05 RX8 or 08 Altima coupe 3.5
I'm looking for some unbiased opinion knowing fully well that this is a RX8 forum. I looking to get one or the other in the next few days, details on the cars are as follows
2005 RX8 GT WWP 16k miles No accidents Called Mazda and all the recalls have been done 2008 Altima Coupe 3.5 black 27k miles No accidents Thanks in advance |
the rx8 is a true sports car the altima is well an altima with 2 less doors ... handles like an altime rides like an altima its ... an altima ... and trust me im not being biased its just a fact theyre 2 very different cars you should pick based on what you want and need right now ...
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Thanks for the input. Im not sure if they're that different. Both are coupes, both have rear seats, both are front engine and have roughly the same power (~30hp). The biggest difference imo is that the Altima is FWD
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The altima is not even close to the same comparison. It will not even compare to the handling capabilities of the 8 nor is it a sports car to even be in the same class. It's a coupe with a sporty feel to it by making it a coupe, that's it.
If you're even considering comparing the two it's like comparing a conservative vehicle versus a car enthusiast vehicle. If you want a typical coupe looking like you're a business owner or whatever and want good mpg, get the altima. If you're a gearhead wanting a car you'll love inside and out and are willing to work on it when you need to, love a spirited drive and don't care about mpg's, get the 8. |
Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3490841)
Thanks for the input. Im not sure if they're that different. Both are coupes, both have rear seats, both are front engine and have roughly the same power (~30hp). The biggest difference imo is that the Altima is FWD
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test drive ftw
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Ya will second that the cars are nothing alike. You could get even more technical with the difference considering the RX8 is not a 2-door coupe. But really, the cars are massively different. on on side you have a big v-6 crammed in the front of a pedestrian coupe that was never meant for the track. On the other hand you have a rotary powered, RWD, specifically engineered sports car, that is just trying to fool people with its extra doors and rear seats. A closer comparison with same 3.5 V6 in question would be the 350z, but even then the handling of the RX8 is going to be much more precise than the muscle car feel of the 350.
You are either looking for a sports car, or a "im pretending to be a sportscar". The RX8 being the former, and any v6 wrong wheel drive coupe being the latter. |
Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3490841)
Thanks for the input. Im not sure if they're that different. Both are coupes, both have rear seats, both are front engine and have roughly the same power (~30hp). The biggest difference imo is that the Altima is FWD
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Whoa. I take that back, they arent anything the same then :p
I spoke to a friend and he said the same thing. FWD < RWD any day. He also mentioned that it would be sooner rather than later that I'm going to get tired of the Altima compared to the RX8. I've taken both for a test drive and the best thing I liked about the 8 was the seats. I know it sounds strange but it felt very welcoming unlike the altima's |
The Altima will be a zillion times less demanding of your time and money. I have a 99 Toyota Solara as well as the 8. I love both, but for almost completely opposite reasons.
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you've driven both and the best thing you liked about the 8 were the seats? do you know what kind of engine the rx-8 has? i'm not trying to be mean or a jerk, but if the immediate answer is "no," then it'd be a worthy time investment to read some faq's on this forum. the 8 and altima are worlds apart. they're similar in the sense that they have 4 wheels and can seat 4 people, that's about it. the 8 is a nice and practical sports car, but it's more quirky and high maintenance than your average driving appliance, which is what the altima is. if you're not into taking care of a car yourself and are just looking for a decent-looking coupe as a daily driver, the altima might be a better bet. the best aspects of the rx-8, imho, are the engine and driving dynamics; if those aspects are worth the care this car needs to you, then by all means join the club
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YEs please test drive before you even try and compare these two cars... hoursepower is everything... 8s light, handles like you would never believe, and probably has more torque as well (im not positive on that because i would never buy an altima so ive never cared to look).
You cannot compare these 2 cars in the least bit.... ones a sports car and the other is a grandpa DD I have an 05 wwp and i love it, but maybe the altima is for you. the rx8 is for an enthusiast and someone who really cares about cars because if not taken care of properly they are easily broken and cost a pretty penny to repair, so if you go with 8 dnt skip out on a warranty (if its from a dealer), if not and if it doesnt have a pre existing warranty then youlll still hvae the 8 year 100k mile warranty on the engine in case that fails, Mazda will drop a new on in for free |
Originally Posted by REsuperD
(Post 3490977)
you've driven both and the best thing you liked about the 8 were the seats? do you know what kind of engine the rx-8 has? i'm not trying to be mean or a jerk, but if the immediate answer is "no," then it'd be a worthy time investment to read some faq's on this forum. the 8 and altima are worlds apart. they're similar in the sense that they have 4 wheels and can seat 4 people, that's about it. the 8 is a nice and practical sports car, but it's more quirky and high maintenance than your average driving appliance, which is what the altima is. if you're not into taking care of a car yourself and are just looking for a decent-looking coupe as a daily driver, the altima might be a better bet. the best aspects of the rx-8, imho, are the engine and driving dynamics; if those aspects are worth the care this car needs to you, then by all means join the club
the seats... what about the sound the engine makes that youve never heard in any other car? or the way it sticks to a corner? the way it jumps off the line?? nothing?? ugh.... honest opinion is you should get the altima... not trying to be a dousche but to be honest it doesnt seem like u know enought to keep the 8 running right and you will just end up pissed because shit keeps breaking on you |
but if you do go for the 8 dont buy one yet... you need to do some research on these cars and their Rotary engines before you spend the money
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I have read most of the faqs on this forum and I used to own a 88 RX7 Turbo II so I do know what I'm getting into. I've researched the flooding issues, the oil consumption, the fuel mpg, the different models and colors. This will be more of a toy than a daily driver. I'd like to think that I know more about cars and their maintance compared to the average joe.
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^ +1 or you will regret it later you need to take care of the 8 for it to take care of you ...
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If you want a true sportscar with some sport coup features like rear doors and back seat, get the RX8. The Z370 is nissans sportscar not the altima. The mazda 6 is the car you should be comparing to. Also the accord. Leave the rx8 alone. You don't get it. :nono:
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What do YOU want?
Are you looking more for a track car, or more for a nice open-road cruiser family car? If you want a track car, you would compare the RX-8, 370Z, 350Z, S2000, etc. (Group "A" cars) If you want a nice no-nonsense cruiser with plenty of power and relatively good mpg you would compare the Altima, Camry, Accord, etc. (Group "B" cars) There's a tremendous gap in performance between Group "A" and Group "B". Maybe not in straight line speed, but definitely in road-handling, steering feel, braking, cornering, etc. |
Well he says hes read the faqs and he owned a turbo 7 before too.
But i mean to compare and altima to an 8 is rediculous, if you feel confident in rotary then go for the 8, especially if this is a toy... an altima is your grandpas daily driver not a toy at all... |
GET THE RX8
you say you're looking for a toy, well no one likes a boring toy! rx8 is your car. |
Get the Altima, you will be happier over the long run.
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What is it with altimas and mazimas that make people compare them to and think that they're sports cars. I had a v8 cutlass at one point and with some work, it was fast. It surely wasn't a sports car, and i wouldn't have compared it to my dad's vette. These two cars just don't compare as stated before. As a former rotary owner, you shouldn't buy the 8 unless you love it. You shouldn't buy the Altima period.
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Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3490841)
Im not sure if they're that different. Both are coupes, both have rear seats, both are front engine and have roughly the same power (~30hp). The biggest difference imo is that the Altima is FWD
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Altima is more like a handburger, easy to handle
RX-8 is more of a steak, delicious, but hard to handle |
Originally Posted by jasonrxeight
(Post 3492103)
Altima is more like a handburger, easy to handle
RX-8 is more of a steak, delicious, but hard to handle BTW, i have had some burgers that are not easy to handle. |
look around for another car, although if the altima has a 6 cylinder it will be close to what the 350z has. The car if front wheel drive it will loose less power to the wheels. Yeah it won't have the feeling a RX8 but you will see the 8 in the rear view mirror.
The RX8 club has to justify why we bought our 8's. Mine is somewhat fast, people driving around me think it is fast. Cornering is where the 8 really shines but if you live in a city like Phoenix where everything is straight then the 8 doesn't fit. I always drive up to the white mountains to get my fill of the 8. Cars and trucks have a hard time keeping up with me thru the swists. I love the 8 but I have also had 300z that gave me the same feeling. Go with our gut and not a forum that has to use excuses. Yeah I will get bashed for this but who gives. |
Obviously the OP is looking for a nice, sporty looking daily driver.
Go with the Altima for your need, Accord Coupe also should be considered as well. |
Originally Posted by frankford
(Post 3492517)
look around for another car, although if the altima has a 6 cylinder it will be close to what the 350z has. The car if front wheel drive it will loose less power to the wheels. Yeah it won't have the feeling a RX8 but you will see the 8 in the rear view mirror.
The RX8 club has to justify why we bought our 8's. Mine is somewhat fast, people driving around me think it is fast. Cornering is where the 8 really shines but if you live in a city like Phoenix where everything is straight then the 8 doesn't fit. I always drive up to the white mountains to get my fill of the 8. Cars and trucks have a hard time keeping up with me thru the swists. I love the 8 but I have also had 300z that gave me the same feeling. Go with our gut and not a forum that has to use excuses. Yeah I will get bashed for this but who gives. The rx8 is a little quicker in the quarter mile and 0-60 times. They would be side by side in a straight race, neither in the others rear view mirror. Throw in a curve and goodbye altima. |
Originally Posted by CrazyJek
(Post 3492296)
I handle a steak just fine.
BTW, i have had some burgers that are not easy to handle. |
This will be more of a toy than a daily driver. Ken |
Originally Posted by frankford
(Post 3492517)
look around for another car, although if the altima has a 6 cylinder it will be close to what the 350z has. The car if front wheel drive it will loose less power to the wheels. Yeah it won't have the feeling a RX8 but you will see the 8 in the rear view mirror.
The RX8 club has to justify why we bought our 8's. Mine is somewhat fast, people driving around me think it is fast. Cornering is where the 8 really shines but if you live in a city like Phoenix where everything is straight then the 8 doesn't fit. I always drive up to the white mountains to get my fill of the 8. Cars and trucks have a hard time keeping up with me thru the swists. I love the 8 but I have also had 300z that gave me the same feeling. Go with our gut and not a forum that has to use excuses. Yeah I will get bashed for this but who gives. -- can we stop these stupid ass "comparisons"?? go test drive the cars and get the one you want. why would you ask a rx8 forum which car to get when clearly we all made the same comparisons (not really because this is a stupid "comparison") and got the 8.......:wallbash: |
To the forum: He has a right to compare the two vehicles. They're both attractive to him and within his price range. While the cars have completely different applications, that's not something he may know by just looking up the specifications on the vehicles.
To The OP: The altima has a VQ engine, which was on Ward's top ten list for 14 consecutive years. Its definitely a worthwhile engine. The altima will not hook perfectly off the line, the car weighs about the same as the 8 but certainly has more torque and a little more horsepower. Also being FWD it will lose less power to the wheels, which is pretty good for highway pulls. It will make a better daily driver if those are some of the only applications you're looking at. Like others have said, the 8 is enthusiast's vehicle. I personally am in love with the rotary, despite the populations general disposition towards the engine. The 8 isn't perfect, but no engine is. It is all about what short comings you're willing to accept in a car for the trade-off. In this case rotaries require extra care, but the will reward you a lot in return especially the N/A ones. The 8 will have a much higher fun factor than the altima. I personally own a Nissan and despise it. The build quality isn't the same as the rx-8 especially when it comes to interiors. Also take a look at ryan's crash (in this section of the forum) just to see how well his car held up on a flip. In my opinion that's very good structural integrity. Like others have said the 8 will outshine many cars in a lot of areas. The drag strip is not one of those places. I hope you decide what you like and get what you truly want. Only your opinion matters since it is your decision ultimately. I also hope you're not put off by the many offensive responses and that it in no way effects your decision. I'm new here as well and this is a common 'interaction' on most forums. I hope some of this helps. If you have any more questions feel free to PM me. Lastly, try using google and do some independent research on the cars. Goodluck, Josh |
Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3490998)
I have read most of the faqs on this forum and I used to own a 88 RX7 Turbo II so I do know what I'm getting into. I've researched the flooding issues, the oil consumption, the fuel mpg, the different models and colors. This will be more of a toy than a daily driver. I'd like to think that I know more about cars and their maintance compared to the average joe.
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Apple or orange. Which should I have as a snack?
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Originally Posted by SayNoToPistons
(Post 3493285)
Apple or orange. Which should I have as a snack?
keep in mind, the apple is more of a hard bite, could hurt your teeth. do you have dentures? oranges are typically juicy, and more acidic of course. you have to peel oranges, so eating one will take a little bit more time in the beginning, but may be more rewarding once you take your first bite. apples you can just pick up and eat anytime (always wash fruit prior to eating). so, which do you think you would like better? do you normally eat on the go or sit down at a table and take your time? what is your overall health like? |
Originally Posted by Sigs
(Post 3493150)
To the forum: He has a right to compare the two vehicles. They're both attractive to him and within his price range. While the cars have completely different applications, that's not something he may know by just looking up the specifications on the vehicles.
To The OP: The altima has a VQ engine, which was on Ward's top ten list for 14 consecutive years. Its definitely a worthwhile engine. The altima will not hook perfectly off the line, the car weighs about the same as the 8 but certainly has more torque and a little more horsepower. Also being FWD it will lose less power to the wheels, which is pretty good for highway pulls. It will make a better daily driver if those are some of the only applications you're looking at. Like others have said, the 8 is enthusiast's vehicle. I personally am in love with the rotary, despite the populations general disposition towards the engine. The 8 isn't perfect, but no engine is. It is all about what short comings you're willing to accept in a car for the trade-off. In this case rotaries require extra care, but the will reward you a lot in return especially the N/A ones. The 8 will have a much higher fun factor than the altima. I personally own a Nissan and despise it. The build quality isn't the same as the rx-8 especially when it comes to interiors. Also take a look at ryan's crash (in this section of the forum) just to see how well his car held up on a flip. In my opinion that's very good structural integrity. Like others have said the 8 will outshine many cars in a lot of areas. The drag strip is not one of those places. I hope you decide what you like and get what you truly want. Only your opinion matters since it is your decision ultimately. I also hope you're not put off by the many offensive responses and that it in no way effects your decision. I'm new here as well and this is a common 'interaction' on most forums. I hope some of this helps. If you have any more questions feel free to PM me. Lastly, try using google and do some independent research on the cars. Goodluck, Josh |
Not a problem, you are welcome. I wish you the best of luck on your decision. Let us know what you end up choosing.
Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3493516)
Thank you for the sincere reply. I have so far test driven 2 8s and its was fun. Things I like havent changed, the seats are great, the engine sounds great past 5k, no body roll evident when cornering thanks to that weight distribution, enough power to get myself in trouble. Not a lot of things I dont like. I'm test driving the Altima tomorrow so I should be able to gauge the difference accurately.
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Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3490841)
Thanks for the input. Im not sure if they're that different. Both are coupes, both have rear seats, both are front engine and have roughly the same power (~30hp). The biggest difference imo is that the Altima is FWD
They are very different cars, too many differences to list. Nowhere near the same driving experience. The 8 is fun and bitchy and drinks too much, the Altima is boring and reliable and economical. |
Originally Posted by Marklar
(Post 3493637)
No, the Altima is front-engine, the 8 is front-mid. The 8 is a mid-engine car, very different, and you can really feel it in a turn.
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Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3493721)
You almost had me convinced until you mentioned the 8 was a mid engine car. umm yeah ok. Its not. Its got a small, light 1.3 engine which allowed mazda to push it further back to get that 50/50. At heart its still a front engine but where the 8 shines is the distribution of weight. The Altima has a ~65/35. The RX8 has one of the best layout for a sports car front engine rwd but its not a mid engine like a f458 italia or a Zonda which is the best for balls out track car
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_m...l_drive_layout http://www.search.com/reference/Mid-engine |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rx8
2nd paragraph of "development and design" ......and somehow this thread lives on. i guess i'm to blame too :wallbash: |
My apologies, I did not realize there are different mid engine configuration.
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Originally Posted by cuxy
(Post 3493775)
My apologies, I did not realize there are different mid engine configuration.
now go test drive the altima so you can make a decision :) |
So I took the Altima for a test drive yesterday and here is my impression from the 20mins I had with it.
When I first sat in it I immediately didnt like the seat that much. I position was comfortable enough but it felt like it was designed for a linebacker and I was sliding compared to the 8. The lumbar and side support was lacking and it felt "cheap". Drove it out of the parking lot and like the ride, it was very plush and comfortable. Then the dissapointment started. The steering was vague with a very rubbery feel. To compare the two it would be like the steering wheel for the 8 was connected to the wheel by a carbon fiber shaft and the Altima's would be a hard rubber (kinda like what they use for suspension parts). An example would be lane changing. The 8 would do it like it was attached to your head knowing what you wanted to do before you did. The Altima was more casual, not that it was bad. It wasnt razor sharp like the 8. Body roll was the other thing I noticed, the 8 was flat and the Altima would lean a few degrees. The engine was another thing that dissapointed me. The Altima felt slow but it wasnt. It would take its time to rev (compared to the 8) and it didnt feel fast even though the speedo says it was. The shifter was a little clunky and the clutch pedal was too soft for my liking. The torque was nice and it was noticeable compared to the 8. I know the VQ engine has been around for a while but it just didnt impress me. I know I had mention that the two cars were comparable but after driving them back to back I know now that they are as different as apples and oranges. It was hard to tell the salesman that I wasnt impressed with the Altima since he seemed to be in love with the car as he owned one himself. Basically the 8 was more of a scapel and the Altima a steak knife. Both are knives but designed to do different things. I'm now looking for a new 8 because the one I looked at had sold but at least now I know what Im looking for |
Glad to hear you finally get it. Now you know the difference a true sportscar makes. :ylsuper:
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ha ha, that is awesome. thanks for sharing your feedback. hopefully not some lame april fool's joke though :)
make that post a sticky so people stop post comparisons that don't make sense!! :) |
Tough call man, if that Altima 3.5 has the CVT transmission, I'd say go with that instead. No, it's not a sports car, but for an econobox, it's about as nice as you can get, and there's something indescribably sexy about stomping the gas and seeing the engine jump to redline and stay there while the car accelerates. I drove my friend's Altima 3.5 CVT and that thing could chew up an onramp like no other econobox I've driven.
On the other hand, if what you really want is an RX-8 but the Altima seems like a good compromise, then get the RX-8. You only live once. |
get the altima rx8s are slow and not as fun as they make em to be
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the cvt version is what makes it fast. But, no faster then the 8. Throw in one curve and it's still good bye altima. Reason being the altima is a sport coup not a sportscar. :dunno:
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its a good daily
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