hey guys i'm a newbee from Canada. Next week i'm getting rid of my 03 z (not praticle having a 2 seater)...i'm thinking of getting a rx8 (4 seater)..will i regrete this switch...how different is the 8 form the z beside the obvious..btw i find both car look great..i'm more concern on the performance/feel/drive/handeling/ driving in winter condition)
what are the pros & cons fo the 8

thanks

 

Well the VQ is much more torquey than the Renesis; however the RX8 6 spd has been tested to achieve 0-60 times of 5.9s which is a few ticks behind the 350Z. You'll find the RX8 to be a more driver oriented better handling feel car than the 350Z. Go test one out. The 9,000 rpm redline is euphoria compared to the lower redline of the Z.

 

Here are a couple of good articles...

Road Test: 2004 Honda S2000 vs. Mazda RX-8 vs. Nissan 350Z

and

2003 Sports Car Shoot-Out: Nissan 350Z vs. Mazda RX-8

 

great articles...i'm suprise to hear that the RX8 has a linear torque ...it was actually my main concern...specially the very torquee VQ..i was scare that torque would be a major problem...don't really care aboutHp since i know the * is way lighter then my Z...what about stuff link cheap interior or annoying noise in the cockpit.

 

You do not really expect an unbiased opinion on this. The Z is the arch nemisis to the RX8. Every car has their quirks. But I do not think you will get any one saying that it is a bad switch. As for the articles, all I have read give virtually ever category to the RX8. We know the Z is faster off the line, but, as you may know, so is a spiced up NEON. So what do you have left? EVERYTHING else.

 

you can't really compare the lengendary Z to a Neon...that's not fare. i do see the 8 as a very serious contender to the Z. (that's why i'm switching.) I test drove my friend 8 a while back and i had a hard time (more like scared) to rev that engine all the way to9000 rmp...i was confortable shifting @ 3500-4500 from My Z. So this high reving thing to feel the power kinda worries me a bit

 

If you're going to be an 8 owner, you're going to have to learn to spit on the ground and exclaim, "NEON! PHOOEY!" no matter whether the topic is cars or can openers. We'll learn ya.

 

It's a Rotary Engine - trust us on this one. When the tach hits 12 O'Clock it's getting close to shift time... :p It's a fun car to drive, wash, drive, wash, drive, wash, well, you get the picture. Here's mine: http://www.hausers.com/nemesis8/

 

the torque curve may be linear, but there's very little of it. you're going to miss it...i would suggest you give the 8 a more extensive test drive before just jumping into a purchase

 

Oh, I don't think papipito was making a direct comparison between the Z and the SRT-4, just noting that there are many cars faster than the RX-8. It's a way of saying that people won't be happy with an 8 if they are looking for raw power off the line. It's not that the 8 is slow -- it's not -- but its true charms involve a lot more than speed.

I love the Z, and if I could afford a car just for weekends, it would probably be a Z convertible.

 

Torque curve is flat as a pancake in the '8 and lower than the Z, but every bit as satisfying after you get used to it. And the interior is first class - worthy of a car costing $10K-$20K more. Also rattle free with only a few people having problems.

This car is about class and overall balance of all things - plus the owner community is second to none.

Finally, be sure to read this thread The Little Things end to end. It'll give you a great feel for what a wonderful car the RX-8 is.

 

I'd say the biggest difference is how you need to drive each one to go fast. With the 8 you can't be cruising at 1500RPM and hit the gas expecting much to happen. You drop a couple gears to hit the 5K sweet spot and nail it.

I haven't driven a Z but I have driven a couple of other Nissan 6 CYLs. No doubt it's a great engine with "right now" thrust whenever you put your foot in it. The 8 is quick but in a different way. The Nissan accelerates strong from 1000-5/6000 RPM while the 8 doesn't start pulling really strong until after 5/6000 RPM. Kinda like a Japanese sport bike.

I actually considered a Z and G35 Coupe but neither were practical enough for me.

 

If your worried about torque then an 8 isn't for you. You have to drive the 8 properly to generate full potential. The potential is there, just not as easy to drive fast as the z.

 

When you test drive it make sure you push it (shifting at 7K+ rpm) and decide whether or not you like the feel of it when you're "going fast". Realize that this is how fast the car is going to go when you feel like "showing off" how fast your car goes. Ie don't go to the track, then find out that the speed of the car isn't as good as you thought it was and then decide to hate the car.

Make sure you ALSO test drive it shifting around 3.5K rpm. Does it frustrate you? How much do you hate it at that level? Realize that you'll be shifting here until you hit 600 or 1,000 miles (break in period, which ever one you want to use). Also realize that you'll probably be doing this when you feel more like saving gas.

Never driven a 350Z myself but from what I've heard, the big differences is

350Z has a lot more torque

350Z has more hp

350Z has better reliability (average vs below average in consumer reports)

350Z has less owner maintenace required (anti-flooding measures, refilling engine oil)

RX-8 has a nicer interior

RX-8 has a smoother engine (never feels like it's trying to hard even at high rpms)

RX-8 has 2 more seats

RX-8 feels more connected to the driver and responsive

RX-8 is more comfortable as a daily driver

RX-8 is currently (stress on the currently) less common to see than the 350Z.

RX-8 has suicide doors!

Handling wise, the Track version of the Z supposedly has a higher potential but for nearly everyone the 8 is going to out handle the Z. In some magazine (I can't remember which one, I don't think I imagined it though) they had a thing where the professional driver got a better time in the slaloms with the Z than the 8, but he said it was very difficult for him to get that good time and most of his trials the RX-8 did better)

looks is debatable, gas mileage is debatable (people with RX-8's get a wide range of mpgs) though the 350Z probably edges the RX-8 here. the engine sound is debatable too... the coworker of mine that loves the Z really enjoyed the rotary sound.

 

Only problem is you will need to buy winter tires.

 

ummm. I think you need winter tires on a 350z if I'm not mistaken.

 

8802, the difference's:

Your going to notice right off the bat that the 8 "feels" alot slower off the line. Most mags have rated the 8 about half a sec 0-60 slower but it does feel much slower. The thing about it is that the car builds power so smoothly, you are actually going faster then you think (which leads to other issues with blue lights behind you). So, test drive one hard, but remember that things aren't always how they feel. If you keep the car in the powerband (above 6K), you will find that it keeps up very nicely with cars in it's class (specifically the Z). There's nothing like doing 70 in 6th, dropping to 3rd and punching it. Try doing that in a neon.

Second, this is one of the best most forgiving handling cars I've ever driven ( and I've had some very nice handling cars). It is very easy to drive this thing around corners going much faster then you would think your going. The car doesn't complain, feel loose, float, or screech...it just handles it. I think the limits on this car are higher then most average everyday drivers (even some agressive ones's)are willing to go.

Problems:
Gas milesage has been spotty. People are getting anywhere from 16 to 21 mpg on average with a few reporting higher and some reporting lower.

Winter tires are a must. Stock tires will get you stranded in 1/4 in. of slick stuff.

A small percentage of owners have flooded thier engines. There is a procedure to correct it. It works most of the time, but a few have had to be towed into the dealer to correct.

That's it for problems. Just make sure you got the lastest ECU flash and you'll be ok. I've had mine for 8 months and haven't had a single problem with it.

The interior is excellent. Almost everything where you want it, except the cup holders. I've got the cloth seats and they still look new and are very comfortable on long drives. Back seats have more room then you'd expect and can fit adults, but have a kind of glove feel to them as the rear windows are small and visibility from the back is very limited.

My cousin works at a Nissan dealership and he drives Z's all the time. He's planning on getting an 8 for his personnel car soon.

Sorry so long, but go test drive one, really test it, and if you don't come away with a grin after reving that thing up, then it may not be the car for you...

 

8802,

See if you can find a dealer that will let you take an 8 for a couple of days. Then take it out and just drive it, on everything. Try taking onramps at 60, drive it on roads with esses, etc... really put the car through the paces (be aware of the breakin process however). After you really drive it you will see why the majority of the people on here really love the car even if it is different than the Z and S2000.

Me, I came from a Miata which I loved to the 8 for the same reason that you are looking now. A 2 seater isn't a realisic care for life. Coming from the miata which I drove like a big go-cart to the 8 was a transition as the 8 is bigger and heavier than the miata. However, I have found it is just as fun. I can throw the car through corners just as easily as i could the miata. And while it is just as hard to get the 8 out of sorts as the miata because of the DSC (traction control) on the 8. I love my 8 and I have only had it for 2 months. Good luck with your decision.

 

first off i'm from quebec...so winter tire is not just needed...it should be OEM. Thanks for all the great feedback. Now it's obvious most of you guys love your 8...but then again so are all the z owner on those boards. guess i'll sacrifice the z's speed for a more rounded car & pratical even in winter (let's face it the z is terrible in the winter). What about reliablity of the 8...can it be compare to the "bulletproof" VQ ?Mazda wasn't always the best at being the most reliable from the other Japanese competition. (although it's getting much better in the past 4-5 years).

 

I drove a z then drove the 8 when I was looking at buying. I thought the z felt awesome with all the torque and grunt, but when I got in the 8 I was like, "Wow, now this is somooth!. I could drive this everyday and not get tired!" :D It seemed effortless and equally as quick. Just my opinion though.
________
LIVE SEX WEBSHOWS

 

Most of us are pretty convinced the rotary itself is plenty reliable. Even if it lasted several tens of thousand miles less than a piston engine, the maintenance/repair on the engine itself will probably still be cheaper out of pocket to own because I will never have to pay for a timing belt or valve adjustments.

 

It comes down to a matter of opinoin. I drove the RX8, G-35 Coupe & 350Z and hands down the RX8 was the most fun to drive. The car fits you like a glove and the interior still blows me away a year later. I did not have that feel after stepping out of the other two. Plus I have a small child. Where is he going to sit in the Z. Dont get me wrong I think the Z is a nice car and if I were single without child I would have looked closer, but the result would have been the same. A 2004, Velocity Red RX8 with 6SM, and Red / Black leather.

 

if you are going to run the car in the winter without winter tires please post the pictures of your smashed up RX8 when it happens. YThe perfromance summer tires are no good in the winter...its not just the snow but the cold that renders them useless.

Go read some of the posts in the Canadain forum regarding this issue.

 

and rx8 looks good.

 

that's the reason why i sold my Z. it was perfect for me and my wife but now with my 1yrs old kid...i needed something with more seats... :p
thank for all you're comments