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Originally Posted by iShaveWithKatana
1) 1st & Foremost - The handling.
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There are cars that handle as well as or better than the RX-8. S2000 to name one. Elise/Exige also. FR-S/BRZ will be 300 lb. lighter weight than the RX-8, with similar width tires. Good handling, on par with the RX-8, expect it.
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With a limited slip differential,
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FR-S/BRZ have.
c/f drive*SHAFT*. Fine, but nothing magic here...
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exact 50/50 weight distribution,
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Fine again, but at this level of power/weight, less weight with "worse" f/r balance isn't going to hurt the FR-S/BRZ as much as you might think. FWIW, 50/50 isn't "perfect" anyway. The RX-8 and FR-S/BRZ both have about 1500 lb. on the front wheels. RX-8 has 1500 lb. on the rear wheels, FR-S/BRZ ~300 lb. less (empty). If one thought that 50/50 were more important than less weight, he could simply add 300 lb. to the back of the FR-S/BRZ and have it, without weighing more than the rX-8. But at this power/weight level, lighter weight is more important than "exact" 50/50.
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and an extremely low center of gravity,
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As low as the FR-S/BRZ? Maybe, maybe not. They both have a low c.g.
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putting power down from a light weight and low planted motor that has very compact dimensions, you - really - will be hard pressed to find a car that can match the handling of an RX-8 at any price point less than 80k or more.
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Utter B.S. RX-8 handles brilliantly, I almost bought one. But it doesn't handle any better than an S2000 or a mildly tweaked Miata.
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2) The performance of the Renesis -
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95mph in the quarter, with 22mpg? No thanks... FR-S/BRZ have about the same real-world power/weight as the RX-8, but will give upwards of 50% better fuel economy.
I love the rX-8, and very nearly bought one. But it's a fatally flawed car with the rotary. I love the concept of the rotary, but in the real world it only gives OK performance with ABYSMAL fuel mileage.
RX-8 with an S2000 (or MS3!) engine would have been fricking BRILLIANT.