Myriad

iTrader: (2)

"I haven't seen gas at $1.72 a gallon since the 90s."
http://money.cnn.com/2003/03/10/news...ices/index.htm

I am not arguing what you just said, what I am arguing is your assertion that he was an idiot for not seeing this drastic increase in fuel prices. While I agree with the overall point many have made about debt, I don't believe that anyone thought these prices were possible within four years, which is what your original post claimed.

crafted_soul

7.9% ???? 11.9%?????? wtf.....you guys got ripped off...........

It's 3.9% for 60 months with Boeing Credit Union here!!! yay!! I could have gone 72 months or 84 months....but I figured..the quicker I pay it off...the better I feel...:D

This mazda dealer by my house is offering 0 apr for 60 months for qualify buyer right now....... ..so even my 3.9% made me feel like a fool .........

Rems31

yea my coworker was able to get 0% for 5 years when he bought his mazda3. He was gonna do 4 years but couldn't pass up the extra interest free year.

champi0n

iTrader: (1)

We have to pay 14% sales tax, so what's an extra 11%?

czr

iTrader: (3)

I've seen your car around on 19 a bunch of times. It's always clean. I can tell it's yours because of your xenon-like lights next to your headlights. I cringe when getting gas, but just eat out a little less. I've even had thoughts of trading in the car for a something that gets around 25 mpg with some pep like the MS3, but nothing compares to the 8. It is pure sex on wheels.

Good luck with your purchase! Hopefully, you've made the right decision for yourself.

Raptor75

So what it sounds like you're saying is there are some type of high compression systems that I assume store compressed gas during deceleration for $5K to $7K that are not designed for the RX so you would be looking at probably another $1K to $3K for installation assuming the system even work and there is no mention of what the efficiency of these systems would be. Don't forget you would be voiding your warranty in the process. The rotary engine management is notoriously difficult to modify which would also need to be addressed. Also lets not forget losing your truck to store the high pressure tank.

So in summary $6K to $10K can buy you a jury rigged regenerative system with out any pre demonstration of efficiency/savings that will void your warranty and is questionable if it would even work. This is a good cost effective solution in your eyes?

ShinkaTeen

all i read was "bye 8" and a "scion".

whats your problem dude?

j/k. or am i?

Rems31

you pay 14% wow! I only pay 13% :-P

champi0n

iTrader: (1)

You're thinking of fuel cell?

Think more along the lines of how propane works as a liquid in the tank, released as a gas.... you need a high pressure carbon fiber tank to hold the liquid hydrogen.

I assume you mean trunk? While it would take up a bit of space (depending on the size/pressure you got), but I don't use my trunk for much other then a jacket and few misc things. Plus the technology is improving with higher pressure tanks for less size.

Warranty is nothing to be concerned about unless A) drilling into the housing is necessary, or B) it's proven the modification caused the failure.

Mazda has "official" hybrids out and working now... so i guess it isnt a proven system? Improves your MPG about the same as any current "fuel efficient" vehicle out there now.

I'm sure that mazda would offer a conversion kit if demand was high enough. As they do already have production capabilities of such kit.

Raptor75

You do realize that gas prices have basically doubled in a year and that this type of increase has no historic precedence. So to say people should have seen this coming and not bought the RX is a pretty lame argument.

Also I believe his break even point based on today's prices was about 3 years, if gas prices accelerate as predicted that could come down to 2 years. After that he is money ahead.

What he enjoys driving is his own business but the logic is there, assuming he sells the car for what it is worth.

superglue

1) I never said "I knew gas prices would double", I said they typical increase over time. That's what I wrote. Then came the 'OMG you didn't predict $4 gas, you're an arrogant *****' comments (I'm paraphrasing because it looks cooler that way). Don't get on me for that because you and Myriad are totally exaggerating what I wrote. Critisize me for whatever you want, but I know what I wrote because it's at the top of this page.

Either way, that had little to do with what I was trying to convey.....

2) The above point was to enforce the main point that buying a sports car that gets 15mpg isn't a good idea if you have a long commute. Regardless of whether gas is $2 a gallon or $5 a gallon. 15mpg is just horrible and made even worse if you have a long commute.

3) Getting to your break even point, how do you figure he breaks even in 3 years? No one knows, what gas will cost in three years, what he put down on the Scion, how much he owed on his RX-8, how much he paid for the Scion, how much he got screwed on trading in his 8, etc. Unless I missed that somewhere on here?

What I do know is that 3 years from know at your break even point, he's still going to paying on a Scion when he almost certainly would have the RX-8 paid off in full. So he would just be paying for gas and insurance instead of gas, insurance, and monthly car payment.


He can do whatever he wants. I'm just mentioning that trading in a depreciating asset for another more expensive asset to counter act the cost of gas is a fallacy. You lose money on the trade in as opposed to selling it yourself. You lose money on whatever you have for a down payment. You lose money from paying 4~6 more years of principal and interest payments. All because gas went up two dollars.

BTW, he bought the car in 2003, and he traded it in during 2008 at 5,8000 miles. That's only 12K miles a year. Even with gas prices in my area which are most likely the highest in the country, that's about a $2K annual increase in gas. Lets say the Scion gets double the mileage, that's a savings of $1K a year, except that now he has a new loan to pay of and a car that I'm sure isn't nearly as fun to drive.

6speed8

WOW! What a discussion over s simple matter.

I just wanted something different than a sports car. Something that you don't see everywhere (Civic, Corolla, Mazda3, etc.) After having owned over 12 cars in the last 35 years, I understand the economics of buying, selling and trading in cars. I did not buy my 2004 RX-8, 2000Celica GT-S, 1999 Protégé, 1996 626, 1990 Protégé, 1985 IROC Z28, 1979 Formula Pontiac, 1969 GTO, 1967 Firebird, 1972 Corolla, 1970 GTO, 1967 Pontiac Catalina, 1967 Nissan (Datson) SPL1600 to make money, or complain about losing it. All I wanted to imply was that the RX-8 (and mine was in pristine, factory stock condition) has a terrible resale value. Part of it is the cost of fuel; part is the concern of rotary longevity, and Mazda's (undeserved) reputation of less than reliable cars.

I like to try other types of cars, and at this point in time I wanted something that was better on fuel than the RX-8 (although almost EVERYTHING is - lol). Something smaller than the RX-8 (for garage space issues), something that saved me on insurance, something that had some usable space inside and could carry 4 people.

Money is not, and has never been an issue for me when choosing a car. I simple buy within my means. In the case of the Scion, it was so well within my means, it was a no-brainer.

Is it as fun to drive as the RX-8, NO and YES. With the RX-8 if I went 3 mph over the speed limit, the cops took notice. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE will notice the Scion - and that's cool. The Pioneer Scion stereo blows away the Bose in the RX-8 (I know I can get aftermarket, but that's not my thing). You sit so high in the Scion, you can SEE what's going on up ahead (Even with my Scion lowered).
NO ONE has challenged me to a race - and THAT is definitely okay.

Someday as some of you get older, you might (I say MIGHT) just want to try something different in the car you choose as well. Until then - Enjoy your cars and I'll enjoy mine - Thank You!

munche187

^^^^Want to Race I have a slow gas guzzling bad stereo RX8

superglue

Why not a Mini? Sounds much more appealing than an xD.

fahrfegneugen

Our AWD Impreza gets slightly better mileage than the Tc and has 10 more horse.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

interest?

pay the car in full with cash and then there's no interest.

foxman

I am getting about 5 more miles to the gallon and therefore saving $50 per month in gas. I am paying about $200 more per for the car. I got a "free" ipod jack...ok it wasn't really free, it was $500. I am running over 2 seconds faster in the quarter mile. I can STILL accelerate through the turns and twisties are almost as much fun. I think I am ahead overall if I incorporate the C&D "gotta have it factor" of 10/10.

6speed8

YEAH! let's do a long-distance race - One tank and see who can go the farthest- LOL - I had an RX-8, I KNOW what it is, can and cannot do!

6speed8

I looked at the Mini, They have a great deal on service - free oil changes, but I could not get past the center Insturment panel and the black plastic trim around the wheel wells. But it was on the short list - as was the Mazda 3 (fuel mileage was not good enough).

Raptor75

...and I never said you did, read what I wrote.


If you have a long commute you would not be talking city mileage of 15mpg we would be talking 20 to 24mpg highway. So this argument is pretty pointless.

Well first off it was stated the break even was based on today's gas prices and would be shorter as prices rise. Also all you really have to know for general comparison is what the value difference is between the used RX-8 and the new car which can be readily obtained from several sources. Rather then restating everything I again suggest you read the whole post.


As you pointed out the he will take a hit from depreciation and repeat interest but what you neglected to mention is that as gas prices rise his depreciation will be less that the RX (speculation but, rational speculation) also you fail to take into account that his new car will be new asset with longer warranty and life span. It all becomes a math game at this point as to when his deficits from the switch are over come by the savings in gas.

Your math does not work out my friend, based on the number you have thrown around. You have stated the following:

Mileage per year = 12,000
MPG = 15
$ per gallon(Chicago) = $4.20 (regular) $4.40 premium

Yearly cost calculated for gas $3,360 (regular) $3,520 (premium)

Assuming twice the mileage that is a savings of $1,680 - $1,760 per year.

Again his logic is not as skewed as you may think.

RotaryP7

Get a Civic hybrid. The 2008 model has over 50 mpg. Get it!@

Raptor75

Now I see were you're coming from, your taking about the Hydrogen Hybrid fuel car that Mazda prototyped. OK, just take all the negatives I mentioned and add on safety concerns from high pressure explosive gas, no infurstucture for refilling, and no expertise for installation.

Lets also not forget that for the volume Hydrogen is a very poor fuel source for a internal combustion engine. The future of Hydrogen as a fuel source lies in fuel cells which have 2 to 3 times the efficiency with hydrogen.

This is a very poor solution at best and completely unworkable at worst.

6speed8

I have a friend with a Civic 2008 Civic Hybrid - he is getting 41 mpg in the same area I live/drive. I don't like the Civic's interior and besides you see Civis everywhere. MY first tank in the XD yielded 31.7 mpg - not too shabby for the first 287 miles.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

I've lately found myself taking my wife's car or my diesel van out rather than the 8 . How f'n depressing . I got back in the 8 this week and have really been enjoying it - f**k the gas prices !

superglue

He came back and explained what he did. We can keep nit picking back and forth but it turns out he just wanted something different.

However, I hope other people read some of this and understand that buying a brand new car to offset $1,700 a year in gas may not be in your best interest.