PLERX8

I got this from the 350z-tech forum and thought it may interest some of you. Written by a gentleman named David.

"Tonight I had a chance to meet up with someone I know who has an RX8. We went to my 'testing ground' and we did some side-by-side comparisons. The RX8 is totally stock and has over 26,000km on the clock. My car has a Hi-tech exhaust and K&N Filter. Both cars had only the driver in the car and I had 2/3s of the tank full while the RX8 had less than 1/4. We did a few runs to try and get a feel of what's going on, and also we had a 3rd person flagging the starts so there shouldn't have been an advantage either way. Anyway, to the comparison ...

Acceleration comparisons:
- Test #1: 15 - 120kph, both cars in 1st gear:
First we tried a relatively slow roll-on acceleration test, and this one was not playing to the RX8's strengths as at 15kph it just did not have the revs high enough. Still, I wanted to see what would happen and as soon as we punched it I strongly pulled away. By the top of the 1st gear I was good 2 - 3 car-lengths ahead, and by the end of 2nd it was more like 5. Before we shut down (at around 120kph), I was good 6 car-lengths ahead.

- Test #2: 40 - 130kph, both cars in 1st gear:
Next time we decided to run a rolling-start from a speed that would play to the RX8's strength (ie. it would keep the revs up). So we started from around 40kph and this time I got a good view of the RX8 as it got on power a fraction earlier and pulled 1/4 car-lengths on my straight away. Though, as soon as I jumped on the power as well I was making the ground up and by the end of 1st gear I was about 1/4 to 1/2 a car-length ahead. Then after the 1st-to-2nd gear-change I would pull away even stronger and by the top of 2nd gear I would have good 2 - 3 car-lengths on the RX8. In 3rd gear I kept polling away and I'd say I was ahead 4 car-lengths or so by 130kph when we shut it down.

- Test #3: 0 - 125kph, both cars in 1st gear:
Last test we did was a standing-start comparison, where I propped the clutch from about 2,500rpm and the RX8 from about 5,500rpm. I got a pretty decent launch but the RX8 got a good launch as well and while my wheels were still spinning we were very much side-by-side ... if anything the RX8 was a couple inches ahead. Then when my rear-tyres hooked up I started to pull away and had about 1/2 to 3/4 car-lengths on the RX8 by the top of 1st gear. In 2nd gear the 350Z really got into its stride and was pulling away strongly, and consistently. I'd say at a good 1/4 car-length per second. Same goes for 3rd gear and by the time we shut down (at around 125kph), I'd be good 4 car-lengths ahead.

RX8 Impressions:
So I would say that the RX8 can launch pretty well ... probably due to its favourable weight and weight-distribution. It actually surprised me how well the RX8 launched off the line. Though, once on the move the 350Z was always quicker and very noticeably so in 2nd gear. I was not really close and it seems that in 2nd and 3rd gear the 350Z has a significant advantage.

I also hopped in the RX8's passenger seat to see how it feels from inside. The standing-start launch did feel pretty good, but the car just did not have the same pull that I feel in my car once on the move.

Though, once again I was pretty amazed by how quiet the car is from inside and also how soft it rides.

DavidM"

dmp

I'd love to read a comparison written by an unbiased author - maybe have actual results, other than 'Yeah--musta been a good (insert subjective car lengths)

guy321

a video camera on both cars would have been cool

is the rx8 owner here to give us the other side?

BTW, i think he gave a fairly good account. 4 - 6 car lengths isn't that bad

Moostafa29

4-6 car lengths is what you may call owned... Seems like a pretty good write up though. But of course we all know the Z is much faster than the 8. I would like to see the same comparison done between the G35c and the 8.

cgrx

Tq

dmp

Gearing makes up for tq - except in those 5mph-starts. If anything, the 350Z simply has power. Their engine are likely under-rated, where ours...well...yeah.

hehe

guy321

Yes, well I ment, not so bad, given we have the proper expectations. Owned.. YES, but maybe not owned as badly as most people might think.

Shamblerock

Story make sense to me. But what a trade off! The 350Z is 4-6 car lengths faster upto 120KMH, has 50 more ponies, 100 more torque; but our cars are thousands $$ cheaper, can seat 4 adults, looks better, routinely draws more attention and to boot, doesn't look like a chopped up Maxima/Altima.

I'd say we made out like bandits on this one!

guy321

Eh, my car wasn't thousands cheaper than a 350Z, I don't even have DVD nav.

Shamblerock

On second thought, I think "David" is seriously going to consider trading in his 350 for a RX-8!

Shamblerock

In Canada, a track 350Z goes for $47K (without nav) while the RX-8 goes for $43K All dressed up for the prom, including Nav!