This or 350z
 

i know i will get some biased opinions but i still want opinions.

My parents dont want me to get the rx-8 because they dont like mazda but i feel that this car is abetter deal for a new 2005.

The deals in the newspaper are giving 6k off msrp.

the 350z seems to be about 28.5k otd for a base.

What would you do in my situation.

They're both great cars, but I'd go with the RX-8 because everyone and their mother as a 350Z. I rarely see rx-8's on the road so it makes me feel like I have something special. Plus, its absolutely gorgeous. I get compliments on it all the time.

Tell them that it'd be stupid of them to give you a convertible 2 seater for the insurance that it's going to cost them. Nothing against the Z but it's just not practical. I assume that this will be either your first car or a graduation present or something - so you're under the age of 25 and blessed with this choice.

Dont f*** up.

whose money are we talking about?

if it is yours.... go with your heart?

if they are paying for it..... sorry, bad luck.....

The RX8 can seat 3 females plus you very comfortably. Because of the four doors, 1.3L engine, and anti-theft mechinism the insurance will be a lot cheaper.

As stated before, everybody and their momma has a damn 350Z / G35, not much a sense of individuality there.

You don't have to replace your bottom end if you want to turbo the car.

What are you're parents' reasons for not liking mazda? I'm sure the people here can easily and willingly help you build a case to present to them.

You'll enjoy having a trunk that you can use WITH a functional backseat.

From what I've heard and read, contrary to the 8, the Z is a bit rough on the butt, when driving around town, which is something that doesn't bother me all. I figure if I'm gettin a sports car, then I'm not buying the car for comfort.

How about you provide more of your motivation for getting either car. What is it that you want out of your new car? It's really important that you let us help you address what you're needs and desires are, becuase although people do it all the freakin time, you just can't fairly compare Car A to Car B as if their equals, cuz they ain't. Each car has it's own persona and tells a different story. What are you looking for?

i love the looks of both cars and the performance of both.

What i am mainly looking for is reliability and value.
I saw in other posts that the 2005 8s have big rebates on them which is hugely influencing my decision if i could actually get the car for a good price.

Get the 350Z or a S2K

the word VALUE is not quite the same as TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP. i hope u realize the difference and have weighed the pros & cons. honestly, i don't think the 8 is the cheapest or easiest car to own, even tho it may have a more alluring sticker price right now. (bear in mind current high gas prices and that ONLY mazda dealers and/ or rotary specialist shops know how to work on this one-of-a-kind engine.)

that said, the 8 is a great car- unique, sporty, practical, and loads a fun. it's a car that u really fall deeply in love with once u drive it. however, if ur parents r the ones paying for the car, i think u'r prolly better off getting something that they approve of, or u'll for sure get shit from them later on...

Agreed. Ultimately, they will be paying for it... and if a problem does happen to arise if you do decide on the rx8, I don't think you want to hear your parents nagging "I told you not to get to Mazda, blah blah blah". That said, what are you actually looking for...? Streetable performance? If so, get the Z; I don't think many will or even can argue that the Z has a much more broad, usable powerband for use on the street. Comfort/practicality? get the rx8. Hands down, the ride is more comfortable, the seats are more comfortable (for me anyways), smoother engine, 4 seats, bigger trunk, etc. Both have similiar MPG's. Both are great performers. Both handle very well (yes, the rx8 can outhandle, but the Z is by no means a slouch). They both look great, sound great and are essentially great cars. Have fun choosing... Personally... I'd forget about both and go for an s2k :]

Actually... Edmunds.com named the RX-8 one of the "true lowest cost to own"

I believe during Car and Driver's long term tests, they were praising the RX-8 to have one of the least amounts of down time.

Research it and you'll find all your answers.

well @ 17mpg & almost $3/ gallon these days, the weekly price of gas speaks for itself- regardless of what Edmunds or any car magazine says... <LOL> maybe that review was written a few years ago before bush's croonies started price-raping america...

I think if you're a young guy, you couldn't go wrong with either of these cars. Your main concerns are reliability and value... Here is the info from the JD Power comparison of the 350z base to the Mazda RX8 6MT. I really didn't expect the Z to come out so far ahead in this. Don't kill the messenger because based on my own personal experience, I haven't seen that big of a gap. See www.jdpower.com for more details.

Vehicle 350z RX8
Overall Quality 5 2
Mechanical Quality 5 2
Body & Interior Quality 5 4
Feature & Accessory Quality 5 3
Overall Appeal 3 2
Performance 3 2
Comfort 3 3
Features / Instrument Panel 2 2
Style 3 2

The safety comparison looks about even on JD Power. However, there were many fields which read "Not Available" for the Z. This might be important to your parents.

The record and history of the Z's VQ35 speaks for itself. That V6 has been around in one form or another for almost 20 years (formerly as a 3.0 liter). Value? The pendulum swings toward the RX8 here. These prices nowadays are so good, they're INSANE! I made the choice to get a Z one year ago. If I made it today, I would probably get the RX8 since the price is so good. It's hard to ignore. Gas is more, but I expect insurance is less.

I can provide some input as a stranger (a Z owner) in a strange land on this forum as far as pros and cons, and also address a few things brought up in this thread.

On a bad day I get 24 MPG in the Z. If I do lots of highway travel, it's more like 27 MPG.

Rebuild the bottom end to install a turbo? That's not necessary. Search my350z.com for boatloads of proof.

RX8 Pros
-----------
Don't underestimate the value of the back seat.
They are so rare. I see one about every 2 weeks.
The current price of 2005's is crazy low.
It's lighter and a hair better handling than the Z.
(subjective) The interior is superior to the Z aesthetically.
The sunroof is an option.
Useable hatch space.

RX8 Cons
------------
Gas mileage.
Lack of torque, acceleration, power, what-have-you.
If you're into aftermarket parts (I'm not), the market is relatively small and apparently it's difficult to gain power.
It floods if the driver is uneducated.
(subjective) engine / exhaust note not as appealing as the Z.
Oil consumption.
Depreciation.

350z Pros
------------
Torque, acceleration, power, what-have-you is more than adequate for most.
Aftermarket parts selection is huge and grows everyday. Small Example: Gaining 20-30 hp with exhaust, intake and plenum is commonplace.
Gas mileage.
Tried, true, bulletproof engine.
Beautiful and unique Nissan exhaust note.

350z Cons
-------------
No backseat.
Less space in the hatch.
I see 2 per day if I'm on the road for an hour or two. Much more on the weekend.
It costs more - if you negotiate well, you can get a BASE for about $26.5k
It's a bit heavier and not quite as nimble as the RX8

Additionally...

I think the external styling of both cars is beautiful. It's hard for me to decide which one is hotter.

I bought my Z almost strictly for autocross. Both cars do well in SCCA B Stock, but the RX8 won most of the first several spots at Nationals. I'm never going to go to nationals, but it's an interesting fact.

I have a wife and two kids. Sometimes it would be easier if I could carry our kids in my car, but that can't happen because I don't have a backseat. In one year, I will consider selling my car and buying a RX8 for three reasons - I want a backseat, I want a car that is not as common as the Z, I want to buy a new performance car for a fantastic price (if current conditions hold true).

Bottom line.....tell them that insurance will be cheaper with the RX8. :)

Rosko350z lets be real now. Those rating for JD are a bunch of BS. I've been in several 350Z's and the quality in them is not good at all. Definitely not better than the RX8's. As a matter of fact most of the rating that came from that site towards the RX8 are ludicrous. How many other magazines and TV reviews had said the total opposite. In reality, the only things the 350Z has better than the RX8 is Straight Line performance and its exhaust note! I happen to like the looks of the 350Z but looks are always subjective, so you cant really count that at this point.

I would get whatever car my parents felt most happy with because you do NOT want them to be bitter about this. I would certainly try and nudge them in the direction I wanted, but not too hard. If you make too much of a case for the RX-8 and get hit by a truck, they'll blame you for getting the RX-8. Maybe a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point.

Whatever you decide, make sure you know why you're getting the car. Don't be one of those people who has an RX-8 and doesn't even know what a rotor is. Also, if you're getting an automatic transmission, go for a 2006 RX-8 (might not be an option due to price) or go for the 350z. The RX-8 is just flat out cool, but if you think you'll impress your friends with your 0-60 times, you won't be all that happy.

If you really want "reliability and value" don't get either of these cars. We probably need a little more info to give you more direction. Do you definitely want a coupe? What about a roadster? What's the price range? Do you want to do mods?

The RX-8 isn't the simplest car in the world to own. You'll need new tires if you want to drive in the snow at all, check the oil levels from time to time, fill it up quite a bit, and be careful not to shut it off when the engine is cold. These things are minor issues for most people, but they may be deal-breakers for you. I think most people here don't mind those little problems because they know what benefits they're getting when having an RX-8. If this is your first car you may not appreciate some of those things and may just be annoyed.

Wrong.

2005 sales

350Z - 27,278
RX-8 - 23,690
Mustang - 160,975 (1st model year)
Corvette - 32,489
GTO - 11,590

And of course there are going to be slightly more 350z's than RX-8's...they were out for a year before the Mazda was released.

Are those U.S. sales numbers? I would love to see a credible source that talks about how many total 350z's vs. total RX-8's have been sold in the United States. My feeling is that theres 2-3 times more 350z's in the U.S. than RX-8's.

edit: Based on the chart located at https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=63882 it looks like there were about 47,000 total RX-8's sold in the U.S. from launch date to Oct '05. It is a line graph so my calcualtions are probably a little off.

Those #'s are for North American sales.

Thats funny because I am considering the same things you are. The only thing is I am really considering the 350z and the S2000 more than the 8, I also don't plan to purchase one until I have the cash to buy one outright(used)... so next year hopefully(leaves more time 4 research).

My only question to you is have you driven the 350z and rx8 back to back?
Each one offers a different feel, which may or may not suite your driving style. My suggestion would be to decide what you want out of a sports and go for the one that meets your criteria.

Exactly. Why does some dude from Arkansas care if they've sold 7 million RX-8's in Japan? The statement you said "wrong" too was that you see tons more 350z's than you do RX-8's. I'm not trying to give anyone outside the U.S. a hard time (and for all I know this guy isn't in the U.S.), but when you talk about numbers in terms of number of cars you'll see on the road, you have to isolate it to a country or at least a continent.

RX-8 North American Sales
2003: 12,346
2004: 23,690
2005: 14,673
Total: 50,709

350Z North American Sales
2002: 13,253
2003: 36,728
2004: 30,690
2005: 27,278
Total: 107,949

sources:
- http://sev.prnewswire.com/auto/20050...4012005-1.html
- http://sev.prnewswire.com/auto/20060...4012006-1.html
- http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...03/152210.html
- http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...04/313751.html
- http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...04/204943.html

I have considered both the RX-8 and the 350z. I was dead set on getting an RX-8 until my parents bought one last august. Its a nice car for what it is. But I have decided on the 350z. My reasons were:

-I am not married yet (but have a gf) and dont plan on having kids for atleast another 5 years.
-I have no use for a backseat. I use mine about 2 days out of the year.
-I really like the styling of the z. They made a lot of nice changes for the 06 model. Bi-xenon lights, LED taillights, quite a few interior upgrades to make it more "luxurious"
-The z does offer a bit more power off of the line and it feels like a quicker car.
-I did not find the z's ride rough like others have stated. Of course, I'm coming from a Camaro, so I'm not expecing Lexus ride quality.
-Not much headroom in the rx-8 with the sunroof (and I dont like the looks of the car without it). Meanwhile, I fit perfectly in the z.
-And I like the layout of the z's interior. Some may call it plain, but I like the no-nonsense functionality.

They are both great cars. Test drive both of them. I dont think there is a wrong choice here.

Well, after considering both cars for the past two years, I finally have the opportunity to pull the trigger on one of them. Here is my choice:

http://community.webshots.com/album/548028059vbaigc

Grats, enjoy it.

Have fun man. Congrats

As for how many you see of each on the road, I see literally dozens of 350Z's on the road in the Portland area when I do get out and hardly ever see RX-8s. It probably depends a lot on where you live.

I have to agree with Bunny, it depends greatly on where you live as to how many of each you see on the road. In Orlando, you see a lot of 350zs, much more than RX8's, but I do see a few 8's a week and we have over a dozen now where I work, but we easily have that many 350zs as well. I know what the test data shows, but in the real world, I have not had any problems keeping up with a 350z or G35coupe and at the end of the day, I probably had a more comfortable ride and more fun, but used more gas.

[QUOTE=saturn]
RX-8 North American Sales
2003: 12,346
2004: 23,690
2005: 14,673
Total: 50,709

350Z North American Sales
2002: 13,253
2003: 36,728
2004: 30,690
2005: 27,278
Total: 107,949

[QUOTE]


These numbers really surprise me. I see 8's around here every day (6 or 8 or them on Keesler AFB), but I expected the 350z/RX-8 to be far higher than 2:1. Seems to me this is a very respectable showing in a niche market.

Yeah, I agree. I thought it would be more like 3:1 or higher. Seeing as how the 350Z got a year head start, I don't think this is bad at all for Mazda. However, since it looks like a pretty big decline from 2004 to 2005 so that could spell trouble.

Not to stir up any trouble, but I was looking at numbers so I figured I'd update my earlier post to include the 2006 numbers.

RX-8 North American Sales
2003: 12,346
2004: 23,690
2005: 14,673
2006: 9,343
Total: 60,052

350Z North American Sales
2002: 13,253
2003: 36,728
2004: 30,690
2005: 27,278
2006: 24,635
Total: 132,584

sources:
- http://sev.prnewswire.com/auto/20050...4012005-1.html
- http://sev.prnewswire.com/auto/20060...4012006-1.html
- http://media.ford.com/mazda/article_...ticle_id=25154
- http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...03/152210.html
- http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...04/313751.html
- http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...04/204943.html
- http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...03/032862.html

Hope you like the Z, I almost bought one the 1st year they were out for 25k.!

hmmm about double the Z's out there. thats a good and a bad thing. :lol:

well.. my friend has a 350Z.. which is why i dont want one..too many people have them.. i live on long island, and you cant go anywhere without seeing at least 1, sometimes 2 or 3.., same for a G35. there are 5 Z's within a two block radius by my house.. however, i only get to see an rx8 on the road every now and then..maybe once a week.

maybe it sjust me ...but i dont like when people have my stuff u know? i like bein one of the only people with this car that you dont see too often.. but if you want some power and looks.. get the Z... trust me you wont be dissappointed.

i believe the sharp decline from 2004-2005 would be because of the poor resale value of the car... u know? wow who would buy a new 05 for 26k+ when they could get an 04 w/ low miles for 19k... u know wut i mean?

Wow, that's certainly not the ratio of sales I expected...here in DFW, I definitely see at least 10 Zs or so for every RX-8, maybe more.

Wow, I cant believe the sharp decline from yrs 4 -> 5 -> 6 for the 8. Mazda needs to do something to boost the image of this car to generate some more sales! I remember when they first came out with the 8, there would be commercials and advertisements for it everywhere. Now, I only see them for every model but the 8!

Well its been one year of ownership and 10,000 miles later and I've been loving it so far. Only complaint is the damn flywheel. I really wish they didnt put in a dual-mass piece. It causes the rpms to not drop fast enough in the first couple gears. This is only a problem when trying to accelerate quickly.

25k is a really good deal on a first year model! Even though I think you're better off because they were plagued with problems.

I think you should get whatever car you like LESS. Then sign up on the message board of that car and constantly talk crap about the car. Then trade in the car but remain on the forum to talk crap about the car.

:confused:

Check out the date from the original post...I think he is looong gone.

Being a former 05 6spd Enthusiast owner, I am a big fan of the Zcar.

Pros: Good power, lots of TQ low down, handles well. Pretty decent balance. Decent weight transfer. Nice sound. No nonsense interior. Cheap to buy. Heritage of marque. PPW is the best "white" out there! Loved that color!!

Cons: Heavy, feedback is limited, numb steering, everyone has one.

Either way you can't go wrong. You will be getting a damn good car whatever you choose. IMHO the RX8 offers the better overall package for me. The Z offers the better "sports car" experience.

Good luck.

I test drove both & there is no bad decision but the Z rode like it had no springs (ie super stiff) & has no room at all. I couldn't take a Z to the races for a weekend because you can't get a tent, a cooler & a sleeping bag in it. As an everyday driver, I don't think the Z can touch the RX but I must be in the minority as sales figures suggest the buying public disagrees. How great to have 2 such excellent sports cars to chose from.

Drive both and see if you like which one best. I'd prolly consider the G35 Coupe over the Z if I am biased towards the Carlos Ghosn camp. ;)