Time to beat up on some Mazdas again

[D_Eclipse9916]

I am trying to organize a trip early Sunday Morning to get to this event early to have lots of time to beat up on these poor mazdas. Will be from Harrisonburg. Whos in?





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[white_2kgt]

dammit, I have family coming in that weekend...

[.RJ]

Chapin's BBBQ is that weekend as well.

Besides, I hate those guys

[CaptainHenreh]

I'm in for the 13th.

Got a wedding on the 12th, so no BBQ.

[Feersty]

Faack I will be out west

[JohnC]

Got a wedding on the 12th, so no BBQ.

Oh please. Go to this silly little wedding (never seen one of those before), and then hustle yourself and Julie on over to the BBQ. We'll probably still be going well into the evening... Anyhow, anyone who does this rather than coming out to party is a fool. A fool I tell you!!!

[CaptainHenreh]

Ok, so I just got back from Zoom-Zoom Live, so if anyone cares, here's my impressions:

#1: It was alot of freakin' fun. Say what you want about previous events, but it says alot about Mazda that they'll basically let you beat the piss out of their cars all afternoon.

#2: The Mazdaspeed 6 isn't nearly as cool as you think it is. Ok, maybe I should justify this. it's really cool on paper. Six speed, 270ish hp, direct injection, lots of cool technology. But the one I drove had a heatsoaked intercooler, hothot tires, and a tired clutch. My first run I took easy because I didn't want to look like a jackass, that put me 12 seconds off FTD. The second run was later in the afternoon, I pushed alot harder, the car understeers pretty bad at the limit of the tires, and the one-two shift was completely botched coming off the front "straight". (Basically, I made the shift, but the car didn't like it, so I had to start over.) That put me 4.4 seconds behind FTD, and 2 seconds behind the "goal" time.

#3: The "time match gymkhana" was interesting, and I tore some shit up, putting myself within a half second off the "match" time, and making a Mazda 3 wagon oversteer while I did it. There wasn't a whole lot of pressure, it was just turn the radio up, put the shifter into "d" and hit the gas.

#4: Speaking of putting the transmission in "D", the so-called "manumatics" or "triptronics" have always been a pet peeve of mine. First off, there's that pesky torque converter. But secondly, manumatics won't hold a redline. As you approach redline while accelerating, they'll shift for you, whether you want it or not. This sucks pretty hard when coming up on a corner, because you're just going to have to shift again, and it upsets the car. Well, while driving a CX-7, I had the shifter in "sport" triptronic mode, figuring it would just shift for me, and I'll just keep my foot on the go-pedal. Well imagine my surprise when I hear the rev-limiter. I just sit there, stunned for a second, before I slap the shifter and shift gears. Now, I still hate manumatics, but a six speed automatic with a 2.3 liter direct injection turbo and an honest-to-god-hold-it-to-redline manual shift program has gone a long way to changing that opinion.

Finally, #5: The RX-8.
I've never really liked the RX-8. On paper, I really felt like they were an inferior replacement for the FD. Combine that with crappy torque and terrible fuel economy, and I just didn't really think I'd like it. That didn't stop me, of course, from hopping in one and beating the living shit out of it. And you know what, my mind is changed. I really, really, really, really liked it. Forget the MS6, RX-8 all the way. Rev it up at the start, drop the clutch, about halfway through the front "straight", kick it into second, jam the throttle and watch the car twitch sideways. Lay on that to the corner, drop it back into first, turn the corner and grin as you wind it up, all the way to 9 grand. It brings a tear to my eye just remembering it. I hopped out the first time, (julie kind of stumbled out) ran back to the line, and hopped in again. Never did get to drive the MX-5, but I can probably say I wouldn't have liked it half as much as the 8.

Also -- I really liked the way the Mazda 3 handled. I think the Mazdaspeed 3, with 70ish more horsepower, will be a real hoot.

All in all, It was an awesome time. Crazy fun, for not paying a damned dime.

[REED]

I was there on Saturday, and I have to agree - the event as a whole is a bunch 0 fun. I'm not really a fan of the Match Time Gymkhana thing, maybe if you were allowed a couple laps, but I don't see how anyone could do well just jumping in an unfamiliar car on an unfamiliar course and get close to "their time". however, that didn't stop my from doing things to a mazda 6 wagon that it wasn't mean't to do.

I agree completly about the MS6 - I didn't get into it until around 2pm, so by then it was a hot ball of mush, i did manage to get within 2 seconds as well - which i was satisfied with. its a shame you didnt get into the MX-5 - that car is an absolute dream to drive - my favorite no doubt the whole day.


The RX-8 was no slouch either. Maybe it was just that I'm used to 100 HP, but 238 seemed to move it just fine. I didn't like the course the RX-8 was on, the middle 3 turns were alot slower than i anticpated and i didnt really enjoy plowing around them.

I was really impressed with the CX-7, enouch so that I would consider one if iw as in the market for that sorta vehicle. That event was awesome too - I could have swore I was on target more than 50% of the time, but I wasnt really in contention for a decent prize anyway.

I was there with a friend who bought a MS6 in December - and on the drive up and back it felt 10x better than the mush balls at the event. However, he did get second thoughts about his purchase after being in the miata.

I would be really excited for the MS3 if it was AWD, I just dont see how almost 100 more hp and even more torque will feel good through the front wheels alone.

Apparently we just missed the MS3 and the hard-top miata. One of the Mazda guys i was talking to said that the Miata would be available in Boston (the next event) and the MS3 should have been there

no i didnt get clipped, however the guy infront of me did

[Jess]

Yes, but did you get your name tag clipped? :wink:

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[CaptainHenreh]

Yes, but did you get your name tag clipped? :wink:

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nah, but the way I was driving that 8, I'm a little surprised. I drove it like, well, like it wasn't mine, really.

I also got a nifty hat, because some VIP's had to cut in line, so the dude gave me a hat.

Also, part of the reason I drove the 8 twice was because there was almost no line for the 8, and MOST of the people at the end of the day wanted to drive the autotragic. Can you believe that! I cut in front of like seven people when the attendant said "Manual", and when nobody moved I was like "OOH! ME!"

Seriously. Automatic RX-8? Like the punchline of a bad joke.

[D_Eclipse9916]

What you do is buddy up to the guys controlling the event and theyll let you get away with anything aside from spinning out. I was literally having the car sideways drifting the whole course and the guy would come up to me and laugh and we would talk about how he did on the road courses. One time I got it so sideways that I was perpendicular to the course but I managed to bring it back and not spin and all he said was be careful I dont want to clip you. I did about a dozen runs in the miata.


Mazdaspeed 6 sucks donkey dick. That thing had the vaguest steering ever, the thing was slow as balls, 274 horsepower? felt like 140. Brakes werent even up to par either. In fact I hated it so much I didnt even bother doing any of the other events. I just did the sports course all day. I was kind of pissed this year that they did the 6 as their points thing. Last year I was fastest of the hour for most of the hour until the last 10 minutes when someone beat me, this year I was literally a full second behind even the target time.

[G.Irish]

Finally, #5: The RX-8.
I've never really liked the RX-8. On paper, I really felt like they were an inferior replacement for the FD.

Arrgghh, why does everyone insist on calling the RX-8 a FD replacement??? Its not, nor was it meant to be. I think enthusiasts would appreciate the car more if they stopped comparing it to a car its not supposed to measure up to.
Mazda still needs to do some more work on that rotary to get decent gas mileage though. That is the biggest shortcoming of the RX-8 imo.

Good to hear everyone had a good time at the event, gotta give Mazda some kudos for marketing directly to us enthusiasts.

[CaptainHenreh]

Finally, #5: The RX-8.
I've never really liked the RX-8. On paper, I really felt like they were an inferior replacement for the FD.

Arrgghh, why does everyone insist on calling the RX-8 a FD replacement??? Its not, nor was it meant to be. I think enthusiasts would appreciate the car more if they stopped comparing it to a car its not supposed to measure up to.
Mazda still needs to do some more work on that rotary to get decent gas mileage though. That is the biggest shortcoming of the RX-8 imo.

Good to hear everyone had a good time at the event, gotta give Mazda some kudos for marketing directly to us enthusiasts.

I see your point G. I know, in my mind that it's not an FD replacement. But in my heart, my loins if you will, I couldn't really grasp that. It's not an FD replacement, but it is one hell of a hoot to drive, and I'll give credit to Mazda for creating a lightweight four door rotary sports car that isn't an FE.

Also DISI for the Renesis will go a long way towards addressing the fuel economy issue. (IMHO)

[CaptainHenreh]

Now with google video goodness.

This is the Time-Match gymkhana run in the mazda 3, I scored a half second off:
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And this is the last run of the Mazdaspeed 6 auto-x, with the botched 1-2 shift out of the second corner. I lost alot of speed there, I could have matched the time I think if not for that.

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(Also, I just uploaded those videos, so if they don't show up...wait a tic, I guess.)

[Rbadboy21]

Finally, #5: The RX-8.
I've never really liked the RX-8. On paper, I really felt like they were an inferior replacement for the FD. Combine that with crappy torque and terrible fuel economy, and I just didn't really think I'd like it.

4 doors, 4 seats, 0 turbos.

The Rx-8 is in no way and never was intended to be a replacement for the FD

Ryan

[Rbadboy21]

^^Hey, sorry CaptainHenreh, I failed to read the entire thread and saw that G already addressed this issue. My mistake

[CaptainHenreh]

4 doors, 4 seats, 0 turbos.

The Rx-8 is in no way and never was intended to be a replacement for the FD

Ryan

Like I said, I know this. Hence, RX-8 instead of 7. But I mean, Mazda can't say "Oh, here's this cool rotary sports car, that isn't an RX-7. Oh, and you we're not making an RX-7, so you'd better have fun with the RX-8, but it's not an RX-7. Ok? Ok." and then expect people not to compare it to the FD. Does Mazda not want me to compare the RX-8 to the FD? Fine, cool, bring on the RX-7. Then I'll compare THAT rotary sports car to the FD, instead of your OTHER rotary sports car. That isn't an FD. RX-8. [/i]

[Rbadboy21]

[

I see your point, but the Rx-8 is not a sports car, IMO.

Allow me to ramble -->

Like I said before, it has 4 doors, 4 seats, and weighs like 3200lbs. The Rx-8 is marketed completely different. It's just an everyday car that you see parked in your local WaWa and you'll walk by it without even stoping to admire it. It's nothing really that special. At least in comparison to the FD, which if you didn't know, Mazda only sold around 14,000 in the US. Making them VERY rare to see on the road today. Don't get me wrong, I love the Rx-8. It's awsome that Mazda is sticking to it's roots w/ the Rotary engine and still trying to keep it in the market. But the Rx-8 and Rx-7 are two completely different animals, intened to perform two completely different jobs.

Unfortunatley, we probably will never see MAZDA come out w/ a sports car like the FD again. B/c when Madza built the FD, they didn't care about marketablity, MPG, or convenience . Mazda was soley focused on producing a pure sports car that would out perform anything in it's price range and cars costing 2 to 3 times it's price. They didn't care if Joe Shmo couldn't fit in the dirver's seat. The didn't care if it got 22 mpg. All they were focused on was performance and quality. Because of this the FD was a phenomenal performer and driver's car. As all of us know, the FD set multiple records for braking, handeling, and salom. It is still being argued in recent mags that claim it's one of the best driver's cars ever produced.

Sadly though, because of what Mazda did that I stated above, the FD had plenty of issues. It over heated easily b/c of the small intercooler and radiator, and plenty of other problems that I don't feel like getting into right now Lol.

My point is that we might not see another sports car that was so original and radical come out of Mazda. But hey, you never know. I def have my fingers crossed.

Ryan