DC2 vs. RX8

Status
Not open for further replies.

MikeHiow

MikeHiow

MikeHiow

Permabanned
Joined
26 Oct 2004
Posts
7,540
Location
Isle of Wight
A completely hypothetical thread, but a question that was perplexing me earlier after reading a thread on another forum earlier where someone was suggesting an RX8 in a thread asking about the DC2. I'm a fan of both, and don't think I could choose, personally, but with a gun to my head, I think I'd lean toward the RX8, if nothing else, for the image.

You have £5k and you have a choice between either of these, which would you choose?

The way I see it:

RX8: Newer, more attractive, looks more expensive than it really is and really feels like a sports car should. Downside is the possibility of apex seals, fuel costs and its perhaps not as quick as it should be, although a top gear repeat earlier showed it lapping their track in the same time as an E46 M3 :o

DC2: Being a Honda, its likely to be more reliable than the RX8, cost less to run an maintain and has potential to be a future classic and thus the potential to appreciate if looked after. Probably just as fun and sporty feeling as the RX8, and is starting to age - meaning finding one in decent condition is also difficult.

Both are great looking coupe's, both are similar in terms of pace and ability, both are a similar price.

So which would you choose? I'd like to avoid FWD vs. RWD debates, but preferring RWD (or FWD) is a valid reason.
 
I think, seeing as the E46 M3 is getting on for 10 years old now, I think its not quite as special as it once was.

For example, the chap who's X5 I did at the weekend used to have a CSL and has also had the E92 M3. He claims that the E92 M3 is more capable than his CSL was.
 
I appreciate that, but with the rotary engine, the RX8 has an advantage on weight distribution and a very low centre of mavity with the small engine and its placement, its also a fair bit lighter. I see that its more than surprising having the RX8 equalling the M3, I just don't see it as impossible.
 
Even if they are both 50/50, that still leaves the lower centre of mavity obtained with the placement of the engine, as well as the fact its at least 150KG lighter.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it definitely happened, I'm just saying its not impossible :)
 
Trouble is, these weight figures vary so greatly.

Whilst the M3 is 1495 nearly everywhere you look, but I've seen the RX8 listed as low as 1295kg, but most commonly at 1345KG.
 
Given the most commonly listed figure is 1345KG, I'd be more inclined to go by that.

In fact, if you look at Parkers, they show the RX8 at 1345 and the M3 at 1495KG.

There is a lot more to a cars lap time than its power to weight, also - so looking at the power:weight and saying its clear cut is kind of fruitless.
 
Well, being 'genuinely sporty' doesn't make a car good, or in the same league as the benchmark car, but its a good start.

I don't quite succumb to the same feelings for the E46 M3 as many others do, so the RX8 snapping at its heels isn't really a shock to me - but clearly you hold the M3 in higher regards, and therefore it is a shock to you.

It is like many people don't hold the RX8 in very high regards, because all their mates that have test driven one when down the motorway one junction and concluded it didn't feel very fast. Having taken one to its limits, in its prime territory (Some awesome, twisty B roads) - I can honestly say it is one of the few cars that really genuinely do it for me in driving experience alone.

If I had an RX8 and an M3 on the drive, I'd take the M3 for a drive to my mothers with the family, but I'd get in the RX8 every time if I just fancied a drive.

Those track results showed that the RX8 really did snap at the M3s heels, IMO - Yes a second or two can be a huge margin, but actually watching it, it'd be very close. As for the places where bigger margins were observed, I'd say they were faster tracks where the M3s extra power really helps it along.

Of course someone will come along and rip this post to shreds now, question my credibility and tell me I'm wrong, but the above is simply my opinion - how I feel.

Ps. The mapped RX8 I drove did rev to 10K, and whilst I'm not 100% sure, I believe the standard ones go a fair bit over 9.
 
Lol at the naive comparison between track performance and straight line performance. The other track times speak for themselves, I think people under estimate the rx based on its straight line performance.
 
I'm not saying an RX8 is in the same league as an M3, but I believe it really does snap at its heels on handling stakes (real handling - not just what it feels like). If you can see past the beautifully linear power delivery making it feel particularly slow, it really is beautifully balanced to drive on decent suspension (the one I tested was on PZ suspension).

I'd love to have seen how much closer those times would be with the PZ suspension. I've not driven one without it, but I'm told that it transforms the car - hence it fetching over £1k.

Gibbo said:
Sorry but drivers being equal an RX8 will not be keeping up with an M3 on any kind of road. The difference in performance is huge.
Click to expand...

I kept up with my friends E46 M3 in my mapped ST.
 
That was exactly my point when I said it in response to Gibbo talking about his friends RX8 failing so hard to keep up.

A better driver will usually be faster regardless of the car, unless there is a ridiculously large margin (ie. Nissan Micra 1.2 vs. M5).
 
You need to be pretty short sighted to consider the RX8 bad because of its engine, as this is one of its best features - but so many people do dismiss it, usually because they simply do not understand it (And because it doesn't "feel" fast).

Learn how to use the engine, and get off straight roads and onto some bendy roads and it'll all make sense. It's also beautifully smooth when driving normally.
 
You know why I don't own one. But it's no where near as practical as the ST.

This will likely change in the future, though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom