Hey everyone. I’m an Xbox user of MSFS, and as you know, they are working on WASM support on this platform at the moment. One thing I, along with many others, am very excited about is the eventual release of the PMDG 737 series on Xbox. I have looked at many reviews and videos on these airplanes, but I am torn on which one to eventually get. I fly Southwest Airlines a lot in real life, so I am looking forward to be able to do the same in the sim, but I cannot decide which model to get, the -700 or the -800. I’d eventually like to get both, but I would like to hear some opinions from PC users who already own one or both of these airliners about which they recommend more. Thanks in advance!!
I mean, they’re basically the same. The 800 is just longer, and heavier (which is reflected in the flight model, it feels more sluggish).
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as said, they’re about the same. If you want to fly beyond SWA at some point, the 800 is likely to open up more colour schemes and realistic routes…so I’d suggest the 800 initially..
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If you’re flying for a career-mode VA or something like A Pilot’s Life, then the -800 is probably better because there are a lot more of them out in the wild.
If you are just flying for fun… no really major differences between the two. The -800 just goes to 11.
If you want to save some money and fly a 737 like it was a Honda Jet – get the -600 instead.
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Agree with above conments. In my view its not worth buying both - too few differences to justify the full price cost.
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I bought the -700 when it first came out (and love it!) but did not get the -800 because it is way too much cost for too little difference. If I was buying for the first time now, I’d get the -800 as it is more popular variant, but that’s the only reason.
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I started with the 737 and swore I wouldn’t get the 738, but eventually broke down and did so anyway so I could fly the 738 with some career add ons…everything is literally identical except for the look and the feel. the 738’s flying characteristics are markedly different, much more than I believed they would be. As others have said it feels much heavier. Not nearly the rocket that the 737 is.
the difference in sluggishness is that much pronounced between the 737 and the 738. In what situations can you feel that. I was just thinking about picking up one of the PMDGs and leaning towards the -800 due to being the most widely used model out there…
You’d notice it in takeoff and landing speeds, brake distance, takeoff run required, climb rate, …
thanks. I think I get the -800
when will this come to xbox?
Likely after SU12, when WASM support will be implemented onto the Xbox platform. In other words, we might see this by new year’s, but there is always the possibility it could take longer, as the 737 has to be tested on Xbox to ensure it is working as intended.
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Thanks for the input everyone, I really appreciate it!!
I’m less interested in the airline ops and got the -700 because of the BBJ, which is more popular than the BBJ2 (based on the -800). So here’s yet another opinion 
If I wanna be an airline pilot I have no problem pretending I’m a -800. Cockpit looks the same anyway
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The -700 BBJ is my favourite variant too - a little pocket rocket!
Other than the way it looks and handles, what else is there to compare!
I chose the -700, because of the smaller airports Alaska Airlines flies in/out of.
I also chose it, since it’s the only 737 variant on the Marketplace, so I figured that it will be on Xbox first and I’m really wanting to fly it on my Xbox when it finally gets released for it.
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everything is literally identical except for the exterior visuals and the slightly heavier feel
better?
That’s not even accurate. Yes, there’s a slightly heavier feel, but the actual performance is different: as noted earlier, different V speeds, different approach speeds, different takeoff and landing distances, especially when heavily loaded. Fly them both in the sim and you’ll notice these differences.
Now if you want something that feels more than “slightly” heavier, try the -900/900ER fully-loaded.
What’s different on the flight decks? Not a thing. The exterior model is longer and adds the tail strike sensor. And another exit row door I think. And while the performance figures are different, and there are different quirks, I personally don’t find that the 738 handles massively different than the 737 in a lot of situations other than say, climbout. 739 sure, there are big differences in handling, but that was not a question the OP asked in this thread. The 739 wasn’t even close to being out yet. This was a long time ago, but I think I was only trying to speak in generalizations. I’m not even sure why the heck this was even brought back now. Why didn’t y’all jump all over me back in October? haha
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