I just got back from my back to back test drives of the 05 RX-8, 05 350z touring, 05 350z 35th anni.

RX-8 first. when i drove the 8 i felt like i had been driving it for years. The car handels beautifully, the steering, the interior, the body roll, the brakes, the shifting, everything is natural and is in a true sport fasion. The salesman commented on my heel toeing... i didnt realize i was even doing it. The car was the most inviting car i have ever driven. The 8 has a torque issue.. i drove this car first and it is reasonably quick in the high rpm range. This na rotary is smoooth.

350z Touring. Not impressed.. I had a hard time feeling at home in this car, rough shifting, good power but non sports car like engine. bad visibility, steering not as precise as 8, suspension stiffer than the 8 but the 8 handels better, brakes decent. At this point i wanted the rx8 hands down.

350z 35th anni. OMFG... this motor is heavenly... The rev range is beautiful. the motor sounds awesome. The muscle car is gone, the engine behaves like a sports car engine. I love this engine. The leather in this car was awesome... far superior to the 8's. The transmission seemed much smoother than the other z as well as the clutch. Car still is not inviting, handeling is ok but seems only stiffer and no true imporvement is gained over the touring z.

Im stuck between the Z 35th and the rx-8 GT. The 35th Z has alot of power, AMAZING difference in the 300hp engine. The improvement is not the power but the power curve. The 8 seems a little lacking in power. I feel at home in the 8, thats the only way i can explain it... its amazing how fast you adapt to this car. Everything. Superior interior, exterior, handeling, shifting, steering over the Z... but that motor in that 35th z is pissing me off. I hsould have never driven it... its so expensive.

Im dead stuck between the two cars the price diff i will pay is roughly 4500 dollars more for the 35th z

all cars tested were 6spd
i know your 8 owners, i may be soon as well, but go drive the 35th Z, just for fun. That motor is great... i wouldnt personally reccomend the normal z's test drive... unimpressed.

Decisions...

 

you could take that $4500 difference and turbo the 8. you'd get the best of both worlds.

 

Hmmm, interesting. I've driven a few variants of the 350Z before and I generally like the car quite a bit, but not enough that I'd pick it over the 8. However, I've not tried the 35th Anniv. edition.

Hard to believe that the engine would be as different as you describe, but maybe so. It has more hp, but less torque, and it's still basically the same engine. I do love that ultra yellow color Nissan brought out for the Z's 35th Anniv., just wish they didn't offer it on the standard Z cars too. It should have been unique for only the 35th edition.

 

and void your warranty at the same time

 

You can do a LOT better than $4500 difference on the Z to an 8. I assume it will be hard to get any discount of the anniversary z, but it is EASY to get discounts off the 8. Folks are getting fully loaded 04 left-over 8s for $26k-27k. The z is close to $37k. So is it worth 10k more? Even if you got an 05 8, if you get one from a dealer with no 04s to sell I am betting you can get a nice discount as well.

The new z styling does nothing for me, and looks even worse in the convertible form.

I would also go test drive the Infiniti G35 coupe - same car, but MUCH better styling. The 6mt G35 gets a power bump up to 298hp for 05, pretty much matching the z special. With premium package you would be looking at $34-35k.

Dennis

 

well im getting quoted
the 05' RX-8 $29,500 6MT, Gran touring, pearl white
the 05' 350z $34,000 6MT, 35th package, black

Do these sound like good prices or could i do better? thanks guys

 

Nice price on the 05! With GT and pearl white the invoice is $29,232 - so they are making the difference + the hold back (a little over $500).

I have not shopped z cars, but I am surprised you are getting that much off the "special" z car.

You are not trading a car in - and getting shafted on the trade to get these low prices :D ?

If you could find a GT 04 you might could get it for $25k - $26k if it had no other options. Most of the left over cars seemed to be loaded up, however.

Go look at and drive the G35 - that is sweet looking coupe.

Dennis

 

I really wouldn't expect to get a super deal on a 35th Anniversary 350z. They aren't making that many of them, and I'm sure dealers aren't giving them away.

 

haha no shafting on the trade in here :p . I sold private party, 96 nissan 240sx. So sad to let her go she was so pretty and fast. want something new though

 

Regardless of the price difference, you should get the car you want, and that sounds like it might be the 35th Anniv. Z. If it's within your means, $4500 isn't that much, especially over a longer period of time. Get the car you want, you'll have no regrets that way.

In my case, the 8's styling, light weight handling, driver/machine harmony, and practical back seats to boot, won out over the Z's engine/power advantage. So even with the 35th's enhanced 300 hp engine, I'd still probably lean to the RX-8. I'm tempted to try one however, to see if it's really as different from the other Z's as you say.

 

When I drove the 350 Z (track & Enthusiast Convertible) I liked the engine, but a lot of what I remember aboutt he experience was the cheesy *** plastic of the interior, and the floppy tranny. The RX8 tranny was like butta' compared to the notchy 350 Z. It might have changed but the clutch & tranny seemed like they were straight out of a Pathfinder to me.

 

Pathfinder...Muhahahaha I agree

 

u obviously sound like a man who needs HP in your life ...so do yourself a favour and buy the 35th Z... the 8 appeals to only a few, for peeps who need versatility and a sexxxy lookin machine that has 4 seats for all te ladies they will be pickin.. (or guys for the opposite... or if you swing that way..)

if i could afford the 35th Z id buy it..but i cant so i stuck with the 8.. which i love dearly.. because its the most expensive car i could afford..

 

Well, I certainly won't argue about the torque issue. I owned an RX-7 many years ago but spent the last 14 years in 8 cylinder Mustangs. At first I felt the missing torque but after a few thousand miles I got used to shifting much higher. The trick is to shift at 5000, downshift that is. Keep the revs between 7 and 8 and you will enjoy it much more.

But I do still miss the ability to push the gas pedal at 3000 and have something happen.

 

You'll get more looks in the 8 that is for sure, I have had mine for almost 2 weeks and boy people like to look at you!!!

 

Talk about a shock, I sold my 2000 'vette and got an S2000! I love my S, but it is the anti-vette. If I am not paying attenion and don't downshift enough then I am rewarded with NOTHING :D You really have to pay attenion to get rewarded - same with my test drive in the 8. With a big motor you can goof off and still have a decent drive, with low torque you have to pay attention to what you are doing. Which, of course is how it should be.

Dennis

 

Yup. There is no way you'll make up the 60hp and lost torque without voiding your warranty... you'll need to wait 50 months.

But for me, I like the way the 8 looks better, 2 extra seats, the useable trunk, and the great road feel. It needs that little oomph and it would be perfect. That oomph will come in 36 months.

 

^^^Yup, I drive through the smaller towns around me (<1000 people) and people on the street stare at me like I'm driving a freakin' Ferrari.

 

You sure you don't mean in 50 months?

 

same here and I live in a majore city :D