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

vash_241987 · 11-23-2009, 04:37 PM

Here is my input......all cars listed are RWD, n/a, and are considered a sports coupe (don't know if the 8 is considered a coupe) except the MS 3, so why consider a lemon to 4 apples? Agreeably the MS3 maybe be more bang for the buck and maybe faster with a chip, but seriously as everyone has said before these are different cars for different people. I'd say the MS3 is comparable to the likes of a FI econo box like the evo, sti, srt-4....it's for people who want a fast car, but also like the extra room for friends and luggage. There is obviously bias in this test, but hey if you own and really like one of the cars in the test, it's to be expected.

I'm also guessing that image is also another factor, some people may want to attract other people that are into street racing, others may just want to show that they have deep pockets. Either way, choose what appeals to you and your lifestyle. I wanted to be a racer boy and liked all of the typical racer boy cars. Now that I'm over that phase, just give me a 7spd 370z and I'll be happy.

Also consider what will you be using it for. For me my mind was always "need a M/T car so I can be cool and add 500000000hp to it"....then I got my facts straight, I don't street race, I drove m/t once for a day and I'm too lazy to shift, and I'm not going to the extreme end of modding performance wise.

Sand123 · 11-23-2009, 04:44 PM

To clear up what seem to be abundant misconceptions about my reasons for posting on this forum, I will say this: I didn't come here to disparage the Z, despite what many of you seem to think. I also didn't create this post. I came here to find some subjective impressions of Z ownership that you can't get from reading magazine articles because I have been considering buying one. I am trying to figure out if the performance benefit/fun-to-drive factor of the Z outweighs the advantage of having four dours and room for 5 people in my car.

Comparing the Z to a FWD car from Japan that is a second slower to 100 mph isn't disparaging the Z--it's part of my own decision making process. And while that is like comparing apples to oranges, the comparison is fitting for me because these are the two cars I am choosing between. What is that tradeoff worth to me? Will I have that much more fun tossing the Z around an autocross course, or around a hairpin, that it outweighs being able to fit more than two people in the car? That's a tough question to answer. So yes, of course the Z is faster than the Mazdaspeed3, stock for stock. But it certainly isn't a world of difference. Having driven the 370Z, then getting into my car (even though mine has bolt-ons) both cars seem to accelerate similarly merging onto the highway. Personally, it's more of a preference for the RWD than an extra 30 hp. I love tail-out powerslides as much as anyone else, and you obviously can't do that in a FWD car no matter how much power it has. And whether that performance benefit is worth it, I still have yet to decide.

ChrisSlicks · 11-23-2009, 05:09 PM

It's all about the handling. The car loves corners, there's nothing better than rolling around your favorite ramp in a perfect 4-wheel drift.

But to be honest, practicality usually trumps all. If I needed to carry 4 people and there wasn't a sedan in our household then I probably wouldn't have this car.

vash_241987 · 11-23-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sand123

To clear up what seem to be abundant misconceptions about my reasons for posting on this forum, I will say this: I didn't come here to disparage the Z, despite what many of you seem to think. I also didn't create this post. I came here to find some subjective impressions of Z ownership that you can't get from reading magazine articles because I have been considering buying one. I am trying to figure out if the performance benefit/fun-to-drive factor of the Z outweighs the advantage of having four dours and room for 5 people in my car.

Comparing the Z to a FWD car from Japan that is a half second slower to 100 mph isn't disparaging the Z--it's part of my own decision making process. And while that is like comparing apples to oranges, the comparison is fitting for me because these are the two cars I am choosing between. What is that tradeoff worth to me? Will I have that much more fun tossing the Z around an autocross course, or around a hairpin, that it outweighs being able to fit more than two people in the car? That's a tough question to answer. So yes, of course the Z is faster than the Mazdaspeed3, stock for stock. But it certainly isn't a world of difference. Having driven the 370Z, then getting into my car (even though mine has bolt-ons) both cars seem to accelerate similarly merging onto the highway. Personally, it's more of a preference for the RWD than an extra 30 hp. I love tail-out powerslides as much as anyone else, and you obviously can't do that in a FWD car no matter how much power it has. And whether that performance benefit is worth it, I still have yet to decide.

I say it's on your wants vs. needs and useability. How often are you going to autocross? Is this car for me or do I have a family? Here is a personal example: I was invited to do a IDPA match (International Defensive Pistol Association) which I did do, but the thing is I only did it once and here is the problem I came to: I spent alot of money on useless things that I only used once, an el chepo holster then I upgraded to a more expensive one, a airsoft practice gun that I though was going to help me practice my shooting since "I though" I was going to do this shooting regularly....but in the end I wasted money that would have been beneficial elsewhere, ohhh like paying off school bills and credit cards

. So for me I would like a z in the near future as an upgrade to my corolla. Of course its weird comparing a gun to a car since a car will get used more often, and if this post sounds point less, its cause I'm very hungry right now and I am leaving to go get some food.....and maybe write more than 7 word for my paper....

BlownS2k · 11-24-2009, 07:35 PM

wow OP who goes onto a car forum and tells them their car sucks? not smart.

My input: Well i have a 07 honda s2000. It was boosted to about 370 whp with a rotrex blower. i took it off and now im going with a different bigger blower + shot of nitrous. shooting for about 500+. Also have front sway, x brace, tein coilovers; etc. it was running the 1/4 12.5 @ 115-117.

Now the stock s2000 is a drivers car. BUT its not that fast. it takes boost to make it keep up with todays cars. honda never kept up with other manufacturers. However, i think the platform is gr8 for modding. Stock motor can enough enough boost to hit 400 easily. The guy who said he was tracking his S at 257 whp; etc is BSing somewhere because its VERY hard to get the S2000 to 257 whp on a real dyno (aka no dynapacks) NA. That motor is maxed out from factory.

Now the 370 i love. It looks nice and def. is faster than the S around a track. IT can handle turns and is faster straight line. I cant wait to c results for boosted 370s. OP i think is smoking something. The MS3 IMO sucks. Its a boosted motor in a car that handles like ****. immense amount of understeer. And at the end of the day its FWD.

Oh and sti's, evos; etc are still considered sports cars. they are built for rally racing. They handle their own in autocross, tracking; etc.

11-23-2009, 04:44 PM	#212 (permalink)
Sand123 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vegas Baby! Posts: 18 Drives: Mazdaspeed3 Rep Power: 16	To clear up what seem to be abundant misconceptions about my reasons for posting on this forum, I will say this: I didn't come here to disparage the Z, despite what many of you seem to think. I also didn't create this post. I came here to find some subjective impressions of Z ownership that you can't get from reading magazine articles because I have been considering buying one. I am trying to figure out if the performance benefit/fun-to-drive factor of the Z outweighs the advantage of having four dours and room for 5 people in my car. Comparing the Z to a FWD car from Japan that is a second slower to 100 mph isn't disparaging the Z--it's part of my own decision making process. And while that is like comparing apples to oranges, the comparison is fitting for me because these are the two cars I am choosing between. What is that tradeoff worth to me? Will I have that much more fun tossing the Z around an autocross course, or around a hairpin, that it outweighs being able to fit more than two people in the car? That's a tough question to answer. So yes, of course the Z is faster than the Mazdaspeed3, stock for stock. But it certainly isn't a world of difference. Having driven the 370Z, then getting into my car (even though mine has bolt-ons) both cars seem to accelerate similarly merging onto the highway. Personally, it's more of a preference for the RWD than an extra 30 hp. I love tail-out powerslides as much as anyone else, and you obviously can't do that in a FWD car no matter how much power it has. And whether that performance benefit is worth it, I still have yet to decide. Last edited by Sand123; 11-23-2009 at 07:49 PM.

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11-23-2009, 04:37 PM	#211 (permalink)
vash_241987 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Corpus Christi, Tx Posts: 443 Drives: '99 corolla Rep Power: 16	Here is my input......all cars listed are RWD, n/a, and are considered a sports coupe (don't know if the 8 is considered a coupe) except the MS 3, so why consider a lemon to 4 apples? Agreeably the MS3 maybe be more bang for the buck and maybe faster with a chip, but seriously as everyone has said before these are different cars for different people. I'd say the MS3 is comparable to the likes of a FI econo box like the evo, sti, srt-4....it's for people who want a fast car, but also like the extra room for friends and luggage. There is obviously bias in this test, but hey if you own and really like one of the cars in the test, it's to be expected. I'm also guessing that image is also another factor, some people may want to attract other people that are into street racing, others may just want to show that they have deep pockets. Either way, choose what appeals to you and your lifestyle. I wanted to be a racer boy and liked all of the typical racer boy cars. Now that I'm over that phase, just give me a 7spd 370z and I'll be happy. Also consider what will you be using it for. For me my mind was always "need a M/T car so I can be cool and add 500000000hp to it"....then I got my facts straight, I don't street race, I drove m/t once for a day and I'm too lazy to shift, and I'm not going to the extreme end of modding performance wise.

11-23-2009, 05:09 PM	#213 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	It's all about the handling. The car loves corners, there's nothing better than rolling around your favorite ramp in a perfect 4-wheel drift. But to be honest, practicality usually trumps all. If I needed to carry 4 people and there wasn't a sedan in our household then I probably wouldn't have this car.

11-24-2009, 07:35 PM	#215 (permalink)
BlownS2k Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2 Drives: 2007 Honda s2000 Rep Power: 16	wow OP who goes onto a car forum and tells them their car sucks? not smart. My input: Well i have a 07 honda s2000. It was boosted to about 370 whp with a rotrex blower. i took it off and now im going with a different bigger blower + shot of nitrous. shooting for about 500+. Also have front sway, x brace, tein coilovers; etc. it was running the 1/4 12.5 @ 115-117. Now the stock s2000 is a drivers car. BUT its not that fast. it takes boost to make it keep up with todays cars. honda never kept up with other manufacturers. However, i think the platform is gr8 for modding. Stock motor can enough enough boost to hit 400 easily. The guy who said he was tracking his S at 257 whp; etc is BSing somewhere because its VERY hard to get the S2000 to 257 whp on a real dyno (aka no dynapacks) NA. That motor is maxed out from factory. Now the 370 i love. It looks nice and def. is faster than the S around a track. IT can handle turns and is faster straight line. I cant wait to c results for boosted 370s. OP i think is smoking something. The MS3 IMO sucks. Its a boosted motor in a car that handles like ****. immense amount of understeer. And at the end of the day its FWD. Oh and sti's, evos; etc are still considered sports cars. they are built for rally racing. They handle their own in autocross, tracking; etc.