RX8-79

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do.../pageId=102347

0-60: 5.9
1/4: 14.2@100.1
60-0: 116 ft
slalom: 68.2mph
skidpad: .88g

RX8-like performance with practicality, good mileage, modabilty (eventually), for thousands less. Hmmmm....

BlueSky

Nice review. I'd definitely consider this car if I had the money.

dmp

RX8-like? You mean 'RX8-Beating performance'? It's MUCH faster through the 1/4 mile, and seems to change lanes and stick to the pavement 'as' well as the rx8. Oh - it's substantially less expensive, too!

BlueSky

All very true, but it still doesn't have RWD-handling or a 9k RPM redline or sexy looks.

BUT, if I had 25grand, I'm not saying I'd buy one over the other. I'd seriously consider the MS3 and take it for a test drive for sure. It's faster, cheaper, better on gas, and probably less maintenance in the long run.

CarAndDriver

It's a great car for peanuts. Can't get anything but maybe a crappy Dodge Caliber SRT-4 for the price.

If I was looking for a new car, I'd probably take the Mazda 3 Touring over an RX-8.

9291150

Also has BMW 330i and MS6 like performance, as per your sig., for thousands less. Hmmmm.....

9291150

.03 sec. is MUCH faster? You're a stats queen aren't ya? And do you really think it handles as well as the RX8? What can I say to that. And price? Have you not checked what RX8's are actually selling for.

YaXMaN

It's .3 seconds faster in the quarter (3 cars lengths) but forget the E/T, take a look at the trap speed... over a 100mph. That's pretty cool for a $23,000 car.
I'll wait for the Road & Track review, because that's who I trust for so-called "magazine racing". If they pull a 68+mph in the slalom with it, then the RX-8 guys better watch their rear view mirrors - your little brother is gonna beat ya up.

Mazda doesn't classically doesn't leave much headroom in their FI setups, but maybe this thing will wake up with a FMIC, catback, intake and boost controller.

Renesis_8

MS6 has a lot of 'headroom'. It'll be a beast with a good exhaust + intake.

dmp

uh? brother? you are one to read only HALF the the stats, aren't you?

100mph vs 95mph = MUCH faster.

Not 'quicker'...as in 'time'...but FASTER as in Trap speeds. That 100mph trap speed tells me the prudent RX8 owner would NOT try to take a MS3 from ANY sort of a roll and expect to win.


RX8's, even the base models are several thousands more than MS3's - and MS3's are loaded

dmp

See? YOU get it. :D

Razz1

Auto week loved the car, but they wanted better brakes so they could race it faster.

CarAndDriver

Aftermarket brakes would solve that problem and be an easy mod.

shaolin

I've been thinking about picking up another car lately...I was thinking about leasing the new GTI...but after reading this....I'm intrigued.

Japan8

Check out my updated post in the Mazdaspeed3 reviews (I also added this edmunds review). The IGN.com review mentions that Mazdaspeed accessories for the Mazdaspeed3... adds another 30hp and from info gathered in the reviews, it also includes coilovers and light-weight wheels.

Japan8

That's a tough one... GTI vs MS3. The GTI with stage 2 and aftermarket suspension should be able to hang with a MS3. Stage 3... I dunno about that... we'll see when kits hit the market.

The GTI does have a really sweet interior and you gotta love that steering wheel...

9291150

Buddy, actually I DO get it. MUCH faster is the 140mph trap speed of my bike. 4MPH or .03 seconds isn’t much faster when driving skill is involved. We all know the RX8 is hard to launch, but a high powered FWD is even harder. I don’t pay much heed to 4MPH or .03 sec., a trip down to your friendly neighborhood drag night would tell you the same.

And roll-ons are especially dependant on speed vs. gearing, so these fictitious speed challenges of yours have even more factors involved (is Eva Longoria your passenger in these fantasy races?). But I will concede, putting all factors aside, that a MS3 should pull a few lengths on a straightaway in most scenarios. Does this mean I should trade in my 8 on a boosted FWD hatchback as you seem to suggest? I guess I just don’t think like you types.

And Yaxman, if the MS3 DOES have handling stats like that, can you imagine how easily it would waste your GTO in corners? Even more so if Eva was distracting you in the passenger seat.

dmp

4 or 5 MPH (or 8mph faster than MY rx8 ran in the 1/4) is SIGNIFIGANTLY Faster. Do you have any idea how much power it take to make, say, an RX8 run to 100mph in the 1/4 mile?

What does that have to do with trap speed? Not much. If you don't care much about 4mph you aren't an experienced drag racer. If EDMONDS got that car to 14 flat in the 1/4, I bet there'll be dozens of cats around the country getting that car solidly into the 13s. And it's not .03 - it's .3. BIG difference. To beat somebody by three tenths is a SOLID beating.

Especially dependant on speed vs gearing? WTF does that mean? Look, you can whine and moan and get your panties twisted, but the fact remains, a ~3000lbs car which runs 100mph in the 1/4 mile is going to bring an ***-whopping on another ~3000lbs car which runs at 95mph. You don't have to believe me, but your unwillingness to reason doesn't change the fact that I'm right. That MS3 won't have SUPER tall gears - I bet gear by gear, the ratios won't be very far off the RX8.

Wow. you are VERY insecure about your car purchase, aren't you? Are you too big of an RX8 FanBoi to have the ability to look at another car and say "Yup. It's faster than mine."

LOTS of cars are faster than my RX8. The reason I still HAVE my rx8 is financial. I can't find a car which would do MORE for me, for the same money. But that's my business.

I don't think you are a Car enthusiast. I think you're a 'Whatever Car you own' enthusiast.

The following is a quote from Joseph Sobran I butchered to make sense for this conversation.

The MS3 will likely be faster in MOST conditions than the typical RX8. Get over it.

playdoh43

c&d got 5.3s 0-60 out of it. newho you can zoom zoom all day, but you still need power to get your out of those corners. MS3 is no joke, i like a lot.

9291150

dmp, son, and I’ll call you that cause you sound about 16, read over my post again.

….if you still need clarification, what I’m trying to convey is that there are countless numbers of ***** on here starting threads stating “cheaper car X is way faster than your RX8.” Are they expecting RX8 owners everywhere will fall off their chairs in disbelief? “Dang Marge, could da’t be true?”

ALL OF US could have bought faster cars for less money. MOST OF US know that. So what’s the point in these threads, other then letting the mouth-breathers think they have a leg up on anybody.

Your quote;

It seems like you’re the one having doubts bud!

playdoh43

this is the general automotive section.... where we are supposed to discuss other cars.... if you dont like other people discussing other cars that are faster than the rx8, you can always stay in the RX8 discussion section

9291150

This is a rx8 site where the original thread was comparing another car TO the Rx8, hence my comments

playdoh43

hey its a free country you can post anywhere, I just find it strange you say theres no point in these threads yet you are involved thats all.
carry on

dmp

9291150, idiot, I'll call you that because you sound like somebody who doesn't read very well... try www.hop.com I know you can't read very well, because you cannot counter ANYTHING I put before your last post here. You can't counter it so you get condescending and bitchy. As I've completely disarmed any argument you have in this thread. Howsit feel getting bested by a 16 year old?

Here's your problem - I am VERY good at seeing people's problems:

I wrote 'RX8-beating performance' and your panties instantly wound up! You 'rushed to defense' of your beloved RX8. How DARE dmp write something like that!
You are right - there are countless number of threads on this board talking about cars which are faster than the rx8. Fortunatley MOST readers here don't have the RX8 up the *** so badly as they feel insulted by those comments/threads. You, my friend, DO have the rx8 up the ***.

What I don't have is patience with people who have reading comprehension issues, complicated by blind patriotism to a car.
What I have is 'reason'. I'm probably the most reasonable guy I know. I have NO problem with the MS3 being faster under most conditions, than my RX8. In fact, I - along with a LOT of users here - can ENJOY the MS3 w/o fear of that car's abilities adversely affecting our enjoyment with our cars.

Oh - get this...C6's have rx8-beating performance too! Does that make me sound 16?

therm8

at least the MS3 should best it's primary competitors, which is unusual in today's Mazda lineup .