[Fox944]

With the S2000 officially out of production and no longer available for the 2010 model year, Is the RX8 the next best thing?

The Mazda RX8 is very similiar in spirit and performance when compared to the S2000 & 968. It is the only affordable lightweight RWD sports car still available on the market. There are others that are faster and more expensive, but not as light, nimble, tossable. Nissan's 370 comes to mind as well as the Cayman S. The Nissan weighs 200LBS more, the Cayman costs more then double.

This car is also more practical then other sports cars due to its suicide rear doors. What is everyones take on this car?

Here are some hp & curb weight #'s

RX8: 232HP, 3064LBS
968: 236HP, 3086LBS

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[Kim]

Maybe a bit of an odd comparison. the rotary engine is not very torquey and probably needs to be revved up to go compared to the 968 engine. But the big difference is new car vs old - not sure how valid it is to compare a 15-18 year old car with a much newer one.

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[968TDG]

rxter has one of those I believe, I've always been a huge fan of the RX-7...the styling seemed beautiful and perfect to me. To me, the lines of the RX-8 are a bit more confused and all over the place, so I was hoping the next redesign might be more to my liking. Toyota and Subaru are also coming out with rear wheel drive models (FT-86) I've been keeping my eye on ever since the original FT-HS Hybrid came out 4 years ago.

-Phil

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[94SilverCab]

I have owns 2 Rx-7s (1983 and 1988 convetible) and a Miata.

I would vote for the 370Z on your list...every time I hear the exhaust note the hair on the back of my neck stands up...

Jay

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[ds968]

I've never driven a Mazda Rx, but seems to be a fun car based on almost every post one reads about it. Lately there are so many 370Zs around it's getting a bit too common of a sight, but I kinda like the looks of that car...and the sound is nice, though I'm not quite at the same level of awe as Jay is .. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img] I have two soccer teammates with 370Zs, so I'll see if I can take one for a spin and see how they drivel. Hope they're vastly different than the 350Zs, I was not at all impressed by those, it did not feel nimble enough, and the engine rev was probably the worst of all - a sports car whose engine revs like a ... well, a Nissan. Yuk.

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[94SilverCab]

Actually, G37S Convertible...but yes, I do have a very strong reaction....

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[Cloud9...68]

I agree with 968TDG (Phil)'s assessment. I owned a 1993 RX7 twin turbo, and loved it. But to me, the RX8 looks just..... strange. As Phil says, sort of all over the place. I've driven one, though, and here I agree with Kim. The engine (like all rotaries) loves to rev, which makes it kind of fun, but it has ZERO low end torque, which I imagine could get pretty tiresome after awhile. Maybe the need to rev the engine so much is part of why they get such crappy gas mileage. But the cars is very nimble, and, unlike the 968, I remember it to be very quiet on the inside.

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[tom968]

It's amazing how similiar the 968 and RX-8 are in hp and weight.

If I had to choose between the two I would take the 968, even
though the RX-8 is a new car. Cost not being a factor.

I am biased toward Porsche's though. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

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[SHA-JR968]

I like the RX8 - looks good and has an interesting engine.

But, as already mentioned, the performance compared to the 968 is no step forward.

If I would have to upgrade the 968, my choice would be the BMW Z4 M Coupe (ok, this car is also not in production anymore).

If budget is no issue, it would be a 996 GT3 Mk2. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif[/img]

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[94'968]

my friend has a rx-8 and ive driven it a few times... its a fun car and revs up like crazy. just with out the torque there it just feels like the engine is revving and revving and you arnt going anywhere. its always nice to get to drive the 968 back home instead of the rx-8. although the rx-8 does have a fun little shift buzzer at 9k...

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[rxter]

Yep. RX8 is my DD. I put very sticky tires on it and turn the pilot nanny off. With fresh ignition bits (just replaced coils, plugs, and cables) the rotary zings to 8500 all day long. HP is fine - 230ish. Curb weight is just over 3000 lbs. Torque is just silly - I always feel like I am pulling on a really long rubber band when I come off the line. Its a long pull to get her going with the 150-odd pounds of torque, but once you are at 40 mph or so, and keeping the revs over 4500 the car screams. And it is perfectly balanced. I am convinced that it is better than the 968 stock set up in the twisties (and remember that I have a non-braced cab with a 100 year old suspension - you coupe guys with konis would disagree). It does have a wee bit of roll so a bigger bar in the back is in order.

Also a more sophistocated ride in pretty much every respect.

But, the 968 is a lot more fun. You sit lower, the engine is stronger and the car is built as a sports car. The RX8 is more of a 'sporty' car. And there ain't much you can do to address the torque problem.

As to the stying, my favorite line is from, naturally, Clarkson - "... and look at these lights, they're busier than a Bishop's hat" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5FNjyaLfC8

If you watch it you'll see that Jeremy forgot about the styling after he drove it for a while.

I bought mine because on the test drive I got the tail loose on a hard right hander at low speed and then found myself going 80 up a fairly steep grade in 3rd gear, grinning like a silly cat - sort of like the car. And it cost about the same as my SO's van - case closed.

   

And as a comparo to the S2000 I would agree that it is similar. The Honda is a bit more frenetic though. I drove the bejeebers out of an example with 6800 miles on it recently (almost bought it) and I was routinely shifting at 7500. The clutch and shifter mechanism in the S2000 in my opinion is flawless - almost telepathic. It felt like a very grown up go-kart, not such a bad thing really.

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[bva]

"And there ain't much you can do to address the torque problem"

here's a thought:

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[ds968]

damn, first Erin Andrews, and now some pervert takes a photo of me changing in the hotel room [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]

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[94SilverCab]

I've seen that car before...

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