350Z traded in for RX8
 

I have been keeping watch at my local Mazda dealer for the arival of the RX8. Stopped by last night and to my delight there was a green RX8 sitting outside and a red one in the show room. The dealer indicated that they have delivered several RX8s already and more were on the way. The red car in the show room was sitting angled nose to nose with a 350z. The dealer stated that the Z had been traded in on an RX8 so they thought it would be interesting to have the two cars together on the show room floor. This provided me with a great opportunity to contrast and compare the cars side by side. I must say that I was very impressed with the RX8 in the showroom as it had the aero kit and rear spoiler. IMO this totaly makes the car! Side by side with the Z, the RX8 definitly held it's own in the looks department! I can not say as much for the green car without the aero package and rear spoiler. It definitely looked a bit plain and was bested by the Z in looks. The dealer had driven both cars and said that the Z was faster, but that the RX8 was much more fun to drive. He stated that the RX8 was much more refined, smoother and provided a much better feel of being one with the road. And of course there is the back seat. I tried it and found that it was quite comfortable and easy to get in and out of as long as the front seat was not all the way back. I am amazed that a car with a real back seat can challenge the 350Z in looks and proportion. I am headed back to the dealer today for a test drive of the RX8 and an opportunity to further side-by-side comparison of the two cars. I will be looking more closely at the finish and quality of the interior on both cars. I also want to get more scoop on the circumstances of the 350Z being traded in on the RX8.

"I also want to get more scoop on the circumstances of the 350Z being traded in on the RX8."

Probably just someone who wants the latest toy.

I seriously doubt we'll see an 8 in a Nissan dealership.

Theres nothing stopping the dealer buying one :)

Most 350Z owners are hipsters who quickly tire of the new toy, or can't find that perfect set of god-awful chrome 20s to ruin the car. I've seen people who've traded their Zs in on hideous pieces of shit like a Chevrolet Avalanche. An Avalanche! That being said, I absolutely adore my 350 after several serious, track-worthy mods and wouldn't dream of trading it.

A co-worker and member of this board, rowentx recently picked up his RX-8 and I've had a chance to go over the car and shoot some pics with the Z. I shot in the same garage at work as I did when I took my pics and utilized many of the same angles for comparisions sake. I REALLY like the front 2/3rds of the RX-8, but lose interest at the suicide doors. Interior wise, I'll just mention that the material on the bolsters is extremely disappointing and anyone who thinks that the plastics used inside are leaps and bounds above those in the Z is completely delusional. The pedals are PERFECTLY spaced for heel/toe applications! WOW! And, although I haven't driven it yet, the clutch and shifter feel very smooth and slick. Kudos to Mazda for going with the larger diameter rotors up front. Even though they are the same thickness as the smaller rotors, surface area is surface area and will aid in heat dispersion.

On to the pics!

Side by Side
http://www.waynewmedia.com/rx-8/rx-8_04.JPG

Side profiles
http://www.waynewmedia.com/rx-8/rx-8_01.jpg
http://www.waynewmedia.com/350Z/images/Dscn1114.JPG

Front 3/4
http://www.waynewmedia.com/rx-8/rx-8_05.JPG
http://www.waynewmedia.com/350Z/images/Dscn1123.JPG

I like the 8, but I like my Z more. Would I take one as a daily driver? Absolutely.

Glad to hear that. That's the way I ordered mine. My feeling was that the aerokit and spoiler would start to become more popular as time goes on.

As far as the Z. I never liked that thing at all. To me there isn't one appealing angle. The Infiniti G35 Coupe is a much prettier car, but I'll still take the 8.

DROIDEKAUS wrote: "anyone who thinks that the plastics used inside are leaps and bounds above those in the Z is completely delusional. "

We're all entitled to our opinions but I am not delusional in thinking that the vast amount of plastic on the dash of the Z makes it the main reason I didn't get one. Nice car, and to each his own, but really, the interior of a Z reminds me of a VW bug. I could never get used to that cheap looking layout. No offense to Z owners.

Sign me delusional and proud of it.

[thread creep]
i just wanna say...

damn nice pics droidekaus! composition, lighting, clarity...etc. all great.

what type of camera do u have? do u have any formal art/photography training?
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What I'm getting at is some of the "chest thumping" about superior quality materials. That's simply not the case. The materials on the door panels are the same as found in the P5. Those bolsters. WTF is that material? I simply expected more.

Design and materials used are two completely different things. Even if the Z's dash were covered in leather ala Porshe or Aston Martin you'd still probably dislike it. That's fine. Strap in for a ride in my car and there's no time for dash molestation. Going through the windshield when I hit the binders would be your first concern. ;)

Thanks! I'm a formally trained designer and amateur-enthusiast photog. Those pics were all shot with my outdated by today's standards Nikon 990.

Yes, thanks for the pics! I somewhat agree with your opinion of the RX8 from the rear doors back. I guess that is why I liked the red one wiht the aero kit and rear spoiler. It makes this a totally different car. To me, it looks like something is missing without it. But that is just me. I will be looking more closely at the interiors tonight, however, layout not withstanding, I did not notice any huge difference in quality. I will go back and forth between the cars and see which layout appeals to me. Again, this is all individual preference.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by droidekaus
[B]Most 350Z owners are hipsters who quickly tire of the new toy, or can't find that perfect set of god-awful chrome 20s to ruin the car.

You nailed it, this car did have a high dollar set of chrome 20s on it.

wicked, i was just thinkign the same thing as i was scrolling through... beautiful work. haha... a 990?? i should be so lucky ;) Min X-9 w/ 50mm :p

edit: btw, what was the film, lens (looks like a 30? for the nice perspective shots, and something pretty long for the profiles), f/ you were using???

Really beautiful pics - I have a 990 as well but my photos don't look as nice. Must be a duff unit ;).

Personally I think the rear half doors are wonderful things - the only reason I can even consider this car is because of those doors and what lies behind them. The only view of the RX-8 I am not totally sold on is the rear - the Altezza lights could be better. I think the interior looks beautiful, but I would also prefer plain leather to the rubber ribbed side bolsters, and I hate the plastic sunvisors.

Hello guys, I am an avid sports car fan and I have been lurking here ever since I seen a post about your missing HP numbers from the www.my350z.com site.

The guy that lives a few houses down from me picked a silver rx8 MT up about a month ago and we were chatting and checking out each other's cars. My opinons:

RX8 looks pretty nice overall, but something I could not put my finger on seemed off, like the proportions were wrong or something, kind of an odd looking car from some angles. But anyway I like the interior, kinda dark and dingy but had a nice theme and seemed of high quality. He suggested we go for a cruise in our individual cars to the beach and we did, on the way back we horsed around a bit on the highway and I would say it was about as fast as my buddy's modded 2000 celica GTS (runs around 15.2 in the 1/4). FYI he had already near 2k miles on it, him and his wife went on a road trip to break it in.

Anyway I think its a cool car but is deffinatly missing some power, I hope they find the root of it and get a fix out, I know if my Z came short 20% power I would be bellyaching..

Also I find it strange that people have bad comments about the looks of the new Z on this site. Everybody has their own opinion but I have heard from so many people that the new Z is one of the best looking cars ever designed, even from a guy that owned and drove a 2002 Porsche 911 who I met at a gas station. But I do admit I feel the silver and white Z's look a bit bland (thats why I got the Daytona Blue).

Well good luck in your quest for the missing HP, I think the rx8 is a cool car and all but for the price it needs every single HP to be worth it since there are soo many GT cars in the $20-25K range running mid 15's in the 1/4.

PS: I have 8k miles on it and I am no where close to being bored with "my new toy". Also I wouldn't say I am a "hipster", I just want my car to look its best, I added a body colored Stillen rear wing but its gonna be all power upgrades from hear on out.

DROIDEKAUS wrote: "Even if the Z's dash were covered in leather ala Porshe or Aston Martin you'd still probably dislike it. That's fine. Strap in for a ride in my car and there's no time for dash molestation. Going through the windshield when I hit the binders would be your first concern. "

Even with leather, I just don't like the layout of the entire dash or the "go cart" feel of the drive. I've driven the Z (in a fit of impatience waiting for my 8). I can see how people fall in love with it, but I've out grown those kinds of feelings by now. The total picture is more important. I'd wear my seat belt so not much concern about going through the windshield.

Excellent pictures, by the way. (Even if the Z looks like it was squeezed out of an elephant's anus.):p

Those pictures are great, they show just how attractive both cars are.

Umm... I hope I NEVER outgrow "those feelings". Driving on the street doesn't even begin to compare to flogging the shit out of my car on a roadcourse. I take it you have no interest in track time in your RX-8? Believe me, when massive 4-piston calipers loaded with racing pads grab on to 13" rotors at 110 MPH heading into a 40 MPH right-hander, you are left wondering if you are in fact going to come flying out of your seat.

If the Z came from an elephant's ass, I guess the 8 was forced through it's urethra. :D

I retract the elephant turd comment. Even with the smiley face I could see how someone might not take the comment in the goodnatured, funloving spirit in which it was offered. The Z is a beautiful car.

And no, I don't care to drag the 8. I ran my big block Camaro when I was a kid and had a blast. I know about centrifugal force. Ran my RX7 until I killed it. Those were the days. If I wanted a runner I'd get a Viper. I want something cool, with some power that is different from all the other mindless crap on the road today (Z excluded). Don't get your knickers in a twist.

I took it in goodnatured fun. Did you miss my smiley?

Dear Lord. Please, PLEASE don't think I was talking about drag racing. The 1/4 mile is NOT racing IMO. I am talking about track days on road courses with right and left turns. If you want to have the most fun ever in a car, sign up for a local high-performance driving school at a track near you. You will never be the same afterwards and will learn SO MUCH about really driving your car.

Saw the smiley. We're all friends here.

"You will never be the same afterwards and will learn SO MUCH about really driving your car." That seems to imply I don't currently "really" know how to drive my car. True about the RX-8, not so about GM, MR2, RX7, Stealth twin turbo or my Craftsman 12 horse.

We are all friends, but you and I seem to enjoy the pissing contest. ;) I know nothing about your driving skillset, but I can assure you that you can never, ever come close to pushing your car as hard on the streets as you can on a proper roadcourse. That's all I am saying. People who do try that on the street usually wreck and die, or kill other people. I'm quite positive that you and I are both at an age where we are way past street racing with children.

I'm so hooked on the go-fast crack pipe after several events this year that I'm going to start looking for a fully-prepped, track-only race car.

Right, I've only been on a track twice (Stealth), got to about 120 and chickened out. I'm sure I could have blown up past 130 or more but I really got the willies. Felt like at any second I could end up mush. When I got out I was literally shaking, in a good way.

Good luck with your racing and I'm trying hard not to bait you again before I end this message.......
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There, I did it.

Anybody who's looking for a track only trailer queen is a friend of mine, even if you are a Z owner ... there's no better suited track only car than a 93-95 RX-7.

What tracks do you typically run?

sadly, i think the 350z looks better