Doesn't Ford own Mazda?
I have never owned an American car make it past 70k miles, WITHOUT some major problem.

 

We had a 94 Taurus that made it to 80k before the A/C, motor mounts, and transmission all went ka-put in a matter of months. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

JDMan wrote:
"The RX-8 is an odd car that's tough to compare. The G is definitely much more luxurious, but the Z doesn't make a good comparison because the RX-8 has both a backseat and 4 doors. It's also several thousand less expensive than either."

The cost comparison is a very valid one, IMHO. According to every source I've read regarding them (RX-8, 350Z, G35C), the RX-8 handles the best, no argument... but when it comes down to it, we're talking a difference that's akin to comparing a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. Fact is, outside those that intend to use the cars for SCAA purposes, the handling is something you'll never need or use in a street environment - again, IMHO. I know my G35C handles as well as I'll ever need it to, and well beyond what I have need for on a daily basis.

However, the POWER of the vehicles is another story. Let's take as a given that the 350Z and G35C are roughly comparable. Granted, the 350Z is a little faster, but we're not talking big numbers... we're talking a few tenths in 0-60 times, at most. But comparing both to the RX-8, if you abuse the Mazda, you can get it to perform nearly on a par with the Nissan products... but every day driving, it simply doesn't have the torque needed to get satisfying power for daily driving. Who wants to send their tach into the stratosphere every time they want to get a little oomph from a stoplight? I sure don't - and with the G35C, I don't have to. Even keeping the needle below 4,000 RPM's gives me enough power to get around slower traffic, and on the highway I have power to pass even in 6th gear at 60 MPH, never mind if I downshift to 5th. The Mazda? If you want comparable power, you'll be downshifting to 3rd, or at least 4th, and flooring it, just to get the same results as a tap o' the gas in the G35. That's not satisfying to me, and more than a bit of a bother for daily driving.

JDMan went on:
"Finally, the Genesis rotary is a different beast than the VQ, you need to drive the RX-8 with the rpms way up there while the Z and G are rather strong at the low end in this market."

Exactly. You said exactly what I was trying to say above (except you did it in two sentences, as compared to my two paragraphs! ;-) BTW - it's the "Renesis", not "Genesis". Second generation rotary that moves the ports in such a way that you get a lot less reburn of spent gases. More efficient, fuel economy wise, and supposedly better power. I wonder if it hurts the torque though?

Then, JDMan wrote:
"Also, don't even consider an automatic transmission (more so than usual) because the AT RX-8 is extremely detuned, down at least 40 hp with ineffective gearing."

Of course, the question for me is why anyone would want an automatic in either car... still, an excellent point.

Finally, JDMan said:
"But no way I'd trade my G."

My sentiments exactly.

2003 G35 Coupe 6MT Leather
Premium, Aero
"There is no spoon"

 

More efficient than the RX-7's rotary, but still not as efficient as modern piston engines. It burns a little oil, too.

The power in a rotary comes from high revs.. and that's the beauty of them, if you over-rev them, there are no reciprocating parts to break. They just keep spinning faster.

If you like reving the engine up high, it's a good car. If you don't, it's not.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

I saw a red Rx-8 the other day. It is a nice car but it nothing compared to the G35. The G is an all round better car. At a Infiniti dealership you get a loaner car but and Mazda u get a ride on the bus home or with a friend or family. I think the exrta cash is worth it. The Rx-8 is coming out with two engine types. Right now it lower engine is offerd in a auto but it will be latter offered in stick. The top of the line model is offered in stick but will be offered in auto later.

 

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

Doesn't Ford own Mazda?

<hr></blockquote>

I love this question.

Ford owns Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, most of Volvo, and 33.4% of Mazda.

GM owns Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC, Oldsmobile, Saturn, HUMMER, Saab, Opel, 49% of Isuzu, and 20% each of Subaru, Suzuki, Daewoo, and Fiat, which in turn owns Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and 90% of Ferrari.

DaimlerChrysler owns Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, Jeep, Eagle, Mercedes Benz, Maybach, 34% of Mitsubishi, and about 11% of Hyundai, which owns Kia.

We're not done.

Volkswagen owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Bentley. That kills me.

BMW owns Rolls Royce and Mini Cooper. For the cross-platform technology, no doubt.

PSA owns Peugeot and Citroen.

Toyota owns Lexus and Honda owns Acura, although technically I own Acura because every Honda is owned by my G.

And as for my beloved G: Infiniti is owned by Nissan. Which, along with Mack trucks and the part of Volvo that Ford didn't want, is owned by Renault. Or at least 36.8% of Nissan is owned by Renault.

Which would make our cars French, if Mazda is an American car maker. Hopefully everyone here was too sophisticated to get caught up in that pitiful "freedom fries" nonsense and will not need to boycott his or her own automobile, thus helping to put workers at Nissan's American production plants out of a job.

By the way, if you want to buy a car sold in the US from a maker that isn't owned by or in ownership of another car company? Lotus. That's your only choice. And a fine Malaysian automobile it is.

-Jack
Obsidian/graphite '03 Coupe premium nav<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by JDMan on 05/06/03 03:05 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

I was pretty close. I suspected that Honda, Toyota, and BMW were about the only one's left that were winging it w/o being owned or having large empires under their belts.

A global economy changes the playing field a bit, doesn't it?

It's also interesting to pay attention to what else these companies do.
Mitsubishi built the Zero planes for WWII. Now they build one of the best big-screen rear-projection TV's on the market, among other things.
Honda makes generators and lawn mowers.
I can't name everything that they all do off the top of my head, but several of them are more than just car companies.


2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

I was in the market buying a car. Seen the 350z, and the G35. I was also thinking about the RX-8 when it releases, and the EVO. See, im only 26, and the Nissan dealer was talking trash about the G35...saying "You're too young to drive a car, the 350z will fit you nicely since you're young, and want true sports car performance. The inifiniti dealer never talked trash about the G35, but said "The G is more refined, and luxurious in style." So I bought a G. :-)

 

Hmm.. talking trash about the G35, and trying to sell you a 350Z. Talking trash about a car that uses the same basic platform and drivetrain as the one he's selling. Doesn't look too good, does it?

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

I had the same exact experience last summer at the nissan dealership...so I went and put a deposit down on a G.

"Dont start none, won't be none"

 

I remember reading an article last year in which Nissan was quoted as saying they don't believe the G35 will canabalize 350Z sales.

BAHHAhahahahahahahaa

G35 6MT/DG/Fully Loaded