2005 RX-8 6-speed I had the feeling before I even drove it that this would be the car I would end up with. After I drove it… that feeling was made almost completely certain. Gorgeous car, useable back seats (for groceries anyway, and that ‘freestyle’ door would actually make it really easy), and an interior that easily trumped everything else that I would drive that day. Fantastic seats (cloth, the way I want it) with bolsters that fit my body like a glove. Excellent ergonomics, with everything falling to hand easily and intuitively. Even my father-in-law mentioned how much more comfortable it was, even with his bad back. I was afraid the rotary would make it feel slow just because of the torque deficit, but it felt seriously quick. Sounds a little like an alien blender, but I got to like it. More than anything, though, within a block I felt completely connected to the car and the road. The steering wheel and the seat transmitted exactly what was going on with the pavement below me, but in a totally comfortable and intuitive way. I knew I had to find some good roads so I drove out to a local lake for some twisty country road and let ‘er rip. Good lord did she rip!!! Smooth, linear power with an utterly planted chassis and super-accurate steering. You would have to be a complete moron to put this car off, not to mention an idiot to drive it to it’s limits on public roads, as high as they are. It was a completely immersive experience, with all controls and every part working together in harmony. F-ing GLORIOUS!!!! If it wasn’t on empty I might still be out there, and after I parked it I didn’t even want to leave… But next on the list was the 350Z, and I wasn’t about to pass that up!

2007 350Z Enthusiast They didn’t have a used manual coupe, so I drove a brand new one to see if I would want to wait for their next acceptable trade-in. Interior was nicer than the Mustang but not as nice as the RX8. Good ergonomics, though, and very comfortable. Almost no space though… I know I’m not shopping for a family car, but the ability to load up a few bags of groceries would be nice. That rear strut bar erases almost all available luggage room. Sounded absolutely fabulous, as anyone who’s heard one knows. Easily the best engine note of the day. The clutch was reeeeaaaally high on this car, so it took a bit to get used to the clutch, but the driveline felt pretty solid. In fact, that was the theme of this car, solid. Felt extremely tight and well put together. I was liking it, but not as much as the Mazda, as I was in traffic and not really able to exercise that engine much. Finally got a decent road and a really nice interstate on-ramp where I got to nail it and…. HOLY CRAP that thing has some power. Honest to god, big-boy power that was accentuated by the fact that with very little lean or squat it just took off and was able to keep pouring it on through the on-ramp. Then, on the interstate, it was able to easily punch us up to very high speeds without any trouble at all. Felt a lot more muscular than the Mustang GT, in fact. It really got under my skin, I have to admit.