Hi @ All

i wonder if anybody has tested himself or read something about a comparison between ChryslerLs Crossfire and MazdaLs RX 8. Here in Austria they cost both nearly the same and i donLt have a idea which i should like more.

So, if somebody of U has any advice for me let me know

Thx & Cheers

The Q

 

Do I need to say anything??? One picture is worth a thousand words!!! If you need more, take a look in the members gallery section in this forum. 8) 8) 8) 8)

 

Hi AZ,

i knew that the car looks good and the fun is on your side BUT that doesnLt help to decide seriously which car iLll go 2 buy or which feels better. Unfortunately i donLt have the possibility 2 drive them both test - thatLs why i asked here 4 advice !

And - be honest - if a beauty is only a beauty youLll get soon rid of her ;-)

Cheers

The Q

 

It all depends on your taste. Mazda has already lied about the HP output on their suspect rotary engine. The crossfire probably has a better interior. The only thing I liked better on the RX-8 was the back seat. I'd say there was almost as much space back there as in a regular sedan. It was very roomy. But other than that, I'd go with the crossfire on everything. Now the 350Z is another story. It and the Crossfire are very close in my opinion. I would definitely put them in this order:

Crossfire
350Z
Honda S2000
Audi TT (Supercharged version)
Mazda RX-8

But this is just my opinion.

 

I drove the RX-8 last week, handles great but power is hard work you have to stay above 6000rpm which is great if you are driving hard but on the way to work?

Bascially to get the power out of the rotary engine means keeping revs high which is v bad for fuel consumption, the xfire is a far more measured delivery of power from 2500 rpm upwards without deafening you.

RX-8 handles great, looks ok, has back seats, sounds like a vaccume cleaner and makes you work at getting to work!

 

I had a RX8 behind me in traffic....They were checking out my car and I didn't give there's a second look.The RX8 is boring

 

The Mazda over stated the horsepower of the RX8 I don't think I would even concider it. They had to lie to make the car seem better than it is. I have met one at a traffic light and was dumb enough to get froggy.... He lost pretty badly. I'm not impressed!!! If you can't make up your mind, buy the RX8.... But don't ever challenge a Crossfire.... You won't be happy with the results. :lol:

 

I have owned several RX-7's and am a Mazda fan in general. Call me superficial but one look at the Crossfire and a test drive was all it took for me to buy one. The RX-8 just looks clunky to me with a rather cheap looking interior, however the rotary ques are neat and well done. I like the rotary engine and it's willingness to rev and it's smooth and reliable. Car and Driver magazine included the RX-8 in it's "10 best" and the Crossfire, while nominated, didn't make the cut. If your interested in a boy racer go for the RX-8. If you like a little more sophisticated product, buy the Crossfire.

 

WMichaels...

Shame on you for getting a little froggy at a traffic light!!! What were you thinking man??? That's not nice, you probably hurt the RX8's feelings and are going to give us Xfire owners a bad name... very well said!!! :wink: :wink: :wink:

If I might add: "two seats good... back seat bad".

The other gentleman is right tho, beauty is only skin deep. When I buy a car it's the whole package I'm looking at. I can't help #2815 is all that and more!!!

I've been looking for a "good" two seater since I had to sell my '77 280Z. The X-fire does it for me... I'm even happy with the peppy little 215hp V-6. It's harder than heck to drive the speed limit (75mph + 10 on the freeways, 65mph on two lane back roads here in AZ) as it is now. Anything more IMO you'll need a race track. 8) 8) 8)

 

CCrossfire,

Also very well said!!! Boy this is going to be a great day

 

... that the Xfire feels like those Jaguar XKRLs which look pretty but drive ugly ... high powered on the fact-sheet but in motion they feel like a saloon would do.

Any comments on that ?

Oh - btw - does somebody find / have some detailed interior shots of this two-tone-grey interior which can be combined with this silver-blue ? Or eventually ownLs a Xfire in this color-combination and has shots ? Would highly appriciate 2 see them - thx !

Cheers

The Q

 

There's nothing "Ugly" about the driving characteristics of the Crossfire. Drive one..... don't take my word for it. If you don't fall in love.... Run to your Mazda dealer and buy the RX8 and save yourself some money. Then just hope you don't mind getting smoked by Crossfires.

I don't know about the Jag. I've never been a big Jag fan. Lucas electrical systems, back in the 60s, turned me off on Jags and MGs forever!!! So much so that today I don't care who does the electrics.... I won't even entertain the idea of buying a Jag.

 

Drive the crossfire and you will see it's the best handling car on the road!I've driven Vipers and Corvettes and they may have better handling numbers but the xfire is very nimble and easy to drive fast!

 

You guys aren't reading or answering the man's questions. He has already said he can't test drive it. He needs everyone's facts about driving the car. I don't have one so I probably can't be of much help. Some of the responses are good for him, but others just make fun of the RX-8. Jokes won't help him make up his mind. I gave him my opinion and some facts in my first response. You guys should give him numbers and facts about the drive, interior, and anyting else you can think of if you really want to be of some help. Poking fun at a street race doesn't accomplish anything.

 

Trust me I know the Crossfires a much better drive. I own a Crossfire and my wife owns an RX8. Its a great drive but only if your in the sweet spot 5500RPM to 9000RPM, outside of that put your foot down and nothing happens!. The back end is also much more slippery.

In terms of quality, no comparison, the RX8 feels typical japenese 'tinny' the doors weigh nothing.

The RX8 wins hands down for practicality buts thats the only one. Its a great package overall but in terms of a rewarding drive, Its doesn't do it for me.

Another big problem for me is that it has a weird footwell. There is like a round bump that sticks up where your heel goes. It means when your resting your left foot, you have to twist off to one side to avoid the bump. M4 Swindon to London, not very comfortable at all!

 

Cheebs I didn't know you were in charge now :twisted: !Let the guy or gal read through the thousands of posts on here and make up his own mind!He can also read through all the magazine articles.

 

I'm not in charge, I'm just saying that the man asked for help and obviously he has looked at the forum posts (since he's a member). You guys have a biased way of looking at the cossfire, he needs an unbiased view. Just give him facts. Don't waste his time with stories about how you wasted an RX-8. We don't know who was driving that RX-8. Stories like that are not a valuable source of information. The guy is going to spend $35,000 of his own money. He wants to be sure he buys the right car.

 

If he listens to us, he will listen to a moron like the Brit from that Top Gear show.

I think he should personally checkout each car and make up his own mind. After all there are people with really crappy taste that buy some of the ugliest cars in the world.... I see quite a few Pontiac Aztecs on the road. That proves that there are more people with lousy taste (taste that differs from mine :lol: ) than I ever would have thought existed.

Buying a car like this all depends on your personal taste. Just because the Crossfire is my choice, doesn't mean he wouldn't be happier with something else. That's why there are so many cars on the market.

 

If you click on this link you will find some information on both car models that will help you make an informed decision. Good luck! w/ whichever car you choose. 8)

http://www.carsdirect.com/research/c...,USB40CDC141A0

 

WMichaels, that's exactly what I was saying. The only problem is that he said earlier thaat he can't look at both cars in person.