no. no drag racing or track story here.

just a question. I'm in the market for a car. I have test driven both the TL-S and RX8. they aren't exactly in the same class...but here is how/why they both came to be something I was looking at.

I have a 4 door sedan right now. it's running well and I don't have to replace it, but it's not *new* anymore and I want something more fun. I could sell/trade my existing car, and if I do that, I NEED 4 doors and back seats. the TL-S is my first choice for a "do it all" car. Something that can haul the kids, get me back/forth to work, and put a smile on my face if I have the time to hit some twisties or hammer it on an on/off ramp.

*IF* i were to keep my current car and just get a third car, I could get something much less practical, but I'd need to get something not as expensive. while checking cars out I test drove a Mazda RX8. while NOT very fast in a straight line, I got a chance to test drive it on some twisty roads and the thing was absolutely one of the MOST fun cars I have driven. EVER. I would put it on par with a boxster - which I have a decent amount of seat time in. (yeah, no top down drdiving in an 8, but the cornering was phenomenal).

it was a while ago when I drove the RX8. i recently drove the TL-S and I honestly felt the TL-S cornered REALLY well. i got to test drive the TL-S on a fairly twisty road,a nd while I didn't drive like a crazy man, I drove it at 7/10s, and ti was a lot of fun. the TL took the turns great. it was honestly FUN.

given the two test drives weren't back to back, it was kind of hard to make a true comparison...but I kept thinking that I was AMAZED at how much fun the TL-S was, but my gut was that the RX8 was a BETTER handling car.... after all it is a pure sports car.

so I pulled up the road and track specs on each car.

road and track says the TL-S did the 1/4 mile in 14.3 and the RX8 did it in 14.5.
trap speed was also higher int he TL - those numbers do NOT suprise me as the TL has more power/torque.

but the slalom / skidpad numbers really suprised me.

TL: 66 mph / .91 g
RX8: 65.4 mph / .88g

the RX8 only weighs 3000 lbs. About 500lbs less than the TL. and the TL is 59/41 weight distribution vs the RX8s 52/48.

common sense would say that the RX8 should trash a TL-S on a twisty road as it has beenknown to be able to hang with cars that have much more power, due to how well it can carry speed through corners and handle. but these numbers make it look like the TL-S is the better handling car.

1) these are magazine numbers and they can be off, wrong, fudged, etc...
2) there was some difference, like the TL has the summer tires, and the RX8 dind't ahve good rubber?
3) the RX8 tested as a 2004 model, and the TL-S is a 2007/2008 car, so it's 3-4 years "newer" with better design/engineering so it canhang with sports cars of 4 years ago..
4) ???

i know a lot of people bash the RX8 (especially compared to the S2000), but having driven one - they really are fun cars, and handle like they are on rails. if the TL-S really handles as well as the 8, then the Acura is one darn fine handling car.

any of you have seat time in both? or considerable seat time in a TL-S and some other RX8-like car..such as a boxster or S2000?

want to chime in and give your impression of how well the TL-S can handle corners, twisties, etc vs a lighter nimbler, more balanced "sports car"??

 

oooooohhh busted...mods will close one of your threads

 

sorry. double posted on accident.

CLOSE THIS ONE