WTBRotary!

iTrader: (6)

All Mazdas are good, but in terms of a sports car, well the RX-8 is the term of a sports car. A Front wheel drive car is not a sports car at all in my opinion because of the fact that you cannot control the rear wheels... once they slide, BAM sucks for you and also the Speed3 has alot of Torque steer.

The 8 on the other hand is more of a momentum car, where as most other cars can make up for their mistakes on the track etc. with all of the horsepower. The 8 takes time picking up speed but the steering feel is very precise and as Pobst's quote (I believe) is "The RX-8 is like a Glove and I feel I could put the car where I wanted it" The 8 is also unique because it may not be as fast as the other cars but thats not what Mazda is going for, the Rotary is what makes it unique as well as this AMAZING FORUM which has the most educated people (mostly) the know everything about the Rotary. Like the people at BHR...

In my eyes every Mazda car is amazing but id want a sports car that is a lightweight Rear wheel driven car that is unique and with the crazy redline at 9k... Hell whats the use of all the horsepower if you cant harness it all to the ground? Thats my .02 cents but you be the judge, Me? Ill stick with flashing my lights at other 8's and getting a response back, Us Rotaries gotta stick together, we are the only engine in production for cars that doesnt use a piston. "Round and Round not Up and Down" Goodluck!!!

raksj04

i firgued out that it a R3 is going to be a lot per month. so i am thinking about a used 8 now of getting the FC fixed up.

alfy28

well since you have a 7, you should jsut get a MS3.

Razz1

Get the 3.

You can't tune a 2009 RX8, nothing is available except an Ebay chip.

DarkLord7854

Those ebay chips are awesome. I'm getting 56mpgs now with this new one I got, however I can't seem to do more than 25mph.. I don't get it.. oh well.


But yea seriously, if you have to ask and you're concerned about power/mpgs.. well, get a piston engine. I heard the Prius was decent on mpgs

nikkdizzle

iTrader: (2)

i think that you're better off going with the MS3 as a daily driver i think its fantastic.
my friend just got one and its a joy to drive...although i'm not a big fan of FWD anymore after having my rx8, its still a great car nonetheless...you own a rotary already, so you know the pros and cons of having one.

if you're really talking about mpgs and creature comforts, then the MS3 may be best.
the one thing thats nothing about the MS3 is that the stock suspension is quite stiff, and wheel hop with the stock tires is crazy...also the torque steer is kind of alarming.

overall it drives like what it is...pretty much an econobox with gobs of power.
driving the rx8 and then driving the ms3 i can feel the the steering response is so much better in the 8. also, the MS3 just feels big, but i guess, its because it is.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

a lot of good opinions here...but reading through i didn't notice the important part...WHY are you getting a new car to begin with? i know you said check out the dealer every 3 months or so...but why are you deciding to take the plunge and get a car??

IF it's to have a dd:
-with space (do you have any need for all that space like a dog or biking or family, etc., or is the space a novelty?)
-if it's for a dd, the gas mileage is a plus

IF you love rotaries:
-are you keeping your 7? If so, why would you want an 8 too? don't get me wrong, i love the 8 and i agree with whoever said it will be an iconic car in 5-10+ years so it's worth having...

but why would you want 2 rotaries? again, not saying you shouldn't have 2 rotaries but you need to think about why are you buying the car...they're not really comparable...i mean, i TOO want both, the 8 for my "exotic" weekend car and the speed3 for dd, space, etc. having 2 rotaries would be sweet, but i think that's a bit less practical...having an 8 might take away from you decking out your 7, or keeping the 7 might not leave room for you to add-on to the 8...just seems like you shouldn't get either and save the money to really upkeep your 7 maybe? just random thoughts...gl

Rhawb

Having owned both, I would urge you to go with the RX8. Though, if you're a big-time fan of power over all else, you may want to consider the MS3 a bit more than my recommendation. The power is intoxicating on the test drive, but its little handling issues and the fact that it just about instantly overpowers those poor front tires starts to wear away at the fun factor over time. The practicality is very nice though. I feel the RX8 is the better overall driver's car and you really don't have to sacrifice a whole lot of practicality unless you haul around furniture and/or lumber very often. The only drawback to the 8 that even slightly bothered me was the fuel mileage, and I was still consistently averaging between 19 and 21 MPG.

TL;DR:
I have owned both.
MS3 - Power, economy, practicality. Handling suffers.
RX8 - Handling, balance, fun factor. Potentially poor MPG. Highly recommended.

kvndoom

It's a give and take, for sure. There are a few big tradeoffs and many small ones, between the two cars. But that's everywhere... no one car has it all.

The first 2 gears are nowhere near as enjoyable on a Speed3 as on the RX8. 1st and 2nd feel like work because o the lower redline and boost cut, and the real fun doesn't start till 3rd. The 8 just drives so smooth, regardless of what gear you're in.

raksj04

i test drove a R3 new 2009. it felt underpowered, but it was so smooth on the 30mph off ramp that i took at 60mph, and was stupid and didn't apex right on. i hate trying to test drive a car on a city street. it looks like the rx8 will put me back 500 a month where i sit right now money wise. the MS3 will be about 450. for that a month i can have one badass 7. I also thought this is a bad time to buy because the 16X may come out in 2011 0r 2012 model years, if the motor is what all the buzz is about it is worth the wait. plus i can have a few k saved up. plus i can only have one car at the moment. so i think i have decided to pay off the mustang. save up for a rebuild/port job. get the motor back in sell the mustang. use the money to get stand alone or something. drive my 7 as a DD. and be buried in it when i die(or pass it on to my kids, if i have any, or nephews)

Lebren

iTrader: (5)

My wife drives a Mazda 3 in a 130+ mile commute daily, it now has nearly 90K. The 2.3L does not have gobs of torque but there is one advantage over the 8: we've hauled plants, bikes, lumber, and this car has carried a uhaul trailer from California to New Jersey and back.

the front pass strut has been replaced, and cat has been replaced under warranty. handling characteristics are ok with decent tires, but with the extra power from FI will increase the torque steer

It's a hard call, the 3 is considered by many a dressed up Focus. The 8 is a dedicated chassis and powertrain. By investing in an 8, it helps Mazda decide to continue making rotary powered fun!

exsequor

iTrader: (1)

Get a 2007 Mazdaspeed 6!

ZumnRx8

plus one on LEBRENS last line.....

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

do a swoope and get both

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

Get the Speed3 then CAI, DP and call it a day.

shazy

dont forget the accessport!

goose guy

If they were the same price, which one would you get? I got my 8 GT for less than a MS3. With the $5k rebate and dealers wanting to onload the 8s, you could get a sweet deal.....

@!!narotordo

Get the speed 3 and out run the cops lol

neit_jnf

I've found some used 2009 R3's in autotrader for a considerable discount over new! Check them out!

And to those that say if he has an RX-7 he should get the MS3 I don't agree. I own a nearly 400whp twin turbo RX-7 in perfect condition and I have driven the 8 a few times and really love it and want one when I can afford it. The 8 is so nice and civilized while the 7 is more raw and wild!

I haven't driven the MS3 so maybe if I do it'll change my mind

1stgen8

iTrader: (1)

I have owned both as well. For starters I bought a new 05 RX8 GT in 06 and loved it. Got rid of it for a new 08 MS3 cause I needed more room. The 3 was fun as hell to drive, better on gas, had a trunk you could actually use and had lots of power but the curb appeal and handling didn't come close to the 8. Traded my MS3 in for a 08 Tahoe last month and just bought a 09 R3 two weeks ago...that ought to tell you something. Both are great cars but I'd go with the 8.

Btw the MS3 has its share of problems like weak motor mounts, no subframe to catch the motor if a mount breaks, tons of wheel hop, bolts that losen on there own, boost spikes just to name a few.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

funny you mention this.

my comment is.

if you mention power or tq first get the ms3, if you mention handling and just a joy to drive get the rx8..

other things, it is nice to have a hatchback again.. and my first tank of hi way travel with the ms3 was about~ 28 mpg. with the 8 it would have been about 20.

it is going to be interesting to put the ms3 on the track. nice thing is all my tires and wheels just bolt on!!!!


beers

kvndoom

That motor mount is driving me nucking futs... I have missed more shifts in 5 months with this car than in all my years of driving combined! As soon as I get the money and the time I'm replacing that piece of **** so I can finally drive this car the way it was meant to be driven.

I'll give the RX8 that much- it doesn't need any out-of-the-box tweaks to give you its all. Mazda dumbed down the MS3 in places it shouldn't have.