You must have read a different article. The Article never said that the G35 Coupe is a better car than the 330ci. The G35 Coupe has 55 more horsepower than the 330ci but was unable to score a better 0-60 time than the BMW. What if the BMW had 280 hp? The G35 isn’t in the same league as BMW. The center console plastic looks and feels cheap. Remember the old “Emerson” stereos? Thats what the center console of the G35 reminds me of. The G35 is nice but it isn’t better than a BMW regardless of what the G35 fans say. At least the G35 has more substance than an IS300. Remember the IS300? The IS300 was the last car to be labeled “BMW beater”. Which we all know was a Crock.

 

I don't think Nissan has ever been good at putting power to the wheels. The 300hp, 300ZX TT, only put 230 to the pavement. To relate that to Mazda, the last RX-7 may have had 255hp, but I saw a completely factory car dyno at 233hp. All I'm saying is that the Z's 287hp/274 torque isn't that impressive. I think the RX-8 will have simialr dyno runs with the 250hp engine.

It will be competitive with the Z, and I think substantially better than the G35 in both acceleration and handling.

 

I have owned my RSX Type S for over 1 year now. It is a fantastic car and I LOVE driving it. But the RX-8 will surely eat my RSX alive in every meaningful category. While my RSX is a very sporty car, the RX-8 makes it look like a Civic by comparison. The RX-8 has everything right, including more power, correct wheel drive, better handling, better tires, more space,etc. Only thing the RSX will be better is price and weight (about 200lbs).

The RSX is a great car, but as an owner, I must say the RX-8 is a whole different, and better, beast.

 

All I'm saying is that this thread started by saying is the RX-8 fast enough in a straight line. My response was meant to say, for the price we think the RX-8 will be, and the expected performance, it will be more than fast enough. It's performance to dollar ratio will be excellent. Spoonie compared it to a RSX, I tried to explain that you will probably get much more of a car for the extra 4 to 5 thousand dollars. The RSX is an excellent deal for the price, but the RX-8 will be worth the extra 5 grand for sure.

I used the G35 vs. BMW 330ci as an example of the type of comparisons and reviews that we can expect when the RX-8 arrives. I'm sure other forums will flame the RX-8 if it topples a BMW or Audi or Nissan/Infinity, but that's just how it is. Since Japonese auto makers seem to be bringing back more spirited sports cars, many of them have there goals aimed high: Produce an affordable sports car that can compete with some of the best coming from Europe. It has to be that way. Mazda has to outclass the competition costing thousands more in order to compete. That is the only way Mazda will be able to compete with some of the competitions "status" factor.

Notice also how we don't see as much talk or cross shopping a RX-8 to a Camaro or Mustang even though straight line performance will likely be similiar.

 

I'll accept comparison's to the Cobra. Anything else either Mustang GT or Camaro Z28 makes me cringe at the thought of a comparison. Besides, the next Camaro is supposed to be retrofitted like the new Thunderbird anyway.

 

Well, you're the first I've heard to compare the RX-8 to a Cobra Mustang. Most compare it to Japanese or European cars.

 

Ford thinks the new 390hp, fully independent Cobra is every bit as good as a M3. And according to initial performance results it is in both acceleration and handling.

 

Accelleration I can believe but M3 has superb handling... I don't think Americans have yet reached a plateau where they can say that but I'll wait for the magazines

 

Hmmm... Last time I checked BMW was still producing M3's due to high demand.. Unlike the Cobra which is halted as of now.
http://www.bonforums.com/mustang/cob...pped102902.htm

 

Ford is obviously in severe financial troubles, thus haulting production of the Cobra. The Cobra I was referring to, however, is not yet in production and I believe was designated a 2004 model. I have a magazine that tested the car, I'll try to find it to give more details of what I read.

 

Let us not forget about the plethora of BLOWN M3 engines. I don't think reliability and BMW are two words that belong in the same sentence. This is even worse when you consider the price difference between Fords and BWMs.

 

Is it the fault of BMW or the people that own them?

 

plethora? you mean a little over 100?

You might say that E46 M3 (S54) has a problem but to say that BMW in general in not reliable is a bad assumption.

My current commute car is at 123K and still running strong.

My friend 1990 525i hit 215K the other week.

My highschool friends 1978 320i had 320K when he sold it. Never been rebuilt!

 

Plethora?

Those engines were made during a TWO MONTH PERIOD. Those that had them got them replaced or fixed. BMW acknowledges the fault, and the people that had the engines well you know how it goes... those that like to complain, do so loudly.

That's why the RX-7 got a bad rep too, as a minority of engines did go (because they weren't properly cared for, and because of turbos), so now the RX-7 is stuck with that image. It wasn't THAT bad though.

 

Braking first and foremost, then cornering, then accelerating.

Big brakes, with good cooling (Brake are all about balance. Heat generation versus dissipation)

50/50 front/rear weight distribution + rear axle drive + asymmetric width tires. Controlled oversteer when needed, Near neutral/slight understeer during off power handling (emergency evasion)

F/m=A Low drag (aerodynamic, rolling resistance) high efficiency drivetrain (1:1 fifth gear. power does not flow through a gear mesh) Good traction--high friction tires

 

You're kidding, right?

I was shopping for a 3rd gen not too long ago. Must have looked at a dozen in the 60-100k mile range, every single one had been rebuilt at least once. That engine was just too complicated for its own good.

 

Can't find the article on the new Cobra, eventually I'll find it.

In my opinion, the FD engine's sequential set up was too much. I've said before that I had problems, but that was more based on my penchant to try and upgrade the car. My parent's neighbor, also had an FD. He was the one that sold me on rotary's when I got my FC. Anyway, I digress, this guy is so good mechanically that he built his own plane and flys it every weekend. He took perfect care of his car and the engine blew up right after the factory warrranty expired. The dealer sold both Mazda's and BMW's, and ended up making an even swap for his FD in exchange for a M3 with very little money down.

On the other hand, I have seen FD's that were over 100K miles and still were on the first engine. Makes me think they were almost luck of the draw.

 

Hey, if anything, I wouldn't mind a little less HP. Maybe 225 or 230. Just enough so I can kick the crap out of those kids Driving Prelude SR's. With their 200 hp. Actually, even 210 would do it, cause the 8 would be lighter.

 

Depends on gearing really..

Besides, if you REALLY wanna embarrass them... get into like a Protege or something severely underpowered, and take em to a road course. Then beat their time by 2 seconds because 99% of those people don't know how to drive.

See the look on their faces then when the teeny Protege with 140 someodd horses beats the Preludes.. ahahahahahaha.

 

I'm not going to be going around the track in this thing. I'll be taking turns in the road fast, but thats about it. I will be dragging in this beauty, and that's okay. Not everyone likes to race around the track. It's just that, I wanna go fast with someone else in the car, so that way I don't die alone. jk

 

If you want to be successful in drag racing without breaking the bank, this is not the right car for you.

 

The SR models had 160hp. The SR-V had 190. Latest gen Preludes like mine had 195 and then 200, in the manual. Ignorance is not bliss. :p

On a track with "regular" drivers like us hp isn't really an issue.. Suspension, tires and driver skill. For example on our last lapping day I was pushing a Pontiac Firebird, Viper , NSX Camaro. But a guy in a VW GTi was on my butt with a couple of other "underpowered" cars..
There was one guy with a "serious" looking civic.. Lowered, cage, looked all business from the outside and inside. Licence plate said my gokart. On the track he was terrible, he was holding me up the whole time.. Moral is, driver skill is the most important thing. That's why I don't really care that the 350Z has x hp and another car has this much, etc. Those numbers are only important to immature stop light racers.

 

Amen! Preach it brotha

 

So what. I like light racing. I feel offended and would like an apology. jk

 

I wouldn't give you an apology :P

Good thing you're joking or I might have to hurt feelings! :D