MS3 in RX-8 forums

[freebird_78]

Check my sig. I traded an '06 RX-8 for my Speed 3, and couldn't be happier. Yes, the RX-8 was better looking and "sportier" as far as the seats, cockpit, stance, etc, but the "sport" part of it was lacking. For less money, I got a car that's quite a bit faster and gets about 50% better milage (20mpg in the RX-8 vs nearly 30mpg in the Speed3) and has a hell of a lot better tuning potential than the RX-8. Depreciation was a b**** on that car too.

I do miss the sound of the rotary, though. One of the best sounding stock engines of all time, in fact, it was the reason I bought it to begin with. Ehh, the turbo sounds pretty good to me now too.

I honestly don't see THAT big of a difference in the handling. Of course, I've had Cobb sways on the Speed since about day one and Cobb springs on the way. I did have Tein springs on the 8, though. I can't see how anyone would notice that big of a difference in the handling in 98% of all driving. Probably on the track, but how many people here actually go to the track, and how often? It wasn't enough for me to keep dumping gas into the 8.

Personally, I just got frustrated with a car that was already basically near its performance peak, instead of one with a lot of potential.

 

[MS3077]

I saw two (2) 04 RX-8's at my local Mazda dealer whith about 30k miles for sale @ 15-16k. They were "certified used"

Pretty easy to get a RX-8 cheap with not too many miles.

 

[MS6S2K]

No doubt the RX8 is a driver's car. It truly is a unique, gorgeous, and fine machine. I cannot honestly even say my S2000 is as nice looking, let alone my Speed 6, or a Speed 3. Best looking car out there for the money IMO hands down. Although underpowered, there is so much more to that car, preferably that engine. You drive that car, and it's a really special thing. The engine soudns like it's coming straight out of a video game, the rev to 9krpms is so smooth, I really do miss that car.

Naturally, the people on that forum have nothing else to defend the RX8 when it's compared in straight line power, so they use the " twisties" argument, being as it's an incredible handling car. It's just insecurity. I wish Mazda would make a sports car with the disi engine, instead of these hopped up hatches and sedans like we own. Long overdue for Mazda to use this engine in the Miata, and make it their flagship performer.

I truly enjoyed my two years of ownership, but reliability issues forced my hand. My RX8 saw the dealerhsip over 6 times during my ownership, and to me that was inexcusable. My S2000 hasn't had one single issue, so I made a better choice in a fun weekend car.

 

[mikeski]

I was so close to buying the rx-8! i love the style and sound of the rotary.

 

[freebird_78]

I will say that the rear suspension on the Speed3 is downright archaic compared to the multilink that the 8 had. I was shocked when I first took the rear wheels off of the Speed and saw an incredibly simplistic suspension setup compared to what I was used to seeing on the 8.

 

[slikshoes]

I will say that the rear suspension on the Speed3 is downright archaic compared to the multilink that the 8 had. I was shocked when I first took the rear wheels off of the Speed and saw an incredibly simplistic suspension setup compared to what I was used to seeing on the 8.

Is this a surprise to you, since you are comparing the rear suspension of a RWD with 50/50 weight distribution to a FWD?

 

[freebird_78]

Is this a surprise to you, since you are comparing the rear suspension of a RWD with 50/50 weight distribution to a FWD?

Not exactly what I was driving at. The 8s have 5 different indepentant cast aluminum links for the rear (if I remember correctly) and just about all of them have some adjustment built in. With the Speed we have stamped steel peices, and we have to buy different links just to adjust camber.

 

[stephani3]

 

[SharkDiver]

LOL

 

[khoney]

I don't really get the "twisties" argument. Where do these people live, in the mountains? Most people can't really take advantage of exceptional handling cars in the real world.

3 words... Emergency Lane Change. I had an '04 RX-8, and when some dumbasss pulled into the right turn lane, as I was approaching to pass (at about his rear quarter-panel), he decides he didn't want to trun right after all and swerves back into my lane. Thanks to a very quick reaction time on my part (I'm always highly caffeinated) and the awesome handling of the 8, I avoid a major accident. The 8 didn't have enough torque, power, headroom, MPG - I'll admit to that. The handling, however, could not be beat by anything in its price range (IMO).

 

[MS6S2K]

OMG. LOL I'm imagining someone posting that on the rx8 forum. People will freak.
I gotta admit it. I said it when I owned my RX8. it was overrated in power, and always looked much faster then it was. I took a lot of flack for posting that on the RX8 forum, and I did it while I was an owner. Fanbois and owners alike got angry, because I spoke the truth, and they couldn't admit or handle it.

However, I gotta agree with the above post. The handling is phenominal. The only car, (available in one trim only, there is no cheaper model, so it is in a higher price class) that handles better is the S2000, which I replaced my RX8 with as my fun car.

If Mazda threw this 2.3 turbo engine in an RX8 and renamed it an MX8, The Speed 3 and Speed 6 would be chopped liver IMO. However, that's not the case, nor can it be, and as underpowered as the RX8 may be, it's unique, and in a class all by itself with that engine. I adored that car. I just had reliability nightmares with it, and of course the S2K made it so easy to let that car go.

 

[Wykydtron]

Working at a dealership, I get to drive 8's and MS3's and MS6's lots. HATE the feel, the sound, the lack of low end tq, the clutch, the look, the feel etc etc of the RX-8. Hate the car. Love MS3's, just the feel, the interior, the sound etc etc. Haven't really found anything bad to say about them yet (I don't get to drive them daily though or on the track so I don't have the full experience of them). The 6 could have a better turning radius, and the clutch is something special if you're not too experienced with a stick, but overall a super nice car as well. But as of yesterday, took an 06' STI out for a rip.....new favorite car hands down.

 

[dkswim]

i saw this elsewhere and it made me think of this thread

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

Basically, the more the personal investment we have (money or otherwise) in an idea, the more it bothers us to accept conflicting ideas.