Hey guys, have a question I'd like to ask here. First off, I am a 16 1/2 year old male, and I will be able to obtain my license within a month give or take.

I have been a fan of the RX8 Since around early 2004, when I first saw one. For the past few months I have looked into the car extensively and done some research on my own.

Seems to be a pretty safe car, considering the ratings it recieved. I have been saving money for a car since I was born really (Thanks Dad for making me not buy so many Hot Wheels!), and I have had a job at Albertsons since I was 15 1/2.

In short, I have around $18,000 available to spend for the car. I went to a dealership the other day with my dad, and got to test drive one of the 40th ANV. models-In short I was in love. Would have probably drove home in one, had the lease not been so ridicoulous.

It looks like I'll be getting a used one soon, most likely an 04' or 05'. I Like the grey exterior color, and I'd prolly just get new leather seats in (Mazda refered me to cheap place with great stuff), to atleast mock the look of the 40th.

My question though, that I'd like to ask the RX8 community is:

Is the RX8 an OK first car for a teenager, with safety, power issues, and control all in mind? Please explain why you think your opinion. I'd like to think this car isn't TOO powerful, but as with ANY automobile, great care and caution must be taken to ensure the safety of everyone.

 

Um I guess it really depends. A lot of people are going to say that you should buy a beater and get used to driving on it, because you don't know really know how to drive yet. Then, there has been some people on this forum who have had an rx8 as their first car. Although, I have not read as much about them. I personally had this as my first car. I think it is an awesome first car. I still have it today and love it just as much as the day I got it. I guess you really have to check your maturity level. Then you have to question whether or not, you think you can handle an rx8 as a first car.

It's not the fastest car to remind you. A 350Z or a G35 can beat you easily. So if you're looking for speed this is not your car. I mean unless you're going to turbo it or something, which isn't something I would recommend for a teenager. lol The handling is superb. This car loves twisties!!! :D Do some research here first and read up about the car. It's not like an ordinary car, it's has a rotary engine (no pistons). It eats up oil and you have to put more oil in the car every now and then. There's also a lot of other stuff about the car. So read and read some more. lol I would search before asking questions. A lot of new people get flamed for not searching.

If you are going to buy it used, make sure it has had all the recalls on it and get it checked out before you make a purchase. Oh yeah...you should buy a manual. I mean, no disrespect towards members who have an AT. Well, it's just what I would recommend.

 

Whoa, a 16 yr old who's actually considerate and responsible! The forum is going to love you!

 

That's the first thign I was thinking.

I don't think you should have any real issues with the car. You've saved your money, read up on the car. As long as you keep up with the maintenance and be mature about your driving habits, you should be 100% fine.

 

hey, hey, hey. i was one too Now im 17 so it does not count

 

Thats what I was thinking.


First of all welcome to the club! Go for it and buy the rx8, buy an 04 or 05 one and you will save $$$.

The car is not super powerful, it is extremely safe, and you will be fine as long as you use comment sense. Don't do dumb stuff till you get used to a rwd sports car, the rx8 will go crazy if you decide to do dumb stuff when its raining or whatever. Just use your commonsense, attend some autocorsses and trackdays, learn the car, have fun, and enjoy the car! you won't regret it.

PS.
Just get the cloth seats they & make sure the model you choose has DSC since your a beginner it will help.

 

Since you seem polite and intelligent, I'll cut to it:

Don't buy an RX8 as your first car, not because you can't handle it, but because you're inexperienced and you're probably going to have a fender bender or two, parking mishap, etc like I did. It's one of the hardest things for a new driver to nail. You're going to have rowdy friends eating Burger King in it. You're going to scrape it on curbs. You're gonna ROAST that clutch. You're going to have to park it at your high school where the idiots that make up 90% of teenaged America will smack it with their doors. You'll be even more tempted to speed at an age where that can carry some pretty stiff penalties. Your insurance will be HUGE. So my advice is to wait a bit, buy a $6000 stick-shift beater and hang onto the rest of that cash, and buy what you want the second semester of your senior year as an early graduation present. That way you'll be older, hopefully 18, have college plans all worked out, be an infinitely more experienced driver, have your **** together on a manual tranny, and generally be in a much better position to own it. And you can still drive it to prom and it'll still feel new.

 

First of all, I am impressed you have 18k to spend.

Second, when I was 15 1/2 and I got my license (I am 18 now) I had a lot of confidence that I was a great driver. I was the best student in my driving class and I have never had an accident to this date. But, if I am honest with myself, at 16 I could scare the crap out of myself with my dad's 300 horse Cadillac. Unfortunately, my 8 still makes me nervous a bit (maybe something is wrong with me jk). I couldn't even keep my foot from quivering on the clutch when I was test driving it, so I cannot imagine doing that when I was 16, lol.

So my advice to you is to be honest with yourself and know what would work for you and what you can handle. Maybe consider a few other things you can buy with 18 grand, of course, not to say one of these cars is not exciting as hell to own. However, I spent a lot of money on a study abroad when I was 16 and I would say that it was a life changing experience.

What does your dad think? My warning to you is that he will want to drive it if you buy one

The 8 is my first car, but I drove a '93 DeVille when I was your age and I learned stick on a crapy Honda and our Subaru. So I might say that Rootski has a decent point.

 

Ha, if I could ever get him out of his 00' XKR then maybe.

I really do appreciate all of the advice. From when I was driving the 40th ANV. model, I feel confident in how I could drive the car, but being a teenager, I know my judgement is probably off compared to that of an adult. Just looking to see what you guys thought, since too many kids my age are getting maimed or worse in car accidents now.

 

Being 40 and reading your most recent post of your concern how people your age are being seriousely hurt in accidents shows you have some good judgement and sounds like you may have your head screwed on solid. Seems to me you may be ready for this car............use your good judgement when driving, don't speed and please don't RACE on any public road.

 

No College plans?

 

Buy the 8 after you graduate from college (I'm assuming from your coherent post that you're going to college). You don't need this car on campus, unless you don't mind parking a mile away from your classes. Plus, gas prices suck right now, so you're better off getting yourself a used econobox. Having a safe car you don't give a crap about is what a person needs when they're young. You can park it anywhere, and if it gets a door ding, no big deal.

I would wait until I learned to drive/finished school/started a life away from my parents. I guarantee that if you wait you will appreciate the car a lot more. If you REALLY want the car, go for it.

 

Im looking perhaps at Dartmouth Business School, for which I'd be getting a fat student tuition loan. That's only if I can keep up with my classes and all the extra curricular stuff needed. Otherwise, I'd probably be heading off to a California University. No matter what, I am going to college however.

I COMPLETELY understand why to hold off on the RX8, based on what you guys have said.... just im unsure. I figure I might buy an 04' RX8 basic Sport Model now, and if it really does prove to be a great car- I'll trade in and treat myself to a 40th ANV. model after college, which im sure would be within reasonable price range by then.

 

It will prove to be a great car, however given your age and inexperiance, it will get banged up a bit. and no matter how mature you are for your age, you will beat on it too... everyone does, its life. If you can live with the fact that it will get scraped up, door dinged at school, then i say go for it. But i also think the more wise choice would be to get some crappy beater and get some experiance under your belt. Then when you get an RX8, you can fully enjoy the car to its potential safely.

 

It sounds like a tough spot to be in, moreso because you seem pretty responsible. If you didn't have any savings and couldn't afford it you wouldn't have to worry about it. If you were stupid you wouldn't care enough to ask for opinions or other thoughts. Sounds like you worked hard and saved up and now are looking at taking the plunge, the reward for all the suffering.

Here's my 2 cents. Do whatever you can to avoid getting yourself into huge amounts of debt from college. If you are paying your own way through I totally agree with the other guys, get a reasonable, good used car for your first ride. Learn to drive the manual, have your first few nicks and scrapes in a car that won't bother you too much. Focus on school and get the RX-8 in a couple years once you have a little more sure footing. The RX-8 is a really fun car but if you are stretching yourself really thin to get it you may not enjoy it as much as it may become a source of worry. Every 10K you save off student loans is a huuuuge favor your are doing yourself in the long run, getting out of school without creditors sending you notices every month is worth 5 RX-8's.

If college costs are covered, you want to get the cool car while you have the money and don't think you will end up in a ton of extra debt because of it, do it to it, you only live once.

 

it's ur 1st car, you are gonna wreck/fender bender it. get a car u like, but not love. i got a 03 nissan sentra se r spec v for my 1st car, totalled it in like 9 months. most people i know with nice spanking new "sports" cars get theirs wrecked or something.

Look into insurance too, that may sway your decision.

a FWD car will prove to be a better 1st car than a RWD car, you can also learn about driving/parking/day to day stuff in a FWD, while learning about RWD, and u'll be ready when the time comes to get an 09 or something.

sooo...

Honda Prelude(if insurance permit, is a great "nice" 1st car, or even Acura RSX)
if insurance is a problem
i HIGHLY recommend a Honda Accord, the length of the car really trains you to be ready for driving most car, the mpg is great, the insurance is cheap, and you have alot of room to haul your college stuff when you are moving around. plus, you will care alot less about fender benders.

if you want a nicee car before college is over? wait till junior or senior year like i did and pick up a nicee car and enjoy ur last 2 years in style, but 1st 2 years i recommend a honda accord.. at least tats the way i went XD

 

haha. go for it man. i got mine when i was 18. but it was my 2nd car... The RX8 is a good first car if you know how to handle it. It also have tons of air bags and it is a 4 door coupe. so make sure you insurance company knows that.

 

The only thing I would say is that you should not get a base model. Get a model with DSC for your first car. My '07 Sport has no DSC and I've definitely had some traction issues while only driving it for about a month, but since I've been driving a RWD beater Volvo for 2 years before this, I can definitely handle the loss of traction. A beginner driver such as yourself might have some trouble.

With that out of the way, I don't think there's anything wrong with buying a RX8 for your first car. Your major concern here, as a high school student, would be the cost of gas because the RX8 gets terrible mileage and requires premium fuel. If you can afford to fill up relatively often though, I say go for it.

 

The thing that gets me in this thread, people say that he is going to wreck/fender bender it. I don't know about you guys, but I've not had any sort of accident yet my entire driving career. Sure, the car broke down on stupid stuff all the time, as it was a $500 1990 Mercury Topaz ** but if he doesn't do insane stunts to impress his friends, and actually takes care on the road, I feel he will be fine.

I, for one, don't see any problem with him getting this as a first car. Might open his eyes to a more tasteful view upon other vehicles

 

I'm going to chime in only because no one else has said this: invest your money in the stock market instead of in a car. If you have $18k in cash right now and you invested it until you got out of college you'd be amazed at how much money you'd have earned in the meantime.

Assuming you're 16 now and you graduate at 22 with a 12% return (a little generous I know) you'll have $35,528.80 when you're done with school. Yes it is tempting to buy a nice car now, but that's a nice down payment on a house. As for the RX8? If you buy one now and drive it until you're out of college it will be mostly worthless by the time you graduate. You'll have had a lot of fun (and you're young and all that junk) but you won't have $35k...

 

It'll be a fine first car. It's very controllable, quick but nothing crazy, and the DSC will even reel you in from small/moderate mistakes. Basically, as long as you keep your eyes up and know what's going on around you, plus resist the temptation to drive like a total asshat, I think you'll do just fine with this thing.

I know a lot of people who would say this is too much car, but as long as you realize that the car's capabilities are much higher than your own and stay well within your own limitations (every driver has them, not picking on you), it's going to be fine.

One car I would NOT recommend to a new driver is the Speed 3. That thing still scares the pants off me, and I've had it for a year!

 

Yeah.......imagine my daughter going to "edited" with her POS sky blue Hyundai Accent with all the Beamers, Audi's, Jags, etc.! Ha Ha........least it was paid for(she paid), and had a lot(and I mean alot of scholorships), but ~$45k a year adds up quick! She then went on to Grad School and still drives that POS Hyundai and she's making serious money now at her age!
She looked at Dartmouth as well and you know it ain't cheap!!!!!!!!!

 

Buy it and have fun. I only wish I could have afforded one when I was 16, heck, I wish I could afford Dartmouth.

 

I would reccommend a cheap stick shift car to learn on and one that you don't worry too much about if it does get beat up. And like someone above wait till your second semester of your senior year to buy. That is exactly what I did and i know I'm better for it. I never have been in a wreck(knock on wood) but I did hit some curbs etc. with my old car and I know if i would with my 8 now i would b pissed so I would hold off for a couple years till your 18 or so then u can get that 40th anniversary edition.

 

Wow, are you sure your parents didnt write that first post?

If you wrote it, you might be the most mature 16 year old on the planet.
If I was 16 again and had half a brain (which it sounds like you do) and 18K, I would buy an 8 in a second. If you are smart enough to ask the questions you are asking, you are smart enough to stay away from idiots with long doors and out of BK drive thrus at 2:00 AM.