rx8 does very well. impressive car. might have to trade the z on an rx7 in a few years...that's gotta be an animal.

btw, keep in mind this is the euro spec rx8 with 250 hp. US model is detuned.

enjoy.

http://www.nashwan.org/topgear.wmv

 

Great time by both cars. Exactly the same time as an M3... But as Zero mentioned, the European Z is only 250hp and the RX-8 is Europe doesn't have the de-tuned ECU that the US version does.

 

how come they never test the 1.8t audi a4 :o :o

 

I'm sure it would do really well in the snow duel episode

I can see it lapping the Enzo and Zonda quite easily

 

I swear i want that guy's job

 

coupé, saloon, bonnet? crazy talkin' brits

 

This is why i say who cares if mazda overrated their HP, the car still performs as a bad ass.

 

I'd still take the Z.

 

I'd take the rx8. The 350z is too bouncy of a ride for me

 

that rx-8 must be one EZ car do drive cause

1) Jeremy isn't pissing his pants driving it.
2) he makes it look like he is tiff.

can't wait tell the 5th gear review.

 

mine's not bouncy at all...only the very early production run of z had the bounce prob.

 

The Japanese and European RX-8 perform as advertised. There is nothing wrong with the RX-8's engine. It was that in order to meet strict US emission standards, the ECU had to be re-programmed, robbing the US RX-8 of a lot of it's power. Hopefully an ECU reflash or new ECU will be available to give the RX-8 it's power back.

The US 2004.5 Z's have the new Euro suspension. Supposed to totally eliminate the bounce while giving a more compliant ride.

BTW, my Z doesn't have a bounce. The ride gets choppy over really bad concrete pavement, but it's not that bad at all.

 

why didnt you tell me this when i was shopping for a car

I still love the way 350z drove, just was kinda small for me and i need a sunroof otherwise i feel trapt. :P

 

"Far East Peek: Nissan makes running changes to 2004-model 350Z

By DINO DALLE CARBONARE
(Photos by Dino Dale Carbonare)

NISSAN WILL FOLLOW UP its successful launch of the 350Z coupe and roadster with a series of running changes that will appear on 2004-model Zs now arriving in U.S. showrooms. Nissan already incorporated most of the changes into Japan-market Zs, including significant interior upgrades, suspension tuning and brake system improvements.

Inside, Nissan focuses first on the front and center console, specifically the flimsy, manually operated upper instrument panel compartment cover. The new lid is more robust, with power operation on cars with satellite navigation. The center console, gauge hoods and instrument pods get a special “soft-feel” treatment intended to inject a touch of higher quality into the interior.

And how about this for those road warriors who’ve grown weary of bruised extremities: ’04 Zs come with cushy kneepads for both driver and passenger, and the driver’s right elbow even gets its own special padding on the center console. Further interior updates include the addition of seatbelt “service arms” that eliminate the need to reach far behind the seatback to grab the belts, and a redesigned shifter for automatic models.

2004 models also benefit from Nissan’s decision to adopt a Euro-tuned suspension setup for all 350Zs, a handling setup that Nissan says provides a much better ride and better overall suspension compliance. The Brembo brake system gets tandem brake master cylinders replacing the earlier model’s single cylinder."

 

well, early z's had a really bad bounce issue on some roads, later they adjusted the spring rates as a rolling production change which mostly eliminated the problem. the ride is still rough on some roads though which is why i suspect they are revamping the entire suspension for 04.5 .

 

NICE VID! I knew the mazda would turn in a great time. Its unfortunately not selling very well right now in the US, because of the whole horsepower debacle. oh well, I guess the parent company, FORD, sends its greatings! :pfawk:

 

I thought I read recently that Mazda decided not to develop the RX-7??? I definitely think it's a crappy decision on their part

 

i'd take the z any day

 

sweet

 

that rx-8 aint bad looks fun on the turns

 

The RX8 looks like a handling machine. I would love to see a S2000 vs RX8 matchup on a road course.

 

I wonder if Mazda's explanation why cars are dynoing so low holds water. I know they are supposed to now have 238 crank HP which should put it near 200 WHP. But most are hitting around 180 WHP. I read an article which talked about this and it makes sense.

Rotary engines have somewhat high EGTs by nature. When the ECU detects the rear wheels turning but the fronts stationary is assumes that the car is not moving. This would mean that there is no airflow over the catalytic converter and with the high EGT value the cat would be cooked quickly. So to combat this the ECU dumps fuel in to cool the burn and subsequent EGT values but it also kills power.

This may be why they dyno low but still run the expected times.

 

How do the Z & the RX-8 compare to the S2000??

 

what? Whatever happened to "piss on nissan"

 

Maybe he meant Nissan over Mazda any day..

 

i thot he meant to say "i'd take on the z any day"

 

Give me the RX-8!

 

I have read a few times on their forum that the US version of the RX-8 had it's ECU tuned yet again right before launch to meet stricter US emissions standards. That robbed their engine of a significant amount of power. If you look at the times most of the RX-8's are performing, I'd say they are not performing expected times.

I've seen many US-spec RX-8's running high 14's and low 15's in the 1/4. The Euro & Japanese RX-8's seem to run much stronger from less restrictive ECU tuning.

I may be completely wrong, but this is what I gathered from reading info about that car in various places

 

The RX8 in England is rated at 231PS or at 192PS for the low output engine. 231PS translates to about 228bhp that the journalist called in the video.

The RX8 is rated at 238HP in the USA. So I dont understand what this "detuned in the USA" comments are all about.

The 350Z is rated at 276bhp in England.

 

Finally, I am stunned at the fact that the RX8 would be as fast as an M3 in ANY track. I am not sure what happened there.

Also, pause the video where the list of lap times shows and you will see the Esprit V8 being slower than all these cars. Also the 911 Turbo is just 2 cars up.

 

I noticed that too, makes the rx-7 look like a real good catch

 

In another vid of the M3 CSL you see that the EVO VIII had a better lap time than a Murcielago!! I imagine an S2000 would beat an RX-8. My best guess is that their track emphasizes handling at the expense of acceleration.

 

Maybe Stig (or whatever their gimps name is) was feeling spritely that day.

 

rx8 got molested in the bestmotoring.

""06/03
Finally got the video converted and put up on Imagestation. Enjoy these low-res ones until we get a full VCD rip.
Video Clips D/L on Image Station


There is no translation yet, but here is a brief overview of the tape. (G35C related stuff)

1) Skyline Coupe beat the RX-8 and BMW330 M sport SMG in acceleration and high speed slalom. (160kmh+) Driver was very impressed with both the engine and chasis of the Skyline.

2) Skyline beat the RX-8 and 350Z on a 30 sec AutoX course with plenty of hairpins and slaloms. At one point they had to do a 270 around a cone. They didn't know how to turn off VDC on the Nissans completely. BMW330 got the best time, but it was no fun to drive. (all grip, no drift) It was great to see the brief clips of the Skyline drifting.

3) Tsukuba circuit 5 lap race: RX-8 got its ass kicked by everyone else except and beat only the other Mazda. (Miata RS) S2000 was the best track car, light, high-revving, excellent chasis. S2k took the trophy, with Skyline Coupe following right behind. It was very interesting, because the Skyline driver was drifting the car out of corners while everyone else followed proper grip race line .
Results: S2000 > Skyline > Subaru WRX > Integra R > RX-8 > Miata RS

This video is much more interesting than the May issue. A lot more footage of the Skyline doing its thing on track. ""

 

vcd rip please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!