R3 vs GT
 

So I'm looking on the Mazda website, and I keep double checking to make sure it hasn't changed. The R3 is only $30 more than the GT? Last year, wasn't the R3 like $4000 more than the GT? Why wouldn't pretty much everyone opt for the R3 then?

From mazdausa.com:

Sport: $27,245
GT: $32,710
R3: $32,740

The red R3 looks pretty sharp. Is it true the R3 doesn't have heated seats though? It gets COLD here in the winter, I think that would be an R3 deal breaker for me. But I imagine most people would go for the R3?

It's slower, it stops slower, has a happy face with ugly extended eyes and very little upgrades like no Access Port.

The R3 has Recaro cloth seats, so no heat. Their purpose is to hold you firmly in place in 'race' conditions and not necessarily to be comfortable in all climes.

All models of course have the same motor, so between the GT and R3 it's basically do you want a little bit of creature comfort GT (with heated leather seats, etc.) or a little bit of track car R3 (with 19" wheels and a bit stiffer suspension).

Mazda finally resigned that there shouldn't be such a cost delta in making this choice.

Why do you say it's slower?

I was on teh fence. I'd have to pay for aftermarket heated seats for the R3, or pay for the spoiler on teh GT. But then i remembered my snow tires are 18"s so GT it is. If anything. Too bad though, the red R3 looks really sharp.

If you auto-x or do HPDEs, get the R3. Otherwise, I'd get the GT.

huh?

Tires and wheels at 19" are much more expensive than tires and wheels at 18" =\

auto-x = autocross
HPDEs = high performance driving events (or track days)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocross
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Pe...vers_Education

Sounds like the GT might be a better fit for you.

Is the high wing rear spoiler no longer available on the GT? I don't see it on the car builder anymore! Will an average dealer be able to get one anyway, since they're installed at the dealership anyway? Any similarly priced aftermarket spoilers? Similar price and similar look, nothing silly looking?

And leather interior, etc. GT, is more expensive than cloth, so .....

Yeah, but you don't normally need to replace those. I've gone through 2 tires already, due to weird circumstances.

^ That's an aftermarket concern, not purchase price related, but I do get what you're saying.

The bottom line is that the R3 and GT pricing is now where it should be, about equal, effectively eliminating cost differential when making the decision between "Track Ready" and Grand Touring.

Both Road & Track and Motor Trend tested it . 1/4 sec. slower in the quarter.

You can not remove the Mazda logo on the 2009.

Ha ha..................

^^^ anyone know the answer to this? I hate the look of this car without the spoiler. It looks . . . unfinished. If I buy an 8 tomorrow, it will be an 09 diamond silver whatever color. Not an easy color for your average shop to match. So it kind of has to come from mazda. I hope they are still available!

You should probably consult the dealer...

OK I dug a little deeper on Mazda's website. Also no dealers are open at 3am :)

RX-8 Accessories

Why in gods name would the spoiler only be for automatics????? What the hell is that about? What possible explanation would they have for that?

Because the stock non-R3 Manual cars have a lip spoiler that might cause an issue.

/\ Lol so. Remove that shit and put the spoiler on.
Maybe the Auto's are faster? lol.

But the R3 has teh sexy rims!

:rollingla

Sexy 19 inch rims and recaro seats=Win
Specially when its only $30 more than the GT

:dunno: :scratchhe

My ex had/has an R3, and that bitch was SEEEEEEEEEXXXXXYYYYYYYY, and that aint just talking about her body!!!!!! :yesnod:

The Red R3's look sick, no doubt. But I decided to pursue a GT for two reasons: skinny people like me need heated seats! Also, I already have a set of 18" snow tires. I was actually about to get an 09 GT for a really good deal on the last day of september. But then, apparently a "miscommunication" and that deal was un-done even though I wanted to go for it. Just maybe, next month the lease deals will be back on the 09's and my dealer will still have that nice silver 2009 GT in stock . . . maybe.