08 Altima coupe 3.5 or 05 RX8

[cuxy]

I'm looking for some unbiased opinion knowing fully well that this is an Altima forum. I looking to get one or the other in the next few days, details on the cars are as follows

2005 RX8 GT WWP

16k miles

No accidents

Called Mazda and all the recalls have been done

2008 Altima Coupe 3.5 black

27k miles

No accidents

Thanks in advance

[xfactor0707]

Honestly i hate the RX8, but its probably cause all the people here that drive them are douchebags. The only mazda i would get would be a speed3 . I would get the coupe sure it has a couple more miles on it but its a much sexier car and the 3.5 hauls

[nig1]

RX8 if u wanna mod it and turn it into a speed demon. AC for comfort, aesthetics.

[Hussain]

Altima coupe is much faster in a straight line and looks much better and is also more rare... the RX8 will kill the altima at corners though. as for modifying, you can do some crazy stuff with both cars as long as you get a stick shift altima coupe. the altima coupe with the CVT transmission is nice (thats what I have) and in stock form is pretty quick but it wont take the stress of a turbo kit.

[93coupe]

I see far more Altima coupes than RX-8s around here. Hussain, is that a fact about production numbers? I find it hard to be true. The only reason I kind of believe it is because the RX-8 has been made since 2003 (I believe).

I would undoubtedly take the Mazda for a number of reasons. I have had really experiences with Mazda and like the build quality. My favorite car that I have owned was an FD. Rotary engines sound amazing and make power all the way to redline and beyond. They sound incredible.

There is a large aftermarket for the Mazda. I am a big fan of the body lines on that car. The stock seats are great.

This decision would be a no brainer for me so long as the RX-8 was a manual.

[Trancer88]

I have an RX7 and I love the feel of the rotary engine. Its something you cant explain until you drive it. Its a pure sports car, but the rx8 is a lil different. I worked at mazda as a porter in high school and drove many 8s day after day and i like the way they feel, they are so smooth. I took one out for a spin and revved it to 10k rpm which is amazing and the short throw shifter is truly sportscarish unlike the altima. Good build quality and not many problems were reported. If u want speed and tuning, go for rx8 but maintenance is a must on rotaries! if you want comfort and more reliability along with a car u dont see to many of...altima coupe plus its FWD which is good for winter, better than RWD. I like both cars but the rotary engine will never match up to any other. hope it helps

PS: this is my opinion i love my altima coupe too but then again i have the 2.5 and im pretty sure the 3.5 and 8 have a similar 0-60, 8 might be a bit quicker. Im just waiting for the rx9 :-)

[SneakyFish]

I would say go with the 8 but since you live in canada, id have to say go with the AC. your gonna hate the having to warm up your car for 5 mins just to move it a foot

[Ranga14]

I actually see a ton of RX8's where I live. And how can it be better at cornering when it's RWD vs Altima which is FWD???? I know Altima stock suspension isn't that great but damn, lol... Anyway, I think the looks of the RX8 are OK at best and yeah, you can mod it a great deal but you could do the same with the altima if you get a manual. When I was looking around, the RX8 wasn't even on my radar, neither was any Mazada since I really don't like their body styles at all.

[rjdmmfl1]

I see far more Altima coupes than RX-8s around here. Hussain, is that a fact about production numbers? I find it hard to be true. The only reason I kind of believe it is because the RX-8 has been made since 2003 (I believe).

I would undoubtedly take the Mazda for a number of reasons. I have had really experiences with Mazda and like the build quality. My favorite car that I have owned was an FD. Rotary engines sound amazing and make power all the way to redline and beyond. They sound incredible.

There is a large aftermarket for the Mazda. I am a big fan of the body lines on that car. The stock seats are great.

This decision would be a no brainer for me so long as the RX-8 was a manual.

this is no surprise... I'm still waiting to hear the first positive thing this dude actually says about the altima coupe...

im pretty sure the 3.5 and 8 have a similar 0-60, 8 might be a bit quicker.

what??? do you smoke the free base derivative of C17H21NO4 ? the 2005 rx-8 had a 0-60 around 7 seconds... this info can be found everywhere online including Edmonds http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx8/2008/review.html and

and Inside line

http://www.insideline.com/ford....html

much of that has to do with the 152 ft lbs of torque, which, even at the amazing curb weight of 3000 lbs requires you to stay on the gas to really feel any power.

so as Hussain correctly said, in a straight line, the A/C wins it... also add to the fact that the RX-8 is 5 maybe 6 years old if its an 05 model purchased in 04, then that's even more wear and tear on that suspect rotary engine, which does not comapre to the reknown quality of the VQ35DE

but the handling of the A/C can NOT compare with that of the RX-8 (better suspension ad 50/50 weight distribution)... also, as mentioned above, turbo options are avilable and viable for both if the A/C is a manual.. if its CVT, umm

just look at all aspects of each car, not the unilateral views of folks who either think the A/C is garbage and never have anything positive to say about it when asked, or the folks that think the A/C could beat a GTR with proper tuning and no other car company makes cars comarable to Nissan

either way, good luck!

[XXplosive990]

agreed, i've raced an RX8 and it couldnt even keep up with me, nice cars though but if i could go back and choose right now id still take the Altima.

[BadaBing718]

altima coupe all the way i raced several rx8's and i shat on all of their wind shields ever so easily

[johnnir3volution]

I was deciding on getting an altima coupe or an rx8 at the end of this year also and now my mind is made up. RX8 all the way!!

[Bmore-coupe]

this is no surprise... I'm still waiting to hear the first positive thing this dude actually says about the altima coupe...

I have said many good things about the A/C on this forum. I really do like the car a lot and I'm glad we have two at the house (two totally different packages so I get the feel for really all the A/C has to offer). I just think that the RX-8 is a better choice for me.

OP, what are your plans for the car that you decide on?

[93coupe]

^That is me (93coupe), not Bmore-coupe.^

Forgot to log out

[Trancer88]

no man i think edmunds probably meant that for the auto but the 6speed 8 is about 6 sec. check it out

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx8/review ... darx8.html

and found many more that have it just under 6 seconds. trust me ive driven many and if it was near 7 seconds, it would mean itsALMOST as fast as my 2.5 coupe which it isnt. And yeah people dont really know how to race with a rotary engine, they usually shift early which just ruins the race for the 8 as u dont really get peak power until almost redline. But a race between a 3.5 and 8 is close considering the AC has a s***load more torque. And as far as reliability, the new renesis engine is reliable from what ive seen, its just that it requires oil more often than piston engines and people dont realize it. When you turbo a rotary, thats when things can get messy IF you dont set it up correctly which goes for any car in reality. My rotary engine in my 7 has 200,000 miles and still pulls. All about taking care but in the end ive heard better things about the VQ than the rotary so to each their own?
Modified by Trancer88 at 12:19 PM 3/30/2010

[obstacle]

buying an '08 with 27K miles is a no-no...why so many miles in 2 years?the safe range for a vehicle is 8-9K miles per year. Check the carfax of this particular vehicle.

Look for an altima coupe with less milage; anything less than like 22K miles would be ideal.

I almost got an 08 Altima Coupe 3.5 manual in Long Island, but looked at the carfax and the car was driven approximately 18K miles in one year (24K miles in total)! insane! when it comes to buying used, take your time.

Other than the milage, I'd say the altima coupe is the way to go!

[mcheddadi]

I'm looking for some unbiased opinion knowing fully well that this is an Altima forum. I looking to get one or the other in the next few days, details on the cars are as follows

2005 RX8 GT WWP

16k miles

No accidents

Called Mazda and all the recalls have been done

2008 Altima Coupe 3.5 black

27k miles

No accidents

Thanks in advance

if both are automatic take i'd take the altima since the auto rx8 is a failbag of underwelming experiences, low mpg, plus the facts its drinks oil for breakfast.

if one is manual then i'd take it over the other just because it's got more potential as a moddable car and you don't really drive an automatic anyways.

if both are manual then i'd ask myself how much I value handling vs straightline acceleration.

also the altima is more practical with since its seats 5 vs 4 in the rx8. and the rear fold flat.

but on the other hand the rx8 revs to 9krpm and is cheaper and it's cheaper to mod and most importantly its RWD so drift is possible lol.

altima is safer since it understeers into a corner and rx8 will kill you if you never driven rwd agressivly.

[rjdmmfl1]

no man i think edmunds probably meant that for the auto but the 6speed 8 is about 6 sec. check it out

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx8/review ... darx8.html

and found many more that have it just under 6 seconds. trust me ive driven many and if it was near 7 seconds, it would mean itsALMOST as fast as my 2.5 coupe which it isnt. And yeah people dont really know how to race with a rotary engine, they usually shift early which just ruins the race for the 8 as u dont really get peak power until almost redline. But a race between a 3.5 and 8 is close considering the AC has a s***load more torque. And as far as reliability, the new renesis engine is reliable from what ive seen, its just that it requires oil more often than piston engines and people dont realize it. When you turbo a rotary, thats when things can get messy IF you dont set it up correctly which goes for any car in reality. My rotary engine in my 7 has 200,000 miles and still pulls. All about taking care but in the end ive heard better things about the VQ than the rotary so to each their own?

Modified by Trancer88 at 12:19 PM 3/30/2010

Thos quote is from Edmunds regarding the 2005 Mazda rx-8

"Although generally quick by most measures, acceleration is disappointing for a sports car. In our tests, a manual-equipped RX-8 took 7.0 seconds to reach 60 mph and ran the quarter-mile in 15.4 seconds."

not the 2010 version that you quoted. I will say, however, that Edmunds drivers/reviewers tend to be all over the place regarding their track times for the same car. The reason I tend to believe this review, however, is not just the fact that its for the model year mentioned, but EVERY head to head race i have ever heard of (or participated in) between a non moidified 3.5 A/C and a non modified RX-8 has ended in an embrassing lost for the RX-8. I I know for sure that I raced against a manual because I know the owner.

but either way, I think its agreed upon that regarding a true "sprts-car feel", the RX-8 wins no question!

[Trancer88]

yeah man nothings changed on the rx8 since it came out, same engine, same weightbasically, just cosmetic exterior and interior changes. Trust me theres no way it does 7. the auto yes. manual no. and yeah ur right edmunds tends to put numbers all over the place so theres no one really to trust anymore haha. but yea in a 60 i think the 8 would match the AC but i think from a roll or going past 60 the AC would win hands down. Even here:http://www.0-60times.com/mazda.aspit shows the rx8 0-60 5.8 and auto 7.5. The auto is as fast as the 2.5 AC. I know the 8s i drove were definitely faster than my 2.5. Mazda still messed up by turning the rx8 into a slower "family" pig version of the rx7.

[Ranga14]

buying an '08 with 27K miles is a no-no...why so many miles in 2 years?the safe range for a vehicle is 8-9K miles per year. Check the carfax of this particular vehicle.

Look for an altima coupe with less milage; anything less than like 22K miles would be ideal.

I almost got an 08 Altima Coupe 3.5 manual in Long Island, but looked at the carfax and the car was driven approximately 18K miles in one year (24K miles in total)! insane! when it comes to buying used, take your time.

Other than the milage, I'd say the altima coupe is the way to go!

lol, wtf? My car is 1 year, 8 months old and I have 26k on it. And that's with working from home for 5 months out of that time! I guess it just depends on where you live an your commute.