Daniel-S

**** me how many times have we seen that comparison

god3

I think grampo should have his tea and go to bed.

pslewis

The new fella hasn't .... and it's him who needs the glasses!!

Pete

sgcooby

Is this a classic v's bugeye thread or rx8 v's WRX thread???????

Good fun none the less.

For what its worth i wouldnt have an RX8. Very tidy cars. Probably the worst fuel consumption ive ever seen in a car and about as much torque as a handeld battery fan. Not my cup of tea.

pslewis

RX8's are cracking looking cars, even better looking than a Classic Impreza

But, during the race, maybe the RX8 drivers foot slipped off the GO pedal because he just couldn't bare to look at that ugly face of the Bug Eye in the rear view???

Just a thought??

Pete

~~ Cal ~~

Okay Pete we get your point - how did you get on in the test

pslewis

Didn't waste my time

Pete

Chris L

Ignoring Mr Lewis for a moment (how could I?? ). Just to put a few things straight from someone who has run two Scoobs for 5 years and an RX8 for a year (i.e. me!)

To be honest, I'm surpised that the RX8 would be significantly quicker. I'd say it was the equal of a standard UK Impreza WRX, but not an STI or anything vaguely modified.

It's advantage is in its handling, which is streets ahead of a Scoob. The balance and poise reward driving in a different way to a Scoob. A well driven RX8 will be a match for a Scoob 'through the twisties', although a Scoob would destroy it in the wet.

I've driven both cars on track and I prefer the RX8 - the weight and in particular the weight over the front of the Scoob do detract from the experience, leading to understeer, which is not something you get a lot of in the RX8 with 50:50 weight distribution and RWD.

Can we please dispell the oil issue too please? The rotary engine is designed to burn a small amount of oil, as it lubricates the tips of the rotors - nothing more than that. This does mean you have to top the oil up occassionaly, but all you need to do is check the oil once a month if you're doing average mileage - hardly a big deal.

The modern rotary engine does not use excessive oil (in the way, say the Alfa 156 does - which leads to seized engines, unless you're very careful (we lost 6 in one year at work)) - it is designed to use some oil as part of the normal process of running the engine - that is quite a significant difference.

MPG is not great, but no worse than a Scoob. I average about 23 MPG, getting upto about 30 on the motorway - which is almost exactly the same as both of my Scoobs. Don't fall for the marketing BS that the RX8 is a 1.3 - it isn't, the displacement is closer to 2.6 litres. Compare MPGs with other ''normal' 2.5 litre cars and it is about right. Compare it to a 'normal' 1.3 and it's appalling! It doesn't need super unleaded or octane booster - it will use bog standard 95 Ron from the supermarket without complaint and strangely, it doesn't seem to matter how hard you drive it, the MPG always stays roughly the same. I think the worst (best?) fuel consumption I had on my Scoob was 7 MPG when on track!

The engine certainly doesn't have the torque of a Scoob, but then the Scoob is pretty exceptional in this department. That said, the RX8 does have a very sweet 6 speed gear box, so as long as you are in the right gear, then it is no problem - again not dissimilar to a Scoob - as anyone who has been caught off-boost will tell you.

As regards resale and retained values, the RX8 has made the list of top 10 least depreciating cars for the last 2 years - beating many BMWs & Audi's. So all in all, not a bad car and just a little different, which in a world of boring cars, is no bad thing. I originally chose Scoobs for exactly the same reason.

Chris

Olly

Like Chris, I have owned both Bugeye WRX and RX8 230, and agree with all of his comments entirely.

Which did I prefer? The RX8 any day. Better looking, better build, way more character, and large opposite lock slides. A real drivers car. In a WRX, even crap drivers seem good.

I may have been a second or so quicker up my favourite road in the clinical Subaru, but I would always have a bigger grin in the RX.

Chris L

Big grin factor at the moment, as the tyres are worn, leading to quite a few nice oversteer moments

Brit_in_Japan

Never driven an RX8 in anger, just a round the block type of test drive. It's better then am Impreza inside, you feel more cocooned, more like a cockpit then a car. Not convinced about the looks, but not saying an Impreza is better. Love the suicide rear doors, a nice attampt at making a coupe practical.

rb5 286

iTrader: (2)

back on topic..


I had a RX8 230ps for 3 days test drive, wasnt to replace the scoob but the 2nd or 3rd car!!!

My wife and I were both amazed at how much we fell in love with it but it isnt a touch on a scooby for handling although in the wet with t/c and esp off going roundabouts was SOOOOOO much fun

Power wise you felt the power all the way thru the gears and could quite easily pull away in 4th up to 120mph comfortably there so much torque from the amazing 1.3 engine.

I have a RB5 (if u hadnt guessed) and the power is simply far stronger then the RX8.

I would imagine that your heavy standard WRX Bugeye would come a cropper to the lighter RX8.

Dont worry, you still have a much more fun, better handling and powerful car package

get a PPP you wont be posting anymore threads like this one

Stainy

Well I drove both back to back (admittedly on test drives) before deciding on the WRX. The RX8 is an all round nicer place to be but I have had turbos for the last 13 years and I just couldn't get on with the power delivery in the RX8. It reminded me of my early biking days on 2 strokes..........**** all torque and have to rev the bollox of it to get anywhere. Not for me.

Also, I keep my cars for a good few years and I'm not convinced that the rotary longevity is sorted yet. Time will tell, but how many RX7's are on original engines?

richs2891

Well I've just given my sister 230 RX8 back to her after having it for two weeks (she has had my MY05 WRX). (She is after a more pratical car as she is 6 month pegnant). Performance wise it feels slow compared to my modifed MY05 (230 BHP v 280), but the RX8 is deceptive in its speed as it a lot quiter and more refined. Spent the first two days stalling it as kept forgetting to remember to rev it when pulling away (forget 2nd gear pull aways like in Scoob !) Lack of torque can be irratating if caught in wrong gear. Did enjoy the odd sideways moment (rear tyres close to the limit !!). Handling wise - lots of electronics to keep it in check, still not sire waht would be quicker A to B (if both standad) Petrol consumption slightly worse than Scoob, Nice pleasant car to drive, but would not choose one personally. Hate the red and black leather interior, sucide door novel but found them a little annoying, I suffer with back problems and the low roof \ seating position I found bad. Found the heater A/C slow to warm up and cool down - which I found odd for a Mazda !
Has to be one of the worse car to wash ever ! Nooks and curves everwhere, but it is a very good looking car, when its clean. Honest opinion, one of the cars have to drive and my feeling is that better to look at than own !
Richard

ZIPPY

Some good points raised with regard the RX8, yes they are nicer inside and out to some extent but as already metioned to get it to move you have to drive it like you have nicked it, add to that 1 litre of oil every 1000 miles on average and p#ss poor economy it gets very expensive.

I had one for a day and was extremely put off by the lack of torque, it felt like it had a washing machine engine under the bonnet. Yes it was slightly deceptive in that looking at your speedo it was moving quite well but it 'felt' awfull.

Zippy

sulli

Did that make you feel better? No? What a silly thing to say..

I have forwarded your post to www.defendpslewis.co.uk - expect an envelope of cack in the post

Sulli of the cold guinness

Castrol

My only grumble about the RX8, is if I'm driving our STi UK PPP, every one I see wants to race. They only do it once mind...

Cheers

Chris L

They don't use anything like a litre of oil per 1000 miles - mine certainly doesn't. Maintenance and service is certainly a lot cheaper than my Scoobs. My 12K service for the RX8 cost me £65.

RX7 rotaries are a different story all together. The design of the latest rotary engine has made significant improvements - Mazda would be bankrupt if they had to replace all the engines in RX8s! I know of only one car that has had a serious engine problem (anyone care to mention the no.3 cylinder problem on Scoobs??). Rotary engines may yet have a bright future because their design suits alternative fuels such as hydrogen and run with very little modification.

What they do require is a different driving technique to exploit the chassis and make the most of the handling. They are extremley capable and very rewarding cars to drive - they don't induce the 'hero' factor that a Scoob can because of their phenominal grip.

In my experience the RX8 is closer to being a grown up Elise (111R was the other car I would have gone for) rather than a 4WD rally replica. It is hard to make direct comparisons with a Scoob, because the cars are so different. When I was looking for a new car, I specifically wanted something that wasn't a 'rally' car, but was still quick, fun and reasonably well priced. The list shortened very quickly!

I guess the point of this post is that you can pick holes in any car if you look hard enough. Scoobs have had their fair number of detractors over the years. I first had a Scoob before they were mega popular. I 'got' the car and what they were trying to achieve. In a similar way Mazda should be congratulated for doing something different and persisting with a design that everyone else gave up on - and making it a success. Being voted Coupe of the Year, 3 years running is testament to that.

bluto22b

Aren't you a *****? They ARE NOT UGLY beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Classics are old; gone; never to be seen again; good in their time. So was the bugeye but it did it with air conditioning and a cosseting ride as well as a better dash. When you are sat behind the wheel you cannot see the car. You only see the car as you walk towards it which is 7% of the time of ownership, unless you happen to spend all day Sunday washing and polishing it. Mr Lewis your breath reeks of excrement.