370Z vs RX-8 ...let us hear it from owners of both cars
07-09-2010, 03:37 PM
#276
Based on some of these most recent posts, it sounds like people are saying that the RX-8 is cheaper and might be better for the money, but is not quite in the same class as the Z.
There's no question that the RX series of cars were in direct competition with the Z's of the past, and that was still the case with the RX-8 and 350z. The 350z was at the very least on equal footing with the 8 and up to personal preference of the buyer.
While the 370z has had some apparent problems, it is a better car as a whole when compared to the 350z. The RX-8 did not have a renovation in design that increased performance to any significant extent, which means it realistically isn't competition for the Z now. The next RX will be a more realistic competitor to the Z. I'm not bashing the 8 here, but no significant changes were made to it to make it a better car than the 370z. I easily would pick the 8 over the 350z, but the 370z would get my vote over the 8 (if I didn't need the space the 8 offers).
There's no question that the RX series of cars were in direct competition with the Z's of the past, and that was still the case with the RX-8 and 350z. The 350z was at the very least on equal footing with the 8 and up to personal preference of the buyer.
While the 370z has had some apparent problems, it is a better car as a whole when compared to the 350z. The RX-8 did not have a renovation in design that increased performance to any significant extent, which means it realistically isn't competition for the Z now. The next RX will be a more realistic competitor to the Z. I'm not bashing the 8 here, but no significant changes were made to it to make it a better car than the 370z. I easily would pick the 8 over the 350z, but the 370z would get my vote over the 8 (if I didn't need the space the 8 offers).
07-09-2010, 03:51 PM
#277
just because a car is faster that doesn't necessarly mean it's better.
i love my wifes tl-s, but i seem to enjoy driving the 8 better.
i had a 300zx TT when i was younger and i loved it, but even with that i would prefer to drive my rx7 more. The 370 z is Hideous it looks like a A retarded Audi TT. and it falls into my logic "just because it's faster, it doesnt mean it's better" an r3 Owns a 370z in looks but with the z you get what the 8 lacks. if you want to make a better comparison just wait until the rx-9 or 16x comes out then you can compare. but as of now IMHO rx8>370 just because i hate the looks and every single owner i have know that has one is a complete DOUCHE!!! they have the same Mentality as M3 and S2K owners
i love my wifes tl-s, but i seem to enjoy driving the 8 better.
i had a 300zx TT when i was younger and i loved it, but even with that i would prefer to drive my rx7 more. The 370 z is Hideous it looks like a A retarded Audi TT. and it falls into my logic "just because it's faster, it doesnt mean it's better" an r3 Owns a 370z in looks but with the z you get what the 8 lacks. if you want to make a better comparison just wait until the rx-9 or 16x comes out then you can compare. but as of now IMHO rx8>370 just because i hate the looks and every single owner i have know that has one is a complete DOUCHE!!! they have the same Mentality as M3 and S2K owners
Last edited by mushkid; 07-09-2010 at 03:55 PM.
07-09-2010, 03:59 PM
#279
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Based on some of these most recent posts, it sounds like people are saying that the RX-8 is cheaper and might be better for the money, but is not quite in the same class as the Z.
There's no question that the RX series of cars were in direct competition with the Z's of the past, and that was still the case with the RX-8 and 350z. The 350z was at the very least on equal footing with the 8 and up to personal preference of the buyer.
While the 370z has had some apparent problems, it is a better car as a whole when compared to the 350z. The RX-8 did not have a renovation in design that increased performance to any significant extent, which means it realistically isn't competition for the Z now. The next RX will be a more realistic competitor to the Z. I'm not bashing the 8 here, but no significant changes were made to it to make it a better car than the 370z. I easily would pick the 8 over the 350z, but the 370z would get my vote over the 8 (if I didn't need the space the 8 offers).
There's no question that the RX series of cars were in direct competition with the Z's of the past, and that was still the case with the RX-8 and 350z. The 350z was at the very least on equal footing with the 8 and up to personal preference of the buyer.
While the 370z has had some apparent problems, it is a better car as a whole when compared to the 350z. The RX-8 did not have a renovation in design that increased performance to any significant extent, which means it realistically isn't competition for the Z now. The next RX will be a more realistic competitor to the Z. I'm not bashing the 8 here, but no significant changes were made to it to make it a better car than the 370z. I easily would pick the 8 over the 350z, but the 370z would get my vote over the 8 (if I didn't need the space the 8 offers).
07-09-2010, 08:11 PM
#282
just because a car is faster that doesn't necessarly mean it's better.
i love my wifes tl-s, but i seem to enjoy driving the 8 better.
i had a 300zx TT when i was younger and i loved it, but even with that i would prefer to drive my rx7 more. The 370 z is Hideous it looks like a A retarded Audi TT. and it falls into my logic "just because it's faster, it doesnt mean it's better" an r3 Owns a 370z in looks but with the z you get what the 8 lacks. if you want to make a better comparison just wait until the rx-9 or 16x comes out then you can compare. but as of now IMHO rx8>370 just because i hate the looks and every single owner i have know that has one is a complete DOUCHE!!! they have the same Mentality as M3 and S2K owners
i love my wifes tl-s, but i seem to enjoy driving the 8 better.
i had a 300zx TT when i was younger and i loved it, but even with that i would prefer to drive my rx7 more. The 370 z is Hideous it looks like a A retarded Audi TT. and it falls into my logic "just because it's faster, it doesnt mean it's better" an r3 Owns a 370z in looks but with the z you get what the 8 lacks. if you want to make a better comparison just wait until the rx-9 or 16x comes out then you can compare. but as of now IMHO rx8>370 just because i hate the looks and every single owner i have know that has one is a complete DOUCHE!!! they have the same Mentality as M3 and S2K owners
07-09-2010, 08:23 PM
#283
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I didn't read most of this thread but i'm guessing it's just a bunch of bickering back and forth 
Anyways, my only input here is just a personal observation. Every time i've been at the track or at an autocross and a 370z shows up they just park and watch. I get excited because i really want to see how fast they are but they just pop their hood and talk about how fast it is
Anyways, my only input here is just a personal observation. Every time i've been at the track or at an autocross and a 370z shows up they just park and watch. I get excited because i really want to see how fast they are but they just pop their hood and talk about how fast it is
different purpose=different car
07-09-2010, 11:14 PM
#285
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shut up people stop compare them but instead enjoy them,
the thing is these are 2 difference car , and two different engine,,2 difference world like asian and Caucasian, two difference people and each have there own pro and con
the thing is these are 2 difference car , and two different engine,,2 difference world like asian and Caucasian, two difference people and each have there own pro and con
07-09-2010, 11:53 PM
#286
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A civic is not in the same class as a 350z or RX-8. If you took the same amount of money and dumped that into a used 8 and a used 350 the 8 would wind up on top, every time. They come from the same class. you cant go comparing cars out of class. aka a civic...
My point is this. Why go spend the money for an overheating 2 door ugly car when you could get an 8? Which again is in the same class. Then drop even 8k into it and wind up with a better performing machine that's 10 grand cheaper.
Do you see the logic in that?
P.S.I was guesstimating on the HP but it is certainly going to be over 210. Im hoping for 215-220
My point is this. Why go spend the money for an overheating 2 door ugly car when you could get an 8? Which again is in the same class. Then drop even 8k into it and wind up with a better performing machine that's 10 grand cheaper.
Do you see the logic in that?
P.S.I was guesstimating on the HP but it is certainly going to be over 210. Im hoping for 215-220
it isnt a sports car like the rx8 or 370
07-10-2010, 12:32 AM
#287
That was my point. The fact that you can find an rx-8 for dirt cheap while the 350z held it's value and a brand new 370z is obviously going to cost more doesn't make the 8 better. If we're strictly comparing the cars, then cost does not matter. If the question was which car is a better value, then you should consider cost. A used 8 gets you a great value for your money. I would definitely not look at a new 8. The 350z had a fairly comparable price point when the 8 came out yet held it's value much better than the 8. A similar 350z sells for about 25% more than my 8 does. That's great for people looking to buy now, but it really sucks for anyone who is trying to sell.
The 8 is a better value and is cheaper.
The 370z is generally a better performer, despite it's potential issues in some track conditions.
The 8 is a better value and is cheaper.
The 370z is generally a better performer, despite it's potential issues in some track conditions.
07-10-2010, 03:26 AM
#288
That was my point. The fact that you can find an rx-8 for dirt cheap while the 350z held it's value and a brand new 370z is obviously going to cost more doesn't make the 8 better. If we're strictly comparing the cars, then cost does not matter. If the question was which car is a better value, then you should consider cost. A used 8 gets you a great value for your money. I would definitely not look at a new 8. The 350z had a fairly comparable price point when the 8 came out yet held it's value much better than the 8. A similar 350z sells for about 25% more than my 8 does. That's great for people looking to buy now, but it really sucks for anyone who is trying to sell.
The 8 is a better value and is cheaper.
The 370z is generally a better performer, despite it's potential issues in some track conditions.
The 8 is a better value and is cheaper.
The 370z is generally a better performer, despite it's potential issues in some track conditions.
The 350z holds its value just becuase that's what people are willing to pay for it. it doesn't make it a better or worse car than the 8.
The 370 is a better performing machine so long as its not on the track and the driver doesn't need back seats or storage space.
07-10-2010, 06:09 PM
#290
The 8 lost its value due to engine reliability issues. Allot of which I would contribute a **** break-in and 7k interval oil changes.
The 350z holds its value just becuase that's what people are willing to pay for it. it doesn't make it a better or worse car than the 8.
The 370 is a better performing machine so long as its not on the track and the driver doesn't need back seats or storage space.
The 350z holds its value just becuase that's what people are willing to pay for it. it doesn't make it a better or worse car than the 8.
The 370 is a better performing machine so long as its not on the track and the driver doesn't need back seats or storage space.
The market decided that the 350z was the more valuable car. It doesn't make it better, but it is the more valuable of the 2. Take that however you want. Between those 2 cars, it comes down to taste and space. If you don't need the space, then it's completely personal preference really.
When I ask someone how a sports car performs, they don't tell me how many people it seats or how much stuff it can store. Even with the heating and braking issues, it has run better times than the 350z (and RX-8) on some tracks. I'm not defending the flaws, I'm just saying that it's not like the car is not able to be tracked and do well. They definitely do need to correct those flaws, but it's still a better performing car.
07-11-2010, 06:10 PM
#294
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I autocrossed both cars directly back to back today, and for once I was faster in the RX8.
the Mazda is so easy to drive, it took about 1/10th the effort to get those times. The 370z is a workout.
the Mazda is so easy to drive, it took about 1/10th the effort to get those times. The 370z is a workout.
07-11-2010, 10:25 PM
#295
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Sure, we'd all like to have the best of everything, but as far as I'm concerned there will always be some car out there that outperforms the one you're driving, so why even worry about it? I've test driven the Z twice and I do think it probably overall outperforms the 8, but I don't really care for the looks and the VQ is nowhere near as smooth as the rotary and IMO, nothing out there beats the looks of the R3 so even though the 370 is a beast, I'd still take the 8 and am trying to be very patient for the arrival of the 16x.
The point is everyone is always wanting more. Ever look at the 370Z board? You think people on here complain about the torque and HP...take a look over there. Same exact thing..people calling for turbos, V8s, 400+hp, etc. So if you had a 370 for awhile, you'd probably have the same complaints. I'm sure after awhile, people that buy the new 5.0 Mustang will be complaining for more performance too. It's human nature.
The point is everyone is always wanting more. Ever look at the 370Z board? You think people on here complain about the torque and HP...take a look over there. Same exact thing..people calling for turbos, V8s, 400+hp, etc. So if you had a 370 for awhile, you'd probably have the same complaints. I'm sure after awhile, people that buy the new 5.0 Mustang will be complaining for more performance too. It's human nature.
07-12-2010, 10:37 AM
#296
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Let me add some imput from another prospective, routine service.
I have done quite a bit of wrenching on my own car, and I recently helped a friend work on his G37 (which I believe is mechanically the same as the Z). And everything we worked on was much more difficult on the G than the RX.
1) Oil change. You need to remove a plastic underbody shield to get at the oil filter. It has about 12 screws. Similar to getting at the radiator on the 8. The RX8 has the filter on top of the engine. Get a filter cap and socket extention and you can change it before you have 3 screws off of the Gs plastic shield.
2) Battery - Took about a half hour to change. RX-8 takes about 5 minutes. Half of it is behind the hood opening, under the dash. I had to remove a fuse box to get to it. It has a bracket similar to the RX-8, very hard to get to since you only have about 1/2 inch clearance to get to the back. If I didnt have my gear wrench set, it would have taken another half hour to get the bracket off and back on.
3) The airfilter is a complete pain to remove. Need to remove a few bolts and then take the hose clamps off the hose going to the throttle. Then you can open the airbox about a quarter inch more than the width of the filter.
These 3 things took us about 2 hours. About 30 min to do on the RX-8.
I have done quite a bit of wrenching on my own car, and I recently helped a friend work on his G37 (which I believe is mechanically the same as the Z). And everything we worked on was much more difficult on the G than the RX.
1) Oil change. You need to remove a plastic underbody shield to get at the oil filter. It has about 12 screws. Similar to getting at the radiator on the 8. The RX8 has the filter on top of the engine. Get a filter cap and socket extention and you can change it before you have 3 screws off of the Gs plastic shield.
2) Battery - Took about a half hour to change. RX-8 takes about 5 minutes. Half of it is behind the hood opening, under the dash. I had to remove a fuse box to get to it. It has a bracket similar to the RX-8, very hard to get to since you only have about 1/2 inch clearance to get to the back. If I didnt have my gear wrench set, it would have taken another half hour to get the bracket off and back on.
3) The airfilter is a complete pain to remove. Need to remove a few bolts and then take the hose clamps off the hose going to the throttle. Then you can open the airbox about a quarter inch more than the width of the filter.
These 3 things took us about 2 hours. About 30 min to do on the RX-8.
07-12-2010, 09:03 PM
#298
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Let me add some imput from another prospective, routine service.
I have done quite a bit of wrenching on my own car, and I recently helped a friend work on his G37 (which I believe is mechanically the same as the Z). And everything we worked on was much more difficult on the G than the RX.
1) Oil change. You need to remove a plastic underbody shield to get at the oil filter. It has about 12 screws. Similar to getting at the radiator on the 8. The RX8 has the filter on top of the engine. Get a filter cap and socket extention and you can change it before you have 3 screws off of the Gs plastic shield.
2) Battery - Took about a half hour to change. RX-8 takes about 5 minutes. Half of it is behind the hood opening, under the dash. I had to remove a fuse box to get to it. It has a bracket similar to the RX-8, very hard to get to since you only have about 1/2 inch clearance to get to the back. If I didnt have my gear wrench set, it would have taken another half hour to get the bracket off and back on.
3) The airfilter is a complete pain to remove. Need to remove a few bolts and then take the hose clamps off the hose going to the throttle. Then you can open the airbox about a quarter inch more than the width of the filter.
These 3 things took us about 2 hours. About 30 min to do on the RX-8.
I have done quite a bit of wrenching on my own car, and I recently helped a friend work on his G37 (which I believe is mechanically the same as the Z). And everything we worked on was much more difficult on the G than the RX.
1) Oil change. You need to remove a plastic underbody shield to get at the oil filter. It has about 12 screws. Similar to getting at the radiator on the 8. The RX8 has the filter on top of the engine. Get a filter cap and socket extention and you can change it before you have 3 screws off of the Gs plastic shield.
2) Battery - Took about a half hour to change. RX-8 takes about 5 minutes. Half of it is behind the hood opening, under the dash. I had to remove a fuse box to get to it. It has a bracket similar to the RX-8, very hard to get to since you only have about 1/2 inch clearance to get to the back. If I didnt have my gear wrench set, it would have taken another half hour to get the bracket off and back on.
3) The airfilter is a complete pain to remove. Need to remove a few bolts and then take the hose clamps off the hose going to the throttle. Then you can open the airbox about a quarter inch more than the width of the filter.
These 3 things took us about 2 hours. About 30 min to do on the RX-8.
Great points. I hadn't thought about it that way, but it is very true. The 8 is actually the simplest car to maintain yourself I've ever had. Plugs, coils, wires, battery, filters, fluids. Piece of cake with the DIYs on there. I remember checking out the Z under the hood and everything is just freakin' jam packed in there so I'm sure its much more of a PITA to work on...and my previous car was a VW...nuff said there.
07-13-2010, 12:13 AM
#299
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370z is obviously the superior car. I owned a 2006 RX-8 for 2 years. I will wait for the new RX which will be superior to the Z.
I chose the RX-8 over the 350z based ENTIRELY on the test drive. I didn't care about the numbers. RX-8 looked better and I liked driving it better than the Z.
If I was forced to choose NOW between the 370Z and an R3, i'd choose the Z.
I chose the RX-8 over the 350z based ENTIRELY on the test drive. I didn't care about the numbers. RX-8 looked better and I liked driving it better than the Z.
If I was forced to choose NOW between the 370Z and an R3, i'd choose the Z.
