Better looking car, 350z or RX-8?

March 27, 2008 11:18 AM

A question of styling: Which car turns more heads (in a good way), the Nissan 350Z, or the Mazda RX-8?
posted by nimkip to Travel & Transportation (25 answers total)

i vote for the 350z for styling...

for pure car driving fun the TOP GEAR guys LOVE the RX8
posted by dawdle at 11:19 AM on March 27, 2008

I like the look of the 350z, but I'd rather own the RX8
posted by phritosan at 11:21 AM on March 27, 2008

RX-8, no question.
posted by contessa at 11:21 AM on March 27, 2008

I personally prefer the looks of the 350z as well.
posted by Grither at 11:24 AM on March 27, 2008

350Z, no question.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 11:25 AM on March 27, 2008

What do you mean by turning heads? The coolest looking car in the world wouldn't turn heads if everybody saw ten of them every day. If it's actually the reaction of others you're looking for, then rarity plays a big part.
posted by winston at 11:26 AM on March 27, 2008

They're both nice cars, but of the two, only one has suicide doors, a rotary engine and was driven by the X-Men.
posted by saladin at 11:35 AM on March 27, 2008

I'd go with the Z, mostly because "Z" is a cool and memorable car name and you can be all "LOOK AT MY COOL Z" instead of "look at my cool um some other letters." Additionally, the 370z is coming out in October if you're interested.
(in the interest of full disclosure, I used to work for Nissan, and I don't drive. Heh.)
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:36 AM on March 27, 2008

The RX-8 is more distinctive; in that sense, I think it turns more heads, but also is more likely to inspire "love it or hate it" reactions for that same reason.

The 350-Z is certainly a nifty car, but the styling is more conservative IMO.
posted by adamrice at 11:37 AM on March 27, 2008

I've got to agree with winston, I'm more likely to watch an RX-8 drive by just from the fact that I don't see them nearly as often as I see 350Z's. They're both good looking cars though.
posted by woolylambkin at 11:39 AM on March 27, 2008

I would only notice either if it were running me over. Even then I probably couldn't pick it out of a line-up.
posted by crush-onastick at 11:41 AM on March 27, 2008

I prefer the 350Z, but it seems to be the RX8 that gets the most attention. From the auto blogs, that is. I haven't parked by the road and studied the headturn-to-RX8 ratio or anything.
posted by katillathehun at 11:42 AM on March 27, 2008

Based on my calculations on the back of this napkin, the 350Z has a hotness rating of 6.4973 with a sweetness modifier of +6 based on cumalitve head snapping. meanwhile, the RX-8 rates a 7.91, but only scores a +3 on the head snapping scale. YMMV.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:43 AM on March 27, 2008

Well, the RX-8 does have the disadvantage of being butt-ugly....
posted by Cosine at 11:48 AM on March 27, 2008

350Z, no question. The Mazda just looks weird.
posted by smackfu at 11:48 AM on March 27, 2008

350Z.
posted by WalterMitty at 11:55 AM on March 27, 2008

The RX-8 is more distinctive, but the 350z is more attractive.
posted by box at 11:56 AM on March 27, 2008

By the way, this is totally not the answer you're looking for and I apologize if I'm being out of line, but if you're buying a car just to impress other people, why not get a hybrid? You might not have as much fun driving it or showing it off, but people tend to look favorably on hybrid drivers.

I'd go out to dinner with a sports car driver (and let him pay), but a hybrid guy I'd take home to Mom.
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:56 AM on March 27, 2008

I'd say the 350Z screams "this is an expensive car" moreso than the RX8. It also screams "mid-life crisis". Or, at least, that's what I think every time I see one poking along on the freeway with some graying middle manager type behind the wheel.

The RX8, though? That looks like a fun car.
posted by jal0021 at 12:02 PM on March 27, 2008

350Z is more conventionally good looking. However, the RX-8 is the petrol heads choice for the handling etc. Depends who you're trying to impress.

I'd get an RX-8, but that's me.
posted by arcticseal at 12:04 PM on March 27, 2008

the puddle of oil under your rx-8 might turn a few heads...

i've never cared for the attention of people who are only interested in my car, though, so what do i know?
posted by klanawa at 12:05 PM on March 27, 2008

350z, but I'm probably biased by the fact that my co-worker's RX-8 was the most un-reliable car I've ever seen.
posted by PFL at 12:06 PM on March 27, 2008

I have an RX-8, 05- no problems with it ever.

I out track 350z's all the time without problem. RX-8 is more of a drivers car. 350z has definite torque advantage.

If you put a turbo or a supercharger on the 8 (which there are many kits available now) it's the perfect car in the price range.

Go test drive them! Good luck!
posted by zephyr_words at 12:19 PM on March 27, 2008

Oh btw - since I didn't touch on your styling part of the question, 350z are really common now. I see 5 of them everytime I go out for a drive. RX-8s are more common than they used to be but not near as much as the Z.
The 8 looks better the more you look at it and the Z just looks more like an overweight UFO.

I still get strangers all the time saying nice car and what kind of car is that even though it's been out for 4 years now.
posted by zephyr_words at 12:22 PM on March 27, 2008

Girls like a 350z because it's more traditional. Guys, ok, gearhead guys like an RX-8 because of some crazy triangular shit going on under the hood. Are you into impressing girls or guys?

For pure head-turning at a reasonable price, I'd go classic: 1980s Japanese, 1970s german, or 1960s american. It's all about being at the top of the heap (I'm willing to let you slide into the 1970s on the american side).
posted by zpousman at 12:24 PM on March 27, 2008