Im new to this forum, seriously considering buying a RX-8 in April after my deployment in Iraq is over. Ive previously owned 3 Mustangs and currently am stuck with a Ford ZX2(www.cardomain.com/id/oahuzx2). My plans were originally to find a FD3S but since my wife got pregnant, I need a car with backseats. What does everybody think about the car and how does it compare to others? If anybody can get me some links to other sites with aftermarket parts for the car that would be greatly appreciated also.

 

Take a long look around the forum and search. Much of the aftermarket for this car is still in development, and several of them have been posting their progress right here on this forum. Rotary Extreme has been posting updates on their CAI. Another fellow has been posting pics and some results with his intake courtesy of Thunderbird (I think?) Canzoomer has been doing some amazing things in the "Official Mazda...regarding Dyno'ing..." thread. He's developing an ECU piggyback - awesome results so far just by modding fuel curves. Not sure who he works for, but we're all excited nonetheless. Borla also has posted pics and dyno results of their exhaust.

Edit: Because much of this stuff is still in development, you won't find much on the company websites, but you can have a look. Here are a couple off the top of my head:
www.rotaryextreme.com
www.corksport.com
www.yawpower.com
www.mazdatrix.com

 

this is a awesome car
pleny of mods are coming
give it a test drive

 

Well, first congrats on the upcoming arrival!! Baby will change your life, for the better!(will not feel like it for the first few months my advice, sleep now ALOT!)

I have two little ones myself, which played a big part in my decision to get the 8 over the G35. Lots of room back there, and trunk can fit a goodly amount of stuff.

If you are only going to have one car, I would get a suv.

If you are a two car family, I wold look real hard at the 8.

Trust me, only aftermarket part you will be getting is a baby seat!!!

By the way, Nice to hear from a fellow ,stang owner, had a 84 svo in my younger days. Still have nightmares about the maintance and repair costs, but when it worked, it was sweet.

Be safe!

 

klegg is right. Good advice.

The RX 8 is a great car. The one nice thing about rear access is that the opening is such that you don't walk around a door to get to the back. When you gotta use the back it serves well.

 

You can't go wrong IF you decide to get this Mazda RX-8. Under 35,000 dollars (plus), 4 seats (plus), "Suicide" doors (extra plus) and a quick little car (plus 6 speed of course). I may not have as much torque as your previous rides but it's a fast lil car!

The seating arrangement won me over when I bought mine a month ago. I have a 6 yr old and we ALL can go places in it comfortably. I considered a 350Z (too small) and a g35 coupe (too costly and rear seating stunk). So you can't go wrong with an 8!

 

Still considering the car, cant find good insurance in Texas though, but I got a couple cars Im looking at right now, both the light silver color with cloth interior, and no other options besides the sport package, trying to keep it cheap and fun.

 

If you're in the military, give USAA a call. (No, I don't work for them.)

 

Great, fun car, awesome use of back seat, trunk is good, Beautiful styling, unique rotary engine, turns heads, people chat w/me about the car all the time! Just a way cool car!!

 

Ditto the USAA recommendation

 

I tried USAA in hawaii, but they wanted a arm and a leg, so I went with geico. Now geico is the expensive one, my sis-in-law recommended me liberty mutual so Im gonna check them next. Progressive gave me a quote for a RX8 at $1500 for 6 months, abou the same as geico charged with the zx2. Damn the age and tickets.

 

Performance. hmmm. The Evolution is by far the best performing car for the price right now.

 

Ok bubble, hows about staying on topic with the 8 instead of sucking up to the Evolution in EVERY thread you post in. Getting old.

nf9648 - your choice will be personal but you just have to drive the car. Honestly, we all get a bit tied up in the stats on the comparisons, but how often do you really drive to the edge of the envelope of thos stats? Not often. The 8 offers a ton in your every day get around town or jump on the highway driving style. I have no regrets.

 

:D My bad! The RX8 is hella fun. ZX2 huh? Have you heard about the ZX2 S/R? Imagine a ZX2 S/R with rear wheel drive. There's an RX8.

 

The GT driver seat is power and hence it takes a while to get it moved if extra space is needed to let someone in the back, then it needs to get moved back to the driving position ... and moved again when they get out.

I haven't had two in the back yet, but I have had one in the back, and getting in and out on the passenger side, where the seat will flip forward, is quick and easy.

 

Ive driven a couple S/R's, both 99' and 00' models, theyre almost as fun as the one I have now but mine has become so impractical with the gutted rear seat and a/c that I need to move on, and I miss the rwd...If I can get $4k for the car I have now Ill have no problem buying the RX8, Ive got $6k saved right now, but I want to be able to put down at least $10k at the dealership so the payments arent too crazy, I only have $2100 to take home every month after taxes and stuff, still gotta pay bills.

 

Weight reduction?! That's great! Being upside down in a car is a bad financial decision but who cares? I'm there & I couldn't be happier!