first off, i choose the s2000 for performance, looks, and reliability. anyway i was reading this thread and it talks about the rx8 has better handling than the s2000 and the s2000 ranks low compared to other roadsters. dont want to hate on cars just wondering what everyone thinks.
http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread/t-61460.html

 

Are these 2 cars really similar enough to go against each other like that?

I am coming from a recently stolen 1995 Porsche 993 and I think the S2k is more fun to drive. And my Porsche was pretty modified. =)

 

rx8 lol

 

I've tracked both in stock form and modified, i think the RX-8 is just as balanced, or even maybe a bit more neutral and easy to handle then a S2000. But that's where the pros for the RX8 ends. The S2000 is the better handling car, the more fun car on the track, the more reliable car, and not to mention the RX-8 gets horrible fuel milage. The RX-8 is heavier then the S2000 and has less hp and torque. I've known a few ppl that have gone through a couple motors in a short period of time, Mazda always has to warranty them and give them new motors, but i think to myself what happens when the warranty is done. I would not want that POS

 

I don't know about how they are on a track, but many think of the RX-8 as the hard top, four seat version of the S2000. Hp, torque, weight, balance, even dimensions are all very similar, and the cars both have a light, tossable feel when driven. Clarkson called it one of the easiest cars to drive fast that he'd ever driven, Leno called it addicting, and it was on my short list when I went with the S2000.

The biggest problem with the RX-8 is its poor mpg. The car has an 80k mi warranty on the engine, but I have yet to hear of anyone trashing the engine in normal use. I have a friend with an 04 and except or the poor mpg, the only issues he had was the early flooding and the leaking tailight tsb. The engine itself has been bulletproof. Still... I don't know if I'd be comfortable with a high mileage RX-8 - Mazda has been replacing engines wholesale rather than deal with issues, which seems like a big issue to me.

Performance wise, they are great cars. Reliability wise, I wouldn't own one.

 

I dont see how people say the RX-8 is better then the S2000. I have driven a few RX-8 and i dont see the big deal. To me they dont feel like sport cars, but thats just me.

 

Hey everyone, as a lurker I thought I'd chime in to shed some light and add perspective. This can be a little long winded... so its written more for the guys with a bit more time on their hands.

I was part of the "Meh" rx-8 clan for a long while. After I got out of my s2k lease, i was looking for something else that offered a back seat, but a similar feel. The folks that say the rx-8 is a 4 seat/door version of the s2k are pretty spot on.

First of all, lets get the negatives out of the way. The gas millage if absolutely what everyone says it is. I'm not a MPG counter since i have a nothing commute, but i can tell in my occasional longer drive that this car is one thirsty vehicle. Its thirst doesn't end there either, it literally consumes oil at a rate that leaves you wondering if that oil light is real or an error. So much so that its common practice for rex owners to have a quart and funnel sitting in their trunk, i know i do.

Last January, I was one of the few people to pony up and buy an 09-Rx8. The sole thing that brought me to this decision was the look of the new R3 and adjustments made to the R3 Model which was introduced last year. I took the only one they had in the dealership and didn't look back.

The similarities and familiarity to the s2k are there. The cabin feels tight and you often forget there are seats behind you,that is until you need them. The motor is typical rx8 in the r3, the gearing on the R3 is a bit different to give you a bit more acceleration, but its negligible. You find yourself missing vtech if you came from an s2k, but the pull on the motor is very linear and smooth..and it red lines at something like 9500.

First i can say, i don't track the car, so take this review as a review from a spirited driver with a decent amount of car experience under his belt. This car handles like nothing else Ive driven, and I include my 04 s2k. It's far more neutral. The front end adheres without push, and the back end isn't as eager to come around as i felt it was in the s2k. Its responsive, but not rough and it feels just as connected as the S without the roll you would expect with its added weight. It STOPS amazingly well. Like you THINK stop...and this car stops.

And as for fit and finish, the car's interior is phenomenal. The R3 has its own set of interior options so i wont compare, but the finish is great. As far as reliability, save for the oil and gas thirst, this car has yet to do any wrong. I have friends on here that can attest to my driving habits, that are i have a heavy foot and drive quickly (yet safely before you"Take it to the track" boys chime in).

The RX8-r3 is an s2k where you swapped the soft top for a back seat. If you've got to drive a good deal and gas is a concern, this is not the fuel efficient sports car you've been looking for. If you want a 2 seater with an "emergency" set of back seats, this is a fun car that rivals others in its class for best in show.

 

My brother was looking into Rx-8's and I helped him with alot of the research into the buy, he ended up not getting it because of money reasons, he just wasn't ready for that new of a car.

But i must say, I heard like most of you about their "problematic" engine and from the research I gathered at the time, most of it was rumors. The Renesis engine was touted as being a very reliable engine.

When I drove one, I felt as though they were pretty gutless until about 7000 RPM, it was a weird feeling. The power deliver was smooth but still didn't feel powerful until about that RPM range.

I am just passing on some of the things that popped up during my research of the RX-8 and quite honestly I would consider it, if I didn't have my S that is.

 

I finally got to drive an RX8 and it is fun to drive . Better than what I expected. The resale value would make one a good purchase if you could live with the mpg and oil usage issues. However I still think the S is better and newer 911's are better than the S . Get the 911!

 

I have owned both from new, a 2000 S2000 and a 2004 RX8. Obviously we all love our S2000 for it's various attributes but I have to say that I enjoy the RX8 immensly as well.

Yes it uses a fair bit of fuel but I don't have that far to commute. My particular version used a bit of oil initially but I can go between oil changes now without adding a quart.

As a daily driver the RX8 wins hands down. It is quieter, more comfortable (especially with higher profile 17" winter tires) and has a stereo that I enjoy. Nothing beats a convertible on the appropriate day but in Canada there are lots of days were the elements come into play. Those days I jump in the RX8 and I enjoy the ride. As far as problems go I haven't had any and would not hesitate to buy another.

Sometimes I get a bit frustrated with the one upmanship on the board. The S2K is better than the RX8 or vice-versa. I prefer to look at things a bit differently, I try to look at the positive aspects of each car and see if they fit my priorities. I have to agree that the RX8 is a very complimentary car to the S2000 with the bonus of having 2 extra seats and a little bit more comfort. In that light it is a superb car and as Jay Leno has stated I do find it addictive.