Hey guys I have been reading the fourm for a little while and I jsut wanted to introduce myself say hi and ask a question.

I recently sold my 1988 bmw m3 and even thought it is my dream car I have to get rid of it and get something newer/more reliable and I wasn't sure I would like any newer cars as I have always been fixed on 80's sports cars like the m3 and 944 turbo. Even thogbuht I am a unviersal car fan and like almost everything after driving the m3 I was spoiled in terms of handeling and feel from a car and test drove several cars I thought I would like. I drove an 06 STI and just found it ***** fast, it didnt feel all the that great and had the same complate with the evo even thought it was alittle better. I could go on about some of the other things I had driven. But after test drving the Rx-8 I thought I had found a reincarnation of the high reving m3 and im preaty sure its the car I want to get.

I was just wondering if there was anyone on this board that has come from an e30 m3 to an Rx-8 or anyone that can share there impressions of both.

Thanks
Hutch

 

Make sure you get a Manual Transmission RX8...if you decide to buy one....

Also you are correct about the M3 handling...watch this video:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.wray/topgear

 

My brother has a 2004 E46 that I get to drive often, and the RX8 does not compare to the E46 in any aspect. Not sure about the E30 though....never driven that version.

 

Directly from an E30 M3 to an RX-8? That would be a bit of a rarity, no?


Having driven an E30 M3, however, and having an RX-8, I can say that the feel is most assuredly different, but in a good way. Hard to describe (since the M3 drive was years ago) the precise differences, but the handling is different in a good way, not a bad way. Take a GT out an test-drive it.

 

I drove a car that had the touring package on it and I liked it very much but I didnt realy get to open it and see what it could do as it was a little wet out.

As for going from an e30 m3 to an rx-8 I think its a logical step they have very good weight balance and both have high revving engines that make all there power up top. I would consider an s2000 but I want somehting more practicle. Plus rx-8 have been doing very well in auto-x as far as I can tell.

 

Hutch, the e30 M3 is probably one of the most exciting bmw's ever produced, i'm sure you know that. Having had the privilage of driving one on numerous occasions I can say that the RX8 is better in every category except coolness factor.

The m3 is fantastic, but lets face it, it's a little slow compared to the rx8 and rattles and has all kinds of quirks. The rx8 handles just as good and feels almost as good. Nothing will feel as good as that e30, but the rx8 is close.

You're gunna have more power, more reliability, and worse gas mileage.

You'll like it here.

 

You sold one of my favourite cars, and it wasn't to me!! AND you didn't post pics of it here!! Not a good start man, not a good start jokes. Welcome. You're already in my cool books, unless you don't post pics :D

 

To me the E30 M3 was the ONLY TRUE BMW Sports car. Newer M3 E36 and E46 just don't have the soul the old E30 M3.

I have driven one and truly, handling and power wise, is comparable to the RX8. The only reason why I decided to go with the RX8 was the engine uniqueness, the handling and the warranty.

The old M3 was a high Maintenance car... especially since there is no warranty on them anymore.

You can't go wrong with the RX8 but don't expect the solid feel and BMW quality you were accustomed to. Heck my car is rattling inside and it's only 2 years old. I almost never turn the radio on... the engine tune is all that I need.

Get the Sports Package, 6 speed. Get a used one if you can... will be a better deal. With basic suspension mods you'll get a great handling car.

Good luck,
Finally somebody I can relate to.

Carlos

 

Sorry abotu not posting these before but I didn't want to be off topic on an Rx-8 site the e30 sites can be preaty picky about that.












These are all pics from the summer and the spring time the first ones are more recent with the red tape on the bumpers.

 

I have another question how much weight does the GT package actually add over the sport package or touring package??

 

A little not much, the GT package has leather and heated seats and side mirrors along with the Homelink mirror. Looks like you live in a cold climate, I would recommend the seat heaters, the warm up quick and unless you track the car often, the small weight penalty would not be that high.

By the way welcome and thanks for the pics, I have not seen an E30 in over 6years!

 

I can compare it to your other 80's sports car as I came to the RX-8 from an '87 944 Turbo. The RX-8 and the 944 are very similar in handling. My 944T had koni yellows and a few other suspension upgrade bits (upgraded to the M030 option if that means anything to you) so it was firmer and a little bit more direct. That should mostly be fixed with a new set of shocks on the RX-8 - either koni yellows or perhaps the Tokico D-Spec.

As for acceleration, in stock form the cars are also very similar. The 0-60 times are about the same though you don't get the same "kick in the pants" feel as the 944T gives you when the turbo kicks in. Mine was lightly modified with a chip and wastegate mods to have about 35HP more. That is one area that the RX-8 will lack and that is in easy and inexpensive mods for power. Of course, that is going to be true with most modern non-turbo cars. The manufacturers are all much better about not leaving "free" HP in the exhaust or other relatively inexpensive places.

I considered replacing my 944T with a mid-90's 968 but the worry was that I would be buying myself another full-time weekend job as the 944T turned into. With the 944T it was requiring lots of work - I replumbed the power steering system, I replaced the exhaust header, resealed the hatch glass, etc. etc. Getting a 968 at about 10 years old (the last ones made) would put it just about the age at which the rubber bits are really needing to be replaced and that is neither cheap nor easy.

The RX-8 is pretty much a modern 968 without the worries of maintaining an old car. You can see that they are pretty comparable by their similar performance in SCCA B-stock autocross.

 

OOoo, and it's white! Brings back some meories since the E30 M3 is the first car I ever drove on a track.

 

 

Thanks for all the input guys thats the kinda of stuff I was looking to hear that its very similar to some of my favorite cars with out as many problems.

Also I think I will try to get a hold of one with the GT package I plan to do auto-X localy and some track days but no real racing so I dont think the weight penilty will be a big problem.

Hutch

 

Get at least sport, for DSC and Xenon. Adds very little weight.

Touring if you want sunroof and Bose. The sunroof is the largest weight gain item, and high off the ground.

GT for power heated leather seats. Seat motors biggest source of weight here.

For quality leather, best to get non-leather then aftermarket leather and maybe aftermarket heat as well. But then of course don't get power seat.