is much more sporty by style than any of these cars, and i think people will stick with their initial reactions that the 8 is a very cool and bad-*** looking sports car. and from what i've seen and heard (and some videos), the 8 is quite a screamer... as for the wrx, it's tamed for the u.s. market initially but it's done wonders for those rally cars, and now mitus is importing the evo viii

i don't think the 8 is going to lose momentum. it seems very exceptional even among today's other new cars. it'll do great! no worries

 

GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WITH THE CASH TO WHACK A TWIN_TURBO IN A RENESIS!!!!:p :p :p :p :p

 

I think that the vast majority of people who buy cars like this (or the 350Z) do so for: 1) the looks; and 2) beating the next guy at the stoplight.

The fact that it has 4 doors and seats 4 does little to change either 1) or 2).

 

It's so sad, but so true. I personally like the car for myself.. besides it will make a great car to take to the track :D

I won't be racing anybody except a clock

 

True....... BUT....... for the people that want the car for those reasons, the four doors and four seats allows the car to be something they can get because they can now over come the objections that the nagging significant other puts up against it. It gives the person the sports car and the other the practicality that they want.

I for one am buying it because I love everything about it, the main thing being inovation (which covers a lot of it)