If you compare the Mazda RX-7 to the Datsun/Nissan Z-series, is there any comparison? I mean, is one clearly a better car driving-wise, or otherwise?

 

Yes, Rx-7s are clearly better.

 

Haha, good answer on an RX-7 forum

The thing is... looking at the specs... in the later years, they got some serious horsepower increases. Then again, if you pitted a n/a 85 RX against a n/a 85 Z-Car, I think they'd be much closer.

 

you should ask the same question on zdriver.com and see what they say

 

I've been able to find a couple of Car and Driver articles, called the Samerai something-or-others, that pitted the Z, the Rx, and the Supra against each other over a couple of different years. This included the 12a vs the NA Z and the GSL-SE vs the turbo Z. They always concluded that the Rx-7 was the sports car of the croud and although the Z was fast, it wasn't as much fun to drive.

I found one of them here:

http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/1stgen/arti...n_articles.htm

 

Awesome, thanks man.

 

240z was and still is a great car. as much as i love the 7, i really admire the 240. however, they got heavier and more gt as the yeas progressed. the 32's style i like but i don't think i would like the weight, super-hicas etc.

 

Hell yeah .

~T.J.

PS - The Z32's are one of my all time fav cars, I really like the look of them.

 

I'm on my first RX-7 but I've got several Z cars. My Z's are all first generation. The Rex is more nimble. Speedwise I believe the Z's are slightly faster after they get some speed up, I think the Rex would take the Z off the line. handling wise the RX-7 is a little sensitive at speed in curves, I think it would be easy to loop if you weren't careful. The Z is not as twitchy. The ride on both is firm but the Rex is more so, I think the independant rear suspension of the Z's is responsible.

Both are great cars! I'm looking for more all the time.

 

I happen to have an 88zxt and I can't really decide which I like better. I went from a FC 5-speed and had mixed feelings about it. The Z I have now has a lot more get up and go, despite being a bit heavier and an auto. Although, it is turbo'd and my FC wasn't.
It took me a long time to get used to the way it drives over my FC. The car just feels more solid than either my FB or my old FC. Hard to explain, really, it's just a different ride. I like them both, though. But. if I had to pick one for long trips, the Z is definitely more comfortable.

 

Comparing a 1985 7 with a 1985 ZX isn't a direct comparison. By '85, the Z cars had become overweight touring cars that looked fast, not 'sport' cars, and had trailing arm rear IRS which handles well in corners but induces straight line squat on acceleration.

Comparing a 1979 RX-7 with a 1972 240Z is more on par - both carbureted, both lightweight, fun cars. The 240Z, being 7 years older, still had IRS (with a Chapman strut!) and triple carbs. Just a few years later (and before our beloved 7 appeared) it had fuel injection and 4 wheel disc brakes - a lot for a car in it's price range at the time, and one that played a phenominally important role in introducing import sports cars to the North American street scene.

 

my friend has an 86 n/a 300zx. it scoots a little bit, it only loses to the same year gxl by about 3 cars. neither are blowing anyones pants off, but they're fun......

 

It's hard to pick what years to compare to what. Do you compare in current price, performance, year? It all depends on the cars you are considering to buy.

I bet up in Canada you don't see many 72 Zs. They are notorious for rusting out. I believe they were only one-sided galvanized at that time.

 

72 Zs are very, very worth restoring. There's one in Saskatoon (frigid north) that looks as if it left the showroom last week...

 

True, When Nissan took the last 300ZX off the US market, they began buying back original Zs and restoring them. They would sell them at Nissan dealerships for over $26,000.

 

They only sold something like 26 of the planned 200 though - $26,000 for 30 year old technology is a lot, even when redone with 100% Datsun/Nissan parts.

 

They sure were purdy!

 

agreed

 

I have always been a huge fan of the origionaly 240's and 280z's. I have alot of respect for the first gen z cars. I have raced a few 280z's (around 1975 or so) and have come out on top in the short race, but the z took me after about 80MPh.
I am actually considering getting a 280z for my comuter car.... I dunno....

 

Ah, the good ol' 280Z - my first love

 

a fine example of a z from down here

Click Here

 

The 79 Z are eye stoppers like our 7s but that wing on the back sure doesn't look right....ricey w/ soy sauce!

 

Same here!

 

hha at first glance i almsot thoguht that damn wing was a bike rack!

 

My mother got me into the first gen/ 280z craze....lol