For a real review and comparison test of the Z,RX-8,Audi TT and Crossfire check out the February edition of Car magazine.There is 10 pages of pictures and reviews including:
1.ride and handling
2.engine and performance
3.practicality
4.driving enviorment
5.safety
6.value
7.conclusion
Much more detailed than the Motor Trend comparison.

 

I'll have to check it out. In general, what was their conclusion?

Thanks.

 

just read it today, great mag and great article.
here is the results
ride and handling 1.350z 2.rx8 3.audi tt v6 4.crossfire
engine and performance 1.350z 2.audi tt v6 3.rx8 4. crossfire
practicality 1. rx8 2.audi tt 3. crossfire 4. 350z
driving enviroment 1. audi ttv6 2.rx8 3.350z 4.crossfire
safty 1.350z=audittv6=rx8 2.crossfire
value 1.audittv6 2.350z 3.crossfire 4.rx8
conclusion 1.350z 2.rx8

 

just read it today, great mag and great article.
here are some of the results
ride and handling 1.350z 2.rx8 3.audi tt v6 4.crossfire
engine and performance 1.350z 2.audi tt v6 3.rx8 4. crossfire
practicality 1. rx8 2.audi tt 3. crossfire 4. 350z
driving enviroment 1. audi ttv6 2.rx8 3.350z 4.crossfire
safty 1.350z=audittv6=rx8 2.crossfire
value 1.audittv6 2.350z 3.crossfire 4.rx8
conclusion 1.350z 2.rx8 3. audittv6 4.crossfire


things they liked
audi's vents, crossfire's wheels, mazda suicide doors, 350z gearbox

things they don't like
audi spoiler, crossifre silver plastic interior, 350z rear strut brace, rx8 handbrake.

final comment on the Z
"solid, chunky, modern take on a very traditional theme; family-unfriendly coupe with a big v6 engine up front driving the rear wheels. crucially, it just feels right"

 

Brings a tear to my eye! Well put... I couldn't agree more.

 

Ill accept the article, I agree with everything there except 1 thing... the TT being so far back in most every category, and being the most expensive by a hefty margin, how is it 1. for value?

 

Thanks. Sounds like they get it.

 

Well, it sounds like why most of us are here..... That's about my eval....

 

Hooooo boy...wait til zerobanger gets a hold of THIS thread...

 

I agree with Ares. Everything is right about there except for value. I would put that ranked as:

Value
1. 350Z
2. RX8
3. TT
4. Crossfire

The TT and Crossfire are wicked expensive for what you get. I don't have the article in front of me, but did they test the 4 cylinder or V6 TT?

I also don't think peope give the RX8 enough props. It is an awesome car, and it kicks @$$ on the AutoX course.

 

The TT tested was the V6. The RX8 is a good car but in the end the Z "just feels right".

 

I don't agree with value, either. My value would probably be:

1) Z
2) RX8
2t) Crossfire
4) TT

 

Am I the only one who thinks that the Z's rear strut bar is kind of neat and is one of the unique things about the Z???

 

sorry but to clarify the value issue here, i think the value here really means resale value and also the extensive life of the engine. the mag also stressed the residual value for these cars after 3years and also this only applies to the UK market.
here are their comments

"1. audi tt V6-solide as a granite-reinforced rock quarry. with glue in it.
2. 350z-lack of variants and limited availability helps residuals
3. crossfire-not looking likely to match its Merc cousin
3. RX8-public has yet to be conviced by wankel"

also correction on my parts, crossfire and the rx8 were equally 3rd place in value.


here are some more conclusion comments.

"....crossfire....there's plenty of people who love the looks. what is a problem is that it doesn't offer the performance to match.

...the TT comes third. althought it is undoubtedly the most successful car in the market, and still has many admirers, the fickle nature of fashion means it's turning fewer heads. The stodgy chassis leaves the keen dirver wanting more.....

... The Rx8 comes second in this test. as well as being the cheapest car here by 2000 bp, the mazda makes a fantastic stab at being both practical and fun to drive.
the frenetic engine is both a power plus and a twist minus. there 's the same thrill to be had that's offered by a honda vtec engine when you climb to the lively part of the powerband, but there's also a lack of torque that makes it hard to progress quickly with out wringing the car's neck like a christmas turkey....

....nissan 350z might not be the most practicle of this collection, but its outright punch and handling advantage is hard to argue with. There's a feeling that this is a proper junior super car. it has the key ingredients- v6 engine, sporting 6 speed gearbox, rear wheel drive, driver orientated suspension and a great noise- and distills it into a personality......"

enjoy


forgot to add my own opinion, the RX8 is a great car, it only lost to the Z because its performance numbers. i love both cars, but i had to choose 1 and i don't need practicallity, so the Z became my precious.

 

Limited availability! HA! There are at least 10 new Z cars at every Nissan dealership I have passed by this year around here. That whole statement makes no sense. Lack of variants? How about 5 variants(7 if you count the roadster)! How many do they need??? And from what I have seen the residuals on this car are horrible.

Otherwise a great article.

 

Remember that CAR is a British Mag. Therefore, their opinions will reflect the state of the Z in Europe, not how it is in the US or Japan.

That might explain why it has limited availability and versions (I think they get two versions).

Also, maybe the TT is less expensive over there than it is over here, hence a better value?

-D'oh!

 

As i said, this only applies to UK market, its the best uk car mag!! i was over at UK couple weeks ago, couldn't find a single 350z.

 

D'oh you beat me to it lol
the TT is very popular in UK and for the v6 version. 28k bp is not bad compare with the 26k for the 350z. over here however the 350z average about 32k and tt v6 is like 42k.

 

Good article.
10? wow. I think I see 5-6 at most per dearler and not every dealer has them. Some only have 2.

 

D'oh! I didn't see the UK part.