I believe the RX-8 would've been more successful if the rotary wasn't so maintenance heavy. The design was probably too controversial as well. Regardless, both the RX-8 and the 350Z are very fun to drive.
You drive it and take care of it like any other engine. Like any other engine, if you don't change the oil or let it run hot. You will mess it up. It is an amazing little engine. Show me another stock 1.3 liter engine making 238 hp without boost.
@@blackericdenice That's the thing: you can't just take care of a rotary engine like a regular combustion engine--they require extra maintenance. Especially the Renesis motor that came with the RX8. The seals WILL go bad, and you have to break down the engine to replace them. It's no avoiding this.
@@daison96 I used to work at a shop that specialized in rotarys and I remember the average lifespan of these engines being 80-90k miles at best. Those apex seals really were the Achilles heel, not to mention how easy they would flood if you didn't let them warm up before shutting it down. Amazing cars, but you need to have patience and deep pockets to own one.
Fuel economy on rotaries has always been worse than piston engines too. The epa for the rx8 was 18 mpg combined, pretty bad for a small sports car that made less than 250 hp
I owned both! The inputs on both cars are excellent, great shifter feel, clutch feel, brake feel. Throttle response was a bit better in the RX-8, and the electric steering, while very quick to respond, and informative, still wasnt as good as the hydraulic rack in the Z. The handling in the RX-8 was better, bar none, weightless in the front, but still balanced enough to play with the rear if you really asked for it. Id say they both sorta leaned torwards understeer (especially after suspension) the 8 was far more neutral and forgiving. The Z still handles great, with a front end that tucks in very nicely, and cambers great to give a solid progressive grip pathway to its eventual understeer, but the rear gets unsettled, on its way to the limit. Although it has enough power to make it rotate whenever you want, a luxury the 8 doesnt really have. Power is great on both, the 8, while being a hell of alot down on torque, had incredible amounts of character, and sounded incredible, and honestly wasnt that slow, just didnt feel like it. The Z is definitely more potent, and in terms of the power and torque curve, is the one to have. Interior goes to the RX-8, although the Z had better tech and features. I dont know which one I like more, but id say drive them both!
@@jplslo8213 don't listen to these guys. I've owned my rx8 for about 3 years now with 85k miles and I haven't had a single engine related issue. Only things I've had to do were brakes and a new clutch. I got the car for dirt cheap and it's been such a blast to drive. Also gas mileage is but not as bad as most people think. I average 19-20mpg driving half city half highway.
The 2000s was a great decade for cars. 2000 to 2010. So many cool affordable cars came out. Good times. Ive been to every Auto show since 1998 until 2018.
@@callmeedaddy I was there. Back then Beamer was what we wanted. Evo was badass too. Rx8 got no respect. 350 was for peeps who couldn’t afford a m3. I don’t care for german cars anymore but back then they were nice.
I have an RX8. As long as you use 5w-40 conventional oil and premix idimitsu a little in the gas, its very reliable. The engine has a oil metering pump that feeds a tiny bit of oil from the oil pan into the combustion chamber to lube the apex seals. Conventional oil is perfect for that. Just change the oil every 3k miles!
I equally adore both of them. In the RX-8s favor, its exterior design has aged gracefully. It may've looked controversial back in 2003 (after all, when was the last time you heard of a true sports car with 4 doors, the rearmost of which are of the suicide variety?) but man, it really feels like not a single day has passed over it. As for the 350Z, it's a classic 2-door sports car design which always turns my head whenever I see one rolling. No overdone details, no excessive (over)styling attempts, just simplicity at its best. My only two gripes are, first, that the rear strut bar is literally in the way of the load space (the 370Z is more practical in that sense, as its rear strut bar is more towards the seatbacks than on the rearmost end of the trunk) and the feeling that the whole car seems a bit longer than it should be. The 370Z is more compact and it shows. I equally like both the 350Z and the 370Z, they balance each other out in my mind - the 350Z is a bit better looking while the 370Z is a bit smaller and more agile because of this. In short, great cars all of them!
I'd say the opposite. The 350Z aged gracefully and still looks beautiful today. The RX-8 still looks so awkward every time I see one. The RX-8 looks like those no name no brand plastic generic smooth puffy "sports car" toys you buy for your 3 year old. And it launched with the worst version of a rotary that Mazda ever made. I remember when they were new off the showroom floor, everyone began swapping 13B engines from the FD RX-7 into them immediately just so the car would actually feel sporty. Sadly the visuals never really could get improved much and it mostly killed the future of the RX-8. We still have no rotary successor to this day thanks to the RX-8.
I really miss my RX8.. by far my favorite car I ever owned. Owned it from new to 2018. Just wish my 04 had been made to last like a normal Mazda car.. but it was not. I should check and see what later R3s are going for now.
Most R3s i see are sold between 8,000 - 15,000 depending on mileage and condition. I own a 2009 series 2 RX-8 GT and its a dream to drive. Do yourself a favor and get either an R3 or GT
I still have mine and it’s going strong. Really hoping i can keep it hummin’ for a few more years! (Mostly track duty these days; no more daily-driving )
I remember seeing the RX-8 for the first time in Need For Speed Underground 2. I’ve always wanted one. I have the magazine pictures of it when it first released. I was always told about the problems it has so I don’t currently have one. I do have a Miata that causes problems too 😂😭 but it’s ok I guess
Dorito seals my man. The people that bought the rx-8s never knew how to take care of them correctly, and so they got a bad rep for unreliability. They are great cars, and with an engine swap from either a 4 or 6 cylinder, they become even greater.
Here's what kills RX-8 engine in order. Ordinary power spark plug coil packs from factory wear out at 30k miles due to higher duty cycle of rotary engine. Unburnt fuel is sent to catalytic converter, clog the cat, overheat the exhaust, which kills the tiny spring supporting exhaust side seal. Exhaust seal goes into engine and kill whole engine including apex seal that will not break under normal conditions. Same issue as above but the carbon builds up on exhaust port tiny shelf like bend, carbon breaks apart, kills the exhaust seal again. 2009-11 models get higher oil pressure double what all rotary engine before did, but takes the same shape filter. People put on older oil filters, which opens bypass valve due to double oil pressure. So oil never gets filtered. People don't warm up engine. Ordinary cars freak out at 4,000 RPM. RX-8 drives ALL the time at 4,000 RPM. So engine wear out due to lack of lubrication. People put in dirty gas, synthetic oil designed to not burn easily, chocking the engine full of carbon.
I liked both cars as a kid because I found them to be cool. However, I've developed an appreciation for the Nissan Z over the years. I remember playing Forza Motorsport and this car was a thrill to drive in-game. The VQ engine was (and still is) somewhat reliable over the Rotary engine of the RX-8. In addition, I think the design on the Mazda could've been better, while the Nissan Z looks fantastic, even today.
Can confirm. Since 2010 I have owned 4 VQs, 2 of which are my current cars. Combined 300,000++ km, biggest repair was a rad replacement. A few wheel bearings, a lot of rotor/pad changes especially on the old 2006 G35x... but man are these engines made for the long haul. The sporty alternative to Toyota's 3.5.
It's becoming more and more difficult to find this generation Z that hasn't been molested. Damn near impossible to find an RX-8 that it's a pain in the ass to keep on the road!!!! LOL. 😀
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The RX8 looks like it have came out in 2022 its styling still looks new inside and out. Its aged very well. Ashame it was so unreliable and slow compared to other sports cars in its price range. The mazdaspeeds turbo 4 would have been a better engine Choice not sure it would have solved for reliability issues but it would have given it better performance for sure
If you want a more reliable RX-8, try the series 2. Theh look even more modern and have many performance and reliability upgrades along with more up to date stuff in the interior
I had a fantastic ownership experience with my '03 350Z Track. I modified mine a bit to tune it to my driving habits, and I was so impressed how such a docile street car could do so well when driven on track (videos on my channel for those interested). The relatively simple NA, RWD drivetrain was super reliable. The only mechanical challenge I had was brake rotors, but I didn't spend enough time experimenting with different pads to improve that aspect of performance.
Driveability.... Especially on cold Winter mornings when you need to get to work. Have fun with that, when your rotary engine RX8 won't even start! There's your reason as to why Mazda hasn't used a rotary engine in its line-up for many years now.
The RX-8 is such a tragic car. Such an incredible car to drive that just isn't worth the headaches that a rotary engine brings to it. Rotary engines are a joy to drive but if there's little to no chance of getting at least 200k miles out of an engine I just can't recommend it to anyone. I think the fact that I almost never see clean RX-8s out on the road anymore says all anyone needs to know about it, while I still see 350Zs all over the place.
The only time I see an RX-8 anymore, it's beyond trashed, and being driven by a kid. The 350Z's are still out there and most seem to be in decent condition.
@@Gr8thxAlot yeah and that's if you even see any out on the road at all. A few months ago I saw a *beautiful* and very well kept RX-8 and I almost broke my neck snapping it around to catch a glimpse as it was driving by, but up to that point it had been actual years since I had seen another one in decent condition.
What I don't get is that if I do a 0-60 run, my 2004 Z will hit 60 in under 6 seconds and it will smoke the rear wheels on take off if you let the clutch out then floor it. (NOT dumping the clutch while revving the engine) I tried one of those Mazda RX-8's before buying a 350Z and it too was a great car. I just never trusted that rotary engine. Both these cars are really fun to drive and I like the fact that you can get them with a manual transmission since for what ever reason I am like the Pale Horseman when it comes to automatic transmissions dying in cars I have owned. Had nothing but bad luck with automatics. That's why I own a 1990 5.0L mustang, a 2004 350Z and a 2014 Infiniti Q60S all with manual transmissions.
And after coming close to 20 years later the clear winner is the Z because you still see all of them on the road. Little story: I saw a rx8 a week or 2 ago in my work parking lot and I was taken aback because it has been YEARS since I last saw one. They used to be pretty popular cars but the last one I saw before that point was a purple one pulling out of my apartment's parking lot and it was not looking in good shape.
I’ve owned both 2004. Both great cars had the same color too Daytona blue z33 enthusiasts and a 2006 red rx8. I love the rx8 high revving and nimble handling was amazing. Z felt more like a boat to drive. Being young and having to buy them new was an achievement back then. The z gets much better when it gets the HR engine 07-08.
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@@DStabs720 Right. I had 97-04 Regal GS (supercharged) that was fun, modded. I have a 13 Verano Turbo now. This will sadly be my last Buick as there is nothing left that is remotely 'fun' or powerful...
Both great vehicles, but you have to know pulling all of that power out a 1.3L is going to take a toll in maintenance. Even in everyday driving the rx-8 has to rev over 4k to get by.
Love the 350Z. My cousin had a 2005 Track model and I got to drive it back in 2019. Fun car to drive, and comfortable. He sold it in 2020 and he's got a 2019 370Z Nismo now. Too bad he won't let me drive it lol
I remember when Car & Driver tested these two along with the Honda S2000 and a little known powerhouse known as the 2003 Mustang Cobra. C&D said the Mazda was the best although it was both slower to 60 and the quarter mile than the other competitors. Looking back today, the only cars I would take of that group would be the Cobra 1 and S2000 2 due to their performance and exclusivity.
I had both of these cars back when they were new and fresh to the market, although I initially wasn’t blown away by the RX8 over time I learned to love it. The 350Z was a sledgehammer compared to the RX8, which was a scalpel in comparison.
surprised they didn't mention how much better the shifter and especially clutch is better in the mazda. Either way, these 350z cost a bit too much in the used market unless its the roadster version, they are dirt cheap.
Proud owner of both. I loved the RX-8. BUT the maintenance on it was a bit more expensive than the 350z. Downfall to the rx8 is stop n go traffic on hills is terrifying. You gotta floor it. And apex seals go bad so your engine has a life of 100kish at best. I got rid of mine after the pressure inside began to go and I bought it with a rebuilt one. Had it for 5 years. Was hella fast. 350z has been very dependable, fun to drive, and a little better in gas mileage but not by much. 350z is a better daily driver. Track life is the rx8. ✌️
They were trying to appeal to a broader audience while dealing with complaints about the RX7 in terms of oil consumption. They changed it to be a more affordable car but unfortunately everyone thought it was supposed to be an evolution of the RX7. So bad advertising by mazda there, plus the secret 4 door actually meant your insurance was cheaper
I watched a documentary about rotary engines and Mazda the other day. It was Ford decision that the car had to have 4 doors for the USA market. Also the poor sales of the RX7 FD world wide in it's 13 year life span was another reason.
RX8 was always problematic with that rotary engine. Literally a ticking time bomb waiting for the next expensive repair. That's why you don't see many of them on the road.
I'm sad because I haven't seen an RX8 in person in more than a decade. I used to see quite a bit on Midwest roads. I remember how sad I was when I first learned of the RX8's then-eventual demise from the October 2010 issue of Motor Trend, as a young car enthusiast. Great, I miss the 00's now...
The RX8s biggest failure was the rotary they should have just given it the turbo 4 from the mazdaspeed cars it would have at least solved the performance issue
The first model year of any production model automobile is typically the most problematic. Sorry to read about your ownership experience given this time period, after the introduction of the 2002 Altima, the vehicle that turned Nissan around, was dubbed my many as the automaker’s heyday. Either way, this particular generation of the Z car was a legendary one.
My MR2 with a stock motor of 138 and some light weight reduction does 0-60 in the same 6 seconds. The RX-8 is a much better driver's car and I have thought about getting one so many times.
There's absolutely nothing appealing about the RX8! It's ugly and the power an sucks. The Z isn't much better looking but at least you have enough power to get out of the way of fast cars.
Leave it to Mazda to build a new car that is shittier then the last one 🤦🏼♂️ i just don't get it the car looks awesome and has a sweet set up with the doors but why go away from the turbo if anything make it a option but dam never understand these people who build these things and why they do what they do
I remember being so excited that two of my favorite cars were making a comeback. And then they gave us these. It was ‘Michael Jordan when he played for the Wizards’ disappointing. The 300ZX was a poor man’s Diablo… beautiful, precise, fast and the cockpit was a great place to be. The RX7 was the poor man’s Viper, albeit fragile. 350z has definitely aged better… but a proper follow up to the 300zx it was not. 300zx was beautiful. 350z looked like the designer dropped out of school after he passed geometry…and sadly, what took place on the outside kept going all the way to the inside. The RX7 is a car you can stare at for hours… whether in person, magazine, phone screen. It’s timeless and almost perfect. The RX8 looks like a Squid mated with a Saturn Ion. They look better in person, I’ll give them that. All the proof you need is that both the RX7 and RX8 have “throw away engines.” RX8 often gets thrown away with the engine. A clean RX7 requires a remortgage of your house whether the Wankel has spun its last time or not. I miss the 90s. Can we get a later year variable valve timing SC400 video? And a handling by Lotus 1st gen Isuzu Impulse. And mid nineties (1995ish) Probe GT, MX-6 LS, Prelude, s14 240Sx, Eclipse turbo, Talon Turbo comparison video. I swear I remember watching it when I was in high school. 🙏🏽 pretty please
I love them both. But they were a down grade from previous 300ZX and Rx7 FD imo. Specially Nissan lost its lux-GT interior and feel. Making Rx8 a 4 door sedan was also a big mistake.
I'd take the Nissan over the RX-8 simply because of the rotary engine requiring major maintenance at about the 85K mark, and you have to literally pull the engine out and then apart to do all that, then put it back together and re-time and re-tune everything again... Time-consuming if you know what you're doing, and extremely expensive if you don't... The 350Z is much less of an inconvenience...
2004 rx8 grey I had one I loved it was so balanced ! Most people say it needs so much more…I’ve owned rx7z and the rx8 was very responsive yeah no turbo but who cares it was fun!
As a person who owned an 81 RX-7 and a 79 280Z. I appreciated both of these cars but the 350 has a pretty generic look and the RX-8 was...well not an RX-7. Yes it had the rotary engine but somehow lost the 2 seat sports car credibility.
Wow. A comment section not bashing the RX8? Brings a tear to my eye. I fell in love with my 09' the moment I sat in its wonderful seats. I mostly drive my 03' MR2 now, but I will be hard pressed to ever get rid of either of them.
im a lil shocked that the rx won...i was expecting the z to win. and in my book, because youd be so much less likely to find it on the side of the road conked out after only 45000 miles, the more reliable z wins it for me. wit that rotary engine, the rx is a lil frightening
I believe the RX-8 would've been more successful if the rotary wasn't so maintenance heavy. The design was probably too controversial as well. Regardless, both the RX-8 and the 350Z are very fun to drive.
You drive it and take care of it like any other engine. Like any other engine, if you don't change the oil or let it run hot. You will mess it up. It is an amazing little engine. Show me another stock 1.3 liter engine making 238 hp without boost.
@@blackericdenice That's the thing: you can't just take care of a rotary engine like a regular combustion engine--they require extra maintenance. Especially the Renesis motor that came with the RX8. The seals WILL go bad, and you have to break down the engine to replace them. It's no avoiding this.
@@daison96 I used to work at a shop that specialized in rotarys and I remember the average lifespan of these engines being 80-90k miles at best. Those apex seals really were the Achilles heel, not to mention how easy they would flood if you didn't let them warm up before shutting it down. Amazing cars, but you need to have patience and deep pockets to own one.
You're are thinking of an rx-7, rx-8 is good on maintenance.
Fuel economy on rotaries has always been worse than piston engines too. The epa for the rx8 was 18 mpg combined, pretty bad for a small sports car that made less than 250 hp
I owned both! The inputs on both cars are excellent, great shifter feel, clutch feel, brake feel. Throttle response was a bit better in the RX-8, and the electric steering, while very quick to respond, and informative, still wasnt as good as the hydraulic rack in the Z. The handling in the RX-8 was better, bar none, weightless in the front, but still balanced enough to play with the rear if you really asked for it. Id say they both sorta leaned torwards understeer (especially after suspension) the 8 was far more neutral and forgiving. The Z still handles great, with a front end that tucks in very nicely, and cambers great to give a solid progressive grip pathway to its eventual understeer, but the rear gets unsettled, on its way to the limit. Although it has enough power to make it rotate whenever you want, a luxury the 8 doesnt really have. Power is great on both, the 8, while being a hell of alot down on torque, had incredible amounts of character, and sounded incredible, and honestly wasnt that slow, just didnt feel like it. The Z is definitely more potent, and in terms of the power and torque curve, is the one to have. Interior goes to the RX-8, although the Z had better tech and features. I dont know which one I like more, but id say drive them both!
How wqs the rx8 maintenance wise? It is in my budget range and im curious if myths and legends are true
@@jplslo8213 can you accept 16MPG in a small car with under 250hp?
@@jplslo8213 don't listen to these guys. I've owned my rx8 for about 3 years now with 85k miles and I haven't had a single engine related issue. Only things I've had to do were brakes and a new clutch. I got the car for dirt cheap and it's been such a blast to drive. Also gas mileage is but not as bad as most people think. I average 19-20mpg driving half city half highway.
@@paulkulaga6374 just wait kid. Your engine will go kaboom soon
Thing came with 220hp and my old as 2.5 liter altima would keep up with it at 170hp lmao. Rx8s are slow af.
oh to have a brand new 350z with a 6 speed manual in 2004. thats the dream
I lived that dream, Silverstone Track Edition.
Haha... me too. Same exact. Silverstone track.
I owned a low miles Japanese imported 2002 Fairlady Z ST - Silver with burnt orange seats in 2006
Was 21 and threw all my savings for a 2003 350z enthusiast. Was the summer of 2003 and I couldn’t believe this was my new car.
Had my 03 350z grand touring 6sp manual for about 12 years now, going to hit 180k miles soon
Miss this era of Japanese cars! Rx-8 and 350Z, we're just 2 of the great early 2000s JDM cars
I prefer previous model, 300zx and rx7 twin turbo, more sporty and more aggressive looking.
@@rebelusa6585 350Z is much better looking and more desirable in my honest opinion, over the 300ZX.
The 2000s was a great decade for cars. 2000 to 2010. So many cool affordable cars came out. Good times. Ive been to every Auto show since 1998 until 2018.
Huh? We’re actually living in a much better time for Japanese cars IMO today. Nd2, gr86, Supra, new z are all much better than this.. rip evo though.
@@callmeedaddy I was there. Back then Beamer was what we wanted. Evo was badass too. Rx8 got no respect. 350 was for peeps who couldn’t afford a m3. I don’t care for german cars anymore but back then they were nice.
I have an RX8. As long as you use 5w-40 conventional oil and premix idimitsu a little in the gas, its very reliable. The engine has a oil metering pump that feeds a tiny bit of oil from the oil pan into the combustion chamber to lube the apex seals. Conventional oil is perfect for that. Just change the oil every 3k miles!
I equally adore both of them. In the RX-8s favor, its exterior design has aged gracefully. It may've looked controversial back in 2003 (after all, when was the last time you heard of a true sports car with 4 doors, the rearmost of which are of the suicide variety?) but man, it really feels like not a single day has passed over it.
As for the 350Z, it's a classic 2-door sports car design which always turns my head whenever I see one rolling. No overdone details, no excessive (over)styling attempts, just simplicity at its best. My only two gripes are, first, that the rear strut bar is literally in the way of the load space (the 370Z is more practical in that sense, as its rear strut bar is more towards the seatbacks than on the rearmost end of the trunk) and the feeling that the whole car seems a bit longer than it should be. The 370Z is more compact and it shows. I equally like both the 350Z and the 370Z, they balance each other out in my mind - the 350Z is a bit better looking while the 370Z is a bit smaller and more agile because of this.
In short, great cars all of them!
I'd say the opposite. The 350Z aged gracefully and still looks beautiful today. The RX-8 still looks so awkward every time I see one. The RX-8 looks like those no name no brand plastic generic smooth puffy "sports car" toys you buy for your 3 year old. And it launched with the worst version of a rotary that Mazda ever made. I remember when they were new off the showroom floor, everyone began swapping 13B engines from the FD RX-7 into them immediately just so the car would actually feel sporty. Sadly the visuals never really could get improved much and it mostly killed the future of the RX-8. We still have no rotary successor to this day thanks to the RX-8.
saturn ion.
but anyway i think the R3 facelift is where the rx8 looks the most modern.
It aged well, but then I remember there was no other RX after it so that may be why
The 350z is too common. The Rx 8 turns heads bc there not common in the IS and especially the R3 model
@@dnegel9546 I need another R3 too rare I want a blue one
The 350 still looks sooo good
I really miss my RX8.. by far my favorite car I ever owned. Owned it from new to 2018. Just wish my 04 had been made to last like a normal Mazda car.. but it was not. I should check and see what later R3s are going for now.
more then you can afford pal.
Most R3s i see are sold between 8,000 - 15,000 depending on mileage and condition. I own a 2009 series 2 RX-8 GT and its a dream to drive. Do yourself a favor and get either an R3 or GT
I still have mine and it’s going strong. Really hoping i can keep it hummin’ for a few more years! (Mostly track duty these days; no more daily-driving )
I saw a R3 with 5k miles go for $44k!
What is an R3?
Don’t you think the early 2000s seems so far away 😢
ITS SO SAD IM CRYING 😢
Nope
Can you believe that the year 2000 is as far to us as 1980 was to 2004 😢
I remember seeing the RX-8 for the first time in Need For Speed Underground 2. I’ve always wanted one. I have the magazine pictures of it when it first released. I was always told about the problems it has so I don’t currently have one. I do have a Miata that causes problems too 😂😭 but it’s ok I guess
I see more of the Nissan 350Z than the Mazda RX-8.
because the rx8s were problematic and ppl forget they exist also
Hmmm maybe because the Z is actually reliable, looks good and sold well
The rx8 was a ticking time bomb, engine failures galore.
Dorito seals my man. The people that bought the rx-8s never knew how to take care of them correctly, and so they got a bad rep for unreliability. They are great cars, and with an engine swap from either a 4 or 6 cylinder, they become even greater.
@@JDMHaze not at all actually here in Japan I see more RX-8s than the 350Z...which totally blew my mind.
I adore my RX-8! Identical to the one in this video too.
The Gasoline Gods look down on you with favor.
I now know I'm old when MW retro reviews cars that came out in my mid-20s.
Look at it this way, I'm in my mid-20s and looking to buy one of these gorgeous cars.
I was in my mid 20s when these came out. Now i own an rx8
Came out when I was only 40
Thanks for this motorweek, really cool to see this comparison when they were fresh off the production line.
Here's what kills RX-8 engine in order.
Ordinary power spark plug coil packs from factory wear out at 30k miles due to higher duty cycle of rotary engine. Unburnt fuel is sent to catalytic converter, clog the cat, overheat the exhaust, which kills the tiny spring supporting exhaust side seal. Exhaust seal goes into engine and kill whole engine including apex seal that will not break under normal conditions.
Same issue as above but the carbon builds up on exhaust port tiny shelf like bend, carbon breaks apart, kills the exhaust seal again.
2009-11 models get higher oil pressure double what all rotary engine before did, but takes the same shape filter. People put on older oil filters, which opens bypass valve due to double oil pressure. So oil never gets filtered.
People don't warm up engine. Ordinary cars freak out at 4,000 RPM. RX-8 drives ALL the time at 4,000 RPM. So engine wear out due to lack of lubrication.
People put in dirty gas, synthetic oil designed to not burn easily, chocking the engine full of carbon.
You nailed it 😊
Now I gotta play “ Grand Turismo 3:aspec”
@@saniyahaya7213 i'm REPORTING YOU NOW !!!!
It's so hard to believe these are on the cusp on being considered classic cars. Where did the time go? 😭😭
Three words, Jack- apex seals. I️ own a Mazda and not a Nissan, but 350z is time’s winner.
I liked both cars as a kid because I found them to be cool. However, I've developed an appreciation for the Nissan Z over the years. I remember playing Forza Motorsport and this car was a thrill to drive in-game. The VQ engine was (and still is) somewhat reliable over the Rotary engine of the RX-8. In addition, I think the design on the Mazda could've been better, while the Nissan Z looks fantastic, even today.
Can confirm. Since 2010 I have owned 4 VQs, 2 of which are my current cars. Combined 300,000++ km, biggest repair was a rad replacement. A few wheel bearings, a lot of rotor/pad changes especially on the old 2006 G35x... but man are these engines made for the long haul. The sporty alternative to Toyota's 3.5.
It's becoming more and more difficult to find this generation Z that hasn't been molested. Damn near impossible to find an RX-8 that it's a pain in the ass to keep on the road!!!! LOL. 😀
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Those 350z stand the test of time while the rx8 is seemingly a garaged car or long gone.
Of these two cars, I'll take the 350Z 10 out of 10 times. The RX-8 was never good.
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The RX8 looks like it have came out in 2022 its styling still looks new inside and out. Its aged very well. Ashame it was so unreliable and slow compared to other sports cars in its price range. The mazdaspeeds turbo 4 would have been a better engine Choice not sure it would have solved for reliability issues but it would have given it better performance for sure
If you want a more reliable RX-8, try the series 2. Theh look even more modern and have many performance and reliability upgrades along with more up to date stuff in the interior
Britney Spears & Madonna used the Mazda Rx8 in their "Me Against the Music" music video. It was later auctioned off. My friend bought the 🚗.
Power to weight is a factor most people don't consider !
I think the RX-8 is absolutely stunning
I agree, gorgeous car, especially from behind. This may be a controversial take, but I honestly believe that era of Mazda was peak Mazda.
I had a fantastic ownership experience with my '03 350Z Track. I modified mine a bit to tune it to my driving habits, and I was so impressed how such a docile street car could do so well when driven on track (videos on my channel for those interested). The relatively simple NA, RWD drivetrain was super reliable. The only mechanical challenge I had was brake rotors, but I didn't spend enough time experimenting with different pads to improve that aspect of performance.
Waiiit a minute. in 2004 according to the inflation calculator, 33,840 would be worth 53 thousand dollars today?!?! WTF thats expensive
Driveability.... Especially on cold Winter mornings when you need to get to work. Have fun with that, when your rotary engine RX8 won't even start! There's your reason as to why Mazda hasn't used a rotary engine in its line-up for many years now.
The RX-8 is such a tragic car. Such an incredible car to drive that just isn't worth the headaches that a rotary engine brings to it. Rotary engines are a joy to drive but if there's little to no chance of getting at least 200k miles out of an engine I just can't recommend it to anyone.
I think the fact that I almost never see clean RX-8s out on the road anymore says all anyone needs to know about it, while I still see 350Zs all over the place.
I agree. The RX-8 has such a great chassis but is let down by the engine.
The only time I see an RX-8 anymore, it's beyond trashed, and being driven by a kid. The 350Z's are still out there and most seem to be in decent condition.
@@Gr8thxAlot yeah and that's if you even see any out on the road at all. A few months ago I saw a *beautiful* and very well kept RX-8 and I almost broke my neck snapping it around to catch a glimpse as it was driving by, but up to that point it had been actual years since I had seen another one in decent condition.
What I don't get is that if I do a 0-60 run, my 2004 Z will hit 60
in under 6 seconds and it will smoke the rear wheels on take off
if you let the clutch out then floor it. (NOT dumping the clutch while
revving the engine) I tried one of those Mazda RX-8's before buying
a 350Z and it too was a great car. I just never trusted that rotary engine.
Both these cars are really fun to drive and I like the fact that you can get
them with a manual transmission since for what ever reason I am
like the Pale Horseman when it comes to automatic transmissions
dying in cars I have owned. Had nothing but bad luck with automatics.
That's why I own a 1990 5.0L mustang, a 2004 350Z and a 2014 Infiniti Q60S
all with manual transmissions.
I feel you bro. All my ATs were shit and went out even in newer cars. Its next to impossible now to buy decent 350z with manual tho.
I've never owned an automatic. Even if my left leg was blown off by a landmine I'd use my cane to punch the clutch.
To this day the rx-8 chassis is still elite in stock trim. All you need is a set of r compound tires and brake pads to be competitive.
And after coming close to 20 years later the clear winner is the Z because you still see all of them on the road.
Little story: I saw a rx8 a week or 2 ago in my work parking lot and I was taken aback because it has been YEARS since I last saw one. They used to be pretty popular cars but the last one I saw before that point was a purple one pulling out of my apartment's parking lot and it was not looking in good shape.
I still see the Z around, but I don't see many RX-8s on the road.
Somehow the old times look better than current times to me. I am glad that nostalgia exists.
Love those Zs. I helped a homie years ago install coilovers.. it helped out dramatically. Nothing like cruising at night with the top down
The Z still looks modern today.
So does the rx8
I’ve owned both 2004. Both great cars had the same color too Daytona blue z33 enthusiasts and a 2006 red rx8. I love the rx8 high revving and nimble handling was amazing. Z felt more like a boat to drive. Being young and having to buy them new was an achievement back then. The z gets much better when it gets the HR engine 07-08.
Next: 1998 Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis
RX-8 R3 is one of my dream cars. I know this isn't one but still
same they look amazing. and if nothing else its a perfect chassis for engine swaps.
Good luck finding one lol
And to think, back in the day the RX-8 and the S2000 were about the same price..
Damn I wish I could be 11 again when these cars were released. A great time to be a kid!
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Buick Powerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
@@realbeetlejuice back when Buicks were cool cars!
@@DStabs720 Right. I had 97-04 Regal GS (supercharged) that was fun, modded. I have a 13 Verano Turbo now. This will sadly be my last Buick as there is nothing left that is remotely 'fun' or powerful...
@@realbeetlejuice I had a 99 GS that was modded too! I loved that car so much.
*Not even, one, single, turbo- WORST GENERATION!*
Never liked the RX-8. Just ugly, "unfinished" crude styling. No Mazda rotary will ever be able to step in the shoes of the FD3S.
the rx8 was def uglier than the previous model
The RX 8 engine is almost fragile and its styling is not for everyone . But the 350z has non of the charisma of the 0lder z32 300zx s charm.
Both great vehicles, but you have to know pulling all of that power out a 1.3L is going to take a toll in maintenance. Even in everyday driving the rx-8 has to rev over 4k to get by.
This video aged poorly. If this RX-8 survived to 2022 I wonder what number engine it's on? 12th? 15th?
Got my first Rx8 in 2014. Still got it now.
350z for all categories imo
I remember seeing this episode when 1st aired, was so excited!
Love the 350Z. My cousin had a 2005 Track model and I got to drive it back in 2019. Fun car to drive, and comfortable. He sold it in 2020 and he's got a 2019 370Z Nismo now. Too bad he won't let me drive it lol
look at you're face, I wouldn't let you drive a scooter.
Congratulations lucky winner.thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.I've amazing package for you..👏🎉
@@saniyahaya7213 i'm REPORTING YOU NOW !!!!
Between these 2 pieces of junk I'd go with the Mazda all day long..
I remember when Car & Driver tested these two along with the Honda S2000 and a little known powerhouse known as the 2003 Mustang Cobra. C&D said the Mazda was the best although it was both slower to 60 and the quarter mile than the other competitors. Looking back today, the only cars I would take of that group would be the Cobra 1 and S2000 2 due to their performance and exclusivity.
Rx8>s2k
@@JB-sv5prfully agree. Car and Driver often got it very wrong.
No wonder a show like Top Gear was so successful. These old American car shows are just so corny
Z all day takes a beating keeps revving. Mazda made of glass, Miata only good gocart made
These are awesome sports cars
Congratulations lucky winner.thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.I've amazing package for you..👏🎉
@@saniyahaya7213 i'm REPORTING YOU NOW !!!!
Man I love both of them! Hard to pick a winner for me!
The RX-8 looks frumpy.
I bought an 87 RX-7 turbo new. It was smoking fast.
I was rear ended and it totaled my beloved RX-7 . It was only 2 years old 🥲
I had both of these cars back when they were new and fresh to the market, although I initially wasn’t blown away by the RX8 over time I learned to love it. The 350Z was a sledgehammer compared to the RX8, which was a scalpel in comparison.
I see a Silver Toyota Celica in the background when they were doing the 0-60 runs. I hope Mazda brings back a sporty coupe again.
RX-8 looks like 2 design teams worked on it. Each starting at a bumper and meeting in the middle. Just awful.
Agreed. Same for the earlier rx7 which looked like an animal.
@@sunilayya8948
WHAT?
Rx7 FD is one of the best looking cars!
Gosh damn I miss my RX-8
All Z cars age well.
surprised they didn't mention how much better the shifter and especially clutch is better in the mazda. Either way, these 350z cost a bit too much in the used market unless its the roadster version, they are dirt cheap.
In contrast to watching top gear for 15 years, this was cool
Drove an RX8 new while owning a FBO FD. Man was that easy to walk away from. Handled great but man was it slow
Kinda funny how both these cars eat up oil. Personal preference for me would be the rx8 if I rebuild the motor
It´s only the revup version of the z that is burning oil (-06)
Proud owner of both. I loved the RX-8. BUT the maintenance on it was a bit more expensive than the 350z. Downfall to the rx8 is stop n go traffic on hills is terrifying. You gotta floor it. And apex seals go bad so your engine has a life of 100kish at best. I got rid of mine after the pressure inside began to go and I bought it with a rebuilt one. Had it for 5 years. Was hella fast. 350z has been very dependable, fun to drive, and a little better in gas mileage but not by much. 350z is a better daily driver. Track life is the rx8. ✌️
Will never understand why Mazda made the RX8 a four door with no turbo. Somewhat hilarious that the new 2023 Z has the same chassis as this 2003 Z.
They were trying to appeal to a broader audience while dealing with complaints about the RX7 in terms of oil consumption. They changed it to be a more affordable car but unfortunately everyone thought it was supposed to be an evolution of the RX7. So bad advertising by mazda there, plus the secret 4 door actually meant your insurance was cheaper
I watched a documentary about rotary engines and Mazda the other day. It was Ford decision that the car had to have 4 doors for the USA market. Also the poor sales of the RX7 FD world wide in it's 13 year life span was another reason.
Love my 2008 350z Nismo🎉🎉
RX8 was always problematic with that rotary engine. Literally a ticking time bomb waiting for the next expensive repair. That's why you don't see many of them on the road.
I'm sad because I haven't seen an RX8 in person in more than a decade. I used to see quite a bit on Midwest roads. I remember how sad I was when I first learned of the RX8's then-eventual demise from the October 2010 issue of Motor Trend, as a young car enthusiast. Great, I miss the 00's now...
2004 seems like yesterday.
Congratulations lucky winner.thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.I've amazing package for you..👏🎉
My brother had a red rx8 just like this one back in 2004. It had a top speed of around 165, it was fun a quick to drive.
Exhaust notes on the Z, G35, and G37 were like music to my ears
The RX8s biggest failure was the rotary they should have just given it the turbo 4 from the mazdaspeed cars it would have at least solved the performance issue
I had a 350 back in 2003. It felt and looked great but it had so many problems. I had to get rid of it after 2 years and 13 mechanical problems.
The first model year of any production model automobile is typically the most problematic. Sorry to read about your ownership experience given this time period, after the introduction of the 2002 Altima, the vehicle that turned Nissan around, was dubbed my many as the automaker’s heyday. Either way, this particular generation of the Z car was a legendary one.
My MR2 with a stock motor of 138 and some light weight reduction does 0-60 in the same 6 seconds. The RX-8 is a much better driver's car and I have thought about getting one so many times.
There's absolutely nothing appealing about the RX8! It's ugly and the power an sucks. The Z isn't much better looking but at least you have enough power to get out of the way of fast cars.
Leave it to Mazda to build a new car that is shittier then the last one 🤦🏼♂️ i just don't get it the car looks awesome and has a sweet set up with the doors but why go away from the turbo if anything make it a option but dam never understand these people who build these things and why they do what they do
The 350z ended up being the most sought after of the 2. Such a great car
It almost feels painful calling the rx-8 the successor to the rx-7 but that is how numbers work..
Bummer the RX8 was the end of the line. I don't hate those cars like a lot of people do, but I don't like them enough to want to own one
Meanwhile in 2023 the new Nissan z is still riding on the same basic platform as the 350z
Why does everyone always test the DE or the Rev-up. Almost never a 350z HR test
I've owned both... Hated the Mazda ... The 06 350z was better but not great
I remember being so excited that two of my favorite cars were making a comeback. And then they gave us these. It was ‘Michael Jordan when he played for the Wizards’ disappointing. The 300ZX was a poor man’s Diablo… beautiful, precise, fast and the cockpit was a great place to be. The RX7 was the poor man’s Viper, albeit fragile.
350z has definitely aged better… but a proper follow up to the 300zx it was not. 300zx was beautiful. 350z looked like the designer dropped out of school after he passed geometry…and sadly, what took place on the outside kept going all the way to the inside.
The RX7 is a car you can stare at for hours… whether in person, magazine, phone screen. It’s timeless and almost perfect. The RX8 looks like a Squid mated with a Saturn Ion. They look better in person, I’ll give them that. All the proof you need is that both the RX7 and RX8 have “throw away engines.” RX8 often gets thrown away with the engine. A clean RX7 requires a remortgage of your house whether the Wankel has spun its last time or not.
I miss the 90s.
Can we get a later year variable valve timing SC400 video? And a handling by Lotus 1st gen Isuzu Impulse.
And mid nineties (1995ish) Probe GT, MX-6 LS, Prelude, s14 240Sx, Eclipse turbo, Talon Turbo comparison video. I swear I remember watching it when I was in high school. 🙏🏽 pretty please
I love them both.
But they were a down grade from previous 300ZX and Rx7 FD imo.
Specially Nissan lost its lux-GT interior and feel.
Making Rx8 a 4 door sedan was also a big mistake.
I'd take the Nissan over the RX-8 simply because of the rotary engine requiring major maintenance at about the 85K mark, and you have to literally pull the engine out and then apart to do all that, then put it back together and re-time and re-tune everything again... Time-consuming if you know what you're doing, and extremely expensive if you don't... The 350Z is much less of an inconvenience...
2004 rx8 grey I had one I loved it was so balanced ! Most people say it needs so much more…I’ve owned rx7z and the rx8 was very responsive yeah no turbo but who cares it was fun!
And today still you can sea lots of 350z earing mile after mile with basic maitenance while most of RX8 are on the jack stands for uncertain time
Sports Car Shoot Out
Please release the 2005 Pontiac GTO review
and today you can get a basemodel 1liter fiat for that price...
Rotor tip wear is one weakness of the Wankel rotary engine. Pretty thirsty too.
As a person who owned an 81 RX-7 and a 79 280Z. I appreciated both of these cars but the 350 has a pretty generic look and the RX-8 was...well not an RX-7. Yes it had the rotary engine but somehow lost the 2 seat sports car credibility.
Wow. A comment section not bashing the RX8? Brings a tear to my eye. I fell in love with my 09' the moment I sat in its wonderful seats. I mostly drive my 03' MR2 now, but I will be hard pressed to ever get rid of either of them.
I've never seen an RX-8 in person. I like the way they look but I can definitely see why the 350Z was more successful.
Awesome review Motorweek 👍😁👊💯
350Z owner here! Gotta say I love my car and will never sell it no matter what….if the DE blows I’ll add an LS3!
im a lil shocked that the rx won...i was expecting the z to win. and in my book, because youd be so much less likely to find it on the side of the road conked out after only 45000 miles, the more reliable z wins it for me. wit that rotary engine, the rx is a lil frightening