Actually, 1/8th mile racing is insanely competitive. Skill and technique, as well as a properly tuned setup, are incredibly important. There are plenty of massively high horsepower cars that can run down and kill lesser opponents on the big end (1/8 to the 1/4 mile), but racing the 1/8th, you have little margin for error.

The "real" 1/8th mile guys are pretty hardcore. I sure as hell wouldn't want to race any of them from a dig.

 

The mazdaspeed 3 is anything but slow.

A car that delivers 280ft lbs of torque @ 3000rpm STOCK, will not only bring a smile to your face whenever you step on the throttle but will whip alot of other cars on the road for the price.

Its not the fastest car of all but stock, it packs a good punch. Cobb intake and a CB, you'll bring out the beast in the car. Thats all it takes.

 

again, all that to drive an FWD ms3 to run .2 seconds better than an RX8 isnt worth it to me

Motor trend MS3 14.3
Motor trend RX8 15.0
Road and Track RX8 14.49
Kersh RX8 14.48


Yea the MS 3 is a beast compared to the 8

 

You're missing the point, on all sides.

For one, not everyone who buys a MS3 or an 8 "track" their cars constantly so your analysis on the entire situation about the MS3 being only .2 seconds better isnt impressive is really sorta dumb and pointless.

And another. I dont know about you but i dont floor my car from stop light to stop light, stop sign to stop sign. Why do you need to rev to freaking 7500 to get all your 180ft lbs of torque (if it even makes that much)??

When i can throw my car around town, being able to accelerate and pass people on the highway without the need for a downshift.

Thats the difference that people dont see. They see the 1/4 time which is stupid. Unless your car is a drag only car, that doesnt matter.

Street driving your car and running the strip is night and day.

And yes the MS3 is a total beast compared to the 8, on stock performance and bang for buck on mods.

 

how? I guess Im missing your point. The 8 handles better without a doubt. The only area that the MS3 is better is acceleration, which my arguement was .02 isnt that much better. Yes the MS3 is QUICKER and cheaper to mod but thats where it ends. Its an FI econobox, of course it will be quicker.

So if your definition of "a beast compared to the 8" is a little better acceleration, then thats your opinion, but just by raw numbers and facts, the MS3 isnt a "beast" at all compared to the 8.

 

Mazdaspeed 3 Specs:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...s_pricing.html

RX8 specs:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ecs_price.html

Just by raw data and facts, the MS3 is faster after 80, guess that makes it a beast..

 

Yeah you are missing the point. Reason is because i hear this excuse ALL day on 7 club. I've been on that site for 6 years, i seen and heard it all. People use "handling" as their only ammunition in discussions like this. Its a great attribute to the car no doubt but i laugh when its the ONLY thing you can use.

Listen, i love the 8 so dont think of me posting in this thread is to bash the 8 or to cockride the MS3. Those 2 cars are actually my NEXT 2 possible choices for a DD.

Like i have said before, 20% or possibly even less buy these cars to have fun for street use. How many people you know strictly buy a car soley to be competitive in autox or a road course? Not many so your argument on that is weak. COULD be true but a weak factor.

The MS3 is cheaper, more reliable, holds better resell value, faster, responds to mods better (yes i know because its turbo) and doesnt take much cash to make faster ( yes i know because its turbo).

Both cars are obviously different so my comparison on the 2 is dumb but in your defense, i have to state these. It was obvious you got defensive when i stated another car was a "beast". But um fastest fwd for the dollar? Yeah i have to call it that, sorry. Even if its ONLY ".2" seconds faster than the 8. There are alot of other things to look at besides straight line speed you know. I guess thats why you mentioned handling.

So to make things in short. The 8 will outhandle the MS3 at an autox event. Something i agree with. Everything else and sorry, this "beast" that i call, takes the cake.

 

buts its ugly.....and a station wagon.....

 

did i say.............its a STATION WAGON!!!!

 

Ugly is just your personal opinion.

What do you guys think they say about the rx8? LOL

"They" meaning car people in general.

 

all i know is i get compliments all the time,....and i havent found one person who said my rx8 was ugly.......im sure the guys in their station wagons(speed 3's) get compliments all the time because it looks soooo great......(sarcasm intended)

 

Of course.

And im sure miata guys get compliments, im sure civic guys get compliments, im sure scion tc guys get compliments.

Its funny how you even mention that lol.

 

i say we start a poll...

 

Here we go again. The defensive rx8 bois again. Just be happy with your car, and respect other cars. The Speed 3 is faster then the 1/4 mile times suggests compared to an RX8, and from a roll it's not even close. Heck, the Speed 3 will even take out my S2000 from a roll, and it doesn't bother me one bit.

I will never understand people feeling the need to defend their car with the pitful things I read on here. I'm always secure with my car purchases, and I would never justify my purchase by ripping another. It a sign of insecurity. The Speed 3 makes for a great daily when power is your goal. The RX8 is a sports car with less power, but more beauty and pureness. Why can't people appreciate other cars and the purpose they are built for? Oh well, it's like beating a dead horse. Flame on!!

 

i agree with you, i never said the 8 was faster, i just said it looked better.....and that the speed 3 is a station wagon, which it is,....... flame on!, literally (except for the speed 3, bc it doesnt shoot badass flames out the exhaust like my 8)

 

kids!

 

yes....papi?

 

About time someone makes some sense.

As far as beauty, thats an opinionated subject. The MS3 is not a sports car so i would HOPE the 8 looks better to most people lol.

Some people actually dont know how to describe the 8. "Is it a 4 door, suicide door, the wheel fender thingie is flared out?" etc etc lol. The list goes on and on.

 

i like to eat, eat, eat, apples and bananas.........yay!

 

lol...*should have never went to the drage strip*

 

I wasnt trying to 'bash the MS3'. I worked at a Mazda dealership and had a chance to sit in one/ drive on, theyre very nice. But IMO I dont think its a BEAST compared to the 8

a BEAST compared to the 8 is a corvette c6.

my .02 and Im going to defend the 8 against false statements.

 

Its not a false statement, its an opinionated statement. Just as you saying the MS3 is NOT a beast, thats your opinionated statement.

Refer to this.

Sure a C6 is a "beast" to an 8, look at the price difference, powerplant, history of the car.

At least if you're gonna compare to prove a point, choose something within reasonable range lol

All im saying, for what the car is, the money and what it can do for LITTLE EXTRA money, you cant compare. It is, "IMHO" a better performer than the 8.

 

right now the new 2008 cobalt ss turbo with 260hp is the fastest fwd for the money coming in at 22,000....0-60 5.7 and will run 13's stock......weighs less than ms3 by 150 lbs....and has a liftless shifting system where you basically can powershift without hurting it, you never have to let off the gas when you shift, pretty cool for a cobalt...

 

I think were both too stubborn and will stick to our own arguements.

So agree to disagree

 

LOL so by that i tend to believe this car is only good for straight line. I can only imagine what the quality is like, and how fast this car will depreciate in value. I mean look at the SRT-4, i can get an 05 for like 10 grand now lol.

Ill jump into renesis07's argument a bit and say, i rather have the MS3 that ONLY runs .3-4 seconds slower than the cobalt.

At least i will have a better built car.