Hey my brother and I switched cars for fun around town. I have 05 he has a 07, both 6 spds he has TCS I dont. other than that they're the same. close enough on the milage.
His feels faster, hits 2nd gear harder with a more tourqe feel.

Are the gear ratios different?

 

No.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-te...ussion-135710/

 

You and your brother are rotor heads...lol

 

Could be ignition, oils (age/type), carbon buildup, foot getting stuck on the the floor bump by the driver's footwell (it happens)

 

You shouldn't be surprised on any speed difference between two unless you can be 100% sure that

compression is identical between the two engines (all 6 scores of each)
all 8 coils on both engines, 8 wires, 8 plugs are in perfect health,
both engines are at the same level of carbon caking
all lubricants are in the same condition and viscosity
no vacuum leaks in both
sensors in the same condition

etc... (need I go on?)


Sure, two 8s could easily be just as fast, put down the same numbers, etc... but generally there are so many variables that difference shouldn't be surprising.