cr8

Hi folks. Long-time on-and-off lurker posting for the first time. (Sorry for the long post - didn't realize the size of it till I was done.) Last weekend I actually bit the bullet and seriously started looking for a new car (current car, '91 Nissan 240SX, has a loose timing chain and will cost more to fix than is worth). I knew I wanted a new car, one that would be fun to drive, one that I could afford comfortably, one that would have enough space for reasonable practicality (since this would be my only car) and, I guess, one that I wouldn't mind staring at for long periods of time. Luckily I had quite a few choices, unlike what it would have been like a couple years ago. I chose to test-drive the RX-8, 350Z, G35 coupe and the Crossfire - thought 4 was a reasonable number of cars to try. I left out the smallish cars (Z3/4, new Miata, S2000) and the ones I thought were downright ugly or totally undistinguished in the looks dept (WRX, Evo, R32).

First off, I just want to say that I now agree with everyone who's ever said that a test-drive is essential to find out if you really like a car. Though I ended up liking the car I thought I would prefer (RX-8 - sorry for eliminating any remaining suspense/mystery), that probably just says I know myself reasonably well. There were several things I was surprised about.



RX-8: I knew I liked the looks of the car, and found nothing to change my opinion, though up close I continued to feel the styling was too busy for my minimalist tastes. The car looks good, and very spacious, with all 4 doors open. I got into the back seat and found it to be reasonably roomy - my friend who sat there during the test drive and who's 6 feet tall and fairly big said the space was ok though of course he wouldn't want to be sitting there for long periods. The salesman drove us around a bit first, and demonstrated (impressively I thought) the suspension by going over a few bumps. When I got behind the wheel I found the driving position (seat/wheel) easy to adjust to a comfortable position. The shifter felt like a little toy - I'm coming from a 91 Hyundai Excel, an 86 RX-7 and a 91 Nissan 240SX. We drove on city streets and took a few quick corners. I was impressed with the handling. What really floored me was the on-ramp - at close to double the suggested speed, it felt as if a drink in one of the cup-holders full to the brim wouldn't have spilled a drop. Getting on the freeway, I enjoyed the long wind-ups between shifts. On the freeway and on city streets, I didn't feel the suspension was too hard, or would bother me on long drive. Overall, driving this car was great fun, and it seemed to be very easy to get comfortable driving it.

350Z: Almost all the things I felt I wouldn't like about this car, I had no problems with. The outside I already liked a lot - as far as looks go, I prefer this car to all the others on the list. The interior I had expected not to like (given lots of folks' comments, including on this forum), but I thought it was quite well done - I was expecting to find something like one of my friends' 2-year-old G35 sedan, but it was much better, both in terms of materials and design. The things I don't like about this car's interior and all the Infinitis are the steering wheel - for some reason I think the brushed aluminum is all wrong - and the shifter. The lack of trunk space was surprising - the raised bottom of the trunk is I suppose a consequence of the full-size spare, and the reinforcing bar across the top (though it looks ince from the outside) takes away a lot of what's left. I was expecting to find the sort of space in my old RX-7 or in the 240SX with the back seats down. On the road (it was just my friend and me, with a credit card at the dealer's - which I incidentally forgot and had to go back for later LOL), I agreed with the general sentiment I've heard / read, that this car has more raw power and less refinement than the RX-8. That said, I did expect to feel an enormous difference in the power (the infamous butt dyno) with the RX-8, but didn't - did feel it a little off the line, but not much otherwise. The handling was impressive but didn't equal that of the RX-8. One other thing that I expected to be bothered by was the harsh ride, but I couldn't tell much of a difference between this car's ride and that of the RX-8. Perhaps my old RX-7 has made me immune to stiff suspensions. Before the end of the test drive, I knew I would take the RX-8 over this car, but I think that was more because of what I liked about the RX-8 and not because of what I didn't like about this car. If the RX-8 hadn't been around, I would have been quite happy with the 350Z.

G35C: This car didn't do much for me. That may have a little (very little) to do with the fact that I was driving a year-old trade-in, not a new car (they didn't have any new MTs). There's of course a fair amount this car has in common with the 350Z. The interior was very much like that of a regular luxury sedan, not a sports or even a sporty car. On the on-ramp test I had to ease off signicantly because of the body roll. During the test-drive, my friend sat in the front passenger seat with the salesperson in the back - the salesperson suggested the back seat wasn't made for someone his size, though I don't know how uncomfortable he would have been for the reasonably short drive. In the end, I would have preferred this car over the 350Z only if I absolutely needed the 4 seats.

Crossfire: This was the disappointment of the lot. I do like the styling, both outside and inside, though I can see it's bold enough to be love-it-or-hate-it. One interesting consequence of the styling - the rear window is like a porthole. Getting on the road was enough to tell me I wasn't going to get this car. It felt like it had no power at all on city streets, no go off the line and low RPMs. This was the thing I was afraid would happen with the RX-8! On the freeway on-ramp as I floored the throttle and the RPMs rose the character of the car changed significantly and was more like I thought it would be. But back on the city streets I was again surprised by how it felt like it had the engine of my old Hyundai Excel. One more thing about this car - the shifter/gearbox seems especially badly designed - didn't get that precise feeling when shifting at all, and because the shifter **** was made of smooth plastic (could it have been metal? don't remember now, but it was not leather) my hand kept slipping off easily. Conclusion: no way.



The consequence of the test-drive day is that I put down a deposit yesterday on an RX-8 that's being transported from a few hours away, and I'm excited about the car I'm going to get soon (I suppose within the next week, just maybe two). Btw - it's surprising to know that what I wanted wasn't available anywhere in the SF Bay Area - a Red MT RX-8 with the sport package (with a couple of add-ons - the CD changer and the spare tire kit - that the dealer can install)! Oh well - just gives me more time to search for all those threads on breaking in the engine, what type of oil to use, how often to clean (in my case, get the car cleaned) and wax the outside and to clean the brake dust from the wheels, what not to worry about (white smoke from the exhaust early, flooding, ...), how often to check the oil, ...

CR

w2aew

Nice story and comparison! Personally, I was too smitten with the 8 to test drive anything else!

therm8

Excellent write-up. I had similar experiences when deciding between the 350Z and RX-8. The lack of space in the 350 combined with horrible treatment at the Nissan dealership vice the excellent treatment at the Mazda dealer ultimately led me to the 8. That, and I was dead set on getting the Z for months prior to its release, but then I saw the 8 and I simply lost my infatuation with the Z.

Congratulations on your new ride.

mysql101

I drove the RX-8 just to see what it was about. I didn't intend to want to buy it anytime in the near future. I drove it, then all I wanted to do was buy it.

HiTMaNN

cool write up no bias!

PaulieWalnuts

Good first post. Of course, you'll get quite a few pats on the back here for your selection of the RX-8 (although you did already choose the 8 before you drove the others )

cr8

Thanks for the comments folks.

therm8 - somehow I got great treatment at all the dealerships I went to (except perhaps Chrysler). I don't know if that had anything to do with setting up an appointment for a test-drive (again - except Chrysler - the dealer told me to "just come on down anytime") and telling them I was going to buy a car in the next couple of weeks but not that day.

PaulieWalnuts - it's true I already had a preference for the RX-8 before I went for the test drives. And I set them up in the order I thought I would like them. Funnily enough - that's exactly how I'd rank them after the test drives - so much for my comment about test drives changing perceptions!


CR

LBrx8fan

Like you, I test drove all the cars you did. I agree the Crossfire was a major disappointment. That was what the wife wanted, I wanted the 350Z roadster. To sum up my test driving experiences, we are the PROUD owners of an 8, for the past 6 months, and nothing has made me regret the purchase. Welcome to the club!!

FONZIE

I did that same exact testdrive scenario before I bought my 8. I really liked the Z and that still is my second choice, but I did notice the stiff suspension. It was fun to kick out the rear end of it easily. The breaks were good too.

The Crossfire was exactly the way you described it - from the rear window to the terrible shifting. I kept jerking the car because I couldn't get a feel for the clutch and shifting. Even the dealer was having a hard time shifting it correctly. After the testdrive he looked at me and said "I don't think this is the car you are looking for." Pretty funny

rxeightr

Great 1st post with excellent remarks. Welcome to the Club.

xxMax Powerxx

I'd add that the 8 has the best visibilty out of in general. The 350z rear window was a tiny sliver in the middle of the rearview mirror.

Also for the same level of trim as a $30k RX8, you're looking at about $50k in the Z.

Slickvic

Welcome to the club!
Now you really dont have to worry about timing chains anymore!

JLO RX8

nice post, i test drove the Rx-8 first and wanted it right away!

it was between a used 96 Quicksilver TwinTurbo Toyota Supra
and the rx-8, i never got to drive the supra, but glad i didnt cuase i cant be more happy with my 8. just need some mods now!

cr8

Thanks again for the comments and the welcome. I see several comments about test-driving the 8 and not thinking about anything else. I was excited too, but I think never having spent more than $4000 on a car purchase before this has helped me to be careful and meticulous (****?) in my research. Also, I'd recommend The Motley Fool's "Buying A Car" section / article / tips at http://www.fool.com/car/car.htm.

Slickvic - . Didn't think of that.

An update on my car - I pick it up tomorrow! (And then am away for the whole 3-day weekend without it.) Now I have to find someplace in the area that will apply Zaino - I know I'm too lazy to do all the work, even with someone else helping, and (rationalization warning) an apartment building doesn't have much space to do such things anyway.

CR

wokuku

Hey cr8 what Mazda dealership did you go to? I am looking for a blue 6-speed with sport package only but it seems that none of the dealerships in the bay area have that configuation (except menlo park...but I have been told by quite a few people to not go there)

boothguy

The same four cars made my short list.

The Crossfire was first to go. I felt it was overpriced and under-equipped. Couldn't move the seat back far enough to get comfortable. Road manners were better than I expected, though.

The Infiniti G35C was next out. My wife's dealer experience with her I30 Touring has been great and with the same engine in a lighter car, I had high hopes. A horrible salesman experience combined with mediocre performance, an ugly front end and a rear seat that is for kids only were the nails in the coffin.

The 350Z lost out because its packaging (interior space) was almost identical to my '94 RX7. And I was tired of maxing out at "a friend plus a loaf of bread".

The RX8 is my third Mazda rotary and is easily the best of them all.

AQA101

Exactly my story. Only in less words than I would have needed.

cr8

wokuku - I was away for a few days - sent you a PM.

CR

m477

My impression was that my FD definitely had a bit more storage space than the 350z I test drove. Also, the visibility in the Z is horrendous even compared to other sports cars.

Usually with cars I am used to making comprimises like less attractive car for more storage space, cheaper model but less amenities, etc. But the Z didn't offer anything to offset the fact that it was heavy, ugly, had no room, no visibility, and expensive.

I had high expectations of the Z based on excellent cars Nissan has produced in the recent past like the S15 Silvia, but this new Z just falls way short of they had accomplished with the S.

zthang

Here in the United States, the prices are much closer, making it a more comparable car.

TRZ750

Good post!

I did it a little different. Was thinking about the 8, but wanted to wait for the teething problems to get solved (like needing the M flash), but at Christmas it all changed. I was visiting my sister in Sacramento and joined her looking for a new small SUV. In the process I sat a a Mercedies SLK and NSX and couldn't fit my 6'4" 220 lb. frame into them comfortably. So I told my wife I needed to at least see if I would fit in the 8 when we got back to Georgia.

I did let my wife drive first to give her OK. Then I gave the salesman a real test drive! After he cleaned his pants out I couldn't resist longer and signed the bottom line (7pm on 12-31-2003) for a blue sport package one. Had to return the next week to get the 6 disc changer & lojack installed.

Never did drive anything else.

LOVE IT.

Riccio

Same story here - had a couple of free hours with a Mazda dealership nearby...........came home with my Titanium 8 that night..........damn test drives........