superglue

I didn't even know what it was until I got a calander at the Mazda dealer when I got the car

Anyway, the MS3 is an incredible bargain. I chose the 8 solely because it is purely my weekend car. The neutral balance, steering feel, and rev happy engine won me over. If it wasn't for the fact that it was a 5 door and FWD I would have chosen it instead. I didn't need the extra capacity, mileage isn't a concern for 5000 miles a year, or Mazda 3 looks.

If I needed a daily driver, I would have taken a more serious look at the speed3. That is probably one of the only FWD cars that could have convinced me to cross over.

MxRacerCam

probably the same amount of people who care what a MS3 runs on the nurburgring.

JRichter

RWD dominates. Piston engines dominate. What is your point? Give any professional race driver the choice to drive a FWD car or a comparable RWD car to drive around the Nurburgring and what do you think he's going to choose?

JRichter

Any FWD car can be made faster than any RWD or AWD car. The truth is any FWD performance car you see is and was always based on a car that was never designed with sporting as its primary intention. Majority of performance FWD cars came directly from economy cars or family sedans therefore it's already compromised. A MS3 has 30 more hp and almost twice the torque of a RX-8 so it should easily be faster than it. Imagine how much faster it's lap time would be if it was RWD and had perfect weight distribution. Just the fact that it has to reduce it's torque output in the first two gears means its compromised. There is no comparison. It's oranges to apples. The only AWD car I would choose is one that can send a higher percentage of its torque to the rear wheels which is what most highend AWD car makers are doing these days. Oversteer is always a funner problem to have than understeer and I think most would agree. Each car has is strengths and weaknesses and when I choose a car to drive on the streets FWD in my book always = How did delhi put it?....fail.

HiTMaNN

Well lets see I know about it..... so my finger is up and guess which finger it is... and no it aint my Index finger......

mbrule6465

Now I know why you're the Hitman. Touche

HiTMaNN

Thank you Thank you I aim to please

superglue

Professional race drivers drive professional race cars. They don't pick up cars off the Mazda dealer lot and drive to the Nürburgring to go prove their car is the bestest.

Not everything is a race or involves the 'Ring. Especially when it comes to sub -$25K sport compacts.

altspace

iTrader: (2)

Apples or Oranges?

Ike

Are you drinking tea and eating crumpets?

Crazy Rx-8 Driver

I used to be a BIG Honda guy.. was debating with sticking with it and getting a S2K... Let's say this is my very first Mazda... And I made the best decision in my car-career everrr!!

Go with the 8 man.. It's worth it. just take care of it and keep up with the daily maintanence.

JRichter

Your telling me this why? My point was to show how many prefer RWD over FWD in a sports car. Random lap times mean nothing with random cars and random drivers. I didn't post the original Nurburgring crap. I was simply making the point that every car listed above what RaDaRkInG posted is mostly RWD, therefore the FWD's on the list mean nothing. Go back and read the sequence of posts. lol

Not when they are not racing, which is the point of this thread: To compare these two cars for everyday use I would think. I'm sure the orginal poster is not buying these for Nurburgring racing.

You said yourself why you chose the RX-8 over the MS3. I did for the same reasons. Bottom line: I would choose a RWD car over a FWD car any day no matter how much faster.

mbrule6465

Great color for a great car ! (uncommon x two = Very Rare)

mbrule6465

I chose a better car over two faster cars (GTO,Mustang GT) when I bought the RX8.

superglue

So would I, but I still respect the performance of cars like the Speed 3 and the new Cobalt SS. However, you seem to immediately write them off as failures. Speed = speed no matter which wheels are driven. Just because they reach their potential limits earlier (ie performance mods) than a more advantageous drivetrain doesn't mean that these cars are any less significant. For $23K, the Speed3 and SS are nearly untouchable in performance.

JRichter

No not failures. I would buy a MS3 or say something similar to a GTi or even a TSX/TL in a heart beat as a second car (or if I needed the space or utility) and can find joy in all aspects of vehicles (except trucks, lol) no matter how week or how fast or how it puts its power down. If I'm in the market for a car which is solely for my driving pleasure then it's going to be RWD or like I said earlier - certain AWD's. Don't take FWD=Fail too literally. I've owned/driven many FWD cars and the benefits of the MS3 mean nothing to me cause I don't need the extra space/lower cost or whatever but believe me, I was one of the first at the Mazda dealership checking the MS3 out the day it arrived and reading everything about it cause it excites me to a point. I still want to give it a test drive one day when my 8's in for some servicing or something. I'm not that hung up on a car's look either. I've always admired "hot" hatches and the MS3 truly is one. Imagine what it would be like if Mazda would offer some sort of AWD system. One of the main characteristics I'm looking for in a car are the feel of RWD this is why I give my opinion when comparing these two totally different cars. It fails in comparison when you consider what I'm looking for in a car. All we can do is give our opinions in a thread like this and this is what I've done.

Razz1

If its a daily driver get the MS3

Jeffjett

Excellent, well informed post. I also am a previous 8 owner. I loved the looks of the car and the rotary was alot of fun. My 8 was an 04 model, so I really don't remember the gas usage that big of a deal, given the lower cost of gas. Now, it would be more significant. The MS3 is faster in a straight line, and the turbo is a kick. The 8 would probably out-handle it, but not by much IMO. Two completely different vehicles with two distinctly different missions. The 8 is a look at me car, very beautiful lines, while speed 3 is a very stealthy, utilitarian vehicle more conducive to families and people needing a true 4 door hauler. Between the two, I prefer the 3, because of it's usefulness, as I am no longer in that look at me phase anymore (my 06 Corvette took care of that). Both excellent cars, both alot of fun. The speed 3 has been a C&D top 10 two years running, and if I remember correctly, the 8 was also C&D top 10. Go test drive them both and see what you like. Remember, you are on the 8 forum, if you go to the speed 3 forum, you will get opposite opinions. My .02

rotarygreg

okay, so opinions are like ********, everyones got one, and heres mine...opinion i mean, get your mind out of the gutter. haha

I work at a mazda dealer and am a mazda fanatic. First time i drove a speed 3, my reactino was Holy crap this thing is fast! I actually wasnt expecting the kick in the *** it gave me. First time i drove an RX8, i thought, holy crap, this thing is slow for how fast it looks. Im now driving an RX8. The speed 3 was so fun and powerful, but at the same time, the clutch i could see being a chore in every day driving, also, my last car was a torquy front wheel drive, and to be honest, i didnt enjoy that experience over the long run. The RX8 is so much more mild mannered. the clutch is a peice of cake, the shifter feel is incredible, the steering is perfect and never fights you, and if you want to turn it into a weekend warrior, the suspension is designed more like a real racecar (upper lower control arms up front and full coilovers all arund instead of the mac struts up front on the three and the seperate spring/strut in the back of the 3). I prefered the speed 6 to the speed 3 for the fact that the suspension was less like an econobox and of course the AWD (because that much power just at the front wheels in the winter is a recepie for getting stuck). To be honest, if you dont have a very snowy winter, an RX8 would probably be a better daily driver if gas price doesnt bother you because the car is less of a chore to drive. and in the end, most car guys will agree that RWD is always more fun to play with. Even today, some *** driving a tow truck cut me off in a parking lot, then drove really slowly out onto the road, i went around him partially sideways. I turned to my passenger, who was smiling, and said "I love RWD!" haha. Good luck with your choice.

Greg

lucifuge

The fact that you can't decide between two very different cars is because:

1. You are totally confused about what you want in a car and/or,
2. Mazda simply makes makes awesome cars.

Simply boils down to fact they they are each top cars in their own way. Each has it's own pros' and con's. Which of the pro's are more important to you? Which of the negatives bothers you the least? Answer that and you'll be a wsier kid on the block

newguy

the MS3 is nicer than its competitors save the EVO or STi as is the 8 vs. its competition imo. if its your only car and youneed to haul a tv or large stuff get the 3 but to me its in a lower classification of vehicle from the get go so the 3 already starts out way behind in my book.

newguy

get the 8 and rent a uhaul van or truck when u need to haul. problem solved!

Musker

anti-mike

what should i get? an rx-8 or a puggle? girls will like both, and the rx-8 has great handling, but the puggle is just so goddamn cute, what should I do guys?


how many of these threads will there be?

stuntman

Does anyone know the laptime of a stock RX8 around Buttonwillow (Configuration 13 CW)?