Is the Mazda RX8 that bad?

robj20 said:
Make sure you beep it as much as you can, at different revs the different intake ports open up, 3250rpm for the secondary ports (SSV), 5550 for the variable fresh air duct (VFAD), 6250 for the auxiliary port valve (APV), and finally 7500 for the variable dynamic intake (VDI). So you can see to keep all these valves clean and working you need to use the whole revs often, a common problem is the valves siezing and coking up due to lack of use, and then power suffers.
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So there is truth in people saying an RX8 should be redlined every trip. You can tell a real RX8 enthusiast, the one revving the car to the redline and immiediately turning it off :D
 
Simon said:
I really wanna know what one you drove, I can only guess you were changing gear at 6000rpm. Although, the all S2000s are slow view didnt seem to change after Donington.
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Come on man no need to be patronising, I know the S2000 has a high rev limit you think I eco shifted it around? The RX8 has a similar rev limit so it's a bit of a pointless thing so say. I changed gear at the rev limit on both cars.

hurfdurf said:
I can't see the RX8 being faster than an S2000 and I am a big fan of the RX8.
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The comparison wasn't out right speed, as I have no doubt both cars are very equally matched in that aspect. The S2000 does have more power and I believe it is lighter. However i found the driving experience itself nowhere near the lofty heights of greatness everyone suggests.

Baring in mind I drove the S2000 after driving an Rx8 earlier that day and then by driving my 350z (at the time) to the S2000 so I think I got a good mix of cars in that day!

However from a cost point of view (at least for me) the RX8 is very reasonable to insure whereas the S2000 is still sky high.
 
Thats very true, i always wondered why the RX8 was considerably cheaper to insure, its image, the fact its very difficult to increase performance with spending big money.
 
insurance on s2000 very good for me, i insurance it as a classic car only paying £400 a year, my mx5 mk3 was £350 a year both with 5000 miles limit.

NathWraith was it handing you found better, easy to control, direct feeling etc?

i like to know i'm going to test drive one and compare.
 
Dredd said:
insurance on s2000 very good for me, i insurance it as a classic car only paying £400 a year, my mx5 mk3 was £350 a year both with 5000 miles limit.

NathWraith was it handing you found better, easy to control, direct feeling etc?

i like to know i'm going to test drive one and compare.
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I found the RX8 easier to handle, that doesn't mean it was the better handling car however.

The S2000 I drove was pre 2004 and felt like playing an FPS game at maximum sensitivity. So a little it twitchy to a degree, I could never really commit myself fully to it.
 
NathWraith said:
I found the RX8 easier to handle, that doesn't mean it was the better handling car however.

The S2000 I drove was pre 2004 and felt like playing an FPS game at maximum sensitivity. So a little it twitchy to a degree, I could never really commit myself fully to it.
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Ah I see

NathWraith said:
RX8 is one of the best drivers cars I have driven. I drove an S2000 and RX8 back to back and the RX8 was fantastic. S2000 was just meh in comparison.
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That will be the problem, the S2000 is faster and lighter, and whilst it is more twitchy, it is a better car once you learn it, the RX8 is brilliant and would still be even without the added factor of having 4 doors and seats, but the S2000 is better spped wise and a better drivers car, but that's like comparing Tyson to Ali, both amazing, but one will be a smidge better when you get down to the finer details.
 
hurfdurf said:
Ah I see
That will be the problem, the S2000 is faster and lighter, and whilst it is more twitchy, it is a better car once you learn it, the RX8 is brilliant and would still be even without the added factor of having 4 doors and seats, but the S2000 is better spped wise and a better drivers car, but that's like comparing Tyson to Ali, both amazing, but one will be a smidge better when you get down to the finer details.
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i agree, i was also wrong about s2000 just like nath. i said mx5 mk3 was a better car in every way.... i purchased both cars and it taken me very along time to learn s2000 and now i regret saying mx5 was better.....

that's why i'm interested in RX8 as people say its great, just poor mpg. i need to find out

also need to test drive gt86 :)
 
From the brochure:
Unlike a conventional piston engine, the Mazda RX-8’s rotary engine has no cylinders, pistons or valves. Instead, two triangular-shaped rotors spin within their oval housings around a common output shaft. As combustion occurs, each rotor instantly turns, and the revs increase rapidly with virtually no vibration. And with only three main moving parts, compared to a minimum of 40 in a piston engine, power delivery is incredibly smooth and refined. With this level of ingenuity, it’s no wonder the Mazda RX-8 has won the International Engine of the Year award two years in a row.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Engine_of_the_Year
 
It's a fantastic engine, that sadly requires more maintenance and care than people are willing to give it.

The concept of a rotary is amazing, a constantly spinning rotor, as opposed to a piston that stops twice every rotation which is simply wasting energy
 
Matt82 said:
here are some plain S2000 and RX8 numbers

http://www.fastestlaps.com/cars/honda_s2000.html
Max speed 241 kph (149.42 mph)
0 - 100 kph 5.9 s
0 - 200 kph 24.5 s
0 - 100 mph 14.4 s
1/4 mile 13.9 s

http://www.fastestlaps.com/cars/mazda_rx-8.html
Max speed 234 kph (145.08 mph)
0 - 100 kph 6.6 s
0 - 200 kph 30.5 s
0 - 100 mph 17.4 s
1/4 mile 14.5 s
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That doesnt really tell you anything about the handling though...


Down at the old Variano Handling course however


103. Mazda RX-8 1:24.55 '02
231 / 1400

116. Honda S2000 1:25.64 '99
239 / 1260


Laguna Seca

57. Mazda RX-8 1:50.42 02
231 / 1400

58: Honda S2000 1:50.74 '99
239 / 1260

Twas a nice try though.

That the lower power, heavier car is faster, i think heads must roll at Honda.
 
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The Running Man said:
That doesnt really tell you anything about the handling though...


Down at the old Variano Handling course however


103. Mazda RX-8 1:24.55 '02
231 / 1400

116. Honda S2000 1:25.64 '99
239 / 1260


Laguna Seca

57. Mazda RX-8 1:50.42 02
231 / 1400

58: Honda S2000 1:50.74 '99
239 / 1260

Twas a nice try though.

That the lower power, heavier car is faster, i think heads must roll at Honda.
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Or you could include all the data available from even that particular site? It's always funny when people try and prove a point with selective data.

Lap Times (9)

Track----------------------S2000---------RX-8
Top Gear Track------------1:37.40 vw----1:31.80
Hockenheim Short----------1:18.20-------1:19.60
Vairano Handling Course ----1:25.64 -------1:24.55
Oschersleben---------------1:56.11------1:56.14
Motovision handling course--0:20.47-------0:19.84
Laguna Seca---------------1:50.74-------1:50.42
Serres Racing Circuit--------1:37.45------1:38.50
Ebisu-----------------------1:10.31------1:12.70
Ring Knutstorp--------------1:18.70------1:20.30


Technical data

Max speed-------241 kph-------------234 kph
0 - 100 kph ------5.9 s ---------------6.6 s
0 - 100 mph------14.4 s---------------17.4 s
0 - 200 kph-------24.5 s---------------30.5 s
1/4 mile-----------13.9 s---------------14.5 s
1/8 mile (est)------9.6 s @ 83 mph ------10.0 s @ 79 mph
1000 m (est)-------26.3 s @ 207 kph----27.7 s @ 192 kph
1/2 mile (est)-------22.6 s @ 120 mph----23.9 s @ 113 mph
Power/weight ratio--187 bhp/tonne--------163 bhp/tonne
Summary

Discipline----------------S2000---------RX-8

Track Performance------32 points-------38 points
Straight line speed------182 points------164 points
Total ------------------214-------------202


The verdict
Honda S2000 is noticeably faster.




Track ---------S2000 Type S--------RX-8 Type S

Tsukuba-------1:07.72--------------1:10.46


Specs------------S2000 Type V-----------RX-8 Spirit R

Max speed----------227 kph---------------244 kph
0 - 100 kph ---------5.7 s-----------------6.5 s
Power/weight ratio---177 bhp/tonne--------191 bhp/tonne
 
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