Well guys, I am sorry to announce that it looks like I will be the latest person to fall off the RX-8 bandwagon. Though I love the carI guess a few things got me thinking about whether the RX-8 was the best choice in a new "toy", given that I already have a G35 sedan and a Miata.

1. Year-round usage: The RX-8, much like the Miata, would be a "fair weather" car. I can drive it a few months longer than the Miata, i.e. when it is cold but before snowfall hits, but I would not be driving it year-round. I have a feeling making that $557 payment in January would kind of get to me. I'd be paying for something that is sitting, doing nothing. When the Miata sits in the winter, it only costs me $20 a month to insure it. That's it.

2. Limited utility: Not much of a trunk, and access apparently isn't easy. Since I sold my VW GTI 1.8T I have often missed having a hatchback, especially since I am a photographer and carry lighting equipment around occasionally. This came up this week when I photographed a band. On top of that, thought it is a sports car the RX-8 is basically a fast four door. I have one of those already.

3. Fuel economy: The area I live in is hell for fuel economy. Lots of terrain and steep hills. I get around 16mpg in my G35, mimicking Car and Driver's test G35. (It currently costs $33 to fill up and it's starting to get to me.) If that extrapolates to the RX-8 since they were driven around the same time and the same way, I'll have two gas guzzlers and one car that gets 26+ MPG. I'd rather have one guzzler and two cars that get 26+ MPG.

3. Styling: I think the RX-8 styling is OK overall, great in the front. But it is a bit incongruous and doesn't light me afire like some other cars do.

4. T: I hate to bring up the T word, but again, in the area where I live, having abundant T on tap at low RPMs is essential around here. When you are pointing up a hill, the engine climbs the powerband slowly, and when you have passengers it makes things worse.

5. Expense: This is probably the biggest thing that made me think about considering an RX-8 alternative. I do OK financially, but I am far from wealthy. Two $30,000 cars and a roadster is a bit much IMHO, just a bit out of hand. I mentioned in my first Mini Cooper S thread that work saw a downturn. I'd hade to be straddled with the RX-8's $557 payment if I got let go or took a pay cut. With the same amount down, my Mini Cooper S payment will be $348 and I have a lot more equity in the car, and will not be a few thousand upside down in any part of the loan- plus, I can handle that and my G35 payment even on unemployment. :p It adds up to $12,540 over a five year period. That's an awful lot of vacations, new clothing, new toys, and a fatter savings account.

6. Pre-order gifts: It did not look like I would be getting them and Mazda doesn't seem to care. Do they really want my money? Is this the way they treat their biggest fans?

So, after a friend told me about how much fun the Mini Cooper is to drive, I went down and test drove the supercharged S model yesterday. I absolutely loved the car and ordered one on the spot.

It's a better fit for my car situation, guys, and even if I had twice the income I do I probably would have gone this route anyway as it makes more sense. I like the styling better than the RX-8, is about $10k cheaper (I went really light on options), it has a hatchback for utility, gets great gas mileage, it's a ball to drive, and best of all, I can drive it twelve months a year. I don't even need to call it a toy since it will serve my needs better than the RX-8, which WOULD have been a very expensive toy. I know the Mini is a BMW product and I have flamed BMWs here before, but at least it is $20k and not $35k. I'm willing to put up with maintenance hassles if I am not paying an arm and a leg for the car, and with three vehicles splitting the miles, I am not likely to experience the headaches I did when I had a BMW as my daily driver.

Though I am certain of my course, I'm going to wait a week or two before I cancel my RX-8 order. #1 I will feel stupid since I just added the Rotary Accent Package, and #2 I want to be sure before I bid my RX-8 adieu. The Cooper S will be here late June-Early July, so I could wait and test the RX-8 to see if I really wanted it, but that would not be right and my dealer has been good to me. I should give them the opportunity to sell it to someone else who may want it. (Feak, it's Titanium...still want one? Go get it!)

I'll still be reading and posting. I like all the people I have met on here and it's one of the best forums I have partcipated in. I can't wait to read about how much everyone loves their cars!

 

s'cool Don... i couldn't get one (wouldn't fit) but if you don't need to use the rear seat all the time, it does have some good amount of storage space in the back... not quite as fast, not quite as expensive, (maybe) not quite as fun, but a good car none-the-less.

...just one thing though: why would you drive your Mini in the winter, and not the RX-8??

 

Front wheel drive

 

In my experience, front wheel drive is terrible in the rain and inclimate weather. Once the front end breaks loose, there's no control of the car. And they break loose a lot quicker than RWD on accelaration due to all the weight transfers to the rear, leaving very little weight on the front for traction.

Your #6 reason ("no preorder gifts") is a really silly excuse. Does anyone really base their purchase of a car (or any other item, for that matter) on whether they get some little knick knack from the manufacterer when they purchase it?

That being said, I saw the Mini at the Dallas auto show, and it does look like a well-built, fun little car... despite it's front wheel drive.

Good luck!

 

Wow.. you have a lot of cars! Are they all paid off or still paying? Whew...

Have fun with your Mini.. I'm curious how it will respond to your hills..

 

Based on a long test drive, a Mini S is a hell of a lot of fun and a cool car. I've debated getting one, but it's a little too lacking in the back seat and trunk for me. But have fun!

Will you get the John Cooper works upgrade? That was part of the problem for me - I'd feel a need to get it, but then it's getting dangerously close to rx-8 pricing.

 

Yeah, my sister has a Mini cooper. She loves it and certianly gets lots of attention in it. I almost bought a G35 but really didn't care for the styling of it (The intertior and the back end just to plain). I found out about the RX-8 while searching for something comparible. Enjoy that Mini S. But I'd have to say yeah you really don't need both a G35 and an Rx-8.

 

"No preorder gifts" was a joke. It would not make a difference to me in a $30,000 purchase. I still think Mazda's response has been wholely inadequate and they are not taking responsibility.

With all-seaon tires, I think FWD is better, and probably with snow tires, too. With the traction control systems the front end doesn't break loose. YMMV.

 

I've got the perfect solution ---- keep the Mini. buy the RX-8 & SELL the G35 Sedan.

 

Forgot to mention, it doesn't feel like FWD at all. It really impressed me.

The Miata is long paid for. i have a payment on the G35 but I get a car allowance from work that pays a good chunk of it.

The Mini was great on the hills!

I thought of that! But I work four income streams (I have a great sales job, I photograph weddings on weekends, I author DVDs, and I write a newspaper column) so I can do things like this. I could do the RX-8 financially, but if Iam going to have three I feel I should be just a bit conservative, and like you said, a G35 and an an RX-8 both are not needed. The Mini rounds out "the fleet" a lot better.

I will have a lot of fun with the three cars. G35 for trips and business, Miata for sunny days, Mini for when I want to drive manual in bad weather.

All three cars do something different. I couldn't have just a Mini or a Miata. Too small. The G35 is great but I like the go-cart feel of a small car. Now I can have it year-round... and if something bad would happen, I can always sell one!

I am going to go ahead and send my cancellation letter tomorrow. No point waiting.

 

You don't have to justify, in my opinion jumping the RX-8 bandwagon. I've seen the G35; I've read about it, but never driven it. Personally, I'd take the RX-8 over the G35 every day of the week, every time. I don't live far from you and am familiar with the topography of the area. I think dedicated snow tires from Dec - Feb would make the RX-8 a full-year car for you. Since you'd likely 'only' get 300K out of the RX-8, it could do a lot of those business trips you reserve for the G35. For me the rotary is the best part of the RX-8 among many positive points going for it, but in one acronym, I'd take the RX-8 over a Mini because of "RWD".
p.s. Some things I've read imply a FWD or AWD w/all-seasons is not as able in snow as a RWD w/ dedicated snows. YMMV.

 

I have had both and you are absolutely right. But with all seasons on FWD and RWD, I think FWD is better.

My G35 went through the snow fine with all seasons. The traction/stability control is really very good. Snows would have been better, but it got me where I was going except for one really bad storm. I think with snows or FWD/all season I would have made it without waiting.
The RX-8 would not work for me as a daily driver even with snow tires, BTW. I need full-size sedan room. If I did not need that, I could do an RX-8 rather than the G35.

Yeah, no need to justify, but we are here to talk about cars! Everyone else who has jumped off has given reasons, and if I did not explain, I am sure replies would ask why.

 

Don,
I drove the Mini-S a few times before pre-ordering the RX8. It was a blast to drive no doubt. I needed a first car and it didn't seem to fit the bill. If I ever can afford another toy it will probably be a Mini-S, unless of course I can talk my girlfriend into trading her Protege for it.

Why is it taking so long to get? The dealer here near Tampa had about 10 of them last time I was there.

 

Don't know why it is taking a while. Everything they have is sold. They said my car would be built at the end of May and would arrive four weeks later. Works for me- I'll have more money to put down.

hey do sell at MSRP + tax and tag. Is your Tampa dealer asking premiums? That tends to build supply.

 

Best of Luck with the Mr. Bean Mini-Me, Don.

 

Wow, Mini S is an excellent choice. When I was waiting for my car, I went to test drive the Mini S just for the heck of it. The test drive was so much fun that I wanted to buy it on the spot. I was laughing out loud the whole time I was test driving it. (The car feels a lot faster than it's stat might suggest) Taking a corner at 40mph in the Mini feels like 60mph for some reason. Awesome stability and traction. I only gave up after all my family and friends told me the Mini looks quirky (which I replied "So What!" for awhile until I gave in :P)

The Mini can actually carry quite a bit of cargo if you only have 2 passengers. The styling is very good without being too bubbly like the Beetle. I like the cabin design as well. The Mini S is the most fun to drive car per dollar I can think of. It really feels like a Go-Kart with roof and pretty nice interior. Plenty of headroom as well.

For those of you who are looking for a simply irresistable fun to drive car, go test drive a Mini. The built quality is definitely above average. Have fun with the Mini. Happy Motoring.

 

I think the Cooper is a cool little car. It would be a little small for me, otherwise I would have considered one. I especially like the interior. I love all of the toggle switches on the center stack. Congrats man and good luck!

 

Yep, nice car. It ISN'T a hatchback though. It has a tiny boot/trunk so I don't know where that idea came from. I have no doubt that you'll enjoy it though!

 

The rear opens totally and the seats fold down all the way to the front seats. I guess that is why I think of it as a hatch.

 

I think of it as a "hatch" too.

:D

I might be considering it in the future also ... if for some reason I'm not happy about the RX-8. I love the interior dash and those toggle switches and windshield wiper/headlight controls and it's safety ratings (although I'm sure that the RX-8 will also pass with 5 stars and get thoses great safety ratings too), but I'm not that taken with the small rear trunk space that it has. but it is nice that the rear seats fold down ...

I need the car to be my daily driver, but on the weekends (there's always a very good chance that I need to hall around one or both of my two kids in their car-seats and that takes up the back seats, plus if it's the younger one), I need to have room for a baby stroller in the back behind the rear seat ...

Still, I'm in no rush ... since I now have my MP5 for the next 3-5+ years ...



... Still, I understand your situation ... glad I've got some time before I get my RX-8 ...

 

Having learned to drive in my mother's 1969 (real) Mini, I have trouble calling the current incarnation a Mini. To me, it's very much a Middie. Cool car, and I'd be happy to own one, but it ain't mini.

 

They were advertising with premium but as soon as I started talking that came off the top. My main complaint was they were putting that "Autobond" plastic on all of the cars. Obviously to make some extra cash on the huge profit item.
I almost bought a medium bright blue metallic Blue S that was a demo. WOuld have been a good deal at less than 18K with only 3k miles on it. But like I said I couldn't see it as a primamry car.
Good luck though It's a great car!

 

I eventually test drove the mini, I was not that enamoured with the looks at first. It was a blast to drive so I started to do a little research. OMG, this thing has so many problems, I wouldn't know where to start. Just go to www.mini2.com. There is a section just for problems (Faults n Fixes), it has close to 1,700 threads with over 17,000 posts

Don I hope you don't get any of these problems. Enjoy the ride.

 

Thanks for the tip, I'll folllow the threads. I was expecting a few problems... after all, it is a BMW made in Britain, a marriage made in hell if there ever was one! It's a third car and a toy though and will see under 10k miles per year. If it has problems, they are all handled under warranty, and if it is troublesome to the point of being annoying, I'll dump it.

 

Oi! The days when British workers made **** cars are long gone. These days Japanese makers got better quality from British factories than they do at home (Nissan and Toyota for example). The only thing we can't seem to do anymore is actually OWN the car companies that produce on our land (with minor exceptions like TVR).

Also, the quality of Mercedes cars took a severe drop when they started making them in the USA.