the "I don't hate 350z club"
#126
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Originally Posted by MoodDude
Hi everyone - I have a Z, so if any of you have a question about the car, let me know. I also love the RX-8, but when purchasing a car I think the pro's and con's all lead us to a different car.
The three things I wish the 350Z came with that the RX-8 has: lighter wieght, camber adjustment in front, and caster adjustment.
The things I wish the RX-8 came with that the 350Z has: more torque, more head room, pistons, and less triangles displayed all over the place.
Please don't read any of my comments as negative, this is just the list I went through. When I narrowed down the field between the 8 and the Z.
If I had to buy a new car today, I would probably pick the 8 since they made the Z even heavier now.
The three things I wish the 350Z came with that the RX-8 has: lighter wieght, camber adjustment in front, and caster adjustment.
The things I wish the RX-8 came with that the 350Z has: more torque, more head room, pistons, and less triangles displayed all over the place.
Please don't read any of my comments as negative, this is just the list I went through. When I narrowed down the field between the 8 and the Z.
If I had to buy a new car today, I would probably pick the 8 since they made the Z even heavier now.
I had heard there was a certain lack of adjustability in the Z's suspension but never knew for sure. I wonder why they would opt out of those points?
If the Z would have been 3000lbs or less, I would have really been a fan of that car and maybe even purchased one.
#127
I Heart 2nd Gear Racing
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My source for vehicle weights is autos.msn.com, which so far has mirrored those of the manufacturer. Of course, I use the weight of my car - a 2003 350Z Enthusiast. It weighs 3197. The 1996 300ZX TT weighs just over 3500 pounds according to them - that's with a T top. I don't remember if there was a slick top TT, which would probably weigh less.
I just checked the 1990 300ZX TT, and it's listed as 3414.
Red Devil:
True, there is no camber adjustment for the 350Z. However, you can easily buy hardware to cure that problem, or any other problem. The Z aftermarket is endless. No pun intended.
3000 Pounds, hey? My car is almost down to 3000 pounds with empty gas tank, all spare tire paraphenalia removed, and track wheels installed. With a new exhaust, I think I might break the barrier - estimated of course. But then again, that will never happen since I'm going to sell it and buy a performance car with 4 seats.
I just checked the 1990 300ZX TT, and it's listed as 3414.
Red Devil:
True, there is no camber adjustment for the 350Z. However, you can easily buy hardware to cure that problem, or any other problem. The Z aftermarket is endless. No pun intended.
3000 Pounds, hey? My car is almost down to 3000 pounds with empty gas tank, all spare tire paraphenalia removed, and track wheels installed. With a new exhaust, I think I might break the barrier - estimated of course. But then again, that will never happen since I'm going to sell it and buy a performance car with 4 seats.
#128
Originally Posted by Rosko350z
True, there is no camber adjustment for the 350Z. However, you can easily buy hardware to cure that problem, or any other problem. The Z aftermarket is endless. No pun intended.
3000 Pounds, hey? My car is almost down to 3000 pounds with empty gas tank, all spare tire paraphenalia removed, and track wheels installed. With a new exhaust, I think I might break the barrier - estimated of course. But then again, that will never happen since I'm going to sell it and buy a performance car with 4 seats.
3000 Pounds, hey? My car is almost down to 3000 pounds with empty gas tank, all spare tire paraphenalia removed, and track wheels installed. With a new exhaust, I think I might break the barrier - estimated of course. But then again, that will never happen since I'm going to sell it and buy a performance car with 4 seats.
Most aftermarket parts for the Z are junk. There is still not a good quality aftermarket part for Caster adjustment for the Z. There is only one good quality aftermarket part for front camber adjustment on the Z, but it cost $850.
Don't get me wrong - I love the Z and it handles better than most car out there, but I just wish they would solve the wieght issue.
#130
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Originally Posted by MoodDude
Try to drive the car w/o a gas? You should always wiegh the car with 1/2 tank of gas. And with a 20 gallon gas tank in the Z, a half a tank would make it wiegh 63# more. Most of the cars additional weight comes from the doors and the hatch.
Most aftermarket parts for the Z are junk. There is still not a good quality aftermarket part for Caster adjustment for the Z. There is only one good quality aftermarket part for front camber adjustment on the Z, but it cost $850.
Don't get me wrong - I love the Z and it handles better than most car out there, but I just wish they would solve the wieght issue.
Most aftermarket parts for the Z are junk. There is still not a good quality aftermarket part for Caster adjustment for the Z. There is only one good quality aftermarket part for front camber adjustment on the Z, but it cost $850.
Don't get me wrong - I love the Z and it handles better than most car out there, but I just wish they would solve the wieght issue.
But yeah, still don't hate the 350Z. Rock out!!
![Ylsuper](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/ylsuper.gif)
#131
Doggie Style :)
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Originally Posted by MoodDude
Don't get me wrong - I love the Z and it handles better than most car out there, but I just wish they would solve the wieght issue.
I'm sure that somewhere out there a Lotus Elise owner is saying
"Don't get me wrong - I love the RX-8 and it handles better than most cars out there, but I just wish they would solve the weight issue."
#132
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Originally Posted by LabDad
Why does the issue of weight always comes up? Sure the Z weighs more than an 8 but it has the power to compensate for it.
I'm sure that somewhere out there a Lotus Elise owner is saying
"Don't get me wrong - I love the RX-8 and it handles better than most cars out there, but I just wish they would solve the weight issue."
I'm sure that somewhere out there a Lotus Elise owner is saying
"Don't get me wrong - I love the RX-8 and it handles better than most cars out there, but I just wish they would solve the weight issue."
Well put.
#133
Originally Posted by Rosko350z
Okay, I didn't mean EMPTY ... almost empty. I autocross with about 2 gallons of gas, which Nissans's fuel computer views as empty. My DTE is usually "----". And the weight given by manufacturers is curb weight, which means all fluids are full including gas tank, so my Z with a full tank of gas should weigh 3197.
But yeah, still don't hate the 350Z. Rock out!!![Ylsuper](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/ylsuper.gif)
But yeah, still don't hate the 350Z. Rock out!!
![Ylsuper](https://www.rx8club.com/images/smilies/ylsuper.gif)
#134
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I like them. I almost got one, but i like the 8 better. That being said, this is a RX8 forum. I doubt any 350z forums are giving the 8 as many props and attention as we're giving them. Just something to think about.
#135
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I think 350Z's are pretty hot cars. They are fast and reasonably priced. Problem is that it only has 2 seats.
I see that some are mentioning that they always see 350's, Mustangs etc all the time. Well, if Mazda sold the same amount of RX 8s, then the aftermarket for our car would be a lot better. Those two cars in particular have strong aftermarket followings. Just a thought.
I see that some are mentioning that they always see 350's, Mustangs etc all the time. Well, if Mazda sold the same amount of RX 8s, then the aftermarket for our car would be a lot better. Those two cars in particular have strong aftermarket followings. Just a thought.
#136
Sold my RX-8 :(
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I like the 350z (but not real crazy about the door handles that remind me of belt buckles). My brother has one. When I was shopping for a car recently, the lack of backseats made it a non-option for me, though.
Originally I was looking at used G35's. I ended up driving an automatic G35 (2004, I think) and then a used 2005 RX-8 MT later that same day. I wasn't familiar with the roads around the G35 dealer and the sales rep went along for the ride, so that diminished my enjoyment of the test drive. Automatic is convenient, but it definitely took away from the fun-factor. The front seats felt too wide/flat (the RX-8's seat and cockpit fit me like a glove). I also tried sitting in the the backseat of both cars and the RX-8 felt much more comfortable and useful for toting along adult passengers.
That said, I probably should have hunted down a manual G35 and given that a test drive, just to be sure. If I had gone that route, though, I would have been buying a used 2004-2005 G35 for what I paid for my brand-new 2007 RX-8.
It's interesting that people in this thread are saying that the 350z's are too common. Around me, I really don't see many, but I do see a lot of G35 coupes.
Originally I was looking at used G35's. I ended up driving an automatic G35 (2004, I think) and then a used 2005 RX-8 MT later that same day. I wasn't familiar with the roads around the G35 dealer and the sales rep went along for the ride, so that diminished my enjoyment of the test drive. Automatic is convenient, but it definitely took away from the fun-factor. The front seats felt too wide/flat (the RX-8's seat and cockpit fit me like a glove). I also tried sitting in the the backseat of both cars and the RX-8 felt much more comfortable and useful for toting along adult passengers.
That said, I probably should have hunted down a manual G35 and given that a test drive, just to be sure. If I had gone that route, though, I would have been buying a used 2004-2005 G35 for what I paid for my brand-new 2007 RX-8.
It's interesting that people in this thread are saying that the 350z's are too common. Around me, I really don't see many, but I do see a lot of G35 coupes.
#138
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Where i live, Charlotte NC. 8's are very rare. since i bought my 8. (a month ago, tomorrow) i've seen maybe 5 of them. i see at least 2 Z's a day, and G35's are much more common than the 8, but not as common as the Z's. on the way home from Hilton Head beach, a few weeks ago, i counted the Z's and 8's. i counted 11 Z's, and only 3, 8's.
#139
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Where i live, Charlotte NC. 8's are very rare. since i bought my 8. (a month ago, tomorrow) i've seen maybe 5 of them. i see at least 2 Z's a day, and G35's are much more common than the 8, but not as common as the Z's. on the way home from Hilton Head beach, a few weeks ago, i counted the Z's and 8's. i counted 11 Z's, and only 3, 8's.
#140
Even My Dog Searches
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I could see that meaning something if the RX-8 were a limited production car. It's not, and if Mazda had their way there would RX-8s all over the roads. Not many people are buying the RX-8 (though it's hardly rare) and the Z has been a sales success. If you want to feel like you have something rare don't buy either car...
#141
i pwn therefore i am
I think the point is that there's a difference between something that's rare because there aren't that many of them in existence and rare because no one wants them. It seems wrong to claim the word "rare" when in most cases this word is supposed to imply increased value.
#143
8's are actually more popular than 350Z's in Idaho... I see probably 2 8's to every Z, and two Z's to every G35. It depends on location. By the same token, when I was in San Diego early this summer, I hardly saw ANY 8's around, but I saw a ton of 350Z's and G35's.
#144
It would probably apply for a collectors plate; my 99 GT is a 35th anniversary model, and less than 2000 were made that are like mine. Unfortunately they don't do a breakdown by hardtop/convertible AND color, it's either/or.
#147
Well the only thing I can tell you is that his top speed is 25 mph(MY FATHER IN LAW) so the brakes are just SHOW ( guess he wanted to spend money) But Ive put my hands on the Z and let me tell you ... IT STOPS!!
#150
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i have been trying to convince my wife , that we should pick one up. but she thinks its ugly. so im stuck with the s2k and rx8 until she is ready to trade in the s2k for a IS250.