Nissan 350z, Mazda RX-8, or Lancer Evo?

[StageLeft]

Respect from whom? People that know and love performance vehicles or boyracers?

Well, it's like with mitsubishi. The evo is fast, but it's a mitsubishi. Likewise the GTO is a nice vehicle, but being a pontiac you have my assurances that its quality will be less than the Nissan (which isn't saying much these days 😛), and its resale will SUCK.

But, of greater importance, is the fact that the GTO - fast as it is - looks like a standard grand prix and has few discernible features that say "Look how cool I am" and that's sad 🙁

 

[Emrys]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Rent

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Thing is, the GTO is a pontiac 🙂

Well, the funny thing about the 350z is that its a Nissan.

Get over it.

With all due respect nobody would pretend that the Pontiac namebrand induces the same sort of respect as the Nissan one. Not to pretend that Nissan is an audi, but let's be serious for a moment.

Respect from whom? People that know and love performance vehicles or boyracers?

ok, ok we don't need to take over with a nother pointic vs. nisan thread (clone of many others with different cars).

And yes, if you're in florida Aphex I'd go with the s2000 over the others no question.

 

[Aharami]

ive driven a 2000 s2k. ride is really stiff and the car isnt as fast as i thought it would be

 

[StageLeft]

ok, ok we don't need to take over with a nother pointic vs. nisan thread

True. I will bow out from this inevitably conclusion-less discussion about nissan vs. crapontiac!

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Respect from whom? People that know and love performance vehicles or boyracers?

Well, it's like with mitsubishi. The evo is fast, but it's a mitsubishi. Likewise the GTO is a nice vehicle, but being a pontiac you have my assurances that its quality will be less than the Nissan (which isn't saying much these days 😛), and its resale will SUCK.

But, of greater importance, is the fact that the GTO - fast as it is - looks like a standard grand prix and has few discernible features that say "Look how cool I am" and that's sad 🙁

Which is an odd deduction considering Pontiac is not manufacturing the vehicle. The GTO is being built in Australia by Holden.

Just a couple studies from JD Power you might find interesting:
2003 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study
2003 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS)
2003 Initial Quality Study

Pontiac doesn't appear too far off from Nissan. Some of us prefer to stick with actual statistics, instead of anectodal evidence from some fanboy. The GTO kicks the Z's ass in interior quality and price/performance.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Rent

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Thing is, the GTO is a pontiac 🙂

Well, the funny thing about the 350z is that its a Nissan.

Get over it.

With all due respect nobody would pretend that the Pontiac namebrand induces the same sort of respect as the Nissan one. Not to pretend that Nissan is an audi, but let's be serious for a moment.

Respect from whom? People that know and love performance vehicles or boyracers?

boyracers?! 😉 😛

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Respect from whom? People that know and love performance vehicles or boyracers?

Well, it's like with mitsubishi. The evo is fast, but it's a mitsubishi. Likewise the GTO is a nice vehicle, but being a pontiac you have my assurances that its quality will be less than the Nissan (which isn't saying much these days 😛), and its resale will SUCK.

But, of greater importance, is the fact that the GTO - fast as it is - looks like a standard grand prix and has few discernible features that say "Look how cool I am" and that's sad 🙁

Which is an odd deduction considering Pontiac is not manufacturing the vehicle. The GTO is being built in Australia by Holden.

Just a couple studies from JD Power you might find interesting:
2003 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study
2003 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS)
2003 Initial Quality Study

Pontiac doesn't appear too far off from Nissan. Some of us prefer to stick with actual statistics, instead of anectodal evidence from some fanboy. The GTO kicks the Z's ass in interior quality and price/performance.

The Holden Monaro won the Bathurst 1000 a year ago... beating a Posche and a Ferrari... just because of reliability... 😉

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: Linux23
how about you test drive each one, and choose which is best for you.

Owned 🙂

 

[Scarpozzi]

N I S S A N

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Just a couple studies from JD Power you might find interesting:
2003 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study
2003 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS)
2003 Initial Quality Study

Pontiac doesn't appear too far off from Nissan. Some of us prefer to stick with actual statistics, instead of anectodal evidence from some fanboy. The GTO kicks the Z's ass in interior quality and price/performance.

Sales satisfaction has little to nothing to do with a car's quality. I will admit to anybody that Nissan's customer service SUCKS, and naturally sales satisfaction because of that should be poor (sales satisfaction is, of course, unrelated to reliability). Your second link shows nissan above average and pontiac below average BTW. The initial quality the nissan barely edges up, but long term and initial are not the same and long term is the one that will cost you the bucks down the road. The GTO is still boring to look at 😉

BTW JDpower's numbers - which do clearly show that Nissan is more reliable than Pontiac - are backed up across the board by consumer reports as well, so now we both have the luxury of going by statistics instead of anecodtal evidence and we arrive at the same point: Nissan is more reliable than Pontiac.

The Holden Monaro won the Bathurst 1000 a year ago... beating a Posche and a Ferrari... just because of reliability...

Hehe, a kia is more reliable than a ferrari per mile driven, so that doesn't say much!

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Hehe, a kia is more reliable than a ferrari per mile driven, so that doesn't say much!

I dont think a Kia would actually keep pace with a Ferrari and a Porsche to take advantage of its reliability... there were also other cars racing you know... 😛

EDIT: Oh... i'm not taking sides... and just for a Nissan fanboys out there... 😉 ...they banned the Skyline R32 from competing over there for practically dominating the whole series for two years 91/92... this was after trying to slow them down by adding 150kg of weight penalty and lowering the turbo boost... well that obviously didnt stop it... so they just banned it altogether. 🙁

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Sales satisfaction has little to nothing to do with a car's quality. I will admit to anybody that Nissan's customer service SUCKS, and naturally sales satisfaction because of that should be poor (sales satisfaction is, of course, unrelated to reliability).

Agreed. I only showed that link as a possible reason why one would choose the Pontiac. Sales satisfaction isn't particularly high on my "list of reasons to choose a vehicle" but some people might care.

Your second link shows nissan above average and pontiac below average BTW. The initial quality the nissan barely edges up, but long term and initial are not the same and long term is the one that will cost you the bucks down the road.

No doubt, you're more likely to get a reliable Nissan over a Pontiac, but the difference isn't night and day.

Problems per 100 vehicles:
Nissan - 267
Industry Average - 273
Pontiac - 293
Difference: 9.7%

We both know looks are subjective. I find the interior design of the GTO gorgeous - much nicer than the Z. The exterior looks great too, even if a tad boring.

 

[maziwanka]

evo, hands down. then the 350z. finally, the rx-8 (weakest of the three).

 

[StageLeft]

.they banned the Skyline R32 from competing over there for practically dominating the whole series for two years 91/92... this was after trying to slow them down by adding 150kg of weight penalty and lowering the turbo boost... well that obviously didnt stop it... so they just banned it altogether.

OWNED!

No doubt, you're more likely to get a reliable Nissan over a Pontiac, but the difference isn't night and day.

True...now, let's bring VW into it and we'll see some night and day 🙂

 

[maziwanka]

god. i shouldve know that this thread would get like this.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
god. i shouldve know that this thread would get like this.

Like what?
:brokenheart:

 

[BillyGoat]

I am in the same market as you, and i agree test drive all three

I have here is my sumation

350z- sexy looks fast and fun , handles well- cramped though- if you are tall or bigger this is its only drawback

EVO- Fast FAst Fast, everything felt tight, does not handle as well as the other two- but its wicked quick, lots of road noise its got some interior room wich is nice

RX-8 - though not as fast as the other two, it is fast and fun, The high rpms on the rotarey are cool for the top end power band, the shifting is way tight and short - cofortable even for backseat pasangers

I chose the rx-8 but i waiting a year to have a decent down, so who knows what will be put out between now and them, hopefully a mazdaspeed version

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Aharami
the RX-8 is probably the most comfortable of those 3. the evo definately has the harshest ride. the 350z is a 2 seater which kinda puts it behind the other 2 in my opinion. if you are driving a passat now you are probably used the the space and the 350z will look really cramped to you. the evo will probably fit your needs spacewise and performancewise but im sure you'll hate the ride and the interior. so my vote goes toward the rx-8...even though its not quite as quick as the other 2...its a lot more civilized

Yep, if you need 4 seats the RX8 is the natural choice. If you don't care, then the 350z is much faster than the RX8.

And, the EVO is a mitsubishi. Prepare for massive value depreciation, crappy mitsubishi quality, and having to drive a mitsubishi. Buy a Subaru if you want a rally car.

NO. Top Gear (UK TV show, most respected in the country) tested the 350z and the RX8 around their test track with a pro driver(AKA The Stig). The RX-8 posted the same lap time as the M3. The 350z also posted the same lap time.

more power != faster

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
True...now, let's bring VW into it and we'll see some night and day 🙂

:beer:😀

 

[StageLeft]

NO. Top Gear (UK TV show, most respected in the country) tested the 350z and the RX8 around their test track with a pro driver(AKA The Stig). The RX-8 posted the same lap time as the M3. The 350z also posted the same lap time.

more power != faster

Well around a track perhaps, but I think most likely comparisons will be at lights & on the highway, and the rx8 WILL lose with those!

 

[BillyGoat]

Forgot to mention, it was the rx-8s overall handling that sold me, the car just felt glued to the pavement

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

NO. Top Gear (UK TV show, most respected in the country) tested the 350z and the RX8 around their test track with a pro driver(AKA The Stig). The RX-8 posted the same lap time as the M3. The 350z also posted the same lap time.

more power != faster

Well around a track perhaps, but I think most likely comparisons will be at lights & on the highway, and the rx8 WILL lose with those!

..by a very small margin..

And I think stop light pi$$ing contests would be a thing of the past for most ppl buying these cars (he says sheepishly after having the very same last night during the ride home...)

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: maziwanka
evo, hands down. then the 350z. finally, the rx-8 (weakest of the three).

power is not everything. according to car and driver, the rx8 can out handle the 350z and thus win races

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

NO. Top Gear (UK TV show, most respected in the country) tested the 350z and the RX8 around their test track with a pro driver(AKA The Stig). The RX-8 posted the same lap time as the M3. The 350z also posted the same lap time.

more power != faster

Well around a track perhaps, but I think most likely comparisons will be at lights & on the highway, and the rx8 WILL lose with those!

Well... if you're going to do that... wrong reason to buy high revving cars... which is why i dont understand why these kiddies buy torque-less civics and drag them... 😕

 

[Eli]

I can't believe it took till around mid thread for someone to mention the STi.

You've got to at least test drive it if you've driven the Evo.