JRichter

Story isn't posted online yet. Hopefully this is readable (I can see it just fine on my screen) as these pages are extremely glossy, you may need your glasses.

Track times are hard to see so:

RX-8 1:32.2 (97.0 mph)
VW 1:32.4 (98.6mph)
BMW 1:34.0 (95.3mph)
C30 1:34.7 (97.3 mph)

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

cool post thanks....

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

very cool post, appreciated it!

bulletproof21

nice read

bdeitemeyer

Interesting read, thanks for posting.

delhi

Facing a bunch of hot hatches is hardly worth a battle for the RX-8 when it competes against R8, GT-R, M3 etc for best handling car already. It's like bringing USS Ronald Reagan to fight some pirates in the Caribbeans.

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

nice to see rx8 still kicks *** compared to two other turbocharged cars and one twin-turbo

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

I'm sold -

next car is another rx8

JRichter

I know, I thought this was an odd selection of cars with RWD, FWD, diesel, rotary, turbo 4's but was surprised at how closely they were matched in speed. The price varied quite a bit (especially converted to US dollars) but goes to show the different ways the RX-8 is cross shopped in different markets. I still really like the design of the new Scirrocco but would love to see a version sold here in the US with same AWD drive train as the current R32 (Scirrocco is basically a rebodied Golf from what I understand) as I think the sportier body and higher price would be a better seller than what is currently sold as an R32 here. Also reading what the writer said about the difference in feel of the R3 verses the regular 8 makes me want to go test drive one to see how different it really is. Has anyone on here gone directly from a 04-08 RX-8 to an R3 and described the differences?

gundarx

Sweeet! While quickly reading it, I didn't see any dumb MPG comparos (that always hate on the 8) either!

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

I saw a c30 in red the other day and I have admit it didn't look too bad. Was kind of surprised when I finally could see it was a volvo. As others have said, the selection of cars was a bit odd.

kvndoom

I'd marry that 123D. RWD, diesel, 6-speed, 5-door hatchback... everything I'd want if I were getting a new daily driver. I could live with that car.

Daemos

anyone mind scanning in higher res versions for those of us with higher res/smaller screens?

WarmFreedom

I feel insulted that the 8 is being benchmarked against cheezy cars

JRichter

I'll try to open up a photobucket album with larger images when I get home (where the original scans are) as they were reduced to put on this site. Not sure if Canada has Border's or Barnes & Noble book stores but this mag can usually be found at anyone of those anywhere in the US. Also, this article will also probably be posted on EVO's website pretty soon. http://www.evo.co.uk/

m477

Yeah, but all those cars would post much better track times than the 8, and all cost significantly more. I think this is a much more realistic comparo of cars people might cross shop the 8 with IRL.

SlowLude

If you're using IE, you can change the zoom level at the lower right hand corner. You can jack it up 200% and can read it fine.

erx8s

You guys are looking reading the wrong section check out the Russian babes

http://www.evo.co.uk/videos/viralvid...how_girls.html

Cheers
Michael

REsuperD

what a weird comparison

the new scirocco sure looks weird. pretty disappointing to me. it's like a melted golf gti

mybluezoom

Thank you!!

fahrfegneugen

melted is the perfect word maybe it just needs to be black or something though.

Why would you put FWD cars against RWD?

BlueEyes

Because many of them are faster than your rwd car?

fahrfegneugen

but they cannot oversteer

kvndoom

For just 10 grand and a postage stamp...

9291150

High school kid? Let me try to answer, it's because proper RWD dynamics will always be preferred by most enthusiasts, therefore why would anyone be surprised when the 8 wins against the VW and Volvo FWDs? That it was rated better than the 1 series says something about a car that's is in its 5th year...

Anyways, interesting post, thanks OP. These would be the real competitors to the 8 for those needing a 4 seater.