anyone owned an rx8 before and now fr-s brz?

[krakpot_joe]

Can any one tell me if our toyobaru has a better handling and speed than the rx8. For what i know the rx8 is one of the best handling car ever made due to its light rotary engine thats sits low for low center of gravity much like ours. Im not asking about the bad fuel consumption everybody knows renesis engines drinks gasoline im just asking about the handling and speed.

If i was about to race a manual rx8 do we have any chance stock vs stock?

Doest the rx8 really looks dated cuz i dont see it that way and i still think it's sexy as hell.

[Lonewolf]

This belongs in the vs. forums

***Joe, any pictures of your FRS?

[krakpot_joe]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

This belongs in the vs. forums

***Joe, any pictures of your FRS?

i will send some pics , i want my car to have a very dramatic entry , i bought a canon d7 on amazon so i can take some nice pics , coming soon !

[R8]

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2239

[terrypm]

I owned a RX-8 back in 2003 (9 years ago) when they first came out. I believe it was around 195 hp to the FR-S's 200 hp. Best as I can remember handling and speed are similar with the FR-S a little better. The RX-8 being bigger, heavier and more accomodating back seat was the better interstate car.

[R8]

Originally Posted by terrypm

I owned a RX-8 back in 2003 (9 years ago) when they first came out. I believe it was around 195 hp...

I think the Renesis was rated at 250 hp when first released, then re-rated at 238 hp a few years later, and 232 hp at the end.

Averaging reviews together, the RX-8 probably has a slight edge in acceleration. But it's close enough that it's probably a tossup. But neither car was meant for drag racing anyway.

Handling is subjective, so neither is "better." It depends on what someone wants. If someone wants a "drift" car to get sideways though, the RX-8 would probably disappoint.

[Texas BRZ]

Two of my cars in the past have been RX-8's. My first car was a 2004 Winning Blue RX-8 with the Tiptronic transmission... And that car was the only reason I came back to owning a 2010 R3 version several years later.

I can really praise the R3 version so much because it was the RX-8 which I tracked on a monthly basis. Its suspension, handling, and steering feel were DAMN solid, and I honestly feel that my upcoming FR-S will have a LOT to live up to when comparing to the level of handling and feel of the R3. As much drawback(s) as the rotary engine has, I think it makes a significant difference to the way the RX-8 drives, handles, and feels. I feel positively and negatively for it at the same time... But that's another story.

The RX-8 was the single most important reason why I have and will own nothing but sports cars in my life... If that's not saying much, then I don't know what else to present to you.

Good luck.

[Calidrifter]

Well said. The only downside I ever had with the RX-8, a friend/coworker owned it but let me drive it all the time, aside from not owning it was how little head space I had when I sat in it.

[terrypm]

Originally Posted by R8

I think the Renesis was rated at 250 hp when first released, then re-rated at 238 hp a few years later, and 232 hp at the end.

The one we bought in 2003 had the automatic transmission which was detuned some vs the manual transmission. During Mazda's launch campaign they advertised the car at ?? power but to pass emissions they had to reprogram the ECU which caused the power to be reduced further than advertised. After the cars got in owners hands and they did not produce the power that Mazda claimed there were some upset customers. Mazda stepped up and offered us first RX-8 buyers a little $$ or to buy the car back at our full purchase price.

Since we had some a/c issues and after several repair attempts which they could never get the a/c to cool properly we took Mazda up on the repurchase. Everything else was great in the car. We only had it for 4 months and had come from a Millenia with the Miller Cycle engine.

[rmz290]

I traded my 04 manual rx8 on the fr-s. The rx8 at 40k (rotaries make more power later in life) felt quicker than the fr-s, the engine felt stronger and like it wanted to rev more freely. The steering was also much better on my rx8. I think the fr-s has a better transmission and will be much less expensive to own over time. They are both fun. The engine was starting to go on my rx8 at 55k, cat was going for a second time, and it had a few other minor issues. I think the rx8 had a little more personality too but for the money I don't think you could be a fr-s. If I had to decide between a new frs at 24k or new rx8 at 30k+ I'd always go fr-s, they are close enough. The other major factor was gas mileage, I got 36 mpg out of my fr-s last week with out even going on a highway. my rx8 would do 18-20 mpg typically.

[RandomHero]

I own a 1st gen Rx7, and have driven several Rx8s and can tell you that Toyota/Subaru tried to (and in my opinion succeeded) make The affordable 2Dr sport coupe with 50/50 weight distribution that Mazda has been king of for a very long time (RX7 1st, 2nd, 3rd Gen, MX5, RX8). A race between these 2 cars and drivers of equal talent would be amazing. Neither have huge torque or HP figures, and both need to be kept at high RPM to get there ass out of a corner so Im gonna say FRS=RX8. A 3rd Gen RX7 would smoke both (RX7 Fanboi) :P

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by RandomHero

I own a 1st gen Rx7, and have driven several Rx8s and can tell you that Toyota/Subaru tried to (and in my opinion succeeded) make The affordable 2Dr sport coupe with 50/50 weight distribution

Er, more like 55/45...

[RandomHero]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Er, more like 55/45...

ok fair enough... but 50/50 was still the target as far as im aware?

[Tylub]

first car was the 2011 Rx-8 R3. the car is one of the best cars i have ever driven being compared to cars such as genesis coupe 3.8, BMW 135i, supra mkiii, pontiac solstice, to name a few cars i've had experiences with. the car was really rev-happy and it handled great. i had nothing but confidence when entering corners and turns and the suspension and steering feel felt really solid. the fr-s is a car that reminds me of the rx-8 and i'm glad i chose it. i have confidence entering corners and the way the gauges are set up reminds me of the rx-8.

handling wise, i say from personal experience it's pretty equal to the rx-8 and that's with PRIUS tires!! i'm sure if we all widened up a bit then our cars will out handle the rx-8 but hey, comparing stock to stock they are both amazing handlers.

power wise, i feel that our toyobaru car is faster. i feel the low end torque that is infamously missing in the torqueless wonder. however, i do miss the sudden splurge of torque from the rx-8 after 4500rpm reminding me "hey, i still have another 5000rpm to go!"

now to whether or not the toyobaru can win against the rx-8 or not, i say it's all up to the driver as i feel that the two cars are very similar performers. but i do think the rx-8 will have the jump on the first 30 mph due to the really close gearing ratios. i know this because i got the jump on a corvette z06 for the first 30 mph from a stoplight then all i could see was taillights haha