350Z ranked #2 in affordable sports cars

[BretUSN]

Hi guys,

I work for US News and I'm out getting some feedback on our new car rankings and reviews site. We have The Nissan 350Z ranked #2 in our list of Top Affordable Sports Cars. I'd be interested to know what you guys think of rank of this or any car.

http://usnews.rankingsandrevie...-350Z/

Thanks-Bret

[nsrZ32]

I think the 350Z is a very good car for the money. Not an overwhelmingly fun car, but great in the bang for the buck department.

Not sure that I agree with the MX-5 being number one as I don't see that as a "sports car." Its more of an entry level sporty car...much along the lines of what the 240sx was for Nissan. Mazda does a lot to market the RX8 as their current sports car, because that's what it is for them, and that's why it is slotted above the MX-5. Just my $.02 though.

[TheHat]

I think that it is definately a great car for the dollar, especially if you are planning on doing some aftermarket work on it yourself. I would have to say that I think the Z should be rated number one instead of two, but then again I am a little bias. It is definately a sports car that almost everyone can buy if they wanted. For instance I am a college student going to a ranther expensive private university and I bought one as an early graduation present to myself. As for the miata when some one says sports car I think sexy, and fast. The miata doesnt fill that sexy requirement and it barely fills the fast requirement so like nsrz32 if you consider the miata a sports car it definately is a entry level sports car. To me it just seems like a jellybean on wheels with a descent power to weight ratio.

[PerfectApex]

I am not surprised at the Mustang being no. 4 on the list as they are a total piece of junk, but they are popular due to their low price. I traded my new Mustang GT for a 2007 350Z Grand Touring Coupe as the Stang was always in the shop with warranty related issues. Many TSBs on the Mustang too. The 350Z is getting old to many buyers and the new 370Z will be interesting. The Miata has always been a strong seller and VERY reliable but low in power and worse yet, verts only albeit an optional hard top. Good article and thanks for posting it.

[Bubba1]

I absolutely agree with the MX-5 being number one. Of course, most of the other cars outperform it, but it is absolutely a sports car. The Miata is quintessential british sports car that Great Britain could never build reliably. Thimk of the Lotus Elan (which was Mazda's inspiration), the Triumph spitfire, MGB, MG Midget, etc. Those are all pure sports cars with modest power. Big horsepower is not a requirement to be a sports car. Also think of these two words...Spec Miata. With an entire roadrace series devoted to one make/model, how can one NOT consider it a great sports car?

Of the 5 top cars listed, IMHO the Mustang is least deserving to be on the list as it's a pony car, not a sports car. But I guess it's up to US News to decide what they want the definition of a sports car to be.

[Bubba1]

Glancing at the rest of top 10 US News "sports cars" I'm not sure you could classify the Mazdaspeed 3 or Eclipse as sports cars either. They are considered sporty coupes at best. While the Mazda is an entertaining car to drive, for sure, it's basically a heavily optioned version of the Mazda 3 which is a traditional econobox. And if you're considering a Mazdaspeed 3 a "sports car", then I'm curious how you could leave out the Mini Cooper S It's considerably sportier (and better) car than the stylish looking but rather mundane Eclipse. The Mini fits the price criteria too.

[NSRsheets]

I still would have put the 350z above the mx-5. What about the evo and sti.

[BretUSN]

Bubba --

I agree that the Speed3 doesnt necessarily fit in the category. The problem is that the Mazda3 and the Speed3 are too different to really consider the same car. The Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S are only about $3k different in price, while the Mazda3 and Speed3 are about $9k. Here are the two Mazda articles for those who are interested:

http://usnews.rankingsandrevie...peed3/http://usnews.rankingsandrevie...AZDA3/

We're discussing having a "Performance Trims" ranking list, which would include the Speed3, the Mitshubishi Lancer Evolution, and the Impreza WRX/Sti among others.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Bubba1]

Bubba --

I agree that the Speed3 doesnt necessarily fit in the category. The problem is that the Mazda3 and the Speed3 are too different to really consider the same car. The Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S are only about $3k different in price, while the Mazda3 and Speed3 are about $9k. Here are the two Mazda articles for those who are interested:

http://usnews.rankingsandrevie...peed3/http://usnews.rankingsandrevie...AZDA3/

We're discussing having a "Performance Trims" ranking list, which would include the Speed3, the Mitshubishi Lancer Evolution, and the Impreza WRX/Sti among others.

Thanks for your thoughts.

That's great. There is a fascinating diverse group of vehicles waiting for you if you go up a notch in price for performance vehicles. It also allows you to include european cars, which did not make any appearances on the affordable list. (cough cough VW Gti, Mini cooper S cough )

I look forward to reading it. Good job.

[page02wrx]

People love the miata's though, especially older people

Hell I got my Z with 38k miles for 18.6. I owned a WRX prior to that, and I can tell you that the Z is more fun than any evo or sti I have ever driven.

Honestly, between my car and my friends 380whp sti, I would take a 350z. No its not as fast but it sure as hell is way more fun to drive. Sticks to the road better too.

[evildky]

the mx-5 is a true sports car, it is everything the earliest european sports cars were only better, half the cars on taht list are not sprts cars, sorry but sports cars do not have back seats! a mustang might be sporty but a sports car it is not! same for eclipse and half the other cars, the vette seems absent but I guess it's in they don't consider it affordabel? at 46k it's a fantastic bang for the buck

[Bubba1]

[QUOTE=evildky]the mx-5 is a true sports car, it is everything the earliest european sports cars were only better, half the cars on taht list are not sprts cars, sorry but sports cars do not have back seats! a mustang might be sporty but a sports car it is not! same for eclipse and half the other cars, the vette seems absent but I guess it's in they don't consider it affordabel? at 46k it's a fantastic bang for the buck[/QUOTE]

I believe US News had a rather relaxed definition of a sports car when they compiled their list, but at the end of the day, it's still their list. I also think they were also looking at just inexpensive cars. The C6 corvette, which is a tremendous performance value for the dollar, is not inexpensive.

The Houghton Mifflin dictionary defines a sports car as: "An automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds".

Unfortunately Houghton-Mifflin is not gospel. There is no one universal definition for a sports car, so who is to say USNews ' definition is wrong.I think hard core enthusiasts will take exception to some of their choices, but I don't think hard core enthusiasts make up a big portion of their readership. I appreciate that he invited our feedback.

[flyguy2618]

the mx-5 is a true sports car, it is everything the earliest european sports cars were only better, half the cars on taht list are not sprts cars, sorry but sports cars do not have back seats! a mustang might be sporty but a sports car it is not! same for eclipse and half the other cars, the vette seems absent but I guess it's in they don't consider it affordabel? at 46k it's a fantastic bang for the buck

I Totaly agree with Evildky about sports cars not having a back seet such as the mustang, also about the New Vett its amazing and deffinatly the right bang for the buck.

[BretUSN]

One of the most difficult parts of compiling our lists were fitting the odd car into its closest matching categories. When asked, most Mustang drivers would call the Ford Mustang a muscle car, or pony car(at least the GT Trim), not a true sports car. However, with the Corvette starting at $44,250 MSRP, the death of the Trans-Am Firebird, and the suspension of the Camaro, there's currently little company for the Mustang. 2008 may be a different story. We are in the process of creating a new pony car category. The new list may include cars like the Charger, the new Camaro, and of course, the Mustang.

Thanks for the input everyone,Bret

[evildky]

not that I'm any kind of expert perhaps best performance cars for under 30k would have been a more accurate title

I think the mustang, the rx8 and the g35, bmw 3 series and GTO are all pretty compatible cars

for some reason I don't think people see the gto and the stang in the same class, granted the gto is more upscale and more expensive but both are rwd american v8 2 doors and isn't didge supposed to be bringing a 2 door version of the charger soon?

the mx-5 is more compatible with the s2k and the solstice with the boxter and z4 being more upscale options