I normally dont write about this stuff, nor do I go out looking for it, but because these things are new on the road, I just had to know where I standed. Im at a red light next to some toyota or something, minding my own business. I look behind me, and I see 2 cars flying towards me, one in the other lane obviously. I moved up my car a beats cause I got worried, seeing someone already dinged me this year. I get upset by this, so I pay attention behind me as the light goes green. It was a little wet, so I just went normal. Well, the toyota next to me was alot slower then me, so by the time I was done first, the car behind me darts next to me.I shifted into 2nd at ok RPM, but not perfect. So I hammer it, tires spiining cause of the water, but was ok. By third gear at full traction, I pulled a car length away. I slowed down as the light was red in front of, but the car next to me didnt, as to show me up. Then I realized what kind of car it was, and I giggled. He didn't look over. Well, as I got to the red, I was debating to turn left, so not to get into a bloody bath with this mans new toy. Days old at best. I said, go for it. Which I did. Lucky, the ground was better here...I didnt launch heavy, nor did he, I think he knew better. Part of it was, we had no more then a second or 2 from red to green, or at least for me. My frankencar intake was screaming, 1st, 2nd, pretty close, but I had bumper on him. 3rd gear I pulled. I crossed in front of him, and went onto the highway. He came. But He was never close to me, except for the onramp, which I took easy. By 4th gear, i think he gave up. I got off 2 exits down, he didnt follow. I think he was upset. I was to, I like those cars.....Oh well.....Oh, that car racing him earlier, must of been a Honda, cause it was never close enough for me to figure out.

 

I actually drove it yesterday. for some reason it feels like it has no ***** whats so ever. from the start and even at 60 on the highway. i dont know maybe i didnt have it in the right gear but as soon as you hit the twisties see ya that car is amazing. This car fely like it was on rails we were taking turns at 70-80 on a road i would be doing 45 in the max with me fighting it all the way through. but the acceleration doesnt seem too impressive i guess ill have to wait for another one to show up at the dealership

 

Hee hee, I bet he's going to head to the Nissan dealership today to see if they'll accept his RX8 as a trade in for a Maxima Hey! It'll be better on insurance!

Now you need a baby seat for your car so you can slow down and roll down your rear windows for the next RX8 that you cream

 

I imagine driving the RX8 is like driving an S2000--very high RPM=go, low to mid RPM=slow. The RX8 only has 159 ft-lbs of torque. If the driver isn't in exactly the right gear then the 3.5L Max's should romp on them (until the twisties).

 

I had a run-in with an RX8 day before yesterday. It was the sweet HIDs that caught my attention. He zoomed past while I was filling up and as soon as I finished, I followed him. In the rural 2 lane road, he would floor the RX8 and I would be riding his bumper. He did this several times, just to make sure I wasn't a fluke. Next, we pull off at a church and chat for a minute. He says, "$10 bux says I'm faster, whether from a roll on highway or from a stop." I said sure. Well, on the way back, he wouldn't floor his car like he was doing before. But I noticed that around turns, he was accelerating really hard and trying to show off... I kept it as close as I could, knowing he had the advantage of RWD and 50/50 distribution. Well, at the end of this road, we line up at a light. Once green, he gets the jump straight out while I didn't really floor it because I didn't want to burn my rubber. I had traction control on too. By end of first gear, his back bumper was to my side mirrors. By the middle of second, we were neck and neck. In 3rd gear, I walk him to the point that at 100 I easily signaled and merged to his lane. He was ****ed but he passed me as soon as I slowed down and motioned for me to follow on the highway. I followed him and since we have a super long merging lane here, he moves over and challenges me to pass him on the merging lane. At 40MPH, he takes off with black smoke out of his exhaust. I already had it in 2nd in sportshift, having anticipated his move. I floored it and caught up to him easily. By the time I had reached 110, I had beat him by a little more than 1 carlength. I signaled and merged into his lane. He never stopped and gave me the $10.

Overall, I think it's a pretty nice car. It looks great and handles superbly around the corners. It seems to have pretty good pull in low-to-mid level speeds. On the high end, I think our cars with a higher displacement takes over. By the way, I drive a stock 2002 TLS and I'm posting this in the 5th gen because I've raced with my friend in his 03 Maxima SE auto with intake and we are almost always neck and neck. He gets the low end and I pass him around 65 mph every time. I would imagine that a 03 auto would have similar success against RX8's so don't be afraid of them!

 

kick ****!

Those rx8s have very efficent little rotary engines, aren't they like 1.3 litre 240 horsepower.

Anyways good kill! That goob thought because his car was new and shiny he'd put you to shame, u should 'em : ]

 

The new RX8 isn't the heir to the RX7. There's too little power in that car for it to be. Mazda will be releasing another sports car...more info to come.

 

I was reading about the rumors of the upcoming RX-7 that Mazda will bring back, and it supposedly will have the turbocharged rotary engine again. That will be a mean engine, considering the NA rotary makes upwards of 240 horsies... I'd love to take one of the RX-8's for a test drive just to see how the car handles. I've heard its very impressive. Not a strait line car though

 

 

I don't find it hard to believe, the TL-S seems to do a bit better higher up compared to the Max.

 

I was a owner of a 3rd gen RX-7 til about 3 weeks ago and after driving the RX-8 stock for stock the 7 is much faster. There is a thread on www.rx8forum.com about how owners are getting there car Dyno'ed and it have close to 20 less HP. Seems like a lot of people are getting mad about that, hopefully Mazda doesn't ruin the chance for a new RX-7 or even a Mazdaspeed RX-8 http://rotarynews.com/view.php?id=147 . Basically a rotary without a turbo or or a 20b is always going to lack on the torque.

Dave Lott
02 SE

 

I don't doubt it one bit either...but Max guys tend to get worked up over "POS Honduhs," especially 4-dr Japanese cars that might be faster than them.

 

I concurr.

 

Now i get it

 

I was looking at the price for a rx8 on the net, its not that bad considering.

 

It would lose to an Accord because they run 5.8

 

wha??