Fun to drive and handles really well equals FD all the way.

Buy one that's already setup w/ some reliability mods from a knowledgable owner. You can find one on this forum for 16k all day long. Do not get a single turbo car or highly modded car.

As far as a stock rx8 being close to as fast as an FD with 350 hp that's just silly. I'd say its close to as fast as a stock FD but a stock FD would completely abuse it on an autox course.

I think the 8 is a nice car but IMO it's like comparing apples to oranges.

 

not much of a debate...IMO.

RX8 is an ugly car made for woman.

 

See you getting a Cadillac Deville next year Jason?




The smart thing to do is to go out and find both cars. Compare them yourself so you can make an educated desicion based on your satisfaction, not everyone elses. every one have different opinions as you can see here. so go and find you a low milage FD and test it out. then get in the RX8.

 

tell us how you *really* feel

 

werd

 

haha

 

+1


I just had to quote it too, so that when someone searchs this topic on 1-2 years...they read this the most. hahah

 

IMO, the rx7 is more of a head turner than the 8. Up here in Edmonton, theres only a handfull of 3rd gens that come out of hibernation or the summer. The 8's are kind of a norm, but the 7 will catch a lot of attention. They sit lower and weigh less too.

I'm on the market for a 3rd gen myself, but I decided to check out the 8 because of the rotary, driver comfort on the inside, and available warranty. And after test driving one I was disapointed with the power, even in the high rpms. My mx6 felt like it had way more power than the 8. Then again, it almost comes down to reliability VS power with the 8 and 7.

Since it's winter up here and the 3rd gens are legal for importation from japan into canada in 07, I'll put my money down for one of those and keep the 6 for a DD. If you want room for the kids, the JDM fd's come with rear seats . Personally for me, it's the look and the tt rotary that's rubbing me the right way. And I doubt I'll own anything else w/o a turbo.

 

I know that rarity is not a reason to buy a 7 over an 8, but it really is nice to have a car that is so rare. There are 4 (I think) 8'sjust in the car park under my apartment block. But I only see a 7 maybe once a fortnight, and it is always the same one...

I used to own a wrx, but hated seeing them every where, they are a cliche here.

With the 7, I regularly come back to my car and see people taking photos of it. People are always asking me about it, and even though straight line speed isn't my main criteria it is stilll nice to be quicker than 99% of cars on the road.

Light tune power increases are also great. I have only a few very mild mods (exhaust, intake and tune) and made about 35% above stock power with only 2 psi increase. What a great return on tuning investment. I have easily beaten a 400hp (300kw) HSV (pontiac gto?) in a straight line.

I terms of handling, it is much better than my ITR was, or my WRX.

In short, at the end of the day when I leave work I am excited to drive home in my 7.

Adam

 

8 is a girls car, and it's also a car that kids have their mommies and daddies buy for them...i'd rather get a man's car a rx-7, and call it a day.

 

I think I'm going with the RX-8 for a few reasons....

- It's newer... less mileage, less (hopefully) prone to abuse in the time it's been around.
- It's more forgiving.... I love the RX-7 and in a perfect world, where I was a perfect driver, I'd be happy to get that car. However I'm not a good enough driver to take advantage of all that car has to offer, and the RX-8 allows me to really have a blast and show me my own limits.
- I like the look, though I know people here don't. To be frank, the RX-8 isn't as good looking as the RX-7, but it's kind of moot. I'm not 10 years old that I am buying the car to show it off, I am buying it because it's a blast to drive.
- It has four seats... now I know it's not a HUGE four seats, but if push comes to shove, people can pile in the back and be done with it.
- I like a N/A motor. I will probably do an ECU mod on the RX-8 and get maybe 20 horses (from what I've read), and leave it N/A otherwise. Coming from an M3 whose power was amazing, I don't mind the RX-8's power since well... I'm not a drag junkie. I enjoy the twists and turns
- Dealer financing (should I go that route) and normal financing is generally easier to get on a car that's a year or two old.

Just a few reasons. There are a LOT of reasons to get the RX-7 as well, but frankly I know that the car is just beyond what I can handle, though I'd love to drive one... the sheer power of that car and the kick-in of turbos makes it not as easy to drive. The RX-8 had such nice feedback in the steering and brakes, and it was really a joy to drive. I will wind up doing some suspension work to the RX-8, perhaps some upgraded brakes but otherwise, it will be stock. I am not the type of guy to "tune", I just like to get in and drive... the RX-8 in that sense makes it easier on me. The RX-7 is an awesome car, but it's also a hobby car in a way, which CAN be driven stock, but the extra work to make it super-fun-fast-etc is what I'd probably like to avoid.

Thanks for all your advice though guys... I've been tossing back and forth for a while, but I think the sensible side of me says to just get the 8. I sold my M3 today (wow) so in a few months I'll be on the lookout for my next 8

 

You gotta be kidding me. The M3 maybe the most perfectly built car period. I have a FD and its great but I would choose M3 any day over my FD.
On the Nuerburgring E46 M3 rule the track granted with suspension and brakes, run with GT3 RS's and kill the Zakspeed Viper around the Ring.
You own the Ultimate driving machine. I wouldnt get rid of perfection for something less the perfect.

 

If it's running w/ a gt3 in any form they did more the susp and brake work.

An e46 would make a nice daily driver but it's certainly not the ultimate driving experience that's for damn sure.

 

Once you jump into a FD, you won't want to get out.

 

Then sadly, you sir, don't know cars.

The M3 is a heavy car that doesn't handle near what my RX-8 did, and I can imagine not close to the RX-7 either.

 

The M3 has dialed in understeer from the factory. However, with some coilovers and aftermarket anti-roll bars, the M3 is on par with a FD (with an upgraded suspension) in handling. I will say that it will cost less to make the M3 handle better than it will cost to turn an FD into a track worthy car.

I have seen more than one E46 M3 give modded FD's a very difficult time on the track with only suspension mods and some sticky tires. The M3 is an easy car to drive on the track. It really does take some effort to get it out of control.

 

My M3's payment was $740 a month... plus insurance on top of that! I can get an RX-8 for about half of that, so I figure that's what I will be doing

The RX-8 rides great from the factory... so I'll be plenty happy with the power of it, since it is as nimble and fun as it is.

 

The RX-8 does pretty well in stock form on the track (adding in some tires and decent brake pad/fluid). Since its NA, it doesn't run as hot on the track as the FD and its pretty easy on the tires and brakes compared to most other cars. It just lacks the "umphf" that most other cars have.

 

I know all about its power... I owned one for three years. And having had an M3 which is blazingly fast in comparison, I prefer the RX-8... not everybody cares deeply about power

Now to find a nice one in my area.. but I'll be waiting a few months before I get anything. Probably end of April, early May.

 

Sounds to me like the Rx-8 is more in line with your priorities. I've test driven one and was very disappointed with the power output (well, I did have three other 200 lb people in the car + my small 140 lb ***).

Have fun with it, but I have to tell you that an FD is ALL ABOUT THE DRIVER! If you get the heebee-jeebees just starting your motor up, love the smell of raw gasoline, cramped passenger compartment, and know what it feels like to drive a relatively rare, lightweight, turbocharged PURE SPORTS CAR.... then the FD is for you

I love my FD!

 

Thanks for typing my post for me!

I thought my 7 handled a hair better than my pop's 8 but sounds like a few of you guys disagree.

 

You got me the M was a gutted CSL with a cage and tires. No motor work. Gears and Pilot tires. But it think we will all live
I know what I have witnessed and I have over 50 laps on the Ring myself. Some of you cant see outside your little world. The M3 is the target of most performance cars for a reason.
There is a Top Gear episode where the RX8 lapped the same time as the M3 and the Z. But Im telling you on a track like the Ring the M3 is a hard car to beat.
As far as money wise I can see droping the M3 but there are still better choices of cars IMHO, a Evo or Sti will out perform the 8 and thats before you even start with add ons.
By the way the M almost breaks the magic of 10lb/hp. So If the 3400lb M (10.1/hp) is a heavy weight that 3000lb RX8 (13/hp) is buy no means light when there is 100 more horse power pushing that 400lbs.

 

So match the CSL with a gutted full cage GT3 with brake and susp work and it'll resemble the tortoise and the hair race only this time the GT3 won't stop for a nap.

I'm glad you have 50 laps at the ring I sure wish I could make my way there but currently I can't even get out of VA lol. However I probably have atleast 50 laps following noise to tail behind GT3s and they are VERY fast I'm sorry but I don't bother with m3s (again think tortoise and hair).

 

The GT3 has the goodies over there. Not like we get in the states. Im not saying the "tortoise" is unbeatable but I am saying, with a choice M3, FD or 8... give me the M. Stock for stock the M3 is a hard package to beat (Z06?).

 

I've had my FD for something like 7 years now (single turbo), and I have a daily driver stock S2000 (which by the way, also needs more power). I've also driven the 8 at "zoom zoom live" (basically a mini-autox).

In my opinion, the RX-8 is slow as crap and that really kills it for me. The handling is OK, but the lack of speed is very annoying.

If you like to wrench, the 7 is way better
If you just want to drive it around and have fun (the slow kind) - get the 8.