Gotian and a RX-8 Test Drive

So I decided to take a test drive during my lunch break so i could write a nice review for all of you.

After going on Saturday with musashi and NOT being able to test drive one that the dealer was going to sell to me way under the MSRP I felt kinda empty (MSRP of 32,000 with every package available, manual, for only 27,000). So today i went to the dealer by my office and filled that void.

First Glance:
It's very Sleek and Sexy, it's just how I like my women Curvey:grinno: The Front has a mean look especially at night with those yellow beams on. The one I tested was a base model which ran for 26,800, so it didnt have the wing, side skirts, or front lip as well as not having a sunroof or manual traction control ::sigh:: Personally I find it more attactive with at least a wing but for the price what can you do? The rims were beautiful, especially compared to the other rims on the other cars. Just looking at the car made me want to drift it in the parking lot, the body design looked like it was ready for every and any corner, I just couldnt wait to get inside.

Interior:
A Luxiorious sports car, 4 bucket seats that will just make you melt when you sit in them, even if you get the cloth. The speedo was very beautifly lit up for you to see, though it is electronic. The design of the stereo system was cool and had quite a few gadgets to play with. Those of you who say a true sports car is a 2 door 2 seater let me put it to you this way, this car weighs less then the 350z which is its competitor and fits that definition and with it's suicide doors the driver never has to move his/her seat to allow someone to enter. Plus the 2 extra seats, which can fit 2 full grown adults with legroom, allows 2 more people for you to make scream out "oh shit!" when you are drifting a corner.

The Ride :

So I hop in the car with the dealer and turn on the engine. It doesnt have the loud "vroom" start up but that's okay considering it's a 1.3 and it revs to 9k (manual only) I take it out of the lot and start to play with it a bit. I move it from side to side testing the suspension and response, Excellent. While I'm driving I don't seem to feel the road as badly as the 350 which is good in by my standards, so my ass wont take a beating. I shift through all the gears except 6th to see the clutch and transmission. It responds similar to the 350 as far as the clutch and tranny go, no suprise there.
The fun part. I see if the dealer will let me take it through the roads behind the dealership, he says fine which it really good for me. I get to a straight away and punch it, the tires screech as I go through 1st, I'm pushed back into my seat as I take it up to 8,500 RPMs and shift it to 2nd, breaking traction. Again I take it to 8,500 and shift to 3rd. I'm already going 75 so I decide to slow it down before this guy says something. I think to myself, damn and I had 3 more gears to go through. We get to a turn so I down shift to 2nd and the car glides through the corner with very little body roll, unlike the Z where the back tends to come out. The next corner was just like the first, applying the 50/50 balancing that mazda had created. After each corner the car recovered very nicely showing that the loss of torque doesnt really bother much.

Pros :
50/50 balancing allows for easy and fun cornering, same price as the Z so its just wich one favors you better. The high revs make it feel like a never ending rollercoaster which is accompanied with very nice pedals that allow for easy heel and toeing

Cons :
For a 1.3 it has the gas mialage of a 3.5 getting 19/25 to the gallon. As a daily driving through the city car you dont get to enjoy the full open throtle much (unless you drive at night like me) The price can reach up to 34,000 if you add more stuff like leather and manual traction control as well as the body kits.

Verdit:
I loved it. For a car with 159Ibs of torque it does pack a punch since it doesnt have alot to move making 0-60 a breeze to 5.9 and 1/4 of 14.5 (though I have seen lower and higher due to driver). The low to the ground body never made me feel out of control. Though this is a highway car and was made to live on the track it is still fun to drive around the city and wave at people when you are going sideways. There arent many differences between this and the Z so as I said before, it's what fancies you, But in my opinion I'd rather have the RX-8 because the less body roll does help me on the track.

You tested the RENESIS without me? you PUNK!
I thought we'd go double on that review? :banghead:
oh well Im glad you enjoyed it......YOU PUNK!

so tell me something. does it really have a 0-60 of 5.9 seconds? the Z made it in 5.8 which baffles me since everyone complains about the lack of power from the car. I mean that is darn close!

and how'd you feel about the acceleration? did you feel it in your gut or what?

I would love to drive one of those. I have heard they are the best handling cars for the money. On a side note, are any of you actually looking to buy or are you just having some fun with dealers cars?

Now bOTH of u should go try an S2k

yeah, how bout both of you drive the same car and give us yor insight, lets see the difference in two people who drive the same car.

we can get more insight

I would have bought that car in a hearbeat, had it not been for a couple of things:

1. Reliability. Log on to the RX-8 boards, and you'll see that most people don't make it to 30-40k without pretty big problems.
2. Gas mileage. More like 20 mpg combined with moderate driving.
3. Value. It looses value too quickly.

If Mazda could improve those 3 things, I'd sell my S2000 for one.

I second Young on that! Both of you go test the S2k and give Both reviews on it

I would have bought that car in a hearbeat, had it not been for a couple of things:

1. Reliability. Log on to the RX-8 boards, and you'll see that most people don't make it to 30-40k without pretty big problems.
2. Gas mileage. More like 20 mpg combined with moderate driving.
3. Value. It looses value too quickly.

If Mazda could improve those 3 things, I'd sell my S2000 for one.

1. Those people dont take care of the cars, car and driver even said it, the renesis rotary is a reliable engine if maintained well, the problems that most people encounter are recalls so you take them in and the dealer fixes them, after 40k miles they never had a problem except for changing the oil every 2,000 - 2,500 miles.

2. if we really cared about gas I'm sure most of us would be driving different cars instead of muscle cars or turbo cars that suck gas every time you press on the pedal

3. if you really love the car you buy you don't care much about the resale value now do you. I know if i buy one I wouldnt be selling it for a while.


As for the S2K musashi and I will both test it out and im going to test the Miata later, make any other suggestions to us and we will try to get them in.

Oh and yes we are looking to buy as well as play with the dealers

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

Zee Oh Six, huh, why don't yall try that, or I guess a regular C6 will do if you can't get the LS7. Or how about the Audi S4??

Zee Oh Six, huh, why don't yall try that, or I guess a regular C6 will do if you can't get the LS7. Or how about the Audi S4??

they probably wouldnt let me test drive one, im not 25 and plus they most likely wont take me seriously. (for the ZO6)

When are ya'll gonna test drive something fast?

Like what your BMW 325? (j/K)

1. Those people dont take care of the cars, car and driver even said it, the renesis rotary is a reliable engine if maintained well, the problems that most people encounter are recalls so you take them in and the dealer fixes them, after 40k miles they never had a problem except for changing the oil every 2,000 - 2,500 miles.

2. if we really cared about gas I'm sure most of us would be driving different cars instead of muscle cars or turbo cars that suck gas every time you press on the pedal

3. if you really love the car you buy you don't care much about the resale value now do you. I know if i buy one I wouldnt be selling it for a while.


As for the S2K musashi and I will both test it out and im going to test the Miata later, make any other suggestions to us and we will try to get them in.

Oh and yes we are looking to buy as well as play with the dealers



1. It didn't appear to me like that. Seemed everyone is having problems.

2. The S2000 can get 30+ mpg on the highway. Much better than 20.

3. I care.

rx-8 is trash in my eyes. plus the 350Z doesn't do 0-60 in 5.8 seconds its more like 5.4 seconds. plus look at the trap speed, the RX-8 barely breaks 96mph which is pathetic for a 30K car, while the Z can break 100mph. not even close. a rsx type S can keep up with that sorry ass of a car.

plus the ride is too soft for my liking and i actually like driving cars with torque. plus those wheels may look okay, but they're sunken in like crazy, very very skinny rims and tire combo, not to mention that those fenders looks very out of place and tacked on, they look like round bubbles on a arrow.

plus the body is too tacky, too many triangles to try to give the average sthmoe hints that its a rotary. well i feel that in 10 years, the car would age pretty bad like a 3000GT ( no offense ) rather then gracefully like a Z32 or a RX-7 FD3S or FC3S, or even a 350Z. its the lack of details, and tacky add ons thats what makes these cars so clean and beautiful, they will never run out of style.

my 2 cents.

rx-8 is trash in my eyes. plus the 350Z doesn't do 0-60 in 5.8 seconds its more like 5.4 seconds. plus look at the trap speed, the RX-8 barely breaks 96mph which is pathetic for a 30K car, while the Z can break 100mph. not even close. a rsx type S can keep up with that sorry ass of a car.

plus the ride is too soft for my liking and i actually like driving cars with torque. plus those wheels may look okay, but they're sunken in like crazy, very very skinny rims and tire combo, not to mention that those fenders looks very out of place and tacked on, they look like round bubbles on a arrow.

plus the body is too tacky, too many triangles to try to give the average sthmoe hints that its a rotary. well i feel that in 10 years, the car would age pretty bad like a 3000GT ( no offense ) rather then gracefully like a Z32 or a RX-7 FD3S or FC3S, or even a 350Z. its the lack of details, and tacky add ons thats what makes these cars so clean and beautiful, they will never run out of style.

my 2 cents.


to each his own

And your 2 cents are respected here Tat but remember the RX-8 is not a straight line car so we never expected the 1/4 time to be too impressive.

I think I'll test the RX-8 myself and give you guys a double review on it so we see it from two different points of view. I like most of you felt Mazda fucked up big time with the RX-8. No torque, no straight line thrill, four-door? I mean its the sports car that isnt really a sports car. so I'll test it re-review it and compare with gotian's review.

a cars peformance is no just what it can do on a straight line it's much more than that and i think you guys dont realize that

A guy at my work rented one to drive out of state and he said acceleration was weak but once it got moving it just kept gaining speed. But this is coming from a guy with an automatic Prelude.

i like the RX-8 a lot myself, although i wonder if it would be feasable to put a turbo on it yourself. that would probably determine whether id buy it or not.

i like the RX-8 a lot myself, although i wonder if it would be feasable to put a turbo on it yourself. that would probably determine whether id buy it or not.

there is a turbo kit out for it that would put you well above 350hp when your done, the kit is from greddy and it costs about 4k.

There is also a supercharger for it as well.

Gotian you said to make suggestions. How bout an Enzo review? I dont think Mazda screwed up terribely on the RX-8. The RX-7 was very expensive (correct me if Im wrong) and with the money you would put into an Rx-8 you could make it just as good if not better. I dont think its fair to compare it to the rx-7 just because its the next model because of the price value. Yeah they have similar names but that doesnt mean they are the same car. And the RX-8 puts out close to the same HP as some turbo rx-7's.

Gotian you said to make suggestions. How bout an Enzo review? I dont think Mazda screwed up terribely on the RX-8. The RX-7 was very expensive (correct me if Im wrong) and with the money you would put into an Rx-8 you could make it just as good if not better. I dont think its fair to compare it to the rx-7 just because its the next model because of the price value. Yeah they have similar names but that doesnt mean they are the same car. And the RX-8 puts out close to the same HP as some turbo rx-7's.


Don't think I would be allowed to drive an Enzo

As far as the RX-8 goes, thank you for understanding mazda a bit. It is alot more cost effective to make the RX-8 non turbo with exactly the same power as the RX-7 (the japanese RX-8 has 250HP cause of emmissions, take off the cats and you would have the 250 on the ones here). They are 2 different cars as you said. As far as base engines go the Renesis rotary is a far better design that creates more power without the use of a turbo, and it transfers the power better as well. While the rx-7's base engine power was 160 for the non turbos and the ones with turbos had a base power of 180, so the big jump to 250 without the use of a turbo is a major increase and improvement.

The Turbo in the rx-7 gave most of the power including the 215 Ibs of torque. I'd rather spend 15k less on a non turbo and then turbo it for 4k

Like what your BMW 325? (j/K)

Well, I've never lost to an RX-8, a Jetta/Audi 1.8t, or a 3KGT (hell I flat out embaressed one last night on the highway), so *shrug*

Anyways, I'll go ahead and head up to the Pontiac dealer around here, see if they have any 6.0 GTOs on the lot, or maybe bring back from the dead my test drive of an M3.

Oh, and I notice you talk about modding the 8 to make it better...didn't you state in some other one of these reviews your not trying to compare modded cars or something like that?

Oh, and I notice you talk about modding the 8 to make it better...didn't you state in some other one of these reviews your not trying to compare modded cars or something like that?

Yes they were. I was just stating that un-modded you could have the equivalant HP of an un-modded RX-7. Which, yes, you can make any car fast with enough mods but I was just trying to show that you couldn't compare the two equally unless the RX-8 is modded. Which in this case it isn't and we aren't supposed to be comparing with mods yet others are comparing these two when in fact that isnt a fair comparison unless the RX-8 has mods. Kind of hard to put in words. So in conclusion, they shouldn't be compared unless the RX-8 is modded so dont compare the two.

On a side note: I was j/k about the Enzo. Unless you have the chance to then by all means do it.....do it......do it.

I mentioned the turbo cause someone had asked. And I mentioned about removing the cats cause technically,even though considered a mod here, it isnt a mod in japan cause it comes like that stock allowing for the 250 hp

Well, I've never lost to an RX-8, a Jetta/Audi 1.8t, or a 3KGT (hell I flat out embaressed one last night on the highway)


Well obviously you're racing the wrong ones :evillol: jk, but how come we didn't hear this race story?

not true. a RX-8 doens't even come close to what a stock RX-7 puts down. sure they are rated similar but mazda is nortorious for over rating their cars. at first then rated the car at 250hp then people strapped it to the dyno and it only made 190whp. so its not even a 240hp car because a S2000 making only 240hp is putting down 200whp.

so what does mazda do? they just took the lazy way out, they re rated the car to 238hp ( which in my opinion is still alittle bit overated ) and they would buy the car back from owners or give those a year of free maintainance.

also i don't know where you saw 350hp from for a greddy turbo kit, but the kit is suppose to raise the power up to a pathetic 230whp. no thanks, i'd rather whip my ass with hundred dollar bills then to waste money to get less whp then a stock SRT-4 and having to blow 4K doing it too.

but if you think 230whp is little, well considering the car puts down 190whp stock its a 40whp gain with very low boost so it okay. but to put it into perspective, a stock RX-7 is known to put down 220-230whp stock, so its not even close in power wise. a RX-7 traps 102-103mph, when a RX-8 traps up to 97mph which is laugabily bad. also they claim the RX-8 is light well its a 3000lb car so its not exactly light like a 2700-2800 lb rx-7. however i do admit its built alot better but the interior still will fade over time, the a/c barely works, and the interior gets really hot because of the rotary engine sitting so close to your leg.

too many flaws, its ugly, slow, and expensive. i would rather take a rsx type S over a rx-8 becasue its just as fast, but cheaper, and better built.

they probably wouldnt let me test drive one, im not 25 and plus they most likely wont take me seriously. (for the ZO6)

walk in with a nice suit on and shades and all professional and act all cocky and stuff ... lol im sure they would then

Well obviously you're racing the wrong ones :evillol: jk, but how come we didn't hear this race story?
LOL, nice!

Which one? I've had millions of kills against 1.8 VAG products, its like a civic kill, I dont even post that much any more. I ran a 3KGT once, beat it by about a car length and held it off up to 110, 115. Never really thought about posting it, never seemed that big of a deal. Same with the RX-8, pulled on it about a length up to 75, then stopped the pull, but held it back till about 120 when I let off becuase we were in a 45, and the embarassing of the 3K was last night, I was gonna wait till I got back to school to post all my Texas street racing stories but if you want I'll post them now.

Tat...took the words right out of my mouth.

not true. a RX-8 doens't even come close to what a stock RX-7 puts down. sure they are rated similar but mazda is nortorious for over rating their cars. at first then rated the car at 250hp then people strapped it to the dyno and it only made 190whp. so its not even a 240hp car because a S2000 making only 240hp is putting down 200whp.

so what does mazda do? they just took the lazy way out, they re rated the car to 238hp ( which in my opinion is still alittle bit overated ) and they would buy the car back from owners or give those a year of free maintainance.

also i don't know where you saw 350hp from for a greddy turbo kit, but the kit is suppose to raise the power up to a pathetic 230whp. no thanks, i'd rather whip my ass with hundred dollar bills then to waste money to get less whp then a stock SRT-4 and having to blow 4K doing it too.

but if you think 230whp is little, well considering the car puts down 190whp stock its a 40whp gain with very low boost so it okay. but to put it into perspective, a stock RX-7 is known to put down 220-230whp stock, so its not even close in power wise. a RX-7 traps 102-103mph, when a RX-8 traps up to 97mph which is laugabily bad. also they claim the RX-8 is light well its a 3000lb car so its not exactly light like a 2700-2800 lb rx-7. however i do admit its built alot better but the interior still will fade over time, the a/c barely works, and the interior gets really hot because of the rotary engine sitting so close to your leg.

too many flaws, its ugly, slow, and expensive. i would rather take a rsx type S over a rx-8 becasue its just as fast, but cheaper, and better built.

Even if what you say is true who cares? Why don't we just compare a late 90's vette to the RX-8 since it costs about the same as a brand new RX-7. Or compare rx-7 to a 911 Carerra? The point is is that the RX-7 damn well better be better in every aspect for the price it costs. It was simply made to be a higher performing car.

The point is is that the RX-7 damn well better be better in every aspect for the price it costs. It was simply made to be a higher performing car.

An Escalade costs more than an 8, should it be better performing?

The question we need to find out is, based on intrest rates and all that economic shit I don't understand, would an RX-7 today cost the same as it would back in 93? Oh, and you can find a low miliage, good->excellent condition RX-7 for under 15k if your willing to look hard and travel a bit.

An Escalade costs more than an 8, should it be better performing?

The question we need to find out is, based on intrest rates and all that economic shit I don't understand, would an RX-7 today cost the same as it would back in 93? Oh, and you can find a low miliage, good->excellent condition RX-7 for under 15k if your willing to look hard and travel a bit.


Wouldnt the price be even higher now, inflation and all that jazz?

Cassie, come on. Obviously a escalade shouldnt perform as well with a sports car because it was meant to compete with other large luxury SUV's. These are both sports cars so what do you think they are meant to compete agianst?.........Sports cars. And we aren't comparing used RX-7's because when they were brought up in this forum they were implying how dissapointed they were when the RX-8 came out as opposed to when the RX-7 came out. I'm talking about each car the way they started out, not one used and one brand new because once agian that would be an unfair comparison.

Wouldnt the price be even higher now, inflation and all that jazz?

that would be expected... of course there are other factors though such as demand, maybe the demand for a RX-7 isnt nearly as high nowadays so they would be forced to make the price lower... there are quite a few factors to consider.

Cassie, come on. Obviously a escalade shouldnt perform as well with a sports car because it was meant to compete with other large luxury SUV's. These are both sports cars so what do you think they are meant to compete agianst?.........Sports cars. And we aren't comparing used RX-7's because when they were brought up in this forum they were implying how dissapointed they were when the RX-8 came out as opposed to when the RX-7 came out. I'm talking about each car the way they started out, not one used and one brand new because once agian that would be an unfair comparison.

Using your logical structure and argument, if it costs more, it should perform better.

And new (in 93) RX-7>new (in '05/'06) RX-8 stock for stock.

How much did a RX-7 cost brand new in 93, I really wasn't looking to purchase a sports car at age 7 so I don't know.

Thirty two nine MSRP, so not all that much more...interesting...

Inflation of most everything has gone up since 93 considerably. And using my logical structure if it costs more it should perform better? Well, yeah, it should if its the same type of car. You cant just throw expensive SUV's in the mix and say they should perform better because it costs more, that would be insane and nowhere did I say anything about SUV's. I've only discussed sports cars so wherever you got that idea from I dont know. You also got to take in ideas about if its also luxury, or off road capable but neither of these fit any other category than a small import sport so if one costs more (especially back in 93') then it should perform better (even more so since they are made by the same company).

Edit: I also want to make clear that I'm not trying to make an attack at you in any way, but instead just trying to get my POV across.

no offense taken, if you don't compare the rx-8 to its predecesor, the rx-7, its a fine car in its own respect. however its just a plain fact that a comparison of those cars has to be compared.

most rx-7 owners hates the rx-8, and generally speaking, a car should be faster when a newer model comes out, of course they aren't direct decendants but as i said, when you put the name rx in front, it would end up being compared with other rx's.

to some people its a great car, its not so great to other people, just like i know alot of people who would pick a S2K over a 350Z, however i am not one of them, but they all perform similar. different taste, but if your gonna say the rx-8 makes similar as a rx-7 that means your buying into mazda's b.s. marketing and lies.

i will hold my final judgement until mazda releases a the REAL RX-7. ( i'm hoping they do )

I love both cars the RX-7 and RX-8, i compare the 2 all the time, BUT as i go back to my point : For being an N/A car the RX-8 is better the the previous Rotary WITHOUT a turbo. Mazda was not trying to out do its previous RX model but instead they went and Improved the engine and kept it more affordable for the consumer.

As far as the horsepower goes, The japanese ones ARE 250HP, AT THE CRANK, Which is where every company puts there numbers from. Our RX-8's are 238 again AT THE CRANK. All these numbers are not wheel power. And most rear wheel drive cars lose alot of power compared to front wheel cars especially if they are N/A.

Also stop talking about trap speeds, I mean come on IT IS NOT A DRAG CAR.

Everyone is entitled to thier own opinion, cause shit i went out of my way to give you guys mine so i'm glad everyone has alot to say about the car whether it be good or bad, but just remember what the car was made for. Forget about 1/4 miles and 0-60 times, thats all going to variate between drivers anyways.

If you guys want a 2nd opinion musashi should put up his own review of the car since we went to the same delearship i went to for him to drive one.

but you should be aware gotian that factorys can easily underrate hp as well as overrate. look at a SRT4 for example. the RX-8 is overrated, while the RX-7 is underrated. simple as that, but yeah as i said, if you just look at the rx-8 as its own car, its a fine car, yes its not that fast, but in its own way, its a nice car, but for me i'd rather drive other cars in its class.

I ran a 3KGT once, beat it by about a car length and held it off up to 110, 115. Never really thought about posting it, never seemed that big of a deal.

yeah those are the SOHC 160hp models. The DOHC 222HP models actually pull harder then the 325 on the highway. Better 60-100 due to the gear ratios.

Still nice kill. you shoulve posted it.

^^^That gives me some confidence because Im sure Ill run my bosses 05 325 some day soon. At least I hope.

^^Oh yeah dude, Ive ran alot of 325s both auto and manuals and they come in two trims 4cyl and I6 but they are mostly just town cars. they arent really tuned out like the M3. so yeah they are sporty but you can outrun one.
Hell Gotian's step dad has an I6 auto and Gotian smokes him.

anyway were getting of track so back on topic:

they come in two trims 4cyl and I6

Don't talk about BMWs ever again. That, or just go kill yourself. You do know that the '25' in the E36 and 46 325 means it has a 2.5L I6, right? Hell, I'm pretty sure that the only four banger 3's were the 318s, and some of the earlier E30 3's, including the E30 M3.

Don't talk about BMWs ever again. That, or just go kill yourself. You do know that the '25' in the E36 and 46 325 means it has a 2.5L I6, right? Hell, I'm pretty sure that the only four banger 3's were the 318s, and some of the earlier E30 3's, including the E30 M3.

Okay you guys, stop jacking my review thread, in this thread I dont care about the 325. This thread is about the RX-8 so keep it that way.