RX8 Better than RX7?

I used to love the old RX7 (Type I?) with pop up headlights. It was
very cool and loved the sound of the engine.

Is the RX8 every bit as good and even better? Or is the RX8 a
different sports car that is just taking advantage of the RX name?

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
jeffegordon <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I used to love the old RX7 (Type I?) with pop up headlights. It was
>very cool and loved the sound of the engine.
>
>Is the RX8 every bit as good and even better? Or is the RX8 a
>different sports car that is just taking advantage of the RX name?

It's a different car; it's an RX because it's a rotary. Whether it's
as good or better as the 1st generation RX-7 I don't know; I would
hope so.
--
Matthew T. Russotto (E-Mail Removed)
"Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in pursuit
of justice is no virtue." But extreme restriction of liberty in pursuit of
a modicum of security is a very expensive vice.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
jeffegordon <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I used to love the old RX7 (Type I?) with pop up headlights. It was
> very cool and loved the sound of the engine.
>
> Is the RX8 every bit as good and even better?

Are you kidding? That's like comparing a Miata to a Pinto. While
endearing in some ways, the 1st-generation 7 was a rolling disaster, a
ticking bomb if hopped up to make respectable power. It was simple, fun,
and cheap, but crude. It didn't even have independent rear suspension or
rear disc brakes.

The RX-7 is a world-class touring car on a sports car chassis. It seats
four adults in comfort, and handles better than almost anything. Time
will tell if it's more reliable than previous rotaries--I'd wait for the
2005 models myself. There are plenty of online reviews, most of them
raves.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

jeffegordon wrote:
> I used to love the old RX7 (Type I?) with pop up headlights. It was
> very cool and loved the sound of the engine.
>
> Is the RX8 every bit as good and even better? Or is the RX8 a
> different sports car that is just taking advantage of the RX name?

I tend to think of the RX-8, because of its rear seating, as fitting
between the Japanese sport coupes (Celica, Eclipse, RSX) and the
American-style "ponycars" like the Mustang and Camaro.

Its an RX because its a rotary. Its "8" because its something new;
through three generations, the "7" has been a strict 2-seat coupe
(altough the three cars to carry the name were remarkably different)

Mazda started in the US with the tiny RX-100 coupe, then a series of
RX-2 (sedan and coupe, my first car), RX-3 (smaller) and RX-4 (larger).
I believe the missing two digits got assigned to something not exported.

If there is another 2-seat rotary coupe, I expect it will be called RX-7
again.

Joe
Silver '99

Lanny Chambers wrote:
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
> jeffegordon <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>>I used to love the old RX7 (Type I?) with pop up headlights. It was
>>very cool and loved the sound of the engine.
>>
>>Is the RX8 every bit as good and even better?
>
>
> Are you kidding? That's like comparing a Miata to a Pinto. While
> endearing in some ways, the 1st-generation 7 was a rolling disaster, a
> ticking bomb if hopped up to make respectable power.

Are you implying it wasn't a ticking bomb under normal
circumstances?

> It was simple, fun,
> and cheap, but crude. It didn't even have independent rear suspension or
> rear disc brakes.
>
> The RX-7 is a world-class touring car on a sports car chassis.

Interesting. Leon, typically one of the most, if not the most by a
wide margin, precise people I've ever met (in 23 years of engineering,
that's saying someting) managed to subtract one from the integer portion
of RX-7 to yield RX-6. That was odd, but we're all human once in while.
You, another of the most consistently accurate posters to r.a.m.m.miata,
managed to subtract one from RX-8 to get RX-7, which worked out to be
considerably more confusing.

I'm just waiting for Jake, like a metronome, to find a reason to dispute
anything I write (gawd I love my Trailblazer's motor) and especially to
protest continued discussion of rotary Mazdas.

Shame on me. I'm a stinker at the moment. Please forgive me.

;-)

Dana

In article <3fc2ed5e$1@wobble>, Dana Myers <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> You, another of the most consistently accurate posters to r.a.m.m.miata,
> managed to subtract one from RX-8 to get RX-7

Damned error-correcting modem needs an update.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

RX-7's have had rear disc brakes since 1981 ( well at least mine did )

i sort of like the RX-8, its engine is pretty amazing with all that power
and no turbo ( how would a a T-3 or T-4 turboed one go ), i hate the fact
its 4-door even if there just small suicide doors at the back

3rd gen RX-7 with RX-8 motor or 20B would be great ! ( factory option )


"jchase" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> jeffegordon wrote:
> > I used to love the old RX7 (Type I?) with pop up headlights. It was
> > very cool and loved the sound of the engine.
> >
> > Is the RX8 every bit as good and even better? Or is the RX8 a
> > different sports car that is just taking advantage of the RX name?
>
> I tend to think of the RX-8, because of its rear seating, as fitting
> between the Japanese sport coupes (Celica, Eclipse, RSX) and the
> American-style "ponycars" like the Mustang and Camaro.
>
> Its an RX because its a rotary. Its "8" because its something new;
> through three generations, the "7" has been a strict 2-seat coupe
> (altough the three cars to carry the name were remarkably different)
>
> Mazda started in the US with the tiny RX-100 coupe, then a series of
> RX-2 (sedan and coupe, my first car), RX-3 (smaller) and RX-4 (larger).
> I believe the missing two digits got assigned to something not exported.
>
> If there is another 2-seat rotary coupe, I expect it will be called RX-7
> again.
>
> Joe
> Silver '99
>

In article <Mzuxb.10146$(E-Mail Removed)>,
"Shin Gouki" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> RX-7's have had rear disc brakes since 1981 ( well at least mine did )

They were optional, part of the top-of-the-line package. Most had drums.

> i sort of like the RX-8, its engine is pretty amazing with all that power
> and no turbo ( how would a a T-3 or T-4 turboed one go )

There are reportedly cooling issues due to moving the ports to the
sides, and Mazda says there will never be a turbo RX-8. No doubt some
aftermarket tuner will try anyway.

See if you can find the Top Gear RX-8 video clip from November 23.
Jeremy claimed it was the best car he's ever driven. The page where I
saw it comes up with a 404 now, but there must be more out there.

> i hate the fact
> its 4-door even if there just small suicide doors at the back

Why would you hate that? You don't have to open them if you don't want
to. They don't have exterior door handles, and visually they disappear
when closed. They sure make it easier to get a tuba into the back seat...

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

re: 4 doors

well its just that in my mind sports cars ( like RX7 ) should only have 2
doors ( my strange opinion/mentality )

"Lanny Chambers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:lanny-(E-Mail Removed)...
> In article <Mzuxb.10146$(E-Mail Removed)>,
> "Shin Gouki" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > RX-7's have had rear disc brakes since 1981 ( well at least mine did )
>
> They were optional, part of the top-of-the-line package. Most had drums.
>
> > i sort of like the RX-8, its engine is pretty amazing with all that
power
> > and no turbo ( how would a a T-3 or T-4 turboed one go )
>
> There are reportedly cooling issues due to moving the ports to the
> sides, and Mazda says there will never be a turbo RX-8. No doubt some
> aftermarket tuner will try anyway.
>
> See if you can find the Top Gear RX-8 video clip from November 23.
> Jeremy claimed it was the best car he's ever driven. The page where I
> saw it comes up with a 404 now, but there must be more out there.
>
> > i hate the fact
> > its 4-door even if there just small suicide doors at the back
>
> Why would you hate that? You don't have to open them if you don't want
> to. They don't have exterior door handles, and visually they disappear
> when closed. They sure make it easier to get a tuba into the back seat...
>
> --
> Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
> '94C
> the alignment page:
> http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

In article <lanny-(E-Mail Removed)>, Lanny Chambers <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>See if you can find the Top Gear RX-8 video clip from November 23.
>Jeremy claimed it was the best car he's ever driven. The page where I
>saw it comes up with a 404 now, but there must be more out there.

He said "this year", not "ever". Then he semi-recanted after
having driven it in the wet, but the point is still there, he
loved the way it drove. Great vid!