Benz05ZZ

This is not about the base model, as the standard equipment between the base model and the GT/R3 are very different. The '09+ GT and R3 are almost identical in standard equipment (luxury/comfort).

Ok, so I know the R3 has a few differences...but what is really different? I don't want to downplay the R3, which is a beautiful car from the factory...but from an enthusiast's standpoint, the differences lie in things that I would look at changing out anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong..

The R3 has:
- Recaro Seats (from the problems with premature wear/adjustability...these would be gone swiftly)
- Different front bumper (If you're doing shows...or looking to go FI, you want a new one anyway.)
+Side Skirts (which I actually prefer to any body kit's side skirts...so I'll prolly buy them)
+Spoiler (funny thing is that my GT has the same spoiler...)
- Bilstein Shocks (Nice, but still not the best.)
- 19" Wheels (which is the # 1 swapped out item)
- The R3 is only made in Red and Blue in America (I love the blue...but it's not my style)

What else is different? I mean, I don't wanna be a dick, but...being a prior Evo owner...to me it seems like the difference between a MR and GSR... It's nice to say, "I have a R3/MR", but to a tuner, you may as well start with the cheaper option, then use the saved money to upgrade PAST what the other has...

And...this is not to start a "pissing contest" as to "which car is the better car"...just to me it seems like the positives don't out-wiegh the price difference...and I bought my GT used with 11K on the odo, so I didn't really have the option...

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

why are the Recaro seats considered low-quality?
what are the problem reports?

Benz05ZZ

Well, I kinda jumped the gun saying low quality...but here are the links...

Chafing

Height Issue <-- Not really a quality issue...but still worth considering.

Premature Wear

Basically the same stuff that people complained about in the Evo and STi...Recaro makes good seats, but they're super expensive...I would imagine that Mazda and Mitsu would skimp on the "super seats" in order to save themselves and us some cash.

RX8pwnage

iTrader: (1)

dont know what your talking about with the "low quality" recaros. mine are fine. And last time i looked on mazda.us, the gt and r3 had damn near the same MSRP.

Not sure what you mean about "#1 swapped out item" concerning the R3 wheels....of all the people on here who have R3s, i know of myself and one other definite person who put on aftermarket wheels. I only replaced mine for TE37s. The R3 wheels are dead sexy and sell for a **** ton of cash if you do replace them.

The majority of people who buy the car arent gonna be in "super tuner, track, im gonna mod the **** outta this car" mode....and the R3 is an amazing ride right out of the factory...period.


chafing and normal wear/tear happen with any seat with bolsters...if you get in/out careful you can minimize the wear. Use mink oil for protection.

kster

I'm not going to repeat what others have said. Just to add one additional point, another difference (from an enthusiast's point of view) is the power moonroof on the GT. It takes away headroom which is important for some people when wearing a helmet. In addition, having extra weight up high is not good.

BTW, the Recaros are awesome on the track (this is the #1 reason I chose the R3 over the Sport and GT models).

Pd424

iTrader: (1)

Got a 09' sparkling black R3 and most of the comments I hear from other people is that they really like the wheels on the R3 as well as the front bumper... As for the seats, true that they're not the best if you're overweight or either very short or very tall. My wife is 5'2'' and doesn't really like them since the groove for the shoulder is a little bit high for her... And some of my taller friends have their heads stuck on the roof... But for me, the Recaros are just perfect...

And as kster pointed out, there's no sunroof on my R3... Well, I do have one on my other ride and I rarely use it! Don't like the glare... That's personal preference I guess...

Benz05ZZ

I agree, and I think that's the main focus. Most people want the car to be awesome from the go without modding. Well accomplished with the R3.

I was really more concerned to hear performance differences, such as different exhaust...different engine tuning...

To the others...Like I said, I don't want to get in a pissing contest over the "personal preference" of seats or wheels or moon roofs (which I love mine, haha). I was just wondering if there was a difference other than what I stated.

Speed_8

we get black on the r3 here in canada

Chad D.

iTrader: (19)

and white also in Canada/

lzhmax

low quality Recaros??? My seats are awesome...

b'Eight'

I ride the bus to work everyday and I noticed that the bus drives sits in a Recaro seat. It says it on the side. LOL

Benz05ZZ

Ok, so I updated the first post. I realize that by having never actually had any spirited driving in them (only sat in one, owned by a friend in AL), I can't really rate the quality of the seats. I just know that for me, the Recaros in my Evo were awesome to me...yet they were, in all reality, low quality seats.

I weigh 165lbs, and am 5'6". The seats in the R3 fit me fine, and they're quite confortable for a "racing seat". But if the reports about premature wear and chafing are true, after about a year, I would honestly consider swapping them out for some Brides or even higher grade Recaros. If the bolsters are dyiing, then it's killing the point of having racing seats anyway.

If you track regularly, ALL seats eventually lose material stiffness...I just expect to get more than a year or two out of them if I only track my car monthly.

Just my .02... Again...if anyone wants to chime in with differences other than what I posted...please do. Alot of the aforementioned is personal preference...the only thing that really makes sense when comparing for "tuning" is the moonroof issue. Too much weight on top is bad juju...

yiksing

Basically the R3 is a midly tuned 8 catered for people who aren't really into modding their car but wanted the unique modded parts. If you are someone who bought the 8 and already intended to mod it, its better to just get the GT or even the base model.

solareon

Just picked up my '10 R3 in Blue on saturday. It is a blast to drive over my FC. The recaro seats are really awesome, holds you right in the seat while you are blasting around the road. I picked the R3 over the GT mostly because I am leaving the car as is. It may get a racing beat cat back and intake but no more than that.

VashGS

Well the Sport has one HUGE problem. No DSC stablity control system. For 2010 pretty much every car even the cheapest ones have it now. Even pro Mazda race car drivers can't keep rear from coming out in certain situations without DSC. I have crashed in Rx-7 like that before, shhh.. don't tell anyone.

Mazda need add DSC to sport and try to push some out the door as a last slash of the blade.

R3 will have some collectors value probably. GT more comfy and better for daily driver. Sport like I said.. you would have to be crazy to buy a brand new car without stabiltrak type of system. Even 2 door Cobalt LS with roll down windows has it.

kenpo1441

iTrader: (1)

I know people who buy base models just for the fact that they don't come with stability control. It's too bad they won't be able to build cars after August that don't have stability control...that's why this is the last year for the Viper.

Benz05ZZ

Haha, crankees FTW!

Alright, so I guess mission accomplished. This all started because I was watching a youtube video of some guy who got his R3 in 2009, and he stated that the factory exhaust was "only available on the R3"...but it sounded exactly like mine, so I tried searching the web, the site, and even MazdaUSA and found nothing except for the aforementioned things...

As stated before, I like the R3, but it's just not my cup of tea. I daily drive Roxy, and am gonna start tracking her as soon as I start building her.

Benz05ZZ

That's a good idea if it's strictly for a project...but I don't see why someone would choose to buy a car without DSC as a daily driver if it were available with it...given they could afford it.

kenpo1441

iTrader: (1)

I agree for a daily driver, but I thought were talking about modifying cars. The R3 is a great daily driver; so why would anyone change the suspension if they weren't racing it in some way.

Benz05ZZ

Aah, gotcha. Good point, the R3 is definately great outta the box as a sporty daily driver/weekend warrior...some may disagree as the "suspension is really tight", but I like it when it's tight, haha.

kenpo1441

iTrader: (1)

I traded in an Evo X MR for my 8 and I can tell you first hand about a tight suspension and uncomfortable seats. I have a set of white r3 side skirts (still brand new) that I got from japanparts...pm me if you are interested.

Benz05ZZ

I hope that was strictly a money-based decision...I test drove a Evo X MR, and seriously considered paying 750/month + insurance for that beast, haha. I let my friend drive my car up to the store...and it never came back. He ran a stop sign and hit another moving car at 40MPH. 27* of frontal frame damage...I ended up buying the RX-8 because I'm a full-time student now(prior Army) and wanted a nice car that I could afford. I haven't regretted it.

PM sent! I have thought about this alot...but they're like 750 at japanparts...

RiderCoach Lar

Most leather-trimmed racing seats used in daily drivers are prone to wear, especially if not cared for. Do I prefer them over the stock seats in the Sport or GT? Hell yes.

...or if it's your daily driver, like it is for most people, you leave it alone because it looks better than the Sport or GT.

A little pricey to add-on

Not offered on the Sport or GT, but again, a very pricey add-on

Nope, not THE best, but pretty darn good....and again, a very pricey add-on

#1 swapped out item, according to who? Most find them to be ridiculously sexy and very lightweight...and well over four grand to add-on!

Also available in black.

If you don't want to start a pissing contest, then don't answer your own question (What's the difference...?), then **** on those differences.

For me, the R3 has great out-of-the-box styling and handling. Even if you pay $32k for the car, I don't think anything else out there even comes close for the money...IMHO. At less than $25k (what I paid), it's a no-brainer.

If I strictly wanted a track car, or a show car...or to spend the time to tune the car myself, I certainly wouldn't buy a new R3 as a base car.

Benz05ZZ

Agreed, but the best looking ones offered.



Came on my GT...but the car was used (11K Miles).

I like the wheels too, but my statement is based on a majority of cars rather than the R3 specifically. It's not like they're BBS's or Volks...they're just factory alluminum...an inch bigger than the ones on the GT and with a different powder-coat. I know they sell for a lot...but that actually proves my point.

Not in America, at least not unless you can get something that's not offered online OR at the dealership.

I'm not pissing on the differences. I'm simply stating them as they relate to me. I've said multiple times that I like the R3 as it comes, but I wasn't sure if the only differences were those that I stated...

I've gathered that from the others...and your statement serves to the same purpose that I've stated a couple times...

Thanks for your input, though, bro.

kenpo1441

iTrader: (1)

Wasn't based on money at all. I owned a speed6 before I bought the evo and I really missed being part of the mazda community (evo community is strange). The other reason I got it of it is because I missed driving a real manual. The only thing I miss is the power the evo had; other than that the rx8 is a much better car.