What do you intend to do regarding the 231bhp issue?

I really cant choose, its too close to call at the moment.

All I know is that it will be 1, 2 or 3.

And it's 228bhp not 231 :D

i'm inclined to wait and see. can't see myself chiping it - invalidating the insurance and warranty - for a few bhp. i'd still like to see a true performance test - 7 seconds is very slow.

Originally posted by MarkW
I really cant choose, its too close to call at the moment.

All I know is that it will be 1, 2 or 3.

And it's 228bhp not 231 :D


228?! Guess I missed that. It just gets worse... :( Hiya Mr Nissan...

wait and see. :(

Originally posted by Lensman


228?! Guess I missed that. It just gets worse... :( Hiya Mr Nissan...

Yep, sounds worse as its in the 220's doesnt it.

As quoted elsewhere:

231ps = 228bhp
240ps = 237bhp

It's still a fabulous car and a great piece of automotive engineering!!

It will still be no slouch and with looks to die for.

Your friends will envy you in this

Cheers
Oilman

Originally posted by oilman
It's still a fabulous car and a great piece of automotive engineering!!

It will still be no slouch and with looks to die for.

Your friends will envy you in this

Cheers
Oilman

Hey, I voted for option 2 so I'm not out of here just yet. Just for the record: ALL my friends (very car savvy to a person) are urging me to get the 350Z so I've been resisting peer pressure for months. Ask me again next week when I've seen both cars at Millbrook.

Lensman

Know you've also got your eye/deposit on the Nissan. Whats the service been like from them in terms of the pre-order process.

Any promises of books, look at the car, driving days etc

Lensman, you mean you prefer this ugly brute?

Cheers
Oilman

Gotta agree with the oilman - that Z is damned ugly....
I appear to be in a minority though.

Morgan.

The 2001 miatta or as we call it in oz mx5 was ment tobe 155bhp and was advertised as such ,later when it was dynoed it was found to have only 141bhp ,on learning this MAZDA head office offered to fully refund all moneys to the people that werent happy with the car .YOU guys are now getting 228bhp???i would be ckecing my car as soon it can be dynoed if the figures arent correct i would be asking for my dollars back in this day and age MISTAKES ???like the mx5 should not be happening .

Not such a minority!

228, WOW, that is bad. Some say they are just numbers, but 22 HP off the JDM and US spec models will be very noticable. I would ask for a better deal since some of you preordered it at 240 HP.

Rob

Originally posted by tinck
Lensman

Know you've also got your eye/deposit on the Nissan. Whats the service been like from them in terms of the pre-order process.

Any promises of books, look at the car, driving days etc

Excellent service. My dealer rings my regularly to update me and just keep in touch. Nissan are giving me corporate hospitality at the 'Goodwood Festival of Speed' (several hundred pounds worth of tickets and freebies for two) and they have pointed out every opportunity to see the car this year.

Originally posted by oilman
Lensman, you mean you prefer this ugly brute?

Now now Gentlemen... Just because it's not an RX-8 don't diss it.

Firstly, like me, you've not seen it in reality. Everyone I know who has says it looks FAR better than the images. The only person I know who has seen both cars (in the US) prefers the 350Z by far.

Secondly, I've not made any decisions about my preferences. I've said all along that seeing the cars in the metal will be the final test and in 5 days time that will happen.

Thirdly, in the only magazine review we have directly comparing both cars (it's on the forum somewhere) the reviewer said the 'Z' was unambiguously gorgeous' whereas the RX-8 was not.

Finally, I wouldn't be considering the 'Z' so actively if Mazda hadn't let me down!

Lensman,

Looking forward to a full and thorough review of your thoughts on both cars next week :D :D

Mark

Not really diss'ing it - just stating the opinion (mine) that from the images I have seen it does look amazingly ugly.
As ever , it is a subjective thing.

Also feel it does a different job to the RX.
Traditional pistons , Big 'grunt' only 2 seats. Not really a valid compare for the RX is it ?
I think the only reason they are being compared so readily is that they are the 'sports' offering of 2 major Japanese manufacturers that happen to be released at the same time.
The vehicles have very different ideals to one another.....

Therefore - if the looks *do* appeal to you , you only need 2 seats , you have the extra cash - go for it and be happy !
If it does not work out , the RX will still be around for a few years yet....

Morgan.

PS - If you or rael do bail , are you going to try your luck on ebay ? rael particularly has a very low EP number.....

It does do a different job to the RX-8 yes, but luckily for me I can accomodate either. I really haven't decided to lose the Mazda yet so keep me in the family for now ;-)

Hey, I don't want to get on my soapbox again so please don't get me going!

How can you compare a four door four seat coupe with a two door sports car!!!!!!!!!:o

The only simularity is they are both JAPANESE!!

Cheers
OILMAN;)

Originally posted by oilman
Hey, I don't want to get on my soapbox again so please don't get me going!

How can you compare a four door four seat coupe with a two door sports car!!!!!!!!!:o

The only simularity is they are both JAPANESE!!

Cheers
OILMAN;)

Uhm, which part of: 'It does do a different job to the RX-8 yes, but luckily for me I can accomodate either.' was confusing? Doesn't that acknowledge that they are different beasts but that either beast will fit my needs (just about)?!

Oilman,

Any comparisons depend upon your viewpoint.

I am married but no kids so I can have a 2 seater, but 4 seats is just more useful when going out with family friends etc.

However my criteria for a car performance and handling are high on the list, and I personally would consider both the RX8 and 350Z as well as a number of dissimilar cars.

My criteria in order for selecting a car is:

Price
Residual Value
Handling
Performance
Equipment
Practicality
Looks
Economy

I think the order you select your criteria will determine which cars appeal to you.

Just my 2 cents.

Mark

Agreed;)

Cheers
Oilman

Herr Lensman (and others), for my person I don't really understand how you can go after this Nissan. For me it is a design mix of a Porsche with a TT -- just like two dawgs beeing crossed (on the street :) ). Even when I did not have a family I would have never considered buying any of those.

The BMW 330Ci is not too bad, but it is like the sedan with two doors taken away. I did like the old Opel Calibra (don't know the Vauxhall name of it) and did consider it at the time. But the turbo was not affordable and the V6 was not so appealing to me. Bought me two MX-3s then and was extremely happy. Lightweight, sporty, not tooo costly, smooth engine. I saved a lot over some BMWs or Audi or whatever....

I have seen the RX-8 and I really like it in person. The Z350 was there and just didn't look good (o.k., only IMHO and I don't want to restart an old debatte....). I found the Z300 very good then, but much too costly (should've importef one from USA when 1 dollar was like 1,50 Deutschmarks :D )

Well, as You said, you will look at both and then decide. Just hold on for the pressure ;) You know that I have one big concern still (MPG).

Cheers, have a good day, Norbert.

"Two Dawgs" ! LOL ! :) :) :) :) :)

Like you Maverik I too had an MX-3 and was very happy with it, OK the V6 was possibly the smallest on the planet at 1.8 litres but it was so smooth.

I currently drive an MX-6 more powerful although it handles a bit like a tank sometimes, again it has a wonderfilly smooth 2.5 litre V6, a very flat torque curve, and room for four adults, but I still wouldn't call it a sports car.

The Idea of a lighter and more compact car with more room inside for the backseat passengers, with a engine that is smoother and even more powerful than the one I have at the moment, with the power deliverd to the rear wheels for some driving fun. Wow!

The RX-8 to me is a practical, luxury car, that I can use on a day to day basis, but if I feel the need to let loose every now and again, I can. It sounds like I'ts also a car you can have some serious track day fun in. What other car provide s such a complete package?

My only regret is that our drive is so long I'll be depriving passing motorists the pleasure of looking at my car. (Perhaps I'll leave it on the road outside for a while as a treat for them). ;)

Lensman said

Excellent service. My dealer rings my regularly to update me and just keep in touch. Nissan are giving me corporate hospitality at the 'Goodwood Festival of Speed' (several hundred pounds worth of tickets and freebies for two) and they have pointed out every opportunity to see the car this year.

Oh dear

It does seem like the 'cons' against the eightball are mounting

Lower power
crap pre-sales service
middling depreciation (at best) awful at worst - a la W8.
delayed delivery schedule
potentially high insurance bracket


It would seem to me that the coffin is almost nailed shut...

I guess the clarkster and co will be the decider...

If I was Mazda UK - I'd be SERIOUSLY concerned - as apart from looks - they could be heading for Mx-6 type lemon territory...

I'm still tending towards cancelling - also drove the new RX300 soft roader from Lexus last W/E was an eye opener - different sort of car and ride - but damn it ws good!

BK

As pointed out the way i feel at the monent am sitting on the fence. I hope when i see and drive the car it will blow me away and by then better information is avialable including more UK car reviews.

I don't particularly need 4 good sized seats as we run 2 cars but if the performance is the same as my existing TT I would go for it but but not if the performance is much worse and the depreciation numbers are frightening especially compared to the TT which has held up very well.

If only Mazda would hand out a few carrots like Nissan have!

rael

At least we've got a debate going here!;)

Let's hope Mazda Uk are reading:eek:

Cheers
Oilman

I have never got the impression that Mazda UK or their dealers are reading this site although it would be a goodsend to their PR department to enable them to be ahead of the general market and fix things early.

Really disappointed with them.

rael

How can the performance be 'much worse' than a 225bhp TT ?
Gotta be much of a muchness at minimum !

Surely "performance" and "TT" shouldn't be in the same sentence...?? :P


-andy-

I would expect the TT & RX8 at 225 and 228 to be similar but, the RX8 should be quicker with better performance 70-100mph.

Cheers
Oilman

Originally posted by oilman
I would expect the TT & RX8 at 225 and 228 to be similar but, the RX8 should be quicker with better performance 70-100mph.

Cheers
Oilman

Not convinced about that at all. The 225TT has a huge ammount more torque, and inthose gears you have to spend longer out of the higher bhp revs?

A turbo-4 should have a wider power band (and thus, a bit more torque in the midrange) than a peaky engine like the Renesis or stook inline-4 making the same power. In the same car, the turbo-4 should be faster.

At the same time, the TT has a bit of weight, so who knows...

---jps