Top 10 Almost Great Cars

[Doggiedog]

Text

LOL at the 350Z.

Its dashboard looks like "reground toothbrush handles."

 

[Lonyo]

With a manual transmission, the RX-8's peak hp (238) does not come on until 8,500 rpm

That's gotta be hard on the ears.

 

[Acanthus]

The features they complain about on the Ford 500, 350Z, and RX8 are just nitpicking imho, none of the things they complained about were dealbreakers.

They do have a point on cadillacs insane price structure though, nearly $80000 for a cadillac? no thanks.

 

[Analog]

Yugo

 

[Triumph]

MSNBC generally writes some of the worst automotive columns, but I'll agree with them on the Ford Five Hundred. What were they thinking when they thought the 203 hp V6 would be adequate for an almost 4000 pound vehicle? In this day and age. The funny thing is that they modified the old 3.0 liter V6 to achieve a whopping THREE HORSEPOWER gain.

I mean really. Why the fvck even bother. :roll:

 

[akiraxtc]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

With a manual transmission, the RX-8's peak hp (238) does not come on until 8,500 rpm

That's gotta be hard on the ears.

Not really, even at 9000rpm is not as loud as you think it would be... it's very smooth up there.

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: akiraxtc

Originally posted by: Lonyo

With a manual transmission, the RX-8's peak hp (238) does not come on until 8,500 rpm

That's gotta be hard on the ears.

Not really, even at 9000rpm is not as loud as you think it would be... it's very smooth up there.

Yeah it's a rotary engine and the things are dead quiet. It even has a buzzer in the dash when you red-line, even though it also has a tuned exhaust as standard. Inside they're seriously quiet.
They are revvy engines much like two-strokes. Basically the complete opposite type of power band to a diesel. This means the power comes from high revs. They're very light engines and the RX8 is actually a very good car in terms of reliability, design, handling and performance.

I think the whole article is a little short-sighted and seems to be written by someone who's merley thumbed through top-gear magazine whilst in a waiting room. Having said that, the top gear crew (actually JC himself) said the RX-8 was an exceptional motor...

 

[Horus]

I was talking to a guy at the Mazda dealership, and he was telling me about a guy who came in to test-drive a RX-8. He was under the impression that his RSX-S was hot sh1t, and could easily plow the RX-8 into the ground. The guy starts driving it, comments that it really doesn't accelerate like his RSX. Dealer then informs the guy to start shifting at 8500RPM, instead of 6500.

The guy traded in his RSX the next day for a RX-8, because that 8500RPM threw him back in his seat.

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
Yugo

Fiero

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: Horus
I was talking to a guy at the Mazda dealership, and he was telling me about a guy who came in to test-drive a RX-8. He was under the impression that his RSX-S was hot sh1t, and could easily plow the RX-8 into the ground. The guy starts driving it, comments that it really doesn't accelerate like his RSX. Dealer then informs the guy to start shifting at 8500RPM, instead of 6500.

The guy traded in his RSX the next day for a RX-8, because that 8500RPM threw him back in his seat.

Jap engines > *

 

[aphex]

Yea, i disagree with the comments about the RX-8 as well... I test drove one, was very impressed....

Also, i think the styling looks great, very agressive and clean.... If i could afford one, i would probably get it...

 

[nellienelson1]

how dare they slag off the new land rover disco, (or lr3 as it is in america)

ps. landrover fan btw

 

[b0mbrman]

I would have to put the MR Spyder and the forthcoming H3 on my list...

The MR Spyder handles turns like it could take so much more power...the H3 sounds like it would be great offroad (which makes it worthwhile to me) but not enough power as well

 

[LiQiCE]

An RSX-S has an 8000 rpm redline, 8300 with the new '05s, and with a Hondata ECU reflash has an 8500 rpm redline... Not too far off of the 8500 rpms that the guy was saying you need to shift the RX-8 at. A 9000 rpm redline is pretty nice though.

The RX-8 is a cool car, I like it, and I definitely don't agree with the MSNBC guys that it looks ugly ... I think it looks great ... I don't necessarily agree with those who said the RX-8 was reliable though. This rotary engine hasn't been around long enough to say whether it will be reliable or not ... The RX-7 rotary was not exactly what most would call reliable, and the RX-8 has already had some recalls and known problems. In terms of reliability though I would opt for another car than the RX-8 at this point ... just my 2 cents. Otherwise a great car, if only slightly marred by its claimed horsepower problems.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

Harsh!

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Horus


The guy traded in his RSX the next day for a RX-8, because that 8500RPM threw him back in his seat.

Torque and horsepower throw you back in your seat. RPM itself doesn't do squat. If the same car had a 200 hp engine with a 10,000 rpm redline, and a 300 hp engine with a 5,000 rpm redline, the car with the more powerful engine will always be faster. RPM impresses people who don't understand engines and the torque/rpm/horsepower relationship.

My friends that have driven the RX-8 say that it's a torqueless wonder. Not an exciting car to drive. Handled well, though.

 

[Blazin Trav]

Some I agree with, some I don't.

RX8 is a great car and so is the 350Z. Cadillac I agree with...

 

[Liver]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: Horus


The guy traded in his RSX the next day for a RX-8, because that 8500RPM threw him back in his seat.

Torque and horsepower throw you back in your seat. RPM itself doesn't do squat. If the same car had a 200 hp engine with a 10,000 rpm redline, and a 300 hp engine with a 5,000 rpm redline, the car with the more powerful engine will always be faster. RPM impresses people who don't understand engines and the torque/rpm/horsepower relationship.

My friends that have driven the RX-8 say that it's a torqueless wonder. Not an exciting car to drive. Handled well, though.

Totally agreed. Torque is where it is at. I really enjoy my Porsche.

 

[mitaiwan82]

drove my friend's RX-8 today before he trades it in...it's got great handling and a solid engine. I was still a n00b at stick shifts, so I couldn't quite extract the power that well, but I would say the whole car as an experience is very good.

 

[gregshin]

i honestly dont think theres anything wrong with the 350z interior...nor the RX-8 i even like the GTO interior too.

 

[imported_DocHolliday]

that was a waste of time...

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Triumph
MSNBC generally writes some of the worst automotive columns, but I'll agree with them on the Ford Five Hundred. What were they thinking when they thought the 203 hp V6 would be adequate for an almost 4000 pound vehicle? In this day and age. The funny thing is that they modified the old 3.0 liter V6 to achieve a whopping THREE HORSEPOWER gain.

I mean really. Why the fvck even bother. :roll:

QFT. but you forgot the chrysler 300. standard V6 with 190 horses. ouch.