A race that shouldve stayed in magazines

[Gotian]

Well before I begin let me introduce you to the cars, all three of them are competitors, in magazines they run the same 1/4 times, the same course times. Jeremy has taken them and ran very close times around the top gear track, two of which got the exact same time. The Drift King took the cars and ran them in an Auto cross resulting in very similar times, with minute differences. So here they are:

Contestant #1 The mazda RX-8, this Rotary rocket is able to leap across The 1/4 in about 14.5. Weighing in at 3000 pounds and having 200whp with 50/50 balancing and the only of the 3 with AWS this is no push over when it comes to corners and acceleration through them. This is also the least expensive of the three when it comes to base models. With the 2006 models being delayed till january because mazda wanted to increase the power output and add a new suspension and only being produced for 6 months mazda has said this rotary powered car is the car you buy to have fun with corners not neccessarily for straight speed, I quote them "you want alot of power, go some where else"

Contestant #2 The Nissan 350Z, you've got performance and history all rolled into one. It's in your face attitude and deep growl produced from a 3.5 v6 makes this car wanted by both males and females to either race, have a good time, or just to say I have a Z. Despite weighing in with 3400 pounds and a whp of about 220 this car can shoot down a 1/4 in about 14.5 and thanks to it's near 50/50 balancing, corners are not so much a chore as you would think from a 3400 pound car. When it comes to price it is in between of the three, but this car is also the most popular and you can find about 7-8 everyday.

Contestant #3 Honda's S2000, the forgotten of the 3, Mainly due to the cost and lack of advertisment these cars are quickly falling out of popularity and quickly falling out of memory, but dont let that fool you, this car deserves more credit than it recieves. With 170whp coming out of a 2800 pound car that has 50/50 balancing, this car has corners for breakfast. With numbers as low as it is, whether you belive it or not, this car scoots towards the 1/4 at 14.5 thanks to it's lighter weight.

And now the main event! Let's get ready to rumble!

I was on my way to work, I was running a bit late so I had to rush and I came next to a 350z, I've been wanting to race one ever since I got the 8, I know that in the jetta I could take one but I wanted to test the 8 out. The guy in the 350 looks at me then gives me a thumbs up, right after he motions towards his right for me to look. I inch up and look at his right, it was a s2k, I was thinking "no way...this is going to be too much fun!"

The guy in the 350 honked 3 times and we went from 40, you could hear me and the s2k guy drop down to 2nd while the 350 stayed in 3rd. we took off, getting to 70 and then redlining 2nd I shifted, I heard the same from the s2k guy, There was no movement from any of us. We took it up to 90 and I noticed that the 350 and myself were inching very slowly from the s2k. The road coming up began to turn into a 2 lane street. The s2k dropped back behind the 350 but kept really close as to not lose too much ground. The 350 and I were still neck and neck. The road soon became a 1 lane and then it would open up again to a 2 lane, I dropped back behind the 350 and the s2k dropped behind me, the 350 slowed down as a turn came up.

Again you could hear me and the s2k drop gears down to 2nd and when the lane opened up to 2 again I accelerated to my left into the new lane and shot passed the 350, following my example the s2k did the same and switched infront of the 350. The two lanes went into a s curve that I knew I could take going 80, but I wanted to push the car a bit more and so I took it up to 90, I saw the 350 brake as we got to the first curve and he dropped back. The 2nd curve came which changed direction from going right to going left, the s2k lost a bit of traction as we went through and the s2k dropped back about 1/2 a car as he tried to recover. The race ended and we were at a red light, I had to go right and they had to go left, so we all gave eachother a honk for a good race.

From this experience I was able to determine that between these three cars, the difference is driver. On the straight we didnt gain anything from each other, except the S2K which I would assume was due to the convertable being down but it was a very slow gain by me and the 350. I thinkthe 350 wouldve been able to take the corner with us but I guess the guy got a bit scared. The s2k I dont know what happened, do they not have traction control? Maybe his tires were a little worn out. Either way it was fun!

[Mad_Maxima]

Threesome are the best

[TorchedStealth]

Sounds like a really fun race. That would have been a really cool sight to see all 3 cars racing like that.

[rice(er)]

350z, s2k, rx-8?

i wanna move to florida

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by rice(er)

350z, s2k, rx-8?

i wanna move to florida

this was close to where I work, and where I work, ferrari's, lotus's, and maserati's are common cars.

[Chiquae07]

those are common cars!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? sheesh. maybe i should move there seriously. but what luck did u have with that. i bet that was a lot of fun. fast and the furious, but missin the fried pistons car, yet 1 of 3 doenst use pistons....

i wanna live there now lol. ur still makin me want an rx-8 even more. dang it. better start savin again, get about 5k downpayment...

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by Chiquae07

those are common cars!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? sheesh. maybe i should move there seriously. but what luck did u have with that. i bet that was a lot of fun. fast and the furious, but missin the fried pistons car, yet 1 of 3 doenst use pistons....

i wanna live there now lol. ur still makin me want an rx-8 even more. dang it. better start savin again, get about 5k downpayment...

I ended up putting 4k down for the car

[-The Stig-]

Originally Posted by Gotian

and the only of the 3 with AWS this is no push over when it comes to corners and acceleration through them.

The RX-8 doesn't have all wheel steering. And if it did, you think Mazda would of mentioned it on it's website, in it's brochure which I just read, and the magazines might of mentioned it when they tested it.




And, it hasn't a problem with accelerating through corners cause it doesn't make sufficient torque to roast the tires like the other cars. 149ft-lbs of torque at the flywheel doesn't do much in a 3000lbs car.

I'm not dogging on the RX-8, I enjoyed driving it... I just think you're giving it a bit to much credit.



I'd watch out for the next generation of 350Z's though, Car and Driver tested the new 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan 6-speed and they got it to run a 13.9 @ 103mph (Compared to the 2003 G35 6-speed sedan which ran 14.6 @ 98mph, if I recall) with the new VQ35HR motor that makes 306hp with the new testing standards (which are more stringent, meaning the motor makes more power than advertised). Couple the new motor to a lighter sportier car like the 350Z and you'll have a mid 13 second car easy. Not to mention the FM platform that they share has been updated and now is stiffer and handles better to boot.

Friendly heads up.

[Mad_Maxima]

The new VQ's coming out are gonna be crazy, i just read some stuff on it, sounds like its gonna be a great engine

http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/september06/vq35hr/

[209 SRT]

so which is faster....your jetta or the rx-8.....

[drftk1d]

14.5 sounds low for a 350Z (the new ones with close to 300hp). I liked driving the RX-8 but it needs power.

[silentscreams85]

i would think the Z runs closer to a low 14. Mazda did a good job on the rx-8 but it definetly needs a turbo from the factory..then it would be perfect!

[Musashi3000GT]

Matty, I was looking into it too. I cant find any info on AWS in the RX-8 but hes not joking. even parking into a spot the rear wheels toe in and out. Its not like slightly either, you can see them clearly pivot.
I was the one that asked him if his car was equiped with AWS cause I see them move when he drives.

[Gotian]

Originally Posted by 209 SRT

so which is faster....your jetta or the rx-8.....

my jetta is definately, hands down, faster on a straight, but through a turn the 8 is much quicker and does it effortlessly.

And no the 8 doesnt need a turbo from factory, The factory turbo was the problem with the FD and it is what gave them both the good name and back rep the engines have now. The FD's were the reason why people now believe the engines to be unreliable.

And the 8 not having enough torque to roast tires, that is not true at all, I actually lose the tail easier than I would like to in the car and have spun out once already oh and it's 159 torque at the fly, 149 atw.

Also I gave more credit to the other 2 cars not mine, I just explained a bit about the 8 especially since not many know the changes that were made for 2006, I even said the s2k deserves more credit than it actually recieves. I could easily have been biased in my intro to this story but I love 350's and having driven one more than once I know how they handle and it's almost identical to the 8 just a bit heavier throught the turns and you feel it a bit, our friend who owns the 350 in the video you guys saw drove my 8 and he loved it cause he said it felt lighter and more nimble than his Z. He said that the fact that is doesnt have as much torque as his Z doesnt bother him cause it's all on paper and it actually feels good when you drive it, but whatever, you guys just like to see high torque numbers and I shoudve expected it from you guys, I swear some of you dont appreciate a good car and would rather bash on a good thing than giving it a good chance by driving it, and I dont mean testing it's straigh capabilities, but actually taking some time to drive it through a corner and through some light traffic. Matt I know you said you werent hating on the 8 but the fact that you said it doesnt have sufficient torque and that I'm giving it too much credit IS bashing on it, when did I give it too much credit? I think you guys dont give it enough credit.

Also I think you guy give the 350 more credit than it deserves, I love that car and I love my 8 a bit more that's why I chose it over the Z, but I'm not biased over the 8. But you know I gotta thank you guys now, cause now I understand what honda guys go through whenever a muscle head goes to them and says there car cant hang cause it has no torque, but whatever, thanks guys, for making me feel like shit and that I gotta explain my car cause you guys wont give it the time of day since your stuck on FD's (which shouldnt be compared to the 8's) and cars with higher torque numbers (though the 8 handles and speeds just as quickly as those other cars) So now I am going to go to sleep and dream about a perfect age where the torqueless cars can live at peace with the muscle cars that are doomed to only know the meaning of a 1/4 mile time.

I'll just stick to posting about kills from the jetta since it has more torque but is not nearly as fun to drive.

[-The Stig-]

Take a picture/video of the rear axel assembly, I won't believe it unless I see the hydraulic actuators that move the rear wheels.

If Mazda didn't see fit to talk about such an option on their car, I doubt it has it. Sorry.

I can't find anything in writing that states the Rx-8 comes with All Wheel Steering, or as Mazda seems to call it Four-Wheel Steering which is an option for a vehicle, but is not listed under what particular vehicle in it's line up as seen here: http://www.is-it-a-lemon.com/make/mazda/index.htm

Under the High-tech/Convienence group.

Searching Google and Yahoo has provided me with no results on this matter, an option such as this is a huge marketing tool that Mazda could use. Remember GMC's Quadra-steer for the lightduty pickup trucks marketing campaign a few years back? Exactly, why wouldn't Mazda exploit it?

I mean, talking about cool options on a car that makes it go faster or turn harder are much better than standing there with a thumb up their ass going Zoom, Zoom.