350Z vs. Mazda RX-8
04-02-2008, 07:33 PM
#81
Originally Posted by Spike100
Most of the comments in this discussion focus on the RX8’s performance and reliability. Something that no one has mentioned is the Mazda’s CES. Since that is something I consider important, I would like to offer some comments.
The RX8 I drove was a Touring model that comes with an OEM Bose CES. The OEM Mazda Bose configuration is a 9-speaker 300 watt sound system with an in-dash 6-CD changer. It sounds just great; that is very different from the experience people who have the OEM Bose CES in 350Z’s report.
The Mazda’s dash H/U doesn’t look as though it is an easy swap-out for an aftermarket product. I think that might be considered a disadvantage for audiophiles who want to improve the CES or add aftermarket features.
I wonder if anyone has comments about this. (Sorry if I’m getting off-topic... diverting from the current and very interesting performance discussion)
--Spike
The RX8 I drove was a Touring model that comes with an OEM Bose CES. The OEM Mazda Bose configuration is a 9-speaker 300 watt sound system with an in-dash 6-CD changer. It sounds just great; that is very different from the experience people who have the OEM Bose CES in 350Z’s report.
The Mazda’s dash H/U doesn’t look as though it is an easy swap-out for an aftermarket product. I think that might be considered a disadvantage for audiophiles who want to improve the CES or add aftermarket features.
I wonder if anyone has comments about this. (Sorry if I’m getting off-topic... diverting from the current and very interesting performance discussion)
--Spike
A few pics:
Last edited by Swiffer; 04-02-2008 at 07:38 PM.
04-02-2008, 07:45 PM
#82
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Thanks for posting and your accurate comments. And, thanks for posting some good pictures (which this thread needed and others asked for).
I think it is very odd that the Bose system in the Z is garbage, and the Bose system in the Mazda is excellent.
_________________
EDIT: Really like those rear "suicide" doors. They work well (access to the rear seats which are "real" and comfortable).
--Spike
I think it is very odd that the Bose system in the Z is garbage, and the Bose system in the Mazda is excellent.
_________________
EDIT: Really like those rear "suicide" doors. They work well (access to the rear seats which are "real" and comfortable).
--Spike
Last edited by Spike100; 04-02-2008 at 07:49 PM.
04-02-2008, 07:49 PM
#83
^ Yep. And as for the poster who made a comment about the cabin heating up during spirited driving or long trips. I believe its only the cupholder area, and it just gets a little warm, but not hot. When my dad and I drove out to see a Giants game this past fall (6 hr drive), I didnt notice it being a problem.
And I think it would be the engine giving off the heat, not the transmission.
And I think it would be the engine giving off the heat, not the transmission.
04-02-2008, 09:57 PM
#84
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yea i agree the rx8 in autox is at home and they do put up fierce competetion, however the Z was designed more on the aspects of road racing. And i that realm especially i the straights the rx8 has no shot. VIR proved that lovley. People also dot understand hw the Z was designed as a turn in car with the weight shiftig during a turn with the rear controled wit the throttle. Its not 50/50 on purpose. Designers made the car preety muc balance its own weight when its thrown properly into a apex. Its really a awesoe road race car . If we can get a nice 350hp Z alot of cars have alot t worry. Even a 300rwhp Z is a formitable car to alot of higher end cars especially at the track..
04-03-2008, 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by ryano85
i have raced more than one.. and smoked them, pretty cars though
04-03-2008, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Z_Driver
I'm trying to figure out where in the real world of driving do you see turns as tight as an auto cross. Maybe there are a couple on the steep mountain roads around here. But, you need the power to climb them which the Z has. Now downhill those same roads the Z would probably have a hard time keeping up with said miata, RX8, or MG miget for that matter. Would I own any one of those .... nah, just not sexy enough or comfortable enough for me.
BTW, you're in the Bay Area, do you ever go to the local SCCA events?
04-03-2008, 12:30 PM
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Visiting different forums I've read this debate turn into a childish blog of we are better because this is our forum. If you want to give credit to another car do it some where else.
On this forum you give creidt when its due, most have experience in both vehicles being discussed and seem so confident in your choice you can give another vehicle its due sometimes dodo. But still you give a reason other then this is my home and you gonna take all your marbles and go home if you don't like the car that I like.
I like Rx-8 especially on paper, I'd take a MX5/spd M3/spd M6 or Honda S2000or Honda Civic si if I was auto crossing and needed the car to run reliable. I'd take the RX-8 if I wanted something sporty had toddlers and wanted to auto X.
But if I wanted a Sports Car it would be Porsche, Vette or 350Z. if I only had $27-$33K to spend and wanted a Sports car my only choice would be a 350Z.
On this forum you give creidt when its due, most have experience in both vehicles being discussed and seem so confident in your choice you can give another vehicle its due sometimes dodo. But still you give a reason other then this is my home and you gonna take all your marbles and go home if you don't like the car that I like.
I like Rx-8 especially on paper, I'd take a MX5/spd M3/spd M6 or Honda S2000or Honda Civic si if I was auto crossing and needed the car to run reliable. I'd take the RX-8 if I wanted something sporty had toddlers and wanted to auto X.
But if I wanted a Sports Car it would be Porsche, Vette or 350Z. if I only had $27-$33K to spend and wanted a Sports car my only choice would be a 350Z.
Last edited by Donsred350Z; 04-03-2008 at 12:33 PM.
04-03-2008, 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Donsred350Z
Visiting different forums I've read this debate turn into a childish blog of we are better because this is our forum. If you want to give credit to another car do it some where else.
On this forum you give creidt when its due, most have experience in both vehicles being discussed and seem so confident in your choice you can give another vehicle its due sometimes dodo. But still you give a reason other then this is my home and you gonna take all your marbles and go home if you don't like the car that I like.
I like Rx-8 especially on paper, I'd take a MX5/spd M3/spd M6 or Honda S2000or Honda Civic si if I was auto crossing and needed the car to run reliable. I'd take the RX-8 if I wanted something sporty had toddlers and wanted to auto X.
But if I wanted a Sports Car it would be Porsche, Vette or 350Z. if I only had $27-$33K to spend and wanted a Sports car my only choice would be a 350Z.
On this forum you give creidt when its due, most have experience in both vehicles being discussed and seem so confident in your choice you can give another vehicle its due sometimes dodo. But still you give a reason other then this is my home and you gonna take all your marbles and go home if you don't like the car that I like.
I like Rx-8 especially on paper, I'd take a MX5/spd M3/spd M6 or Honda S2000or Honda Civic si if I was auto crossing and needed the car to run reliable. I'd take the RX-8 if I wanted something sporty had toddlers and wanted to auto X.
But if I wanted a Sports Car it would be Porsche, Vette or 350Z. if I only had $27-$33K to spend and wanted a Sports car my only choice would be a 350Z.
04-03-2008, 02:00 PM
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I Personally think the RX-8 is not good...but what mazda needs to do is bring the FD3S (3rd Gen RX-7) back...
<a href="http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k84/quinton707/?action=view¤t=1998_mazda_rx7_import_car_wallpaper.jpg " target="_blank"><img src="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k84/quinton707/1998_mazda_rx7_import_car_wallpaper.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k84/quinton707/?action=view¤t=1998_mazda_rx7_import_car_wallpaper.jpg " target="_blank"><img src="http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k84/quinton707/1998_mazda_rx7_import_car_wallpaper.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
04-03-2008, 02:28 PM
#94
On my second go around, I was shopping for my second sports car. The Roadster was great but the fiancee wanted a back seat blah blah blah for the next car. Anyway, I loved driving the RX-8 and had a blast driving it hard. Two things put me back into the Z. The vast amount of driving hard in these parts is on roads like the Dragon and the such. I truly felt like i could have competed on such roads just fine and the occasional track day is only going to be once a year anyway. I chose the Z first because of power. Not the power most of you speak of when coming out of corners etc. I could have survived with the power of the RX-8 for that. The power I missed was when I was not the only one in the car. Add another person God forbid 1 and a half and the car seemed like it had a 150 hp not even the 225. i still was going to get it as the fiancee said I did not need to be driving that hard in the car with her and the kid anyway. Second though was on my way to get the car they called for gas to go over 3 dollars a gallon. Now that is a serious issue for a daily driver of a Z but I can at least get 350-400 miles outta of a tank regardless and on the highway for a trip even more. In the RX-8 even though I only had it for two complete tankfuls I was getting between 175-250miles and it doesn't matter if you baby it. I for one hope that Mazda gets the mpg and power issue figured out. I have always driven either nissans or Mazdas, with one vw at the very beginning. Hopefully with going with direct injection and 1.6L will give the boost that car needs.
04-04-2008, 02:05 AM
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Originally Posted by CaliZster
AutoX is not the real world, that is why so many "good" drivers do horrible on AutoX. But nonetheless, its not suppose to be like the real world..its racing!
BTW, you're in the Bay Area, do you ever go to the local SCCA events?
BTW, you're in the Bay Area, do you ever go to the local SCCA events?
My Z is a DD and she won't be raced on the track. I have a Camaro and Formula Firebird that is set up for that. I knew, for me, that there were better platforms out there for the type of racing I do. Camaro set up for Drags, Formula set up for long track. Don't get me wrong the Z sees a lot of late night drives on my private course through the mountains closeby where I live. I'm on my seventh street Z. The Z is a much better suited DD than the Formula or Camaro. Try to keep your foot out of 800HP when everyone around you is screaming ... Light 'em up !!!
Street legal and insane !!!
Last edited by Z_Driver; 04-04-2008 at 02:13 AM.
04-04-2008, 03:17 AM
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hey a stock rx8 6mt could not beat my hyundai tiburon GT 6mt. All im saying. The car just fails to surpass its competetion . What good is handeling if your over a minute slower then your competetion. I wouldnt be surprised if the miata kept up with a rx8 in the striaghts and the turns.
Nissan understood power and balance into the equation plus the aero.
Mazda...i dunno it looks like they tried to cram every aspect of car into the rx8 and to me failed to achieve what they had with the rx7 which was presitge and true sport car performance on par or surpassing its competetion.
WHen i used to race in pocono i used to pass rx8s without any problem in turns . Straight aways where just murder. THe Z lightned and with sticker tires with some sways will be more then enough to trump the weight difference the rx8 has.
I wish the rx7s came back ,,,thats when you used to fear rotaries lol.
Nissan understood power and balance into the equation plus the aero.
Mazda...i dunno it looks like they tried to cram every aspect of car into the rx8 and to me failed to achieve what they had with the rx7 which was presitge and true sport car performance on par or surpassing its competetion.
WHen i used to race in pocono i used to pass rx8s without any problem in turns . Straight aways where just murder. THe Z lightned and with sticker tires with some sways will be more then enough to trump the weight difference the rx8 has.
I wish the rx7s came back ,,,thats when you used to fear rotaries lol.
04-04-2008, 08:51 AM
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I've driven an RX-8 many times. It is slow, but the driving experience is fantastic. I'm not sure what the numbers are but I would expect Mazda to stop mfg this car soon. A lot of sales came from media hype and that has dissapeard. Its 2008 and you shouldn't have to check your oil every time you fil up with gas...
04-04-2008, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by yogipower
i used to drive rx7 twinturbo(it was my boss's rx7 and now im getting a Z but i personally hate rx8... =) i gotta say yes to a Z..lolz
I also have a 1993 RX7 R1 TT...2500lbs over 500hp.....I wish Mazda did not stop making it
..Almost ZERO turbo lag. The car was just mean. 
The RX8 in my opinion is a waste of time. How could they have built a Z killer like that RX7 tt and now come out with this
04-04-2008, 10:08 AM
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I hear that high price, reliabilities and maintenance reason was the reason they pulled th plug on the 3rd Gen Rx-7 TT. For some reason people don't want to spend $40,000 on a Japanese Sports car, so was the story of the demises of the Z32.
I will say this that the Rx-7 twin turbo was a feared and respected Sports Car be you in a Porsche, Vette or Z-car! This is not the case of the catch all Rx-8 which though nicely appointed you almost laugh at if they want to race or talk performance unless in the Auto Crossing.
I think the giving RX-8 its due it may have better numbers in Auto X then the faster and sportier Rx-7 on a tight track, any straight away and the Rx-8 drivers choking on dust.
I will say this that the Rx-7 twin turbo was a feared and respected Sports Car be you in a Porsche, Vette or Z-car! This is not the case of the catch all Rx-8 which though nicely appointed you almost laugh at if they want to race or talk performance unless in the Auto Crossing.
I think the giving RX-8 its due it may have better numbers in Auto X then the faster and sportier Rx-7 on a tight track, any straight away and the Rx-8 drivers choking on dust.