Hi All,

Maybe I'm still not use to driving a real wheel drive car. But after driving the 8 for a while, I find that the Mazda 6 seems to stick more to the road than the 8. Could be I am actually going faster in the 8 but just not realising it, but even my friend who sat in both the 8 and the 6 reckons the 6 holds the line better on twisties.

Maybe the tires have something to do with it? On my 6 I had RE050 where as the 8 is RE040.

Anyone changed their tires yet? Or have some detailed specs on the difference between those two tires?

 

I have a 6 and an 8. The 8 hand on much better. No contest. Use the throttle and power through the corners - very rewarding!!!

 

Kev, how do you find the tires between the 6 and 8?

 

Like my twin brother Kev, my wife has a nice '6 (pun intended hehehe)

While the Mazda 6 is a nice car to drive, it's handling and road holding are nowhere near as good as the 8. Have you checked your tyre pressures? Have them up around 40+ psi.

I suppose one difference in handling between my wifes car and Kev's is the wheel tyre combo. I believe theirs is a luxo/sport, while ours is only the classic. But I believe the suspension components are the same (spring/shock/roll rates).

Cheers,
Hymee.

I am trying to think of an apt comparison, but the only term to come into my head was POS, and that was not in reference to the '8s handling.

 

The tyres on the 8 are less than brilliant but they're ok for the first 5 k, then they seem to lack grip and squeal a bit - but I could be driving a lot faster too

Jane's (her in doors) has 17's and handles "ok" but it's fwd and front heavy and suffers all of the usual unbalance drag me round sensations of it's ilk.

They 8 has at least 2 more zooms than the 6.

 

I must be going faster than I think I am.

I'll definitely need to check the tire pressure, and give it another go.

Hymee, how are your tires holding up? Do you have the same comments as Kev?

 

the feel of RWD and FWD is what is throwing you off. FWD is easier--which gives you the feeling that it handles better-- to drive than RWD. in reality, RWD and the 8 handle much better. don't get me wrong...the 6 is a pretty well mannered car(driven my cousin's many times). the 8 is just close to telepathic.


santino

 

The 6 is an extremely well engineered FWD car. As such, at the limit it gives you good,safe adjustability within the following constraints:

1. Power on understeer
2. Lift off mild oversteer

What the 8 adds to this is BALANCE derived from low centre of gravity, even weight distribution, more highly developed, low unsprung mass suspension ( esp at the front), more power to influence the behaviour of the driven wheels and of course RWD. The 8's reportoire expands on the 6's in many ways but:

3. Power on oversteer ( or at least power on CORRECTION of understeer) is something that is simply not in the 6's ( or any other FWD car's)vocabulary.

AS and aside,IMHO there is FAR too much focus these days on ultimate grip. On real roads - as opposed to race tracks - surely it's adjustability,poise and balance that really matter? I can't see the fun in taking 40k/hr corners at, say, 80km/hr in a car with so much grip that all you do is just turn the b...dy wheel. Me, I want to tip the car into the corner under brakes, feel the rear end drift a little, and plant the throttle at exactly the right moment to exit the thing in a nicely controlled...um. ...exit. THAT's why I bought the 8, and that' also why I'll think VERY carefully before I put super sticky tyres on it!

 

Nice post, Nick!

 

Good point, I did expect a car that sticks really well. But given the small amount of time I have this car, I need to discover a different driving style to enjoy it.

 

Yep, Nick hit the nail on the head.

 

I don't see any reason for you to be disappointed!

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Nick's comments are an apt expansion of the term 'Spirited Driving' which the 8 allows so well (indeed, one always has to resist the temptation :p )

 

Hymee, don't get me wrong, I'm not disappointed at all. Just expected a little more grip from the stock tire because I didn't feel any body roll and think the car can be pushed harder. But I have much to learn...

 

I think the stock 8 tyre is pretty weak, but damn they're taking a while to wear out

 

I find the car has too much body roll for good cornering.

 

I agree with AMG on this.
Although Mazda did a good job balancing the ride comfort and handling with their shock/spring setup, the compromise is a little too much body roll for my liking.
Will definitely be getting adjustable coilovers.

 

Nojooc, you'll be better off putting on a decent set of sway bars to flatten cornering, this will have more effect than coil overs.

can't comment on the tyres though, i've only done 1300km in 5 months!

 

Though I think the RX8 has too much body roll, I still feel the ride and performance is more adequate.

the 8 was bought as a family car. I've got the RX7 and a heavily modified MX5 for fun spirited driving.

The MX5 sports adjustable Koni's, King springs and some very big adjustable sway bars, it is a hoot through the hills. In fact i reckon it cornered bette rthan my race car. the only downside to modifying suspension is a decrease in ride comfort, and an increased stress onto the chasis, thereby ageing it more rapidly.

 

Today I found the perfect validation of the handling and grip of the 8.

Took someone for a drive who has never been in an 8 before, all I could hardly hear the rev buzzer over her 'ooohs' , 'ahs' and 'Jesus' '. She described it as a roller coaster with out the rails....

And there I was thinking the tyres were going off .....

I'm still smiling!

 

So did you score?

 

I'm a greedy bastard and want it all, so I guess the sway bars will get added to the wishlist along with the coilovers.

 

why not go for a new set of springs and nolathan bushes as well...................all or nothing!

 

Engine mods are top of the list at the moment

 

only brownie points ..... gave my sister a lift !!

She's so far resisted all attempts to go for a spin after her kids told her that my car is 'wicked' and my driving 'mega wicked' !