I love that everyones got something to say!!! Man Ive started like 2-3 threads because I was pissed about people knocking on the RX8!!!! The truth is that the RX8 IS INDEED A SPORTS CAR for one, but its unique! Sure, 14.5 isnt lightning fast anymore, speaking the truth, a passat runs the same. BUT (before I get flamed on) The RX8 is cheaper, better quality, and a better handling car than most in <30000 categorie. Think about it, the RX8 has an advantage over about everything in some unique way!!!! 350Z, the RX8 has 4 seats and better steering feel. Mustang GT, its faster but cant turn worth a damn. S2000, Its about the size of a MIATA and only has two seats and is BORING looking. Crossfire, same categorie, kidding me!!! See what Im saying, RX8s arent soo bad after all! Sorry about the long post!!!

 

touche

post count +1

 

Carmaking is now such a niche sport (pardon the pun) that the traditional category nomenclature can be misleading and not really effective at describing anything much at all because everyone seems to have their own criteria for its application.

The simple fact is that if the RX8 does everything you want it to better than anything else in your budget, then that's the car for you, no matter what pigeonhole someone else wants to put it in.

Enjoy it with a smile and stuff the namecalling, lol.

 

Who cares what others think. If you get your panties in a bunch 'cause someone says your car isn't a sports car then you are far too sensitive to be on this forum .

 

I think the sports car definition has categories the RX-8 is a Sports Car in the sense of the MGBs, Triumps and Morgans of old UK era and the early Porsches balance and handling were the key criterias. The Rx-8 styling and function and innovative Rotory engine makes it one of the modern Sports car ideas available. A little more hp would kill this argument forever. For the true driver and autoX ethuisatist its a dead issue anyway.

There are other vehicles that hit the nail right on the head and can be nothing but a Sports Car Like the Corvette, 350z, Lotus Elise, Viper, S2000, Z3/Z4s,Porsche Boxster S, Cayman, mitsub 3000GT, M3s and AMG benzes are Sports cars with Fast powerful engines, torque, brakes, fun and handling.

Personally with some of the improvement made in the mustang its bordering on being a Sports car as in the last Camaro. If the RX-8 can swing between S-sedan and S-car, so can these two Muscle-cars. Back this up with the GTs track time in C/D 7-2007 issuse. At one time the Corvette was considered a M-car, now its one of the finest S-cars money can buy.

So the 8 is definitely a S-car with its handling and thrill a minute driving, some may argue its too comfortable, its like an elise but its not in negative and positive ways. I like the 8's interior far better then the Lotus.

 

ask them which magazine or media outlet they think is the most authoritative when it comes to defining sports car


then show them this
[[

[

Quote:

Best Sports Car Feb, 2004 CNN money Website United States

Quote:

Best Sports Car under $57,000 (Australia's Best Cars Awards) Dec, 2003
Australia's Best Cars Awards Organisation Australia

anyway you get the idea

 

Theres no doubt that among sports car magazines and enthuisaist the Mazda Rx-8 made a big splash and is a sweet innovative idea. But sells for the more standard what is a SS sells are still better then the Rx-8 and so we have the RX-7 making its return and maybe an RX-9.

The Rx-8 is a great innovative and fun car to drive, destine to be a clasic. But it didn't get its message out to the public, it didn't advertise, I'm back and look what I got. Mazda may replace the 8 making it the Brittany Spears of sports cars, it had it all and more until it all caught up with it. The doors swings both ways, it appears.

 

I love Wikipedia .

 

The M3 and various AMG incarnations are most certainly not a sports car. They have sports car trait, but they are based off of sedan chassis. If I am not mistaken, the lack of a C-pillar is one of the key criteria amongst other things.

 

I feel kinda good last night i took on a Dodge Charger SRT10 and a Clk i was already crusing at 100 as soon as we got to the turns they didnt have a chance after the prompt spanking well over 150 we all pulled over and i got Sports Car respect .... So for me that qualifies

 

the 8 has a C-pillar. it has an a pillar, a virtual b pillar, and a c-pillar.

also, uncivilizedracing. uh, thats pretty illegal. maybe if you beg really nicely you wont be banned.

 

Must have been the kelvin of the bulbs and the weight savings from the shaved badges...

 

Awesome post Zoom. That about sums it up. And I agree with Donack, among the weekend racers this is a dead issue. Just ask the Porsche folks- ya know, the ones that can't figure out why Mazda drivers are beating them.

My favorite comment has to be from Car and Driver (the mag, not the forum member). Everyone wondered why the RX8 won the June Sports Car shootout. FOUL so many people cried. Mazda must have paid them off. Or maybe it's just that the RX8 was "the fastest on the real world course". We're not buying RX8's to have the fastest lap time at Summit Point, we're buying the car because we want a kick a$$ SPORTS car that we can drive to and from work everyday. And a damn sexy one at that. And BTW> those of us that ARE buying the car to win races...well they already know how to mod it to be optimal anyway. Of course, it's usually the driver that needs to be "modded".

You got yourself one of the most unique, fun to drive and practical (MPG not withstanding) SPORTS cars in history. Stop making excuses for it and keep sweeping up to (or past) the 9 on the big dial.

 

I agree with how you categorized the cars, though I'd put the mustang in the sports sedan category.

I don't agree with how you made the conclusion though - 2 doors don't make a sports car - as there are 4 door ferraris available.

I think a better way to categorize them is based on chassis type. It's apparent when a car is just a souped up sedan. Part of it is due to seating position. A mazdaspeed 3 is always going to be a sporty sedan even with 1000 hp. You're sitting up high. Now sit in a Porsche. Your knees aren't going to be at a 90 degree angle. I remember people bitching about basically "lying down" in my car because it was so low.


Anyway, for the OP - torque doesn't make a sports car. Either does massive horse power. The miata is a sports car, and it's pathetic at both.

Lots of power = muscle car. That doesn't make it a sports car, especially since most muscle cars handle like boats.