KMorris, I agree with everything you are saying 100%. You stated everything perfectly.

 

I test drove one tonight, for the first time, and I loved the thing. I am going back with my wife to get it. She wants a new daily driver/autocross toy. I have to admit, if she hadn't pulled the trigger, I would have traded my Evo for it.

I was shocked, so much of what I heard was crap, the car is great, not a rocket in a straight-line, but WHO CARES, it handles and stops like the best in the world.

 

My previous car was a lightly modded WRX ~280hp. It was a great car and I still love them, but I eventually came to realize there was more to a fun car than just acceleration. I don't think it would ever be able to give me as much confidence as the 8, especially above 9/10th driving.

Even an objective car enthusiast can get caught up in the HP numbers game. I believe I was one of them. HP means everything and terms like 50/50 weight distribution, 117ft 60-0, and low polar moment-of-yaw, neutral handling, and compliant suspension mean very little to them. But I sure could feel it during my test drive and boy am I glad I gave it a chance! Maybe some of these people just haven't gotten a chance to drive the 8 yet.

 

Hey folks, 350Z owner here with nothing but love for the RX-8. (Hey, I keep coming back to this website to lurk!) For me it was a choice between the RX-8, VW R-32, and the 350Z. The R-32 was too much like the wife's Jetta which we'd be keeping (interior too similar--didn't really want another of a very similar car). But it was very, very close on my decision between the RX-8 and the Z. They are both fantastic cars. For me, the scales tipped because of gas mileage and insurance rates. My insurance company quoted me higher rates for the RX-8 and I know the gas mileage is less with the RX-8 as well. It really bugged me that I'd get less torque and Hp with the RX-8 AND lower gas mileage. Lastly, I was able to get a smoking good deal on my Z. But, RX-8s always catch my eye. I think the RX-8 is the very best value in a true sports car today. I think I will still wind up getting one one day. There is something special about a rotary engine and I still need to get one. To top it all off, a guy at work bought pretty much the same RX-8 that I would have gotten. Forget about the haters and enjoy the rotary! Cheers, Rich

 

I get very little negative attention. I do work in an area where a Porsche is a dime a dozen though. A lot of exotic car owners in the area and I always get a Thumbs up, and a "nice car" from them. And I return the favore to them as well. The best one was driving down the street and a guy in a Lamborghini Murcielago and I made eye contact and both said "nice car" as we drove by each other. I had one negative attention from a guy that drives a BMW 330I. I told your car will own me on the straight away, but lets go into the hills of Sherman Oaks and see who gets to the top first. Not only did my car kick up rocks that hit the BMW left and right he couldn't keep up with me on the turns.

I bought my car because I went around a corner at 50MPH durring the test drive, and said where do I sign. I love my car and ingore all the negative comments because I know they are jealous because my car looks better.

 

In my experience I haven't received much negative feedback besides a few people I talk to at work and even that isn't so bad! The most negative feedback I get is that they don't trust the reliability of the rotary to which I respond "the N/A rotary is actually pretty reliable as long as you take care of it". Otherwise all my interraction on the road, at the gas pump, at the car wash, sitting in traffic, and so forth and so on have been positive! People ask "How do I like it?" and I simply tell them up front there are cars out there in the same price range that are faster in a straight line but it's fun to drive! As far as people and their "Turrets Syndrome", I personally do not understand why they cannot just sit in their car and just keep it to themselves if they don't like my car. I absolutely hate a particular car that sells very well but I am happy with what I have and they are happy with their choice too (I will talk badly about it in conversation with a friend trying to sell me on it but not just to bash it)! I hope I can win the lottery and have several cars but that's just wishful thinking! Enjoy your 8s, 350s, S2Ks or whatever it is you love driving!

 

RX8 higher insurance rate then a Z?

 

Yea, interesting. My insurance was the same as my 2000 Maxima.

 

My insurance was just a little higher than my Honda Civic was.

 

Depends on the area, thefts, etc. My insurance was less on the Evo, than on my 99GT, which was only lightly modded.

 

I know all about the hating of the 8...Most of my friends are around 18 years old and they always try to give me a hard time about how the 350 would "smoke" the 8 and I never really cared I always just told them that I didnt buy the car to go out and race 350s.

 

I've must say I've always got good responses from Z owners in regards to the 8. Most see it for what it is from an engineering standpoint and not so much for the speed factor. I think it's because the Z owners I've encountered have been older more mature and well established, much like many of the 8 owners I've met. For example,you'd probably never see half of the topics in our lounge being disussed on the SRT forums. They couldn't even comprehend the topic much less give an intellegent and insightful contribution to the discussion.

Just my opinions of course. :D

 

I don't really catch any **** from anyone about my car. Games, Internet, on the road or whatnot. I have yet to meet a girl who doesn't like my car. So, I think it's doing something right. :p

 

i hear that ALOT haha. i guess the bashing comes mostly from people in highschool

 

Haha. This thread is active. Don't be so insecure. The 8 is a great car. As for the 350z - great car too. Most people will never be able to extract the last ounce of performance in either of those vehicles.

As for smoking the 8, I think a minivan can leave me in the dust 0-60. LOL. Once in a while I go out poaching for victims on a curvy highway. It's fun to see their faces when they could do nothing but hold their inside lane while the 8 tiptoes around them on the outside lane - and I'm not even forcing the car. Yeah, yeah, I know, juvenile.......

 

I love this thread. I'm over 40, and own an 8. I had one of my best friends at work rip on me for buying the 8. He actually said, "The last year Pontiac made the Trans Am, they put the C5 engine in it (the Vette engine), and I was wondering why you picked the 8 over the Vette or Trans Am?"

I responded, "I've owned both a T/A (1976) and a Vette (1985). . . I grew tired of taking them to the shop!"

End of discussion!

 

You do realize that the 8 has had some serious reliability issues. I had my 8 in the shop more often than my 1991 Chevy Lumina.

 

PKskull: Sorry to hear that news about the 8. I have not had a single problem with mine: 6000 miles and the only thing she has experienced is an oil change!

I sold my T/A after re-building the engine (with supercharger) and I put $20K into the engine. The darn body rusted out! . . . and I live in Denver!

The Vette? Manifold problems--twice! Then, a constant oil burn!

Sorry . . . the GM engineers just don't get it, so I went to the Japanese who actually have a clue!

Still, I'm sorry you're having problems with your 8!

 

None of my cars have ever had reliability issues. A couple problems to fix due to age, but that's about it. This is my 1st Japanese built car, I had one Swede built car, the other 4 were domestic (2 of those were Camaro's). Call me lucky, if you like

 

Hey I have a 1992 Lumina w/160K. It's my primary commuter car and it's still kicking. :D

 

Interesting about cheaper insurance on the 350z...AAA calls my car a 4 door sedan.

Anyway, I have had no negative comments in real life in regards to my car, other than kids making disparaging gestures in cheap econoboxes with 100 hp engines. The only people that really dislike the car are what I call "paper racers" who constantly just compare numbers on paper, and the majority of which don't even OWN any of the cars. The problem with that is there is always going to be a better, faster car. Enjoy what you have...if a McLaren F1 pulled up and smoked you, would you be upset?! Hell no, I would be pretty damn excited

 

LOL, yeah I'd probably even **** my pants! :D

 

You're not the only one "poaching" out there!

 

these are some of the wisest words i've heard in a long time...too bad rx8 club doesn't have reputation points/rating system like rx7 club

 

I think who ever goes thru the trouble of hating one car make over another, is not a true car enthu, sure a good friendly rival is good fun no argument there, but all the immature crap is really pretty pointless. Like I care what some ahole thinks

As for myself, I dont even own an 8, got an 03 996 4S coupe and 05 350z , but did own a 1st gen GSL and 3rd gen turbo RX7 so im partial to the rotor and I dont really like the 7 board all that much so i stop in here once in awhile.

And I agree with the others maturity has alot to do with it and I dont mean just age wise :D

See a bunghole out on the road forget em, why take a risk for some idiot?

Be safe guys
Peace