opus_opus

Who here also owns a 370Z in addition to the RX-8? Let us hear your story comparing the two cars.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I kinnda wish I owned a 350z, it would be awesome to have a beater car for when I don't feel like driving the 8.

PotatoSoup

I don't think there's anyone here who owns both an RX-8 and a 370Z.

Regardless, as far as stories go, this one always ends with the Z understeering into a wall.

Marklar

Paging Jay Leno...Jay Leno...please come to RX8Club.com.

setsuwa

I haven't own both..but I have driven both.
370z is way more powerful than the rx8..It feels a lot faster even compare to the G37.
and it has massive grip when taking turns..
where the rx8 feels nimble and light, the 370 wants to throw you out from the seat. However, both takes the curves really well.
What impressed me the most is how the 370 doesn't ride stiff at all compare to the rx8.

p.s. The dealer only had a AT..so I haven't had a chance to see how the rev-matching system work..and the blue on the 370z looks really good.
And there is already a yellow 370 with a messed up front when I was there. Looks like he ran into a curb or sth.
That was like 3 days after they go on sale. sigh.

T-ReX-8

iTrader: (1)

I might go test drive a 370 Z next week.. I don't think there is much to compare..

Its faster, more agile and looks better than the R3, oh and it gets better gas millage.


There really is no comparison any more. Mazda got owned this time around. Badly.

77mjd

I did get a chance to test drive a 370. I'll start by saying that when I bought my 8 new in Feb of '04, I chose it over the 350. I didn't like the way the 350 felt or drove at all.

Having said that, the 370 was a lot better experience. This vehicle is slightly smaller than the 350. The ride felt a lot smoother, more refined. The shifting seemed smoother and not as notchy and the power delivery seemed a lot smoother than the 350. I could still feel the heaviness of the car (maybe it's just because I'm used to my 8) but again it didn't seem nearly as bad as the 350. Interior basically has the same design but the quality is definitely a step up from the 350. I just tested the base 6-speed model. It was the only one they have at the moment. I really wanted to try out the synchro rev match system but the base model doesn't have that.

At the moment I don't really think I'd consider one. To me, it is definitely improved from the 350, but I'm not really sold on the looks, and I still don't like those door handles. I do like the new wheels. It is a nice touch incorporating a Z in the wheel design, much like the new 8's have the rotor shape in theirs. If I was ever going to get a Z, personally, I'd probably opt for the NISMO 350.

But for the obvoius comparison to the new RX-8 R3, I'm sorry, but Mazda got pwned this time. I remember the 350 not really feeling faster than the 8, but the 370 is definitely faster. I think the much better feel in handling of the 370 now brings the Nissan to the same level as the 8, but also remember for a similarly equipped car, you will have to spend thousands more on the Nissan. Mazda, it's your turn to step up.

mrcoder

Ya 370z is nice for sure. It's on my short list next time I shop.

Why, this new Z is so good, it might even set the all time GT record lap time at Daytona too. I don't think I'm stretching the truth in reality.

But now, wait a sec, hold the phone, did you see the news from Florida today? Some other sports car just set a new all-time GT lap record. It was a car model which you might know about. Ma?da or something.

hehe

77mjd

^^^Yeah, a Mazda with an entirely different engine than ours.

Marklar

Yup. #70 just did it for GT. Donohue broke the track record for DP.

http://www.thatsracin.com/242/story/21873.html


"In GT, Sylvain Tremblay captured the Rolex 24 pole for the second consecutive year in dramatic fashion, waiting until near the end of the session to turn a track record lap of 1:49.455 (117.100 mph) in the No. 70 SpeedSource Castrol Syntec Mazda RX."

Marklar

Yeah, but none of those GT cars are really stock, so you can't really compare them to stock production cars.

The 20b racing cars show what the rotary is capable of in racing.

Swift8

I'm currently in this debate right now on what to get. The decision comes down to an '09 RX-8 or a 370Z. I'm going down to Daytona in a few weeks to test drive the Z for the first time and then drive the 8 again. At that time I'll make my final decision (hopefully).

Honestly the lack of power really is kill the 8. I still don't understand why Mazda has not come out with an alternative engine for the car. Just recently has someone shown they can push the 8 past 400whp...and who knows how long the engine would last at 16psi.

As far as looks go I still prefer the 8, but the new 370Z is now nice enough to me to consider. In an ideal world I would get an 8 with a 20b, but I don't have the skills to do it my self and I'm not going to pay a mechanic 15k in labor to do it for me.

mrcoder

The Rx-8 racing cars show what the Rx-8 chassis is capable of in racing.

Know anyone with one of those exotics??

05rx8mazda

iTrader: (4)

THE 370Z IS PROB THE ONLY CAR THAT ACTUALLY TEMPTED ME TO TRADE IN... but if mazda dont sstep it up its not the rx8's or rotaries fault.. TUBRO TIME!

NoPistons4Chris

haha too funny i was actually at a dealership a few weeks ago looking at a 350z for beater purposes because i've been rackin up miles driving my 8 for work. my next option was an 05 sti.

x8tuner44

iTrader: (1)

I got an RX-8 and my brother has a TT 350Z.

robrecht

People, the 350z and 370z are are 2-seaters. If they don't totally blow away the RX-8 by a country mile, they aren't worth anything at all. I haven't driven a 370z yet, but the fact that the 8's handling compared favorably to the 350z for several years says an awful lot about how good the 8 is. Drop the price of the G37 about $10k and make the rear seat bigger and more accessible and we'll talk. In the meantime, the fact that people compare apples and oranges says an awful lot about how fruity they are.

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

people need to get over this comparing the 8 to the 370... when mazda made the rx8, it wasnt meant to compete with the next generation Z car, it was for the 350z. The only reason I'd say mazda is being beat by the 370 is because they dont have a car out yet to compete...

ASH8

Sorry mate, but what a Dumb thread, what do you expect people to say?

You have comments of those who don't own either..this is really lounge stuff.

And this gem of a comment...

What impressed me the most is how the 370 doesn't ride stiff at all compare to the rx8.

WHAT?, so the new z has a softer suspension setting all of a sudden, are you comparing a 370Z to an RX-8 or an RX-8 R3 with Bilsteins?

this thread needs to move to the trash can...

DailyDriver2k5

Guys I don't think its fair to compare the 370Z to the RX-8. The 370 is the next generation Z car ,lets wait until Mazda comes out with the RX-9 to do a proper comparison.

I haven't driven the 370Z yet, but from its specs it sure looks like a winner over its older sibling the 350Z, and sure looks better.

77mjd

Problem is Mazda is not competing - they are flat out lagging behind. It will be at least 3-4 years before the 16x makes an appearance and by that time Nissan will probably have something better then the 370.

alfy28

this is not something new. early 90's

nissan had Fairlady,
S13 - silvia and 180sx
R32 and skylines GTS and GT
Pulsar GTIR
Primeira GTIR

mazda had
FC
Miata
Familia


Mid 90's
S14-Silivia
Fairlady
Pulsar GTIR
Primera GTIR
R33 and GTS and GT


mazda
FD
Miata.

Late 90's
S15-Silivia
R34 and GTS and GT


mazda
FC
and miata.


so yes mazda has been lagging for almost 20 years now. this is not something new.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

Well, at least it's progress from the billions of "350Z vs. RX8" threads.

rotarygod

Mazda has also always had cars that weren't as powerful as the competition. This still hasn't changed. When Nissan had the 300ZX-TT, it had 300 hp and the FD RX-7 had 255 HP. Toyota had a 300 hp Supra at this time too. Everyone complained back then that Mazda was underpowered. The trend goes back much farther than that.

Here's some pure and simple good advice. If you need to justify one car's performance, whatever the brand, make or model, to another car's performance, just go ahead and buy that other car!

SideOfBacon

^ +1

i didnt choose the 8 just because of its "power".. a true 4 seated sports-car and the rotary technology, along with just the overall driving (non-stiff) feel of the 8 was what made me choose it over the 350Z in the end. when the 16x comes out and if it in turn is offered with the 4 seated setup like the 8. guess which route I will go.