G35 or Z350

 

If you want performance, quality, and price then you can't beat the WRX regular. For $23k you can get yourself a car that will pretty much perform with almost anything up to $30k and many things well over. The interior isn't crap, some of you guys are just spoiled. It is actually pretty decent. The only thing I found chincy about the interior was the cup holder. Everything else is ok. And the Suby is a reliable product as well. And you can get a one or two year old version for $16k-20k. How can you beat that. But the 04 will get rid of the bug eyes. It will also have a regular spoiler, not the big wing that comes with the STI.

I am still considering the WRX. I drove one. It is a blast. And since it was the #1 import sports car for the last couple of years (well maybe except for the Miata), there are tons of aftermarket upgrades available.

 

mustang cobra or camaro ss

used ones are cheap. but that's one man's opinion, and i'm into those cars, and the rx's... =)

 

Best car next to an RX-8 : My Miata. Hopefully then it'd be my RX-8! seriously, the Miata is a great car, and some drives of the RX contain Miata comparisons for good reason! AND, the best part, you can pick up a great used one for around $10K, depending how old you are willing to go. But as long as it's been reasonably cared for you should expect a lot of life from a decent used one!
Or a used Prelude - those are great, albeit different, cars. I'd cut a lot from my budget before giving up on an RX-8 though!

 

I notice no one has mentioned the MazdaSpeed Protege. I too had to give up the dream of the RX-8 for the time being. I notice a lot of people mentioning the WRX. I looked at one and was really put off by the interior.

I chose the MSP because of the balance between performance, handling, style, and interior. I am perfectly happy to "settle" for 0-60 in 7 seconds and 1/4 mile in 15.5. In the real world I will get more pleasure out of the interior and the 450 watt MP3 player than I would from the extra speed of the WRX.

On top of that, I have seen several WRXs around town, but no other MSPs.

I am kinda curious why I am the only one to think of the Speed as an alternative to the RX-8. I really would like to know if people here don't consider the MSP as a contender. Don't worry about insulting my new car. I'd like to hear some honest opinions.

 

I like the Protege 5; used to have a Protege (91); liked the MP3 too. I'd probably lean towards a 6 if no RX-8 was coming, but I have to say (close your ears) I'd think about the WRX too. I have a Subaru XT6 AWD that is kinda fun for a heavy '89 auto car.

 

RX7 - the FD!!!

and play with it =)
get some 3mm ceramic seals and go from there...

 

Good topic! An answer I'm still trying to find. Here are my brutally honest observations.

Test drove Mazda6 yesterday - great bang for the buck performance and safety wise, but a little cheap inside, FWD, and heavy curb weight.

I currently drive a '01 Protege ES and the MazdaSpeed certainly seems appealing but several key issues were not addressed. The seats are the same as all regular Proteges and IMO, the worse feature of my car - too flat and zero lower back support. The gearing is pathetically low (try a 4 hr road trip with the tach at 3250 rpm while only doing 110 kph) - no need for a radar, the screaming engine will deter you from wanting to speed. Finally, there's no side airbags despite its availability in the States. Honestly, it's a great little car which does everything I expected it to. It's a bummer because all of these complaints are relatively easy to address (given the car market segment and budget). I would have been first in line for one otherwise. LSD and boost would certainly make it seem like an even more fun ride.

Looked at an '04 WRX. Much improved front facia was the only reason I could now handle walking into the dealership (although I still find the front overhang excessive). Honestly the interior seemed ok to me. Rear seat room is less than a Protege though and no split-fold seats means I'd have to get a wagon for my MTB (don't ask how I was going to try and fit one in the RX-8 if I got one).

Tried an RSX Type S but for the $$$, I find it a little too bland. Positives were a great shifter, seats, well spaced layout, and general asthetics both inside and out. Probably the things which deterred me (taking the price into consideration) was the lack of LSD, having to wind out the motor for some OOMPH, side airbags with no head protection - "thank god the ribs are ok, they'll come in handy for a brain-dead individual who's skull is stuck in some SUV grill", no HID, no 17" rims, and a sunroof which sticks of the car resulting in as much racket as a bike rack would.

Tried a Mini, centre mounted speedo was annoying, and wind noise at 100 kph was excessive. $29K Cdn for 160 hp Mini Cooper S? Sorry, I'll get a *base* RSX instead - same HP and it runs on regular gas. Mini was a fun ride though but the lack of LSD would again bug me.

IMO, the 350Z is not the same market simply due to only having 2 seats (don't even get me started on the lack of value for a $44K base car with a 3200+ lbs chassis and V6 motor). G35 coupe, although very sweet looking, is too upscale to be in the same market as well (G35 sedan might be more realistic).

Now, if Nissan would have brought over their latest generation Silvia/240SX (S16?), that would be a comparison!

Don't think the RX-8 goes without comment. $37K Cdn for no seat warmers, no HID, no alarm, and no sunroof... If it wasn't for the 18" rims, beefier brakes, and LSD (and torqueless 250hp rotary?), I'd look elsewhere. Wait a minute, I already am?!?! Only 6 years of memories in my FD (now that invoked emotion!) keep me curious of the RX-8.

 

For performance, price of repairs no issue, FD RX-7 :D Will outdo most cars even new today ... :p

 

If you really want a RX8 in the future and RWD, I say buy a RX7
and learn about the wankel powered cars. Shame that the newest LHD RX7 is from 1995....