Wow, now there I have to disagree. I feel like the 370 took everything that was right about the 350 and massaged it, made it just a little bitter, just a little more reminiscent of the 240. I love the new curves and visual interest they added.

 

In the real world pricing the 350 was always a few grand higher then a comparable RX and the 370 appears to be maintaining that gap in not increasing it, that being said they also have a retail value that is a few grand more ten the RX. So maybe you'll get it on the back end.

Tracks tests are always interesting but only tell half the story. The 350 would routinely beat the RX in a track test, mainly because of superior HP, but in the end the editors would always select the RX as the superior sports car that was more fun to drive. I have seen this in 3 different magazines all with the same results. What we don't know is if the 370 has fixed the limitations of the 350. We already know they haven't in the weight category.

From your statement I have to assume you don't know much about the rotary engine, this is not an attack just an observation. The engine is a compromise for the RX where power and MPG have been traded for lighter weight and smaller packaging. This gives the RX better handling dynamics but poorer 0-60 times. There is a much greater connection between the driver and the car with the RX then with the 350.

It will be interesting to see what Mazda comes out with next, from what they are talking it sounds like a new design while the 370 seems more of a evolutionary step. Time will tell. I did find it interesting that R&T shows the 09 RX and the 370 almost neck and neck in the slalom.

 

Raptor wrote - Tracks tests are always interesting but only tell half the story. The 350 would routinely beat the RX in a track test, mainly because of superior HP, but in the end the editors would always select the RX as the superior sports car that was more fun to drive. I have seen this in 3 different magazines all with the same results. What we don't know is if the 370 has fixed the limitations of the 350. We already know they haven't in the weight category.


As I mentioned both are great Sports Cars but we have to give each its due. Though the magazine would crown the RX-8 the winner even after the Z won most of the track events.
The Z out sold the RX-8 by volume not only in the USA but world wide, so you can win all the opinion polls you want when the tire meets the road the buyer decided on what he feels and drives. Granted the RX-8 has it perks interior, ride and handling 4 doors, but so does the Z car power, handling, gas mileage and resale value. That was the 350Z the 370Z is an improvement upon that.

The new R3 is suppose to handle better then the 04-08 Rx-8s, but I can't tell seems the same.

I want a Turbo in the Rx-8 the Rx-7 had a TT why not the 8?

 

I would agree that they are both great cars and I really like the new 370s looks, I think it is ridicules that they did not shave 300lbs off the weight which leaves me to believe this is more a modified 350 then a new car. The fact that something sells better is not always a indicator of a superior product. Look at VHS and Bata, Bata was the superior product but VHS won the buyers. Consumers are often ignorant of what they buy. Given the chose I would lessen to 3 well informed "experts" over 100 consumers. Following the masses was never very appealing to me, I guess that's why I own a RX-8.

As for the 370 being better, that is yet to be seen though it does appear to be. On the other hand you pointed out that the R3 seemed the same as the old RX yet it to was suppose to be better also.

I don't think you will see a turbo anytime soon for 2 reasons, MPG and cost. I hope I am proved wrong here but I don't see it in the cards. The next RX sounds like it may have the stuff to out do the 370 with 280HP and a 600lbs weight advantage but that is still just talk until we see a real product

 

The main reason they didn't boost the Renny is because of Emissions. They just COULDN'T pass it *Hell, they even got stopped at the border due to emissions, hence the returne/lower advertised HP.* Tossing a turbo on that would add to costs, scare people since the casual person has nightmares about the FD's failure rate in the early years, and emissions. Too many negatives for a car that already doesn't sell many units.

 

The auto-journos always crown the 8 as the winner over the 350Z is because of it's sublime handling traits and driver connection. It is not easily replicated on pure numbers alone. It is a subjective quality which is unquantifiable. People called it X-Factor.
Twin turbo in a rotary was a disaster. Complicated implementation + typical North American car maintenance mentality = Instant Fail. Mazda will not be putting any FI in their rotary for the foreseeable future. If people are already complaining checking oil, imagine the extra care for a turbocharged rotary! Yikes.

 

Don't forget the heat factor which caused the complicated implementation (ie lots of vacuum hoses) to deteriorate and leek. I have heard that the later models in Japan had resolved a lot of these problems with better quality hosing.

 

delhi wrote - Twin turbo in a rotary was a disaster. Complicated implementation + typical North American car maintenance mentality = Instant Fail. Mazda will not be putting any FI in their rotary for the foreseeable future.


Yes maybe but don't you remember the good ole days back then The MAZDA RX-7 was one of the most feared and respected SPORTS CAR available it rivialed all the high dolllar units. It had looks, handling, power, torque and speed that countered Sports Cars costing three times its value.

In fact the TT RX-7 was a wolf in wolf clothing it was awesome, TT and NA Zs would duck and turn on there CD players at stop lights. Mustang and camaros drivers shunk in fear if a Rx-7 pulled up. Porsches Boxsters driver would put on their shades ignoring the Rx-7 next to it roaring its engine, the Corvette driver would strap on his chin helmet knowing this is going to be a Race. Now you hear rumors of MiniVans and Volvos outruning the RX-8 sigh.

The Rx-8 and the Honda 2k are the king of the Autocross but there is no destanation in autocrossing. Give us Turbo or GIve us Death!!! Imagine all the amenities and handling of a 8 and the performance of the Rx-7!!! Sports car heaven. I know the 8 a different type car but lets not let the nut fall too far from the tree, hell!!

 

actually you meant Porsche 968 drivers would ignore the RX-7....It would take 2 more years for Boxster drivers to do so. The force-fed 7 would have given a base 993 owner cause for concern but a Turbo 911 of the '95 vintage would have handed the Mazda it's lunch. Although either of the latter could revel in the knowledge they had the last of the great air-cooled engines behind them and go back to ignoring the 7.

(I happen to pine for an FD and an Carrera for my garage one of these days )

 

Hahahaha.... that scenario hardly ever occurs because the FD always either sit over a puddle of coolant and oil puddle on some road or in a rotary mechanic shop.
If those rumoured minivans or volvos outrunning rx-8s then I pitty those pure sports cars like the S2k or Boxsters.... they must share a worse humiliation considering they are 2-seaters supposedly sports cars. How about them Miatas? Lack of power didn't stop it from out selling the higher hp rivals. Where are the Solstice or Sky sales these days? No where.
Bottom line is turbo rotary will not happen according to Mazda officials. Part of the sales hurt for the rx-8 was due to the horrendous FD's bad reliability.

 

Yeah, the unreliable FD's left a very bad taste in the mouths of the common American. Nobody realized that after they took it back to Japan they fixed the issues it had previously.

 

^ exactly. Sometimes it tickles me to see postings about the call for the return of the 'RX-7 TT' because I doubt these posters had ever owned one. I know of owner's account that each time when they turn that ignition key, they had to wonder if the will the engine turn over. Or if they were to go WOT, what hoses will come off that will lead to catastrophic engine failure. A local independent mazda mechanic once said that he loves the FD. Because it helped pay for his kid's school tuition.
Myth vs. reality is warped by Fast 'n Furious romance....

 

The FD is an engineering miracle...Just a miracle riddled with issues Don't get me wrong, I WILL be getting an FD one day, but it will have reliability mods done to it.

*NOTE* What other car do you know that whenever someone is trying to sell it, they always mention they've had the reliability mods done...

 

reliability mod = LS1 engine swap.

 

Rofl. Oh so true