I'm not too sure I get your tractor analogy as I have never seen one as you describe race on REAL roads with less than perfect conditions.

The STI is in a MUCH different league when it comes to performance. If the RX8's performance is enough for you, so be it. For some of us, it fell real short (in driving dynamics too).

 

For every type of person there is a car out there for them. For me, that car is the RX-8. I used to drive an IS300 and before that a Protege. When I switched from the Protege to the IS300, I thought I was in heaven. My IS300 was the greatest car I'd ever driven. When I switched to the RX-8, I knew I was in heaven! It is the greatest car I've ever driven!

For those of you who have never driven one, you don't know what you are missing. No amount of words describe the actual feel of it. I knew as soon as I learned of the car that it would be the next one I'd own. I had never even driven a rotary car before but I knew it was for me. When my dealer drove it to my house to give it to me, my heart skipped a little. I sat in it, put my hand on the shifter and immediately felt the vibrations coming from the tranny go up my forearm. It was like an electrical charge the car was giving me to tell me to drive it. As soon as I strapped in, put the shifter in first and engaged the clutch, I immediately realized how incredible driving can feel.

 

I can certainly respect that and I'm happy that you found the car for you. But the senseless bashing I see of other cars on this forum is is totally uncalled for and I think that's what a lot of the people in this thread have a problem with.

Ike

 

After all this, I can't remember if you even have a car or not, but if U want to go off-road then buy a Jeep (the only true SUV, and I don't mean the crap they sell now but a CJ. YJ or blaarghh!!!....spew...hack...hack...TJ). Don"t buy a WRX with the idea that your're going to use it 4-wheeling, and PLEASE don't buy another SUV) the REX is a great car [turbo off the line and fast as ****] but FUGLY, chicks hate it , anyway..buy a Jeep Wrangler or CJ for off-road, buy a Z. s2000, boxter, 911, GT-R, 911-GT3, F355, Murci, 956, 787B, ENZO, Zonda c12S.....oh wait......sorry.....

Ahhh...I'm much better now...thanks to the good people at smack.com....

 

Who the hell is talking about offroad? Have you ever heard of or seen a rallyx event or maybe seen another SCCA rally race? Or maybe a WRC race? You don't use SUVs for that. Here's a video of a recent rallyx if you want to take a peek, not one of the better tracks but you'll get the basic idea.

http://www.treesandturtles.com/Rally...-preview-2.wmv

 

Hey all. I've driven the Evolution, the RX-8, but haven't driven an STi (Subaru dealers being jerks about it). Also driven a handful of other cars in the general market, regular WRX and 350Z.

My impressions so far:

The RX-8 clearly is the best looking of the bunch. The interior is a bit immature looking, however. It suffers some from some very questionable, cheap interior touches like the plastic/rubber seat bolsters. Shifter is far too close to the driver's position...obviously this car was designed for shorter people (I'm 6'3"). First thing I'd rip out is that ugly, uncomfortable shift ****. Mazda really took the whole rotary motif way too far with this car, it borders on juvenile.

The car is very fun to drive but....as you know...the engine is just too weak for the car to be considered anything more than a competitor to the CL Type-S and other faux sports sedans.

If you're interested in things like leather, a decent stereo, and a sunroof (which is NOT available on STi's) and intend to use your car as a comfy daily driver, get the RX-8.

The 350Z...well...honestly anybody who has driven any of the other cars listed above would never choose this thing. Ugly, heavy, atrocious visibility issues, etc.

I cannot comment on the STi, but I am certain that it would be much more fun and probably more reliable than the RX-8.

The Evolution is a blast. Most fun car I've driven since my '94 RX-7. Horrible interior. Most practical car here, though. Has more backseat legroom than any of these cars, huge trunk, bullet-proof drivetrain.

I'm going to buy the Evo unless the STi people let me test drive their car. I think the Mazda guys are sweating because my local dealership has 11 of them just sitting out on the lot and nobody is buying them. It's really too bad...Mazda needs to dump the Pontiac interior and get a 3 rotor renesis in there and then maybe it will be taken more seriously by me. It's a fun car around the turns and I choose RWD over AWD any day of the week, but the engine's output is just pathetic.

 

To the guy w/ the rex and the 8, awesome cars, good colors too

To the children that insist on bashing. Your making this forum look like it's fool of immature children with inferiority complexes. Ike is right, theres no need for bashing, liking two cars never killed anyone

 

Sabarau started off making the stadard econobox but with the one disctinction of 4 wheel drive. It became very popular with farmers over here in the UK, as something which could go in to town, but also out on to the field without having to fetch the tractor.

Someone one day had the idea of putting a more powerful engine in it and taking it rallying. However these days the 20 something K STi/WRX rally look-a-likes, bear absolutely no relation to the million dollar real world rally cars. The only common parts are things such as the door handles.

However the road cars perform well enough if you like mild under steer up to speeds that will prove fatal when it does let go. They a very popular with the boy racer fraternaty away from the lights, and all the Max Power mod'ers with their oversized tail pipes. Highly lacking in any sort of class however.

Cheers
---Dave

 

its just a $#!t car

 

I don't think the question was if he can off-road with a RX-8 or STI.

 

This is sad. Don't hate appreciate.

 

I dont hate the cars, I just dont particular like the way they look or drive. What I really dont like is the drivers though, they seem to think their car is gods gift, and cant understand why anyone would want anything else.

What I cant understand is what they are doing here. I like the RX8 for my own reasons, and I feel no need to go to their forums to continually spout nonsense about other cars, and how they are all wrong.

Cheers
---Dave

 

Seams like a lot of people on this board are the same way, they think their car(s) are the best and everyone else’s are POS.

I think a lot of people here are not try to troll, they just appreciate this car and want to learn more and talk to people about them. True car enthusiasts are free of brand boundaries.

 

I'm not reading through 8 pages of bickering, so I'll give my opinion.

The STI looks cool IMO, but it is built from an Econo car, which kind of kills it for me.
Same with the EVO. Too expensive for a econo car. Sure it's fast and handles, but it's still an econo car when you break it down.
I'd pick the RX-8 just because of it's styling, and it's different. I wouldn't expect a race car when you buy it, because it's not. As far as the interior, it does seem to target a younger age group, but I'm noticing that in other car companys as well. As far as people thinking this bored is full of younger people. The marketing strategy is Mid 20's -30's, making around $70k and can afford a $27k car. Although dealers like to squeeze $32k out of you.

 

Hmm...I'm not that familar with the Subaru history of its rally cars, but the EVO was a replacement for the heavier Galant they used in the WRC.

The cars have much in common, albeit with much more advanced tuning and other goodies on the WRC cars as mandated by the homologation rules. The EVO and STI are closer to their heritage than just about any other street car that was inspired by a race car.

I've always wondered if "class" includes being hyper-defensive, judgemental and close-minded?

 

Subaru rallied the Legacy back in the early 90's before the Impreza came about..

And a reality check for everyone:

YOUR FAVORITE CAR SUCKS.

 

There is highly modified 340 hp WRX up for trade on ebay. The guy wants a new or used stock RX-8 and is willing to add cash to sweetin the deal.

I guess this sheds some light on the question......Sti or RX-8.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2438624115


Ike is this your ad ??? :D

 

I think you just described a lot of rx-8 owners that posted some very stupid comments in this thread.. this gem comes to mind:

"its just a $#!t car"

I could never understand why car enthusiasts cannot compare and talk about the positive and negative merits of two cars without resorting to childlish bickering, name calling and swearing in general.


Maybe it's too much to expect from some immature people, I don't know.. but a lot of people here get on the defensive VERY quick and right away start attacking. Sure some "pro subaru" posters in this threads are idiots too:
"Subaru rallied the Legacy back in the early 90's before the Impreza came about..

And a reality check for everyone:

YOUR FAVORITE CAR SUCKS"

but some non rx-8 owners were trying to have a mature discussion about pro's and con's of both cars. shrug

 

He is right they did Rally the Legacy first: http://www.subaru-msm.com/global/his...tory/1990.html

 

not as much as yours does!!! Thats why you are here and not an 8 owner. Go play in the dirt with your car or in the snow, we've got better things to do.

 

that is a sweet sound system and trunk set up from the ebay owner wanting a rx8 for trade but why didn't he post any pics of the exterior of his car

 

I'm not an Rx8 owner? Hmm.. then what mystical portal do these Mazda keys in my pocket open up? :p

Oh yeah... I *do* have an 8.. and 2 Subarus as well.

My comment about "Everyone's Favorite Car Sucking" obviously flew right over most peoples heads here..

 

I think it's hilarious the moron RX8 fanbois in this post are attacking one another now, it's like a freaking feeding frenzy. He owns an 8 smart guy. No offense to the most of the RX-8 people on the forum, but I would be ashamed if some of these guys were defending my car.


Ike

 

... no you don't.

 

i don't even think you guys even took into account the driver. i mean looks and styling is anyones opinion. ever hear of beauty is in the eye of the beholder? but when it comes to performance you can't just count on the numbers... put a diferent driver in each car and all i can say it's basically who's the better driver and which is the better car for you. TO EACH HIS OWN...