Motor Mag: RX-8 vs Golf R32 vs Alfa 147
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Motor Mag: RX-8 vs Golf R32 vs Alfa 147
You guessed it, the RX-8 wins again.
"But the thing is this: the smart money stills says Mazda RX-8. Point Blank. It's got the best and purist chassis here. And, in spite of the R32's all-wheel drive, it still gets its power down better and carries more mid-corner speed, while the Alfa is nowwhere near the picture on either cirteria."
"But you can buy all the RX-8s you like. And Mazda deserves to sell every one that it can land here. It's the best of both worlds, and proves that properly engineered rear-wheel drive is still exquiste and fast and can carry people fairly effectively."
From Australia's Motor magazine July '04. (Old news down under, but relatively new in US book stores.)
The issue also has an interesting 4 page spread on a Turbo RX-8. Rotor Master, an Aussie Tuner, has used a Garrett T28 turbo to increase the power of the Renesis by 11%. It's a mild application, so the rest of the car remains stock.
"But the thing is this: the smart money stills says Mazda RX-8. Point Blank. It's got the best and purist chassis here. And, in spite of the R32's all-wheel drive, it still gets its power down better and carries more mid-corner speed, while the Alfa is nowwhere near the picture on either cirteria."
"But you can buy all the RX-8s you like. And Mazda deserves to sell every one that it can land here. It's the best of both worlds, and proves that properly engineered rear-wheel drive is still exquiste and fast and can carry people fairly effectively."
From Australia's Motor magazine July '04. (Old news down under, but relatively new in US book stores.)
The issue also has an interesting 4 page spread on a Turbo RX-8. Rotor Master, an Aussie Tuner, has used a Garrett T28 turbo to increase the power of the Renesis by 11%. It's a mild application, so the rest of the car remains stock.
#2
Chalk up another win for teh RX-8! :D
264.18 hp is what you're looking for in terms of making 11% more power than stock. Not bad, but luckily, turbochargers can be tuned. Now, if only someone can help me fund and build my GT35R-powered RENESIS.
264.18 hp is what you're looking for in terms of making 11% more power than stock. Not bad, but luckily, turbochargers can be tuned. Now, if only someone can help me fund and build my GT35R-powered RENESIS.
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Are you serious ? The rx-8 won this shoot out ? The R32 is one hell of a car! It beat the Evo MR in the last test by car and driver or motortrend because of its refineness and handling.
Are you telling me since its the chain rule , our cars beat the evo MR (definitely not for speed or maybe handling) but for refineness ?
Are you telling me since its the chain rule , our cars beat the evo MR (definitely not for speed or maybe handling) but for refineness ?
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Originally Posted by titaniumgrey
Are you serious ? The rx-8 won this shoot out ? The R32 is one hell of a car! It beat the Evo MR in the last test by car and driver or motortrend because of its refineness and handling.
Are you telling me since its the chain rule , our cars beat the evo MR (definitely not for speed or maybe handling) but for refineness ?
Are you telling me since its the chain rule , our cars beat the evo MR (definitely not for speed or maybe handling) but for refineness ?
Perhaps due to a power/torque inferiority complex that some of us seem to have, we under estimate what a great car the RX-8 really is.
Last edited by RX-Hachi; 09-28-2004 at 09:04 PM.
#6
It's the overall ability, and potential the RX-8 has that makes it so appealing to the media. I think only in the United States is where we are so concerned about making more power. Japan seems content with 247 hp, so why do we have to bitch over 238 hp? Of course, I'd be hypocritical in saying that; I long for making more power, but my level is insane.
#8
Even after I was informed the car was only 238 hp, I wasn't deterred at all. It's a damn good car, and I have yet to see any new car win more awards than the RX-8 in a little over a year.
#9
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Originally Posted by titaniumgrey
Are you serious ? The rx-8 won this shoot out ? The R32 is one hell of a car!
Regards,
Gordon
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I posted the original Motor Mag article here several months back. R32 has also been up against the Rx-8 with UK Car mag, and in that instance the R32 was in front. Interestingly, whilst the R32 is quite highly regarded in Europe, it has been largely panned here downunder. The main criticism is the suspension, which simply isn't up to dealing with anything less than billiard table smooth roads. That's a disaster here in Australia where the tarmac is often..er..demanding, and more often freakin' awful.
R32 is still a huge leap forward from the old Golf 2.8 VR6 - which I owned - but no match for the RX8 in really demanding road conditions.
R32 is still a huge leap forward from the old Golf 2.8 VR6 - which I owned - but no match for the RX8 in really demanding road conditions.
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Originally Posted by IZoomZoomI
wasn't there a best motoring vid on this where the ms rx8 totally left the r32 behind?
#13
Originally Posted by mdaj
Yes, I believe it was the Mazdaspeed RX8 with a R32, Alfa something, Type R Integra (RSX), and S2000. I could be totally off but that is what I remember. I think the R took very last or next to last in the comparo while the 8 came out on top.
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Originally Posted by titaniumgrey
Are you serious ? The rx-8 won this shoot out ? The R32 is one hell of a car! It beat the Evo MR in the last test by car and driver or motortrend because of its refineness and handling.
Are you telling me since its the chain rule , our cars beat the evo MR (definitely not for speed or maybe handling) but for refineness ?
Are you telling me since its the chain rule , our cars beat the evo MR (definitely not for speed or maybe handling) but for refineness ?
sure it was the MR? i just read an autoweek where it barely squeaked by the Evo RS and that was because of its interior.
ive driven the R32, it feels like its made of lead.
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Originally Posted by canaryrx8
sure wish someone would post that, or is this the "revenge battle" that everyone talks about?
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I think the R32 weight is like 3400lbs or around there.
I thought I could host the vid but I don't have enough space for that on my site. It's 64mb if anyone wants it.
I thought I could host the vid but I don't have enough space for that on my site. It's 64mb if anyone wants it.
#19
Originally Posted by IZoomZoomI
I think someone did post up the link for the vid. Just do a search for best motoring.
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One site is http://www.racingflix.com/. They have lots of vids.
#21
I think this is what I was thinking about, lots o' stuff! (argh memory loss, must be gettin' old)
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41626
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41626
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Originally Posted by canaryrx8
I think this is what I was thinking about, lots o' stuff! (argh memory loss, must be gettin' old)
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41626
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41626
http://64.246.54.65/rf_videos/road_r...uba_Battle.avi
#23
Originally Posted by mdmaclean
I searched that thread and found this link... I am downloading it myself and have not watched it yet, but it sounds like the video you are looking for.
http://64.246.54.65/rf_videos/road_r...uba_Battle.avi
http://64.246.54.65/rf_videos/road_r...uba_Battle.avi
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Yup, that's the "Revenge Battle" alright. The Mazdaspeed RX-8 A-spec still has a JDM-spec stock engine rated at around 250 ps. The suspension bits and MS flywheel, make the most difference. Yeah, the R32 did about as bad as the RX-8 did in its Best Motoring debut battle.
#25
wow im pretty surprised...... i HATE vw's, hate em, but the r32 seemed pretty good.... ive seen 1 with intake/exhaust jump 4 cars on a EVO ! and also a 450hp to the ground r32. pretty impressive