hppy4u

Hey guys/girls?
This is Dan with the yellow RX-8 occasionally with the bike rack. I just wanted to say sorry I didn't get to meet any of you in person...but I will keep an eye out for any RX-8s around the Libertyville/Vernon Hills area.

I am just writing to say that I have sold the RX-8 and just signed the papers for a new 2003 Lancer Evolution. So if you see a white EVO, give me a honk and I will try to keep an eye out for any RX-8s. I miss the car already and am suffering from seller's remorse but I am sure the EVO will also be fun in it's own right.

PaulieWalnuts

Good luck with the EVO. Why'd you sell the 8???

hppy4u

Hello PaulieWalnuts
It was just certain personal preferences that came to a halting reality the more time I spent with the RX-8. I used to own a '97 Eclipse GSX (turbo + all wheel drive) and spent a large amount of money to improve on the handling, performance, interior, braking etc to make a poor man's porsche.

I thought the aftermarket for the RX-8 would have been a little more promising to make up for my certain driving preferences. The more I read the more disappointed I became with the car's potential...and for a $30K+ car I was expecting a little more driver satisfaction as a baseline.

Admittedly, some of the deciding factors were the ever increasing list of TSBs, extremely poor fuel economy (I was averaging approximately 9-11 mpg), soft suspension for a sports suspension, and the inconsistent engine power. It seemed as if the car felt relatively strong some days and extremely weak on others. Additionally, I lost confidence in the car's reliability when my engine flooded, fortunately for me this occured at home but I had to miss a day of work.

On the plus side I thought the aesthetics and interior fit and finish was stunning. Additionally, I thought overall balance of the vehicle was very enjoyable when pushed to it's limits but saw that it would need a large investment to achieve the handling I was originally thought to believe it would have.

I had one of the earlier cars so your mileage may vary. If you are a current/potential owner please take my opinions with a grain of salt. Having owned the car for nearly six months, I firmly believe the car should have been priced starting at $22K and maybe maxing out at $25K especially, since the many of the cosmetic/interior, fit and finish, and performance figures were comparable to cars found within that price range. The $27K I spent on the car was becoming harder and harder rationalize...

mkboy1313

Hey Dan, quick question. I need to get a bike rack for mine, now that I've switched from the SUV to the 8, but I know nothing about them. Any tips on rack buying?

PaulieWalnuts

9-11 MPG and the other problems sound like there was something wrong with your car. One of the lemons maybe. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. Good luck with the EVO.

hppy4u

mkboy1313,

If you look into a bike rack, bite the bullet and purchase a roof mount rack. The rear of the 8 has either an aluminum/thin steel trunk that may not tolerate the weight of a rear mounted bike rack (ie the trunk will most likely crease/dent in addition to the rear bumper where most rear mount racks will brace against). If you choose Yakima, I have some barely used Q-clips (clips that mount to the roof and hold the cross bars) for sale. I will be holding on to the rack but need new clips since the EVO requires a slightly different set. If you also choose Yakima, I have had a lot of experience so I could guide you along as well with the install/set-up.

Otherwise the only two reliable roof mount racks available for the 8 are the Yakima and the Thule. At the time I purchased mine, Yakima was the only one manufacturer who actually had first hand experience with the 8. They sent me pix of their test fit and guided me along with the install. Their customer service was extremely helpful and patient with me as well. When I finished the install, they even inquired on my progress a day later to make sure I was happy and asked if I wasn't successful they would make some calls and try to find a local shop to help me out. Fortunately, I didn't but at least they instilled in me a lifetime of commitment.

The cheapest place I could find for the rack was www.rackattack.com

wayneside

i'm from texas but i'm always in the addison area because my best friend lives there...my 8 is awesome but i hate the fact that i have to always rev so high to get going (fast)...otherwise an awesome car...love the sound of the rotary...

BRx8

hey, that might've been mine...i live in Lisle and i'm always around Lisle, Naperville, Schaumburg, or the city...i've seen one other black on just like mine but with a spoiler...

mine has tinted windows, strakes, and rotary accents

G8rboy

Might have been me... I'm in Schaumburg whenever I go into the office (2-3 times/week).

Iceman6

hey omagic you have a blue tinted windows ? i think i spotted you by plainfeild and 83 i was driving my ti grey 8

PaulieWalnuts

Red and Silver 8s at Lifetime Fitness in Orland Park, IL - Anybody here? If not I may drop an RX8club.com note on them.

flip

I would be the red one.. but in LIFETIME fitness Bloomingdale..

Iceman6

hey guys saw an 8 at pleasentdale park district yesterday was it anyone i was gonna put a peice of paper on it thet said rx8club on it but didnt have paper

MBL-RX8

So there I was sitting at the light of Southwest Hwy. and 131st St. in Palos Park, and I get beeped at by somebody from behind. In the turning lane, a sexy Ti Silver pulls up alongside with a grinning little girl staring at me from the passenger seat! I didn't have a chance to respond as the driver got the green arrow.

If that was anybody on here...*BEEP* back to you!

PaulieWalnuts

MBL-RX8 - I've seen 2 silvers and 2 reds but haven't seen you in the area yet. I'll be getting a black one but in the meantime if you see someone in a beige Millenia giving you a thumbs-up, it's probably me.

MBL-RX8

Very cool! We'll have to meet up and take a twin BB picture. Any other Chicago BB's interested in meeting up and setting a Guinness world record for number of BB's in one picture? :D

whosyourbaba

IM IN!

TiTaniumRX8

o.k. im pissed off, i pulled right up next to a nice looking woman in a black 8 and she wouldnt even roll down those fast *** windows when i looked out my babe and shouted "nice car!"

You all sound really nice here, but i would like to say if you see a woman in a black 8 in the Vernon/Long Grove area... watch out!


Also saw a guy in a black 8 today right by hawthorne mall... what up!

Adamrotor

I saw a blue 8 this week but the guy is not on the forum, he was some asian dude but had exhaust and intake done, he tried to race me but i am just breaking hehe, but he showed me his power on the streets. Also we were cruising down the street side by side blocking traffic a prefect KODAK moment

PaulieWalnuts

I've been seeing a black 8 with Florida plates running around Tinley Park and Orland Park the past few weeks. Anyone here?

BRx8

alright i now regulary see a blue RX-8 and a black one in the morning on Ogden Avenue, Lisle between 7:30am and 8:00am (depending on how many times i press the snooze button ) is this anyone? the cars look brand new and the blue one doesn't even have plate in the front license plate holder

also spotted a yellow one on Rt. 53 one time driving towards Butterfield...i drove up next to him looked over but he didn't notice so i drove past

BoxerGT2.5

I two have see a black one stopped by highland and butterfield by my office. Probably the same one? I really don't see any by me????

flip

I see a few around Schaumburg too... c'mon now.. we can do better than just "see" other 8's... we should have another meet... AGAIN...

Adamrotor

I saw to titanium ones yesterday one by downtown on division and rush.

Audioslave8

saw a black debaged one at banner day camp