BlueEyes

I have no idea either. I have done a lot of track driving, and I noticed something a long time ago. In between the corners, there are straight sections of road. It's inevitable. The 8 could get to the next corner a little faster, IMO.

I cannot understand peoples anger towards the desire to reach the next corner a little quicker. Especially since that's where all the fun's to be had

bascho

I don't hate on people that are completely happy with the 8 as is. I also don't hate on people that wanted a decent track car and not a straight-line performer. But I hate it when people make comments regarding their preference of one track style over another. GT racing is no more sophisticated than 1/4 mile racing.....they're just different. I happen to enjoy 1/4 mile races and I am in no way a "broadsword knuckle-dragging, inbred-retard." I take offense to that comment and so do others. I love my 8 for a lot of reasons that have nothing to do with it's capabilities at the track. The styling is superior to many other vehicles in it's price range, the over-all quality is amazing, and the interior looks intentional and not an after-thought like many others. Most days I am completely happy with everything my 8 can do.......but I would be happier with more power. I think if we took a pole of the members, there would be an overwhelming majority for 'more power'. Does that mean we are all a bunch of "broadsword knuckle-dragging, inbred-retards?"

Steakboy42

It does not, because you care about everything else with the car. there are people out there who only care about the 1/4 times and nothing else. Those people are the people I believe were originally refered to. I too believe that the car could use some more power, especially in the low rpms (I cant wait till hymee's done with the AT SC) but other than that, it is a work of art that covers every aspect that I love in a car.

-Steakboy

unpocoloco

okay, here's a question (that's probably already - no, almost definitely already been discussed). How WOULD you get that extra 50 hp, without a turbo. It's not like they chose 238 hp ... that's just what happens when you've got a 1.3L engine. Pretty good hp/L if you ask me. However, could they make a 1.6L version that would do the trick? It probably doesn't work like that...enlighten me. I like learning about cars.

TALAN7

Blue eyes made probably the best argument against all of the 8 owners who think the car is perfect as is and doesn't require anything, their argument being because Mazda makes handling cars. That's a weak argument for a car that when it came out compared itself to the Z, Cobra and cars like them... high performance cars. The 8 is in my opinion a performance car, not a high performance car. Now I don't think the 8 needs 50 hp per say. It doesn't have to be faster. With 30 more hp nothing could touch it on the track and on the street it would be competitive.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

er.. the 8 didn't come out and compare itself to anything, that's just what everybody else did because it is in a class of it's own with a powerplant nobody in the mass media understands so they had to try and group it with something to try and get a clue about it. They do the same thing with everything else, best example is music, people don't know what to call it or how it fits so they try and compare it to something they're familiar with. Mazda does make good handling cars, but so does everybody else, and surely our car would benefit from more power (as long as the balance isn't ruined and we don't end up Viper gas mileage) but it's not a requirement. There's always going to be somebody who doesn't lik the 8 and there's always going to be somebody who like to stir up **** on internet sites, just ignore them and know this car is indeed remarkable and unbelievable for the price, (notice all the other cars people compare it too cost on average 5-7 grand more, if I bought a car for 5-7 more than what I am paying for my 8 I'd be in the f-in poor house, and my insurance would probably be higher too.) but just like everything else in this world, it's not perfect.

bascho

238hp out of a 1.3L engine is amazing!!!! It's just that 238hp is just not that much these days.....especially for a sports car.

Adding 50hp N/A .................Well....typically, cold-air intakes, less restrictive exhaust systems, ECU flash modules like Diablo Sport, and a few other mods can result in 50 hp. However, the RX8 has not responded well to any of these mods in the way of huge gains. What that tells us is that Mazda pulled just about every N/A hp out of the 13B that they could. So, that leaves only two options for the 13b, Nitrus Oxide for tempory gains.....or FI. Larger displacement like 1.6 would add power.....but at the cost of fuel economy. I average 19mpg right now....but 15-16mpg would be hard to swallow unless the output was 300hp. I personally am going to a 20b turbo set-up when my warranty is up. I never go to any race tracks......I just want to pull away from ZO6's like their doing in PR.

New Yorker

Reading countless road tests of the RX-8, seems the one thing everyone—and I mean everyone—raves about is the unique balance and feel of the car. I'm no engineer, but isn't this unique "feel" a direct result of the small size, low weight and resulting placement of the engine? Wouldn't more power—whether through a bigger engine or FI—necessitate adding weight and/or size to the engine? Based on everything I've read—and one test drive—the 8's got power enough for me. Besides, for me it's superb feel and handling—not power—that I value most in a sports car. I know, I know—you can have both. But I don't think you can at this price.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

actually the RX8 is now rated at 232 HP.

Steakboy42

that's still 178.5 HP per liter of motor

-Steakboy

bascho

True.

Probably 230 for 2007. They need to discontinue this car before we're under 200

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Not to interrupt all the shouting, but why did Mazda not go with either a supercharger or turbocharger on the 8, as they did on the 7 (although the 7 only generated an additional 17 horsepower)?

My understanding is that it was a combo fuel economy/reliability issue, no?

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

well said, no you really can't at this price, closest thing to it might be the solstice? But even the solstice is nowhere near the z etc. in terms of power etc.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

the last generation 7 had some issues with reliability and some FI related problems as well . I think their goal was to get as close as they could without a turbo etc., and without killing us at the pump or having a car that broke all the time etc.

bascho

I think Mazda claims that the side port config of the Renesis does not benefit that much from FI..... Not sure why they say that, the Greddy cars seem to be doing alright. I think the only downsides the the Greddy kit right now are surging issues resulting in bearing and seal destruction, and engine management. I believe that MM and others have concluded the surging issue is oil pressure related.....so that will not be an issue for long with the recommended fixes that will follow.

I'm sure fuel economy is a player in the decision as well. We are already getting really bad fuel economy....so FI would only exaggerate that problem.

Reliabilty issues........depends on how radical the FI. Mazda could go with a reasonably low pressure system that created 280hp at the flywheel while delivering much needed low-end torque. Engine management is a non-issue for Mazda.

My personal opinion is that fuel economy is the only reason we have not seen FI offered on the RX8.

swiftnet

Reliability is most likely the reason that FI isn't offered by Mazda, imo. When a rotary detonates, it often breaks. Afaik, it has to do with the extra surface area (exposed to combustion) of a rotor vs. a piston. Mazda's flagship has to be reliable, because if it isn't, average joe lumps it all together and says Mazda makes unreliable cars. Car mfg's cannot afford that type of bad press. Mazda had problems with the '7, and much of it was supposedly FI related, they wouldn't want to make the same mistake twice.

All this is imo, and the '7 wasn't a mistake, its reliability in the hands of the unwashed masses was much lower then expected.

FX-RX8

True that!!!! I cant wait when my 30 months lease is up.....I got exactly 12 months left......I'm starting to look around for my options and been going to Autoshow's around the country (went to the Philly Show this past weekend and will go to the NY Auto Show in April) and these are my 3 options so far: EVO IX; Subbie STi and the Mazdaspeed 6. I made the desicion to not get another RX8 but maybe if they come aout with the Mazdaspeed RX8 in MY07.

saturn

I know this is a somewhat old argument and it's been rehashed 7 million times, but I just wanted to chime in. It bothers me that people attack other people just for having an idea or a request. I don't care if you've heard it a million times, it doesn't mean you should be a big ***. Someone who doesn't own an RX-8 and wishes it had more hp is entitled to that opinion. People have different tastes. When you were a kid dreaming about your dream car were you allowed to have an opinion about it? Don't be some RX-8 snob who sneers at anyone who doesn't "get" what the car is all about. You can have your opinion too, but when you start in with the insults it just highlights the fact that you're a big douche.

Anywho, if Mazda could add FI (even a little bit) with good reliability (something they've been struggling with in general) and for a reasonable cost (under $3000 or so) and do it all while keeping bearable mileage numbers (let's say 15-18 mpg for "average" driving -- FI average that is) it would change EVERYTHING. Every magazine that has ever written anything bad about this car talks about the lack of torque. Maybe they just don't "get" what the car is about, but they still want it.

I can appreciate someone who says that they would be upset if Mazda did this for whatever reason. But claiming that this isn't want a huge number of people have been clamoring for is insane IMO. I don't know if Mazda can pull it all off or if they even want to try, but the desire will always, always be there.

ASH8

Yes, its was the fuel economy and turbo reliability, however, the main reasons are emission compliance, if the RENISIS side exhaust porting was not developed and not a success, you would not have seen ANY rotary engined car, because of emissions and the standards that Europe now have, I think they are even higher than the US.

Hi Flying 8

iTrader: (2)

I don't think that fuel economy would be much of a problem as the third gen gets better mileage than the 8. My son and I went to Topeka for nationals, he in his third gen and me in my 8. He consistently pulled 25 mpg from Denver and back while I pulled 20. The only difference in car prep essentially was that his had a moldified intake. Shocked the hell out of me.

zoom44

i could easily out mpg every 3rd gen i ran to 7stock with. cruising or gunning. if you couldnt get more than 20 on all highway there is something wrong with your car or your driving.

Glyphon

he was in 4th the entire way? :D

nolarx8

I agree with you. I said it a hundred times before if mazda doesn't come out with better numbers I'm gonna have to trade my beloved 8. I have almost every mod out there and it makes a difference but i also have no warranty. I know at least four other 8 owners that agree with me. The Rx-8 cannot survive without much better numbers

DARKMAZ8

I love my slow *** 8 and I don't care who knows it!

All the ppl that cry for more power should just buy some.

sure, they're faster cars for the money but as far as I know they all have piston engines. When a company comes out with a faster rotary car, only then I will complain.

Hi Flying 8

iTrader: (2)

It's pretty difficult to drive poorly when the cruise control is on. The car was fully loaded to the max with race tires, equipment, clothes, food etc., but his car was filled to max also, it just doesn't carry as much. It sounds like you have never driven across Kansas with its constant high cross winds.