RX-8 Debate: The dream lives, but is it worth it?

[CONTROL ONE]

The Debate:
mod celica AGAIN or get the RX-8 GS model. both will be basically the same price, hell the celica will probably be more since i'm addicted to modding it.

the only way i can afford the 8, is to get the Base package, this is what is STILL included in the base:

250hp
6spd
LSD
ABS
18" wheels
6 disc in dash cd changer with premium bose 9 spkr audio sys.
sport suspension
headlight cleaners
fog lamps
roughly 200 lbs lighter w/o moonroof or power seats

this is what i would be missing out on ($4000 option)

driver stability control (to avoid fishtailing, although it hinders performance)
heated, power leather seats
auto dimming mirrors
moonroof
HID


so what do you think? the GS has pretty much everything i want, the HID's and stabilty control would be nice, but i've driven a rwd car before, and you can always get aftermarket HID down the road...

it's basically, should i keep a modded celica GT or get a mildly stripped rx-8?

http://www.rx8forum.com/images/rx8forumpic.jpg

[CelicaCat]

I'd keep Celeste...she's been good to you :D

[CONTROL ONE]

Originally posted by CelicaCat
I'd keep Celeste...she's been good to you :D
yes and no

btw, my celica was in a major collision totally 8G in damage incl subframe, all front suspension, etc.

[chopp3r]

rx-8... all the way!!! get after market hids later... =)

[TRD_555]

sup G,

TRD is coming out supercharger for 1zz! get that n' smoke the RX-8

[CONTROL ONE]

Originally posted by TRD_555
sup G,

TRD is coming out supercharger for 1zz! get that n' smoke the RX-8

lol, when? 2010?

[teinzzt231]

i saw an rx8 the other day...tight car!!!but hey celica is cool too, especially if you know how to mod it RIGHT...you can really stand out in a celica thats done right.also you might not want to get a car when the engine is that fresh, especially a rotary,think of all the recalls & problems.

[mangoboy7]

I say the rx-8. You have a more powerful base to start with. You'll end up getting another car somewhere down the line anyways, why not do it now and have something more powerful. Sorry to hear about your accident. I guess i haven't been in OT enough. Did you lose the body kit?

[Mistrimeat]

Originally posted by TRD_555
sup G,

TRD is coming out supercharger for 1zz! get that n' smoke the RX-8

:rofl: Good one.

[CelicaCat]

I know this is a dumb question since you've been posting about this car for a few days now and talking about it for a while. What's RX-8?

[CONTROL ONE]

Originally posted by Mistrimeat


:rofl: Good one.

hehe, i thought so too

thx mango...bodykit, rims, and a bunch of other stuff is already sold

[CONTROL ONE]

Originally posted by CelicaCat
I know this is a dumb question since you've been posting about this car for a few days now and talking about it for a while. What's RX-8?
:wtf: lol

www.mazda.com

[Oo DaRk StAr oO]

I too was addicted to the RX-8. The only problem I had was that the RX-7 was such an incredible car... but reliablity was always an issue. Rotaries still leave a funny feeling in my stomach. If it wasnt for that then instead of an WRX being in my driveway there would be an RX-8.

[CelicaCat]

I'm just saying, I don't think I have ever seen an RX-8.

[FriedRice]

yea... im staying away from first year production cars. i know mazda is banking on the renesis to get widespread acceptance, so they are making it really really airtight as far as build quality and reliability are concerned. but theres always a chance someone missed SOMETHING... if i were u, i'd wait till the second production year. maybe better options available anyway. (or more stuff made standard)

save up ur dough, then go all out...

its not like u dont have a kick ass car to begin with anyhow.

[Pure Racer]

I love the RX-8, but I really question Mazda' reliability down the road...

[ArchangelX]

I think most of you question the reliability of it, simply because you do not understand the rotary.

The engine itself has NEVER been a concern of reliability...it's that damn sequential turbo system the RX-7 has that has made a bad name, plus Mazda's PAST service.

Go take a look a the Turbo II and N/A rotaries....those cars are pushing 150-200,000 miles easy...

Don't believe me...go take a look at www.rx7club.com/forum and check out the 1st and 2nd gen rotary sections.

The rotary is a VERY reliable engine..with less moving mass, no reciprocating parts, and therefore more reliability.

I've been preaching this over and over again, since I picked up my 7 and have been trying to educate people about the engine and it's pluses.

[CGts00]

i have only seen pics of the rx-8 but i am pretty sure they look a lot better in person...are you tired of the celi and need something new?? if ya are i would say go with the rx-8 for a good change...

[2002GT_Celica]

Originally posted by ArchangelX
I think most of you question the reliability of it, simply because you do not understand the rotary.

The engine itself has NEVER been a concern of reliability...it's that damn sequential turbo system the RX-7 has that has made a bad name, plus Mazda's PAST service.

Go take a look a the Turbo II and N/A rotaries....those cars are pushing 150-200,000 miles easy...

Don't believe me...go take a look at www.rx7club.com/forum and check out the 1st and 2nd gen rotary sections.

The rotary is a VERY reliable engine..with less moving mass, no reciprocating parts, and therefore more reliability.

I've been preaching this over and over again, since I picked up my 7 and have been trying to educate people about the engine and it's pluses.

He's exactly right...look at the old Mazda rotary trucks you see every once in a while on the streets. The rotary engine is great NA, but when you put a turbo on it, things get a little riskier, but even that can be fixed.

[CelicaLicious]

i'd keep the GT.. personally i think it would be more funt o mod the GT rather than spend all your money on car payment..

[richmds]

I say wait a little and see. First year production. Rotary can be a nice engine if maintained to a tee, or a oil guzzling headache.

With the G35, RX-8, and potential Supra, Im getting all funny feeling.

[SlowPoke]

get the rx8, its dead sexy
Besides, its got lsd, its rwd, 250horses, its a rotary so you can rev the piss out of it... drooool, its an easy choice RX8

[FriedRice]

i dont really question mazda's reliability. family has a '90 mpv. i've wanted it to die for the last 5-6 years, but damn thing is going strong. 13 years. nothing but small stuff like periodic timing belt change, tires, once an oil pump but it was fixed pretty easily. most fun minivan i'd ever driven too.

i have faith in mazda.

[MeGaXmAn27]

i say u wait till u have that extra 4 and get that rx-8

[Supra SP63]

I'd buy the RX-8 :)

[chameleon]

Originally posted by CelicaCat
I'm just saying, I don't think I have ever seen an RX-8.

The RX-8 isn't out yet, it isn't going to be in dealerships untill mid summer this year. The RX-8 is Mazda's rotery powered successor to the no longer produced RX-7.

I think that the comparison is down right silly, a Celica GT and an RX-8 aren't even remotely close to each other in terms of performance. Even a heavily moddified GT with forced induction isn't going to be able to keep up with a bone stock RX-8. I think that if like the RX-8 and can afford the payments and isurance on it, you should definatley get it.

And I personally wouldn't really worry about the fact that it has a brand new power plant in it. When I walked into the Toyota dealerships in 2000 to buy my Celica, I didn't let the fact that this was the first car with the 2zz-ge engine bother me, and its a good thing too, because I have had absolutely no problems with it at all. Car companies cant afford to sell thousands of cars with dud engines, I'm sure that it has gone through lots of testing to ensure it's reliability.

[Lord Banshee]

i think 10k in a gt would keep up rx-8 in the start line and thru the twisties.
5000k - fully tuneable WCcovia Turbo(added 2k for all goodys lol)
2500k- hotckis suspention kit
500k - better tires
2000k- lsd, aftermarket clutch, lightweight flywheel.

are you telling me a car wiht about 220whp that is 400lb less then an rx-8 isn't going to keep up?

and this is an example of a heavily moddified GT with forced induction.

[CONTROL ONE]

ok, after a LOT of thinking i decided to go for it. not the GS, but the GT. it's only $40 more/mth which i know i'll be able to handle with my new job around the corner

i know if i settle for the GS i won't be happy a few yrs down the road so i'm going all out, HID's, sunroof, power heated leather seats, stability and traction control up here in the snow will be great

damn, just 3.5 more months till it's mine!

[CONTROL ONE]

for the ppl said to just mod your GT, i've HAD a heavily modded GT before and obviously it didn't satisfy me before, i don't see how it would this time around

i'm not sure if the turbo will ever come out, and it's not like you have to stop there, you need boost gauge, lsd, clutch, etc for something with NO warranty etc.

i'll have a entry level sport compact with $20000 worth of mods done to it, what's the point of that when i can have a much better car out of the box with a WARRANTY :)

[EuGeNiLe GTS]

i personally wouldnt get it just cause it doesnt have turbo..

yes im addicted to boost.. its a drug to me.. and im addicted.. now that i got it :D

FD3S... ill stick to old school..

just my .02

[chameleon]

Originally posted by Lord Banshee

are you telling me a car wiht about 220whp that is 400lb less then an rx-8 isn't going to keep up?

and this is an example of a heavily moddified GT with forced induction.

I honestly don't think that it would stand a chance in a drag race and would still probably have a tough time keeping up in the twisties.

With 250 HP at the crank, the RX-8 would still probably put down more power to the wheels than the turbo GT Celica thanks to its CARBON FIBER drive shaft. Then when you factor in the 6 speed transmition and the fact that it is a RWD vs FWD race, I think that the turbo GT will be lagging behind quite a bit.

The RX-8 has alloy upper and lower control arms, perfect 50/50 weight distrabution, and a 4 inch wider wheelbase than the Celica. Plus it's rotery engine is small enough that they mounted it behind the front axle, making the RX-8 a front/mid ship layout, and the fuel tank is mounted in front of the rear axle, keeping all the weight in the center of the car. I think that an RX-8 will be quite capable of holding its own in the corners.

A turbo Celica GT would be a mean machine, but a stock NA RX-8 would still be faster IMHO. It's still all specualation, however, as there are no WC turbo Celica GT's or Mazda RX-8's on the streets.

[chameleon]

On another note, congratulations on your new car CONTROL ONE. ;)

I recently sat in one at the Detroit auto show, it's a pretty sweet ride. One thing that I noticed that I really liked was the shifter, it has super short throws. The only thing's that I didn't like was the really cheap feeling buttons for the radio(you'll see what I'm talking about when you get your car) and the fact that it was unbeleivably difficult for me to get in and out of the car. Small price to pay for all the other great things about the RX-8 IMHO.

[CONTROL ONE]

thanks chameleon!

seems like you know your stuff when it comes to the '8 but you forgot 1 little thing, my new car will also come STOCK with an LSD, one more benefit over my old ride ;)

[valkyrie]

RX8 ...... just get it

[HOMEP666]

How much is one of those rx-8's again? I just went to a car show and I want one down the road :ugh: I couldn't stop drooling when looking at that car.

[Kry]

Originally posted by valkyrie
RX8 ...... just get it
:werd:

[VeiLSidE_Gt-S]

will the 350z beat the rx8?

[richmds]

I'd like to know as well. On paper the specs say it probably would but who knows till its actually released.

Originally posted by VeiLSidE_Gt-S
will the 350z beat the rx8?

[ChicagoCELICA]

WHATEVER YOU DO DONT BUY MAZDA!!!! The car is quick but the reliability sucks. I have few friends with rx-7 and they have nothing but the hole in their pocket. First of all i dont think much of a mazda. I think that car is for gay's and i think the same thing about the mustangs(for lesbians hehe). Spend little bit more and get nissan 350z. I hear people talking about evo, that car is so ugly and looks so cheap. When you are spending that much you dont want to look stupid. I lived in germany, england, yugoslavia and i know what i am talking about. To sum it all. Stay away from mazdas and mitsu!!!

[ArchangelX]

....

Okay..obviously...this guy is on crack..and I'm not going to spend time explaining the pros and cons of an N/A Rotary engine.

:rolleyes:

I drove right past a black 350z that had a guy on a cellphone in it driving 25mph down a 35...I zoomed right around him in my WRX...and didn't realize it was a Z until I looked in my mirror.

I thought it was a Lexus, sweart to god... :gap:

RESPECT...THE 7!!! :headbang:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/b/l/blc191/rex.mov

If this...homemade vid doesn't make you drool..you're on crack, too. (the wing is a little much..but it's a very clean FD).

[ChicagoCELICA]

i didnt say it's not a good car but it has some problems. I am glad that you love yours and that you are satsified with it. didnt mean to be jerk. It is a great car but it wouldnt be my first choice it's all i am saying!

everybody has their own opinion

[ArchangelX]

Yes, they do..I guess I was just spouting mine and beating my chest at the same time.

As for reliability...N/A rotaries from Mazda are some of the most reliable cars you'll ever drive...most of the 1st and 2nd Gens are still on the road today, some with 200,000 to 300,000 miles on the engine and chassis.

Just to fill ya in on a bit... :gap:

[MeGaXmAn27]

so since ur getting the rx-8, gonna part ur car? if so i call dibs on some parts =)

[CONTROL ONE]

Originally posted by MeGaXmAn27
so since ur getting the rx-8, gonna part ur car? if so i call dibs on some parts =)
all $10,000 worth of my mods were sold within a few hours to my local car club.

the only thing left is the audio:

JBL BP 600.1 Amp
12" Rockford Fostgate HE2 Punch Sub