Rx8 engine swap or get a new car?
 

I was debating if I should either engine swap my rx8 or just get something new ? What are your thoughts? And or what engine should I swap into or the car I should get ? Thanks in advance.

If you can afford an engine swap then just buy Firecrans (FS section) already REW swapped RX-8. Or the number of LS swapped cars that are dirt cheap. Or just buy something that is reliable and quick in the first place.

Well I was either thinking about the focus st or the mazda speed 3 but I'm unsure of which one I should get .

I owned a 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT. It was very quick (faster zero to sixty and higher top speed than a stock RX8) ,and even more so after adding a Mazdaspeed CAI to its turbocharged and direct injected engine. But you have to be willing to put up with the torque steer. If you can live with that ,it is a great sleeper beast. Mileage was decent for its class ,good handling, loads of cargo space, nice interior, reliable and easy to maintain, but needed premium gas. I don't know where you live and how much premium costs you.

Can't speak of any personal knowledge of the focus st, but it is in a similar class as the Speed 3.

Well I live in Oklahoma, my friend has a 2012 speed 3 and it's quick, I told him I thought about getting the focus st and he has said he hasn't got beat by one yet . Even when he was all stock . I'm thinking I'll just end up getting a speed 3

Torque steer sucks. I have never run into a Speed 3 or a Focus ST that could hang with my 8. I know they are capable and fast ones may be out there but at the end of the day you are driving a Focus or a Mazda 3. Move forward, not backwards.

What all do you have done to your 8 ? I mean if I could get it to where it's beating the focus and the speed3 I would be completely satisfied with that ?

9K is turbocharged. It costs at least $10K to do it right on an RX-8 from what I have seen.

The word "beats" is a little bit loaded. My car is basically stock in terms of performance mods, and I beat much "faster" cars at the track all the time. What the 8 lacks in straight line acceleration, it more than makes up for in cornering ability. Focus STs and Speed 3s are just in my way out there. On the street however, I would be embarrassed to take on either car.

Youuuuuuu must not have taken your car into the mountains yet. Really. These cars are not built for straight line acceleration but wind that motherfucker known as a Rensis up in the curves and ain't no one gonna touch ya. The RX8 is probably one of the single best Canyon Carvers I've ever driven, and no, they ain't fast in a straight line but I'll tell ya what, they'll eat some curves at speeds you didn't think you'd be able to take them before at a comfort level that you didn't think you had. No, the car won't make you a better driver, but it will allow you to stretch your limits and learn.

A well set up tracked RX8 is a goddamn monster. Yeah, you ain't gonna do much on the straight but when you get to those corners and tight turns, back the fuck up kiddos, 8's in the house!

Yes Steve Dallas is correct. the faster (straight line) Speed3 GT (mine with added hp with a Mazdaspeed CAI) handled very well, but could not keep up with a good (non turbo) RX8 on a twisty track. 9k's is a turbo.

But the Speed3 GT was a blast with its prodigious torque. If you never drove one, you were missing great fun, even with its torque steer (somewhat controlled by Mazda throttle electronics during cornering acceleration) . It was fun owning both a new Speed3 GT and a new RX8 at the same time. Eventually sold the Speed3 GT after a couple of years of fun, and kept the RX8. I have owned three turbo RX7s in my past (stock and Racing Beat built and modified) , from wild to amazingly over-the-top horsepower, with chassis mods to handle it all. Yet I love the fun and handling of my NA RX8 with just slight performance mods.

id go with rev engine, you know what they say: If you really loved the 8 there wouldnt be a choise to begin with ;)