playdoh43

do a search for rx8 on their board and do a search for 350z on this one and youd see how little they actually talk about the rx8 over there and how obsessed with the 350Z this forum is. esepcially considering that they have many more times the users on that forum

4me2

Because they know the RX8 is a better car. And we know the Z sux......................

sentry65

yeah for me rear seats are totally worthless. Then again, I'd be completely happy with an elise as a daily driver.

I look at EVO's and STI's and think what a waste. If only they'd make a 2 seater version to up the chassis rigidity and save some weight.

and you guys wouldn't believe the amount of stuff I've crammed in my Z at times with that strut bar.



and actually on the Z forum, even though most members there aren't fond of the lack of low/mid range torque, the gas mileage, and the 4 seats of the RX8, I'd say most people respect the car and feel it's a nice fun car. Lots of people have driven or owned both and say they're just different with each having their respective strengths and weaknesses. All car forums are the same. You can't go to any car forum and not get the impression the people there like their car better than anything else in the same price range

4me2

There is more to driving than just hauling *** everywhere you go. Maybe it's a maturity thing?

sentry65

...you mean like a "I just want to look cool" thing?

hondasr4kids

I agree. I wish more people would understand that concept.

hondasr4kids

Not really. Most of us spend most of the time in our cars just cruising, going from point a to b. On the Z I notice that is not as smooth as it is on RX-8. On the Z you feel everything the motor and suspension are doing, every vibration, clunk, grinding and noise. The shifting is rough even though it has one of the best shifting throws I seen (no need for a short shifter) but they are hard and don't glide in as the 8 does. The rear wiew mirror on the Z is use less unless you are a female. I compare the 8 as sleeping on the best bed there is and the Z to sleeping in a sleeping bag at the beach.

sharkman

Who really cares...both cars IMO are awesome, both have good and bad stuff to it..what's the big deal!

Phantom Menace

Good one....however, I, too, think that it may be an age-related phenomena...like a mid-life crisis thing? Or a small ***** thing.

RogueTadhg

A car needs to fit the owner. Period.

It doesn't matter just how fast a car is, or how many liters, or how many miles per gallon. If you want to have a car that you'll enjoy driving every day, the bottom line is... no matter what the car manufacturer; japanese, amercian, german. If you enjoy driving it - it's well worth the money spent.

However, if you need function over comfort... Mile per gallon, a certain number of seats, adjustable foot pedals, etc. Is probably a more important thing.

If you don't enjoy driving the car, it's time to shop for a new car... Especially those with long commutes. Relax and enjoy the short time. Theres plenty of time to stress when you get to your destination.

sentry65

I totally agree. I enjoy driving just about everything because they give you different experiences and feelings when driving them. Even total crap rental cars - because they at least remind me of just how much better my cars are.

My daily driver is a toyota celica that I beat on and don't give a damn what happens to it, yet it's so much fun to drive. My modified Z is my monster car that I drive when I'm in the right mood, but needs room on the road to stretch its legs and is pretty loud to attract cops etc so I have to be super careful in it. My Z and everything I've done to it feels like you're always going about 40-50 mph slower than you really are and so you really gotta push it to get the fun factor feeling.

My next car I'm adding to my collection is an elise. I figure it'll be like the celica on super steroids where even driving 20mph would be a blast.

personally, I can't stand mushy suspensions. I want to feel everything the car is doing and want it to be responsive. I don't like it when you turn the wheel and have to wait a second for the suspension bushings and springs to load up and settle before they stablize and give you the confident feeling again.

RX26b

I disagree, and would say that neither car could be classified as such. But, the 8 possesses a few traits that are awesome, whereas the Z has none.

Yeah, you'll get a member on here that names himself after kiddy clay to proclaim that so many people are insecure because over on those boards they don't even bring up the 8. Well, I submit that there's not one owner over there that's a true enthusiast. Why? Because the car is too mainstream, and doesn't appeal to a single hardcore aspect of driving. But, they've got torque and multiples more than our little Renesis! So what, the V8 Mustang has much more torque than they do, yet it's nowhere near a sportscar nor does it offer anything enticing for a true driving enthusiast.

Ike

I don't even like the Z as much as the RX-8, but to say the Z doesn't "offer anything enticing for a true driving enthusiast" is moronic No matter what you want to tell me, there's no doubt in my mind that you've never driven a 350Z.

RX26b

Yeah, getting a test drive on those is immensely tough. Whatever, dude. No aspect of that car even comes remotely close to blowing anybody away. Well, maybe the clueless newly licensed driver whose only experience behind the wheel is in his mom's Murano. And, little does he know those 2 models are virtually the same thing disguised only by a higher stance and sheet metal.

hondasr4kids

I barrow a friend's Elise for a weekend because I was trying to decide between that or a 996. Elise are a blast to drive. But it gets noisy inside and it does gets annoying on the first 15 mins in the fwy, LOTS of drone. If you leave the top off then getting in and out is easy but with the top on it DOES get tiring if you are guy my size (5' 10" 190 lbs).

playdoh43

thats as moronic as saying the RX8 and the CX9 is disguised only by a higher stance and sheet metal. the murano is fwd and shares the altima platform

quick_dry

is that strut bar changeable for something that doesn't ruin the stiffness, but takes up less room - makes the boot more useable? I could live with a Z as a weekend car, but I can fit an ice hockey bag + sticks in my supra boot (just), the Z looks like not a chance in hell with that bracing there.

RX26b

Murano, FX whatever- you're splitting hairs and you know what the point is. What's truly moronic is someone who doesn't own (or even aspire to) a certain car yet makes thousands of posts on that board. A simple case of ***** envy is what many experts would tell you I'm sure.
RX-8 doesn't share components with the 3, 6, crossovers, or any of Mazda's trucks, and it shows when you drive it. This 350Z talk was old and stale years ago already. It's a fine car, but just doesn't offer anything special when driven. For the masses, yes; not for the discriminating enthusiast.

Ike

Something else moronic would be that fact that a large percentage of your posts on an RX-8 forum (the car you own) have been aimed at bashing the 350Z. Did a Z car touch you in naughty places as a child?

saturn

That's hot.

LabDad

I just don't know where to start, there's just too much stupidity in that paragraph. I guess you personally know every member of the 350z forum to cast that judgement or you base you're claim on some convoluted logic that if sales are really good then the car is "mainstream" thus a "true enthusiast" wouldn't own one? Whatever

A true enthusiast appreciates many different cars for their unique traits (both strengths and weaknesses). I've owned a bunch of different cars and have been to various meets and find that the less mature individuals are the ones that are quick to talk sh*t about some other car. While the more mature (and IMO true enthusiats) are always eager to learn more about other makes and models.

saturn

This is by far the most elitist thing I've ever read on these boards. People who aren't huge losers like what they like because it suits the person they are not because it makes them feel important.

RX26b

No, the claim is based upon the fact that once you drive one and put it through its paces (as much as a non-racecar driver can) it leaves a helluva lot to be desired when compared to competing cars. Simple as that.

The father of the Z car was quoted (right before the release of the 350 in '02) that it's a watered-down product geared toward the masses and that he was disappointed in the fact that they were moving away from more of a hardcore, although he certainly understood why they were going that route.
What makes you the appointed defender of any poseur who claims to be an enthusiast? This is a RX-8 board, and if anyone's talking **** it's those with blinders on posting their sanctimonious drivel for the sake of being contrary.

If you went to a meet of say, women in their 30s and 40s, who are, in your words "enthusiasts" when it comes to their Trailblazers, Accords, and Chrysler minivans how much stock do you put in their assertions that what they drive is "a true driver's car"? So all it takes is someone to be fanatical (in their mind) about some mainstream hunk of metal on wheels and all of a sudden you class them together with the guys who race and wrench their classic Ferraris? Gotcha.

RX26b

Thank you. I take pride in being right.

quick_dry

I do not think it means what you think it means