RX8 Freeway Run

[Fishmrkt]

I was on 101 South today heading towards San Francisco when a Black RX8 passed me by. I 've seen a RX8 parked but never have seen it in action. We weren't racing but just kinda pacing each other along the freeway. I gotta admit that its a pretty fast car and was impressed with how well it kept up with the G. I think the car looks ok from certain angles, but mostly just plain ugly. Any thoughts on the RX8?

[chinee]

RX8... love it! I've always likes Mazdas, but the lack of HP and TQ in the 8 gives me pause. After the VQ, I don't think I will enjoy driving sporty torque-less wonders anymore. There is a turbo version out in the next year or so, but the last turbo rotary in the 7 was not known for its reliability.

Oh, I like the adjustable spoiler that's available on some models, nice 18's and I also like the aluminium rotor accents. Now if only I could stuff a VQ35 under the hood.....


chinee
03.5 G35s

[F23A4]

They dont have the torque of a VQ35DE but they rev VERY quickly. So, it's also not like the torqueless S2000 when it comes to power delivery.

2002 Maxima SE (auto)
- Trust Tower Strut Bars
- Falken Ziex ZE-512s (definite mod)
- Cattman Y-pipe

Best time to date: 14.725sec@93.04mph w/60'-2.169
Englishtown - 9/7/02 (Stock setup)

[Rob_G35]

Ewww RX-8's are ugly and gutless. I test drove both the auto and MT cars on the freeway and I hated both of them. Afterwards I got into my G and it felt like a monster cause of the torque.

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03 CB Coupe 6MT

[Xman]

Haha! I gave one a good education last weekend!

2K4 G35x/ etc...

[GX9901]

I think the RX-8 looks great. However, I was astounded by its lack of speed in a Best Motoring video that featured the RX-8. They had a race between the RX-8 and 5 other cars. The finish order was S2000, Skyline Coupe (G35), WRX, Integra Type-R, RX-8, Miata. The WRX and Integra was able to blow by the RX-8 on the straights and the Skyline was so far ahead after a couple of laps I don't think the RX-8 driver even saw its taillights. I was amazed when I saw the Integra pass the RX-8.
I'm sure it's a great car (it won every magazine comparison test it's been in), but unless something was wrong with the RX-8 in that video, it's power simply isn't in the same league as the G coupe.

2004 G35 Coupe Diamond Graphite/Graphite 5AT
Premium, Nav., 18" Wheels, Z-Xtreme Hyper Grounding Cables,
K&N filter, Clear Corners, 350Z Aluminum Pedals,
Sony Ericsson HCB-30

[MrCynical]

No HP and tourque? Have you ever driven one? From what I've seen and experienced, due to the G being a pig when it comes to weight, and RX-8 should be able to hang.

The G may beat it from a stop, but not by much. And from a roll it'll be pretty even.

2004 Twilight Blue Coupe
6MT
Premium Package
Aero Package

[Skyline_G35]

No way can a RX-8 hang! At first I thought the same thing until I blew ones doors off. At 55mph we both took off. By 100mph I was at least 5 or 6 car lengths on that fool. I slowed down to see him pass me. They got nuthin.

Seacrest, Out!

[Klubbheads]

MrCynical rx8's 5-60 is over 8 seconds. G35 does it almost as fast as its 0-60 time.

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[def35]

^^ The rx8 (in manual) has been proven to hit 60 in the mid 6's, you must be thinking of the auto.

btw, I test drove one before I bought the G, the complete lack of torque was a huge turnoff for me.

[Z06ified]

In reply to:

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And from a roll it'll be pretty even.

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There's no way it would be pretty even from a roll. You need torque to win a roll on race. The only way it would be close is if the RX-8 driver was near redline when the race starts. Otherwise the G will definitely get the hole shot from a roll due its much greater torque and fatter power band. Rotaries are very peaky and high winding, kind of like the S2000 motor is. If you're not in its high RPM power band, you're in trouble.

2003 G35C, 6MT, DG/G, Aero/Nav/Premium
2002 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue/Black, headers, intake, exhaust, 380 rwhp

[Sukairain]

From a roll it's pretty even? Not even close..... Those RX-8s feel like 4 cylinder Accords until you rev it to stratosphere. The wait for the rev to build up is painful in those torque-less cars. The only way a RX-8 can keep up with a G35C is from a deadstop with a 8000rpm clutch crunching launch.


CPV35 G35C Maliblue

[redefined350z]

Who cares about speed. The G35 Coupe's back seat is twice as roomy, and 100x classier all around the interior. The RX-8 has a pointless center console that reaches from the front to the back, and the "4 doors" are the dumbest idea since euro taillights! It's more comfortable to get into the G, even with the suicide doors on the RX-8. The interior is tacky, the exterior is tacky, and the engine sucks. The G is simply classier, torquier, and more powerful. Not to mention, the VQ is WAY more tunable.

2003 SB Enthusiast 6MT
Eibach Pro Kit
JWT Popcharger
Carbon Fiber Engine Cover
Shorty Antenna
Viper 650XV Alarm
JL Audio Stealthbox
JL Audio 500/1 Amp
Lamin-x Smoked Overlays
20% Tint

[dbarnes]

GX9901:

Excellent points you make, especially regarding the closed course (track) test/race between the S2000, G35 (Skyline), WRX, Integra Type-R, and Miata.

There is no better test of the all-around abilities of a car than racing around a road race course, with low speed turns, high speed turns, straightaways - this demonstrates the car's torque, horsepower, braking, stability, balance, and chassis dynamics under all conditions.

AMAZING that the G35 would place second in this group, to a full-on sports car (S2000), no less! And this from a GT car that is way too luxurious and comfortable to be considered a true "sports" car (see 350Z). And the fact that the "G" just kept up this performance, with no significant dropoff after a few hot laps, is a testament to it's well sorted chassis, brakes, and drivetrain - and it's durability, too. The only car in that group that comes close to the "G" in weight and amenities is the Integra, right?

Funny that the only car the RX8 was able to best was it's little brother, the Miata. Mazda makes good products and has a lot of corporate pride, though, so we haven't heard the last of them re: the RX8.

My $0.02

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero; "Invisiguard" Bra, Madico Onyx Tint
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

[leegina]

I just sold mine to get a 05 g35 coupe MT and I hated it. I always got thumbs up from everyone because it had volks staggered and Mazdaspeed kit and looked nice but that is where the fun ended. It had no guts but one thing it did have was handling. It handled on rails. But their is no comparison, I love the torque and feel of the G. I am a big guy 6ft and 210 and i felt cramped. The rear seats were small and getting someone in and out unless it was my 2 1/2 year old was hard. And if I took someone in the backseat I had to pull my seat all the way forward for them to be comfortable. The rearend and trans will grenade under abuse which has been done on many occasions at the track. So modding the car was really out of the question as far as performance goes because if you did some serious hard launches you could possibly damage something along with the massive wheel hop. On a scale of 1-10 I would give it a 6 and the G a 9 and the 9 is because of the weight issue but other than that I love the G.