Thoughts on RX-8?

[edo]

Hey rowdy, try this.

Bung it sideways with all that turned off & once youve got it all crossed up to the point of disaster turn all the stuff back on again.

I tried this in an E46 BM (some pox arse model) on the skidpan, I had got it sideways to the point where it wasnt coming back (no chance), I pressed the button, took my feet off everything & just steered. The weirdest feeling was that the car didnt wriggle, didnt do anything at all untoward...it just straightened up & drove exactly where it was pointed in a split second.

So if anyone has got a stability control system give it a whirl...possibly best to use a skid pan...it might not work like that in every car...

[bernie-rx7]

I drove one and was quite dissapointed. They seem to have no power, handle OK and the brakes are OK. They look like shite and every turkey has one. All in all I'd rather an Audi A4 in the same price range. They would probably impress a little more if they had a turbo or something as well .

[TonyJZX]

I drove one and was quite dissapointed.

Jeez if you hate it there's a problem.

I think the focus has changed... while people who loved the Series 1 and FC3S and the FD3S, the RX8 is not the same kind of raw sports car in that mould.

T.

[rowdytoot]

check www.rx8club.com or www.rx8club.com.au and see how many haven't.. it's a pifflingly small % of owners that have had issues, and they are mostly dimwitted college kids who drag race and flat shift their cars from cold, and don't check the oil! methinks LS1 styleee scaremongering (but the problems are far smaller and mostly owner caused from what I've read)

svi-- I just searched on ausrotary for the past year and 1 guy had a throw out bearing replaced and a new diff cos it was whiney.. and now he's getting another diff- I suspect abuse given his tone-- not exactly a huge drama and it's all being done for nix under warranty...

I can't find all these owners with new engines or cars at all...

I'm aware of one guy in Oz who's had 2 engines because of a coolant leak from a rotor housing,and he has some electrical issues now, but that was an early build 03 model as well I believe..

I'm also aware of at least 2 people who have either replaced their RX-8s on lease after two years with another, OR have replaced written off ones with another.

Some of the cars are up over 70000 km now in Oz and have had no issues at all..

Rowds

[Spammy]

IMHO the noise level from the gearbox is not good.

I can't see how anyone would like the S1 to S3 cars...for some reason I wanted to buy one years back (1990) and looked at about 5 or 6 of them and didnt' like them ....they are a very ordinary car to drive.

[rowdytoot]

what noise from the gearbox- the spinning up of the syncho's when downshift? yeah it's odd, but you come to love it

bernie.. so you'd rather drive something more underpowered, with worse handling and worse brakes.. weird!! RX-8 stops as well as an E46 M3...which ain't too bad! but I guess you're probably coming from your mega power uber sports car stylee rotaries..

I like Audi's a lot, but an S line A4 is more expensive, we considered it, but is not in the same ballpark handing or speed wise... We're going S4 or RS4 next car if we can manage it...

Rowds

[bernie-rx7]

You're right rowds I guess I'm comming from that pie in the sky rotary scene. I'm so used to driving high powered rotaries I forget how boring a standard car can be. I must say that driver comfort and the interior in the rx8 is greatly improved over earlier rx's though. They are great cars for the businessman with a couple of kids and a wife weekend winery tour type of shit. They are a fast comuter like a HSV or somthing. They are not a real sports car as far as I'm concerned, but they do have their place, and Im glad that mazda has finally released a rotary that the masses can enjoy. But its not for me.

[Paddington]

rowds, I think it was in one of the events or cruise threads. One member, I think he doesnt post anymore, was on his second brand new car in less than three months after his first car had gone through three engines in as many months. (2004 model)

[DrNick]

17>20L per 100kms.. Ouch!!

S

[rowdytoot]

sv-i- can't find it, but that's no good, still to lunch three engines, something must be going on - either with him, or with whoever @ the dealer is fitting them.....

bernie- I agree - not a pure sportscar-but definately more that way than say a HSV or a TT or a 350Z. Really we wanted a sportscar, but thought there was a fair chance we'd have kids during the term of the lease.

We probably would have got an elise or tried to stretch to a boxster if we weren't thinking practical - cos my car is a 2 seater as well(ute)

oh well that will come one day......(the boxster or elise day that is! )

Sean- you get used to it after a while- it's good on cruise though -- 10 litres/100 km I towed the rally car 100 km yesterday and used 25 litres to do it in the ute, twice as much as I used at the track!! that's worse!! :D:D

Rowds

[Babalouie]

No I was being a smart-arse, I mean one of those Tributyl things. The advertising would have you believe it's really a sports car; it just happens to look like it's for girlymen & shemales.

Sang in a Jack Black voice:
This is not..the best car in the world...this is just a Tribute..

But yeah, 1700kg car with drum brakes. No thanks :D

[Fatboy]

I can't see how anyone would like the S1 to S3 cars...for some reason I wanted to buy one years back (1990) and looked at about 5 or 6 of them and didnt' like them ....they are a very ordinary car to drive.

Oi, keep that up and i'll make you drive mine... That'll really teach you a lesson...

I wouldn't believe too much of what you read on AusRotary either - there are some great blokes with plenty of Mazda knowledge on there but there's a lot of 16 or 17 year olds who's "friends dads next door neighbour had one and it was shit" kind of people...

[08ESE]

Not overly fast, BUT feels like a comfy track car! suspension is magnificent! and comforatble!! One of the nicest cars ive driven. Handled like it was on rails.

[fdrx7]

pros: highly enjoyable, fairly practical easy to drive
cons: drinks like all mazdas do, rear doors annoying when parked close to someone else, just like any rotary every tosser on the planet will tell you their thoughts and misconceptions on them even if they've never even seen one. Witness this thread.

The humble 13b is and always has been the biggest bullshit magnet on the planet.

[Ustasa]

The humble 13b is and always has been the biggest bullshit magnet on the planet.

You got that right.

It brings out the armchair engineer in everyone.