370Z Sport Package vs Mazdaspeed 3 GT vs S2000 vs Cayman S vs Mazda Rx-8

gtaylor370

I'm surprised you found the Z as a disappointment. I found it to be awesome. The Mazda 3 is pretty quick too but I don't like hatch backs. S2000's are nice little convertibles, I would own one. The RX8 is a pretty fun car to drive but it just doesn't have enough "go" for me. I hate the Porsche Caymen, I think it is way overpriced. It is a boxter with a hard top and it's really not that fast for 50 grand.

I would honestly choose the 370. It corners great, the acceleration is a thrill, and for 30 grand, you can have Porsche Caymen like performance. No, it may not be quite as fast but it's not far off, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper. With the 20 grand I save on the Z, I'll mod it to make it destroy Caymens and even faster cars all day long. But that's just my opinion.

bellydancer4

mook the gook attacks@!!!!

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joshj808

Why do people keep on calling the MS3 GT a sports car? Its a compact car pure and simple. Same for the MS6... Hell, ill even go as far as agreeing that it could be called a sports compact car but it sure as hell isnt a sports car. The S-2000 could be called a sports car. The RX-7 could be called a sports car i think but never the MS3 or the MS3 GT.

m4a1mustang

Anyone who tries to call them a sports car is out of their mind. They are boy-racer econoboxes... just like STis and EVOs and SRT-4s. Yeah, they are fast... but they are still nothing more than tuned econoboxes. Not knocking on them, that's just the way it is.

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mook

Porsche and its parts are definitely outrageously overpriced, wouldn't even think of buying it new or out of warranty.

Problem is, I don't race others much and when you are not racing against the clock or another person, it's all about the feel and the tossability, the entertainment value basically. Not much of a drag strip guy.
So the weight is one of the biggest issues here. When I choose my motorcycles I bitch and moan about every extra 10lb, cars - 100lb. Makes a huge difference as far as entertainment goes.

Those extra 20k you are talking about (more like 30k after options) won't make the car much lighter and that's a problem off the track and off the highway (I am not about to start tossing seats out of it for weight reduction, of course)

If Z had the weight of an MS3, it would be the best street sports car around no question about it, engine rough or not. The Porsche wouldn't stand a chance.
If it had the weight of a Cayman, it would be the greatest car for any amount of money and people like me would line up in front of the dealerships at 6am.
And if had the weight of an as S2000, it would become a classic, even if it was the ugliest car around.

Of course, this would narrow the appeal and Nissan would probably not make any money and shut down the party, just like Honda did.

I am gonna go back to the dealership and give it another spin. I think part of the problem is the low end oomph of the turbo made me a bit lazy, so when I drove it, I expected the same kick in the gut too far from the red line. Maybe if I was coming off the S2000 directly, I would be much more impressed. Because of the heft, I may need to rev much higher to launch and ignore the salesman whimpering while shifting closer to the redline.
And if I have to squeal the tires a bit in the corners... well it just has to be done.
I guess the numbers and the reviews set my expectations way too high. I thought it was because it had no low end torque, so I looked it up and there is actually plenty. So I am still puzzled. You know, you should not need a dyno to tell you the car is powerful, a test drive should be enough. Most likely it's the weight.

I was kind of hoping to have a car that is fun to toss around the streets at low speeds (kind of like an S2000 on steroids). I am not much of a drag strip guy.

theDreamer

You want low end torque without the turbo feel then you should be looking at a Mustang.
The Z is going to be smooth through the entire RPM range, I just got my car dynoed last night, fully stock, and the HP curve is so smooth; you will not get that jump feel you get with a turbo.

You will not get a 370z sports car in the sub 3,000 range without tearing it apart. Forged just tore a 370z apart and got it down to 2515 without any seats or sound dampening, add back in some weight for seats and other parts and they will be under 3,000 but not in a street legal car.

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FricFrac

LOL - are you serious? This is just outright trolling. You came over to a 370Z enthusist web page to say their car sucks and the M3 GT is better (I'm talking Mazda not Bimmer)? You mention all these other cars that are actually slower and praise them then say the fastest car of the bunch was disapointing because it "felt" slower. Wow. Please bring your smack down to the track - the slow 370Z vs your uber machine. Then you can feel fast in your car while the slow Z tail lights disapear around the next bend.... don't worry you can check out the head lights when you get put down a lap.... but all at the same time feeling faster in your car. You know like the Star Wars ride at Disney Land where it "feels" like you are flying in a space ship when your seat is only moving a few inches.

Feelings.... nothing more than feelings....

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Mercennarius

The only car that is even in the same league is the Porsche...anyone who would purcahse a RX8,Mazda speed 3, or S2000 over the 370Z isnt looking for a sports car.

ConchZ2

Mook, you should test drive a VW GTI, you appear like a GTI kind of person, tossing, German etc.
My neighbor’s son owns one and claims the Turbo has a great low end kick and Little Turbo lag.

355890

Hum ! The Porsche Cayman S is an amazing vehicle. If I could afford one, which I can't without being streched, would be my first car of choice. Anyone who slams this Porsche has no real merit to thier conversation. I had to get that out of the way.

That said, I did alot of research in 08 as I was planning on another purchase, all I knew is I wanted a 2 seater sport car again...........there was not one, and I mean not one, that was better than the Z for the price. I had never owned a Japanese car before, so it was a plung.

NOTE to self - I do miss Turbo charged engines.

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TBSS2008

My wife use to own a 2007 Solstice GXP (Auto), in stock form the power was ok. After I had it tuned to 290hp 325lbft at the crank it was a little rocket. Well unfortunately I totaled the car one day coming home from work.

I needed another car to replace the Solstice and still wanted the fun factor as you described the Mazda Speed 3 has. I looked at a lot of cars, but came down to buying the 370z. Coming from a tuned turbo charged car like the Solstice it was hard to tell if the 370z was faster. It’s the extra torque that made the Solstice feel like a rocket; the 370z is faster the ¼ mile times don’t lie. The best I could get with the Solstice 13.6, based on others confirming the 370z 7AT 13.3 ¼ mile time is faster.

nicknick

Mazda make great cars, I know cause I have a folding hardtop MX5, but I am saving up to buy a 370z to join the MX5.
Mook, the 370Z has been praised by journalists the world over. I think you are biased and have another agenda. There seem to be growing number of people who are joining this forum to can the Z, is it because they bought more expensive cars that they now have realized are not as good as the Z and join to vent?

Brazilbro

you forget that the STi and Evo are RALLY "RACE" cars that are also sold to the public.. they were built FIRST to race and are built around the rules for rally. Also they are currently the fastest cars in TIME attack. now the SRT-4 has no such haritage so i'll agree with you there. Why you hatten?

kdoske

This thread is pretty funny when you sit down and read it for a while. My only conclusion is that the op has a small Prick that only engorges at the expenses ruffling other peoples feathers with statements that are complete nonsense.



Anyway I won't bother you anymore OP. I'm sure you and your Kia Sephia have a nice afternoon of high speed thrill rides through the rocky mountains.

SnakeBitten

Im surprised you guys gave mook 3 pages. Only one reason someone makes an account on a forum about a car he doesnt own or want and proceeds to pan it against obviously inferior cars [RX-8, MS3, S2K]. Why not just buy your Cayman S or MS3 and have fun. Whats the point of coming here?

Why not go to Cayman S/MS3/RX-8 boards and say this as they would love it. Coming here to say this is really pointless as we have guys that have owned or still own these cars. So your imput wasnt needed at all though from what you wrote you seem to think we needed to hear your perspective hence your signing up to impart your knowledge. No hard feelings but please stop hiding behind your fake altruistic reason for posting this.

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