Test drove a 350Z - what POS
04-11-2007, 09:39 PM
#28
U-Stink-But-I-♥-U
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 12 o'clock on the Beltway.
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by dillsrotary
i really like the 350z
+1 post count!
+1 post count!
To bad the mods will transport this to the lounge.
04-11-2007, 10:01 PM
#34
Originally Posted by buzzardsluck
i dont think the 350 is POS, the fact there are so many show thats it not.
Originally Posted by buzzardsluck
that said, i planned to buy a 350 until I drove one (even test drove another thinking maybe I got lemon the first time). later that day i drove an 8 and owned one maybe 2 weeks.
04-12-2007, 12:47 AM
#38
1.21 Jiggawatts
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lima, OH
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
without reading all 3 pages of the thread, i will admit that my findings on a 350 i test drove were somewhat similar. Great track car, power to burn...that's about it.
The only difference i noticed from your review was it's speed. It did seemingly feel significantly quicker (due to the TQ, no doubt). However, my overall feeling of the car was somewhat dissapointed. I really was expecting a closer comparison.
The only difference i noticed from your review was it's speed. It did seemingly feel significantly quicker (due to the TQ, no doubt). However, my overall feeling of the car was somewhat dissapointed. I really was expecting a closer comparison.
04-12-2007, 06:43 AM
#40
Mazda Only. 10+yrs
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Reading PA
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dont bother leasing an '8 ... you wont be able to give it up in a few years.
That's kinda like saying you'll use crack for a couple of months and then just give it up
That's kinda like saying you'll use crack for a couple of months and then just give it up
04-17-2007, 06:32 PM
#41
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like both cars for the reason and purpose they were built. I've test drove both vehicles and they are just two different cars.
The Madza Rx-8 is a technical innovation, stylist, smooth shifting and 1.3 Rotary seems seemless like electric car. It is so smooth and shifter revials the S2000 reputed to be one of the best made. The 4 doors are almost unheard of in a Sport Coupe as is its 9K rpm limit. This is another wild and new experience almost like the 8k limit for the Honda S2K. The Mazda really handles and is easy to drive fast and stops short. In automatic thats another story it sucks very slow acceleration and really the smooth 6 speed makes this car. Along with its inovative design and engineering. The RX-8 has won most one on one Comparsion test when price against the higher priced Tracker, day to day driving and practicality are some of the major factor.
I like the 350Z because of it outstanding in my opinion exterior design, powerful engine and Spartan interior design. Though not as fancy on the inside its very functional. Its 6 speed shifter is not as smooth as the RX's but the Z still has a certain character. Sorta like a Japanese muscle car with fitness and style. The 350Z is a SPORT CAR with great engine (though not innovative) it handles well, it does not have the power assist steering like the RX-8 but still steers tight and precise. The 350Z stops slightly shorter then the Madza 60-0 and handles just as well though not as easy to swing around curves, it does it well. As for power and speed the 350Z vs the RX-8 theres no comparsion the Z-car is notablly faster. For example even in automatic you can spin the tires and go faster then a Standard shift RX-8. We won't even mention racing a Rx-8 and 350Z in automactic, the 6 spd doesn't make the 350Z. In automatic/trinotronic 5 spd, it still feels like a Sports Car!!! With its 6 speed transmission its a better Sports Car.
On this Forum there was a Comparison test between under $30K cars the RX8 came in 3rd place. This was a race with skilled drivers, the 350Z came in 1st place.
1. 350Z Track - 3.12 lap time, highest speed 124 mph, 0.90, 60-0 113ft
2. Evo MR - 3.13 lap time, highest speed 124 mph, 0.94
3. Rx-8 - 3.19 lap time, highest speed 116 mph, 0.86, 60-0 114ft
4. Cobalt SS
5. Mustang Gt - 3.20 lap time, highest speed 119 mph, 0.88, 60-0 124ft
6-8
The RX-8 is a excellent motor cross car and daily drive, heads up inovative technology and smooth operations. I don't like all the dos and don't can't start it and restart start a cold engine or it floods, Topping off the oil every 3k miles, Having to redline it every so often to clean the engines internals, need to blip the throttle before shutting it off or the MPG. Personally the Rx-8 ain't really a upgrade to the RX-7 Eifinei, I think its still the best RX.
The 350z is a bit heavy for track racing, it doesn't ride like a Sporty car or a Grand tourer or like 300ZX, its ride is a little stiff on bumpy roads. Its hard on front tires in 2003-2004 models and burns up rear tires and brakes like the Porsche driver say their cars. If I couldn't get the last RX-7, or a Turbo Charged Rx-8 I'd get the 350Z since all mykids are grown. These are Sport cars. The RX-8 is a nice sporty car.
As beating 350Z with RX-8 it ain't gonna happen, unless really modified. This is from personal racing, eye withness and just at some of the Video dealing with this race the 350Z beats it by 3 car lenghts and pulling at the end of the quarter.
The RX-8 did well until 3rd gear the Z has it by a nose, a better race would be the 350Z vs. a real Sport Car like the RX-7 Eifinei.
I'm a Sport Car Fan, I like all three but Specs are facts, and seeing is believing.
The Madza Rx-8 is a technical innovation, stylist, smooth shifting and 1.3 Rotary seems seemless like electric car. It is so smooth and shifter revials the S2000 reputed to be one of the best made. The 4 doors are almost unheard of in a Sport Coupe as is its 9K rpm limit. This is another wild and new experience almost like the 8k limit for the Honda S2K. The Mazda really handles and is easy to drive fast and stops short. In automatic thats another story it sucks very slow acceleration and really the smooth 6 speed makes this car. Along with its inovative design and engineering. The RX-8 has won most one on one Comparsion test when price against the higher priced Tracker, day to day driving and practicality are some of the major factor.
I like the 350Z because of it outstanding in my opinion exterior design, powerful engine and Spartan interior design. Though not as fancy on the inside its very functional. Its 6 speed shifter is not as smooth as the RX's but the Z still has a certain character. Sorta like a Japanese muscle car with fitness and style. The 350Z is a SPORT CAR with great engine (though not innovative) it handles well, it does not have the power assist steering like the RX-8 but still steers tight and precise. The 350Z stops slightly shorter then the Madza 60-0 and handles just as well though not as easy to swing around curves, it does it well. As for power and speed the 350Z vs the RX-8 theres no comparsion the Z-car is notablly faster. For example even in automatic you can spin the tires and go faster then a Standard shift RX-8. We won't even mention racing a Rx-8 and 350Z in automactic, the 6 spd doesn't make the 350Z. In automatic/trinotronic 5 spd, it still feels like a Sports Car!!! With its 6 speed transmission its a better Sports Car.
On this Forum there was a Comparison test between under $30K cars the RX8 came in 3rd place. This was a race with skilled drivers, the 350Z came in 1st place.
1. 350Z Track - 3.12 lap time, highest speed 124 mph, 0.90, 60-0 113ft
2. Evo MR - 3.13 lap time, highest speed 124 mph, 0.94
3. Rx-8 - 3.19 lap time, highest speed 116 mph, 0.86, 60-0 114ft
4. Cobalt SS
5. Mustang Gt - 3.20 lap time, highest speed 119 mph, 0.88, 60-0 124ft
6-8
The RX-8 is a excellent motor cross car and daily drive, heads up inovative technology and smooth operations. I don't like all the dos and don't can't start it and restart start a cold engine or it floods, Topping off the oil every 3k miles, Having to redline it every so often to clean the engines internals, need to blip the throttle before shutting it off or the MPG. Personally the Rx-8 ain't really a upgrade to the RX-7 Eifinei, I think its still the best RX.
The 350z is a bit heavy for track racing, it doesn't ride like a Sporty car or a Grand tourer or like 300ZX, its ride is a little stiff on bumpy roads. Its hard on front tires in 2003-2004 models and burns up rear tires and brakes like the Porsche driver say their cars. If I couldn't get the last RX-7, or a Turbo Charged Rx-8 I'd get the 350Z since all mykids are grown. These are Sport cars. The RX-8 is a nice sporty car.
As beating 350Z with RX-8 it ain't gonna happen, unless really modified. This is from personal racing, eye withness and just at some of the Video dealing with this race the 350Z beats it by 3 car lenghts and pulling at the end of the quarter.
The RX-8 did well until 3rd gear the Z has it by a nose, a better race would be the 350Z vs. a real Sport Car like the RX-7 Eifinei.
I'm a Sport Car Fan, I like all three but Specs are facts, and seeing is believing.
Last edited by donack456; 04-17-2007 at 06:58 PM.
04-17-2007, 06:42 PM
#43
New Member
Originally Posted by SlayerRX8
We definitely need more threads like this.
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/re...04/2007.WIN.P1
04-17-2007, 06:59 PM
#45
New Member
Thanks Brettus,
If you were there, you will find yourself in the Tokyo Autosalon. There were chicks, cars with nothing OEM on and lots of bling bling....
Those STi were fast.. I have to drive my best to get to 1:41.... Rod Evans will have to sweat now to get close to me in the upcoming nationals. I am proud of my time in my underpowered 8.
If you were there, you will find yourself in the Tokyo Autosalon. There were chicks, cars with nothing OEM on and lots of bling bling....
Those STi were fast.. I have to drive my best to get to 1:41.... Rod Evans will have to sweat now to get close to me in the upcoming nationals. I am proud of my time in my underpowered 8.
04-17-2007, 07:35 PM
#47
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IMO the Z was corrected in the G35 and looks really great in the upcoming G37.
I was excited about the new Z because I used to have a 240 and 260z when I was younger. I still cant get over the eye sore of the unpainted handle.
However, I was not in the market for a 2 seater when it came out but test drove one and it seeemed to have decent torque but nothing about the car stood out to me.
Dean
I was excited about the new Z because I used to have a 240 and 260z when I was younger. I still cant get over the eye sore of the unpainted handle.
However, I was not in the market for a 2 seater when it came out but test drove one and it seeemed to have decent torque but nothing about the car stood out to me.
Dean
04-17-2007, 07:56 PM
#48
PoOn
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans/Northshore
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the dealership i baught my 8 form is owned by a close friend of my family and we also do all their electrical work. So i basically get anything i want from them......Anyway, when i went to look at the 8's i test drove a auto shinka, a standard GT *not the one i baught*, and i saw a 350z on the used car lot. So i talked to my friend and i wound up taking the Z home for a 5 day test drive........lemme tell you, I'd prefer my 8 over the 350z by a long shot. handeling is so much better in the 8 and u can actualy feel the power touching the ground more than the z.....plus girls think my 8 looks 10x better =)
04-18-2007, 12:31 AM
#49
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Warwick, RI
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In response to the OP, I owned an evo 8 for two years, and have test driven every iteration of the 8 and Z. I currently own a base rx8 with the "sport" package (hid's and DSC/TCS).
The evo is way faster no question. In terms of corner speed, I dunno, the 8 is better balanced and tends to understeer alot less. They are both easy to drive fast. The evo is damped and sprung very firmly, to the point where it is unpleasant for every day driving. It is necessary on that car to make it work well as its derrived from a less than ideal chassis/suspension configuration. The stiffness makes it reactive which is good, but also makes it edgy and semi unnerving on the highway and broken up pavement. Its also buzzy at cruising speeds (5 speed on the evo 8) and is awful in terms of quality. I had fun with the car for awhile, but the downsides: poor warranty support (worse than mazda) and significant power loss over the life of the car made me sort of hate it. I generally enjoy my 8 more, but I do miss the yank of the evo's turbo lump.
The Z's for the most part I didn't care for, except for the "track coupe" version. I liked that car quite a bit. It wasn't as well balanced as the 8, but was vastly better than the GT version and base version of the Z. The torque was very appealing and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss the torque on my 8. If the Z track coupe had a less cheesy interior and the same form factor/storage as my 8, I might be driving that instead. Of course it doesn't and I'm not. Furthermore, they cost a pretty penny more than my 8 did. Appearance wise I like the 8 and the Z. I think they both look great. The evo, not so much (the 9 is better though without that stupid trangle nose that mine had).
The evo is way faster no question. In terms of corner speed, I dunno, the 8 is better balanced and tends to understeer alot less. They are both easy to drive fast. The evo is damped and sprung very firmly, to the point where it is unpleasant for every day driving. It is necessary on that car to make it work well as its derrived from a less than ideal chassis/suspension configuration. The stiffness makes it reactive which is good, but also makes it edgy and semi unnerving on the highway and broken up pavement. Its also buzzy at cruising speeds (5 speed on the evo 8) and is awful in terms of quality. I had fun with the car for awhile, but the downsides: poor warranty support (worse than mazda) and significant power loss over the life of the car made me sort of hate it. I generally enjoy my 8 more, but I do miss the yank of the evo's turbo lump.
The Z's for the most part I didn't care for, except for the "track coupe" version. I liked that car quite a bit. It wasn't as well balanced as the 8, but was vastly better than the GT version and base version of the Z. The torque was very appealing and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss the torque on my 8. If the Z track coupe had a less cheesy interior and the same form factor/storage as my 8, I might be driving that instead. Of course it doesn't and I'm not. Furthermore, they cost a pretty penny more than my 8 did. Appearance wise I like the 8 and the Z. I think they both look great. The evo, not so much (the 9 is better though without that stupid trangle nose that mine had).
04-18-2007, 09:13 AM
#50
Melbourne, Oztralia
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I test drove both the 350Z and RX8 and found the 8 to be a lot more nimble. I could feel everything that was going on whereas the Z felt like .. well, custard. It was sluggish. Steering was more definite and light in the 8 and gear changing was positive.
Also, there was also the advantage of the +2 seats to share the fun.
Then there is the rotary engine and how it sounds. The Z was like a beefy Hulk Hogan and the 8 like Bruce Lee.
I recently took my 8 through Tasmania and its twisty roads. I can say it did really well. I was amazed at how well it stuck to the road.
Also, there was also the advantage of the +2 seats to share the fun.
Then there is the rotary engine and how it sounds. The Z was like a beefy Hulk Hogan and the 8 like Bruce Lee.
I recently took my 8 through Tasmania and its twisty roads. I can say it did really well. I was amazed at how well it stuck to the road.