I am debating whether I should get the RX-8 or the Nissan 350Z. Both are nice cars in appearance but performance wise I believe that the 350Z is more superior. The Nissan both automatic and manual has a 287hp @6200 RPM with 274 lb-ft of torque. Nissan claims that the 350Z can do 0-62mph in 6.0 s. The Mazda RX-8 on the other hand has 247hp @8500 RPM for the manual and 207hp @7200 RPM for the automatic. I am having a really hard choice to decide which car to purchase. If anyone could give me their opinion I would appreciate it.

Try a search. I just did and came up with about 20+ threads on this very subject. Isn't technology great! ;)

pr0xy... you are treading on dangerous ground ;)

Actually this has been debated at great length (and became rather "heated"). If you are really concerned w/ straight line performance, I would suggest the 350Z... although if that is your main concern, you may actually want to look at the top end Mustangs.

For normal driving (and average drivers), the handling/braking on either car is excellent. Assuming you are not going to take it to the track, it comes down to a couple things.

1. Are you concerned about 0-60? (350Z wins)
2. Will you ever need a back seat? (RX-8)
3. How important is the quality of the interior? (edge to RX-8)
4. Which do YOU like more?

Both cars have their own "look", you just need to figure out which one suits your needs.

Good Luck!!!!

tgd, thanks for your valuable input. I perfer imports to the "top end Mustang" would be out of the question. Besides that, the Mustang handling is terrible. It is a fact that the new Mustang Cobra has a 390hp with 390lb-ft of torque. But common, an import is an import. Once again thanks to tgd for the reply.

Anyone else?

I have seen the interior on both cars. The 350 looks and feel cheap. The 8's interior was much better. I have also heard horror stories about the 350's bose system. I heard the 8's and it was awesome.

My 2cents

if you're looking for performance, go z. personally I think the 8 is now in the sports sedan (4 seater) class...better compared to the g35 coupe. and I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I think the 8 is mazda's attempt to establish a new flagship car that can compete in the marketplace.

I agree with rotorgeek, the interior and the sound system of the z are cheap, yet I haven't been inside the 8.

good feedback RotorGeek and jais. Jais, I haven't understood the line

"personally I think the 8 is now in the sports sedan (4 seater) class...better compared to the g35 coupe. "

are you saying the RX-8 is more compared to the G35 sports coupe?

all opinions and facts are greatfully appreciated!

Yeah the 8 better compares with the G35. But the 8 has better rear seat room. Remember the 350 only has two seats

yeah - thats true RotorGeek. THe RX-8's interior is superior then the 350z and the g35 sports coupe. Do you know the specs of hand on the g35 coupe and is there a big difference in the peformance?

I do think the 8 is closer to the g35. that's what I was attempting to put into words. so far there have been a lot of comparison between the z and the 8. I'm of the mindset that if you're going to compare cars, compare the ones that are more closely related in performance and class.

Rx8 all the way. the 350z's interior is just too cheap looking. If you get the G35 thats a different story.

yes, thats true. I completely forgot about the G35. Do you know how the G35 would compare to the RX-8? I was checking the car online but I never test drove and checked out the interior. Anyone know any info on the G35?

thanks for the info bluesaint. I completely forgot about the G35. Looks like an excellent car.

Why don't you just test drive both and decide which one YOU like better? We'll all give you input about what WE think till we're blue in the fingers, but that doesn't mean you're going to like the same car we do.


There are also a ton of threads on this same topic elsewhere in the forum. It's been talked to death already.

I believe for most people, their choice will come down to either the Z or the 8. Yes they are both different cars with very different things going for them, but it's kinda the exterior styling. Both cars resemble an exotic, the Z has a kinda Porschish look from certain, and the 8 has a Maserti-like looks to it from certain angles. Everyone here is looking in the price range that both the Z and the 8 are in. Mostly everyone here is looking for a car that looks completely different on the road, handles awesome, is fast, has a great deal of features, and will turn people heads.
So for most people here who are still kinda wondering which to get, it'll be a toss-up. I feel the Z has a much more sleeker body, but looks like a plastic coffin inside with a really bad sound system. My suggestion is to wait until the 8 arrives, and then take both for a test drive, wait a day then make the choice. Remember your kinda stuck with the car for a few years, so the Z has some distinct disadvantages as an everyday car i.e no back seat, tiny trunk space, bad sound system, cheap plastic interior (which might crack or whatever) - these things may not look like big things now, but after the zoom zoom engine sounds become old and the speeding tickets start mounting and it becomes your everyday car after the fun wears out - your kinda locked in. I am not bashing the Z by any means, I am trying to point out some real world stuff that is often overlooked by people including me

This topic is covered in so many places. So many pro rx8 will bash the z and ppl who are pro z will bash the rx8. Both cars are very nice and I was looking into both, but the bottom line for me was the z has no rear seats, worthless trunk, and also is more expensive. Like tgd posted it all depends on what you want. 0-60=z, handling=rx8, interior=rx8

Originally posted by AsianStyle
This topic is covered in so many places. So many pro rx8 will bash the z and ppl who are pro z will bash the rx8. Both cars are very nice and I was looking into both, but the bottom line for me was the z has no rear seats, worthless trunk, and also is more expensive. Like tgd posted it all depends on what you want. 0-60=z, handling=rx8, interior=rx8

I agree with you completely. and I would choose the 8 over the z both but because I love the style and the return of the rotary, I'd go with the 8.

my roommate drives an mr2 spyder and loves to point out that a true sports car is a two-seater. so it all really depends on what you're really looking for. I'm still in love with the 8, so that's all I care about.

My suggestion is to wait until the 8 arrives, and then take both for a test drive, wait a day then make the choice. Remember your kinda stuck with the car for a few years

I choose to give you different advice. Order the RX-8, as the MSRP is thousands lower than the G35 (and a little lower than the Z).

If you decide it's not for you, there will be plenty of potential owners more than willing to latch onto your RX-8. I doubt you will lose any money, as the dealers will not be able to keep new ones in inventory.

The G35 (COUPE) is a closer car to compare if you are talking about usability. The G35 is a beautiful car and possibly what I would consider the perfect car except for their pricing layout. You can get the basic model (which has lots of features) for $29,500. But that is an automatic. If you want the manual then you have to pay another three grand for the upgrade to the leather package and other stuff. That sucks and puts it well above what I want to pay for a car like this. I would prefer to stick with something in the $26k-$30k range. But if I go check out the G35 coupe and fall in love with it... then it will all be history. I want to wait for the 8 to come out before making up my mind.

I did manage to sit in the G35 coupe at the Houston auto show and really liked it. Unfortunately I didn't realize how inexpensive it was at the time so I didn't look it over as closely as I could have. :( The next time I see one I'll be going over it with a fine tooth comb, so to speak.

Originally posted by retrodog
The G35 (COUPE) is a closer car to compare if you are talking about usability.

I did manage to sit in the G35 coupe at the Houston auto show and really liked it. Unfortunately I didn't realize how inexpensive it was at the time so I didn't look it over as closely as I could have. :( The next time I see one I'll be going over it with a fine tooth comb, so to speak.

I think the g35 is closer in terms of performance and style as well. I think the z just has the edge on performance against both the 8 and the g35. but that doesn't change the fact that the 8 is better suited to a different target, in my opinion at least. for what its worth.

the milwaukee auto show had the g35 coupe on display and I managed to check it out pretty closely, despite the 30 or so greedy old people that were just drawn to the inifiniti logo. I was disappointed though because the 8 wasn't even out, if it was there at all. that's actually what I went for, but eh.

Originally posted by jais


I think the z just has the edge on performance against both the 8 and the g35.

did i read somewhere that the g35c had better skid pad pulls or slaloms or something over the z?

Yeah probably. It supposedly has a longer wheelbase, or so a salesman told me, and could have different driving characteristics (plus or minus) to the Z.

There is little doubt about the engineering of the engine in the Z and G35 though. It is one incredibly efficient work of engineering. And so is the new renesis engine if it lives up to the claims of Mazda. I really don't think you could go wrong with any one of these three.

Originally posted by zoom44


did i read somewhere that the g35c had better skid pad pulls or slaloms or something over the z?


It's because the G35C has better stock tires than the Z. Skidpad is more affected by tires, and slalom is more affected by suspension. But keep in mind, that neither are definitive indicators of how are car will be in real life driving or track - other variables also come into play.

Originally posted by nk_Rx8



It's because the G35C has better stock tires than the Z. Skidpad is more affected by tires, and slalom is more affected by suspension. But keep in mind, that neither are definitive indicators of how are car will be in real life driving or track - other variables also come into play.

true but since most people magazine race it should be noted that according to the magazines the g35c actually betters the 350z in some categories of measure.

Here are some specs

G35
Exterior
Length: 182.2 in.
Width: 71.5 in.
Height: 54.8 in.
Weight: 3435 lbs.
Wheel Base: 112.2 in.


Interior
Front Head Room: 39.2 in.
Front Hip Room: 53.6 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 53.7 in.
Rear Head Room: 34.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 52.7 in.
Front Leg Room: 43.8 in.
Rear Leg Room: 31.4 in.
Luggage Capacity: 7.8 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 4


Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 6
Base Engine Size: 3.5 liters
Base Engine Type: V6
Horsepower: 280 hp
Max Horsepower: 6000 rpm
Torque: 270 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4800 rpm
Drive Type: RWD

350z touring
Exterior
Length: 169.6 in.
Width: 71.5 in.
Height: 51.9 in.
Weight: 3247 lbs.
Wheel Base: 104.3 in.


Interior
Front Head Room: 38.2 in.
Front Hip Room: 53.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 53.6 in.
N/A
N/A
Front Leg Room: 42.6 in.
N/A
Luggage Capacity: 6.8 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 2


Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 6
Base Engine Size: 3.5 liters
Base Engine Type: V6
Horsepower: 287 hp
Max Horsepower: 6200 rpm
Torque: 274 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4800 rpm
Drive Type: RWD



RX-8 GT
Exterior
Length: 174.3 in.
Width: 69.7 in.
Height: 52.8 in.
Weight: 2950 lbs est
Wheel Base: 106.4 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.3 in.

Interior
Front Head Room: 38.2 in.
N/A
Front Shoulder Room: 54.8 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 53.2 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.7 in.
Rear Leg Room: 32.3 in.
Luggage Capacity: 8 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 4


Performance
Base Engine 2 rotor Rotary
Base Engine Size 1.3 liter
Rotary
Horsepower: 250 hp
Max Horsepower: 8500 rpm
Torque: 159 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 5500 rpm
Drive Type: RWD

hmmm.... performance wise all these cars are very close to each other. The 350z is not really that much powerful then the g35. couple of horses more and a little more lbs-ft of torque. I would say that the g35 is very very close in performance then the 350z. :) :)

I meant to say "very very close to the 350z"

g35 is juss a 2+2 version of the 350z sold as the infiniti name. So alot of people who want a 350z who needs the back seats look at the g35. They share the same engine, but for some reason the g35's engine turns out a little less hp. The interior of the 350z can't be compared to the g35 and the rx8. I have sat in all three. The 350z's sound system sucks compared to both and the cheap plastic used in the 350z is nasty. Im sorry if it sounds like Im bashing the 350z, but Im just stating facts. The g35 does have a much better interior than the the 350z, but I found it to be rather dull compared to the rx8, the quality of the materials seems to be up to par on both the rx8 and g35.

"I just can't stop thingking about the heated seats.
I hate cold leather seats... OOO the warmness."

Does the Z have heated seats... emmm NO.
go get the 8. LOL. J/K
look at the best looking Z and now go look at the
mazdaspeed rx-8 again... that picture will make you forget about the Z.

350Z's with leather seats are heated!

My 2 cents worth.
RX-8 wins in the following:
1. Weight
2. Driving Dynamics
3. Uniqueness
4. 4 seats
5. 4 doors
6. Rotary Engine
7. Revving
8. Handling
9. Interior
10. Shifting
11. Pretty much does it for me

That is not to say the 350Z is undesirable. I love it too, I just prefer the RX-8.