A GT MSRP is more that $32,000.

 

An interesting argument, from a purely linguistic standpoint. I accept and appreciate what you say. At the same time, I do not believe that an argot overloading of a word obliviates the ability to apply the normal meaning of that word. Consider, if you will, the 4th definition of "exotic", that referring to a dancer.

Imagine, if you will, a serious professional dancer, a Ginger Rogers type or a ballerina. And say she is a beautiful foreign woman who fits the mundane meaning of "exotic". Am I not allowed to call her exotic, simply because she's a serious dancer, not a stripper? Yes, in the dancing world, the term "exotic" means one whose dancing consists principally of taking off her clothes, and so I'd be on shaky ground if I said "Daphna Pradham is a wonderful exotic dancer." But I'm not so sure I can't say "I love watching Daphna Pradham dance, she's so exotic!" Assuming my mythical Ms. Pradham is sufficiently famous, then just by context, nobody thinks that I'm talking about stripping, nobody's going to have a problem with the sentence.

I'd say the same applies here. Nobody has said "The RX-8 is an exotic car." What has been said is that this or that makes it more or less exotic. Again, by context, nobody thinks that anybody here means that the 8 is some 6-figure Ferrari or something. So I stand by the claim that saying "if less people buy an 8, that makes mine more exotic" is a reasonable use of the word, and certainly not worthy of generating snide remarks.

But I'm gonna double-check the whole thing with my girlfriend, the linguistics professor.

 

I, too, had to decide between a Z car and an 8. At the Z forum, a lot of folks seem to complain about the tire cupping issue...and some folks here want better gas mileage with their 8's. I drove both vehicles...and granted, the Z was quite fast...and was considerably more expensive. While I was trying to decide between the two, I found myself going back for more test rides in the 8. For me, it's a prettier car and the backseat provides a lot more utility for my needs. Where I live, the 8's are rare compared to the Z's...and I like that!

 

If you get a Z, go with an 05 or 06. They do not seem to have the tire feathering and other bugs the 03 and 04's had. Like everyone else has said, both are really great cars. If you can live without a backseat and dont mind paying for premium gas, slightly higher vehicle cost, and higher insurance premiums: get the Z. I would test drive them back to back and see which one you feel more comfortable driving and which one is the best for you.

 

How did the Test Drive II go?

Did you maybe notice that the 8's ride quality, the feel of the chassis, the way the suspension soaks up bumps in a way more supple manner....didn't all those things just blow any positives of the Nissan away?

Couple that with the discounts on the 8, the fact the the 350 is afterall, a sedan under the skin, and the decision should be clear. But, hey what do I know, I just bought the better car tonight.

 

I don't go out as much as most people I suppose but if there is one thing I see far to many of it is 350Z's and Hummer's. I went to Michael's (the craft store) a couple weeks ago and parked in the area of the relatively small shopping center in the area where there is Michael's, Dollar Tree, and Coastal Farm and Ranch (an L-shape at the end of the shopping center) were 8 350Z's parked there aAnd of course 3 Hummer's. It's become one of those cars that everyone seems to have around here. Kind of funny, I regularly see Hummer's parked at the thrift stores. I guess their gas bills finally caught up to them.