Quote:

All of the others were faster, got better gas mileage, handled as well or close to as well, and could be had for around the same price.



Of the ones you mentioned, 350Z, G35, and GTO (you mentioned 04 Cobra too, but it's immediately out in my book) they are all most certainly faster.

Gas mileage isn't particularly important to me, but mileage on the GTO is not significantly better except on long freeway cruises where the thing sips gas practically at idle, and long-term tests by at least a couple car magazines have put the real-life mileage of the G35 (and presumably the 350Z as well) within 2MPG of the long-term tests of RX-8s -- in the high teens. I think it may have been Edmunds that only got an average of 16mpg out of their G35.

Handling -- the GTO is out in that category, as it can't even dream of hanging with the others on the list. Great car, loved driving it, but not a handler by any means. The RX-8 is very noticeably more balanced than the Z that I drove, it's difficult to quantify, but from a purely subjective standpoint it was definitely better. Whether that's noticeable in everyday driving or not is definitely a point to make.

Price. Well, I guess I just have a different way of measuring "around the same price" than you. Assuming no rebates on anything, and dealer invoice (I get supplier on all of the above cars), the RX-8 is cheaper than the GTO by ~$2500, the 350Z by ~$3,000, and the G35 by ~$4,000. But the RX-8 currently has $2000 in rebates on leases and that is expected to extend to purchases after the holiday weekend, which will further extend the price difference quite a bit. Finance rates are look to be about 1-2 points better with the Mazda than the others with the same amount (preferably $0) down. In the end the difference amounts to $75-100 or more per month pretty quickly. It's not that I couldn't afford that, I'd just need to feel like I'm getting 20% more car if I'm spending that much more every month. And that's what I'm trying to figure out now.

2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX Webpage 2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX