Revolver

Mmmm, Vanquish. Although Vantage will do.

timbo

Maybe we're all suffering from different definitions and personal preconceptions.

Is the 8 a sports car, a performance car, or a grand tourer? Are these the right "classifications" anyway. My sense is, and always has been, that the 8 is more in the grand tourer class than anything else, and that was what I was looking for.

Cue taka:

takahashi

Yum

: oh....

azzaboynt

Aston Martin DB9. Yummy.



Must.....resist.....selling......wife.....and..... .kid.......

Revolver

I think that's right. Maybe definitions don't matter these days? Or at least this debate has demonstrated that everyone has their own so they become pretty meaningless.

I respect the opinions offered by others as I hope they respect mine. And I think it's healthy in a one car enthusiast group to occasionally challenge the thing on the altar.

Obviously power and torque is not the be all and end all and it is apparent that the current model is more than adequate for some of you. Great. I love seeing people perfectly happy with their car. But that won't stop me wanting to see the breed improved.

Revolver

Aston Martin Vantage!

Must...sell...wife...and...kids...

Tim Tam

A Porsche competitor that's not as good a drive as a Porsche? Why?

Revolver

I doubt whether I'd appreciate the difference (or if I did it'd be too late ) and the AM looks 10 times better to my eyes.

Besides, there's something a touch cliched and common about the Porsche (see Mikey's comments ) whereas the AM retains, for me at least, an aura of class and cool factor.

I guess being a bit of an Anglophile helps. (not that I'd ever own a Range Rover ).

labrat

Exactly. Exactement. Genau. Which is why I see the next generation RX-8 moving slightly upmarket, if the clues spread around by Mazda on the Senku concept are any guide. Mazda now have hot 3's and 6's for the hat-on-backwards, play-dress-ups-with-your-car fraternity. They probably have factored in a loss of RX-8 sales from this demographic, but could be looking to steal customers for upmarket BMW 3's, Audis, etc. I think the key to appreciating Mazda is to try and understand how they see the segmenting of their potential markets.

Revolver

You might be right labrat but I think Mazda have a way to go before they even lure Beemer and Audi owners into their showrooms, let alone convince them to abandon the badge cachet offered by such marques.

Not saying it can't happen and I hope it does. Subaru have certainly managed to throw the Liberty up into that market and maybe the 6 is making the odd inroad.

Revolver

Okay guys, I've waved the white flag in the similar thread in the .au site so I may as well wave it here too.

Thanks for participating. If anything it's made me remember (again) all the things I love about the 8.

Pfft, who cares about the 3 MPS anyways...

Hmmm, S/C on existing car or trade-in for newer 8 ? Will have a few decisions to make next year...

EZZY

its been an interesting read..... for me

1. MPS3 not for me, and def. not for the missus..... (she has been eyeing the maserati 3000GT for a while...)

2. We should all feel proud driving an 8, think it as our comtributions to the rest of Mazda/up coming Madza communities..... im sure the next generation RX8 will be bigger and better (not necessary the body size, but def. the engine/hp figures ;-p)

3. FI the 8 is very tempting, but only if it is a keeper (doubt it, hopefully it will be replaced by something newer/more exciting in about 12 months-ish)

4. so for the time-being, i will just enjoy what i have and see what happens. happy motoring to you too!

timbo

Hang on! It doesn't answer my dilemma -- nor EZZY's as I read it!

If I decide to replace my 8, what are the alternatives? A couple of provisos:

(a) must be in the same price bracket (say, $55-$75k) -- yeah, I'd like a Cayenne or M3 but it ain't gonna happen without prior knowledge of winning Lotto numbers;
(b) must deliver an equally unique experience -- and I mean across the board, not just greater performance (so WRX sti and EVO IX are definitely out!)

It's hard, isn't it?

takahashi

I have a list for you. From the most practical to the least.

1. Another RX-8.
2. VW R32.
3. 130i
4. 350Z or wait for the 370Z.
5. S2000 (new engine and all).
6. Lotus Elise

I come across the VW board is very similar to RX-8.. some great people here and over there

Now I am skinner and more handsome... I might consider EVO again for the boyish look to me... haha (early mid life crisis LOL)

Not considering old cars?

Rotor Convert

Ok I have a few solutions...

1. Totally left of centre....get a big bike!! They have the power and the performance and nothing will beat you off the lights or through traffic....note to self...upgrade health insurance and will!!

2. Go for what one of my friends has just bought....go back in time and get yourself into a Mustang!! An old one.....very nice and very classy and very fast.....

3. Aeiral Atom...nothing will beat that in traffic....let alone see it.....it will give you a facelift in a second and will be totally impracticle in the wet!!

4. Go drive an ALFA 147GTA...resale is crap but they are a nice little quirky car if you can overcome electrical and build issues...

As someone said to me. There is nothing really that compares to the 8 on the road. Unless you are prepared to settle for something that only tweaks half your needs....

Sounds to me like you need a toy..something that will go fast and not be pretty...get yourself a track car and go hard...when you drive around in town after a good fang on the weekend the 8 seems like luxury to me anyway!!

The eternal questions of cars....for some they are an A to B travelator...for others they are an expression of who they are and for a few they are something to admire master and own....which one r u???

Revolver

Hence my dilemma.

For me the combination of looks and practicality is perfect. All I want is a little more power (and yes, Timbo, much more torque). This suggests a S/C kit would give me the perfect car (for me!).

However, I see little point in pouring serious money into a car that may well be devalued by the passage of time and the attentions of the P-Plate rice brigade (once they get hold of them in numbers).

For example, there was a young guy at the Stage 2 Murcotts course with a tricked up Skyline (not sure about year, series, etc). Now these things were highly desirable in their day (much like the 8 is now) but it just looked sad and even he admitted he'd love to get rid of it but they're just so hard to sell.

Revolver

Care to edit that Timbo? Or does the Range Rover experience die hard?

timbo

My comments

1. Another RX-8.
Yes...but at the moment it's same as, same as

2. VW R32.
Interesting story here. Was absolutely on my list until I tried to arrange Golf GTI test drive through local VW dealer (Lennock Motors, just so you all know ). Did initial visit, picked up brochures etc, talked to salesman about what I was looking for, saw that I had an 8 etc (makes me "qualified buyer", does it not?!) and talked about arranging a test drive. Rang back about 2 days later when I knew I had some time coming up free the following day for test drive; salesman notther, left message which he returned the following morning, to let me know the time wasn't convenient for him (WTF!) but offered some others which didn't work for me. About a week later, I rang again, also a day ahead. Exactly the same thing happened, not even an offer that another sales guy might be able to handle. Wrote to dealer principal, so that he would understand why Lennock Motors won't be getting my business

So, to go any further with VW, I would have to deal with a Syd/Melb dealer...and still deal locally for service. Do I feel motivated to do this?

3. 130i
Test driven -- overpriced -- nothing special AND, as I said earlier, the value/performance equation of the 3MPS knocks it out of the ring. Good luck, BMW (nice dealer here, though)

4. 350Z or wait for the 370Z.
I know I should but (a) it's a Nissan and (b) the local dealer here in Canberra is....wait for it.....Lennock Motors

5. S2000 (new engine and all).
No! Not topless...am becoming increasingly challenged, follicley...and besides, I like the MX-5 for all the reasons Stuart has outlined

6. Lotus Elise
OK...what car would I have for non-track days?

Not considering old cars?
Good point. Need to look at tax-effective financing. Porka?

Revolver

I'm just imagining Timbo on a bike.



I think the new one looks cool. Maybe I've watched Bullitt too many times...



Not road legal in Aust (yet) and if/when they are you'll be looking at 100K plus - I've checked.



I'd rather have a new 8, for all sorts of reasons.

timbo

no! No! NO! Not another truck! Aaaaagh

OK, I plead dyslexia and model name confusion -- sorry (wonder how many people think they are buying small, nippy 2 door only to find a lard-*** truck delivered )

Revolver

Sums up nicely what I've been banging on about for the last two days...

Revolver

Revolver

Hmm, nup - for same reasons I wouldn't buy a 3 MPS. I'm over the hot hatch thing, no matter how fast it goes.


Essentially agree with all that.

timbo

I know where you're coming from...tempting until you think about the implications of driving the thing (it'll be a daily, BTW)
Having seen it on Top Gear, I'm strangely tempted especially because it makes absolutely no sense
Please don't think I am crass and do not appreciate your thoughfulness, RC -- especially the case you make for this one. I will certainly buy one just after having had all my fingernails pulled out. (And surely the 3MPS will dance on the 147's grave? )

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

I remember my old LS1 forum days.

They would all just talk about VT -> VX -> VY -> VZ model upgrades. Occasionally someone could make the step up from say an SS to a HSV. I didn't fit that mould, hence I'm here.

Good luck with your decision. I'll just be happy with a blown RX-8 for the time being.

Cheers,
Hymee.