I love the RX-8. Sure, it's a bit of a dog in a straight line but around the corners, it really is fantastic. It requires less skill to drive hard compared to an S2000 and that's a good thing, in my book. I'm not Michael Schumacher so easier is better.

Overall, I much prefer the S2000 (looks, quicker, similar handling ability, true two-seater sports car) but the RX-8 really has a great chassis. I'd argue it has better stock brakes, is easier to drive, and has a transmission that's nearly as good as the S2000 as well.

All in all, it's the motor that I don't like. As others have said, throw in the MS3 motor and I'd buy it tomorrow.

 

Yes, because MPGs in sports cars totally matter.

 

RX8 is too much of a compromise car. It should have been a two-seater without the goofy third door and then it wouldn't look as weird from the rear 3/4. The s2k is a much, much better looking car.

 

The RX8 is really just a speedy econobox. Too many seats, goofy looking, and a fixed roof. WTF is that whole fixed roof thing about? This is like comparing fried chicken to shovel.

 

You've never driven one, I guess.

 

Of course mpg matters, even in sports cars.
Just like things like power and amenities matter in economy cars.
Every road car is a compromise of many different factors. Fail in a big way even in an area or areas not usually associated with your market segment, and you will fail in the marketplace.


Many sports car enthusiasts might be glad to live with sub-20mpg fuel economy if there was a big POWER payoff on the other side of the equation. But 14.5-sec 1/4 mile times and 20mpg fuel economy at best = no sale for most sports car enthusiasts, including me.

I love the RX-8, it pushes most of my buttons for my ideal daily-driver (rwd/irs, fixed-roof, 2+2, semi-reasonable weight at 3000 lb., halfway decent power, decent if not stunning looks) but the fuel mileage totally kills it for me.

If mpg didn't matter in sports cars, they'd be selling a LOT more RX-8s.

 

I have to assume this is a joke. The RX-8's chassis is comparable to the S2000's. How many econoboxes do you know that are rwd/irs, have 50/50 weight distribution?

The RX-8 is essentially a fixed-roof 2+2 version of the S2000. Except for the fuel mileage issue...

 

20mpg is not bad at all, I would happy if I got that in my s2000 with the way I drive.

 

Either way, the rx8 is a disgrace to the rx series, they took a huge step back in performance and looks from the rx7.

 

I got about 23 mpg all the time (overall average in daily driving) in my S2000. However, the one friend I know that has an RX-8 gets about 16mpg all the time, which is right about what my F-150 gets.