Infiniti G35 vs Nissan Z350 vs Mazda RX-8
01-29-2002, 05:32 PM
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Infiniti G35 vs Nissan Z350 vs Mazda RX-8
01-29-2002, 11:19 PM
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well, arent all those cars different? I dont mean to knock your comparison but we are comparing apples to oranges to bannanas. Now if you were to have a more fair comparison in my eyes one ought to compare the 350Z and the RX7. The G35 is way outta the price range and duely so I wish to not to include it in my mental comparo. But comparing the RX8 and the 350Z may not be such apples to oranges. Lets look at what they offer. The RX8 offers a Rotary engine (duh) and due to that the engine sizes are hard to compare. The 3.5 of the 350z to the 1.3 of the RX8 would seem obvious to the even plebian. But the 1.3 Renesis does produce a stout 250 HP and thats 192 hp per liter. The Nissan Z is looking to produce 280, the gentlemans agreement number in Japan (for now), and thats about 80 per liter. What does that mean? Well it measn that the Mazda is pound for pound more powerful per displacement, better? faster? You cant tell right now. Remember how Mazda had the numbers as high as 290 on the new RX8, and the number slowly came down to what is now 250 in what is said to be the production model. Well it seems the Renault cotrolled Nissan motor company is having the same problem. Sport Compact Car magazine boasted that they got to drive it and they were disappointed with the Z and that the car was underpowered, and the guys at Nissan said they still havent worked out the kinks in the motor. What does this mean for you and me? well it means that the 350Z could easily fall down to the 250 hp range unless Nissan can work out the "kinks". Numbers for the RX8 arent official but the weight and torque ratings that have been rumored to be suggest a car about a hundred pounds lighter than the S200 and the same torque that might mean a zero-sixty of 5.4 seconds. Thats rather quick. The Nissan Site is now simply saying a zero-sixty of under 6 seconds (maybe a sign of the troubles with the motor). What should we expect from the Zero-Sixty times and motor sizes and out puts, well if the Z can only pull 250, it might be in for a wooping from the underdogged (based on displacement size) RX8. Would that R in RX8 mean Rudy?
What really matters is something that I touched on before, the HP to weight ratio. The Renesis motor is said to be not only small but lighweight allowing for it to be mounted in the middle of the car, giving it the 50:50 distribution it so nicely brags. The Z has a larger motor with more weight in the front, more motor means more weight, but that doesnt mean that it cant be taken away elswhere, such as the seats something mazda has thought about too. Carbon fiber drive shaft? its on both of em. Suicide doors? On both. So it seems they have taken out all the stops on lightening the cars and the HP to weight ratio would seem to be much more a better predictor of whats to occur. That could mean that a 280 HP Z is still lunch meat for the RX8 or it could mean its blowin smoke in the intake of the 8 as it spins its tires past. Only time will tell.
Now onto another important matter in the what defines a sports car. The handling, the zoom zoom is to be kept zoom zooming instead of spin spinning by a totally balanced 50-50 weight distrrubution the Nissan Z, 52:48. whats that mean, the twisties are gonna be fun no matter what car you go for, as long as body roll isnt a problem, and that can only be determined truly by a real test drive.
Both cars are shaping up to be a fun time. A 280 HP 350Z would really be a nice car, but the larger engine, and hence the higher weight could be a problem. look at the S2000 and the NSX. thats a realy good comparison at what might play out. Im stickin with an 8 cuz I feel its nicer looking but, the 350Z shouldnt be forgotten....yet.
What really matters is something that I touched on before, the HP to weight ratio. The Renesis motor is said to be not only small but lighweight allowing for it to be mounted in the middle of the car, giving it the 50:50 distribution it so nicely brags. The Z has a larger motor with more weight in the front, more motor means more weight, but that doesnt mean that it cant be taken away elswhere, such as the seats something mazda has thought about too. Carbon fiber drive shaft? its on both of em. Suicide doors? On both. So it seems they have taken out all the stops on lightening the cars and the HP to weight ratio would seem to be much more a better predictor of whats to occur. That could mean that a 280 HP Z is still lunch meat for the RX8 or it could mean its blowin smoke in the intake of the 8 as it spins its tires past. Only time will tell.
Now onto another important matter in the what defines a sports car. The handling, the zoom zoom is to be kept zoom zooming instead of spin spinning by a totally balanced 50-50 weight distrrubution the Nissan Z, 52:48. whats that mean, the twisties are gonna be fun no matter what car you go for, as long as body roll isnt a problem, and that can only be determined truly by a real test drive.
Both cars are shaping up to be a fun time. A 280 HP 350Z would really be a nice car, but the larger engine, and hence the higher weight could be a problem. look at the S2000 and the NSX. thats a realy good comparison at what might play out. Im stickin with an 8 cuz I feel its nicer looking but, the 350Z shouldnt be forgotten....yet.
