... and back to his question...

 

I think my insurance is aroun $269 a month. I have State Farm with a couple of various discounts.

 

Now that I am more then twice your age, I am glad that I never started out with such a car. I started out with some big old cars, then moved to several used RX-7's that I had to buy with my own earned money. My first new car was a Civic. No offense, but I would never give a 16 year old a fast new car. I hope that your parents are making you pay for it in some fashion, if at least the insurance. It will make you appreciate it even more then you already do. I was relatively responsible at your age but I still did some dumb things. Good luck with it.

 

I pay for the note. They did the down payment and the insurance.

 

Advice for the newly initiated:

- DO NOT think you must accept every challenge to drag race. You are driving a $30k car--not a Neon or Honda, so resist the temptation to burn these guys at the line
- The RX-8 is much more sophisticated than the other "rice burners", so don't let them talk any any trash about their 'fart-can-muffler, priimer-fendered junks!
- Enjoy your ride, and take car of it. This is a great car, and you should not beat it to death on the street scene to prove its worth!
- Most important: PAY ATTENTION AND DRIVE CAREULLY! The life you save may be one of us!

 

nah that's junk, kids never listen to advice of older people anyway

go ahead and do what you want to do and learn the hard way, it'll serve you better in the long run.

 

LOL! Ain't it the truth! Nice comment!

 

I've already been challenged by some of my rice friends in their civics. I didn't even bother with it. I didn't know what rice was until I got my car.

 

Congrats!

I engine brake all the time. Do a search and you'll find lots of threads about it as well as general tips on the RX8. The usual list:

• Engine burns oil by design... you'll need to add a quart every 2000 miles or so
• There is a special shutdown procedure when is engine is cold
• Watch out for curbs and avoid potholes (rims are easy to damage)
• Don't drive stock tires in snow; also they lose grip in cold weather
• When downshifting, be careful not to mis-shift from 5th to 2nd
• When parking, put it in 1st gear. If it's not below freezing, also set parking brake
• Tire repair kit sucks; recommend you call Mazda road-side assistance if you get a flat.
• If car needs to be towed, make sure rear wheels are off gound and don't use a sling-type tow-truck (see manual for details).

 

Where in LA are you? A good buddy of mine has a winning blue rx8, around same age, gotta meet up some time. He posts here as winbluerx8sport.

 

Congrats on your car man, i get my license in February, and im gonna get a brilliant black 8. and i go to a private catholic school, so there are a lot of kids with nice cars. like there are 2 CLK 430's, and mazda 6's and stuff like that. and its crazy cause my friend gets his license in a week and he has had his car for 3 months. he got a 2002 black S4. he is really rich. his bro drives a silver 8 and a CLK 320. so i mean they are loaded. but yah congrats on ur 8. cant wait for mine.

 

Whats the difference between leaving it in first when you park and leaving it in neutral?

 

Oh, I live in Shreveport too. I know who you are talking about because I see him around town sometimes. Some of my friends know him too.

 

you leave the car in gear so it can't easily roll.

I would do it, but I tend to start the car and let off the clutch, which can cause it to jerk forward ... not good if you're in a parking lot next to another car.

 

Ya... Thats happened to me before. I usually do let off the clutch to check around me or adjust stuff. Thats why I just ended up leaving it in neutral with the parking brake on.

 

Putting any car in 1st is a good idea because it always prevents it from rolling. The parking brake, however, could still allow the car to move (depending on road grade and how hard the parking brake is pulled). For example.

As JasonHamilton mentioned, you need to make sure you put the clutch in or take it out of gear before starting (or the car will buck). But if you get in the habit of putting it in gear everytime, you won't forget.