RX-8 vs Carrera 4
#1
Real Racing 3 fan
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RX-8 vs Carrera 4
I recently got a chance to drive my friend's Porsche (pretty hard) and I have to tell you guys that the RX-8 is such a better car overall. Sure the Porsche has unmatched performance but the one '03 I drove with the DSG semi-auto gearbox, and it being 4 wheel drive, made the general driving experience no where near as fun as the RX-8's. I was shocked. I mean I thought before hand that the Porsche would make me jealous, and diminish my love for the RX-8 in comparison but simply put it didn't. There Porsche was cramped inside, the backseats were a joke, and the inside dash and instrument panels were very poorly designed. When driving I noticed that even in manual mode, the gear changes where laggy, and the 0 to 60 launches where impressive in terms of the rate of the numbers changing on the speedo (4.7 secs to 60) but the experience of accelerating gave me a feeling of detachment. All in all the experience made me appreciate my RX-8 more not less. My little Mazda is quite a car
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#3
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It always comes across as fanbois-ism when expressed elsewhere, but I've driven a lot of "high-end" cars (often with the intent of acquiring one) and the driving experience is never as instinctive and visceral as it is in the RX-8.
Disappointing, really, since it means that at this moment, there isn't another car that is better from a driving perspective, even though just about every other "superior" car is actually better in some single respect or, at least, on paper.
Disappointing, really, since it means that at this moment, there isn't another car that is better from a driving perspective, even though just about every other "superior" car is actually better in some single respect or, at least, on paper.
#6
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How do you know? Have you driven one?
Yes - most supercars will out accelerate the RX-8. It might even out-maneuver one (though, you might be surprised at how poorly supercars corner).
It will certainly be waaaay more expensive and use exotic materials.
But I will bet $5 that the interior and the sense of driver integration will not be as good as the RX-8.
Having been in cars like the Gumpert, DB9, 575 Maranello, etc., I can tell you that almost ALL of them feel (despite their materials and "craftsmanship") terribly cheap and odd. Some feel downright redneck and cobbled together. The TVRs come to mind.
Yes - most supercars will out accelerate the RX-8. It might even out-maneuver one (though, you might be surprised at how poorly supercars corner).
It will certainly be waaaay more expensive and use exotic materials.
But I will bet $5 that the interior and the sense of driver integration will not be as good as the RX-8.
Having been in cars like the Gumpert, DB9, 575 Maranello, etc., I can tell you that almost ALL of them feel (despite their materials and "craftsmanship") terribly cheap and odd. Some feel downright redneck and cobbled together. The TVRs come to mind.
#8
The Former PSNTLSS
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I recently got my subaru. Handling wise the RX-8 was a lot tighter. However I'm still breaking in the subbie to really see what she can do. But for the price the 8 is a well represented car
#9
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Moreover, the 8 definitely holds its own when you compare to the driving feel from higher-end sports cars, if it doesn't already beat them in that department. Boy, I love bragging about my car.
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#10
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Eh, half of Jason's memory is getting a bit rusty there.
If I'm not mistaken, that new, high-tech tranny which Porsche introduced a couple of years ago was called the PDK (Porsche doppelkupplung). Silly Germans come out with all sorts of funny names lol.
Though I believe you stand correct when you stated that Porsche made the normal autobox back in '03. Correct me if I've mistaken since my memory gets rusty these days too hahahe.
Moreover, the 8 definitely holds its own when you compare to the driving feel from higher-end sports cars, if it doesn't already beat them in that department. Boy, I love bragging about my car.![Big Grin](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Stick Out Tongue](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![Wink](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/wink.gif)
![Icon16](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/icon16.gif)
Moreover, the 8 definitely holds its own when you compare to the driving feel from higher-end sports cars, if it doesn't already beat them in that department. Boy, I love bragging about my car.
![Big Grin](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#12
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That's really cool. I get compliments all of the time and I feel that it's an honor and privilege to own the RX-8.
Side Note: The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo and the E36 BMW M3 used to be my dream cars. After purchasing the RX-8, I no longer want to own either of those cars. I am completely satisfied with the RX-8. When it comes to the RX-8, you either get it or you don't. I get it and I'm keeping it until it dies...then, I'm getting another one.
Side Note: The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo and the E36 BMW M3 used to be my dream cars. After purchasing the RX-8, I no longer want to own either of those cars. I am completely satisfied with the RX-8. When it comes to the RX-8, you either get it or you don't. I get it and I'm keeping it until it dies...then, I'm getting another one.
Last edited by MADLUV4M6; 01-08-2011 at 10:28 AM.
#13
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That's really cool. I get compliments all of the time and I feel that it's an honor and privilege to own the RX-8.
Side Note: The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo and the E36 BMW M3 used to be my dream cars. After purchasing the RX-8, I no longer want to own either of those cars. I am completely satisfied with the RX-8. When it comes to the RX-8, you either get or you don't. I get it and I'm keeping it until it dies...then, I'm getting another one.
Side Note: The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo and the E36 BMW M3 used to be my dream cars. After purchasing the RX-8, I no longer want to own either of those cars. I am completely satisfied with the RX-8. When it comes to the RX-8, you either get or you don't. I get it and I'm keeping it until it dies...then, I'm getting another one.
#14
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Yeah I had something similar happen a few months, although not with nearly as nice of a car as a Porsche...
After everything I had read and seen about the 370z, when one of my friends got one I thought that when I got to drive it I was probably gonna be pissed that I didn't have one... But honestly I like driving my 8 better... Don't get me wrong, the 370z is a really badass car, and if I was going to get something other than an 8, that would probably be my top choice. But there is something about driving the 8 that no other car I have driven has... You are a lot more actively engaged in the driving experience with the 8 than you are with a lot of cars now days. I know some people like to feel like the car is pretty much driving them and they are just along for the ride, but I think that takes almost all of the fun out of it.
After everything I had read and seen about the 370z, when one of my friends got one I thought that when I got to drive it I was probably gonna be pissed that I didn't have one... But honestly I like driving my 8 better... Don't get me wrong, the 370z is a really badass car, and if I was going to get something other than an 8, that would probably be my top choice. But there is something about driving the 8 that no other car I have driven has... You are a lot more actively engaged in the driving experience with the 8 than you are with a lot of cars now days. I know some people like to feel like the car is pretty much driving them and they are just along for the ride, but I think that takes almost all of the fun out of it.
#15
#17
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That's really cool. I get compliments all of the time and I feel that it's an honor and privilege to own the RX-8.
Side Note: The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo and the E36 BMW M3 used to be my dream cars. After purchasing the RX-8, I no longer want to own either of those cars. I am completely satisfied with the RX-8. When it comes to the RX-8, you either get or you don't. I get it and I'm keeping it until it dies...then, I'm getting another one.
Side Note: The 993 Porsche 911 Turbo and the E36 BMW M3 used to be my dream cars. After purchasing the RX-8, I no longer want to own either of those cars. I am completely satisfied with the RX-8. When it comes to the RX-8, you either get or you don't. I get it and I'm keeping it until it dies...then, I'm getting another one.
I got more compliments on my car when I was driving my old 99 mercury cougar, I don't understand it lol. Owned this car almost a year and haven't had any random people just come up and talk to me about liking it or anything. That type of stuff happened with my old car.
Oh well, I love it so that's what counts.
#18
In 2003 there was a six speed manual or a five speed tiptronic, no DSG.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
#20
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In 2003 there was a six speed manual or a five speed tiptronic, no DSG.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
#21
Registered
In 2003 there was a six speed manual or a five speed tiptronic, no DSG.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
#22
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http://www.caranddriver.com/features...p_2011-feature
The rx8 got beat up pretty bad in its class, but it was in the 30,000 to 60,000 class of cars. So mustang gt v8s and gt500s, wrx sti, evos.
In the class below that 30k and under all the cars beat the rx8s time(3:16.7), regular wrx got 3:16.5, genesis got 3:13.8, and the mustang v6 was 3:12.5.
It was just going stock for stock, but yea with increased hp the rx8 would be a much better car overall but I love it as is still.
The rx8 got beat up pretty bad in its class, but it was in the 30,000 to 60,000 class of cars. So mustang gt v8s and gt500s, wrx sti, evos.
In the class below that 30k and under all the cars beat the rx8s time(3:16.7), regular wrx got 3:16.5, genesis got 3:13.8, and the mustang v6 was 3:12.5.
It was just going stock for stock, but yea with increased hp the rx8 would be a much better car overall but I love it as is still.
#23
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In 2003 there was a six speed manual or a five speed tiptronic, no DSG.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
#24
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In 2003 there was a six speed manual or a five speed tiptronic, no DSG.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
The only experiance I have with the RX8 is a 2004 6 speed. And really not much has changed since then. So I really can't believe some of the comments made here. You really compare the 8 with 911 Turbos, Ferraris, DB9,s? And again with how nothing handles like the 8. Has anybody seen the last issue of C&D? How the RX8 R3 came in dead last in the Lightning Lap around Virginia Internationl Raceway? Behind such cars as the Hyundai Genisis, the Ford Mustang V-6, and slew of others? Enough already, the RX8 is a nice enough car but lets not get carried away.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying there is no car I would take over an 8. Although just about every car that I would pick over it is significantly more expensive haha