I'm a potential RX-8 buyer and I dont understand when people say that it is "SLOW". How slow is it?

I currently drive a 2002 Toyota Solara 4-cyl VVTI (2AZFE engine) and that's not slow for me. In fact, the 4-cyl Solara is heavy for its engine. Sure it runs 157hp/160 ft lb but it sure "zooms" to my preference.

You know what's slow for me? Honda Civic (awful POS). I used to drive one and you'd have to floor it just to get it moving off the stop light. No wonder people are modifying those POS's... it's screaming for one! You just cant drive it stock.

So what is it really? Are these people who say the RX-8 is slow former Viper drivers or former Civic drivers? Coz if they used to drive a Civic and now they say the RX-8 is slow, then I need to keep my money and buy something else in the future.

ps. my only complaint about my Solara is that it's like the "diet soda" of sporty cars (not sports cars). Good enough but just doesn't cut it when it comes to handling, looks, potential (what you can do with it).

btw, I also like the Dodge SRT-4 but the cheap interior reminded me of a Civic, so...yuck.

 

I don't think its "slow". I used to drive a CL Type S, and this car is approximately as quick. It doesn't feel the same though...the CL would downshift when you floored it and had a muscle feel (for lack of a better word). This car just keeps on pulling and it doesn't seem that you are hauling *** 'till you look down and see your doing 100.

Compared to the Solara, it will feel (and is) considerably quicker.

 

Most of the complainers have probably never driven a car that is truly fast.. Not to mention the fact that the majority are merely "bench" or "spec-sheet" racers.

It's every bit as fast, if not faster, than my wife's Subaru WRX wagon. And the Mazda interior is far nicer than the WRX or STi even..

It's plenty fast. My prior daily driver has north of 400hp and I *still* have no complaints about the RX8's power. If the car is "too slow" for you, might I suggest that you learn to drive.. you know, in something other than a perfectly straight line?

That's not a shot at you, Xyn. Go and drive the car, you will be very pleasantly surprised

 

Thanks. I have test driven the RX-8 but it was the Automatic and I didnt get to play with it much coz it was running out of gas already and the Salesperson with me was starting to get worried.

The A/T RX-8 ran kinda like my Solara (which I really like) but way better handling and cornering. It was fun but I would have to get used to the cramp windows (compared to Solara) if I'm going buy the RX-8...no biggie.

I was also surprised how nice it cornered considering it's smooth drive. As many of you might not know, driving a Solara feels like driving a hover craft, you can barely feel the bumps. RX-8 is not as smooth but close. That's a plus for me.

I would really like to hear what the antagonists here have to say about the supposedly "slow RX-8".

 

Slow compared to my twin turbo '93 RX-7 which does 0-60 in 4.9s and 1/4 mi in 13.5 @ 104 mph (closer to 13.0 with sticky tires). Now compared to a normally aspirated pre-'93 RX-7 rotary the RX-8 is fast (they were like 16.1s 1/4 mi).

 

"fast" is such a relative term like most have pointed out here. It all depends your basis for comparison.

The Rx8 is prolly a bit slower than a S2000 (which i have driven a lot, same with an rsx-s) but should have a similar feel, low torque, high revving, low (high numerical) close ratio gearing and a consistent a long pull through the gears.

 

Compared to my '64 Corvette Stingray w/ 300HP 327 Small Block,
my RX-8 is not slow.

 

Damn!

 

I had a v6 3.8L Firebird before. The RX-8 is faster than that and it FEELS A LOT faster.

You won't be beating a V8 Trans Am on the straight line but you'll do better on corners.

And the RX-8 is probably faster than even the V8 Mustangs, even on a straight road.

Remember real roads have curves ;-) and that's where the RX-8 feels fun, like a roadster.

 

I dunno, it my opinion the 8 has to be "coerced" to perform, meaning turning-off the dcs/stability mumbo jumbo and then ramping up the RPM's (5250 and above) to launch. So yeah, if you do all of that, the car is 'decent to good'. To reiterate a million times this car is not a stop & go (stoplight) racer. You have to 'set the car up' to perform, if you don't drop into 1st from high RPM then in my opinion the car does seem slower compared to other cars out there. If you are the "fast and furious" type this is not going to be your type of car, especially if you want to hammer it at every stop light given that you will "need to take time" to get the RPM up first before you go....

 

Nah, I'm not interested in straightline performance at all. Most people I have known who ARE into just that are afraid to race in curved roads, they think it's too dangerous. But then again, they drive Civics so that's kinda expected.

Anyways, even though I have mentioned that my Solara zooms to my favor, there are times that I just hate its power. Even flooring it doesnt change much. Like for example, driving down to Monterey from San Jose using I-17. That highway is very curvey and tricky but sometimes I just want to pass slow cars there. Or when I would need to climb up the steep highway (I-17). Those are the times I hate or love my Solara. Sometimes it feels too heavy but sometimes it feels like I need to lay off the gas pedal.

If nobody here is familiar with I-17, I'll explain the feeling. It's a really nice scenic freeway from San Jose to Los Gatos exiting to Santa Cruz. And because it is a freeway planted on the mountains, it is very curvey, steep, and narrow. 2 lanes each direction. You can see all the paint scrapes on the divider walls from cars that couldn't handle the curves.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but what I'm getting into is that I hope there arent any power hesitations from the RX-8, considering its low torque configuration. The Solara gives me that and I dont want it anymore. How does the RX-8 feel when you have a passenger with you and driving on a flat plain? What about a full load of passengers?

I also bring skateboard and blades in the trunk but those aren't too heavy to affect the power.

ps. If straight line performance is your thing, then I'm not interested in your opinion.

TY!

 

Funny, I always think that those who think the car is really fast have never been in a truly fast car. Low 15, high 14s is not really relatively fast.

 

well, I'm from Capitola and I drive 17 all the time to work.. Monday night I took one of those "45 mph" curves .. @ 75.. and I did not feel unsafe at all.

The previous week I had passed a Camaro on 17, the Camaro was going ~60 in that curve and I knew from having driven the Firebird (identical to Camaro), that he couldn't take it much faster than that.
My RX-8 basically drove a circle (um, half-circle, that is) around the Camaro.

I remember once going downhill there in my Firebird in a curve @70 in the left lane, and wholy ****, this Porsche shot by definitely 85+ mph; he couldn't keep the lane though and cut me off. No F-body will perform like that. I don't know about the Solara, but it has to do with the weight and esp the weight distribution.

My ex had a Boxster and I'd say the RX-8 drives as well. I need to hook up with her and we need to settle something on the track :-)

 

test drive time

 

I own one and BELIEVE ME....it's not slow! Are there cars faster? Yes!

This car however will not dissapoint you. Great acceleration, handling,noise levels low, sexy styling. You buy into " the package " with an Rx-8, not just power, or styling, or practicality alone. All the points that this car has to offer are balanced and work in harmony with eachother. That's why the car is great!

 

People are saying its slow because they are comparing the SE to cars in similar price range like G35c, WRX, and EVO.

 

Xy.. You and me are in the same boat. We are both steppin up from average cars to one that is a bit above average. Coming from my previous vehicles the Rx-8 is not slow at all. I drive an old pick up truck right now and after my test drive w/ the 8 I almost stalled my truck b/c I didn't push the gas pedal to floor when I put it in gear. The top speed on my truck is around 90 mph. I say around cause the speedometer only goes up to 85. So I definately say that the Rx-8 is fast and I believe you will too. Especially if you think your solara zooms... You will love it.

-JiM

 

This board is full of know-it-all car snobs. To the avergage person, this car is a freakin rocket and its got the best handling ive ever experienced.

 

I traded in a '94 Z28 with 275 horsepower. Yes, it was fast from a stoplight, and you really didn't even have to try to get past someone. I haven't broken in my RX-8 yet, but I can't wait to see its full potential.
In the Z28, I could take my favorite offramp at about 60 mph, and the car and tires were working hard. Yesterday I took that offramp in the RX-8. I wasn't trying to go fast, and I was doing 69.

 

yeah, can take any turn at any speed......FUN

 

That's not very nice.

In my case, I've put well over 200,000 miles combined on my rotary cars and have owned an RX-7 continuously since 1986. I also do most of the work on them myself.

That said, the 8 is pretty quick and does handle very well.

 

IMO slow is a car that runs 17.5+ 1/4 times
Average cars are 16.0-17.5 1/4 times

IMO anything lower then 16.0 is fast, some just faster then others.

 

Once again, price to speed comparison.

 

Speed, speed, speed... for those that want speed, go get an STI or an EVO. With them you get a cheap econobox interior and fabric seats, not to mention econo sedan styling with stuff added on. Or you could get a 350Z, but then no back seat, same with an S2000. You could get a Mustang and live with a less than modern interior and all but unusable back seat. The G35C has more power, but according to all the mags I've read, it isn't any faster than the '8' and it is much bigger. THe Accord coupe is pretty fast, but the exterior is way to bland and it is very large on the outside. All the cars listed above are all nice, but I think the '8' has several advantages: It's pretty small and light, it handles very well, the interior is way above avarage and it has the Renesis - need I say more. I looked at the ENTIRE car, not just ONE aspect for my decision.

 

I like that. That's what I have been doing for the past 3 weeks

I'm definitely leaning towards getting one. I think Silver would be my choice. I love a Silver car coz it never gets old, dirty, or cheap.

I have no doubts about RX-8 M/T's power at all, I'm just bothered by the comments about how slow it is. Most people just say it is slow per dyno prints but never elaborate on real-road experience about the RX-8 being slow.

The 0-60 doesn't matter much to me, 0-45 does though (it's more practical on the streets). The only time I need shorter times moving up to 60 would be on a freeway entrance.

p.s I love the interior. Big plus!