I have a bit of a dilemma. Ever since I purchased my 8 a few months ago my friend who lives up the street has been obviously jealous and has been looking to buy a new car. Every time we met he would talk up how he was looking at BMW this and G35 that blah blah blah...Well, the last time we met he tells me he has been test driving the Mazdaspeed3 and busts out with obvious taunts towards my 8 by telling me that the MS3 has almost 300hp and can do 0-60 under 6 sec (he doesn't know I know it actually only has 260hp, oh well I guess he just rounds up, besides how much difference can an additional 40hp make anyway? . Anyway, I spot him last week driving his new MS3. I know he thinks he's driving a sports car and is in some way in the same league as the 8 just because of his HP. Any sports car purist or even enthusiast would laugh at the notion of this being comingled with the sports car family, it has front-wheel drive for hells sake WTF?? So how do I break it to this guy that he made a mistake if he thinks he bought a sports car in way that won't damage our friendship? Don't get me wrong here; I think Mazda has done an excellent job with the 3 to compete with other supped-up glorified hatchbacks in its class, but a sports car? c'mon...

 

I don't really consider the MS3 a true sports car, but in a straight line you're gonna lose.

 

Not reallly a sports car compared to the 8. It is too big and heavy. But it is really quick.

 

Has anyone actually raced the MS3 with a stock 8? Due to front-wheel decision , the MS3's HP is reduced to 230HP in first and second gear to reduce slip. Because of this I think the 8 would hold it own in a straight line, depending on the distance. I look forward to testing this theory.

 

The MazdaSpeed3 is a fun, well-priced, peppy box, but I say let him call it whatever he wants. I was considering getting one to use as a beater, but the gas mileage is actually about the same as the RX-8, so I'll stick with my shiny/boring Honda Civic.

As for the power difference, just save up for a forced induction kit and show him that a boosted RX-8 is greater than a boosted Mazda 3.

 

ONLY way you stand a chance is clutch bombing your car at about 7k, hope he bogs on the launch and giving it HELL.


(ALL of this would OF COURSE be on the track since street racing threads are forbiddin on this forum)

 

Bastage is correct:

FI RX-8 > Turbo'd MS3

 

IMO, Any car which is based on an FWD economy sedan not matter how fast it is made is not a true sports car. It is already compromised and was never designed from the ground up as sports car being it's sole purpose. That being said I like the MS3 anyways and wouldn't have a problem driving it whats-so-ever and wouldn't argue that stock for stock it can be/is faster than the RX-8 in the right conditions. Tell him to go test drive an 8 and if he knows anything about cars and then he should easily find out what the RX-8 magic is all about - brute power not being it.

 

the MS3 is no more a sports car than a EVO is or an SRT-whatever Magnum/300 is. They are just fast sedans. Actually based on what a sports car should be (purist), the rx-8 is also not a sports car if based on the number of seats, existence of C-pillar and drivetrain disposition.
However from the driving dynamics the 8 is sports car like.
Hp does not make one a sports car. Otherwise we'd have to rule out Boxsters, S2000, MX-5, MR2 etc. All has lesser acceleration prowess with many muscle-FWD cars.

 

We got a guy in town with a ton of extra goodies added to his MS3. It is quick, looks great, and has a very decent sound system. too bad he cant keep up with a bone stock RX once we hit a corner.
But he didn't buy it for racing, he has 2 kids, he bought it for commuting.

If you want to be nice, just tell your neighbor how fast and how nice his car is. no need to insult him that he bought an econobox.

but if he wants to race . . . . .
Tell him to race you soap box derby style.
Downhill, engine off.

 

while horsepower speaks volumes to way too many people, there is more to a sports car then just HP (or torque for that matter).

I own a dodge neon that can run the 1/4 mile in the low 13's N/A... put it in 5th gear on the highway and it falls flat on it's face for top speed. While it rides tight and responds quick in handling - a very good handling car for its class, it is by no way anywhere near in comparison to my rx8 (in any respects).

The mazda 3 falls into the sport compact... so does my dodge neon...

The rx8 is on the list of the top handling cars of ALL TIME.... near 50:50 weight distribution! Spell it with me... R.O.T.A.R.Y.

Don't be worried about him driving a car that most people use to get groceries... Plus he probably only got it because:

1. He cant afford an RX8.
2. He cant afford or even get the insurance on a sports car.
3. His mom didn't want him to get a sports car.
4. He had to get something his mom could drive too.
5. FWD is cool.
6. Turbozzzzzzzzz
7. 1 wheel burnouts pwn.

I'd be interested to know the 1/4 mile time on the 3. But I'd be fairly certain that even thought the hp/tq are higher then my neon, my N/A built neon still beats it - and gets groceries way faster then him.

I bought the rx8 because its pure rotary awesomeness. I bought the neon because its funny to see the look on people's faces when they talk smack about **** they dont know and get beat by a NEON :O .... How embarrassing.

 

lmao champion good stuff.

 

mspeed 3 is an awesome car, plenty of torque and handles extremely well esp for a fwd, i think of it as a sport compact car??? but it can def do some damage on straights and a road course to larger and overrated competitors

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXcafEAD3VE

 

Thats soooo street racing.

but, you can tell the MS3 messed his launch. hahahaa

 

love how the camera guy got distracted and zoomed in on that girl's a$$. MS3 blew the launch

 

On the other hand, FWD has less power loss from the crank to the wheels so it may be comparable. Let us know the results of your experiments.

 

Everyone should buy the car they like, enjoy it for what it is, and encourage other people to do the same =)

 

I use to have a computer program where you could input about 1,000 different numbers to correspond with valve lift, size, bore, stroke, all the gear ratios, etc etc... where you can actually see how each modification or difference would effect your performance (of course not taking into account drag, driver error, etc).

Not floating valves and frothing up your oil with the crank shaft has to account for something right? mmmm bearing journals. yum yum.

Carbon fiber drive shaft, aluminum hood and aluminum "free style" doors, LSD come STOCK!? :O waaaa no way!

Not to mention the RX8 comes with easy wipe leather seats, because when you have a lady passenger (you will have many), they designed it so you can easily wipe away the wet spot left behind (if you know what i mean)

 

It's a 5 door sport compact, not a sports car.

It falls flat on it's face around 5,500RPM, but he will take you in a straight line if he has any idea how to drive.

/thread

 

alright...yes it's fwd, yes it torque steers, yes it's based on an econobox. but it's a sweet car. sure it's not a sportscar and it's kinda ugly, but it's fun. but what i like about it the most is that it's a bit of a caricature of compact imports, which i'm sure was unintentional

and are you guys really friends? or bitter rivals on the same block? =P

 

One of my best friends just got an MS3 a few months ago and it is an awesome car. very fun to drive and quick but its not close to the 8 in driving feel and handling. From a dead start the Mazdaspeed smokes the 8, its very quick. At upper highway speeds the difference isn't quite as noticeable. Like I said before the car is a blast to drive but you don't get the same feeling, you sit high up it has traction issues and slight wheel hop. I wouldn't trade my 8 for the MS3 but its not a bad car for what it is.

 

All I know is, this one guy at the auto-x drives a speed 3 and he gets nice times. Would not trade an RX-8 for a MS3 though, I hate FWD cars.

 

MS3 is very sweet car for what it is...a FWD turbo hatch (best looking hatch IMO).

That being said, i dont believe ANY FWD car can be considered a sports car. Sporty? Yes. Sports Car.....no.

 

I don't believe there is a true definition to a "sports car". Although you know one when you see one.