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Re: Mazda RX8 Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email]  (#32) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Mon, 9 Jan 2012 13:55:56
In Reply to: Re: Mazda RX8, No Snaab, Sun, 8 Jan 2012 06:50:52 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The compact sports car has largely disappeared. It was a chicken and egg problem that started in the '90s, when all the Japanese manufacturers moved their cars upmarket to improve margins on a decreasing volume, and suddenly the Supra, RX7, and 300ZX were $40,000 cars. That didn't work out and all those guys pulled out their offerings followed by GM. Miraculously Ford kept on making a successful sports car. Weird, yeah?
The segment might be coming back - Subaru/Toyota have the BRZ/FRS shortly and GM just showed the 130R. Slightly different cars, but it's nice to see a possible return to 2+2s with RWD and moderate power at prices people can afford. Maybe people just don't like this type of car anymore, but I'm happy the thought is there to try and sell them. There just can't be a long term future in 3500lb cars.
The last year of the RX8 will be 2012 - rotary engines just aren't good at meeting emissions, reliability, economy, and performance requirements all at once. It could be a fundamental issue with the design, but it's also possible that with only one company actively developing the technology there just aren't enough brains on the problem. :)
I don't know if you've ever had the pleasure of driving a rotary, but there is just nothing like one. Power delivery is almost an electric motor, with flat consistent delivery across a very wide range of engine speed. They sound great and feel great! The RX8 is a true pleasure to drive, and despite being a 2+2 still manages to come in under 3000lbs (a 200lb motor doesn't hurt). Output is modest, but with relatively little weight to move it's a pretty responsive car and easy to drive quickly. It's the opposite of cars like the Camaro and Mustang, which have huge power but are also heavy - driving one of these cars fast is quite a commitment. The RX8 OTOH is powerful enough to be exciting but nimble enough to be intimate. It's a great driving experience.
I'm fortunate in that I don't need an RX8 to drive daily or endure a ton of mileage. I just want to own one while there are still low-mileage examples to be found. I'm pretty familiar with the big ins & outs of them I think, so I was hoping someone here might have some info on the nuances. I suppose RX8 is pretty contrary to the average Saab owner's idea of automotive desirability, though. :)
posted by 12.195.130...
, Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:17:57, Mon, 9 Jan 2012 13:55:56 <-- Viewing This Message, Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:32:06, Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:02:56, Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:26:26
, Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:23:47
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