112 0403 Road Test 2004 Honda S2000 Vs 2004 Mazda RX8 Vs 2004 Nissan 350Z 019z Statistics Diagram
MT's Figure-Eight Test captures our three sports cars' performance envelopes as they charge around a 1/3-mile course. Composed of bursts of acceleration, braking, and cornering, it's rich in the subtleties of transient behavior. Consider the Average g value, which averages the absolute value of all the forces generated over an entire lap (including transitions). It's interesting to see how closely each car's lap time placed to one another for distinctly different reasons. Here we find the 350Z strongest in acceleration, while the S2000, though narrowly pipped by the Nissan's power, is best in cornering and braking. We found the RX-8 could run the entire course in second gear, while the S2000 and 350Z needed to shift between second and third gears to make a full lap.--K.R.
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