RX-8 versus E36 BMW M3 (Handling)
 

I’ve had my RX-8 for couple of months now and I think it is the best handling car I’ve ever driven. Before I bought the RX-8, I was convinced that the E36 BMW M3 was the best handling car I’ve ever driven. What I’ve found is that the RX-8 is lighter and feels more tossable. The M3 feels heavier yet extremely stable and planted going around corners. Has anyone else had experience with these 2 cars? Also, if anyone else has any experience with other cars that are known for their handling prowess, feel free to share your experience versus the RX-8.

I've always heard they're pretty similar in term of handling. I have a buddy with an E36 M3 that i've gone to the track with twice and the cars are pretty equal speed. There are a few sections the RX8 can pull away and vice versa for the M3. I've only been at my new home track twice now(just moved) and he's a regular so I bet once i get more confident and finally swap off my bald bridgestones :lol2: i'd be consistently faster.

As for feel and what not i cant really tell you. I haven't driven or ridden in his car. Maybe I will next time and i'll take some notes for ya ;)

With OEM suspension, both equipped with the same summer tires, the RX-8's handling feels better and easier to drive at the threshold, but the E 36 M3 will generate more grip.

Sports Car International - 5 best handling sports cars:

SCI Editor-in-chief Eric Gustafson named 5 sports cars as the best handling money can buy. In no particular order of rank:

1. Mazda RX-8
2. Porsche Cayman
3. Audi R8
4. Lotus Elise
5. Nismo 350Z

Issue 185, March 2008

i like that list, but i'm surprised the z is in there and not the m3

This is a tuff one, I drove a buddies M3 here at the job, and it felt very planted in the corners and had a very heavy feel and little feedback in the steering wheel which I am not knocking.Compared to my 8 which feels planted but the steering felt light and responsive. Also the M3 gives you that feeling like your attacking the corners, compared to the 8 where its a smooth build up, could be the torque difference that has that effect.

We have an open and deserted twisties stretch of road near my job and he couldn't pull from me in the high speed corners, I had to let off the gas several times, then again I am not rolling on the stock tire and rim set up either . We switched cars and it was the same outcome.

I think both cars are very close to each other in the handeling department.

I owned a 1997 E36 M3 previous to purchasing my 8 and agree they are both great vehicles. Both have their qualities! I prefer the 8 in handling as it is more predictable to me. I took both of them on several runs at the Dragon(E36 back when the posted limit was 55) and I was smoother and more stable with the 8. The E36 with it's low end grunt made it more prone to wag the tail exiting the corner, which was fun to steer with the gas pedal BTW! Like I said, both are great vehicles and all my words are my opinions. I will keep the 8 forever as I will my 1992 Miata, I can't say the same for the E36!

I test drove an M3 the other day. it made me feel old.

stock the M3 has larger rear tires but is heavier and overall probably similar track times. The 8 will be faster in the turns and the M3 faster on the straights.

Modified, I think the 8 will be faster with similar tires and upgrades.

Check out my video where I fly by a race prepped E36. He is Not a great driver BTW.

Oh, and as far as feel. The 8 hands down. The balance and lighter weight just instill confidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi03s...youtube_gdata@

Impressive!

Plan on doing the same at Central Florida Road Course on June 27th.

Your car sounded like a baby 3 rotor!:)

Thanks. Plenty of seat time and a collection of great parts.

Yes the turbo XS exhaust is loud plus a header and it turns heads and shoots flames. Everyone thinks they will find something big or exotic under the hood and are shocked to see a little 1.3L NA.

Your car sounds right at home on the race track, that combo definitely makes it distinct from most Rx-8's I hear. With your setup did you notice a nice kick in the mid to high end spectrum?

This is off topic so lets keep it short.

Yes when I switch back and forth between mid pipes I do notice a little extra power with the race pipe vs my race pipe with 100CPI cat. The difference is ever greater compaired to a supercat I used to run.

I have never bothered to check actual MAF reading, just butt dyno.

According to the Top Gear Power Laps, they're the same at 1:31.8.

I've driven my father's 07 335i and while it has plenty of HP, it feels lethargic and less responsive than I expected. The rx8 has definitely spoiled me, now nothing for less than $40,000 feels good in terms of handling and interior refinement.

Highway8, how is the stiffness and ride on the streets with the KW 3's? Also, did you include your weight on the driver's seat when adjusting for corner balancing?

Great video, btw. Nice cam position. :biggthump

yep. I was driving this M3 sitting in the seat I was all over the place. Recaro seat in my R3 is fantastic.

ive driven my friends e46 m3 but its a droptop and i found the 8 handled better and felt much more responsive but that is probably coz his is a convertible :)

no s2000?

s2000s are too twitchy at limit to be on that list

I have a feeling the Rx8 has spoiled me so much that the next car i will buy will either have to be the new rotary car if it has similar handling to the 8, or a Porsche lol... I have always been a fan of handling over power (as long as it isnt too slow), so i dont know if i can get rid of that feeling of absolute control. The only car i drove that has comparable handling is my buddy's 2006 Z4. But then again, it is $20k more and has a much shorter wheel base.

the kw3's are adjustable for compression and rebound seperetly and on the street I soften it up a bunch except for the rebound in the rear because it can't be reached without some sort of cable. So it's set about 15% stiffer then the recommended street setting from the manufactor.

I think the ride quality is near stock and all passengers I have had feel it's very comfortable.

I came from an E36 M3 and I def like the RX-8 handling better. My first day on a road course, I cut 3 seconds off my lap time. I had driven BMWs many times there, and my E36 m3 probably 5 times. This wasn't an exclusively tight course either - turn 1 is 120 mph, turn 2 110, turn 10 70 mph. All on my first day out. Somewhat similar tires 245/40 18 NT01 compared to 235/40 17 RA1s, both cars lowered slightly with good springs and shocks KW3 vs H&R with Koni single adjustables. I had more camber on the front of the M3. -2 on the 8 vs -3 on the M3. I love this car!

Awesome discussion. I have driven two N/A, modified e36 M3s and a supercharged modified M3 and I own a modified s2000 and a stock RX-8 R3. Obviously I prefer handling over power by my car choices. The s2000 is great, the RX-8 R3 is better in terms of feel but feels heavier and slower to transition than my modified s2000.

The e36 has excellent and natural steering feel, you can literally feel rocks on the road at low speed. But the MacPherson strut front suspension really limits the car's performance when you try to push it. The RX-8 suspension is fantastic, so predictable and forgiving. I tracked the R3 and all it needs is some more rubber and more camber up front to be a beast. I never was scared about the back end coming around like I am in the s2000.

You may be the guy I need to ask. I went to the RX-8 to get a more neutral car. At what point is a car too ready to rotate? (thinking S2000 or 911) When I put the KW3s on, the rx-8 started to understeer more, which was a safety net for me on high speed corners (turn 2 at Brainerd) - but I would like it more neutral on slower corners - turn 3 at 60mph. In part this is a skill and experience thing.