I love the RX-8. The beltline's a little higher than I prefer, but everything since the advent of dual airbags is like that. The weight stays under the magic 3000 lbs mark which is definitely important. Power-weight ratio is about the same as the Z, and I figure the RX-8 will have more finesse dancing around a road course what with 300 or so pounds less to tow around and a 50/50 weight distribution. Combine that with the reasonable amount of practicality, cool gadgets/gimmicks, and the general trend as of late of Japanese companies to spend way too much time in the wind tunnel with their sports cars (the Z, for example) and I'm sold.

Oh and before someone says something to the tune of "rotaries blow up a lot" I'll comment. The n/a motors are fine. The only thing that can really go bad and make it grenade are the apex seals. The factory seals were the same on everything from the first 140 hp 13b 6-port to the last version of the 13b-REW in the '02 RX-7 which is rated at the maximum 280 ps. I think people tend to associate the words rotary and unreliable because the turbos like to blow up and an n/a model was last made for the '91 model year.

So whatever, I'm buying one when I graduate. Unless I really like the WRX STi or EVO IX or who knows what else there'll be floating around in a couple years.

 

Damn it...! The $26k-38k is always the hardest to pick from. This is a touch call between the S2k, BMW 330i, G35c, and 350Z. I'm going to hold off my vote for later.

The RX-8 looks a bit goofy to me. There's something about it that isn't attractive. Something about those fenders and the C pillar. $33k is a lot of money for it though. I'm not sure if this will be a winner for Mazda.

For the competition, the Vette is too pricey for its status to be competitor. The upcoming GTO might fit better as a competitor. The MB CLK should be representing too.

 

Thanks. I thought the 2004 3-series was getting the Bangle raping. Wasn't there some spy photos of it on another forum? If not, my bad. How will this series differ from everything else he's doing?

 

No, it'll get raped...but not this year.

 

2970 is a much better weight...whew...in that case it's a close call between the s2000 and the rx8...being the rx8 is a 4 door and i can still use it to haul the fam around it'll wind up my prelim choice until i drive it...anyway...if they got a good reliable rotary in it that'll take the cake b/c rotaries weigh less and have a lower center of gravity than inline and v config engines...all means better physics

 

I had an extremely hard time deciding which cars should compare with it. But I feel the Corvette is a reasonable competitor...they're fairly similiar cars. And it fits within the price range that I pulled out of my ass :fawk:

 

Dude the Corvette starts at like $43 grand which is uh shall we say, a little more than the RX-8 which probably will top out at $33 grand. That and the Corvette is a 2-seater with a minimum of 100 hp more than the RX-8.

 

I voted for the RX-8. IMO it is the best car for the money in that list, sans the S2000 but that is a ragtop and dont think it should be in the list so I did not include it in my vote.

Like MrFatBooty pointed out it is the Apex seals on the rotors that blow...all you need to do is replace the factory 2mm seals with larger 3mm and the motor will be fine. Problem is the seals are cheap but to put em on you need to rip apart the motor. Also this is a new design, Mazda is no longer using the Wankle rotaries and has now switched to the Renesis. It will be intersesting to see how the new ones handle...but in N/A mode they are fine. If they can handle boost well nothing a turbo and intercooler won't hurt.

 

Aren't you the one who preaches that horsepower means jack? And if the Corvette is so vastly superior, how come only one person has voted for it? I would rather have an RX-8 than a Corvette (non Z06).

I'm not shocked, but rather pleasantly surprised, at the number of votes the RX-8 is getting. I thought fo sho that the 350Z/G35 or S2000 would kill it. Good job not being biased guys :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

I'm still pondering what to vote for. Each one fo that vehicles is appealing in a different way. Like I've said before, this is a good time for the car enthusiast.