flatso

against S2000 and 350Z. Balance more then ultimate numbers was the main reason it won.

johncalifornia

I don't think the 8 has lost a comparison test yet.

What makes this really amazing is that it usually finishes last in the "numbers" -- engine horsepower, zero to sixty time, quarter-mile time, track lap times, etc.

The tests ICar & Driver, Road and Track, etc.) conclude that more than the Wankel or the innovative design, it's the quality of the driving experience that makes the 8 a winner.

RX-GR8

yep. you become the car. what an experience.

Jeff_pap31s

Yep! I remember back 10 years ago when the RX7 and Supra where pretty much tied for the "top gun" title over the Vette, Viper, 911. They took the overall picture.

takahashi

The whole package counts! wait until more mods comes. RX-8 rocks.

I don't mind a S2K though. It is so much fun too! ... now where is my lotto ticket?

Hercules

Even though I don't disagree with the conclusion, I still thing MT is a POS magazine and I don't take any information from them to buy a car.

They gave car of the year to the Thunderbird, for crying out loud.

flatso

The RX-8 does seem to be the "car" of the moment. But I know the car magazines always build up a car...like the Altima a few years ago, and then one or two years later the new "it" car comes out and has the better interior, less torque steer, better steering feel, etc etc and the other car is made to look like an also ran. Look how they are now talking about the 350Z being rough riding and not liveable day to day, when it first came out it was like the second coming of Jesus on wheels. The mags are trying to sell cars for their advertisers who for the most part are car companies.

310Guy

That's what sold me. I was formally driving a 2003 Acura 3.2TL Type-S. Granted the Acura would blow the doors off my automatic RX-8 in straight line speed, it was the overall package of the 8 that sold me.

zthang

I always have doubts about magazines because of this exact thought. It's also the reason I never listen to car magazine/video reviews...I just go by whether or not I like the car. I bevlieve myself to be mature enough to make desicions of my own.

beachdog

What issue of MT? Was just at the newstand and the Feb issue had nothing about RX8/S2000/350Z.

khoney

What's the word? Kensei?

rx-7~rx-8

RX-8 always comes first... like the RX-7 always did...


THE BEST SPORTS CARS EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF AGE...

93-95 MAZDA RX-7 and 93-98 TOYOTA SUPRA... TEH BEST SPORTS EVER MADE...

RX-7 & SUPRA baby!! .. nothing better exist!!

they made a car called SUPRA-7... they swapped a 2jz-GTE(supra engine) into a RX-7... and man that thing has 1001 HP... blow the ballz of any car in the world... the suspension and interior of rx-7 stayed... but since the 2jz-GTE is really really reliable...


*RX-8 is sweet and all (dont get me wrong)....

zerobanger

Please tell me the S2000 came in 2nd?

My story is kinda funny (sad, but funny). I drove the 350Z and S2000 awhile back. I was all but decided to get a 350Z as my daily driver. Being used to my 94 RX-7, I knew that a n/a rotary could not satisfy me. I figured the 350Z would be a better daily driver than the s2000 (but overall less racey and refined).

Anyway I read so many bad things that I didn't even put an rx8 in the running. I drove it at the dealer, having NO intention of buying it. I was going to pretend I hated the car so the dealer didn't pressure me. I could not get the smile off my face. I knew from that moment this was my car.

It takes an AMAZING car to be able to get in a car after driving my 94 Rx-7 and have as much....sometimes more fun. I dont think there is another car on the planet that is as fun as a FD...other than the Rx-8.

racerdave

Zero... just curious... how is the 8 "sometimes more fun" than the FD?

I've only driven an FD twice (both at autocrosses... one in the wet) and was in total love with that car, except my long-torso body didn't really fit well in it.

So even though I love the 8 and fit better in it, I'm just curious in what situations is the 8 more fun?

zerobanger

to be honest I have a blast in both cars. I have had my FD for 2 years and ran it at the drag strip more than 80 times, ran it on the street and took it to some of the most amazing roads around.

Here is a link to see the twisties.

EDIT: anyone local wants to drive this road, do it during the day and drive it slow. It can kill you easy. It goes on top of the valley and you are on a cliff. Many people have been killed from driving too fast. Also, alot of bikers and cyclist are on this road. be CAREFUL.

http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/RedwoodRd.htm

I have taken my FD there many times. The rx-8 I have also. I have more fun in my Rx-8. Dont get me wrong, the FD has way higher limits, but I dont feel comforitable to reach them. With the RX-8 I can take these turns at 70 MPH with absolute ease. My foot wants to floor the acclerator more, but I hold back. With the FD, Its a blast too, but I dont feel as comforitable to nail it. I also prefer the sound of the renesis.

A big part is the confidence level. The rx-8 is one inspiring car. I look at the FD vs Rx-8 as the FD being a wooden rollercoaster and the Rx-8 being a steel coaster.

The fun with the FD besides it gluing your head to the seat, is when I downshift and go around a corner and gun it. The 2nd turbo kicks in and it just is a blast. I miss that when im in the rx-8. On the flip side of that, the rx-8 is much easier to keep in its power band. You can cruise around in the rx-8 at 5000, 6000, 7000 RPM all day long. Hit the gas till redline, drop back to 6000 or whatever. You cant do this in the FD. For example lets put it this way, Floor the gas and when you hit 2600 or so the first turbo is spoolend and exhaust gets routed to the 2nd turbo. Now.....when you hit 4500 the 2nd turbo kicks in. All of that is great, BUT...take your foot off the gas say...7000 RPM and then floor it. The car will be a dog at that point. You actually have to let the RPM's drop to just below 3000 RPM and then when you hit the gas the turbos will instanly spool. If the rx-7 was a single turbo it would not have that problem.

BTW...I dont want to give the wrong opinion. with the FD on the street I am smiling from ear to ear. Its simply amazing, it grips the road like superglue. It feels like a go-cart, wooden rollercoaster and is a blast. Its just not fun to hit a bump or to mess up when you hit the limits (which are way too high anyway).

wow, I have really went on and on about this. Sorry for hogging this thread.

Did you guys see the comparision of the 350Z vs RX-8 vs Holden in australia? guess who took first place? hehe.

racerdave

Thanks for the feedback... and yeah, that makes sense.

Plus, I don't think the thread starter will mind too much. I mean, the thread started comparing 3 great cars... why not add a 4th (FD) for good measure!

flatso

1)RX-8
2)Z-3
3)S2000

Was the winning order

zerobanger

why would they test a Z3?

flatso

sorry meant Nissan 350Z :D

zerobanger

Why did the S2000 come in 3rd? I dont agree with that.

Hercules

Neither do I, but then again... I already stated that MotorTrend is a POS magazine.