Clarkson tested the 350Z and hated it, really pulled it apart. In the studio summary they were discussing upcoming 'sporty' cars that ARE good and they suggested the RX-8: 'Wankel rotary engine, yes, very nice' says Jeremy.
Ha! :D

didnt do very well at all. Here's hoping they like the RX8. Rumour has it they have already filmed, and the Stig has had his hands on it...

JC gave it a right slating, 3 out of 10 I think.

They did say that the UK spec will be different though....

Yes they certainly didnt rate it, but then JC`s a plonker at the end of ther day, and his observations at best not especially relevant in terms of being objective.

Originally posted by 787B
Yes they certainly didnt rate it, but then JC`s a plonker at the end of ther day, and his observations at best not especially relevant in terms of being objective.
It's true he's not very objective. Good.

I've seen enough of RX-8's being raced round Japanese race tracks and then slagged off for not having enough torque (yawn) and reviews in US magazines with their daft slalom tests and g-force measurements. All very objective but not very relevant to real world driving/owning experience.

I'd much rather see someone like JC drive it on real roads and tell us why he personally likes it or doesn't like it.

It was interesting that he didn't like the 350Z's handling and thought it was too heavy and not agile enough. "I thought it'd be like a Mazda MX-5 but with more power. But it just isn't." Hmm, now I wonder if I can think of a car that might fit that description ;) .

I was quite pleased with that. I was dreading JC saying "this is the definitive sports coupe to buy this year. Everything else is naff", or something like that.

He really didn't like it at all :D

Agree Jimbobjoe, let's hope he's saving his best for the RX8 and its wankel rotary engine which he seems to like saying!

Cheers
Oilman

I've merged the two top gear threads together. Probably did it the wrong way round, but this title is more accurate........;)

Originally posted by jimbobjoe
I've merged the two top gear threads together. Probably did it the wrong way round, but this title is more accurate........;)

Hey shouldn't the RX-8 take precedence over the bloated 'Z' beast?!!! ;)

Nah. This thread is for top gear rubbishing the Z350 mainly. He only said one line about the RX-8, so we'll just have to wait for a proper discussion soon.

Originally posted by jimbobjoe
Nah. This thread is for top gear rubbishing the Z350 mainly. He only said one line about the RX-8, so we'll just have to wait for a proper discussion soon.

Just to be 100% irritatingly pedantic: it was a 'Fairlady Z', the Japanese version that he drove. I can't see there being that much difference between it and the UK car though. I've sat in the car they had in the studio (Le Mans Sunset colour) and I hate to say it but the quality of the interior seemed at least as good or slightly better than the RX-8 that we've seen. The storage covers were of a similar quality. Anyone disagree?

I agree Lensman that at Motordrive the two's interiors were of comparable quality (the 350Z slightly better if anything.)

The thing about Clarkson is though, if he's decided to slate a car he will pick on every perceivable fault. If he likes the RX8 to drive the interior build quality wont get mentioned. I hope this is the case as I think Top Gear has a real world affect on residuals, like it or not (or like Clarkson or not!)

I can't remember if I have posted this before, but my friend that works on the programme has spoken to Andy Willman (Executive Producer and Top Gear Guru) about the RX-8 and he was very complementary.

I would expect a good review of the car, although I am sure there are only 2 or 3 programmes left this year so they may miss out.

Chris :D

I've sat in the car they had in the studio (Le Mans Sunset colour) and I hate to say it but the quality of the interior seemed at least as good or slightly better than the RX-8 that we've seen. The storage covers were of a similar quality. Anyone disagree?

I also thought that the interior quality of the 350Z at Motorexpo was better than the RX8.

However, the RX8 was pre-production and from all the photos Ive seen I expect the final production interior to be a lot nicer (esp in Red/Black leather)

TG was the first time my Mrs had seen the 350Z and she didnt like it at all.

It amazing to think that a plonker like Clarkson can have so much influence and have us (and the car industry) shaking in our boots.

Having said that, irrespective of how good or bad the car is, we need him to be positive to stop more of us deserting the ship.

rael.

I think his influence will only be short term in that if he is positive then it will boost sales, therefore short term re-sale values but his influence over the longer term will be negligible.

However, if he is very negative, I think it will live on in the publics memory for much longer. As I think we have said before people remember negative things much longer than positive.

IMHO

Chris

I dont think it'll make any difference whatever.

Top gear have totaly slated cars before now (Vecta and suzuki x90 for examples) and it hasnt effected the sales at all.

When they slated the vectra top gear was BBC2's highest viewing show with 4million+ viewers(I think).

Now I'll admit vecra residuals arnt good but there are other reasons for that.

Personaly I actualy think JC's subjective views on cars are usualy fairly accuratre, but not always. He drives an AMG SL 55 , hardly my ideal car (yes its quick but its far to heavy) but it probably suits him more than me.

Missed last nights show, may catch it on sky sometime in the future.

Shame he slaged off the 350z, I dont want any performance car to do badly, the rest of the dross on the roads is bad enough, and the Z isnt direct competition to the 8 anyhow, despite the press conenction, they just both happen to be quick and from japan.

Just a comment on the comparison of interior quality. I have not seen the 350Z in person. But at the preview event for the RX-8 this weekend i received a 'questions and answers' brochure.

'the quality of the interior finishes and materials is not indicative of the final production vehicles. The final version will have a much more premium feel'

I thought the interior wasn't as good as it could have been, but reading this made me much happier.

Goose,

I am off to the preview in Bristol tonight, are you allowed to sit in the car etc...

Chris

c170673

Yes, you get to sit in and play with the car, open boot, look at engine. The battery is not connected, and so you can't see the instruments lit up, and there is only a dummy faceplate on the stereo, so you can't hear that. But just seeing in person will leave you happy enough!

is it the blue J-spec car that is doing the rounds ? or is it a european model

The car i saw was the blue, J-spec, pre-production, 5speed with cloth.

I'd like to see a scan of the article, if possible.

Thanks!

if i remember i'll scan in later, but i'm at work at the mo.

Originally posted by Goose
if i remember i'll scan in later, but i'm at work at the mo. I am too :)

Thanks for that btw :)

350Z just reviewed by 4car.co.uk;

http://www.channel4.com/apps26/4car/jsp/main.jsp?lnk=231_2&reviewid=813


It also gets 5 out of 5 like the RX8.

AnilS.

Originally posted by AnilS
350Z just reviewed by 4car.co.uk;

http://www.channel4.com/apps26/4car/jsp/main.jsp?lnk=231_2&reviewid=813


It also gets 5 out of 5 like the RX8.

AnilS. It's a good car, but not very livable... I liked the G35C much better in feel and handling when I drove them both.

it doesn't sound like they drove it to me, anyone could have cobbled that report together from the Nissan site.

i quite like the looks, at least it's a bit different, but to give a 5out of 5 rating they should at least have some 1st hand experience of driving it.

I think they did drive it... but one quote I rather enjoyed...

If the 350Z is perhaps not quite as satisfying a drive as the similarly configured Porsche 944/968 family once offered, it is nevertheless more refined than the German classic and is easily a better drive than the Audi TT and the Chrysler Crossfire. Whether it can better the Mazda RX-8 remains to be seen.

The RX-8 for reference, got a 5 star rating on the Fun to Drive where the Z gets a 4.

It's all magazines though... I think the best bet is to drive it and see if you like it yourself. Magazines tell you what they think... but everybody's different and thus, different strokes for different folks.

350z.

Overall 5/5
-----------------------
Reliability and Quality 4/5
Image 4/5
Performance 4/5
Ease of Driving 3/5
Safety and Security 4/5
Roominess 2/5
Running Costs 3/5
Comfort 4/5
Fun to Drive 4/5
Stereo/Sat Nav 3/5
Value for Money 4/5
Used 4/5

total 43/60

RX-8

Overall 5/5
-------------------
Reliability and Quality 4/5
Image 5/5
Performance 5/5
Ease of Driving 4/5
Safety and Security 4/5
Roominess 4/5
Running Costs 4/5
Comfort 4/5
Fun to Drive 5/5
Stereo/Sat Nav 5/5
Value for Money 5/5
Used 4/5

total 53/60

10 points more for the 8.

But it does read like they only looked at the glossys and not ever turned the key.

With an average score of just under 3.6/5 how did it get a total score of 5/5?? I've heard of the total being better than the sum of the parts but that's ridiculous!

How can a car that doesn't get a single 5/5 get an overall top score 5/5.

The average mark for the 350Z is 3.6/5, and no matter how you weight the scores there is no way to bump the average up to 5/5 if no individual item gets a 5 (most get a 4 or 3).

The average mark for the RX-8 is 4.4/5, but if more weighting is given to performance or fun-to-drive or value then I can see this going up to a maximum overall 5/5 (after rounding to nearest integer).

Sometimes they say the 'overall' isn't just an average of all the categories though.. even by their own measurements I am curious as to how they got that rating anyways.

It's moot either way, as it's a review.. I drove the 350Z and wasn't terribly impressed... and when I drive the RX-8 I'll make my observations on that as well.

<RANT>The Z gets 3/5 for stereo/satnav whereas the RX-8 gets 5/5. As the Z has the worst Bose audio system ever created (acknowledged by Nissan and Bose) and no sat-nav in the UK I kinda think that even giving it 3 is generous!</RANT>

LENSMAN

HAVEN'T YOU CANCELLED YOUR 350Z YET??!!;)

Cheers
Oilman:p

For Herc:

next page:

last (scanned) page:

thanks Goose - very good work. I can't make my invitation so it's good to get some feedback.

re: Bose stereo - there was talk of it being capable of playing MP3s - do you know if this is true?

6CDs full of MP3s will give 60 hours of music - enough for me

Originally posted by oilman
LENSMAN

HAVEN'T YOU CANCELLED YOUR 350Z YET??!!;)

Cheers
Oilman:p

Soon, real soon, but not THIS week... ;)

Hi .. I'm new to the RX-8 .. pre-ordered last week. Forgetting Jeremy C, I recently bought What Car's road test directory and guess what?

Only 9 cars scored 5/5:

Mercedes S class
BMW M3
BMW M5
Ferrarri 360
Mercedes SL
Porsche 911
Porsche Boxster
Vauxhall VX220

AND .... Mazda RX-8

Not bad company eh? And BTW ... Nissan 350Z scored 3/5

Originally posted by mr_digital_uk
Hi .. I'm new to the RX-8 .. pre-ordered last week. Forgetting Jeremy C, I recently bought What Car's road test directory and guess what?

Only 9 cars scored 5/5:

Mercedes S class
BMW M3
BMW M5
Ferrarri 360
Mercedes SL
Porsche 911
Porsche Boxster
Vauxhall VX220

AND .... Mazda RX-8

Not bad company eh? And BTW ... Nissan 350Z scored 3/5
Welcome to the RX8Club! :)

Originally posted by mr_digital_uk
Hi .. I'm new to the RX-8 .. pre-ordered last week. Forgetting Jeremy C, I recently bought What Car's road test directory and guess what?

Only 9 cars scored 5/5:

Mercedes S class
BMW M3
BMW M5
Ferrarri 360
Mercedes SL
Porsche 911
Porsche Boxster
Vauxhall VX220

AND .... Mazda RX-8

Not bad company eh? And BTW ... Nissan 350Z scored 3/5

Hi Mr_digital

Welcome to the rx8club and the UK forum. You will find lots of useful information on here.

What have you ordered?

You might want to add your details to the 'EP Register' at the top of the UK forum, which shows the rest of the UK members on here.

Cheers

Mark

Mark,

In deference to our European cousins, although the majority of posts are from the UK I don't think we want to alienate anyone.

IMHO

Chris

Huh ?

Well the point is that this IS the Europe forum, not the UK forum!

Remember, strange languages, reviews in French (excellent review to the poster - my French wasn't as bad as I remembered!)

Mr Digital, so you live about 3 miles away then?! Welcome! Have you added your details to the sticky post at the top of the forum? Did you order through TW Whites too or perhaps the one in Bookham?!

methinks beers are on the cards!

Si

Bugbear, the 6 CD player will not play MP3 files.
There is a single disk MP3 player that can be purchased as an option but it replaces the 6CD player.

However, you can buy a minidisk player that fits in the lower slot of the audio rack, and I believe you can store MP3s on these as well.

But theres no info on being able to read MP3's from the MD.

I htink its poor form not allowing 6CD and MP3 together.

If the MP3 player is only single CD whats the point of that over a 6CD? 1 CD will only hold 10ish CD's of mp3's so no real advantage, for much poorer sound quality.

I'd go for 6CD on top and a HDD MP3 Player in the lower half.

Originally posted by RobDickinson
But theres no info on being able to read MP3's from the MD.

I htink its poor form not allowing 6CD and MP3 together.

If the MP3 player is only single CD whats the point of that over a 6CD? 1 CD will only hold 10ish CD's of mp3's so no real advantage, for much poorer sound quality.

I'd go for 6CD on top and a HDD MP3 Player in the lower half.

I totally agree Rob. Let me know if you source a hard disk player and sort out slotting it in and connecting it.

Originally posted by c170673
Mark,

In deference to our European cousins, although the majority of posts are from the UK I don't think we want to alienate anyone.

IMHO

Chris

Jeez,

I was only welcoming the guy! It was a slip of the hand to type UK not European. I do post in several forums, most of which have a UK section.

Im no Xenophobe and all our European friends are most welcome :) as is anyone else for that matter.

Mark

Anybody have the TopGear article scanned?

Thanks!

I know someone who is going to the filming of Top Gear tomorrow. I've asked them to get lots of photo's of the RX-8 for us! It was this week the car was down at the studio wasn't it??


-andy-

hey does anyone have a copy of the 350z review they could post? I know it's not really an RX-8 thing, but I'd be interested to see it. Thanks!

No full review as yet AFAIK (presume it will be in the Sept mag issue - same as the RX-8)

but...heres a very limited summary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/prog18/nissan.shtml