Dragula

OK guys im looken at buying a new car, namely the RX8 is high on my list I was wondering what made you guys decide to buy an RX8 over say a WRX STi? I think I may favour the RX8 due to the beauty of the interiour I think its nicely finished with the leather pack although not as much ***** but cleanly shaven at that .
The other thing I have been considering is if I buy an RX8 I am considering a body kit. What might I be looking at here in Australia for front lip, sides, rear and spoiler of an MS kit. Also what might I be looking at for a veilside ver2 bonnet.

takahashi

You are right on the money. Also the handling. There is no such word as understeering in RX-8. No turbo lag and easier to live with in traffic. Similar fuel usage as the STi, I am sure it is a different beast on the road. Hey, the attention from the ladies count.
If you are loaded and don't have anything to do with $8000 then you can ask for local mod shop to import them. From internet you can save $1000-2000. Veilside bonnet I am not sure. Never import from US as freight cost more than the item. Ship from SE asia or Japan.

Welcome to our family

RXE16T

The 8 or the Sti....hmmm, let's just say you can either be a ninja killing with a samurai sword or a mass murder bludgeoning people with a mallet.

Two complete different cars amongst many choices in that price range, I was faced with the same dilemma and chose the 8 simply because it had the best combination of everything.

Performance (not the quickest, but also not the slowest)
Handling (50:50 weight distribution, who can argue with that?)
Equipment (xenons, leather, bose, 6*bags, etc, etc)
Quality (Mazda's renowned for quality Jap cars)
Refinement (smooth as silk but not to the point of being too sterile like some European cars)
Appearance (sexy style, looks like a million bucks, chicks love it!)
Practicality (4 seats, reasonable boot, liveable with on daily basis)
Other (individuality and unique, the x-factor, what else has the quirky suicide doors and rotary power?)

Good luck on your decision and "Let the (rotational) force guide you Luke"

NickG

You can enjoy and RX-8 at any speed: the wonderfully precise steering, agile progressive and adjustable handling, super slick shift, ultra smooth tuneful and characterful engine, beautifully progressive brakes and decent build and finish quality are working with you every day, every time you get into the car.
The STI and other cars of its ilk may ultimately be faster, but to enjoy that you need to be pushing the thing to its absolute limits - and how often - really - can you expect to do that on public roads?
....plus of course the STI looks like a dog's breakfast IMO !

RX8: "agile, characterful, practical, unique"

Gibbo

Dragula,

I went though this as well when I was buying my 8. I drove th STi and the 350Z but decided upon the 8. This was for a number of reasons;
1) The boost of the STi when 4k rolls around is too agressive. The lag is horrendous.
2) The plastic excel like interior was so off putting. The styling of the dash and instruments was just cheap cheap cheap.
3) The demo car I drove already had minor rattles in the dash.
4) The leather is not a factory option it has to be done by an aftermarket company and hence is not covered by the same warranty.
5) The STi is still a WRX and you can join the thousands of of people on the roads with a car that looks generic.

For me the RX-8 had awesome handling, styling and product finish. It was all class with the practicality of 4 doors and usable backseats.

The call is yours, be part of the crowd or stand out from it.

labrat

You want to bolt WHAT onto an RX-8? OMG, not another riced-up 8! Buy a WRX, PLEASE!!!

timbo

Yeah, I'm with the 'rat. You should also look at the EVO VIII and any Skyline you like!!

... or perhaps I'd better start thinking about rolling my lease over to a... Merc... nup!... Bimmer... nup!....oh, bugger -- I love the 8 'cos it's great looking and drives wonderfully :p

labrat

Could my comments condemn me as being rice-ist?

rx8spiritR

rx8 is still pre-mature, too many problems.......

kimba2

i you want somthing that:
LOOKS GOOD
Drives BEAUTIFULLY
Attracts Attention
Don't mind that it does 14sec in 400m
Is a chic and guy MAGNET
and at his stage is a car like no other
than the rx8 is for you

If you do not like all of these than buy something else

kimba2

i you want somthing that:
LOOKS GOOD
Drives BEAUTIFULLY
Attracts Attention
Don't mind that it does 14sec in 400m
Is a chic and guy MAGNET
and at his stage is a car like no other
than the rx8 is for you


If you do not like all of these than buy something else

RXE16T

Hmmmm..... :p

Gibbo

Ummm.....ok

Can you elaborate

dracoMJB

The reason I will never consider a WRX is because every man and his dog has one. There are millions of them, sure some are more limited edition, but they all look much the same!

kimba2

The problems aren't any different if yoiu buy any other car.
It's just that it's just a year old in Australia and two years old around the world so you get some of the common problems that you get when you buy any other manufactures car.

Problems may include
flooding
rattling
air con not working properly
that's just to name a few but guess what
holden, ford hyundai, subu,alfa porche, ferrari and have problems in some way, some cars have no problems some do and some are lemons who knows.
s### happens lucky dip i say.

Just buy one you most probably won't regret it or maybe you will we all have bought one we love most things and we hate or dislike 1, 2 or maybe 3 things but in the end we all love our 8s

rotarenvy

lol then don't consider the rx-8 as there are going to be just as many IMO!
I'm in a country city and they are common. I drive 100km out in the bush where a town consists of 3 houses, a church or cattle yard and I run across them!

RXE16T

Mate,

I'm in Bankstown (western suburb of Sydney) and trust me WRXs are a dime a dozen.

My area alone is plagued by "fully sick" and "hectic" WRXs as the car of choice.
This is closely followed by 200SX's, FD RX7s and S2Ks.

I think there are only two 8's in the surrounding area, so in the scheme of things, it's still not as common (until a few are stolen and rebirthed into the area).

LOL

rotarenvy

I supose it depends on the area but the 8 is selling very well and will be common like the WRX even if they don't get the attention of the fully sick brigade

xsfer

Dragula, I was faced with the same choice as you 3 months ago.

Having had a S2000 I was between minds on the STI or the RX8.

Basically, the STI is fast, no denying that, but there is nothing in them and no decent options, ie. only halogen headlights (xenon offered in the US), crap stereo, rear seats do not fold down at all, non leather seats, and of course ugly as sin to look at...

RX8 still has plenty of pace, but alot more creature comforts and options (10 speaker stereo, leather seats, drivers lights, climate control, electric seat adjustments etc) and looks a hell of alot better looking...

Basically I have had enough of the drivers car in the S2000 and wanted something that was better for cruising around in which I think is the choice you have to make, too much emphasis purely on performance and nothing else (STi) or a balance of performance and comfort (RX8).

I did very seriously look into the STi, and note would also note that in terms of price, there is only one subaru dealer in each state which sells the STi (ie. docklands subaru in melbourne) which means there is no real competition to get a decent price out of any of them versus the ability for you to shop around with the rx8 and get a seriously good deal (with 23 mazda dealers in vic).

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

I didn't even consider a WRX. It's funny how lots of V8 heads don't mind a good rotar, but a rex? No way.

Besides, the RX-8 is a sports car from the ground up.

Cheers,
Hymee.

BTW - After 35,000 km on my original set of tyres, one shitty tank of fuel (actually water), and a stone through the A/C condensor (easily fixed), I'm still waiting for all those problems that are supposed to happen to a "pre-mature" car.

takahashi

Water fuel????

How can a stone pass through the guard of Hymee Grill?

Gibbo

It may feel like that to you but get serious, they will never ever become like the WRX, they will become like the late series RX-7's. Able to be found but far from common.

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Don't you remember I filled up with a tankfull of premium unleaded Caltex Vortex water one time?

And the stone - That is what made the grill kit happen in the first place!

That studying is really killing off some of your old brain cells taka. I hope it doesn't cause you to forget everything you study for in previous years!! j/k

Cheers,
Hymee.

RXE16T

Ehhh..... not really unfortunately.
The 8 is a lot cheaper than the FD 7 was, so it is a lot more affordable and easier to obtain.

takahashi

You are right Hymee

Oh my god --- must be all the dead bodies I chopped today.

Stilll... what happen to Vortex?! I thought you are just not happy with the fuel. Is that really water?? I thought it was a dose of Hymee sarcasm