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Originally Posted by scorcherjf
Wow 9 pages of posts and not one person brought up some of the most important differences regarding handling?
RX8: Double-wishbone front and rear
FR-S: Strut front, double wishbone rear
RX8: 50/50 weight balance
FR-S: 53/47 front/rear (if I remember correctly)
Just looking at those 2 details someone would probably guess that the RX8 has more neutral handling while the FR-S will understeer at the limit.
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Toyota/Subaru could easily tune the FR-S/BRZ to be as neutral as the RX-8 or an insane oversteerer if they wanted. Via spring and sway bar rates, static camber, toe settings, etc. That said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's slightly more understeery, but by suspension tuning, not because of struts and 53/47 weight distribution necessarily have to mean "understeer".
RX-8 has a weight distribution advantage, but it has a 10% weight disadvantage (3000 lb. vs. 2700). Not insignificant...
So, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that the RX-8 should handle better but I wouldn't be surprised if it does. I almost bought one, but got an S2000 for reasonable mpg.
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As a daily driver I would pick the FR-S because of the fuel economy but as a track car, RX-8.
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For the track, I could go either way, really. FR-S weight advantage is not to be ignored, and with camber plates the front suspension disadvantage is minimized. For daily driver, FR-S for fuel economy.