No, they're entertaining, and they give an idea as to the capabilities of a car. However, they're hardly gospel. Have you ever watched the Laps they do?

 

How many laps do they do to get that best time?

 

No it's not, they take his first fairly clean lap.

 

Well, that's fantastic. It's still hooey. No reasonable person would argue that it's a significant comparisons.

 

Sure, I agree. But it doesn't show that the Rx-8 is as fast as an M3.

 

It was a different Stig, black Stig drove the M3 which I might add was an SMG and they don't even show much of him on the track. Plus, everyone knows White Stig is faster than Black Stig In fact an S4 beat the M3 by over 1 second in that episode, which is something that should not happen.

 

there is also rumour that the stig is actually a variety of different drivers.

 

Given that 8 is about 300 lbs lighter than the M3, and that they both have 50/50 weight distributions (actually a rare attribute for any car), the closeness of the lap times should not come as a surprise.

Top Gear had some of the most glowing language I've ever heard regarding the 8's handling and chassis. In fact, at one point, Clarkston called it the "best car" he had tested all year.

 

You suck at this game.

 

Put Bridgstone tires on the M3 and see how fast it is.

 

I fart in your general direction, sir.

 

Why, what was the M3 clad in, Geolanders?

 

This stupid argument has been done so many times. There are quite a few cars out there with 50/50 weight distribution, it doesn't mean it's going to handle any better than a car with 60/40.


Besides, I just heard some big news, they're going to allow women to vote!

 

So, just we're all clear, are you claiming that the 8 is in the same handling league as the M3, or in a lesser league?


(P.S. - Russia put monkeys into space)

 

Guys, here is another example where Ike and BlueEyes carefully select their "facts".

In other threads this week they presented stats from some guy at another site with a timeslip as "proof" that some car was way faster than the 8. Great proof guys!

Yet they question any source that shows the 8 as being fast.

It seems like this "Top Gear" conclusion is no different than others. Car and Driver showed an 8 keeping up with a 390HP SVT Cobra on a track. Other real comparison tests showed comparable times to more powerful G35 coupes, S2000 and 350Z's.

The problem is neither of them have any real racing experience, so it doesn't click in their heads how a less powerfull car can keep up. The real attributes of an 8; high corner speed, low center of gravity, light weight, linear power delivery, quick reflexes, 50/50 distribution, late braking, transitional control and predictability, etc. can easily make up the difference to a heavier, more powerfull car. Look back in history to cars like the original Cooper S, Lotus Super 7, etc. to see that lesson.

Schmucks!

 

What do you know about my racing experience?

What happened to this stance?
which is what I was saying in this thread.

 

Ike and BlueEyes, I'm just asking a simple question:

Since you claim the Top Gear results are somehow flawed, are you claiming that an RX-8 is not in the same handling league as a BMW M3?

 

Two things;

1. Playing with hot wheels doesn't count as racing experience.

2. I do agree with that stance. But I'm playing by your rules (and Ikes)

 

the Stig sure can drive.

 

No.
I'm saying, just like 90210 says, that tests on different days, in different conditions, by different drivers, with the quality of lap questionable, you cannot draw conclusions.

 

You're not playing my rules. In the thread about the WRX, I simply pointed out whp and wtq figures for the 2006 WRX, which are higher than any dyno sheet I have seen from any stock RX-8. If you were playing by my rules, you'd be agreeing with me in this thread, that these and other test times like this are suspect, at best; and that indeed, the WRX has significantly more power than the 8.

 

Look moron, keep up with and losing to both cars is not the same thing. The RX-8 LOST to the G35 and Mustang around the track, it lost to the Mustang by a good amount IIRC. I don't deny for a second that the Rx-8 can keep up with a G35 or a 350Z around a track, but it should not be able keep up with an M3, nor should the Z or G35. The Top Gear time is an anomaly.

As for my racing experience, I grew up racing karts, later graduating to shifter karts that would make both mine and your car look silly around a track. My first trackday was in an E30 M3, later my DSM and a E36 M3, autox, rallyx throughout the years as well. How bout you smartguy, what's your "real racing" experience like? I don't even like the E46 M3 much, but one thing I do know is that it's faster around a track than an RX-8.

 

thread closed