My girlfriend has a automatic '05 Mazda 3 and I had a rx-8 automatic '05. My car would beat hers.....but not much. And I had no problems beating Mazda 3's. But a Protege w/ a turbo did cook my *** before. I just got a '06 RX-8 Shink MT 2 months ago and I have no problems beating any 3's. I'm not trying to bash the 3......I love the 3. I drive hers as much as I drive mine. There quick and comfortable. It's that I'm a rotary fan and the 8 does the job. If I wanted speed for the same price, I would gotten a 350z. But there only good for one thing.....straight. But for Autocrossing the 8 is perfect.

 

the 8 does handle better than the Z, but saying that the Z is only good for straight lines is rediculous.....I think a Z would probably still be able to out muscle an 8 on an autox track

 

The Z is faster. My friend and I race up and down the interstate all the time. The 8 handles a lot better though. I go to a lot of Autocross events also. I've had not yet raced my Shinka cause it's not broken in just yet. But I constanly see stock 8s, s2000s, modified miatas, and STIs killing the z on the track. They just don't turn right....lol. But if they had a suspension kit and better tires........DAMN!! They would do better. LOL, I always see stock 8s beating heavily modified 8s. So Funny!!

Last Autocross I saw a family rent a New Mustang Shelby from Hertz. It was all over the track and beat to hell. $160 Bucks well worth spent.

 

i have a friend who has a S2000 Decked out with all kinds of illegal crap like NOS, Twin Turbo, i would be surprized if u could find anything stock in that thing.

 

I have a 3s sedan and my friend had a RX-8 and we raced twice and i beat him both times. First time we were rolling. The last time we were at a red light. We both have automatics. I dont know why i beat him, but he was pissed and traded it in for an 06 Subaru STI and spanks me all the time.

 

lol i wish i had an s, i hear its noticibally more powerful than the I, i just need to know how to get those extra horses