I would say the s2000 was better than the g35. It was just a race course that favored the s2000 .

if it had longer straight aways don't think the out come would have been the same

PS i still got props for the s2000 its a hot car

AKA SET ROK

 

Actually if you really looked at the video, the G35C didn't get that great of a start, then it got stuck behind a bunch of slow poked and had to work its way up to 2nd place...... If the race had gone on 2-3 more laps, the G35C might have beaten the S2000....... ok, MAYBE

 

And plus the SKYLINE COUPE is a heavy weight compared to the S2000.

 

Since I own one of each as of this moment, I guess I can throw my 2 cents in.

I have a lawsuit pending with Mazda with the RX-8. If you pull the car out of the garage and lets say you forget something inside and turn the car off. You come back 5 minutes later and the car will not start back up. You have to get the POS towed. I was washing my car and pulled it in the garage to wax. The next morning the thing wouldnt start. There are many complaints including mine on the nhsta website. I was only getting 15 MPG on the highway. Getting 23 now with the G. The oil was milky and they charged me for an oil change at 2k miles. Of course they never mentioned this to me when i bought the car, even though they flood the cars coming off of of the car carriers.

The 8 has more rear headroom by far, the red and black interior, and to me a smoother 6 speed than the G, but it had less torque than my PT, and not the nicest sounding engine. The 8 also isnt getting even the lowered 238 HP.

If you want the most unreliable car outside of Italy, get the RX-8. Everytime I got in my car for work I prayed for it to start. I suspect another round of buybacks or class action lawsuit agains Mazda.

 

I had this problem with my 1987 supra turbo. My major worry was a short drive to the gas station and not able to start it after I fill up the gas. I did figure out the problem by putting the trans into Neutral to start it again, (auto trans).

 

I too own both cars. A 2004 RX8 and a 2003 G35C.
The G is faster, more comfortable, better mileage, roomier. It does have some rattles, the Mazda doesn't. On the downside: interior build quality is better in the Mazda.

The RX8 handles better, it IS very fast, but the G will beat it. You feel more cramped in the RX8. The rear doors are very handy. It feels more solidly built then the G. I have had NO problems with the RX8. Gas mileage is poor on all rotaries.

If I were to choose one, it would be the G. But I do like the 8, just not as much as the G.

BillR

 

Being an ex-RX7 owner two times I'm a little prejudice, but after owning my coupe for six months I don't think they can be compared too much.

The RX8 is a nice all around car, but it lacks the higher end looks of the Coupe and the refinement as well..

I liked the interior of my 86 RX7 better than the "star trek" look of the new model. I have aged somewhat since then so maybe it's just my older taste...but the new mazda looks to much like a "gimmick" interior...especially all the rotor logos all over the place.

As far as performance, the two cars are very different..
I like to compare the RX8 to a motorcycle. Its powerband is very high in the RPM range, and the torque is non-existent.. That is due mainly to the rotary design..

The handling of the car from what I have read seems to be on target for the most part...and maybe in some areas it may just squeak by the coupe.. but the coupes torque and responsivness simply outshines the mazda in overall handling and power.

The RX8 I'm sure is a really great car, and I plan to take one out for a test drive to see just how much it has come along or gone down from the older model. But I'm sure for the extra cash we put in for the G it was very well spent....<font color=blue>2old4this</font color=blue>


04 cpe IP/willow/5at/prem/18's/JDM clear corners/Piaa's/MTEC H4 Super White fog/highs

 

I would be careful taking away too much from that Best Motoring video, because those drivers took different approaches and it looked to me like some were more nervous than others about avoiding collisions (the Miata guy is so intimidated that he's the only one hitting his brakes in the first, low-speed turn, which is normally the Miata's only advantage spot). It looked to me like the G35 driver was the most aggressive, making the most dangerous pass of the video and frequently having to countersteer as his tires broke loose. The RX-8 driver, on the other hand, took very conservative lines, and didn't squeal his tires once until every other car but the Miata had passed him and he was trying to catch up. The speed with which the other cars passed him on the back straight was also telling. The 8 is definitely not the straight line champ of the group, but they swerved by him so fast that they had to be leaving the preceding turn with much more exit speed, which runs counter to the general consensus that the 8 is strong in handling. Assuming that straight isn't too much more than a 1/4 mile, that would be like finishing 4 car lengths ahead in a drag race with both cars having a rolling start (since the WRX started 2 car lengths behind and finished about 2 ahead on its pass). The 8's quarter miles aren't THAT much worse. Finally, I think the driver of the 8 was completely out of sync with his shifting. I think he shifted too early in general based on my (admittedly small) experience and the fact that the people behind him always seemed to surge forward whenever he upshifted. There's also a point in the video where he brakes, heel-toe downshifts, then stomps the brake again(!), which must have taken him completely out of the 8's narrow powerband as well as screwed up his turn. I'm sure the guy's a professional, but maybe he wasn't familiar with the sound of a rotary, and shifting by ear or taking his eyes off the road to watch the tach was screwing him up. I wouldn't expect the 8 to finish ahead of the S2000 or G35, but the drubbing it took in such a short race, with every car (RWD, AWD, or FWD) able to stick right on its bumper even in tight turns, suggests to me that it couldn't have been driven at the same level.

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe (for sale)

 

Souds like the G is the way to go then eh!

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

what do u have now after u sold ur G?


<hr></blockquote>
Somewhat to my surprise, I'm keeping my MX-5 over my G, but I'm going to save up the payments I won't be making on the G and keep myself in position to trade up for a Lotus Elise if the launch goes well. I'm sorely tempted to try to jump on the waiting list, but can't make that commitment to a car I've never driven. I'm hoping alot of Elises will shake free once people discover it's not at all a luxury car, but it may not work out that way.

I should add that the impetus behind selling the G is that I lost my free parking in Boston, and the cost of renting two covered spaces here is about the same as the monthly payment on the Elise. I could go on for pages about my personal MX-5 vs. G debate, but the deciding factors were: MT, money, track/autocross use, and my frustration with not being able to drive the G full out due to road and traffic conditions here. My slow car is more fun than my fast car, most of the time. But I'd still keep both if I could.

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe (for sale)

 

WOW, I quess the RX-8 is out of the question, thanks guys for all the help; the G was always my first love...by the way, where can I get that Best Motoring DVD?

 

I waited one year for the RX8 to come out...

went to test drive it, weak sauce. Felt slower than our Accord, and thats just sad. So I moved up to the G35 level and never looked back.

I suggest you do the same. good luck.

04 Black G35C 6MT | Premium | Navigation | Grounding Kit | AEM Cold Air Intake

 

I would like Lexus to up their IS300 to become more competitive with the G. It would be nice to see the standard (IMO!) for luxury to come out with a performance sedan/coupe.........

 

Test drove the rx8 today. No low end torque. Gotta rev the engine to 5-6k to crank out the power, then it starts to pull. Its not neck snapping strong but pretty preppy. It handles very well due to the light weight and the small engine. Felt I was driving a go kart. Lets just say G is like a grand tourer and the Rx8 is more like a gokart. All depends on what your preference are.

Some people are satisfied with a car knowing what it can do and some like to try it out themselves. I suggest you test drive both and read the respective forums to see what quirks they have and what you can live with.