I just wanted to know what everybody opinion was on the Mazda RX-8 I was looking at the car this weekend the interior was spacious and the back seat room was decent as well. At any given time I only have 2 people in my Maxima rarely do I haul more than 3 so I don't think I will miss the additional rear seat room the Maxima has over the RX-8. Plus I am 5'9" tall. I took a friend to look at the car with me Sunday and basically their overall opinion is to keep my Maxima because the RX-8 looks will get boring to me after a while...

 

I agree...keep the max..the RX-8 is UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGLY

 

RX-8/ 350Z/s2000's would be great weekend/track cars but wouldn't
trade my Max for them- get both- variety is good!

 

well if you happen to get an RX8 ....since you live so close by..I wanna take a joyride in it

 

don't listen to anyone about looks... some say ugly, some say beautiful, it's all up to you.

now, you need to decide WHY do you want to get anally raped on your 2k2 in a trade/sale? You're going to lose a lot of money selling a car so new, and nissan resale isn't the highest.

if you can afford it and want it, buy it.

 

I like the RX-8 but I would not trade my Max for it.

 

the RX-8 is tight...
i would get it

 

lots of torque going to the renesis rotary. Max torque on the rx8 is less than 160 ft-lb. Once you figure in the losses, the wheel torque will be much less. If you don't mind spinning the motor to +7k rpms all time to get off the line line in the max then it's your call.

 

Like ICU posted, "I like the RX-8 but I would not trade my Max for it."

I tried my friends RX8 and it feels like an upper 14s car and has much more usable powerband the the S2000 (other friend). It was ugly to me @ first but I've grown to admire it's uniqueness and IMO it looks better than the new Z. Though its backseat isnt Honda Prelude bad, I wouldnt encourage "excessive habitation" back there.

The one BIG disincentive/incentive about the RX8 is the horsepower issue: I think its now rated @ 238hp (versus the advertised 250hp - 6sp model) but Mazda is discounting the RX8's price AND throwing in free maintenance for the life of the warranty. Something to consider.

Peace.

 

Actually, that's no longer in effect. They had a time limit on all of that stuff, and it was for people who had already purchased or ordered one before the "actul" HP numbers were revealed. As of now, you get what you get...they might still be offering a longer service plan as a compliment, but I think it is dealer dependant.

 

For the record I forgot to mention I would get the Automatic instead of a stick which has less HP. 197 to be exact. They have $2000 rebates on them and I am sure I can talk to done even more. I like the looks of the car and they are more rare than the Maxima.

 

so are you trying to have us talk you into the car, or out of it?

if it won't strain your finances, go ahead...if there's something better you could do with that money, don't. Did you finance your Max? Will you finance this? What will be the difference in monthly payment (using the SAME term)?

 

don't do it....I drove one, NO TORQ. Plus its SMALL as all get out.

 

From what I hear they don't have a Turbo. The might rev high but with no turbo and no torque I wouldn't do it.

 

Unique, yes,........powerfull, no....

I wasn't impressed when i drove it a couple of weeks ago.The car handles like a dream , but in city traffic the car is a dog! Almost as bad as a gutless HONDA! You really have to kill it to get it going, but once going, its gone! Not my cup of tea though....

Interior is tight like any other sports car, it has a tad bit more room than my twin turbo Z,but nothing to rave about. The back seat,i can't even tell you, wasn't interested.

If you are looking for a great coupe, then i highly recomend a G35 coupe! What a great car, sexy exterior, good looking interior,almost a modern spin off from my twin turbo Z's interior. The back seat(which i did try out ) was very comfortable, i am 6'2" ,205 pounds with abody builder frame. And the back seat was very comfortable for a coupe.
The car moves out and has throaty exhaust to boot under W.O.T.

Handeling is fair, not the greatest compared to other sports cars out there, the RX-8 defiitely has a 1 up , in the handeling department over the G35. It will do, but if i had to purchase the G35, an aftermarket suspenion would be the first upgrade i would do. The car i drove also had the optional 18's so i thought it would handle a bit better than i thought too. It might also be that i am so use to my TTZ razor sharp handleing that othere cars with less hadleing capabilities seem inferior. The RX-8 is on par with my TTZ if not better.

I know in two years i am going to be looking to trade my Max for a G35 coupe, so definitely give it a spin before you put your hard earned cash on the RX-8.

 

My maxima is financed. Financing the RX-8 would work out to be about the same monthly payment I am paying for my Maxima. I do like the G35 coupe as well but I think the RX-8 has more a sportier look than the G35. Which due to the Sedan makes it look less sporty.

 

RX-8 is cool...hopefully they make the 7 again!

But as of right now, I'd say go look at the G35 or the TL...

 

From the 6 opinions I got from people who test drove the RX-8 with prospects to purchase it, they all told me it revs sweet but definetly makes not much torque. That and the Maxima looks better with more usable room. Your pick.

 

Once more, after having driven this and the S2000, I can tell you that the RPMs build so quickly in the RX8 (rotary engine) that it nearly nullifies the lack of lowend torque. (Where as the S2000 (as a reference because of similar HP/TQ numbers) has to be really wound up to realize its max power output; under non-VTEC circumstances, it feels no quicker than a Civic EX.)

 

I think the rotary engine is made to rev high so the manual would be the only way to go. With the automagic you're looking at a mid to high 15sec. car. which is fine, but after owning a Max you'll be kicking yourself for purchasing it. I agree with everyone else, if you want the best of both worlds get the G35 Coupe.

 

Guys I am going to keep my Maxima!

 

altho, if you ever do decide to sell it, I want ur CL wannabe rims

 

Mazda boosted the Protege, soon the anniversary
Miata- and most probably the RX-8 will benefit from a turbo in 2-3 years- then it should be noteworthy to talk about- And the word is the RX-7 will return
as will the Supra-

Specially now with the GTR coming to America ~2006-7

 

Good you have been trying to convince yourself for a min. to get out of that 02 I remember your interest in the 04 Max. Your 02 is tight and can run with the best of them so why lose all of that money on a trade, keep that 02! You have the last sporty looking Max IMO with the best engine ever put tin the Max IMO.

 

I didnt read the posts above, but here is why I wont trade in my Max for RX-8.

I'm 5' 11". Not that I won't fit in the car, but I'd like to have more space in the car. I am a student and I usually put a lot of stuffs in the back seats.

I know my car's re-sale value sucks and I know that before I bought my Max. I had fun modding my Max and will continue to do so for a while.

The RX-8 is good looking, but that car has no torque and slow. If I were to race a stock RX-8 with my 2k2 Max, I'm pretty sure I can win in straight path. From caranddriver.com:

Standing 1/4-mile 14.9 sec @ 95 mph

Finally, let me say that the 04 Max looks FUGLY. If you decide to buy the RX-8, have fun modding it, man.


~limsandy

 

it's all a matter of taste and your financial situation, my top choice is G35 coupe, but recently i read about the rx8 and from what they are saying it is true that it's slow but it possibly have more potential than a 350Z or G35 coupe. With a turbo that car would be FASTTT since it's about 500lb lighter than the G35 coupe!!!

 

Friend of mine is a Mazda salesman....and he just got RX-8 the car is nice and all but I'm not sure I'll sacrifice my Max for it. BTW he said the Mazda's gonna bring back RX-7 with Turbo charged......

 

Yeah...salesmen know a lot. They also told me that the Maxima was going to be RWD when the 6th Gen was introduced...and that it would have the same engine as the 350Z (which as it turns out, might be true).

 

SCC just dyno'd the car...188HP they say the car is not making the power it should. So, ya, good job in keepn the max!

 

Ever dynoed a 5th Gen VQ35DE Maxima?

 

it doesnt have a turbo bc its a rotary engine...and i kindof like the rx8 but there is no way in hell that i would trade it for the max...faster and hotter

 

It's too bad I am brain dead, but someone already put a turbo on the RX8...

 

ummm...i screwed up....rx7s are rotary too, but mazda did make a special type of rotary engine for the rx8 that is non-aspirated...by the way i thought it had 220hp not 188...the max would still smoke it anyway

 

Advertised hp by manufacturers does not necessarily reflect true hp. For example, most 2002 Max auto dynos about 235-240 hp at the crank, about 200-210 whp.


~limsandy

 

one nissan salesman told me the 6th gen max wasn't going to be available in 6spd....only automatic..... so much for knowing a lot.

 

I find the RX8 simply beautiful and a real bargain...as has every one else who has tested it.....They give it better marks than the G35 coupe and the 350 Z, If you caught the shoot out on one of the car shows on Spike TV.


I....have no use for it with 2 kids....But, had I been single and it did not have that Rotary engine...I would give it some serious consideration. I like my torque in every day usable situations.....Not sounding like a little ricer boy..reving to 7K to get the full 150 ftlbs of TQ

She sure is purdy though....A vQ transplant is in order here.....Now that would be a machine