I haven't driven the Z but when I drove the rx8 I knew it was the car for me (I also knew I sucked at driving stick). I remember the host on top gear said they are both very fast but the rx8 is more fun to drive and doesn't wear you out. It also has back seats which are supposedly pretty cool to ride in. My friends still fight over shotgun but most who ride in the back say its like being in a really fast submarine with a little pop out port hole on your side. I wouldn't know... if someone drives my car I'm riding shotgun for sure.

Switching from a subaru flat four to the rotary reminded me of back when I tried out osx (i know... wierd analogy). There are downsides but its just so cool having something no one else has or knows much about. The rx8 is a handling machine... I can't imagine the z handling very well at all in comparison. The z weighs 400 pounds more and has a big *** v6 tetering around in the front while the 8 has a tiny little wankle practically inches in front of your feet sliding across the ground.

Also... it seems like you get more for less cash with the 8. Mechanically all 8's are the exact same thing across the package list. With the z, you have to spring for extra just to get LSD... are you serious?

One final note... if you get the 8, get the 6 spd. I've never seen a company screw people over so bad for getting automatic, its like they have a deep hatred for automatics.

 

As any enthusiast should

 

Some independent reviews...

rx8:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2emH4ihqMU

350:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S3FF...gear%22%20350z

positives

The 350 is faster...slightly, and better on gas.

The rx8 has more room, seats 4, better interior, better trunk space, better balance, yes handles better, lighter, costs cheaper, and cheaper to insure, also looks better and more practical.

Depends what your looking for...

 

That's not nice. People's opinions could have changed. I wasn't around for the last time someone asked this question, so he now has my input, which he wouldn't have had otherwise.

Forums are for talking. In reality by now much of what is being talked about really could just be searched for. But would you really rather have a tidy, inactive forum just so you can say that there are no duplicate threads?

 

^ let's draw you a picture. You're on this board for 2 years. Last month there was another new thread on 350Z vs RX-8. two months before that... another. 6 months ago there was a non-related thread that turned into a 350Z vs RX-8 thread. Etc. You've nicely given your opinion the first 3 or 4 times over TWO YEARS. When some noob comes and starts a new thread again... what are you going to think? You are you going to nicely reply your opinion for the 20th time? Ignore the thread? And then the noob whines that no one answers them and this is a crappy board. Flame the noob? Maybe they'll learn... probably not, but at least you feel better and other old members got a good laugh.

 

I loved flaming noob coz they ask for it most of the time, then they get all pissed and put me in their ignore list... how great... haha

 

You do raise a good point. I guess it prolly would get tedious if it happens that often. Hey by the way, I get kinda crappy milage in my 8- what's up with that? J/K

 

The 8 is a gas guzzling oil *****. That being said; it's incredibly fun to drive. I imagine the Z is, too. If you like to rev at stop lights, and blast off the line buy the Z, it's made for it. Aside from that, the 8 beats the Z in just about any category. Looks nicer, handles better, sounds better, screams at redline, and (so far) it is not a dime a dozen like the Z, so you get more stares & compliments, which is nice. But it sounds like you've got people pushing for the 8, so maybe you should be seeking some Zclub members' advice.

 

There was actually a survery here the other day noteing all the pros/cons cross posted to the Z boards as well. The survey will tell you more then anything else. Most people here love their 8's.

Do you want 2 seats or 4 and a trunk?

Do you want 0-60 punch with a heavy car or finess and a little bit of skill to get the most out of your car?

Higher insurance cost or lower gas mileage?

Dime a dozen styling or something people call exotic every day I drive it?

Statwise the cars are identical but the 8 has won every comparo in the major media. It just takes alot of skill to match the Z straightline. In the Z you can just stomp on the gas for max 0-60.

2005 Nissan 350Z 35th Anniversary Edition 6 Speed 5.8 14.3 (C&D Apr '05)
2004 Mazda RX-8 5.8 14.49 (6 speed) (MT Mar '04)

A tenth of a second or two is identical in my book. Neither car is ever doing an 11 second 1/4 mile w/o serious help. If you want 1/4 mile by an Evo.

 

if you like a barge with wheels, get the 350Z. if you like style and some zip and a sweet *** exhaust note get the 8. i think most people who got the 8 had to consider the Z at some time. but dont quote me on this, I was looking through a car mag here and noticed the rx8 to be the highest selling sports car for 2005 in Japan. selling over 7000 units. the runners-up i did not notice but they were around 4000 units.. also...the 8 has won around 10 best car awards since its making. do you need more evidence? but in the long run, you will be the one driving it and lokking at it everyday. but i would choose the 8 anyday!!! good luck

 

In all the time and posts needed to tell this guy to search, you could have just answered his questions, and if you had, I would bet my 8 that life would have continued on normally afterwards.

Instead we have a whole thread dedicated to "flaming teh n00b." It's not like "n00bs" are a social club that has meetings at the Calvary Church every tuesday and this one will pass his experience on to others; flaming one guy and telling him to search accomplishes little. Now, when someone actually does search, and the most recent 350Z topic is nothing but bitching and moaning and BlueEyes stretching his e-*****, they'll claim they couldn't find anything and start a whole new topic and the cycle repeats itself. Quit being a bunch of drama queens, and if you don't have anything useful to say, shut up.

 

oh yeah, C4tayst and ra-rx8, good luck & happy hunting!!

 

Second. why is it so hard to just STFU?

 

where can i get one of these blue eyes?

 

I'll try to clear up a few misconceptions here:

Hard to imagine when they are offering 8000 off the msrp to get them off the lots.

Fixed with the 06 models.

They have a storage compartment behind the passenger seat that replaces the glovebox. It actually has more room than the standard glove box found on most cars.

They revised the steering for the 06 models and provided more assistance for low speed maneuvering. This made it less tiresome to drive at low speeds.

The Z's engine is also placed behind the front axle giving it a 53/47 distribution.

All models expect for the base come with LSD. This is for the people who buy the car without the need for tracking, or plan on adding an aftermarket setup down the road. Makes perfect sense.

Magazine racing is unreliable. Especially when comparing different mags (different drivers, locations, conditions, etc). From comparing the results of both cars, you will see that most Z's run under 14.3 stock, while most 8's have a rough time hitting 14.49.

I do not see the correlation between the Z and a barge. It isnt as heavy as many people make it out to be. The Z also has one of the best exhaust notes on a stock car (the 8's is also nice). If I'm not mistaken, the Z is also the 2nd highest seller for sports cars (behind the Corvette). I do not know the numbers off-hand, but they are around here somewhere. Also, if you want to see awards, the VQ35 block has been chosen by Wards as one of the 10 best engines for 10 straight years...pretty impressive if you ask me.

 

Telling him to search is answering his question. My search brought up 200+ threads overflowing with peoples opinions on the 350z vs Rx8. Question answered.

 

Boy, I reckon that Z owner shur is swell. Maybe the OP got a kinder reception on the Z forum and had his opinion swayed. One more Z on the road to melt into the flow of traffic, unnoticed.

Blue eyes - I hope you're happy!!

 

compared to the rx-8, the 350z DOES feel like a barge.

Camaro194: have you driven the Z right after driving the 8? it's like going from 2006 to 1966 handling/agility.

plus the interior has no personality, unless 'cheap' could be considered a personality.

 

Yes, I have a Z and my parents have an 8. When driving the cars, the 8 does seem to take a little longer to get up to speed. Handling, they are about even. I havent pushed either car to the limits, but they both can take the turns pretty well. The Z has less body lean, and feels more like a track car, where the 8 feels more like a touring car. And honestly, the interiors are as bad as people make them out to being. I have an 06 which does have a few improvements over the previous years, but the quality of the materials is about even when compared to the 8. Both cars have their own flaws. I feel that the interior of the Z fits its niche. Its not a luxery car. It has more of a cockpit/sports car feel when compared to the 8.

 

I test drive the Z twice. Then decided not to buy it based on information I collected on the 350Z board, which was:

Tire cupping ~ reportedly fixed now

road noise ~ loud

transmission ~ heavy, mechanical shifting....the 8 was much smoother

The 8 has more room.

The Z is quicker, but I'm not sure if it's faster. 138 mph is fast enough for me.


I was all set to buy the Z, then decided against it from reading THEIR boards (I hadn't even heard of the RX-8 at the time).

After test driving the RX8, I was sold.

One last thing. The Z had a LOT of blind spots. Go test drive one.

 

i test drove 2 Z's before buying the 8, a black z and a blue z, loved them both but decided on the 8 after the test drive. speed wise i've seen a stock 05 Z run a 13.77 1/4 (its a friend's red 6 speed)

 

I didn't read any of the other pages, but I didn't get a Z because I saw too many of them on the road. Happy with my purchase.

 

Jeremy Clarkson said the Z makes a dreadful exhaust note. But then, he also dislikes the styling of the RX-8 and was named one of the worst dressed celebrities ever, not to mention said there have been no good songs since the 70's, so make what you want of his tastes.

The Z doesn't remind me of a barge... more like a giant *****. Not trying to be derogatory; the car actually looks phallic to me. I'd rather have a G35.

 

i actually love the exhaust sound from the vq35

 

This man speaks the truth. Thats one of the things that I needed to get used to when driving the Z. I'm still looking over my shoulders when changing lanes. Its really hard looking over your left shoulder to see if anyone is in the lane to the left of you. The C pillar really blocks alot. Looking over into the right lane is pretty good though. That small little window helps when checking for other cars.