Well put Elara... and yep- Target

 

Repeat after me:
The rx8 is a family car!
The rx8 is a family car!
The rx8 is a family car!
The rx8 is a family car!

I just bought my rx8 three weeks ago and I've been driving my little baby in a rear facing car seat and I have a graco stroller in the boot. See?
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I love this car!

-dodo

 

Let's rephrase that (and GR8boy can attest since today he met my twin boys and their buddy ... at the Chicago get together) ...

The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...
The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...The RX-8 is the ULTIMATE[I] family car ...

 

8

Sorry for the shitty post but I wanted to state my choice clearly!!

- Irish

 

If not the ULTIMATE practical 4-door family car!

 

You need the Mazda if you need really usalble rear seats. If not, you will always wonder whetherthe lack of power was worth it. The Mazda, which I own, is such a great all around car for a four seater! But in the true sports car world it may be underpowered.

 

The Miata holds the world's record as the best selling sports car of all time. It's a true sports car by anyone's definition. Is it underpowered? Does it matter? It's all relative.

I've owned many cars that are faster than the RX-8, but I can honestly say that the RX-8 is as fun and exciting to drive as any of them, if not more. Would I take more power? You bet. But I don't feel it's underpowered, if I did, I wouldn't have bought it.

 

Well, as a owner of both an 8 and a Z, just my two pennies.

To each his own.

If you are posting here expecting to get a objective view of each vehicle, you won't. The same is true if you post the question on the Z forums...each one will have a tilt.

Both the 8 and the Z are really great sports cars...perfect...no, but they are both fun and enjoyable to drive. Each car has it's strengths and weaknesses and you will find them well documented on the forums of each site. If you really are making a decision between the two, drive them, research, weigh the pros and cons for you and enjoy your new ride.

I started out with an 8 and was not satisified with some aspects of the product and decided to try the Z (I had originally wanted a Z). While the problems I encountered may not affect others here, it was more than what I wanted to deal with. Overall, the 8 did not meet my expectations...a true love/hate releationship.

So far I am very happy with the Z. I have had it for about 6 months and I love it. The vehicle has performed flawlessly and it better suits my taste in vehicles. Some of the cons listed here are not really a problem for me, so I feel fortunate to now be in the Z.

Well...objectively, neither car is perfect - I wish I could take the best parts of each thrown in with a few features from my RSX and create the perfect car but it still probably would not make everyone happy...

Guys & Gals, enjoy your 8's...

 

Right. A sports car is not defined by its power. A muscle car is.

 

I say if you like the power and torque but you still need the practicality of seating 4 and price isnt an issue then go for the G35 coupe. Its a really nice car, but it would have cost 8K more (ouch). There are some who say that if you want to make a car fun, don't give it too much power (the guy who designed the MR2 spyder said the same). This allows you to wring its neck and enjoy the pleasures of driving a car hard without scaring yourself silly or breaking the speed limit too soon. I think thats what journalist mean when they call cars like the 8 and S2000 as "involving you in the driving experience". I have a gixxer 600 and I can rev the nuts off of it whereas 1000 cc bike owners just loaf around in top gear. Sure they have more power but they aren't having as much fun...and isn't tha what driving a sports car is all about?

 

How does the G35's back seats stack up with the RX8's? I've not actually crawled back into one, but there doesn't seem to be as much space as ours. I agree with you on the rest of your points... the essence of a sports car is light weight, high-revving fun, not torque.

 

Are you sure that the Miata is the best selling sports car of all time??? I really dont know so i am just asking. To me it would seem like the Mustang, Camero, or the Corvete would be a better seller.

 

I think they mean the yearly sales of the Miata outsold the competition. Not the total amount of vehicles produced in the products lifetime.

-Rupes

 

Oh cmon...the M Miata is certainly not the best selling sports car "of all time"...either is the 8...or either is the 350Z....you have to define a sports car...like a MG or Triumph...and where do you drive it?

 

Worlwide, the vette, camaro and mustang don't hold a candle against the Miata ....believe it.

The Mustang has an al time record for sales during the first year (introduction) I believe. And its been in production for a gazillion years.

 

Huh? The Vette, Camaro and Mustang are the quintessential cars of America...they will blow away a Miata in one second flat. Have you ever driven a vette?? It's more fun than the 8 (cause I own an 8, and would prefer a vette in Singapore) and almost as much fun as a Porsche Boxter.

 

I stand corrected. Looks like the Miata is the best of all time since they have come into production in 1989.

http://web.ask.com/redir?bpg=http%3a...nip&Complete=1

 

Hey...a net search is a about as accurate as watching paint dry. Hope you don't go long the Google IPO....time to short.

 

Ok, ok, maybe I generalized a little too much. The Miata holds the world record for the best selling 2 seater sports car. http://www.miata.net/news/700k.html. Technically, Camaros and Mustangs aren't sports cars. They're classified as GT's or Muscle Cars.

But my point is simply that it takes more than just speed to make a car fun to drive. I recently test drove an E55 AMG benz. Fast as hell, 0=60 in about 4.3 secs, but it's big and heavy. The power was intoxicating, but the handling still left much to be desired.

Now don't get me wrong, I frankly like the 350Z very much. It has a good balance of power and handling. The only thing that would make it better is less weight. I like my sports cars to be light and nimble.

 

I still can't understand why the Miata is the best selling 2 seater roadster. It's a pig of a car that will squeel "honk honk" when faced with an 8 or a boxster.

 

As accurate as watching paint dry? Hope you don't go long on the Google IPO???? If you were long on the Google IPO of $85..... I don't see how that'd be a bad thing, especially if you are STILL long!

You made about as much sense as checking my gmail. :D

 

Even at $85 google's stock was overpriced. The search market is extremely volatile, and Google doesn't generate any kind of profits that would justify it's current stock prices. I agree with Genesis - I wouldn't keep Google's stock for long, though currently people are expecting it to hit $200 a share. It was definitely a great short term investment.

 

These were the finalists for the car I was going to get. Obviously ingeress/egress is easier on our cars with the freestyle doors. I personally found that the rear seat of the G35 is much like the typical 2+2's in that it was tight all the way around. I am 5'9", and when I set my front seat to my comfortable position, I can sit in the back with minimal discomfort in my 8. I did not have that feeling in the G35. They had a comparo in MT where they said the RX8 had better head room, but the G35 had better leg room. I honestly don't know how they came up with that conclusion as I found the back space in the G35 pretty much smaller all the way around. I have transported 4 people in my car numerous times. I am 5'9" and anybody approximately the same size will fit in the seats behind with no problem.

 

The British car reviewers who tested the Z and 8 said that the both performed exactly the same on the track - 1:31.8 MINUTES. Same with the M3 too. If straight line speed is what you want, go for the Z (faster by 0.4 seconds). You know, split seconds are not that important to me. Try counting 0.4 sec before you inhale. But overall, with the extra back seats and real road driving (with twist and turns) - go for the 8

 

The 8 is a hardtop only.

The average Miata owner would pass out if presented with an invoice for a Boxster.

Apples with apples please!