Mountain State Review: 2013 Scion FR-S vs. 2006 Mazda RX-8 | The Truth About Cars

I think he kinda wimps out in the end, but amazing how a decade-old design beats (IMO) the latest and greatest from Toyota/Subaru.

 

Good stuff. I would love to see a real comparison of a FRS/BRZ to a 2011 R3. I would assume the 06' would have more body roll since it is on 5-6 year old suspension pieces.

 

^ True. However, I do think the sway bars on the 8 are soft compared to most sports cars. With my Tokiko D-Specs cranked to cushmobile, even with stiffer springs (RB), there's not that much difference in interstate cruising ride quality between it and my Camry Solara. The complaints Karesh had about the BRZ in highway cruise mode, pretty much aren't there with the 8 and the softer bars are a significant contribution to that.

 

Finally the comparison I've been waiting for. Thanks for the link.

 

+1

 

I said the same thing. As on owner of a series 2 we have stiffer suspension and a great many other changes than the series 1 that are improving performance and handling. I just love it when auto reviews just mess everything up. LOL

But i will give it to Toyota and Subaru they made i fun little car much like the RX8.

 

Well we should just be happy that he went out of his way to do the comparison at all since neither series is in production anymore.

 

AHAHAHAHHHAHAHAAHAH good point!

 

Good read. I was waiting for this comparison as well. It's nice to know that as of yet, nobody can provide an all around package such as the RX-8.

 

They knew it will happen, and it did.

 

It is a much better comparing Toybarus' with the MX-5/Miata which is not a fixed coupe BTW, but a Roadster...so not really fair.

And I use 'comparison' loosley...how can you 'compare' a BANGER with a Rotary really gets me.
There is NO fecking comparison, the RX-8 tactile 'live' feeling is something that has to be owned to be appreciated.

ANYONE who says the Toybaru is a better option than the last of the RX-8's (S2's) needs castrating...seriously you are a disgrace to even compare.

And no I have not read it and will not bother...

 

Still have not read it...but some of the comments I have...DUMB, '''Mazda should have put a banger in the RX-8 and call it an MX-8'''......what a FW...

This guy gets it...

Great review, MK. Honestly. You nailed it.

I’m probably getting older and much crankier, but I detested my test drive in the FR-S.

Hopping back into the RX-8 and driving back home LITERALLY like getting into a Lexus in terms of interior quality, quietness, ride quality (not a marshmallow Lexus, but a clean tracking one that has a magical combination of ride quality and handling) and visibility & room.

About the steering effort, the Toybaru feels artificial to my perceptions, but maybe that’s just me. The Mazda’s steering rivals any that’s a beacon of teutonic excellence, with appropriate boost from the electrical assist, and no kickback over rough roads thanks to some nice engineering using magnesium components.

Even IF the Toybarus were as refined, the RX-8 handles just as well, tracks faster all things being equal, and actually has a rear seat that is large enough to really do sedan duty if one needs to.

I average about 20.2 mpg consistently (with a 6MT) in the Mazda, with about 35% highway and 65% city driving, which is fine by me, especially since I’m often in the 5,000 rpm+ zone that the Mazda prefers.

I don’t dislike the Toybaru, but it feels too unfinished, plasticky and is too loud and uncomfortable for my likings. It’s the type of car that would give me frequent headaches to have to live with on a daily basis.

I’m sure the kiddies love it some, though. They’d probably have loved it a whole lot more had Toyota/Subaru put 50 more horsies under its hood, naturally aspirated


WHO IS THIS GUY>>>>

I’ve tried on a BRZ and didn’t like it at all. The most irritating impression was how close my head was to the edge of the roof on the driver’s side, and I’m only 5’8″. Perhaps the seat could have been lowered, but that would have only emphasized the feeling of being in a submarine, or worse, a Camaro.

Also, I spend way too much time on interstates and rough pavement to deal with crappy ride quality. The Mazda does just fine in cruise mode, even moreso with the adjustable Tokiko D-Spec shocks I have on mine. The “cost” if you will, is relatively soft sway bars which result in more body roll. However, as Ahmad has pointed out, overly-stiff bars may give the illusion of “sport”, but may well be a detriment to cornering.

 

That was me...

I still stand by my point, which was not that it shouldn't have been a rotary, but that even if the Renesis got panned, the body of the car itself shouldn't have gone to waste, and Mazda could still have a halo car. Why not give it a turbo 4, with more HP, more torque and better MPG, when Americans buy cars based on numbers, not handling. But whatever, I guess it's better for them to have no car at all than one with a different engine...

 

Problem with this theory is that you're going to train the buyer to ignore the rotary and just wait for the piston car. This removes Mazda's need to even work with the rotary. A rotary power plant HAS to be their halo car, or they're not playing to their brand. Mazda was built around the idea of the rotary in the 50's / 60's, and if they wanted to just be another Toyota or Nissan with high powered V/I6 engines they would have, but that's not the philosophy they've aligned their company with.

The day Mazda drops the rotary engine from it's "soul" is the day I walk away from Mazda forever. If I wanted a piston powered car, I wouldn't bother with Mazda personally. My brand loyalty only extends so far as the continued development and proliferation of the rotary engine. That's the only thing that would convince me to purchase a Mazda piston engine car.

 

The RX-8's chassis couldn't exist if they wanted to put a piston engine in it. Period. It was designed around the compactness of the rotary.

 

The car wouldn't have a soul if you couldn't rev the p*** out of the engine. The 8 needed the rotary as much as the rotary needed the 8.

 

yup, though the mx5 is nice...

 

I agree, it's a nice car, but I would rather have a Lotus or Porsche at that point. I'm more into the GT sized cars than the small roadsters. Doesn't mean that the MX5s are any less capable though, or that I wouldn't by say... an MX5 sized rotary car.

 

Omg this is it exactly to a T! I hate the camaro's because of this I always say it's like driving a tank, you can't see anything it's like you're driving on hopes and dreams lol

 

Well, that right there finally explains to me why the people who love the Camaro, just go completely bonkers over it.

They have no driving skills (nor usually any hair), and all they have left in their life is hopes and dreams (like hoping and dreaming that people think they are driving a cool car).

Thanks for fully clearing up the whole Camaro love fest thing for me.
It's been bugging me for a while.

BC.

 

but that would have only emphasized the feeling of being in a submarine, or worse, a Camaro.

That was my line ... the Australian outback is civilized enough not to have Camaros.

Though the Genesis coupe isn't much better ....

 

Just came across this YT vid....

Says a lot...about MX-5 or Miata....and Elan.

Comments in the last few minutes says it all....like..

Quote:

I get out of a Miata and think that the rest of the car industry is broken.....

 

RX8 out Ran My FRS (Rotary Vs Flat 4) - Scion FR-S Forum | Subaru BRZ Forum | Toyota 86 GT 86 Forum | AS1 Forum - FT86CLUB

 

^ Funny!

 

X2. They seem to like to poke at the 8's mpg which I find funny since MT and C&D got poor mpg on the FRS when driving hard.

I looked at the FRS before I got my 8, not only could I not fit it, my wife and kids were SOL. The frs costs 25k in Canada before freight, taxes etc. I got my 09 r3 for 16k, the mpg advantage of the frs will never make up the 10k price difference