Stavesacre21

as i've learned in the last 5 vehicles i've owned in the last 5 years, there is only 2 things you should STRONGLY follow when it comes to buying a car:

1) Can you afford it? No way around that one

2) If so, buy the car you've always WANTED, no substitutes. Find it in the color you want, the options you want, the engine you want (if it offers more then one), the mods you want, etc.


If you're even slightly swayed on #2, you'll almost always ask yourself "why didn't i just buy this one?"

I'll get heckled, i'm sure...but if you've always wanted an S2000, don't even bother with an RX8. Cause it'll never be an S2000, and in the end, you may like the 8, but in the corner of your mind you'll always be thinking "man i wish i'd bought an s2000...ill just get one later". Thus follows the horrendous trade-in values down the road, then you have to pay sales tax and everything AGAIN.

Go with your gut. You should get an S2000.

reaper1

Good call...........

Marklar

I agree. When was shopping for a new car I was very tempted to go for the MS 3 although I had been wanting an 8 for years. If I had gone with the MS 3, no matter how much I liked the car I would always be a little disappointed that I didn't get the 8.

Get what you really want, it's a big investment and you'll have to live with your choice for a long time.

newguy

wonder if the Hyundai Genesis coupe is 3500lbs like the Zs? 306 hp an ipod jack standard, the 10 yr 100k warranty, and back seats albiet smaller than the 8s. Looks like that window would make it easy to see over your shoulder. theres also a 215hp turbo 4 which Im wondering would it be able to take a 375hp turbo upgrade like a 90-99 Eclipse.

http://www.thegenesiscoupe.com/

Sephiroth

Thanks for all the replies guys. You guys are right, im going to stick with the mindset that the s2k is the car to get. I think ill test drive the 8 and s2k in that order, back to back, and come to a decision.

04RX8man

^good choice to test drive each back to back and see what it feels like!

ferg

just get the rx8

Sephiroth

Well guys, im back again. The 2007 s2ks i looked at have 200-300 miles on them but they are still new! The salesmen tell me the dealership owners took them out from time to time but i don't know how true that is. I don't know what to offer for these things, not sure if i even want one.

I've tried low balling dealerships about 2008 s2ks but they are holding firm at 27.9k. I think there was a cash incentive from honda last month but not this month so they won't go to $25k.

As i said before, the 08 RX8s have $4k cash or apr + $1k loyalty. There is an 40th AE listed for $26k right now so i should get it for $20k easily. The 8 definitely looks the better value. Help!

04RX8man

well first u need to decide what you want the 8 or the 2000 of course it seems like the 8 is the best deal here but if u truely love the s2k better then i woujld go with that because u would b disappointed if u wanted it and did not get it

Stavesacre21

I agree with him, bud. You need to decide what you want BEFORE you start trying to deal...because i GAURANTEE you'll get a better deal on an 8 then a 2000. It's just Mazda vs. Honda. Honda doesn't need to drop prices. Mazda is willing to take severe hits to clear the 08 8's off their lots.

I know it's tempting to go with the cheaper deal here, but i've got a funny feeling that you'll never lilke the 8 as much as an S2000. Its been clear as day in the way you've been talking. See what you can get that 07 down to. In my own findings, hundreds of miles on a dealer owned car means 1 of 2 things. Either (A) lots of people have test driven it, or more often then not, (B) the dealers take it out and beat the @#$% ouf ot it for fun since it's not theirs (such as demo cars, for example).

I'm not one to get into others personal buisness, but if you can manage to handle a 2008 payment, I wouldn't think about it anymore. It doesn't sound to me like it's truly between the 8 and the 2000 anymore, seems more about which year of the 2000.

Again, don't sell yourself short to save a few bucks

04RX8man

^agreed

Kafka

if i got a daily driver i will definitely get something i love...in this case...its s2k for you!

Sephiroth

You guys are probably right. And im afraid you are right about how all those miles got on those 07s. I've managed to get an 08 down to $26.8 but im going to hold out some more and see if he comes down more.

Btw, i just set up an appointment to check out an 08 Z tomorrow

rx 8speciale

iTrader: (3)

i will buy the 370z .... best car of the 3

Razz1

Eake thenm for a test drive.

Only pick the 09 RX8.

newguy

for those prices id get the 8. before id drop 27k on a honda if you must have a 2 seater convertible, id get the pontiac solstice turbo w/ a more compliant ride, then Id turn the boost up on the ecotech and put 300 down to the wheels and watch the S2000 in my rearview.

That or a miata w/ coilovers and a Jackson Racing supercharger and again leave the S2000, if you must have a drop top 2 seater.

Kevo

You could pick up a low mileage (20k-30k miles) 2007-2008 BMW Z4M Coupe/Roadster for around $35k-$40k depending on the options. I am not biased or anything!

Stavesacre21

...enjoy the frequent visits to the dealership. I've heard nothing but problems from them. Being a GM, it's not exactly a big shock at that. The only thing it has going for it is the price to power ratio...thats about it. I even hate Hondas personally, but if it were between a Honda and a GM product, 9 times outta 10 it'd be a blindfolded Honda.

Don't make any rash decisions with that 370Z tomorrow tho...not that i'm assuming they'll make any deals on their brand-new flagship vehicle Take your time on it.

It's almost a gaurantee. They tried to sell me a dealer owned MS3 that was even TOLD to me to be a demo car. Yeah, it has 1100 miles. higher miles on a "brand new" sporty car that's yet to leave the dealership can never be a good thing. Even with 2K knocked off the price, it's not worth it...trust me. I've been through the headaches before. Even with a warranty, a part of you dies when integral parts of your car have to be replaced from stock.

yokohamaboi

iTrader: (1)

egh S2K with a hardtop. done!

http://www.spoonsports.us/ProductDet...e=6900-AP1-000

Here a Spoon Sports hard top

04RX8man

yeah def check out th3 370z while you are there I was at Nissan the other day and they had one there theya re nice except i still do not like the 2 seater....however teh HP/TQ numbers are pretty impressive but if they handle at all close to a 350(which sucks compared to the 8) i would not b buying one!

PotatoSoup

If I wasn't so tall, I would seriously consider an S2000. The S2000 is great, there are lots of things I like about it, but my size vs. its size is an issue.

One major thing that has also always bothered me about the S2000 is that it doesn't have any side-impact airbags. Especially for the price. Adding side-impact SRS wouldn't add much weight either. I'll never understand why they weren't added when Honda did the refresh several years ago. Safety and sport aren't mutually exclusive these days...

I'd get a new, non-dealer-beater 2008 or well-maintained private-party 2007. Again, as other have said, if you can truly afford it, and if it's truly what you want, what's a few thousand dollars?

Sephiroth

The sky and solstice are out. I just can't stand the cheap interior materials. Im sure they are fast and drive nice but i will gladly pass on them.
I've thought about the miata for a while but i decided that i would only opt for the mazdaspeed version of the NC.

I can't stomach spending $30k-$40k for a used Z4m. I felt the interior was dated and now i will envy the new Z4 when they start running around on the streets. If i were to go BMW i think it would be the Z2.

Again, thanks a bunch to everybody for the ideas and advice. I knew there was a reason why i've been on this forum for so long.

Im trading offers back and forth at this point on s2ks. If the car has 100-200 miles on it then im lowballing like crazy. I think i can get an 08 for $26k with 10 miles or so. Im still looking around at other cars like the 8, Z, sti, etc. Lets see what happens.

Kevo

Yeah, they didn't bother with the iDrive system or much of the fancy electronic gadgetry found in other BMWs. They kept it simple and uncluttered instead. That approach certainly doesn't appeal to everybody!

Good luck on your search man! Sounds like you have really put the appropriate thought into it...I am sure you will get the ride that's perfect for you!

77mjd

Depending where you are (colder/snowy areas mostly), I've already heard you can get into a 370 for around invoice. Yet there are some places that have a markup on them. According to early reviews, the handling is much improved over the 350 too. I'm looking forward to test driving one to see for myself, because I initially chose my 8 over a 350 because the 350's ride/handling felt like crap to me and it only felt slightly faster despite almost 100 more hp.

Stavesacre21

I will add that the auto-rev match downshifting is a pretty sweet idea. Almost takes the brains out of the whole operation. It's gotten a ton of praise for it so far!