Comments on: Review: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3

By: Moontallico

Moontallico — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:49:00 +0000

I wouldn’t like to buy it because of the hum of the high-pitched rotary? Really? That’s dumb! That sound is beatiful and I love it! For me it’s one of the reasons why I bought it…

By: hotmilkgt

hotmilkgt — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:52:51 +0000

i found a typo
With an EPA mileage rating of 16 mpg city and 22 mpg hwy, we would call the RX8 R3’s mileage FAIRY average, an inherent downside to the rotary engine.
kthxbai

By: VWgrouP

VWgrouP — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:41:13 +0000

AND aperently a competitor is the G37…uhm..G37-330 HP and RX8..232

By: VWgrouP

VWgrouP — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:35:31 +0000

They should make the RX8 a 2 door coupe..

But still verry nice for 09.

By: sharpie

sharpie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:14:12 +0000

Rafa LL, I am already watching the weather channel. It is on commercial break at the moment.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:41:50 +0000

But the fun part is choosing…

By: Need4SSpeed

Need4SSpeed — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:12:55 +0000

Oh man the Alfa Romeo Mito, is probably the sexiest looking little sport compact out there! It’s like a Mini Alfa 8C! I love Alfa Romeo’s! I’ve traveled to Europe for a couple weeks the last three years, and this year I was in Rome so I had my Alfa Romeo fill! Personally I love the Brera Coupe. (if it was only RWD).

Thank you! I’m trying to be open-minded on my next car. With my SS/SC’s lease, it’s bittersweet. My lease doesn’t go back technically until summer of 09, so anything new coming out between winter-summer of 09 I can wait for the new models to come out. It also sucks waiting though. Granted I have the Cavy to fall back on until I get a ride, but I’d rather just go right from my SS/SC to a new car. But I also don’t know how much longer the Cavy will last me. But I’ll spare everyone a crazy post here so in as little words as possible…

Solstice Coupe GXP-RWD, quick, fuel efficient, but no trunk space. waiting to test drive. Daily Driver?
Genesis Coupe-RWD, affordable, could be a practical DD. possible potential in 2.0L Turbo 4.
Nissan 350Z-RWD, sporty, track capable, but can only afford the base. Prob not practical for a DD.
Camaro- Want the SS, but for more practical purposes looking at V6 + RS package. See how it compares
to the Cobalt SS Turbocharged in regards to performance and price.
Impreza WRX (sedan)- AWD, sporty, totally practical for a daily driver. plenty of performance potential.
Cobalt SS/TC- the most affordable, performs well. I hate (FWD)… Would be my last resort though.

So yeah that’s it in a nutshell. Also I like to do the occasional autocross or track event so it has to be track capable. Plus no automatic for me. Only manual.
Then my price range is between 20-31k so and that’s what I know I can afford.
So yeah alot of criteria to fit. It’s going to be difficult choosing… lol

By: 02WRXPSM

02WRXPSM — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:23:07 +0000

maxcar, front license plates are THE DEVIL, any state that requires those should be forced out of the Union. They mess up the looks of so many cars…

Give the RX-8 a four-rotor, twin-turbo motor that runs on e85. THEN we’ll talk.

Need4SSpeed, you have a very open mind for autos, that’s a pretty balanced list. Of that list the Camaro sticks out, I would wait until you see one in person and realize how g i g a n t i c they are — Cadillac size, and I mean ’70s Caddy — in comparisons to the others on the list. I’d also take that Lancer off the list, it really is too weak for your needs. If you’re willing to wait until 2009/2010 for the Genesis or Solstice, you also might want to keep an eye out for a “TR” version of the WRX, a refresh of the Legacy platform, the VW Sirocco, and the Euro Focus/Mondeo.

Personally, I have my next car picked out. Check it: http://www.nextautos.com/car-buying/2010-alfa-romeo-mito-–-coming-stateside/

50mpg turbo diesel, 260lbs/tq out of 1.6 liters. Now THAT is a sport compact!

By: Need4SSpeed

Need4SSpeed — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:57:05 +0000

02WRXPSM, I think Mazda really missed the boat after they killed the RX7, and came out with the RX8 almost a decade later, and didn’t give it twin-turbos like the 13B that was in the RX7. At least a single turbo would have been helpful.

Granted I think an RX7 or RX8 would make a great project car.

Thanks Beatusmongous, yeah I’ve been looking at various makes & models and I also don’t feel pressured anymore to buy American made cars. So I’m keeping my options open.
I’m also considering in addition to the 350Z the new Camaro SS or V6 w RS pacakge, Genesis Coupe, Solstice Coupe GXP, Subaru WRX (sedan), Mitsubishi Lancer Raliiart, and as my last resort the Cobalt SS Turbocharged.

But since the Camaro, Genesis Coupe, Solstice Coupe, and Lancer Ralliiart aren’t even out yet. I’m going to have to wait… On those. But yeah I’m going to do what you mentioned and go and test drive cars every couple weekends or what not. It does sound fun!

By: maxcar

maxcar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:47:32 +0000

“the main under bumper intake grille as the mouth” … and when you see it with the license plate installed in the middle of the intake it really looks like buck teeth.

By: 02WRXPSM

02WRXPSM — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:41:46 +0000

Making power between 8800 RPM and 9600 RPM is nothing short of a joke, at the expense of the fool who buys these cars. You don’t mention how alarmingly long it takes to get up to that RPM, even with the tiny reciprocating mass of the rotary motor! I’ve driven one, and when you put your foot down, you get all whine and no go — it felt as if the clutch was slipping on an ordinary vehicle. Without twin turbos on it, a rotary engine is nothing more than a conversation piece for geeked-out auto engineers.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:22:45 +0000

Smart thinking, Need4SSPeed. I always say that when shopping for a car, you need to test drive everything in your price range and class choice, even the things you don’t like. That way, you will accentuate the things you hate, and focus on the things you like. Who knows? You may end up not even liking the Z. Or you may love it even more. But by testing, you get a very thorough comparison, and you will be even happier with the end result. Since you have 6 months, now is a good time to start shopping. Take a weekend or two per month and go test drive cars. It’s fun, too.

By: Rafa LL

Rafa LL — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:23:52 +0000

Another article like this and I swear I’m watching the Weather Channel.

By: Need4SSpeed

Need4SSpeed — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:37:10 +0000

beatusmongous, no I’m still looking into it but I’m not really sure If I’ll be getting one. I checked the insurance and surprisingly it’s only roughly $100 more a year than what I’m paying for my SS Supercharged. I joined a couple 350Z enthusiast forums and have been asking a bunch of questions and getting a good feedback, but I’m still deciding. The SS’s lease isn’t actually up for another half year so I got a while but I’ve been carefully deciding.

I was looking into an 08 350Z base w only 531 miles on it and they were asking for 26k not too bad. Unfortunately it doesn’t come with the viscous LSD, or the steering wheel controls, (which I really want) which is on the next model up and starts around 30k. I haven’t test driven one either yet.

My 2nd car is a 01 Cavalier with over 100k miles on it and I think its days are coming to an end. So I also don’t want to buy the 350Z if it’s going to be my only ride.

That and I was planning on doing some light mods to the 350Z and parts for it aren’t cheap. In order to get the power levels that I want I’d have to convert to F.I. & turbo kits for it start out @ like 6k… So it’s not going to be a cheap car…

I just have to wait a little longer and test drive the other cars I’m considering, see how the Cavalier holds up this winter and see where things go. Thanks for asking though!

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:35:04 +0000

I hear they’ve shortened the final drive ratio with the manual to something like 4.77 this year in order help with off the line performance. That’s getting up there for a daily streeter and certainly isn’t going to help the already dismal mpg. I owned rotary Mazdas in the 70′s, nothing much has changed. Only back then you could clean up on just about anything else in your RX2, 3 or 4 because just about everything with a piston engine was an asthmatic, low compression lump more suited to a John Deere. That’s hardly the case anymore.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:20:08 +0000

Need4SSPeed, I was actually just wondering if you did finally get the 350Z that you commented about a few weeks ago. How’s that going?

By: Need4SSpeed

Need4SSpeed — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:09:22 +0000

lol Sadly the Cobalt SS is quicker than a RX8.

Mazda needs to bring back the RX7. And give the Rotary some real power. the low end torque, oil eating, gas guzzling rotary just isn’t impressive to me.

Granted I like the RX8 but I’d rather have a 350Z…

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:02:47 +0000

get an editor, lln. you repeated the introductory paragraph three times.

By: authority

authority — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:48:02 +0000

Cobalt?? I feel badly for your misguided soul!

As for this RX-8, the design is getting old and we’re expecting a re-design any time now. But in the meantime, Mazda somehow see the need to keep adding ugly bits to it which only make it look cheaper! …And what’s with that pedophile mustache on the front? hideous!

By: Need more oil for GM

Need more oil for GM — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:29:44 +0000

So rather than the slow, oil burning POS with 4 doors, Mazda offers a slow, oil burning POS with 2 doors? Brilliant.

Buy a Cobalt, screw this imports pile of crap.