350Z vs. Mazda RX-8
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From: Phoenix
Originally Posted by Phreakdout
I know I'll catch heat for this ... I have both.
The RX may look pretty, handle great ... but it lacks soul. The sound of the Z's exhaust, the feel of torque and the kick butt aftermarket support have reaffirmed that I made the right decision.
The RX may look pretty, handle great ... but it lacks soul. The sound of the Z's exhaust, the feel of torque and the kick butt aftermarket support have reaffirmed that I made the right decision.
Many of the old RX7 guys do not like the 8 due to, as you noted, the lack of power and the fact that many kept saying this was the RX7's successor. That is disrepecful to the RX7.
In there current form, the RX8 is more of a driver's car than the Z. I have not had as much fun driving this car than any other car; well... except my SR20DET S13 240. Wow, that was a hawt car! But the RX8 will get KILLED on the track by a 350. Also as noted the gas thing is no bueno. Now that the 370 will weigh about the same as my current RX8, but have the lovely VQ V6 (TRULY a great engine), I am coming back to Nissan.
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From: Precipitation Nation
Originally Posted by 350DropTop
I owned an RX-8 for a couple of years before buying my Z Roadster. The RX-8 treated me well and I had no mechanical problems. Since most of the debate has already been had, here's a couple of perhaps worthless observations:
Pedal Placement
The RX-8's pedal are a placed closer together which makes quick transitions a little easier. The dead pedal in the RX-8 is in line with the clutch so you can pivot your left foot to depress the clutch rather than bringing your knee up to hit the clutch. With the Z's dead pedal so far back, I actually caught my toe behind the clutch once or twice before getting used to the new position.
Center Console
One odd item that I'm sure no one cares about is the center console. It's higher in the RX-8 which allows you to rest your right arm flat with your hand on the shifter. While not a good idea when you're in the twisties, it sure makes for more comfortable city driving and shifting.
The RX-8 rotary has its sweet spot, you just have to get used to where it is. But the RX-8 is a great car to live with and is generally easier to drive in traffic and in everyday commutes. Perhaps I'm lucky, but I never had any problems with mine...just added a quart every 1200 miles or so. The rotary is something that really can't be appreciated until you've spent some real time behind the wheel with it. A power house it's not, but it's extremely smooth and linear power band is nonetheless great to "drive"... meaning if you enjoy reving the engine with well placed shifts you can get a lot of satisfaction from it.
Pedal Placement
The RX-8's pedal are a placed closer together which makes quick transitions a little easier. The dead pedal in the RX-8 is in line with the clutch so you can pivot your left foot to depress the clutch rather than bringing your knee up to hit the clutch. With the Z's dead pedal so far back, I actually caught my toe behind the clutch once or twice before getting used to the new position.
Center Console
One odd item that I'm sure no one cares about is the center console. It's higher in the RX-8 which allows you to rest your right arm flat with your hand on the shifter. While not a good idea when you're in the twisties, it sure makes for more comfortable city driving and shifting.
The RX-8 rotary has its sweet spot, you just have to get used to where it is. But the RX-8 is a great car to live with and is generally easier to drive in traffic and in everyday commutes. Perhaps I'm lucky, but I never had any problems with mine...just added a quart every 1200 miles or so. The rotary is something that really can't be appreciated until you've spent some real time behind the wheel with it. A power house it's not, but it's extremely smooth and linear power band is nonetheless great to "drive"... meaning if you enjoy reving the engine with well placed shifts you can get a lot of satisfaction from it.
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From: Okc,Ok
The RX-8 is a good idea on paper but its didn't quite make the cut though there are a few that adore it and its won many of the magazine Sports Car comparsion test bc it has room for 4. The general public didn't climb aboard after test driving the RX-8 myself several times I give it kudos on interior design, smooth shifting transmisson and a silky rotary engine teh auto sucks big time. But the precaution and maintenance required in the service manual is crazy a quart of oil every 1200 miles, thrump the engine everytime to move it short distance. Poor gas mileages and no power until you are @7500rpms.
It's a nice idea but everytime I got back into my 05 Z I knew it was the Sports car for Me. Its like comparing a Helicopter to a Jet one is more versitle can do it all within its limits but doesn't do anything great the other is what it is with no pretense a F16 on the street. Each to their own I like the Honda S2k better then the RX-8 bc it is what it is with no pretense, but even its not a Z-car. The RX-8 hasn't been really upgraded since 2004.
It's a nice idea but everytime I got back into my 05 Z I knew it was the Sports car for Me. Its like comparing a Helicopter to a Jet one is more versitle can do it all within its limits but doesn't do anything great the other is what it is with no pretense a F16 on the street. Each to their own I like the Honda S2k better then the RX-8 bc it is what it is with no pretense, but even its not a Z-car. The RX-8 hasn't been really upgraded since 2004.
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From: Plantation, Fla.
Originally Posted by Endgame
It has better quality so say MANY Z owners.
What makes it a POS?
What makes it a POS?
Dont get me wrong imo I dont like the exterior and when I test drove one it felt really slow. But it does have a hell of a nice interior. I personally think that the 93 and up RX-7 TwinTurbo was the real RX-7
Last edited by BADASSTT; Jun 27, 2008 at 12:22 AM.
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From: Precipitation Nation
Originally Posted by BADASSTT
Is'nt the RX-8 a Ford? Mazda was bought by Ford and if thats the case then it sucks.Dont get me wrong imo I dont like the exterior and when I test drove one it felt really slow. But it does have a hell of a nice interior. I personally think that the 93 and up RX-7 TwinTurbo was the real RX-7
Dont get me wrong imo I dont like the exterior and when I test drove one it felt really slow. But it does have a hell of a nice interior. I personally think that the 93 and up RX-7 TwinTurbo was the real RX-7
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From: 808
Originally Posted by Indyzed
If there's any Ford in the 8 it's a teensie weensie percentage. Quite a bit of the 8's parts are solely for the 8. It shares the exterior door handles and ventilation vents from Ford and that's about it. The drivetrain and engine are 100% Japanese and Mazda only.
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From: Boise
If the rx8 gets that bad of milage, why not grab a nice, well maintained FD rx7. My buddy had one and I recall it got about the same mpg. It seems pretty obvious that the Z is a better overall sports car compared with the rx8 but I wonder how it would fare against an fd rx7. Might not be the same generation but the performace is really close to each other IMO. I do know that once you loose traction in an FD it's scary twitchy compared to the Z.
Originally Posted by Talonvoodo
If the rx8 gets that bad of milage, why not grab a nice, well maintained FD rx7. My buddy had one and I recall it got about the same mpg. It seems pretty obvious that the Z is a better overall sports car compared with the rx8 but I wonder how it would fare against an fd rx7. Might not be the same generation but the performace is really close to each other IMO. I do know that once you loose traction in an FD it's scary twitchy compared to the Z.
Originally Posted by 350z_racer05
let this die already, 350z is better /thread
LMAO ! Sorry for stirring it up again.
I don't plan on getting rid of my RX8 or the Z any time soon. I like having choices when I go to the garage. Like a fork and a spoon, each one excels in different ways.
Last edited by Phreakdout; Jun 27, 2008 at 10:23 PM.
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From: Bay Area
Originally Posted by Phreakdout
LMAO ! Sorry for stirring it up again.
I don't plan on getting rid of my RX8 or the Z any time soon. I like having choices when I go to the garage. Like a fork and a spoon, each one excels in different ways.
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From: Edina, Minnesota
Originally Posted by 350z_racer05
let this die already, 350z is better /thread
--Spike
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From: USA
Originally Posted by BADASSTT
Is'nt the RX-8 a Ford? Mazda was bought by Ford and if thats the case then it sucks.Dont get me wrong imo I dont like the exterior and when I test drove one it felt really slow. But it does have a hell of a nice interior. I personally think that the 93 and up RX-7 TwinTurbo was the real RX-7
Dont get me wrong imo I dont like the exterior and when I test drove one it felt really slow. But it does have a hell of a nice interior. I personally think that the 93 and up RX-7 TwinTurbo was the real RX-7
The RX8 reminds me of the Ford Probe / MX6 days too much. Ford took a nice Japanese platform and made a good car that no one bought. I had a Probe GT and loved it. Not because it was fast but, because it had room, was quick enough for the day and got good gas mileage:
The Mazda RX8 is a nice car. It has good power, some room but, the gas mileage doesn't work in this era of cars. My Probe got 27mpg. Why can Mazda only get 21mpg out of the RX8. Imo the car is a failure. It will die a slow death like the Probe and MX6. Too bad because it's a nice car just not up to the needs of the day.
The Mazda RX8 is a nice car. It has good power, some room but, the gas mileage doesn't work in this era of cars. My Probe got 27mpg. Why can Mazda only get 21mpg out of the RX8. Imo the car is a failure. It will die a slow death like the Probe and MX6. Too bad because it's a nice car just not up to the needs of the day.
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From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by DraGonAlchemist
yeah there about as fast an a RSX!. .thats why the GF traded it for the STI. .now she's the fastest!!
If you say you've raced an RX8 and "smoked" it, be sure it's not an AT. A V-6 mustang could keep up with the AT.
I've clocked 0 - 60 in 6.2 seconds in my MT Grand Touring RX8. Car and Driver hit 0-60 in 5.8. Not as fast as the 350z but still fast.
The lack of torque is an issue, but if you keep the engine going above 5,000 rpms, it pulls hard. It's not as quick as a 350z but the MT is considerably faster than an RSX. It's quicker than an RSX-S as well.
For a NA engine that only displaces 1.3 liters, the output is amazing. I love my RX8, it's plenty quick and great around the corners. I like the 350z, but would I give up my car for it? no.
Oh yeah, as for reliability, I have 80k on my RX8 and have never had an issue with it.
Different opinions for different people, I guess.
Last edited by Huskyfan23; Jun 29, 2008 at 02:46 PM.
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From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Z_Driver
The RX8 reminds me of the Ford Probe / MX6 days too much. Ford took a nice Japanese platform and made a good car that no one bought. I had a Probe GT and loved it. Not because it was fast but, because it had room, was quick enough for the day and got good gas mileage:
The Mazda RX8 is a nice car. It has good power, some room but, the gas mileage doesn't work in this era of cars. My Probe got 27mpg. Why can Mazda only get 21mpg out of the RX8. Imo the car is a failure. It will die a slow death like the Probe and MX6. Too bad because it's a nice car just not up to the needs of the day.
The Mazda RX8 is a nice car. It has good power, some room but, the gas mileage doesn't work in this era of cars. My Probe got 27mpg. Why can Mazda only get 21mpg out of the RX8. Imo the car is a failure. It will die a slow death like the Probe and MX6. Too bad because it's a nice car just not up to the needs of the day.
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From: DC Metro
RX8 has a nicer interior, drive train, clutch and box feel and can look nice when the right body kit is fitted. In stock trim it looks akward. Very well balanced.
The Z has a nicer engine, exhaust note and is also well balanced. The Z also is a more attractive body style.
I had no problem passing RX8s at my last HPDE. I'd wager an RX8 is better suited for parking lot racing though.
The Z has a nicer engine, exhaust note and is also well balanced. The Z also is a more attractive body style.
I had no problem passing RX8s at my last HPDE. I'd wager an RX8 is better suited for parking lot racing though.