The 2009 Mazda RX-8 is not well-known for its flashiness, perhaps preferring to be lauded for its differences - the obvious one being its rotary-powered "renesis" engine, which was designed to reduce exhaust emissions while producing greater power. Already considered a performance alternative, does it have a chance against the well-received new 2009 Nissan 370Z?
The 2009 Mazda RX-8 is more suitable as a family car than the 2009 Nissan 370Z two-seater could ever dream of being. The RX-8 has a surprisingly spacious interior for a sports coupe. However, a family-owned RX-8 will feel fluctuating fuel prices acutely. Only equal to the 370Z in the city and even less economical on the freeway, one could argue that the Z34 Fair Lady is a better car for those looking to economize.
As a straight muscle car, the 2009 Nissan 370Z has the 2009 Mazda RX-8 over a barrel, dwarfing the rotary engine's horsepower capability by 100 bhp. An RX-8 offers spaciousness and the kinship of die-hard rotary drivers, but at a relatively similar MSRP as the 370Z it would be hard to choose the slower "renesis" over the cat quick V6.
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| 2009 RX-8 Model Line Overview |
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| Model lineup: |
Mazda RX-8 Sport manual or automatic ($26,435); Touring manual ($27,860); Touring automatic ($28,560): Grand Touring manual ($31,000); Grand Touring automatic ($31,700); R3 ($31,930) |
| Engines: |
1.3-liter twin-rotor rotary |
| Transmissions: |
six-speed automatic; six-speed manual |
| Safety equipment (standard): |
front, side, and side-curtain airbags, seatbelt pretensioners; ABS; EBD; tire-pressure monitor |
| Safety equipment (optional): |
DSC electronic stability control |
| Basic warranty: |
3 years/36,000 miles |
| Assembled in: |
Hiroshima, Japan |
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| Specifications As Tested |
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| Model tested (MSRP): |
Mazda RX-8 R3 ($31,930) |
| Standard equipment: |
electronic power steering with tilt steering wheel; power four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS and EBD; air conditioning; Bose AM/FM/CD 300-watt surround sound with steering-wheel mounted controls; cruise control; leather/cloth Recaro sport seats; power windows, mirrors and locks; leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob/handbrake; floor and overhead consoles; Xenon headlamps; rain-sensing wipers; alarm with immobilizer; 225/40 Bridgestone high-performance tires on19-inch forged aluminum wheels |
| Options as tested (MSRP): |
none |
| Destination charge: |
($670) |
| Gas guzzler tax: |
N/A |
| Price as tested (MSRP): |
$32,600 |
| Layout: |
rear-wheel drive |
| Engine: |
1.3-liter two-rotor rotary |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): |
232 @ 8500 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): |
159 @ 5500 |
| Transmission: |
6-speed manual |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: |
16/22 mpg |
| Wheelbase: |
106.4 in. |
| Length/width/height: |
175.6/69.7/52.8 in. |
| Track, f/r: |
58.9/59.3 in. |
| Turning circle: |
34.8 ft. |
| Seating capacity: |
4 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: |
38.2/53.3/42.7 in. |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: |
N/A |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: |
36.8/48.1/32.2 in. |
| Cargo volume: |
7.6 cu. ft. |
| Payload: |
N/A |
| Towing capacity: |
N/A |
| Suspension, f: |
independent, A-arms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar |
| Suspension, r: |
independent, multi-link, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar |
| Ground clearance: |
4.7 in. |
| Curb weight: |
3064 lbs. |
| Tires: |
225/40R19 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A |
| Brakes, f/r: |
vented disc/vented disc with ABS and EBD |
| Fuel capacity: |
15.9 gal. |
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| 2009 Nissan 370Z Model Line Overview |
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| Model lineup: |
Nissan 370Z ($29,930); 370Z Touring ($34,460) |
| Engines: |
332-hp 3.7-liter V6 |
| Transmissions: |
6-speed manual; 7-speed automatic |
| Safety equipment (standard): |
frontal airbags, curtain airbags, active head restraints, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic stability control, ABS, EBD |
| Safety equipment (optional): |
none |
| Basic warranty: |
3 years/36,000 miles |
| Assembled in: |
Japan |
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| Specifications As Tested |
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| Model tested (MSRP): |
Nissan 370Z ($29,930) |
| Standard equipment: |
air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes, power windows, power locks, console, cruise control, message center, trip computer, floor shift, fog lamps, cruise control, intelligent key, Homelink universal transceiver |
| Options as tested (MSRP): |
Sport Package ($3,000) includes 19-inch forged lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A high-performance radials, front and rear spoilers, bigger brakes |
| Destination charge: |
($695) |
| Gas guzzler tax: |
N/A |
| Price as tested (MSRP): |
$33,625 |
| Layout: |
rear-wheel drive |
| Engine: |
3.7-liter dohc 24-valve V6 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): |
332 @ 7000 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): |
270 @ 5200 |
| Transmission: |
6-speed manual |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: |
18/26 mpg |
| Wheelbase: |
100.4 in. |
| Length/width/height: |
167.1/72.6/51.8 in. |
| Track, f/r: |
61/62.8 in. |
| Turning circle: |
34.1 ft. |
| Seating capacity: |
2 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: |
38.2/54.6/42.9 in. |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: |
N/A |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: |
N/A |
| Cargo volume: |
6.9 cu. ft. |
| Payload: |
N/A |
| Towing capacity: |
N/A |
| Suspension, f: |
independent, double wishbone, coil spring, gas-pressurized shock, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, r: |
independent, multi-link, coil spring, gas-pressurized shock, stabilizer bar |
| Ground clearance: |
N/A |
| Curb weight: |
3232 lbs. |
| Tires: |
P245/40R19 front, P275/35R19 rear |
| Brakes, f/r: |
vented disc/vented disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist |
| Fuel capacity: |
19.0 gal. |
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| 2008 G37 Coupe Model Line Overview |
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| Model lineup: |
Infiniti G37 Coupe ($34,250); Journey ($35,000); Sport 6MT ($35,550) |
| Engines: |
3.7-liter V6 |
| Transmissions: |
5-speed manual automatic; 6-speed manual |
| Safety equipment (standard): |
two-stage frontal airbags, side airbags in front, full-length curtain airbags, Vehicle Dynamic Control, ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist, tire pressure monitor |
| Safety equipment (optional): |
none |
| Basic warranty: |
4 years/60,000 miles |
| Assembled in: |
Tochigi, Japan |
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| Specifications As Tested |
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| Model tested (MSRP): |
Infiniti G37 Coupe ($34,250) |
| Standard equipment: |
leather, AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system, 7-inch LCD monitor, HID bi-Xenon headlights, aluminum 18-inch wheels with all-season tires, keyless entry and starting, automatic temperature control |
| Options as tested (MSRP): |
Sport Package ($1850); 4 Wheel Active Steer ($1300) |
| Destination charge: |
($715) |
| Gas guzzler tax: |
N/A |
| Price as tested (MSRP): |
$37,400 |
| Layout: |
rear-wheel drive |
| Engine: |
3.7-liter dohc 16-valve V6 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm): |
330 @ 7000 |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): |
270 @ 5200 |
| Transmission: |
5-speed automatic |
| EPA fuel economy, city/hwy: |
18/24 mpg |
| Wheelbase: |
112.2 in. |
| Length/width/height: |
183.1/71.8/54.9 in. |
| Track, f/r: |
60.8/61.4 in. |
| Turning circle: |
36.1 ft. |
| Seating capacity: |
4 |
| Head/hip/leg room, f: |
39.4/53.4/43.8 in. |
| Head/hip/leg room, m: |
N/A |
| Head/hip/leg room, r: |
34.5/48.2/29.8 in. |
| Cargo volume: |
7.4 cu. ft. |
| Payload: |
N/A |
| Towing capacity: |
N/A |
| Suspension, f: |
independent, double wishbone |
| Suspension, r: |
independent, multi-link |
| Ground clearance: |
N/A |
| Curb weight: |
3616 lbs. |
| Tires: |
P225/45WR19 front, 245/40WR19 rear |
| Brakes, f/r: |
disc/disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist |
| Fuel capacity: |
20.0 gal. |
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