Exactly why I put in my 2 cents, there are things a test drive and a magazine review will not reflect. I had a ton of problems I haven't listed in this thread that I would be willing to share, privately. Why? Everyone flames when you point out the shortcomings of the 8.

FASTER not significant? They are both sports cars, isn’t that the point?

 

I'm sorry but the original poster just wreaks of BS. Not because he's considering trading in an STi for an RX-8, I'll admit that an RX-8 could be a better car for someone than the STi depending on their needs. It's just the things he says, and how he says them.

Oh, and Boiler

Don't like what we have to say, don't read our posts...

 

said perfectly!

 

how bout this thats just plain out stupid, i am asking guestions to people who own the damn car people who drive it all year, threw rain , snow, cold starts, ect.. they kno how the car is what to expect after a few months , things i will never kno from a 10 min test drive,, every one else has no problem understanding , and sorry that i dont "word" what i say correctly for u... and if you have a problem understanding i own a sti stop by my house ill show you my sti parked next to my mustang and ill even wedge my r6 between them both,, does this sound a little angry well yes it is because i have 2 deal with b/s like that because im interesed in a car that had less power, and handling then the car i now own,, in simple terms you might understand I GET SICK OF CARS FAST ... and for every one who understood me and is being so nice to answer me i thank you all for taking your time to reply honestly .

 

That's funny when I thought ugliest car in America I immediately remembered my wife's reaction when she saw the first Pontiac Aztek.

Definitely the funniest response to any car she has seen. She did make fun of the looks of the Neon, Evo, and Sti because of the grocery cart effect. Course they aren't as bad as some of the super riced up Civics, why do they do that?

 

Hey, I have both, drive both year-round, think they are both awesome machines, so I may have some helpful info.

First, these two cars are in completely different classes. STi = all-out performance and competes with the Evo, Cobra, GTO, SRT-4. RX-8 = sporty, classy cruiser and competes with 350Z/G35, RSX-S, Crossfire, Audi TT. I think they are both at the top of their respective categories.

The RX-8 provides a siginificant improvement over the STi in terms of comfort and features. It is way better for long drives. Comfortable leather seats, heated seats, nav, good stereo system, great ride, superior shifter, and just the absolute smoothest engine noise you'll ever hear. Doesn't do quite as well in the snow, due mostly to the 18" tires, but it is definitely driveable with a good set of snows (WS-50s for us). The RX-8's two greatest lacks are its performance and moddability. It is definitely a fun car to drive, just not nearly as fun as the STi.

As for looks, I have never been able to quantify the benefits of having a "better looking" car, but RX-8 people seem to like to be able to say their car is better looking. My thoughts: the STi is sharp, aggressive, masculine. The RX-8 is rounded, bulbous, non-threatening, and feminine. The STi seems to get more respect from "car guys" while the RX-8 seems to get more respect from the average person on the street.

My recommendation, especially if you get tired of a car fast: make sure that you can deal with the lack of performance on a daily basis. Try driving the STi for a couple of weeks without going into boost at all. If it doesn't bother you, then there is no reason why you shouldn't go with the 8. If it does, you may want to keep the STi.

 

In your opinion (subjective) the STI is better. I outgrew having to have the fastest car around about 25 years ago. I did test drive a WRX and it didn't do anything for me. I didn't want a fast econobox, I wanted something that looked sexy. I also think that hood scoops and rear wings look ridiculous, though I thought they were cool looking when I was a teenager. I also like sitting low to the ground, not high like a sedan. The ergonomics of the RX-8 is what drew me to her. I feel like I am part of my car, not perched on a seat.

When his test drive is complete, he will be able to make the decision on which car is better for him. Maybe he's outgrown the boy racer look.

 

^^That^^ is what he is looking for.

So there are mature STI owners out there.


I will add that I have driven my 8 year round in Minnesota, had to put some winter tires on once it dropped below 40 F degrees. It drove better than my front wheel drive Eagle Vision TSI in the winter because of the traction control system. Just can't screw up unless a person disables it.

The shifter in the 8 is really nice and can be made even nicer with the Axial Flow Engineering shift kit (I am still amazed by how short the throw is on the 8).

I had test drove a Mustang before the 8 but the salesman was an ***. Ready to drive it and noticed it didn't have much fuel left, Empty all the way on the peg. "Ah we can run it around the block." Mother, mother that ticked me off. I didn't even make it out of 3rd gear. Took it back and walked out.
I have a few friends with 'stangs and they love them too.

 

In half the time it took you to post that you could have snapped a pic and made me look like an ***. Surely someone who can afford an R6, modded Stang, and an STI owns a digital camera. Also, seems like you would just have pics sitting around in your computer. It's really easy to make me look like a bigger jerk than people already think I am, so do it man.

 

You misunderstood my post. I'm not saying that I don't think looks are subjective. That would retarded. I'm just saying that I hate that argument.

I think it's a cop-out by people who are afraid to admit that there's some truth to the subjective statement.

Let me put it this way: do you, IKE, think if everyone in the world was shown a picture of a stock RX-8 next to a stock STI, most people would say the RX-8 looks better or the STI?

Hopefully you can give an honest answer...that's all I'm asking for

 

you forgot

9. Better for delivering pizzas
10. Better at picking up eleventeen year olds.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Purely looks wise the RX-8 is a better looking car than the STI IMO, but the way they go about things is very different. There are however plenty of people that feel differently and think the RX-8 is ugly and like the looks of the STI over the RX-8. When it comes down to it I could care less what other people think of the looks of my car, I like the STI looks quite a bit and could also care less what the results of any poll are as long as I'm happy with my car.

 

It's so cute when Darkmaz8 gets defensive and can't think of anything other than insults to defend his position.

 

I, also, tire of the "better looks" argument, but perhaps for different reasons than yourself. Please see my previous post. As both an STi and RX-8 owner, I have been unable to quantify any benefit from having a "better looking" car. Perhaps you would like to enlighten me why the RX-8 looks better and what benefits that gives an owner?

 

Thanks, Ike.

Why are you attracted to hot girls rather than fat, pimply ones?

Why do you shower in the morning or even shave?

Why do you wear clothes that don't have holes in them or stains on them?

Would you rather pick up a date in a 25 year old rustbucket or a 2006 [insert car name in here]?

The answer you seek can be found by answering those questions.

 

You're the cutest scooby defenceman.

 

Well, all your questions seem to point to the way other people react to you. If that is the case, I have way more people complimenting me on the STi than I do with the RX-8. In the STi, I have had, on multiple occasions, people follow me into parking lots/gas stations to compliment me and talk about the STi. Have never had that happen with the 8. Plus, I don't really see that as a "benefit" anyways. Try again.

 

o_0.

I have people talk to me about the 8 almost every day, whereas WRXs and STis are just too common (along with Zs, Mustangs, etc). I dunno, maybe it's your geographical location?

Oh, and there is definitely a social benefit. Welcome to the real world.

 

Well, here in the real world, the STi gets much more attention and respect than the RX-8 does. I say this from the experience of owning both. And again, I don't really see added attention as a benefit.

As for the "social benefit", we are not talking about the difference between owning a brand new Ferrari F430 and a 1985 Yugo. We are talking about two, similarly priced Japanese sports cars.

 

^^That^^ is what he is looking for.

So there are mature STI owners out there.


yea like 4 years to supercharge said, other then my 6 points i have , i am over the i need all this power.... and for what sti eric said what i am loooking for is the lower to the ground feel more sporty feel not up in the air , but thats just me, as for complaments i have no idea on the 8 because i dont own 1, but every time i saw 1 i walked around the car and checked them out... and for the sti well car people my age respect it actually are kinda afraid to line up next 2 it and race other then your evo and mustang guys, but thats a different class, and as for the older car guys when i tell them its a 4 cyl with 300ho and 300 ft pounds there faces drop lol,, and some one said after my test drive i will kno, this is tru the test drive will give me my final answer.. also some one said about buying a car because of what other people think, i dont care lol im buying it for me, im not buying it to race this guy or that guy , or to show off im over that stage, but will admit compliments are allways nice

 

Too bad one actually looks like a sports car, whereas the other looks like a rally car.

As far as "similarly priced", guess y'all have it lucky down south. In Canada the base STI is > 30% more expensive than the base RX-8 ($37k vs $49k). Whole different ballpark, IMO.

 

DropTheHammer, sorry for going a little off topic with my comments. I am just a little tired with the "my car looks better" argument coming from RX-8 owners when there are some many better things to talk about with the 8 (as I point out in my post). I'm not saying that the RX-8 doesn't get compliments, it definitely does. I'm just saying that the argument that it looks better is overplayed.

Have you made any decisions yet?

 

No pics for me huh?

 

Add a GT package and they're pretty similar even in Canada. Considering what the STI has standard I don't see that as being unreasonable. Also, I stopped at the Mazda dealer lastweek to possibly testdrive a Mazdaspeed 6 and every single RX-8 on the lot that was an MT was over 30k (all 10+ of them).

 

no i have yet to test drive it probably monday i been workin nights this weekend so i havnt had time, i did get to sit in it and it is comfy it has the low to the ground feel im lookn for...and rotery does sound nice when u rev it,, not saying the good ol boxer dont sound good ;-) NO U DONT GET PIK