If somebody wants to scan the article and email it to me I'll post it up..

 

I'll admit I'm a little dissapointed in the 8's performance numbers in the R&T test (R&T is my favorite car magazine, afterall). According to their numbers, the G35 Coupe beats the 8 in both the skid pad and the slalom by a wide margin. Not good, considering how much heavier the G35 is than the 8.

However, I am very happy that the 8 beat both the Mustang Cobra (never liked that one much anyway) and the G35 Coupe in the Car and Driver article.

I was VERY impressed with the R&T test of the Evo VIII, but I'm not crazy abot the reliability issues a lot of Mitsu cars seem to have over the long run.

I'm looking forward to the US introduction of the STi. Subaru has a good history in the reliability department, and 300hp and 300lb-ft in a 4-door, all wheel drive sedan sounds great to me.

The bottom line is that the two cars I'm most interested in now are the RX-8 and the STi. I'll have to drive both of them before I make a decision, of course. For now, it seems as though the STi may be faster (at least in a straight line) and more practical, especially living in a snowy climate, as I do. The 8 will probably be more fun to drive, and is obviously much sexier. Either way, it'll be a couple years before I make the final decision.

 

Did anyone else notice that the specifications listed an in-dash 6 disc CD changer as standard equipment?

Pretty cool. I know a few people in the audio section who wanted to hear that news.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

It's odd though, because Car and Driver posted the RX-8 as being higher on the skidpad than the G35 Coupe...

Either way though, I'm happy with my purchase. I want a few more reviews with some numbers to see what the skidpad numbers are going to be.

 

The reason the G35C got better numbers than the RX-8 can be explain very simply: Tires. This is the same reason the G35C scored better than the 350Z in every performance categories except for acceleration (R&T data). The G35C wears Michelin Pilot Sport, while the RX-8 and 350Z have inferior Bridgestone Potenza RE 040. Tires make a BIG difference and probably one of the most overlook performance upgrade.

 

Still doesn't explain how the RX-8 got better than the G35 Coupe in C&D

 

SCORE! i wanted that 6cd! blahAHAHAhAhAhAHAHAHAHAHaHaHaHahahaha freking GREAT balhAHAHAHAHa
________
bondage girl Cam

 

Well, if better tires is all the RX-8 needs, then it's no big deal. I'd probably drive on the stock tires until they wore out just to get the "feel" of the car, then slap on some good sporting tires (not sure which ones yet). I always switch to snow tires in the winter anyway, so lesser traction in bad weather would not be an issue.

Also, I was thinking that some nice, fat, aftermarket antiroll bars would help help correct some of that body roll. Not that it seems to hurt the car's handling, but I'd like to get rid of it anyway.

Add a good, free-flowing aftermarket exhaust, and I'm all set. Until Mazda makes major improvements and I start salivating over the next RX-8 (Mazdaspeed?), that is.

 

So you are the one that beat me out! You did pay too much :D

 

My Favorite quote from the article is.

"Real sports cars aren't supposed to have four doors, this one does."

Herc, I'm scanning it now, should have it sent shortly.

 

Ummmm, I'm new here, but is nobody concerned with the gear ratio?

More specifically 6th gear.

5th gear Redline 147mph
6th gear Redline 148mph????


You would think they would give it a little more room in sixth for better fuel economy no?

 

Here are the gear ratios for the UK model, I think the US model may be slightly different but only in the lower gears.

3.760
2.269
1.645
1.187
1.000
0.843

As you can see there's quite a gap between 5th and 6th - so the car can't hit redline in 6th, either because of the electronic limiter (150mph?) or lack of power vs. drag.

 

The number that R&T posted in relation to the Rx-8's balance is i quote:

"Weight dist (WITH DRIVER), f/r,%.......52/48"

in other words without out a driver the car is a perfect 50/50

 

it was all a lie

 

^^^5years 7months and 16days, is this a thread revival record

 

alfy has been going berserk lately!

 

he seems to like old stuff. see his signature image of an old car.

 

First PBlue, now alfy... what's up with all the thread revivals?

 

lol, ii was bored so i just googled a random title of a thread. this thread came up.

 

That Road and Track article was the reason I bought my 8.

 

I've still got this issue of R & T on a bookshelf in the bedroom.

 

I have the specs page from this article posted on my office bulletin board.

 

Lol, I had a copy of that in my desk at work for the longest time when many coworkers would start questioning me about the car.