Hullo All
May I add to the discussion. As a present owner of the RX7 Twin turbo a balck type RZ 250 plus bhp and an RX8 Yellow auto I feel eminently qualified to talk about the cars.
I did a lot of research before buying each.
First of all the engines. The rotary will take abuse of the revving kind. In fact due to a minimal number of moving parts it will love being revved to 6-7k rpm. It is recommended that it be revved every two or three days to keep the plugs clear and stop backfiring/misfiring etc.
The engine uses oil as a matter of design. This means that it will reduce oil and so the oil has to be checked every other day. The oil pressure gauge in both is just an idiot light and so not to be relied upon. It is best to fit a proper oil pressure and also a temperature gauge. All the blokes who just get in the car and drive had better stay away from these cars. They will come to grief. The oil checks and the water/coolant checks should be done by the owner who has spent the money.
Further I change the oil every 1000 km for both the cars as well as the filter.
Fuel consumption is about the same for both cars. 5 km per liter in the city. The seven does 9-10 km per liter on the Mway and the eight 11-12.
Performance. In a straight line there is nothing apart from an Evo or a SkylineGTR to touch the Rx7. 0-60 mph/100km/hr in 5.5-6 secs. Goes like a bat out of hell but one has to work hard at at least my cars heavy ceramic clutch and short shifter. The tail slides like no tomorrow but controllable. Brilliant if you like that sort of stuff. Also it is low and so people block you as they cannot see you in traffic.
The Rx8 is faster in the real world. One sits higher and with the auto in paddle shift /F1 mode one can drive it faster in and out of traffic. Also it has switchable DSC so is safer. I have the feeling however that with the DSC off the car slides easier than the RX7 but then my Rx7 has 265 section tyres in the rear.
Not cars for babies to drive. Get them but they need loving. You cant beat them and expect them not to bite back.
One last word. There is nothing to touch the RX7 for beauty. Not even a Ferrari apart from the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso
The RX8 is faster