147GTA vs S2000 vs Golf R32 vs ITR vs RX8 A-Spec

[Neil_H]

Quite a good video, broadband only!

Best Motoring 147GTA vs S2000 vs Golf R32 vs ITR vs RX8 A-Spec(62mb)

That RX-8 can shift!

[robdickinson]

I think its a reasonably old vid (1.5 years?)

The RX8 does well no doubt, no idea what an A-spec is, ovbiously bodykit/mirrors, but I suspect some sort of suspension mods too. Also the JDM RX8 is 20bhp up on UK cars.

[DanBoy]

That file is too big but if somebody could tell me the outcome I'd be grateful!

[rsvmilly]

I love these Best Motoring videos.

This one proves that the Alfa GTA is not the ill-handling monster that Top Gear painted it to be. It turns in a better lap time than the Golf R32 which is 4WD.

[Neil_H]

DanBoy said:

That file is too big but if somebody could tell me the outcome I'd be grateful!

Brief summary:

- Cars appear to be arranged on grid via weight: R32, Alfa, RX-8, S2000, ITR
- RX-8 and S soon catch up and overtake the front 2 and stretch a lead.
- ITR takes the R32 after a bit of a battle (seems a bit slower on the straights but makes up for it in the corners) and the Alfa sneaks through at the end

Finishes as
1. RX-8 5'53.93
2. S2000 +5.27
3. ITR +13.33
4. Alfa GTA +15.49
5. R32 +15.93

[JRM]

Cool video Neil, thanks for that, although (I'm going to have to defend the S2000 here), in the early stages the S2000 is having to brake hard to keep itself from hitting the RX8, it seems to corner tighter and brake better, but he just can't quite get past and if you look at the inserted clips the guy in the S2000 is rubbish, firstly he almost flies off the course but he also can't heel & toe. The guy in the Honda Type R and in the RX8 both do it beautifully - I do like the RX8 but I'd be very surprised if it were quicker than then the S2000 on a flying lap with nothing in the way, driven by the same driver

[robdickinson]

JRM said:

Cool video Neil, thanks for that, although (I'm going to have to defend the S2000 here), in the early stages the S2000 is having to brake hard to keep itself from hitting the RX8, it seems to corner tighter and brake better, but he just can't quite get past and if you look at the inserted clips the guy in the S2000 is rubbish, firstly he almost flies off the course but he also can't heel & toe. The guy in the Honda Type R and in the RX8 both do it beautifully - I do like the RX8 but I'd be very surprised if it were quicker than then the S2000 on a flying lap with nothing in the way, driven by the same driver

In BS class autox in the US theres little between the two cars on average, the 8 in the vid does gain a clear lead but that could be down to the driver as said. not bad tho as the 8 is cheaper and has less power and 4 seats...

[Neil_H]

I've just looked at the spec of that RX-8 and it is a body kit, some suspension upgrades (shocks, springs, strut brace etc etc), exhaust and so on which explains why it's good on the track. At the beginning they look fairly evenly matched, I would put any real difference down to the drivers - they appear to miss most of the final lap while following the other 3 cars so who knows what happened.

[rsvmilly]

The fella who drove the S2000 narrowly missed out on an F1 drive IIRC.

[robdickinson]

Neil_H said:

I've just looked at the spec of that RX-8 and it is a body kit, some suspension upgrades (shocks, springs, strut brace etc etc), exhaust and so on which explains why it's good on the track. At the beginning they look fairly evenly matched, I would put any real difference down to the drivers - they appear to miss most of the final lap while following the other 3 cars so who knows what happened.

Thought so - think we looked that up when the vid first done the rounds. And the 8 doesnt lean on the corners quite the way the uk spec car does.

I've seen the upgrade kits tho, and for £2k you can do that (minus the bodykit) quite comfortably - unless I was tracking I'd only bother with the rollbars.

[jrm]

rsvmilly said:

The fella who drove the S2000 narrowly missed out on an F1 drive IIRC.

Yeah, exactly he's rubbish - of course if I had been driving it...

[Neil_H]

Just to redress the balance, here's one of the RX-8 getting pummelled

http://xfer.gofastvideo.com/gallery/getitem/243/1/bm2004rwdbattle.mpg

[robdickinson]

Neil_H said:

Just to redress the balance, here's one of the RX-8 getting pummelled http://xfer.gofastvideo.com/gallery/getitem/243/1/bm2004rwdbattle.mpg

lol, no suprise there eh?

M3 CLS, lotus sport 111, Merk Sl55, s2000 all quicker than an RX8 thats slower (on track) than the on ein the first vid?

[jrm]

Neil_H said:

Just to redress the balance, here's one of the RX-8 getting pummelled http://xfer.gofastvideo.com/gallery/getitem/243/1/bm2004rwdbattle.mpg

Very good, I love the way the S just flies past the Mazda on the straight!! And impressed to see it get past the Lotus on the track!! We should post it on the Lotus site to annoy them!
The M3 is awesome though, surprised the S kept up for so long to be honest - maybe because this driver is doing some proper heel and toeing this time.