i am new to the site.....just got my 8 few days ago......
wondering RX8 and Mazdaspeed 3 ; which is faster??

 

lol, I didn't have to read what you said w/o knowing you're new to the club.

 

Straight line, Speed3 is faster.

Anywhere else, I know without a doubt that the 8 will keep up and surpass handling, braking, etc.

 

the 3 should have an advantage at the track due to more power. Still, the 3 is still like a dorky station wagon.

 

First off, define faster then re-ask your question

 

I wouldn't be so quick to say the Speed3 is faster even in a straight line. I have a buddy with the Speed3 and we've run several times. I don't have any problem pulling him. Of course, I don't mind dumping the clutch at around 6k and I'm not quite stock anymore either (although I am still NA).

 

Is this another one of those periods of time when a bunch of "RX8 vs _____" threads start popping up again?

I, myself, have driven an ms3 - they are quick. Handling sucks, braking sucks, and I overrevved it in second because it didn't beeeeeeeep

Just depends on the driver, but ANYBODY can be fast in a straight.

 

i think it's the pre-summer/sportscar buying season where people want comparisons that have been done to death

 

Finally, I've been waiting for this one to show up... LOL And why is this in competition forum again?

Neither of them drive themselves, so the one with faster driver is faster.

 

Buy your friends some driving lessons for his birthday next year. MS3 runs low 14's and traps at least 5 mph higher than the RX-8. With a few boltons on the MS3 it's not even worth mentioning the RX-8.

 

Unless you want to turn. If you've actually driven both of these cars at the track, perhaps you're the one that needs driving lessons. Please don't quote me C&D or R&T numbers as a response to this. We've swapped and he can beat me when he's in the 8 and I'm driving his 3. Some of us live in the real world not on a magazine page. I made a point of saying that I wasn't quite stock anymore, but even without spray, if you eliminate wheel spin using a few simple cheap suspension mods and do the few power train mods that improve NA performance you'll hit low 14's no problem. Using spray it's not even a race any longer and god help him if he needs to brake or turn at speed. That's actually the biggest problem with adding those bolt ons to the Speed3. It doesn't handle all that great with the power it has. You're thinking is correct when you say that he can get a decent amount of power out of his bolt ons, but he'd better mod the suspension heavily in order to control it.

 

I almost bought a MS3 before I found my 2005 RX8......It's alot faster then the RX8 just cruising around town and in a straight line. Once things get serious it's easy to overwhelm the MS3. As far as I'm concerned they're not in the same league......Think about what you really want and then make your decision.

 

Definitely apples and oranges. Both are great cars but have basic differences in design. Drive them both and buy the one you want.

 

Seriously. Mods, why don't you move these threads to RX-8 Discussion or General Automotive?

 

thx for all answers.....~~~~@@

 

alright..i've owned both.. so i'll chime in

the rx-8 will beat the 3 in only 2 catagories.. in extreme twisties and in looks.. other than that..it's the 3. and that's stock.. add mods...and there's no comparison. it'd be nice if the 8 would take to mods like the 3 does/will but it doesn't.

have faith though..i hear the new rx-7 is supposed to come out in like 2010 or something.. if that doesn't beat the 3..then i don't know what mazda is doin anymore.

 

I've had an MS3 try to race (or he thought I was racing him, I was in 6th cruising and never floored it or shifted cause the girlfriend was with me sleep and sick) and he pulled off pretty strong (little punk even flashed his lights). But no where as strong as say 350Z or EVO would have. I think what people are feeling when they get into the MS3 is the torque. The MS3 pulls hard until 6K rpms then you may as well shift, as reported in many reviews of it (I'll test drive one soon enough). It also weighs quite a bit too. Don't get me wrong, it's fast, but not THAT fast. I agree with Flynbri. It's probably overrated.

But I will test drive it soon to seen what all the fuss is about for myself. I'm pretty picky about drivers feel in a car. I test drove the EVO and the 8 back to back and still chose the 8.

 

Again?

 

I don't think there's much question that the 8 is faster once the road start to curve, it's the power that gets everybody talking.

How about this: if you want hot single lady, the 8 will get you there faster; if you want hot single mom, get the 3.

 

I don't know what people think they are talking about.

There are only 2 categories that the MS3 will out do an RX-8. 0-60 and gas mileage. Even in the 0-60, it's really close and would depend on the driver. Depending on the driver and the RPM he is launching at, the 0-60 can go to the RX-8.

Brakes, turns, handling, etc... go to the RX-8.

Also, there are mods for the RX-8. Has nobody paid attention to the Pettit SC, Greddy Turbo, Mazsport Turbo (versions of the kit can put down 400 HP), etc...??? There are NA mods for the RX-8 like AP pulley, flywheel, exhaust, ram air duct, etc... Now you may question what the gains are for the mods on each car, but don't think the RX-8 can't get improvement from its mods.

Furthermore, the RX-8 can handle the mods in terms of handling of the car. The MS3 is still a box, that with too much power you may "lose control" in the wrong situation.

Lastly, when it comes to looks of the car, there is no comparison. The RX-8 wins hands down.

 

finally? You haven't been here very long have you. XD

Toast.

 

Ok, let me get this out of the way first

I currently own both cars so I may be the best qualified to answer this. There is no way in hell a stock RX-8 will walk a stock MS3, if you think so, you are drunk. In fact, I don't think there is anyway any NA RX-8 will walk a Speed3. An RX-8 with a turbo kit running 10+ psi might have a chance. There is a guy on another forum who is running over 300 fwhp and well over 300 fw torque with about $2000 in mods ( Protege Garage TMIC, MS CAI, XEDE, and CP-E exhaust). I don't car how you spend $2000 on an RX-8, you won't get there. The Speed3 is also no slouch in handling either, but won't touch the RX-8 in this category. Stock vs. Stock I think the Speed3 will run away on the track. Now an RX-8 with a turbo kit vs. stock MS3, if the track doesn't have long straights, I take the RX-8. IMHO, the only way an RX-8 will walk a Speed3 (in a straight line) is with a Mazsport Turbo Kit. A properly tuned GReddy kit will take a Speed3 on a twisty track (NHIS, Pacific Raceways).

Now all that being said, which is more fun to drive? Hands down the RX-8. The Speed3 is FWD, and we all know the limitations there. At the track, the Speed3 would just be drag racing between corners, and thats not much fun (if you want to do that, go get a Mustang GT). The RX-8's gearbox is better, handling is better, more sexy, etc etc. I will not be tracking my Speed3 because the 8 is too much fun.

 

From a different thread ...

I know. It's just a magazine comparison, but if it's faster round this track than a S2000, it's probably faster round this track than a RX8. If not faster, then at least comparable.

I can tell you the 8 would smoke it in autocross.

 

haha, guess I burn myself...

 

^ Well I think that about settles it.

I test drove a MS3 and liked it but I really hate FWD understeer. If the car was RWD or AWD it'd be a great little car.