I have both, and have autocrossed both.

My FD is rather modified, and not the easiest car to drive.
But then again, the FD has never been easy to drive.

By comparison the RX-8 is better balanced and easier to control.

The RX-8 is stock (other than Koni's) and staying that way.

One money sucking black hole is enough.

But, the RX-8 doesn't make me grin the way the FD does.

The FD is fast, the RX-8 is adequately fast for some fun.

 

I rode in a friend's RX-8 last year. To be honest, I was impressed for about 5 minutes. The little boy inside of me liked the unique interior, doors, and engine note. But once I got over that part, I realized I had no desire to own one.

The FD on the other hand.... few cars have held my attention as long as that one has. I don't think I'll ever get bored of the way it looks, sounds, and feels. No matter how often I drive one or even ride passenger in it, I just love it.

 

Lol jeez, easy on the RX8. I own both a RX8 and obviously RX7. My first rotary happened to be the RX8. I didn't buy it necessarily because of power, since there are plenty of other cars that I could of chosen for that at the time. (i.e fairlady, evo x, s2k) Looked at all of those. I picked the 8 because of its unique engine, and history. It was the most fun to drive despite the EVO's sick boost. Also never had a problem with it other than normal wear and tear, or anything i'd go customising lol... Later bought an FD as well. Wicked car but still kinda lean towards that RX8. Right now i've been cleaning up FD bit by bit, and retrofitting as much RX8 stuff as I can in there. (steering wheel, shift ****, leather seats, and some day the gauge cluster). Will say my 8 is substantially faster than my 7 or any stock EVO, G37, etc. Storage and privacy ftw. But I heart them both! I heart Rotary. lol if i were rich and had space i'd get an FC too haha.

 

I owned an slk r170, then for a second car i got the rx8 6mt 230hp. It was a shock at how modern , driver friendly it was compared to my slk. And although the slk was upgrated to 220hp with compressor power (lots of torque) the rx8 could outrun it because of the hight rpm and wider power band.

Nevertheless that lack of torque and depresing gas consumption was annoying but i was in love with the rotaryengine and the cars dd friendliness so i coulndt sell it! Sold the slk and bought a honda s2000 for my dd. ;-)

Outof the box honda was a little faster but all it took was a full exhaust upgrade (76mm full decat exhaust and headers, it gained 10hp and dynoed 240hp while stock it dynoed 230) to the rx8 and it passed the s2000.

https://youtu.be/X4QSE5MVF4E

But the s2000 easily recovered and with intake -exhaust-ecu upgrades it went from 220 to 259 hp and passed the rx8 easily.
The fact that i knew the rx8 couldnt gain any more power in n/a form sadened me, but i was inlove with roataries! so....i sold the 8 and got a rx7fd! Rotary with turbos!!!

I am still restoring the fd as it had several issues in bodywork, suspension and ecu tuning. But the initial impressions i have are that the fd is a beast raw car to drive, with crazy high hp limits when upgrated, also it is a money pit as it needs lots of money to restore and upkeep. Its as someone said, like a classic mustang gt. Raw old school and headturning. The 8 on the other hand is a superb chassis with super driver friendliness and creature conforts but the lack of power and horible consumption really kill it. It could be the ultimate sports coupe daily driver but its consumption doesnt allow it to be a modern dd.

For reference my rx8 when daily driven did 15liters per 100kms while my s2000 with 15-20 more hp daily drives at 10.5 liters per 100km. Thats a 30% better fuel economy...

 

I want to sell my current rx8 and get another one RHD but with a dam sun roof this time lol. Only problem is i don't want to go through all that work on the rx8 all over again without being rich or having my own garage or something haha. I was driving around in the FD today and i kept coming across all these rx8s and even ran into a white FD. Stalked ALL of them for a bit then went about my ways. Today....was a good rotary day.