jleighZ

Very nice! I have a Redline Enthusiast model and love it. ALmost ordered the RX8 before I ordered the 350, but the dealer got me such a great deal I couldn't pass it up
Congrats

mikeb

both are great cars IMO
they just have different qualities

BLUE PHI RX-8

I finally made the trek over to the Infiniti dealership today and test drove the G35 Coupe. It was an automatic non the less but it was all they had to demo. My impressions are as follows:


1) It is a sweet looking ride. (I actually like its looks better than the....you guessed it "Z")

2) It has a smooth take off/pick up and the ride was not as taut/harsh as the Z. However, I did feel a little lag when I floored it to cross lanes while making a turn before the light turned red on me. I had it up to 100-105 mph and it felt as if I were going 65-70 mph.

3) The back seat headroom was cramped. (I had a cap on and had to take it off to keep from having my head hit the rear glass. Even with the cap off, I had very little space. The saleman, LOL sugessted that it I or anyone who was taller than 5' 6" lean in towards the center of the rear console to make accomodations. That was funny.)

4) It did not sit as low to the ground as the Z. The salesman stated that the frame was shortened for the Z even though they were supposed to be the the same platform.


OVERALL, I would choose the G over the Z because it seems and feels a bit more refined and the supple ride is overwhelming.

In retrospect, I still left there yearning the 8. I guess it's just something about this car that keeps me going back. I contacted the SAMS Club dealer in my area to get preliminary numbers with all the options that I want on the 8. He came back with some numbers that were different from what I got on the SAMS Club Site, therefore I sent him back to the drawing board/General Manager/Sales Manger to rework. I'm awaiting the explanation of exactly how much is cahrged over invoice for SAMS Club Members. If the percentage is relatively low (3 - 4%), I'll order all the options from the factory, thus getting the deal on those as well as opposed to waiting to get them done by the dealer afterwards. It does appear that I will have to order my 8in order to get exactly what I want. I'm a stickler for not having too many screws loosened for dealer installed options after the initial build due to rattles and squeaks. The only thing that I really want and can't have is Sirius Satellite radio hook up already built into the head unit. Sirius' website states that the have partnered with the Ford group and that it is forthcoming with future Mazda models. Please hurry with the finalization so that I may continue to enjoy my satellite radio. I've already paid for a year subscription and would hate to lose months of not being able to hear/enjoy it. The current configuration I have set up will not fit anywhere in the 8 and I don't want an obtrusive looking after market piece taking away from the good looks of the instrument panel in the car.

RockyMts

I have a friend who has a Silverstone Z Roadster and he let me drive it a few days ago. It was an automatic, which took some of the fun out of it, but it did have a manual shift mode. Driving just about any convertible is an enjoyable experience, and I really liked the power top and the ventilated mesh seats. I had already driven a Z coupe and couldn't tell much difference in performance; both are quick, nimble, but a little on the heavy side. Appearance-wise, it's like a chunkier version of a Honda S2000, with a slightly bigger trunk and a more spacious cabin. Too bad it costs around 40k.

mikeb

i agree with blue phi
the g would have been my next choice behind the rx8

rxeightr

I seriously considered purchasing the G35 Coupe, but the lack of rear headroom doomed it for me.

Skyline Maniac

If you often need to carry passengers over 5'8 in the backseats, then the G35C would not be a very good choice. There simply isn't enough headroom, and if you run over a large pot hole..... :D I am 5'10+ and I'd be damned if anyone force me to sit back there for more than 20 minutes. On the other hand, I had friends ranging from 5'5 to 5'7 back there on a 6 hour trip and they were perfectly comfortable. (Mandatory height check before every ride)

On the other hand, the RX-8 seems to feel cramped in the backseats as well, but in a different way. There seems to be less shoulder and hip room in the 8. (possibly due to the slanted suicide door and huge center console) There is also less legroom in the 8 though I know Mazda's publicized figure suggests otherwise. Overall, I wouldn't recommend either car as permanent 4 seaters if the passengers are tall.

On a side note, I have removed the center console in the rear seats of the G35C and ordered a custom leather cushion and a set of seat belts. There is definitely enough room for 3 people back there, God knows why they had to make it 2+2 only.

3dobuzz

Well...the verdict. Test drove both the RX-8 and G35 Coupe as I mentioned and wrote a check for the G35 Coupe the next day.

So okay, this will be my last post on this forum, since I will likely not be welcomed anymore I must say that you guys have members that are serious and passionate about your RX-8's. I went out to the G35 forum and it was dissapointing...

Anyways, forums aside, this is how it went down for those interested.

Decision maker profile (my wife and I)
- late thirties
- a couple of little kids we'd like to bring along a lot
- needed a child car seat to fit in the rear seat
- wife and I both have some track experience in our earlier years
- driving german cars last 13 years (audi, mercedes, porsche); I also owned a Mazda back in college.
- really wanted a 911 or M3 convertible, but hey, economic times have not been the best lately and have to boost their college funds.
- willing to sacrifice some performance for some daily practicality.

RX-8 Pros:
- Engine 'sings' effortlessly
- Superb handling, very tossable
- Less expensive - I could have got an RX-8 w/ navigation for what I paid for the G35.
- Six footers can sit in the rear w/o head touching ceiling. I have to slouch a little in the G35, so definitely would not be comfortable for long hauls, but then again I have little kids who don't come close to touching the ceiling.

G35 Coupe Pros:
- Better rolling acceleration (5-60mph) for real world passing.
- Overall more solid feel. Eg. wife & I are more acquainted w/ 'thud' with the door, and a bit more of a 'rolling block of steel' feel from the germans.
- Sorry, but I like the overall G35 styling better.
- Better warranty (on the powertrain side)
- Gas mileage (got 24 mpg out of a 220 mile trip; less than 600 total miles on odometer)
- Better service (even better than I've got from Mercedes Benz)
- Interestingly, I was also able to negotiate a few hundred dollars of the sticker.
- Sales guy 'pushed' the car - straight and around bends - then asked me to do the same. (Mazda salesguy came close to running me over when it was time to 'switch drivers', and had me baby the test drive.
- Don't have to hassle with the 5 minute engine warm-ups and warm-downs of the rotary.
- Automatic with a full power engine, no lesser engine with like with RX-8 (although BMW's SMG would have been ideal). My Audi's already a manual, so I really wanted something that I could use on those 1 hour long traffic jams.


Bottom line: RX-8's a wonderful car, but it is just not for us, this time around. Thanks to this forum for great info on the RX-8!

BLUE PHI RX-8

3DOBUZZ,

I can see where you are coming from in basing your decision and I applaud you for making the most informed decision that suits your family and lifestyle.

The G is a very nice car. The ride was superb and it probably would be my second chioce. I was not afforded the opportunity to pull the gears, therefore in my opinion I can't say how great the 6 speed is. I do know that as I approached 100-105 mph on the test drive and did not get the "RUSH" that I got when I did similar mph with the 8. All other things in my opinion are equal except that the G has more horsepower, the 8 was more responsive steering wise, my head wasn't cramped in the 8. I guess it was the pounding heart after the RX-8 test drive(s) that have sold me.

Good Luck, you have an excellent car.

mikeb

awesome
good luck with the g

Elara

Congratz on the G35- it's a beautiful car! However, I'd like to make one teensie comment about your pros on the G35- I have no idea where you got the 5 minute warm up and cool down for the renesis, but that's completely not true. It's just like any other car- start it up and go, stop and turn it off. I don't know who told you that, but they were full of it. It's rumors like that that are going to give this car a bad reputation.

Literatii

Thanks for the pics on request Nice shots...

350 Formula

There are a few people who have discussed getting flooded engines when they started for a very short time. They can not get it started without a lot of problems. Does not seem to be rumors from someone reading up on this car.

spoildrottn

Funny you should switch to a Z. We have my husband's Z and my RX-8. (I love the Z, but decided to go with the RX-8 since I wanted the extra seats.) I prefer the feel of the RX-8's handling, but definitely love the power and tranny of the Z.

The Bose stereos suck in both... I really expected better. The first stop the Z made was to get a new system. And as soon as I find a nice dash for the RX-8...that stereo is out the door, too!

And of course the gas mileage is laughable. I get 23 in the RX-8 and the Z is 32. Sad, so sad. Good luck with your Z, I know you'll love it!

mikeb

23 mpg in the 8 is very good it seems

pelucidor

From the Mazda RX-8 Quick Tips booklet:

Short Trip Driving Procedure
Any trip that is too short for the engine to reach normal operating temperature; needle in middle of temperature gauge indicates normal temperature. The following procedure should be followed when moving the vehicle a short distance**
1. Start engine
2. Move vehicle
3. Warm engine for 5-minutes at idle
4. Raise engine speed to 3000 RPM for 10-seconds
5. Return to idle
6. Turn off engine
Tip: Warming up engine improves engine life
** Moving vehicle at a car wash or moving vehicle to access another vehicle would be considered a short distance

I always do this when washing the car and have to move it in and out of the garage.

Elara

Pelucidor, you don't do it every time you start the car and drive it, do you? Was I really that unclear? 350 Formula the same applies to you. The only post I have read about this happening (though now that I think about it, there might have been two) the flooded car was repeatedly started, moved, turned off; started, moved, turned off; and repeated several times before the car had any issues. Yes, if you repeatedly start the car and turn it off, over and over, you run the risk of flooding it. That's what the above except is referring to(notice the asterisks). But you DON'T need to warm the car up for five minutes every time you want to go somewhere, or every time you park it.

downshift

Umm.. he said this, didn't he?

"I always do this when washing the car and have to move it in and out of the garage."

Elara

Oh good grief. As I assume he doesn't wash the car every time he drives it, he wouldn't be warming the car up every time he drives it or parks it. Which was my point. The 5 minute warm up and cool down that some dealers are telling potential customers the car needs EVERY TIME THEY DRIVE IT is a load of crap.

Skyline Maniac

So is Elara right or the Mazda RX-8 Quick Tips booklet? Hmmm~ Elara, do you check the oil level at every other fill up as well or is that just another urban myth? (just wondering, my Mazda savvy friend seems to be convinced that oil level doesn't need to be checked until the engine oil lamp comes on - :p )

I would go nuts if I have to warm up the car 5 minutes before moving it out of the way to access another car. Anyways, off topic.

downshift

Ah.. I see your point now. It's sad that people just don't RTFM. It's even worse when some dealers can't even comprehend the instructions in manual correctly and disseminate false information to the masses. Looks like this car, like the RX's in the past, has been cursed with 'urban myths' due to the ignorance of the non-owners and general auto-enthusiasts

Elara

Yeah, that's why I got all hyper about this. Stupid rumors are going to kill this car if we don't squash them asap . It's just like everything else, though- people mistrust what they don't understand. I just really hope this doesn't happen with the 8, because I really love this car.

Skyline Maniac, I'm just going to ignore what you wrote because it makes no sense.

Skyline Maniac

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/flooding-issue-9024/

btw: here is the thread discussion engine flooding and what not. Honestly, with all the complex ECU control and all, I think it'd be very difficult to floor the car. Think about it, if they had to warm up 5 minutes before moving the car on short trips, it would take them a month to load all the RX-8 from the docks onto the boats in Japan and US ports.

mikeb

you still arent making sense

Elara

ok, I think you're agreeing with me then(???). I've also shut my car off accidently after starting it up to show it off (forgot about the 5 minute thing) and afterwards, still started fine. It seems to be more of one of those warnings of something that very rarely happens, but COULD happen so they were forced to include it.