Well, after considering the Audi A4 in a previous thread, I reconsidered and settled for a Speed6. Went to the dealer to buy their last one, and on the way, saw the Speed3. I had previously considered the Speed3, but the markups ALL the dealers around me were wanting pissed me off, so I declined.

Well, as we were about to start negotiating on the Speed6, just out of curiousity, I asked if they were still asking a markup on the Speed3. To my surprise, they said no. Long story short, I ened up with a Speed3 at a slight discount. Took a pretty good hit with my RX-8, though.

In my Audi A4 post, I'd mentioned that I wanted AWD and good milage. Obviously the Speed3 is not AWD, but I'm thinking FWD would be a little better in slick conditions than RWD, but obviously not as good as AWD. Compromises.

The Speed3 is seriously quick, although I really haven't uncorked it totally yet, as I want to get a few break-in miles on it first. The handling is surprisingly good, except for the notorious torque steer. Probably going to do stiffer motor mount and a rear anti-sway for now to see how it responds, possibly a front later for balance. Don't think I'm going to lower it any, as the wheel gap is already pretty minimal.

I realized, after a while, that I wasn't a good enough driver or had a suitable area to fully exploit the handling prowess of the 8. Because of this, I was having to overcome the 8's shortcomings (speed, milage) moreso than being able to use its strengths. As it turns out, I have a lot more opportunity in my daily drives to haul *** than to carve corners. I think the 8 is best enjoyed on the track than on the street. Speed3 seems the opposite.

All in all, I loved my 8 and I'm sure I'll miss it, but I think the Speed3 will be a lot of fun in its own way.

 

I found the Mazdaspeed 3 worse on the street than the RX8 when I test drove one...the RX8 handles better and is FAR more comfortable, and has less wind noise, quieter, rides better.

I'd love a chance to try a Mazdaspeed 6.

 

Hmm, different strokes I guess.

I think the Speed3 is a little more comfortable, but of course that was counting my Tein S springs on the 8. As far as wind noise, I didn't notice a difference between the two, but again, I think the 8 was a little noisier overall.

 

good choice!!! i like speed 3's

 

I think you sum it up best by saying the Speed 3 is better enjoyed on the street then the track. It's very hard to exploit what the RX8 does well on the street....Of course, lots of torque is easy to use just about anywhere. The speed3 handles pretty good for a FWD but doesn't compare to an RX8 is similar situations....Like I said, I totally agree.

BTW - I almost bought a Mazdaspeed 3 before I found a deal on an RX8 I couldn't afford to pass up. The MS3 is more practical and may be faster then the RX8 but the RX8 is a much much more interesting car in the long run for better of worse. Just my opinion, enoy the MS3.

 

congrats. sure is a far cry from an A4. The mazda3 is a cute car.

 

Good, I'm glad you passed on the A4. Why buy the current A4 when it's very old and the new A4 is about to come out.

 

Congrats! You just got yourself a very cool little car. Lots of performance and practicality at an awesome price point. Keep it on the road. A powerful FWD car can get away from you very quickly too.

 

Welcome, friend!

Just remember to keep both hands on the wheel when you mash the loud pedal and you'll be fine.

 

I like the speed 3 as well...more than the speed 6 actually.....the dealer near me is selling a black speed 3 for 25k brand new......its very tempting.

 

Congrats. I was gonna replaced my STI with a Speed 3, but they were selling for full msrp or higher at the time. I checked out prices recently on the Speed 3, and they are marked about $500 above invoice, but considering I got my Speed 6 for $23500, even now it's still a better bargain here. More car for the money overall, and a very luxuurious machine, but no doubt if the deals were better on the Speed 3, I'd likely own one. Glad you got the car you wanted.

The Speed 3 is lighter, faster (because it's lighter) sportier car, and most certainly more fun, and less of a compromise then you'd have had if you had gotten a Speed 6. You did well. ENJOY!!!!

 

Our Forester will be paid-off later this year, and we are now seriously considering a Speed 3 as the next car. The Forester will become the family beater, with the teenage daughter using it most of the time, and the 8 and 3 will be for me and my wife. If we buy the S3, it will be interesting being able to experience both it and the 8 in rapid sucession.

 

Finally drove a MS3 the other day, and it was surprisingly fun. Sure seemed practical too. No way would I take one over an 8, but I do appreciate it.

 

I think you are much better off with the MS3. Had you gotten the A4, you'd be starting another thread a year later about how. Don't get me wrong, they are very nice cars, but boring.

Also, I will say that on the wet, slick, hilly roads of Seattle, even at temperatures approaching freezing, even on the crappy RE040s, even when it snowed, I never had a problem controlling my 8. Even if I tried to screw around the traction control always brought the car back into line in a predictable fashion. If you can't manage with this, then AWD isn't gonna save you.

Anyway, enjoy the speed 3.

 

The RX-8 is not an ideal car for a 4 season climate despite whatever mastery of the elements you've been able to achieve in your whip. And yes...many people who might consider an RX-8 a difficult winter car would be saved by an AWD car.

 

I live in they city known as "Winterpeg", RX8 + 17" X-ices I have had no problems so far...

 

Says the guy from California.

Seriously though, having lived most of my life in Michigan I saw AWDs stuck in the ditch every time it snowed, but I knew people who drove Miatas, 240SXs, BMWs, and other RWD cars all year round for many years with zero problems.

So yeah, if you don't know how to drive, AWD isn't gonna save you.

 

So now California doesn't have snow? I'm up in Lake Tahoe at least once a month during the winter. Gotta be honest. I haven't seen anybody sporting a snowboard or ski rack on an RX-8 yet. Maybe the snow in Washington state is different? Do the park rangers up in the mountains have RX-8's too. From your posts it sounds like it's the next best thing to a 4WD Yukon when it comes to search and rescue.

 

During the winter, I drive a Fort Escort ZX2 and I will freely admit it handles for crap, it's HP is laughable, and I put cheap tires on it. Even so, I have no problems whatsoever. Good winter driving is a function of driver skill. The power transfer from your engine to your wheels is important, don't get me wrong. The real problem is drivers who's habits behind the wheel often put them in situations where the engine and wheels are, for the most part, no longer controlling the car's movement. Inertia's a bitch.

 

Lord knows I know snow, and most in the know understand that snow/ice tires are always the most important aspect of winter prep, followed by electronic aids like DSC/TCS. 4WD/AWD is a distant third, and in some cases (like my old Jeep) is downright challenging in icy conditions.

The only thing limiting the 8 is clearance in heavy snowfalls. Its low torque actually makes it an easy drive in the snow, as anyone who's learned to drive in the winter in an old RWD V8 can attest to.

 

Nothing ceases to amaze me in this forum.

 

...not to highjack the OP's thread, but please don't deprive us of your all-knowing intelligence. What are you so amazed with?

The #1 rule of winter driving 101 is not to break traction, hence winter tires being the most important thing. Actually in Quebec, winter tires have actually become law Nov to April - regardless of what you drive. Fact is, I can accelerate faster from a stop in the snow in my snow tire'd 8 than the wife's SUV on all seasons.

Now if you do break traction, electronic aids will save you long before an 4WD/AWD system will. Actually, you're often more likely to break traction once at speed in certain less sophisticated 4WD/AWD systems with all four wheels under power, and recovering from a spin can be harder.

Of course, the ideal is to have it all, my wife wanted a truck so I made sure it has winter tires, traction control, electronic stability control, full time 4WD with a lockable limited-slip center differential, etc. But still, if I were to loose control in icy conditions I'd have a better chance of recovering in my 8 than some massive SUV.

Fact is, you don't need 4WD/AWD in winter - you're better off with winter tires and electronic aids, and with these the 8 is perfectly fine in the winter.

 

Thank you! I knew there was some sanity deep down inside.

 

The speed 6 is sick I wanted one before I considered an 8 the added torque is great freaking thing hauls ***, I was doin 90 on the freeway before I realized it the turbo is what makes it brutal. But all in all the 8 is more of a sports car/true drivers car, handling is WAY better in the 8, the speed is more of a luxury cruiser, both great in their own right, I happy as hell with my choice.

 

AWD only helps in acceleration. It doesn't help at deceleration. In fact an AWD vehicle will be heavier than its non-AWD counterpart due to extra mechanicals so by sheer inertia, the stopping distance will be worse.
I would always pick a 2WD with winter tires than an AWD with all seasons.
I used to live in Toronto and there are lots of folks getting by with winter tires on their RWD cars. I've seen my share of over-confident (delusional) AWD drivers skidding off ramps or dived onto ditches in inclement weather.