r0tor

iTrader: (1)

how do you save the frikkin movie???

The Mighty Red

Once you get it going and hit that power band - it's an amazing vehicle!

But - it is soo slow from a stand-still up until about 25 MPH unless you just hammer the hell out of it. By that I mean a 7K RPM clutch dump with the DSC turned off. Even then you're talking 0-60 in about 7 seconds - maybe a little less.

Yes I know the magazine say it can be done in 6 seconds - maybe even 5.9 but I have yet to see it personally. And that is sooo hard on the tranny and clutch.

Otherwise - I love the car! Like I said - Once you get it going it's simply awesome.

Maybe someday I'll drop a 600 HP 20B in it and have the best of everything.

Rich Rx-8

Yeah when I drove the MT, I had a very hard time going from 1st to 2nd gear smoothly. No way did I do 5.9 seconds, has anyone done 5.9 for real? My dealer who sold me the car couldn't even shift from 1st to 2nd that well when we were test driving the MT. I think thats why I was never impressed. I'm pretty good with MT too, but when I drove I def had less confidence off the line.

Rich Rx-8

Keep in mind I ended up with the AT, cause the fact I couldn't shift smooth, I didn't feel smooth while driving it :o)

BlueEyes

Practice makes perfect.

astro

[QUOTE=The Mighty Red]Once you get it going and hit that power band - it's an amazing vehicle!

QUOTE]
The comment I made was just tongue and cheek for those who say the RX8 is slow. 1/4 mile time is only 0.1 secs slower than a 350z. Overall, the RX8 beats the 350Z for lap time. One would expect the 350Z to achieve better times... however, the stop watch does not lie. Perception states that the 350Z seem lightning fast due to the torque slapping you on the back. Torque gives you that sensation. As with the RX8... it seems slow to most who does not understand what linear power delivery is. Are race engines low rev grunt meisters???

The testing done for Wheels is such that they take 2 average sized blokes with half a tank of fuel. They normally rev the engine just above the max. torque rpm and dump the clutch to achieve the best possible take off.

Yes... I do know how marvellous the Renesis engine is in its powerband.

HCTR154

That Motorweek program has been on for at least 20 years. It's actually a good program without the BS and commercials you see on similar shows that come on Spike or Speed channel.

However, I do admit to watching Pinks on Speed. I would love to see some pimped out rotaries doing battle for their respective titles!

Rosko350z

I would never say the Z is a better sports car than the RX8, but that video is just brutal. I doubt either car was driven to its potential.

Typical reviews put the Z at 0 - 60 in 5.4 to 5.9 seconds.
Plenty of guys at my350z.com do the 1/4 mile in 13.8 - 13.9 seconds.
Car and Driver puts the RX8 at 0 - 60 in 5.9 seconds.

I'm not a big fan of straight line speed. I'm an avid autocrosser. But let's get the facts straight.

r0tor

iTrader: (1)

the tests were done on a cold day and not on a prepped drag strip - the times under those conditions are not comparable to the times of the "typical reviews" or "plenty of guys (at the drag strip)"

V22Guy

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

ACRX8

Before I purchased the RX-8 I drove the Z and after a 10-minute drive my back was hurting. I love the Z's look but could not take the beating every day.
That's the 3rd test against the RX-8 and the RX-8 won every time. Why are there more Z's on the road? I think people are not comfortable with the rotary - they don't know what they are missing.

BlueEyes

Are you a grandfather?

Rosko350z

I used to read all those reviews and get so pissed Now I wish I bought an RX8 because I would really like a back seat, and it keeps up with a Z on the track and at the autocross. Who gives a crap about the drag strip.

Why are there more Z's on the road? One big reason is that it's been available for one more year than the RX8. I also think more people buy them because they have pretty good horsepower, and I suspect that most Americans think that's important. Also when you drive a Z, there is not a doubt for a second that it's a sports car. It's stiff and very low. The clutch is harsh. And the first time you squeeze that throttle down to the floor, you hear this beautiful sound ... I honestly started laughing the first time I test drove my Z. I was giddy, and I knew I was going to buy it by the time I switched into second gear.

And yeah, you're right about the rotary. As an outsider I can tell you it seems weird. I've had folks explain it to me a few times, and I just walked away scratching my head. And then there are the countless stories of the "fabled" 90's generation RX7 ... with engines that few people know how to work on and seemingly need replacement or rebuilding every 50k miles. (FLAMESUIT: ON) It might be an ignorant viewpoint, but in my experience it seems a widespread viewpoint. I'm not ripping on the rotary, just trying to represent the unconverted masses to you guys. After all, I WANT a RX8. And if I could trade even money for one right now, I'd probably do it.

zoom44

nissan also builds over twice as many.

Slick8

Different = Bad to most Americans. That's why there is so much bad press about the RX-8. It's a stereotype that's been perpetuated by ignornance about the rotary. Gas mileage and flooding and new engines at 60K are particular stereotypes that have been put way out of proportion. It's like the minority family that moves into a ethnically homogeneous suburb. Everything you do is scrutinized and then your eternally labeled with a bad rap for something that everyone does anyway. It's an inescapable path.

HOWEVER, once you go pass the stereotype, and actually examine or test the RX-8 objectively as has Motorweek, Car and Driver, Motortrend, Consumer Reports, Road and Track and Edmunds with other competitive cars, that you realize just how good the RX-8 is. The car is great at almost eveything! I was set on the G35c, but once I drove the RX-8 on a whim test drive, I was taken by surprise.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

i'm gonna go test drive a 350Z just to see what this 'torque' thing people keep mentioning about....

Hotsauce

Yeah I want to take another test drive of the new Z, there's a Nissan dealership outside of my neighborhood. I test drove one about a year ago, can't remember what it was like after driving the Rx-8.

Rosko350z

Try to test drive an older one - '03 or '04. The new ones weigh ~200 pounds more... Yet they still sell like hotcakes. Brutal. Oh, Nissan, you're supposed to make it lighter not heavier.

The trade off is that the older ones have lots of TSB's which Nissan willingly fixes.