if your parents are buying you the car, why dont you just take advantage of it and have them buy you an outrageously expensive car, like a vette, that will do you good. then do as laythor said.

 

It is an outstanding daily driver.

But this is a car that you need to really want. If it is just a fad or passing interest do not get this car. If you love to leave people in the dust at stop lights then do not get this car.

If you can appreciate the RX8 for what it is (great handling) then its not a bad choice.

A new driver should not have a powerful first car. Not dumping on young drivers but until you get some real experience under your belt it is so easy to overdrive any car. Since the RX8 is only so so in the power department but very good at handling and braking it might be ok for a first car in this case.

 

im not all about racing. i know it may not be the fastest car out on the roads. and it doesnt bother me.

 

yea, well its not a dog either Itll run low 15s without killing the clutch, or mid 14's if you tear your clutch up!!! Or just get nitrous and run up the backs of GTOs!! haha. But seriously, the rx8 IS a sports car, just a sports car that focuses on handling and driver feel as opposed to straight line acceleration, with a few thousand dollars itll be fast in straight lines though

 

I'd say go with the Vette as your first car.

Chicks will probably love your car. Just pick a hot looking super-model one, have babies, and since you'll prolly have a smoking gf, the baby will probably be good looking too. Get the kid into Hollywood, and soon you'll be swimming in dough.

In the long run, it'll probably be a good investment.

 

OP asks if the 8 is a good daily driver, we respond by saying its no drag racer??????????????????????

For those of you recommending the S2000 instead

To the OP, you'll be hard pressed to find a sportcar that's a better daily driver esp. if you need the extra space. Just yesterday the pool car was out and I had to drive out to a meet with two company execs. Both were stunned by how spacious and comfortable the car was - of course, relative to their expectations when they saw it.

 

the 8 is a wonderful daily driver.

a used 2004 with unknown history may not be, so get the engine compression tested along with all the other mechanical parts, otherwise you might buy the most exciting money pit you've ever had the pleasure of driving.

 

Yes, the 8 is a good daily driver. Great, actually. But $40 per week isn't enough money to run it. That's one fill up per week, and like others have said ~ 200 miles depending on driving style.

The deal you've listed sounds like a great buy, but it will get old when you can only stare at it in the driveway/garage and have to sulk as you walk away to catch the bus.

 

from hearing that the rx8 has high maintenance gets bad mpg and all the other bugs on the 04 model. would any of you consider a is300? cause i need a fun daily driver and hold more than 2 people.

 

Everyone has turned in already, but you still get my oppinion! I bought my 8 to be a garage filler, but I find myself driving it seven days a week, so much for a sunday car! 39.00 filled my tank last weekend with premium(still have half a tank) I don't drive far, but it's worth it. Be sure to only use 93 octain or better, or engine dammage will result!!! Change your motor oil every 2,000 miles with a new filter, and you can't go wrong. Take it easy, but drive it hard every once in a while. Check the oil every time you fill up, it will be low, and full means full!! The question is did the previous owner do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will last forever. By the way use 5w-20 motor oil-ask for it. I recogmend Royal Purple. It is expensive, but so is an engine swap!!!

 

yup

 

I passed up a Honda S2000 to buy my 8!! Check with your insurance co. The 8s are four door cars. By the way the best EPA was 13.5 mpg. the worst over a tank was 11.25 mpg. Must use premium as well!!!!! Buy the right tires when the time comes!! You will loose a little in taking 90 degree turns at 80mph, but it will come in handy if the road freezes!! My 8 will not leave the garage under these conditions. Be carefull when you turn off the traction control for the first time just after it's been raining!!!

 

Who the hell is Slick?

 

Hey altspace, your ride looks just like mine!! My 8 has tinted windows, but I almost wish they were clear

 

It's really the younger and younger drivers who are raised on better and better video games, who have the best hand-eye coordination and twitch reflexes. It's the older drivers with slower reaction time that are causing the most deadly accidents on the road.

Higher insurance premiums on younger drivers is due to poor decisions made on the road, and nothing to do with whether or not to have an rx8 as a first car. Don't confuse the two. Reckless driving in an rx8 is no more or less dangerous than reckless driving in an old sedan, minivan, truck, or suv.

For new drivers, the rx8 has a few useful performance features that come in handy to compensate for errors. One of the #1 equipment items that prevent accidents is brakes.

 

Brakes are the most important option on a car

 

Two door cars are always more to insure than four door cars!!

 

My first car was a '76 Ply. Volorie' (oh oh) it belonged to the Ps, I just learned to drive in it. Second was a '75 Ford Pinto. When I turned 18 I had an '81 Celica!! Best car I ever owned so far280k mi. and still was running when I sold it for $700.00 I've owned nothing but beaters for the past 15 yrars, now I have my 8 and I enjoy it very much

 

Not to be a smartass KDL but your asking a bunch of RX8 owners if we think the Is300 is better, with all-do respect, dont you think if we thought the IS300 was better than the RX8, we'd all be members of an IS300 forum?! haha. Id recommend looking into an 05 RX8 as a daily driver, for the most part, early 2004's had reliability issues.

 

Actually, it seem like he's (she's?) saying something more like - "ok, the 8 may not be right for me. what are your opinions on the IS?"


Never driven it, and don't know much about it. Thus, no opinion. Good luck, either way!

 

Wow, you guys are getting some sucky *** mileage.

I routinely get 280 miles per fill up, and that's with about 30% highway and 70% city mileage.

MT Sport.

And I don't feather the throttle.

 

My RX8 is an excellent daily driver. With that said, my brother in law owns a 2006 S2000. He recently broke his leg and lives in SoCal so the fires ashed all over his beloved S2000. He asked me if I could get it washed and reluctantly I said yes. IMHO the RX8 was much smoother and I could push the sit back further and recline which makes it more comfortable. The ride was very stiff and bumpy, the suspension is stock on his S2000. I think I've just got so accustomed to the 8 silky smooth rotory engine that even the s2000 seemed unrefined. The RX8 is a better daily driver but if gas economy is a major factor you'd be better off in the Honda, insurance price could make up the difference though since it can be very inexpensive on the RX8 due to fact that it is four door with a 1.3L engine. On paper (insurance wise) it doesn't appear to be a sportscar unlike the 2-seat convertible S2000. I'm sure either car you pick you will be happy with. Okay I'm done.

 

An s2000 you would feel every bump on the road 50 times more than rx-8. I wouldn't consider it as a daily driver is faster thought.