Feras

iTrader: (1)

that dome scoop is very trompe l'oeil. When you are sitting in the drivers seat its only a very small bulge, the screen is in a perfect position (same place as the rx8 dont have to take your eyes off the road...only complaint is that the screen can't be completely turned off...it can be blackened but it still glows). I'll agree with the cup holders, terrible placement, same thing with the window up and down switches you gotta lean forward to get to them. (this is all based on the 335 interior which i assume besides the arbon fiber trim and shift **** is identical to the M3.)

jmerc

Originally Posted by BlueEyes
Why not?
They have lasted perfectly fine on the E46 CSL and M6


Hum the F1 is Carbon bodied and it is 10-15 years old, and has held up fine, many airplanes are CF and older than 20 years without problems. I think the industry has a good idea of life span, hell it should at least last as long as fiberglass and vettes have been glass since 53.

PhotoMunkey

My buddy's E46 M3 weighs just a hair under 3000 lbs, wet, with an AutoPower type roll bar, and shreds tires to the tune of 311 RWHP. It peaks at 245 ft/lbs of torque, pulling forged 19" wheels on the dyno. Track wheels are 18x9.5, forged, and weigh even less. It will positively rip the head off of either a 335i, a modded 335i, or the new M3, and that's that!

Besides, the new M3 is both ugly and fat! That's one expensive fat chick to try to dance with!

playdoh43

claim worthless without 1/4 mile time slip

Icemark

according to the scale down the street.

1/4 tank of fuel, no passengers, no luggage.

playdoh43

that probably just means premium packadge weighs a lot, all the extra power seats and what not

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

I still think that porsche is a better option for a luxury/sports car. Yes... luxury as well.

I can safely say we are all handling junkies and that power isn't everything. So, answer me this:

Cayman S
295hp
3000lbs
starting at 59k

or

2008 BMW M3
420hp
3400-3500lbs
starting at 54k

I'll take a Cayman S

bascho

I would take a C6 Vette over both.

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

Where's the luxury in that???

BlueEyes

Kind of an odd comparison, don't you think? The M3 is much more practical, and BMW has a car to compete with the Cayman in the M Coupe ($50,100)

PhotoMunkey

Claim essential for lapping Willow Springs in a hurry. 1/4 mile time slip worthless in the real world... :P

His M3 is becoming essentially a street-driven racecar. It makes no apologies for being obnoxiously loud, inside and out with the acres of sound-deadening removed. The only two options his M3 came with were Xenon headlights and the CD changer, and he's since tossed the CD changer! Gone also are the trunk linings and carpet, rear seats, most of the BMW-installed stereo amplifiers. It's the embodyment of what most of us would LOVE to do to a car, if we had a spare M3 laying around that we didn't have to drive daily. It is the Anti-Luxury car!

BTW-The last car I shot was an Infinity FX twin-turbo which rips off a 12.7 second quarter mile. He lost to Corvette C6 by one car length at the LA County drag strip! Full suede interior, with two JL Audio W6 subs and an Alpine amp! Now ask me me how much power HE'S making!

PhotoMunkey

RX-8 Base 6MT w/ $12k in upgrades including Mazsport turbo, forged wheels, Bridgestone RE-01R tires, lightweight body kit, big brake upgrade, etc.
1. More room than the Cayman
2. Same weight as the Cayman
3. Power similar to the Cayman, if not a little better
4. Better looking by far than the Cayman or the M3
5. Carries 4 passengers in more comfort than the M3 (ever try to climb into the back seat of a BMW coupe?)
6. Carries more luggage than the Cayman
7. Wooooossssssshhhhh of turbo spooling trumps Cayman or BMW exhaust notes
8. Better braking the Cayman (once upgraded to Brembos, AP Racing, Alcons or other suitable BBK)
9. Better tires than Cayman or M3 (yes I'm an RE-01R fanboi, so deal with it)
10. Only cost $37k plus taxes this way (starting at MSRP for Base 6MT)
11. Perfect weight balance.
12. Double wishbone suspension front and rear (if you need me to explain why this is better than either Porsche's or BMW's strut solutions then you've already lost your argument)
13. Dollar per dollar, and dollar per horsepower, and dollar per cornering g-force, the RX-8 wins, but it does need to be modified from "very good stock" to "touge monster" status to do so. Fortunately, this is still an entire Honda Civic Si cheaper than either car listed above!

PoLaK

iTrader: (1)

Dyno graph is a doctored, HP always equals Torque at 5252RPM, below that torque is greater then HP above that # HP is greater than torque.

I don't doubt that it will make a significate amount of power but that graph is a fake.

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

haha. this could go on forever but i know what you mean. There is a whole thread on this topic in the RX8 General section.

But, i didn't know that the argument compared the financial feasibility of modding a car to get it up to and above the performance level of the M3 or Porsche. Anyways, there is no point in arguing about this since it was not what my comparison was trying to prove and could go on forever.

All I'm saying is that power isn't everything and that I would take handling over power any day. Look at the BMW Z4 M. It's slower than the Cayman S around the track even though it has 40 more hp.

BlueEyes

And while it's slower, I've read some articles claiming it's more fun.

Feras

iTrader: (1)

the torque is newtons not ft/lbs. its not fake the coefficient is different for newtons.

deamicls

iTrader: (1)

very true! if you like to go sideways and who doesnt.
it seems like people keep deviating from my topic of overall performance of a vehicle and last time I checked fun doesnt add to performance but it certainly a good characteristic for a car to have.

PoLaK

iTrader: (1)

ah keen eye.