A long and rambling post of my journey from 'I need a car!' to 'I know what I want!'. It was much more difficult than either of the last two cars.

After blowing off the Crossfire without a test drive, 2 test drives of the VW GTI VR6 6MT, 4 test drives of the 350Z 6MT, and 5 test drives of the RX-8 6MT I have finally decided. Well, I decided late last night so the 35 minute test drive today was purely for fun.

The Crossfire lost because of its overly dainty interior and expectation of mediocre performance.

The GTI survived being test drove after a Z one day, but got tossed the first time I hit the brakes in the GTI right after driving the RX-8 for the first time. While I have an emotioanl attachment (a silver 86 GTI was almost my first car) it is still just a little box. Even though I totally lack any concern of style in other aspect of my life apparently it mattes in my cars!

The Z did not go quietly. In the end it lost for several reasons. Poor view out the rear. An adequate, but rather plain interior. Less comfortable seats. Handles great, but stiff ride so the longer the ride the harsher the ride. No glove compartment. No sunroof (that one just burned me the whole time). More expensive than the RX-8 in leather (though it was cheaper in cloth for the setup I would want). True 2-seater where the extra space in the RX-8 makes travel, shopping, etc. easier.

If there is a single word to describe the difference between owning the 350Z and the RX-8 I think it is 'committment'. The Z, with superior power and handling equal (but different) from the RX-8, just has less to offer when your not doing the do. If its your third car, woohoo! Otherwise, you pay somewhat every time your driving for some other reason than driving. That engine sounds cool, but its louder all the time. That interior doesn't matter at 130mph, but at 35mph it might. No glove compartment means stopping to stow or unstow something that might just go in a glove compartment. So on and so forth. The last 2 drives I finally said, 'Damn the future owner!', and blasted away in the test drives. Power, speed, handling, and menace to spare. A car, like the Corvette, that a lot of people will own, but will then be to scared to make it perform. This is definitely a car where at almost any speed, any gear, and any RPM the car is going to lurch forward if you put the pedal down.

The Z is an engine wrapped in a car.

The RX-8 is a driver wrapped in a car.

I've been able to see the sky for the last 10 years of driving and still will. A more stylish interior. A glove compartment. Better viewing all around (I still want no rearview mirror, instead I want a LCD in the dash and a camera out back - not legal here though). Radio controls on the wheel (different placement than the Sunfire GT, but a feature I like a lot). The drive is so smooth and glassy. I would probably prefer a more robust metal door handle on the inside - the current ones look breakable.

I like that just staying in the lower RPM band saves gas and makes the car perform better than almost anything around you, but not overly so it is very easy to go with the flow. Keep the RPM up, or downshift, and its a very friendly monster ready to tear. The test drive today was at rush hour so I got slow traffic, stop and go, a high speed highway run (except for 2 spots we don't get highway traffic jams here), a twisty run through the park, extra twisty up a hill, and a moderate speed run through traffic. The car was perfect for every single one just based on how I drove it. It is a highly dynamic driving experience. And this time I didn't stall it once. :)

What is the one thing that Mazda left out (unless I've its been hiding from me)? A rear window wiper. I have missed it for 7 years, since the Probe GT, and I guess I will miss it some more.

My only worries? The MPG. Whether on the hottest days in the summer I'll find the AC adequate (I like it cool because in our humidity the other option is sweat). How long it will take to order? Should I wait for the 2005? Will that rotary hold up? I think I'll just keep the Sunfire for the snow/airport/grocery times.

For most of those reasons I will probably lease for 4 years, add 10,000 miles of warranty, get low payments, and not have to worry about anything for 4 years (except for the 2-3 sets of brakes and tires I will go through). If it goes bad I move on. If it goes well I get a 2008 or 2009 Turbo!

So here is what I will be getting:
2004 or 2005
6MT
GT Package (third GT car in a row - hmm, I see a pattern)
Winning Blue Metallic
Rotary Package, Appearance Package, Front Splash Guards, Strakes, Exhause Finishers, Rotor Wheel Centers (and probably those silly Rotary Valve Stem Caps)
MP3 Player, Aluminum Door Sill, Shiny Air Bevels, Leather Brake Handle, Night Lights
Spoiler or Shiny Aluminum Spoiler or No Spoiler (not sure, taking opinions)
Maybe the aluminum fuel door

Want to take delivery in late March just before my birthday in early April.

Now I only have to wait FOREVER!

milo

Sounds like a lot of money! But that's great! Good luck on your purchase.

I'm still debating between Winning Blue and Silver.

Great post. I like it when people share their "think throughs" on selections and decisions. It helps others. I agree with the dynamic driving. That is a true fact that when you live in a metro area or a suburb, you have various forms of traffic and the last thing you need is a car that takes "work" to drive. The Z car was a worker car to me - heavy, greater resistance in shifting. YOur descriptions of engine wrapped in a car for the Z and a driver wrapped in a car in the RX is priceless. I just wish many other doubters would understand that there is more to a car than raw engine torque. WHy don't you skip some of the candy and get the car a few months sooner?

Originally posted by Xyntax
Sounds like a lot of money! But that's great! Good luck on your purchase.

I'm still debating between Winning Blue and Silver.

Well, I still might shave it down a bit from the current list of doo-dads but if I lease, it just may be what the hell. Plus, the way things have been going at work, fingers crossed, I should be up for a big bonus and a big raise and I got some old options to cash in all hitting the bank account just before the car is to be delivered. Plus, at 38 I can always just claim that I scheduled by mid-life crisis a bit early. Oh, yeah. No kids. No wife.

Ah, color. That reminds me. Both the Z and RX-8 look absolutely great in every single color you can get each in. I don't like white cars (except for a few white leather convertibles) and even the white Z I saw was awesome.

I think both would look very much like they were carved from a single block of metal if you go light silver with totally silvered windows (where legal).

Both are extremely nice in blue which I like because it is a rich color that is not so dark that it hides the curves of the car. Plus, its Blue or Yellow if you want a color you won't see as much on other cars.

I think the Z's LeMans Sunset trumps the RX-8's Lightning Yellow for most interesting color for those who need to shout "I'm here!' every where they go. I must admit, blue sometimes is like that, just not all the time. :)

I look forward to coming out to my blue car under a yellow light at night and my car is a whole 'nother color.

milo

Originally posted by RodsterinFL
Great post.
Thank you.
Your descriptions of engine wrapped in a car for the Z and a driver wrapped in a car in the RX is priceless.
Yeah, I thought that was good, too. :) By the way, I just copyrighted that. :)
I just wish many other doubters would understand that there is more to a car than raw engine torque. WHy don't you skip some of the candy and get the car a few months sooner?
For years I've told folks I like chick cars better. Not the wimpy driver chicks. But the driver chicks. They go for less power, more handling. Me, too. Guys, especially in the south, think all about power and then get cars all about straight line acceleration like the Camaros and Mustangs. I got a Probe GT (loved it, but annoying problems) and Sunfire GT (I was being cheaper that time) because they were quick, handled very well and well, had some sort of style, and were nicely priced. Nicely priced just got kicked to the curb.

milo

The Z is an engine wrapped in a car.
The RX-8 is a driver wrapped in a car.

Best comparison quote I have heard yet...

-JiM

Hello milo, welcome to the forum.

I too use to own a (1990) Probe ( not a GT), had it for 13 years and wish I still had it - until I get my RX-8, it's been easily my most favorite car!

:D

The RX-8 is a driver wrapped in a car

excellent post! welcome aboard! how you managed to boil everything down to that one sentence i don't know but that is one of the best descriptions i have read yet. you better copyright it or Mazda will soon be using it in their advertising!

great post

Originally posted by milo
The Z is an engine wrapped in a car.

The RX-8 is a driver wrapped in a car.



I think that says it all. Excellent post, and my sentiments exactly.