Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Surprised I didn't find this with a search here (at least in the Multimedia section)...

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/F...-vs_178134.htm

chrism

needs more powaaaa

PaPaBear

THe RX-8 has received many complements about it's handling. To clean the Z's clock, Mazda should have an option for a factory turbo and up to 1.6 liters. I also believe the sales of the RX-8 would jump with this option. I love my car as it is because of it's handling and gives me enough poop to where I really enjoy driving, but if these options were available, I would trade mine in immediately for a factory turbo model.

luv4eternity

that dude sux at driving ...let clarkson drive it ~

neXib

Yeah, I'm sure it would be really to cheap to manufacture an 1.6 litre version of the Renesis, since it's so cost effective already to have an engine that nobody uses for anything else...

Riken

lol so tru

Nissan1

Great! Thanks for posting this information... I am really looking for one. I am a nissan car enthusiast too.. I will also share this information from my friends. I hope to see more updates on this car. nice post!

lepichichi

iTrader: (10)

I just don't se how a 350 z can be compare to a rx8. the rx8 its a 4 door car, the nizzan 350z shoul be compare to a honda s2000 or a similar sport coupe. why not compare the rx8 to the civic si 4 door? just my 2 centsr

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

Because of price perhaps? I know the previous Rx7/300z was a popular comparison too so maybe the 8/350 just inherited that or something. I've seen some comparisons using the 8 that make next to no sense at all, but on the other hand, Mazda confused the hell out of everybody with it to begin with, I mean, is it a sports car? or GT? it has four doors...well...in a way...but.....er...is it a coupe or? The car handles like a track car, but accomodates 4 people, yet uses an engine based on race car technology, and has factory brakes on par with Porsche's (to an extent anyway), but it does have a decent sized trunk and back seats....so in my honest opinion the media doesn't know what to do with it so it just gets put up in random articles from time to time. I'm surprised the Miata/Mx isn't used more for sportscar type comparos, to me it's the car you see destroying other cars at the track and autocross events more commonly than the 8, it's a 2 seater, 2 door, purpose built (for the most part, new one seems a little bloated) roadster/vert so it baffles me why it isn't used more, perhaps because of low power ratings or? I watched a small block (ls1 I think?) powered Miata annihilate a whole slew of cars at one of the area tracks, even the instructors were getting torched so it's a mystery why that platform isn't used more.

RogueTadhg

The video needs more Redline Buzzer.

RX-8 and the 350/370 has always been compared with each other. More than likely due to both vehicles having close price points. Not to mention some people still consider the RX-8 a 2-door coupe. The crossfire was also in the competition range.

I would've liked to have seen the R3 versions come with a single turbo. Not twin. I don't think the reliability issues with having a twin turbo would make up for the almost-lack of boost. It would jump the price of the car significantly higher, but well worth it for a already great tuned turbo from the factory. I'm sure Mazda would've put all the attention the R3 needed with a turbo.

Icky Mettle

Agreed, you can't really compare the RX-8 and the Z cars anymore and these media comparisons are getting a little tiresome. I could see it in 2004 when both cars shared somewhat equal footing, but the Z has seen some serious updates to its powerplant over the years. Sadly, the Renesis just doesn't have the kind of architecture that allows for such a refresh rate. I honestly see the RX-8 as more of a proper Grand Tourer that can also handle track duty, whereas the Z is more the "no compromises" sports car.

I cared little for the 350. I often drove the 2005 my sister and brother in law had and just couldn't get into the "feel" of it. The 370 from what I've heard is much improved, but I've only been behind the wheel of one twice. The handling seems sharper and has less resistance, but the RX-8 is simply better suited for my particular flavor of driving. Just my opinion, but the Z cars seem like they're suffering from an identity crisis, they don't know if they want to be a true sports car or something between a sports car and a torque heavy pony car. But, that's what helps to sell them...they offer an adequate combination of both that proves sufficient for the uninitiated driver. Not bashing the Z at all, they're obviously fine cars, but if I were in the market for a two seater and could sacrifice the practicality, I'd definitely look elsewhere. I've personally always been somewhat drawn to the Solstice GXP or Sky Turbo, thinking they'd be a damn fine alternative. Shame that America's only recent effort at a true sports car was allowed to die so miserably by poor brand management.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

A friend of mine has a Sky (Redline), that car is freakin' amazing, he's done next to nothing with it and he can keep pace with just about anything, funniest story I've heard so far is he had a "hemi" laden Charger trying to race him on one of our local freeways recently, evidently the Hemi guy was trying to do a ricer type "flashby" and when he tried it my friend got on the throttle and the guy couldn't pass him, he said he could hear the hemi topping out and they were both neck and neck with the sky having a slight advantage lol It is a shame that car wasn't taken farther, his car is pretty awesome even if it is a Saturn

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

Clarkson is so tall driving in the RX-8, would his height and weight be an advantage? Besides, Tiff was an ex-British Grand Prix driver and a Veteran of Le Mans.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Tiff was a F1 driver and continues to race professionally. Clarkson is a newspaper columnist & TV host. I think you may what to rethink your position.

Grace_Excel

iTrader: (5)

If you listen closely, he does redline consistently.

THANK YOU, good sir!

tiltmode43

iTrader: (15)

You guys all saw the OP date, right?

A little dated...

WTBRotary!

iTrader: (6)

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Uhhh no, I didn't. It was that spammer that re-opened the thread.

TheRealBreecem

top gear disagrees

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVXtFu6VOV4

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

^ Different tracks, Different Times
Apparently the Fifth Gear track favored the car with more horsepower.

TheRealBreecem

yes but the "stig" knew how to drive it and they had a wider perspective on their entire opinion of the car.

Chibana

The comparison between the Z and the RX-8 is quite natural and reasonable. Both cars were on my short list of sports cars to consider for my toy. Just because Mazda tried to make it more likely to sell in the U.S. at a time when sports car sales were tanking (largely due to sky-rocketing insurance costs) by giving it decent rear seats and rear half-sized suicide doors doesn't change the fact that the RX-8 is a sports car. I would argue that the RX-8 is a purer sports car than the 350Z or 370Z due to it's lighter weight, better handing, better steering, better braking, and the fact that you can drive it off the dealer lot to a race track and drive it there all-out reasonably safely and effectively (without the brakes failing after two laps and you flying into a wall at 100 mph).