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Facelifted RX8 revealed!!!!

 
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Old 01-22-2008, 08:21 PM
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Putting 19s on (especially on the R3 option) really shows where Mazda was going with the "update". Although this was discussed, predicted and expected the whole thing still leaves a very cynical/bitter taste.
19s, Recaros and a cosmetic refresh: They are clearly saying, our hands are tied from both engineering and financial standpoints...
I don't know what the future holds for a rotary powered sports car but it does not look any brighter after this excepted and now fulfilled update/refresh.
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Old 01-22-2008, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris_Bangle
maybe they were being sarcastic
Sorry, but no, R&T wasn't being sarcastic when they said "New styling, same great rotary engine." Like most auto magazines, R&T likes the Renesis. A lot. Not only do they like it, they consider it to be, along with sublime handling, the main draw of the car.

Duh.

Last edited by New Yorker; 01-23-2008 at 08:18 AM.
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Old 01-22-2008, 10:06 PM
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The renesis would be allot better if the car lost 200kg
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Old 01-22-2008, 11:03 PM
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It will loose weight when the next RX comes out with only TWO seats!!
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Old 01-22-2008, 11:11 PM
  #1005  
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Originally Posted by rotarygod
I've probably owned rotaries longer than you've even known what they are so I'm not too concerned with fuel economy on one. I am concerned about the crappy gear and rear end ratios the car comes with though and it just so happens that my view also would help those who do understand that they are driving cars that get worse mileage than a fully loaded Perterbuilt going up a hill.

People like me? What the hell does that mean? I only drive standard transmissions. I hate autos. I think all cars should be manual transmission equipped and that people should learn how to drive.

How about that 999:1 rear end ratio? It's more! It's better! It would appeal to "people like you" that don't understand that the lack of the power to weight ratio that would give the performance that you want can not be compensated for even with a gear ratio that is more aggressive than most race cars.
maybe you can add that to your sig lol
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Old 01-23-2008, 12:12 AM
  #1006  
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Originally Posted by Chris_Bangle
Putting 19s on (especially on the R3 option) really shows where Mazda was going with the "update". Although this was discussed, predicted and expected the whole thing still leaves a very cynical/bitter taste.
19s, Recaros and a cosmetic refresh: They are clearly saying, our hands are tied from both engineering and financial standpoints...
I don't know what the future holds for a rotary powered sports car but it does not look any brighter after this excepted and now fulfilled update/refresh.
I can understand why mazda was trying to spruce up the looks of the rx8. the current version did not sell as well as they would have liked. And they are trying to appeal to the people who drive from point A to B, seeing the vehicle as a transportation unit that makes them look good, not a marvel of engineering like most of us see it. Plus, im sure that the recaro seats saves close to the same amount of weight that the 19s have added so i would not be tooooo worried about that. From what i've read from this site, we can hope for a 15 hp increase witch isn't much but it sure will compensate for the extra "goodies" that were added for comfort/styling.

K im done....too much thinking on a school night lol =P
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Old 01-23-2008, 12:52 AM
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some are saying that the 19s are lighter than the current 18s. Its possible.
________
Roll a joint

Last edited by Renesis_8; 09-11-2011 at 02:26 PM.
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Old 01-23-2008, 01:26 AM
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The RX-8 already had good looks. They should've been working harder on getting a more powerful engine.
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Old 01-23-2008, 01:29 AM
  #1009  
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bigger wheels should only accompany a bigger brake option
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Old 01-23-2008, 10:28 AM
  #1010  
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Originally Posted by Renesis_8
some are saying that the 19s are lighter than the current 18s. Its possible.
The 19" Bridgestone RE050A tires are lighter than the comparable 18" by about 1 lb each.

The wheels, yes, are said to be lighter also. Even if they were the same weight as the 18's, saving 1lb at each corner of unsprung weight is a savings that I'd happily accept (for a stock tire... once it's replaced with something else all bets are off unless that replacement tire is also lighter).

The tires I'd compete on are 4lbs lighter at each corner.

--kC
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Old 01-23-2008, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Imp
The 19" Bridgestone RE050A tires are lighter than the comparable 18" by about 1 lb each.

The wheels, yes, are said to be lighter also. Even if they were the same weight as the 18's, saving 1lb at each corner of unsprung weight is a savings that I'd happily accept (for a stock tire... once it's replaced with something else all bets are off unless that replacement tire is also lighter).

The tires I'd compete on are 4lbs lighter at each corner.

--kC

If they're lighter that's good...but it still means they're heavier towards the ouside of the wheel, which is bad for performance.
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Old 01-23-2008, 05:26 PM
  #1012  
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235/35/19 tires for example, are lighter than stock 225/45/18's.. and also smaller than a few mm in diameter.

the whole thing will still depend on the weight of the new rims..

but from the way i see it 4.77 + 19" rims which are equal to or lighter than stock and a few mm smaller in diameter = faster acceleration off-the-line.

as for mpg.. it will suck
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Old 01-23-2008, 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by superdon2
235/35/19 tires for example, are lighter than stock 225/45/18's.. and also smaller than a few mm in diameter.

the whole thing will still depend on the weight of the new rims..

but from the way i see it 4.77 + 19" rims which are equal to or lighter than stock and a few mm smaller in diameter = faster acceleration off-the-line.

as for mpg.. it will suck
So you think there's nothing to my rotational inertia argument? Metal is heavier than air...
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Old 01-23-2008, 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by SlideWayz
"Great handling, great looking" versus "1/4 mile queen" is a false choice. There are other cars that look cool, handle great, and run low 13s in the 1/4 mi. It 's just that Mazda is PW'ed by Ford or can't figure out how to turbocharge a rotary any more.

It is *totally* lame that the RX-8 is slower in a straight line than the FD. What makes it even worse is the lack-o-torque at <WOT makes an NA RX-8 feel like an 80s econobox in a straight line.

Mazda can do better than this. They have done so in the past. Why they chose to go half-assed on the RX-8 remains a mystery to me.
If I remember the thread on this, the box-stock FD was not all that much faster than today's 8, and was far less easier to live with on a daily basis. A car like the 8 requires some compromises, and most of us are happy with them.

The car may not have all the power you want, but it certainly has more than you need. The car is geared more to adults, and that's fine.
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Old 01-23-2008, 09:57 PM
  #1015  
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You can alway go with 225x40x18 Kumho's and will get the same diameter and be 2lbs lighter than the new RX8 with RE050 RFT
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Old 01-24-2008, 07:03 AM
  #1016  
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Originally Posted by Razz1
You can alway go with 225x40x18 Kumho's and will get the same diameter and be 2lbs lighter than the new RX8 with RE050 RFT
Oh, there's a host of tires that are lighter than the 050As. And aftermakret wheels too. I think it only fair to just compare what's stock on the car for the time being because anyone could make an argument for anything on the car being lighter (aftermarket seats come to mind too)

--kC
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Old 01-24-2008, 09:10 AM
  #1017  
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Originally Posted by Razz1
You can always go with 225x40x18 Kumho's and will get the same diameter and be 2lbs lighter than the new RX8 with RE050 RFT
^+1. but 4.77 + light 18's or 17's makes me real envy on the track.. damn. if i could only afford those FEEDs!



edit: i haven't mentioned it on this thread yet.. but that facelift suck. that side vent suck! no corners = suck

Last edited by superdon2; 01-24-2008 at 09:17 AM.
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Old 01-24-2008, 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by MP3Guy
If I remember the thread on this, the box-stock FD was not all that much faster than today's 8,
um, yeah it was, by a full second 0-60
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Old 01-24-2008, 11:25 AM
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3rd gen was way faster like bulletproof said...2nd gen wasn't
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Old 01-24-2008, 01:57 PM
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It's crazy how 15 years ago the acceleration of the 91 Turbo2 was still considered quite quick. The RX8 which is easily it's equal is now considered slow. Amazing! I guess it's all relative.

Paul.
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Old 01-24-2008, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Mazmart
It's crazy how 15 years ago the acceleration of the 91 Turbo2 was still considered quite quick. The RX8 which is easily it's equal is now considered slow. Amazing! I guess it's all relative.

Paul.
I wish people would just STOP reading the "specs" section of brochurs and just DRIVE the cars.
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Old 01-24-2008, 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by bulletproof21
um, yeah it was, by a full second 0-60

Your results may vary.......

From Rotary News:

We at RotaryNews have been following the threads on the RX-8 forum about the fact that the RX-8 was not making advertised horsepower on the dyno. We have also been in contact with some of the folks in Mazda about the issue. They were fully aware of the issue, and researched it fully. They have released their findings today.
As of today, August 22nd, 2003, the revised US-Spec Horsepower Rating of the RX-8 is 238 HP for the Manual 6port RENESIS, and 197 HP for the 4port Automatic RENESIS. The performance numbers advertised ARE NOT CHANGING. They have done many tests, in house, with magazines, and outside third parties, and they are still observing RX-8's that will do 0-60 in 5.9-6.0 seconds and quarter mines in 14.5 (best observed 1/4 mile run at Pomona Raceway was 14.48 at 96.1 MPH)


From an Edmunds recap:
The third RX-7 did generate some astounding numbers. Road & Track had an R1 blitzing from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds with the quarter being consumed in 14.0 seconds at 98.5 mph. Motor Trend had it doing those same tricks in 5.3 seconds and 13.9 seconds at 99.7 mph. This was one seriously fast car.

But rough-riding, high-performance, close-coupled two-seaters (even the less brutal "Touring" model was still ultrastiff) weren't big sellers in the '90s as insurance rates on such vehicles went up and the market's preference for SUVs became obvious. "Pound for pound, dollar for dollar," wrote Road & Track, "the new RX-7 shines with some of the brightest sports cars in the world. Mazda is sticking its corporate neck out here, coming to market with a more specialized, higher-priced car at a time when two-seater sales — not to mention automotive sales in general — are feeble. Let's hope this lightweight rotary rocket can send that trend packing."



All in all, I would stop pining away like a dog that lost it's owner for the RX-7. And at a cost of over $10,000 more in 1995 dollars, well, let's just say there's a reason the car has much better demand used than it did new. Help yourself.
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Old 01-24-2008, 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by MP3Guy
Your results may vary.......

From Rotary News:

We at RotaryNews have been following the threads on the RX-8 forum about the fact that the RX-8 was not making advertised horsepower on the dyno. We have also been in contact with some of the folks in Mazda about the issue. They were fully aware of the issue, and researched it fully. They have released their findings today.
As of today, August 22nd, 2003, the revised US-Spec Horsepower Rating of the RX-8 is 238 HP for the Manual 6port RENESIS, and 197 HP for the 4port Automatic RENESIS. The performance numbers advertised ARE NOT CHANGING. They have done many tests, in house, with magazines, and outside third parties, and they are still observing RX-8's that will do 0-60 in 5.9-6.0 seconds and quarter mines in 14.5 (best observed 1/4 mile run at Pomona Raceway was 14.48 at 96.1 MPH)


From an Edmunds recap:
The third RX-7 did generate some astounding numbers. Road & Track had an R1 blitzing from zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds with the quarter being consumed in 14.0 seconds at 98.5 mph. Motor Trend had it doing those same tricks in 5.3 seconds and 13.9 seconds at 99.7 mph. This was one seriously fast car.

But rough-riding, high-performance, close-coupled two-seaters (even the less brutal "Touring" model was still ultrastiff) weren't big sellers in the '90s as insurance rates on such vehicles went up and the market's preference for SUVs became obvious. "Pound for pound, dollar for dollar," wrote Road & Track, "the new RX-7 shines with some of the brightest sports cars in the world. Mazda is sticking its corporate neck out here, coming to market with a more specialized, higher-priced car at a time when two-seater sales — not to mention automotive sales in general — are feeble. Let's hope this lightweight rotary rocket can send that trend packing."



All in all, I would stop pining away like a dog that lost it's owner for the RX-7. And at a cost of over $10,000 more in 1995 dollars, well, let's just say there's a reason the car has much better demand used than it did new. Help yourself.
Like any argument it all really depends on your perspective. An EVO only does 60 in about 5.2 seconds, which is only .3 seconds faster than an fd, and only .8 seconds slower than an 8. All tiny almost imperceptible numbers, but would you really try to argue that your 8 is as fast as an EVO? You could definetly say that the tiny imperceptible difference makes no difference to you, but shrugging away the acceleration of the rx-7 over the rx-8 based on 0-60 and quarter mile times is absurd.

Having raced EVO's and 8's on the track, I can tell you that the EVO is dramatically faster than the rx-7 between 100mph and 155mph. And the rx-7 is dramatically faster than the 8 between 100mph and 155.
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Old 01-24-2008, 06:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Jedi54
I wish people would just STOP reading the "specs" section of brochurs and just DRIVE the cars.
exactly... specs are not the only thing that make a car... the feel of it, the way it rides and handles, the way you drive it make you love or hate the car... people are too spec oriented now n days..
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Old 01-24-2008, 07:02 PM
  #1025  
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If you can't drive properly - paper race.
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