can't decide if this is the right car for me

mikeSS

coming from a X rx8 r3 owner, i got the car right when it came out. the handling and the looks of the car is what got me. when i got it there was no camaro or 5.0L mustang or 370z out. it was the 350z that was still at dealerships. i miss that car everyday. they fixed most problems in the 2009+ rx8s.

pros- handles like a dream
- fun 9.5k redline
-the seats are BA
-the R3 rims go great with the car
- VERY all around smooth car
- you think the 370z is a rare car ? think again rx8 r3. i have seen one in my area. not including mine.

cons
- no power what so ever in a straight line. still fun when cornering
- bad MPG, but who really cares its a sports car right ? but its still pretty bad for how much power the car has.
- the car is not mod friendly at all. engine wise.
- the suspension was pretty rough, and i live in MI roads which are not good.

veridic

the car is very rare, and looks cool. its a fun car, but i feel the 370z is a better buy because it has both ok handling and power in the straights. and thats what makes a great sports car.

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11 GT 432WHP. 10 SS 460WHP

Hambone1

They are pretty common around here. Don't see a ton of R3's, maybe one every couple of days, but far from rare.

mikeSS

maybe its your area, i see very few 370zs, and only one time saw a rx8 r3. i see more Bentleys and Ferraris then 370z or rx8 r3s. lol.

but ya the older rx8s are much more common.

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11 GT 432WHP. 10 SS 460WHP

1slow370

I've seen a z32 pumpkin swapped in an s2000 it's that bad

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Red__Zed

Yeah, I never had any desire to own an AP2.

I'm just saying, the diff held over 500whp for quite a few runs. I had more trans issues than I had diff issues.

Yeah, I did that on my car. I tracked it with 500whp and the stock diff though

Hambone1

True. I do know my RX-8's though, and the newer ones aren't terribly rare around here either. I also see more exotics like you mentioned than 8's, especially 370's. I've always felt like the RX-8 is kind of a quirky man's sports car, hence the low sales volume.

mikeSS

ya i feel you on that. its a drivers car, but takes a certain person to really want it. over a 370z for example. i know they are well balanced and handle great but they have to many draw backs.

the reason why there car sales are low is one true reason and that is the car is just to underpowered. even the rx7 was fast for its time, but had sooo many problems with the engine. mazda needs to drop its rotary engine if they want to compete with sports cars. like 370z or mustang for example. and sales prove people want 370zs and mustangs over rx8s.

and rx8 owners always, say " If mazda made a bigger or turbo rotary its would be a lot better." but i always say then why don't they ? because there will be to many problems and MPG on a bigger rotary would be nuts. and a turbo rotary would have problems.

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11 GT 432WHP. 10 SS 460WHP

Hambone1

I think it's a combination of being underpowered and also all of it's quirks. I'd be willing to guess that 50% or more of it's potential customer base barely know what a rotary engine is, let alone anything about it. If I'm car shopping, and suddenly find out the car I'm looking at is some engine I've never heard of, I'm gone.

I've heard those arguments for a larger or boosted engine, and it would be completely retarded. You'd get like 5 mpg, and if it was boosted you'd be swapping engines once a week from blowing them.

The thing that is strange, is that I realize it sold well early on, and the Wankel is part of their heritage and they don't want to completely get rid of it, but considering that they have some pretty decent motors in-house, such as the 4 banger in the MS3, and even the V6 in the MS6 isn't bad. Plus I'm pretty sure they can still raid the Ford parts bin, I don't know why they aren't snagging Eco-Boost and doing something with it

cossie1600

its people like you and retards at mazda that killed the car. the rx program had always been underfunded and undeveloped. morons at mazda are too conservative to do something ground breaking to the motor (ie turbo). the motor design itself is basically 25+ years old, think about gas mileage on cars from that era. the ford parts are a disaster, see problems with the mazda 6 v6 and mpv vans

mazda is still the only japanese car company to have won lemans, nissan and toyota didnt. the fuel mileage on the rotary is also better at high rpms. its a great racing engine, but terrible for highway cruise.

cossie1600

You have your opinions, which I agree with some of it. Here are some you are absolutely wrong or I don't agree on.

#1 232HP is not a lot in 2011, but it was respectable back in 2004. It's all about expectations. Is that a quirk? Maybe. I sold mine because I expected too much from 232HP.

#2 The FC RX-7 turbo held up pretty well, it was the modded cars and the poorly maintained 3rd gens that had problems. I will be the first one to tell you they have crappy highway or even around town gas mileage, but did you know that they get better gas mileage at WOT than the VQ? The difference is over 15%.

#3 Eco-boost is just a fancy term for direct fuel injection and turbocharging. Big whoopie, they have been looking at it yet they are either too stupid or too dumb to care about it. It's just Mazda as a company, never forward thinking.

Masturbating in the Prius is great, plenty of room and a great AC. It is also a great rain day track car, you should give it a shot and see how well you will do against it. With all that said, I can still hop back in the Z when I need to.