Feras

iTrader: (1)

i like the 350Z, it was a tough decision

scorp76

I read your whole response...and the only question i need to ask is...

Do you own a Z?

Based on your long-***, self-congratulatory signature, you do, so I'd have to give you less credibilty on your statements.

As I hate Z's and their owners, I'm proudly biased

scorp76

Oh, and Shim, just ignore Ike, he is about the biggest riceboy on the boards, and has some weird ***** up his bum.

PoorCollegeKid

Out of curiosity, how exactly did you come to hate a hunk of fiberglass, metal, and petroleum products? I don't know about you, but I would have to be pretty mentally unbalanced before I started hating inanimate objects and then taking pride in this accomplishment.

scorp76

OK, broke one, just for you I'll fix it;

I don't hate the Z, I just have zero respect for it, and do not like one single aspect related to it.

There. Better?

Feras

iTrader: (1)

scorp as much as you hate it, the Z is a capable sports car, it handles at the same level of the 8 and has more HP and torque to boot. It may be a parts bin car and only a two seater (making it perhaps the wrong car for you) but having driven both cars and a great many sports cars how can you deny that the Z doesnt also just put an evil grin on your face when you mash that accelerator. I mean geez you buy one car and all of a sudden everything else is crap, what kind of a sports car buyer isnt a sports car enthusiast in general.

PoorCollegeKid

Better. Edit: I found your explanation on page 3 (IIRC), and it is much better than simply saying "I hate car x and everyone who drives it".

Back on topic (kind of): The Z's engine (VQ35DE) is 100% Japanese, not French as has been stated both in this thread and by the erroneous Top Gear video (sidenote: despite the bashing the Z received in the widely circulated video, Top Gear still named the 350Z Car of the Year for the year 2004). The VQ series traces its origins back to the early 1990s, long before Renault came in to the picture in 1999. This VQ is the only engine to have been placed on Ward's 10 Best Engines list every year of the competition's 10 year history.

As far as the distribution of engines go, Nissan supplies Renault with VQ engines for some of Renault's cars, while Renault supplies Nissan with diesels for some of Nissan's diesel powered models (none of which are sold in the US). This is the same type of partnership that Ford and Mazda have. Although the 3.0L V6 Duratec in the Mazda 6 is in a Japanese car, the engine was designed and built solely by Ford and is in no way reflective of the engineering skills of Mazda. Many manufacturers have parts-sharing agreements like this, even if they aren't owned by the same corporation (Honda's 3.2L V6 in the Saturn Vue and Porsche's contributions to the STi come to mind), so Renault's dealings with Nissan come as no surprise.

NoPistonsHere

Mazda Wins 'Best Coupe' In 2004 Top Gear Awards


It’s not often a car rewrites the rules, but the Mazda RX-8 has – at least in terms of practicality.


http://www.carpages.co.uk/mazda/mazd...echo=302887948

Nissan got car of the year in its class of cars....Like I have said earlyer, cant really comparro
on the two cars. hahahah... lets do a comparro on my 45 FEG Hungarian Pistol to Your Japanese Samurai Sword.


Edit: Here are some Top Gear lap times. The S2000 isn't listed:

Mercedes-Mclaren SLR - 1.20.9
Ferrari 360 CS - 1.22.3
Porsche 911 GT3 RS - 1.22.3
Lamborghini Murcielago - 1.23.7
Pagani Zonda - 1.23.8
Koenigsegg - 1.23.9
Noble M12 GTO-3 - 1.25.0
Lamborghini Gallardo - 1.25.8
Lotus Exige - 1.26.4
Porsche 911 GT3 - 1.27.2
TVR T350c - 1.27.5
BMW M3 CSL - 1.28.0
MG SV - 1.28.6
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII - 1.28.9
Alpina Roadster (Z8) - 1.29.0
Subaru Impreza STi - 1.30.1
Aston Martin DB7 GT - 1.30.4
Audi S4 - 1.30.9
Porsche 911 Turbo - 1.31.0
Vauxhall VX220 Turbo - 1.31.3
Honda NSX Type R - 1.31.6
BMW M3 - 1.31.8
Nissan 350Z - 1.31.8
Mazda RX-8 - 1.31.8

PoorCollegeKid

Actually, the 276hp European 350Z won Car of the Year, making it the overall best car in their opinion out of all of the ones that they tested. Go here to read more. I'm not a 350Z fanboy by any means but I saw a lot of misinformation being thrown about on this thread (including references to the Top Gear video in an attempt to demean the 350Z) so I sought to correct some of it by providing hard evidence to counter some of what was being said.

The 350Z and the RX8 target slightly different demographics (one being a two seater sports car, the other being a 4 seater sporty coupe), but since they're both RWD, well handling cars in the $25k-$35k price range it is only natural that they be compared. IMO, both cars are great machines, the Z being substantially quicker and faster than the 8, while the 8 feels much more tossable and confident than the Z while seating four people. I would choose the Z if I wanted the best overall performance out of a coupe in this price range, while I would choose the RX8 if I needed the extra seats, wanted a unique car, and wanted a sporty looking coupe. Either way, I'm sure I'd be happy and I'm sure that climbing in to the drivers seat of either car would bring a smile to my face every time.

mysql101

I agree with everything you said, except that the Z is substantially quicker. I haven't seen any numbers that reflect that statement.

NoPistonsHere

Well according to the Top Gear guy the 350z,M3, and Rx8 had some tied up numbers. HMM quicker on the straight line I agree, but in America the roads are curvy (No Autoband). I went up against a 350Z and at 120 creeped up and past him, either the guy was a puss* or he had a lemon 350Z. This was on the I 10 going East right before the I 215 in the morning and going straight no curves. I am thinking the guy was a puss*, so I have yet to see any other 350z owners that want to race, cause I am always seeing chicks driving the car and they never wanna go head to head.

AbusiveWombat

I have. Check their forums and you'll see repeated timeslips for high 13's...I have yet to see a timeslip for 14.5 or less from an RX8. It seems like on average the RX8 is high 14's, low 15's while the 350 is a high 13's, low 14's. One second is a "substantially" quicker car in the 1/4 mile.

You might say "maybe the RX8 drivers aren't as good or don't go to the track as often"....well the 350's are trapping in the 100's while the RX8's are trapping in the low 90's. Trap speed is a good indication of the power a car makes rather than the skill of the driver.

PoorCollegeKid

As AbusiveWombat said, the 350Z is about a second quicker through the 1320 than an RX8 is and traps 7-10mph higher on average. When cars are running in the 13 to 15 second range, a full second advantage is substantial. At 100mph, a car travels roughly 45 meters (147ft) in a second, so at the end of a 1/4 mile drag, a 350Z running a 13.8 @ 103 mph would be more than 100ft ahead of an RX8 that ran a 14.8 @ 95 mph. To me, this is a substantial gap, although to others this may be a close race. What's more, trap speed is indicative of the power:weight ratio of a car, so the Z's higher trap speed shows that the 350Z has a better power to weight ratio than the RX8 (no surprise there) and so should be quicker than the '8, given equal drivers. If you question the accuracy of our quarter mile numbers, take a look on a Z board; high 13s and low 14s @ 101-104 mph are what the vast majority of Z owners run, even the 5AT models.

Totally Gay RX8

The Mazda regularly picks up awards. The RX 8 was a top 3 car in the recent "Gay Icon Design Awards 2004", just beaten by the Peugeot 206cc and Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupe. The 350Z did not feature in the list. However I do have a friend who drives the Nissan and he thinks his car will spank mine......naughty boy!

PoorCollegeKid

The RX8 has beaten the 350Z in many head to head comparisons. Although the Z always comes out on top in overall objective performance numbers, the RX8's somewhat unique design and more upscale interior usually tip the decision in its favor.

Trolling score: mediocre. Sounds like something a dumbass high school kid would say and would be given a "poor" rating, but at least this troll took the time to spell everything correctly and use something resembling proper punctuation.

rlafage

Its crazy how that car has 30 or more horses more then the 8 and still turns the same lap times. And, the last time I read it is only a half second faster in the 1/4 mile. I'm glad I didn't pay that extra 4 or 5 grand to be a half second quicker haha!

Gigolo Jason

It is extremely show compaired to an FD.

PoorCollegeKid

It is also extremely cheap compared to an FD. Can't have it all, unfortunately...

NoPistonsHere

ya, and take $1500 or less from that 4 to 5 grand and we can get you that half a second....hahaha

lighter flywheel
future Racingbeat ECU reprograming
Racingbeat Exaust

Ike

Give me 3 grand total and I'll show you a car that will destroy the RX-8 in the 1/4 mile, and that includes the price of the car. Let's not play this ricer game guys, it's just stupid. If you really are happy with your RX-8 purchase there's no need to justify your decision.

shelleys_man_06

Aren't we supposed to be talking about actually driving the 350Z?

NoPistonsHere

True, I have done that. Bought my 1979 Rx7 From my Dad For a Dollar. The spent about 2300 for a BridgePorted and rebuilt 13B Engine. It will beat my Rx8 and the 350Z.... Oh ya, we are talking about the 350Z here.


Edit: Here are some Top Gear lap times.

Mercedes-Mclaren SLR - 1.20.9
Ferrari 360 CS - 1.22.3
Porsche 911 GT3 RS - 1.22.3
Audi S4 - 1.30.9
Porsche 911 Turbo - 1.31.0
Vauhall VX220 Turbo - 1.31.3
Honda NSX Type R - 1.31.6
BMW M3 - 1.31.8
Nissan 350Z - 1.31.8
Mazda RX-8 - 1.31.8

NoPistonsHere

Ok, now I know why this whole French thing came about. Last night I was at a Party and I was talking to a guy that works at Nissan. He said the Design is French, but the parts are Japanese. He also said that the wiring is French. Basically it is French engineering, and knowing that the French are a Bunch of surrendering Frogs. Cant trust their Engineering!!!!


French President Jaques Chirac, tired of all of the anti-french jokes, since the start of the United States lead invasion of Iraq, has announced with great national pride that the super secret French Space Agency will send the first manned mission of three French astronauts to land, and walk on the Sun. President Chirac stated " This mission will be of historic important to the world, and restore France's rightful place in the history of the world" NASA space scientist's, stunned at the news, asked Mr. Chirac what technology they had developed to keep the astronauts from burning up long before they reached the Sun? The French President sniffed and replied " Don't be stupid, we are going at night".

French Pilot Training

PoorCollegeKid

Unfortunately, that guy was wrong.

Quote taken from here:

The refreshed Nissan Cefiro 300's 3.0-liter engine delivers 220bhp, easily 45% more power than the 2-liter V-6. This "VQ" family of engines has long been cited by Ward's top 10 as one of the best engines in the world. It was so good that Renault ceased development of its own V-6 engine, took the Nissan VQ series V-6 and fitted it to its own luxury models such as the Grand Espace, Vel Satis and the Avantime.

Also look here.

ProtoConVert

we should have some sort of mmorpg, or more like mini-morpg, attached to this server, so the 350z guys and rx8 partisans can duke it out, PvP style