RX8 replacement?

[monkfish1]

jimmytheone said:

Monaro?
Not really a sports car but proper rear seats, 2 doors and a v8 (while you still can).

Edited by jimmytheone on Thursday 18th February 13:31

This^^^

Or ring dynotorque and have him fit an LS3. Problem fixed.

[AlexNJ89]

Another option could be an E93 M3

[Summit_Detailing]

MINI Clubman Cooper S?

IS300 Sportcross?

[Latters]

I know you said you wanted rear wheel drive, but I’m assuming this is just because you want a car with good handling. As another poster said, it’s not like you can go drifting around on public roads without looking a bell end. Anyway, could you get an Integra within budget?

[300bhp/ton]

GTdrive said:

So I have had a RX8 as a daily, which I bought after basically not having another option. I was concerned but I took the risk. Now it seems it is in its last legs. Sad because in many ways it is the perfect daily. It's a RWD manual sports car which not only has real back seats but even rear doors. But it's not a big 4 door saloon or a hot hatch, which is a good thing.

When I bought it I bought exactly because of that. There is basically no equal and no real competition. The only similar thing would be a Ferrari FF if it was RWD and had a manual. Or a GTC4Lusso if it had a manual. And of course cost considerably less.

Now the RX8 is in its last legs and I always knew this day could come. My thought was, if or when it comes I will just buy another one. They are affordable. But honestly, after everything, I'm not sure I want to do that any longer. I investigated the engine swap kits available but that would put the price of the car at around 10-15k and who knows what Pandora's box I would be opening with that.

So here I am again, where I was. No option that will do what the RX8 did. Yes, it lacks torque, even if the hp is more than fine for a daily. Yes it can get tiresome sometimes to have to rev the nuts out of it for any and everything when driving in traffic or overtaking. But despite all this, it is a lot of fun to drive, handles fantastically, and again, it's probably the only sports car which is as practical as a saloon for all effects and purpose.

I don't want a FWD hot hatch. I don't want a 4 door saloon. I can't use a 2 seats sports car. Any 2 door car that I can think of, even with a back seat, will just make me miss the RX8. But I also don't want to put up with the rotary annoyances anymore. I would gladly do it again if it at least had the torque and power to make it worth the high costs and maintenance and make it easier to swallow the V8 levels of fuel drinking. Or if it wouldn't drink like a maniac.

I'm in a dead end alley here. I guess this is more of a rant than a request really hoping for any suggestions of cars that could replace it. But who knows. Maybe I will see something I couldn't before. Desperation will do that sometimes.

Edited by GTdrive on Wednesday 17th February 21:50

I agree, there is nothing else like the RX-8, it is a 4 door saloon in the guise of a proper sports coupe with handling and sense of occasion to match. Don't really know why more makers don't offer this.

The GT86 is probably the closest currently on paper, but the rear seats are smaller.

You might find this article interesting:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-te...

The Terminator is a bigger heavier car. But ticks quite a few of the same boxes, but with far greater durability and reliability. And way more power.


Another left field option. A z28 Fbody. Again bigger and heavier than an RX-8, but again massively faster and very much a fun car in the corners. Offering quite usable back seats for a coupe. But not as good as the rear seats in an RX-8.

Example of how well they can go.



If the BMW's don't appeal, which I can understand why. Then maybe a 4wd rally replica is another option. Despite being 4wd, they can still be quite tail out cars, depending on what sort of age one you are looking at.

Other options would be a modernised classic car. The Ford Capri does a huge amount of things the RX-8 does for example.

[ZX10R NIN]

I think I have the answer obviously a 370 doesn't have enough seats so what about it's four seater cousin:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008032...

The Monaro makes a lot of sense & tick a lot of your boxes it's not light but it's still a drivers car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...
More Leftfield.

RCZ R 270 may not have enough rear space

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

[300bhp/ton]

Latters said:

I know you said you wanted rear wheel drive, but I’m assuming this is just because you want a car with good handling. As another poster said, it’s not like you can go drifting around on public roads without looking a bell end. Anyway, could you get an Integra within budget?

Depends on the roads. Sure you can’t go full on drifting. But there is plenty of scope to safely and legally get the back end moving about.

[300bhp/ton]

ZX10R NIN said:

I
The Monaro makes a lot of sense & tick a lot of your boxes it's not light but it's still a drivers car:

The Monaro is a good shout and RHD. But if you can live with LHD I’d say both the Mustang or Fbody are more fun. And generally lighter too.

[GTdrive]

AlexNJ89 said:

Your thread is similar to mine, I even mention that I'm looking for something that gave me that same feeling at the RX8:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The only thing that could really come close to the RX8 is a manual BMW M2.

But the lightest M2 seems to be almost 200kg heavier than a RX8 and looking at photos on the web, rear seat space seem to be much less. It doesn't even look like the rear seats are usable?

[GTdrive]

Latters said:

I know you said you wanted rear wheel drive, but I’m assuming this is just because you want a car with good handling. As another poster said, it’s not like you can go drifting around on public roads without looking a bell end. Anyway, could you get an Integra within budget?

Not the only reason. It's also more enjoyable to drive RWD. Nothing to do with drifting.

There are also some great B roads around me and I can take B roads instead of motorway all the way through in my daily commute. RWD is a must as is manual.

[PrinceRupert]

In your shoes I would go for the Monaro.

Or a Cerbera

[300bhp/ton]

GTdrive said:

Latters said:

I know you said you wanted rear wheel drive, but I’m assuming this is just because you want a car with good handling. As another poster said, it’s not like you can go drifting around on public roads without looking a bell end. Anyway, could you get an Integra within budget?

Not the only reason. It's also more enjoyable to drive RWD. Nothing to do with drifting.

There are also some great B roads around me and I can take B roads instead of motorway all the way through in my daily commute. RWD is a must as is manual.

[AlexNJ89]

Doesn't tick the lightness box, but a Jaguar XKR

[GTdrive]

AlexNJ89 said:

Another option could be an E93 M3

Wow. Almost 400kg heavier than a RX8. I was actually surprised. Way too heavy.

[GTdrive]

300bhp/ton said:

Nice drive. Your car?

I have driven the 4th generation camaros. They are indeed not heavy by modern standards. But they have a rigid rear axle. Coming from a RX8 I think it will be a downgrade in basically every way but power.

Same with the Mustangs I would say. Ditto with the Monaro. They are all heavier, less capable chassis, lower spec'd and older too. I would guess a BMW would be better? Even if they are much more common.

[GTdrive]

ZX10R NIN said:

I think I have the answer obviously a 370 doesn't have enough seats so what about it's four seater cousin:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009193...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008032...

The Monaro makes a lot of sense & tick a lot of your boxes it's not light but it's still a drivers car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...
More Leftfield.

RCZ R 270 may not have enough rear space

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

RCZ is FWD.

I thought about the G35 or G37. It looks perfect on paper. But then I drove one and found it lethargic and same problem as most coupes with lack of space in the back seats. It seems fast on a straight. But too heavy. Nowhere near a RX8.

[GTdrive]

AlexNJ89 said:

Doesn't tick the lightness box, but a Jaguar XKR

Neither does it tick the manual box

[coffeebreath]

Get a decent BMW and be done with it.

[AlexNJ89]

My final suggestion, think it could be a winner though:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101238...

Not RWD :/

Edited by AlexNJ89 on Thursday 18th February 17:29

[300bhp/ton]

GTdrive said:

Nice drive. Your car?

I have driven the 4th generation camaros. They are indeed not heavy by modern standards. But they have a rigid rear axle. Coming from a RX8 I think it will be a downgrade in basically every way but power.

Same with the Mustangs I would say. Ditto with the Monaro. They are all heavier, less capable chassis, lower spec'd and older too. I would guess a BMW would be better? Even if they are much more common.

Better? Maybe. More fun? Probably not.