Autoweek reference to RX-8 in 370Z test
#1
Autoweek reference to RX-8 in 370Z test
last paragraph of the 370Z review:
"As a big Japanese car fan, I would still take the Mazda RX-8 over this. Yes, even with the oil-consuming rotary engine and low torque. That car's chassis is one of the best on the market in my opinion and remains one of the purist performance cars out there."
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101014/CARREVIEWS/101019940
"As a big Japanese car fan, I would still take the Mazda RX-8 over this. Yes, even with the oil-consuming rotary engine and low torque. That car's chassis is one of the best on the market in my opinion and remains one of the purist performance cars out there."
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20101014/CARREVIEWS/101019940
#3
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my thoughts exactly, I drove my friends z and loved the power and I thought the same thing but then I drove the dragon for the first time and remembered why I wanted an rx8 in the first place. I'm still pleased with my rx8
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I honestly never thought I could love a car and be as connected as I do with my rx8. I can relate to this because whenever I see other cars like the Z which I know has more grunt power, all I have to do is go for a spirited drive in my 8 and all is good in the world I've never been much of a "fanboy" or any sort, but the 8 touches my soul LOL
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the giant tastetickles
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Oil Consumption + 265 F Oil Temp Limp Mode Capability.
370Z = A sport car that is not meant to be driven hard, Nissan advised owners not to downshift too much so car doesn't go into limp mode.
370Z = A sport car that is not meant to be driven hard, Nissan advised owners not to downshift too much so car doesn't go into limp mode.
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The car will go into limp mode if driven very hard for extended periods, such as at the track, because it has no oil cooler. But it's pretty hard to imagine that happening on the street; I've never even come close to getting mine up to those kind of temps. And I have no idea where this downshift thing is coming from.
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I honestly never thought I could love a car and be as connected as I do with my rx8. I can relate to this because whenever I see other cars like the Z which I know has more grunt power, all I have to do is go for a spirited drive in my 8 and all is good in the world I've never been much of a "fanboy" or any sort, but the 8 touches my soul LOL
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Definitely. I took one of my work buddies for a spirited drive in my 8. He's a big fan of big block V8s and by the end of the drive he was saying stuff like, "This car is amazing!" Constant smiling from him the whole way was all I needed to know that this car is my fav.
#13
Definitely. I took one of my work buddies for a spirited drive in my 8. He's a big fan of big block V8s and by the end of the drive he was saying stuff like, "This car is amazing!" Constant smiling from him the whole way was all I needed to know that this car is my fav.
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It's fun to watch the newbies to RX's try to drive it like a normal car for a while, shifting at 3500 rpm with a 'yeah, so what' look on their face, then tell them, 'shift when it beeps'. The instant the secondary runners open at 5500, , boredom is replaced with a big sh*t-eating grin that doesn't go away for the rest of the drive.
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370Z Oil temp issues:
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nt-update.html
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...mp-issues.html
http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/...c/Default.aspx
Oil Consumption Downshift Causes
http://www.350z-tech.com/forums/123-...000-miles.html
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nt-update.html
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...mp-issues.html
http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/...c/Default.aspx
Oil Consumption Downshift Causes
http://www.350z-tech.com/forums/123-...000-miles.html
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370Z Oil temp issues:
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nt-update.html
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...mp-issues.html
http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/...c/Default.aspx
Oil Consumption Downshift Causes
http://www.350z-tech.com/forums/123-...000-miles.html
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...nt-update.html
http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...mp-issues.html
http://www.370z.com/Forums/tabid/88/...c/Default.aspx
Oil Consumption Downshift Causes
http://www.350z-tech.com/forums/123-...000-miles.html
#18
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Thanks for posting those links to the Z forums. Reading those threads really brings things back into perspective. It seems like people here have put the 370Z on some pedestal as being the perfect low cost sports car and theres no reason to buy a new RX8 over a new 370Z. Reading those threads you can see Z owners have problems and complaints with their cars just like we do here.
I took my stock RX-8 to Phoenix International Raceway a couple weekends ago and had no problems with overheating in 100+ degree temperatures.
I took my stock RX-8 to Phoenix International Raceway a couple weekends ago and had no problems with overheating in 100+ degree temperatures.
Last edited by Mr.ThunderMakeR; 10-22-2010 at 03:10 PM.
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I was looking at both the RX8 and 370Z last fall. I do anywhere from 6-10 HPDEs a year so track reliability & performance were very important to me.
When doing some research, these were the issues I came across (if I remember correctly).
- limp home mode due to oil temp issues
- fuel starvation in some sweeping corners
- differential issues (again, due to heat)
It seems that Nissan made a great car, but it wasn't really designed to hold up under road race conditions (at least in stock form).
When doing some research, these were the issues I came across (if I remember correctly).
- limp home mode due to oil temp issues
- fuel starvation in some sweeping corners
- differential issues (again, due to heat)
It seems that Nissan made a great car, but it wasn't really designed to hold up under road race conditions (at least in stock form).
Last edited by kster; 10-22-2010 at 03:25 PM.
#20
That's the same story with MANY different cars.
This past Spring my friend bought a used M5 (not from the current generation but the one before) and he left me take it for an extensive test drive. I have to admit it drove great. Tons of power and grip and so on. Overall a great performer................. until I sat on the RX8 again and it reminded me what an awesome machine it is. It handled way better than the B'mer and it just "felt" better. The lightness of the 8 was very evident. Like having wings under your arms. The B'mer was way more luxurious than the RX8, but everything else, specially the chassis, was superior.
This past Spring my friend bought a used M5 (not from the current generation but the one before) and he left me take it for an extensive test drive. I have to admit it drove great. Tons of power and grip and so on. Overall a great performer................. until I sat on the RX8 again and it reminded me what an awesome machine it is. It handled way better than the B'mer and it just "felt" better. The lightness of the 8 was very evident. Like having wings under your arms. The B'mer was way more luxurious than the RX8, but everything else, specially the chassis, was superior.
#21
Strength/Confidence
#22
I was looking at both the RX8 and 370Z last fall. I do anywhere from 6-10 HPDEs a year so track reliability & performance were very important to me.
When doing some research, these were the issues I came across (if I remember correctly).
- limp home mode due to oil temp issues
- fuel starvation in some sweeping corners
- differential issues (again, due to heat)
It seems that Nissan made a great car, but it wasn't really designed to hold up under road race conditions (at least in stock form).
When doing some research, these were the issues I came across (if I remember correctly).
- limp home mode due to oil temp issues
- fuel starvation in some sweeping corners
- differential issues (again, due to heat)
It seems that Nissan made a great car, but it wasn't really designed to hold up under road race conditions (at least in stock form).
September 2010 US sales were 687 370Zs versus 100 RX8s inspite of the Zs higher price.
#24
The Z is a good cheap sports like the RX8 but at the end of the day it came down to the feel for me. I wanted something that handled like a deer, light on it's feet, elegant, and could stop on a dime (this is 05 bare in mind). The Z to me is a Hyena (faster than a deer; I looked it up) and just lacking in the grace dept. Nissan has made improvements over the past 5 years but no matter what they do, they are never going to replicate the feel of the RX8.
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Gentlemen.. you will always be able to find someone to argue the other way. I traded my RX8 for the 370Z. And yes, the Z will NEVER be able to match the feel and handling of the 8, but I am very, very pleased with my trade. I just got out of the Z today with a HUGE grin on my face.
The Z is the perfect blend between handling and brute power. It does not excel in either category (when compared to a Vette or the new 5.0), but it brings the best of both worlds. I am not looking back at all.
That said, when/if Mazda drops a true RX7, I will be test driving it with the purpose of coming back to the rotary side...
The Z is the perfect blend between handling and brute power. It does not excel in either category (when compared to a Vette or the new 5.0), but it brings the best of both worlds. I am not looking back at all.
That said, when/if Mazda drops a true RX7, I will be test driving it with the purpose of coming back to the rotary side...