I have driven an RX-8 on our track and it is a great handling car. My experience with the 370Z is limited to a short test drive on public streets.

I like the RX-8's handling/ride, interior, and the novelty of the rotory.

The downsides from my limited perspective would be lack of low-end torque, and what I have read about engine reliability.

The 370z seems to be more capable in every aspect, (well it can't seat 4 like the RX-8) but it's not perfect either.

It costs more to buy, and if you want to track the car to take advantage of the extra performance, you really should consider the sport package. -and then it will cost much more to maintain than the RX-8. Brake jobs and tires will be serious $$$.

I would also make sure I had the right brake pads before tracking the 370Z. One of my car mags had a story where they wrecked the 370Z they were testing because of instant brake fade. (at a track) Nissan says they are offering better pads for the sport package that won't have this problem.

here's a few good reasons to get the 370Z: you are
-single
-in ur mid 20s
-don't have a girlfriend/boyfriend/both
-95% or greater of ur commute is YOU, flying solo
-don't have children

but i must warn you. behind the wheel of a 370Z, don't get lazy or you'll get ur ass handed to you on the track by RX/S2K owners with actual driving talent and not just some gizmo doing heel&toe for them.

get the z.....

I went with an R3 over the 370Z. Four seats was a plus for me but not a deal breaker since I can always take my wife's car when I need to haul our 2-year old.

Adding to what Z1NONLY said, track use was a huge factor to me since I do anywhere from 6-12 events/year. The RX8 is ready to go right out of the box other than brake pads and fluid upgrades. And it's fairly easy on consumables like tires.

The 370Z on other hand, needs a lot more upgrades to make it reliable for a 30 minute session (I remember reading about limp-home mode and some diff failures but I haven't followed any recent activity on Z forums).

your on a rx8 forum asking for opinions about the car we all drive and its competitor. We all have obviously chose the 8 for a reason... I hope your not looking for a unbiased answer because if you are you should get on the Prius forum and ask them.

you really cant fix ugly and the 370 looks better than the 350 but still doesnt look as appealing as the 8 IMO

get the 370z

Get a 370z, we don't want you.

Get the Z brother, I would. But if you need a back seat your screwed.

Exactly! The rx8 is a compromise of a sports car - too many seats, too many doors, too much excess weight!

I'm assuming OP is on the Z forum asking the same exact question. His opinion won't be biased in the end if he takes both forums' opinions into equal consideration.

Inside Line comparo (RX8 vs. 350z)

Motor Trend comparo (RX8 vs. 350z vs. S2000)

Car and Driver comparo (370z vs. BMW 135 vs. RX8 R3 vs. Solstice GXP)

I had the same dilemma last year. I was looking at the 370Z, RX8, Genesis Coupe, G35, Camaro, Evo, etc. After driving them all it came down the Z or the RX8. The Z spanks the RX in the speed department and the rev match tranny was sweet, but after much debate I chose the RX8. Although the Z was an awesome car and put a huge grin on my face when I drove it, I couldn't get over the fact that the car was basically a useless toy. You can't really put anything in it and you can only transport one other person. This and the fact that I could buy two low mileage nicely equipped RX8's for the price of one Z with sport package sealed the deal for me. If you already have a daily driver and 30K to burn I'd get the Z, but if this will be your only car the RX-8 is the more versatile of the two.

To me a 2 seater car is pointless. Get the 8 for fun, practicality and get a bike if you want real 2 seater fun.

I agree with Zach..the 370z is nice + fast.

Z dud

i have an r3, it's awesome.

but get the Z, it's awesomer.


edit: although jay leno LOVES the rx8. saw him the other day driving it

is this rreally that much of a debate?

you've had the rx8 before...go with the Z

unless you really need the added benefits of the extra seats i think the 370 is a much better car.

Go with the 370Z.

Thanks to all you guys that gave me some thoughtful opinions. I went this morning to several car lots and looked at a number of cars w/out the sales bs. I looked at the 370Z, the BMW Z4, the BMW 335i Coupe ( I have the sedan right now), the MB SLK, and the RX8 R3. And I have to be honest, the one car that stood out that I really had to make myself leave and not stand there all day and stare was the RX8. There's just something about it. My main concern is the lack of power. I'm going to go back for another test drive and really think hard about it. I like the seating capacity, I like the fact that it's Japanese for reliability, and I like the looks. It would be my 4th RX, so I guess I like them more than I realize.

I was wondering why you were asking to begin with.

Until the RX gets redesigned, I'd get a 370Z unless you need the rear seats. However, the new Z has had some teething issues.

Or you could find a new 8 in the meantime. The resale on our cars is so weak.

thats a tough one. Although the new 370z has the cool rev match technology. The R3 is pretty sweet. But id go with the R3... it looks nicer IMO.

Also, because of the FUN factor

Used Z4 M Coupe. The only BMW that is cool. The only 2-seater hardtop sportscar under 50k that is worth having.

have you driven both?

Drive and pick one, dont ask strangers to pick out your 30K + dollar investment out for you

There is no disputing that the Nissan is a fine car. There are lots of fine cars out there. I wasn't looking for a car that was the best in any particular category or statistic. I was looking for a ROTARY car, because I've been facinated by the Wankel design since I was a kid. I had driven previous Mazda rotaries in the past, and although the engines were magic, there were aspects of the earlier cars I wasn't sure about.

Then the RX-8 came out, and in 1 drive I was hooked. Couldn't get it out of my head. It's like they molded the car around me. The engine felt better than ever, the suspension was an amazing combination of taught handling and confortable ride, great driving position, comfortable seats, clever design elements, useful layout, solid & safe body structure, and styling that made it an instant classic. Not quite a coupe, not quite a sedan, and not quite like anything else. I don't race, so I didn't care that it might be a fraction of a second slower in absolute performance. I don't drive 100,000 miles a year, so I didn't care that it gets 1 or 2 mpg less than its competition. What mattered was that the RX-8 just FELT right in so many ways and has that irrepressible character about it. At some point I wanted to be part of Mazda's amazing support & development of this milestone and historic engine design, and the RX-8 is what finally did it for me.

The Inside Line and Motor Trend articles sum it up quite well, and worth reading again in detail.