Mustang vs RX-8

OK, I have been waiting all day to get home and post this. On my way to work this morning half asleep I notice a new Madza RX-8 pulling onto the highway. Cool car I thought. A few minuets later he is right on my bumper. To drive a really fast car day in and day out takes alot of self control and respect for the car. Otherwise, well I don't even have to say. So I subdue my first reaction and just go about by business(I have a clean driving record and want to keep it that way). After about 30 seconds he pulls up right on my ass. I'm not real fond of running my car on the street esepecially in town, but I don't like being prvoked either. OK, there is a light about 1/2 mile ahead but damn, my bottle is empty. I fill it in Panama City Fla. which is about an hour from my house so I keep an extra full bottle in my shop but guess what, it's in my shop doing me no good whatsoever. O well, I don't think I need it anyway for this one. Sure enough he changes lanes and pulls up beside me and revs a couple of times. After the usual nod and a short wait were off. I launch as gently as I can so not to lite up my Nitto drags which I run on the street. Being early morning the dew was not completely dry on the road so I spun all the way through first and finally caught about halfway through second. Expecting to be looking at his taillights after my sorry driving to my surprise I had him by about half a car length. I hit third and began to pull on him like a Yugo and finally got him by about 5 car lengths. WHAT just happened, I thought the RX-8 was supposed to be fast, but I haven't read anything about it yet, or talked to anyone about it so I don't really know. I assumed it would be faster than the RX-7, but it didn't look that way. I drove a friends stock 7 a few years back and that thing was unreal. That tiny rotary motor is bad. So whats the deal with the 8? I've had closer races with stock Camaros and Supras. Could he just not drive or is this new Madza really slower than the RX-7? If anyone has any input let me know.

You got me I thought they were pretty fast too. Maybe you scared him. :eek:

From Car and Driver:

RX-8

Weight: 2940 LB
HP: 250 @ 8500 RPM
Torque: 159 Ft-Lb at 5500 RPM
0-60 MPH: 5.9 sec with 8000!!! RPM clutch drop
5-60 MPH: 7.5 sec
1/4 mile: 14.5 sec @ 96 MPH

Elsewhere on the Car and Driver website, they claim Mazda overated the HP. Actual HP:

238 Manual
197 Auto

The low torque surprises me. Even my 4-Banger 'Stang has 130 ft-lb's (not that I am comparing my 4-banger to a RX-8 in any way, shape, or form).

The RX-7 was indeed a pure sports car. Ultra light weight with sequential turbos on a 1.3 liter rotary with a 8,000+ RPM redline and a matching insurance premium.
The RX-8 is more of a passenger car with four dours, four seats and lower insurance. Also, no turbos, not even one. But hey, at least it's a Ford.
:smile:

RX-8s are sweet machines. Though not even close to the 7 variant, they deserve nothing but praise. Those are absolutely beautiful cars.

yea the 8 is a nice ride but as far as speed goes no 7. I've driven one its got nice pull smooth ride more of a quick cruiser then a true sports car like its older bro.

im sorry,but just because ford own mazda(or something like that) doesnt mean mazda is a ford...
I think ford is far away from what mazda can do. I dont think the mustang can beat a rx-8. Maybe if the mustang has good driver and is moded,and the rx-8 driver sucks,and its stock. Yah the rx-7 is a little bit faster than the rx-8,but the rx-8 is a really good car;perfect weight distribution,sporty suspension, this is a really good car..

Perfect weight dist. dosen't mean crap in a drag race. The driver of the -8 sucks, might have been an auto, but it's also not a light car. No torque also has a lot to do with it. I doubt he had it spooled up to 8K like it needs to be.

im sorry,but just because ford own mazda(or something like that) doesnt mean mazda is a ford...


Lighten up, now you're just disecting the semantics of my post. Competition improves the breed and the end consumer always benefits from this. For example, the SVT Focus was created in response to the burgeoning sport/economy car segment. You know Ford is getting serious when they put in a 6 speed Getrag transmission in a Focus.

Perfect weight dist. dosen't mean crap in a drag race.

Correct. 50/50 weight distribution isn't always the best design for street driving either. While driving slow or moderately fast it is good. However,when cornering at a high enough speed, 50/50 becomes a liability. This is because it is easier to predict the motion of a sliding car when their is a slight bias either to the front or the rear. When the car is 50/50, you have to drive through corners as if you are on skis. You have to quickly jerk the steering wheel opposite to the direction of the turn, then quickly turn and hold the steering wheel in the direction you want to go. After that you hope that you entered the turn correctly because your polar momentum is now perpendicular to the curve.
I prefer a slight front weight bias. But if I owned a Porsche, I'm sure I would prefer a slight rear bias.

SkyLineUSA, you have all wheel drive, what do you think?

i have a question..
Why do domestic people always only care about drag racing?? I think autocross is harder,and you need better cars to win on that,not just going straight..why do ya'll even have steering wheels?? :lol:

i have a question..
Why do domestic people always only care about drag racing?? I think autocross is harder,and you need better cars to win on that,not just going straight..why do ya'll even have steering wheels?? :lol:

Who gives a crap about autocross? Mustangs are muscle cars, drag racing is what we do. THAT IS WHAT WE CARE ABOUT. I think your in the wrong forum. :smokin:

Nacho, you remind me of The Evil Dr. Smith from that Lost in Space show. Your always up to no good, but somehow I just can't bring myself to dislike you. Yet.

Whens the last time you were at a stop light on the line, and challenged the guy next to you, to a cornering competition? And if you wanna go there, my 'stang will take your 91 Sentra on whatever road course you'd like to try and keep up with me on....

LOL...
i can hear it now; to guys pull up to a light: "take a left ,then a another left, then a right."

and drag raceing requires balls and it is a very fine art of a man and machine, autocross stuff (though i love trans am racing) is slower and is all driver stuff with the work behind the sceens.

when u drag professionaly it involes straping your ass down to a 6000hp+ monster with only 1/4" think fiberglass protecing out from the wind going by at 300MPH+. How much you wanna bet this dude would pussy out when they started it up?

LOL...
i can hear it now; to guys pull up to a light: "take a left ,then a another left, then a right."

:lol: I'd like to see that, it'd be pretty funny. As long as they don't sideswipe me...

From what I've heard the RX-8 is overrated from the factory, not putting out the 250 hp like it says, more like around 170 hp.

From what I've heard the RX-8 is overrated from the factory, not putting out the 250 hp like it says, more like around 170 hp.
i dont think it has 170hp...(why do people hate on imports so much,maybe because there's no american engine producing 250hp out of a na 1.3l?And before any of ya'll say it,the rotary engine is not ford's!

i dont think it has 170hp...(why do people hate on imports so much,maybe because there's no american engine producing 250hp out of a na 1.3l?And before any of ya'll say it,the rotary engine is not ford's!

Who cares? I think nacho's is a little paranoid. You would have to be. Here you are in a mustang forum flaming American Muscle. Do you have something you would like to get off your chest. Something happened to you didn't it. I'll bet you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about mustangs. :uhoh: Let me guess you were at a red light sitting in your nissan, huge spoiler out back, fart can muffler, stickers and everything. Suddenly you here something that makes you crap your pants. Its the sound of American Thunder, and its comming from a mustang that's just pulled up next to you. You try to convince yourself that your super nissan sentra and fart can can win. Suddenly the light turns green. You punch it but its no use, the last thing you see is twin pipes and a cloud of dust. Your a$$ has just been handed to you. :mad:
Don't cry we understand your paranoia. Hey maybe if it would have been an autocross .............................Naaa you would have still lost. :rofl:

Who cares? I think nacho's is a little paranoid. You would have to be. Here you are in a mustang forum flaming American Muscle. Do you have something you would like to get off your chest. Something happened to you didn't it. I'll bet you wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about mustangs. :uhoh: Let me guess you were at a red light sitting in your nissan, huge spoiler out back, fart can muffler, stickers and everything. Suddenly you here something that makes you crap your pants. Its the sound of American Thunder, and its comming from a mustang that's just pulled up next to you. You try to convince yourself that your super nissan sentra and fart can can win. Suddenly the light turns green. You punch it but its no use, the last thing you see is twin pipes and a cloud of dust. Your a$$ has just been handed to you. :mad:
Don't cry we understand your paranoia. Hey maybe if it would have been an autocross .............................Naaa you would have still lost. :rofl:
:eek: how did you know??
naw,actually i was in a forum,and then suddenly,all the camaro and mustang people started to talk shit about imports,and I fight for the rigths of imports,so yeah,thats what really happened.
By the way,you have some good imagination,did you write f&f and 2F2F?

LoL, that was pretty funny. But in all seriousness, i've rode in a RX-8. Kinda ugly coming off the line, but the top end power is nice. I've also rode in a bunch off mustangs. New GT, 82 GT, 83 GT, 86 GT, 89 GT, 90 GT (mine :iceslolan) and a 79 straight 6 (eww). All the car's just mentioned would have took the RX-8 except for mine, and the 79. Simply put, a stick RX-8 will take a 90 automatic mustang (GT). But, a stick RX-8 WILL NOT take a stick Mustang (even the 82' with the factory 157 horsepower).
P.S.- I'm ONLY talking about straight line performance. I have no idea about the handling part, but i will give the looks to the 8.

the base model is 197 hp it is very possible that thisis the one you have raced but not making any excusses and the option engine is 238. and the rx8 is a completely different car then the rx7. the rx8 is not even meant to take the place of the rx7. dont know when but the rx7 is due to come back.

nacho look at my sig thats you.... you dont make import drivers look cool smart and tuff by running around not knowing anything bout cars say oooo i'm cool cause i make fun on non imports. People like you are the reason so many cool stang guys hate on imports. hints grow up and stop posting dumb stuff if you wanta talk bout stangs feel free if not leave kthx

mustangs are awsome...

the base model is 197 hp it is very possible that thisis the one you have raced but not making any excusses and the option engine is 238. and the rx8 is a completely different car then the rx7. the rx8 is not even meant to take the place of the rx7. dont know when but the rx7 is due to come back.

Look for a positive response from Mazda about the RX7 in late 2004, early 2005. You can almost expetct the finalized product by 2006.

i dont think it has 170hp...(why do people hate on imports so much,maybe because there's no american engine producing 250hp out of a na 1.3l?And before any of ya'll say it,the rotary engine is not ford's!
Haha right it all has to do with me hating imports. Like I said I have heard of it being overrated and another story about Mazda trying to buy them back from customers because of it. That could be all lies but honestly I've seen two kill stories like this where the RX-8 is just getting blown away easily when it shouldn't, if it actually made 250hp.

Haha right it all has to do with me hating imports. Like I said I have heard of it being overrated and another story about Mazda trying to buy them back from customers because of it. That could be all lies but honestly I've seen two kill stories like this where the RX-8 is just getting blown away easily when it shouldn't, if it actually made 250hp.


it truely makes 238 hp flaywheel. wheel hp is bout 205 to 210.

yah,theres no reason for mags or mazda to lie about rx-8 specs

yah,theres no reason for mags or mazda to lie about rx-8 specs
Not a matter of lying, rather an accident.

Not a matter of lying, rather an accident.


he's right you know.

it truely makes 238 hp flaywheel. wheel hp is bout 205 to 210.

wow that blows. for how much that car costs. im glad i got a WRX cuz i was actually considerin that car. and ive been lookin for parts for that car and there aint shit. cept for some full titanium exhausts and some carbon fiber radiator shoruds and maybe an earthing system. nuttin special.

Not trying to start anything, but how could it be an accident? I'm thinking they measured the horsepower like they did back in the 60's??? Because that's really far from RWHP... i dont know, just wondering.

I tell you what Nacho, when you get 16, you can come on down to Alabama and we'll race in figure 8's.

Oh crap, I just realized that I posted a reply to the first page. I hadn't even read the other 2 yet. Oops. :icon16:

Not trying to start anything, but how could it be an accident? I'm thinking they measured the horsepower like they did back in the 60's??? Because that's really far from RWHP... i dont know, just wondering.
And my question to that is how could it not be an accident? Mazda itself has apologized for overrating the car and has offered to buy them back from customers. This was all done without hesitation when they found out their cars were not making the 250 hp they were supposed to.

wow that blows. for how much that car costs. im glad i got a WRX cuz i was actually considerin that car. and ive been lookin for parts for that car and there aint shit. cept for some full titanium exhausts and some carbon fiber radiator shoruds and maybe an earthing system. nuttin special.


a wrx you are getting less then 170 at the wheels 4 wheels true. and you can get an rx8 for 4 to 6 grand more. and if that blows like ya said then how bout a mustang gt with 280 at the flywheel and then 180 at the real wheels and as for price, got me.

The RX8 is a "fast" car the problem is that the engine will flux with the HP's, the max being 250 so of course thats what they are going to say it is, it is more around a 210-225 mark, Work at a dealership, so power is not always the same going up the band, causing it to lose HP and gain. It has alot of area to have work done since it can spin like a bike. but stock, its not as fast as u think. and a musatng is 260-270 at the fly wheel and 206-210 at the rear u do not loss that much only about 20-23 percent in the drivetrain.

20-23 percent is a pretty high figure, it's usually on the baseline of 16 percent frictional loss throughout the drivetrain. So take the currect 03 with 260 Bhp, that equals to 218.3 RWHP.

just one thing to add. the worst thing that could have ever happened to mazda is to have become part of ford. proof = RX-8

im sorry,but just because ford own mazda(or something like that) doesnt mean mazda is a ford...
I think ford is far away from what mazda can do. I dont think the mustang can beat a rx-8. Maybe if the mustang has good driver and is moded,and the rx-8 driver sucks,and its stock. Yah the rx-7 is a little bit faster than the rx-8,but the rx-8 is a really good car;perfect weight distribution,sporty suspension, this is a really good car..

I raced a Mazda RX 8 at Moroso last week and it was not even a race I beat him by at least 8 car lengths...


1991 Mustang LX 5.0 Coast High Performance 347 short block, Ported GT40-intake, and GT 40 Aluminum heads, 30lb Injectors, 1.7 rockers, FRPP b303 cam, 77mm Mass air, 70 mm Throttle body, ATI 9 PSI Supercharger with intercooler, Art Carr Street Strip AOD Transmission, 3500 Stall converter, 3:73 gears

Best Quarter mile time 11.17@118mph

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Well gee I wonder why, I'm sure you beat a lot of cars like they base cars with that kind of time. You can't really measure another car (stock) if yours is that powerful

I raced a Mazda RX 8 at Molroso last week and it was not even a race I beat him by at least 8 <A TITLE="Click for more information about car" STYLE="text-decoration: none; border-bottom: medium solid green;" HREF="http://search.targetwords.com/u.search?x=5977|1||||cars|AA1VDw">car</A>; lengths...


1991 Mustang LX 5.0 Coast High Performance 347 short block, Ported GT40-intake, and GT 40 Aluminum heads, 30lb Injectors, 1.7 rockers, FRPP b303 cam, 77mm Mass air, 70 mm Throttle body, ATI 9 PSI Supercharger with intercooler, Art Carr Street Strip AOD Transmission, 3500 Stall converter, 3:73 gears

Best Quarter mile time 11.17@118mph

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well gee with that many mods you should out run an evo by 5 car lenths.

Well gee I wonder why, I'm sure you beat a lot of cars like they base cars with that kind of time. You can't really measure another car (stock) if yours is that powerful

I did not know the car was stock and I did not ask to race him it was just the way the race line fell. I like others on this board was under the impression that this was one really fast car...turns out not to be the case. Oh well it was a fun race anyway.

Hey that bird of yours looks fast, 5.7L and all what does it run.

It runs whatever a typical '88 GTA would run with the stock TPI fuel injection. The car is 100% bone stock and original with 61k miles on it. Personally I've never taken it to the track and I don't have the intention at all until I get the thing running right again. Everytime I start it up the engine overloads and the check engine light comes on. I have to restart it like 7 times before the check engine light doesn't come on and it runs normal. I don't have a clue wtf the problem is with it.

Well, this is information based on one ride in an RX8 (happened today, happy me) and the current digest of available reviews.

The RX8 is indeed a wonderfully balanced, nimble sports coupe that performs well in its company, such as the Acura CL, the Infiniti G35, the Chrysler Crossfire, the Mercedes CL320, and the BMW 330Ci. It's a very revvy car without much torque and with incredible balance and stability alongside a wonderfully sorted chassis that's both comfortable and nimble.

It's no drag racer, and in all honesty doesn't hustle until it's above 6000rpm, but it eats up winding backroads with exuberance and is surprisingly gentle on the driver.

The RX8 was designed to compete in a whole different world from where the RX7 was placed, and certainly different from a Ford Mustang. If the RX8 was the same car that the RX7 was, they would've continued the RX7 name. (and, from all the whispering in Mazda's engineering department, they will debut the concept in 2005)

The RX8 is a comfortable, moderately practical, and highly sporty coupe that competes with other comfortable, moderately practical, and highly sporty coupes in its price range. It's no sports car, and it doesn't pretend to be. But it's a wonderful car and one that's easily appreciated once it's placed into context with its competitors.

no 4th gen. RX-7, from my sources. I'll get those sources up ASAP. Sorry guys. :(

BTW, is the RX-8 technically the "FE"? mm... i like the sound of "FC" much better :smokin:

Well, this is information based on one ride in an RX8 (happened today, happy me) and the current digest of available reviews.

The RX8 is indeed a wonderfully balanced, nimble sports coupe that performs well in its company, such as the Acura CL, the Infiniti G35, the Chrysler Crossfire, the Mercedes CL320, and the BMW 330Ci. It's a very revvy car without much torque and with incredible balance and stability alongside a wonderfully sorted chassis that's both comfortable and nimble.

It's no drag racer, and in all honesty doesn't hustle until it's above 6000rpm, but it eats up winding backroads with exuberance and is surprisingly gentle on the driver.

The RX8 was designed to compete in a whole different world from where the RX7 was placed, and certainly different from a Ford Mustang. If the RX8 was the same car that the RX7 was, they would've continued the RX7 name. (and, from all the whispering in Mazda's engineering department, they will debut the concept in 2005)

The RX8 is a comfortable, moderately practical, and highly sporty coupe that competes with other comfortable, moderately practical, and highly sporty coupes in its price range. It's no sports car, and it doesn't pretend to be. But it's a wonderful car and one that's easily appreciated once it's placed into context with its competitors.

Couldn't agree more. You definately can't beat first hand experience. I too got a chance to take a spin in a brand new manual RX-8 with a co-worker who just bought one last Sunday. It fealt incredibly nimble and is weighted very well because of how close that light little rotary engine sits in relation to the firewall. The handling was very similar in feeling to a Lexus IS300. The console sits in a very high, comfy position. The shifter has a very short throw and the gears are very well matched to the engines torque curve...or should I say lack thereof. The car cruises comfortably at 5k RPM and revs easily to 9k+. I was very impressed with how complete of a car it is for $27k.

As for drag racing...whatever magazine posted that it does 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and a 1/4 mile in just over 14 seconds needs to edit those numbers, check their sources, and fire the editor that allowed that to be published. Those are Subaru WRXish like numbers and there is just no way on Earth that info is accurate. In terms of flatout "off the line" acceleration (something that, like the Honda S2000, this car was not specifically designed to excel at) it felt about the same as an Acura RSX-R and slightly faster than my old '02 Nissan Spec V. That car had about 150whp-160whp, did 60mph in a little under 7 seconds, and ran a very low 15 second 1/4 mile.

My best guesstimate would be 60mph in maybe 6.5 seconds and a 1/4 mile in around 14.8? Definately a very fun, respectably fast, factory roadster that eats up twisty roads at high RPMs.

RX-8s are sweet machines. Though not even close to the 7 variant, they deserve nothing but praise. Those are absolutely beautiful cars.

i kind of think they are a bit 2 slow for my taste but very very beautiful. (slow as in i heard it was hard to get a 5.9 0-60)

im sorry,but just because ford own mazda(or something like that) doesnt mean mazda is a ford...
I think ford is far away from what mazda can do. I dont think the mustang can beat a rx-8. Maybe if the mustang has good driver and is moded,and the rx-8 driver sucks,and its stock. Yah the rx-7 is a little bit faster than the rx-8,but the rx-8 is a really good car;perfect weight distribution,sporty suspension, this is a really good car..


as long as its atleast a mustang gt a stang would murder it.

From what I've heard the RX-8 is overrated from the factory, not putting out the 250 hp like it says, more like around 170 hp.


well 238 for the top of the line one less for the base

Here is a guy running a 14.5 w/ a bone stock RX-8

I ran a best 14.4 with my '00 Mustang GT Vert it had a cat back intake and Diablosport Chip.

But remember the rX-8 was not built for 1/4 mile racing it was built for touring. Its ability to handle well is where it sets itself apart. Unfortunatly that means nothing to most people. Hence I have my 1/4 mile time in my sig. It doesn't even start to paint the picture of how fast my car is when there are turns.

In Autocross I kill Vipers and Z-06's like they are toys.
Not to mention Shelby Cobra replicas and Lotus Super 7's. On open tracks I rund down All sorts of high end machines like M-3's and M-5's and man does that piss them off.

Here are a couple of vids for you.

This one is from Top Gear a British auto tv show.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.wray/topgear.wmv

Look for a positive response from Mazda about the RX7 in late 2004, early 2005. You can almost expetct the finalized product by 2006.


would it not be then the RX9?

just one thing to add. the worst thing that could have ever happened to mazda is to have become part of ford. proof = RX-8

mazda was doing really bad and was going under untill for bought them now mazda is doing great.

translation-mazda's doing alot better under ford then by themselves.