You make him sound so noble. The point is that he wants a car his parents have "refused" to buy him. So, he has resorted to the internet to get stacks of information saying the 8 is as good as any car in the snow with equal tires. That may be the case, but maybe, it's not so black and white with his parents. Maybe it's a combination of RWD+winter+unexperienced driver+whatever else they know about him = not a good idea.

I should add...
My brother was offered a new 20k CDN car by my parents to get too and from his apprenticeship. He was pissed because he wanted a used integra type R or 3 series. My parents wouldn't go for a used car, they wanted (on the surface) warranty, all that new car stuff. He went to his school (to be amechanic) and he and his freinds sat down and made a list of why a used car is a better purchase than new. He showed it to my father, who said no agian. Then my brother said whatever they will buy him, he will sell it and buy what he wants. I had never seen my dad this angry before that day, it was a whole different level of anger, I had pissed him off good before, but this...whoa! My brother walked away with no car (bus took 2 hrs, driving took 25 minutes), now paying rent, utilities, and food, he couldn't use their cars, and he couldn't bring freinds to our house. Biggest mistake of his life. Why were my parents so adament about a new car? Because they knew with a new car, he couldn't afford anything remotely sporty. They knew how he drove, how he made decisions, who he hung out with, and were fairly certain, if he got a typeR or 3 series, or anything with a modicum of performance, he would be in some sort of accident relating to street racing. But he was canvasing his freinds for ways around the warranty issue

 

Try to get the 8, if not here is a list of awd cars and fwd cars that may work.

Mazdaspeed 6 (awd)
Audi A4 (awd)
Subaru (awd)
Evo (awd)
IS250 (awd available)
Infiniti G35 (awd available)
Acura TL (fwd)
3 series (awd available)

I am sure I am missing a few

 

Get winter tires, no matter what the car. Winter tires are essential, even with AWD, because having AWD helps you get unstuck, but it doesn't help you stop.

$2K will get you great winter tires and wheels, so allocating that out of a $35K budget should be a great peace of mind for your parents. $2K is even optimistic: I spent $1.2K on best-in-class winter tires and good looking wheels for my 8.

IMO, anytime you're paying more than $25K for a car that you will drive in the winter, you have no excuse to save on winter tires.

 

I thought I'd respond to the original question, rather than to debate whether he deserves an 8 or not. By the way, I think soliciting questions on the safety of the 8 in snow from people who drive them was a great idea. He will either gather evidence either in suport of or against his parents' concerns. Sharing experiences and opinions is what this forum is for.

So, back on topic. In my experience, the 8 in snow with all-season tires does not handle as well as an FWD car with all-seasons. All-season tires are not as good as dedicated snow tires; snow tires on either FWD or RWD will make any car safer. Even AWD cars are not invincible in snow. In making the decision between FWD, RWD, AWD, and between all-seasons and snow tires, one needs to consider how much snow one gets, how quickly the roads are cleared, whether one has a back-up option for snow days (e.g., AWD, FWD), how many others are out on snowy roads when you are, and how carfeully one drives. Experience driving in snow is also important.

The real question is how safe do you need to be? No vehicle is 100% safe. In mojoxjojo's case, how much worse is RWD with snows versus FWD with snows? Is the percentage improvement on the grand scale important?

 

where is that debate?
the percentage improvement is largely based on driver ability. Something only his parents can attest too.

 

Safety is mostly issue of the driver and smart / stupid chances he's willing to take rather than the design of any car.

Get a p/t job, save some cash and buy the 8 yourself + winter tires. That will show your parents you're a grown-up and can act independently and responsibly, hence you'll be safe in any car, including RX-8.

Otherwise ask em to buy you an old fwd car like a Civic for $3500 and you'll be safe.

 

my friend who owns an sti actually has trouble driving in the snow and says the ride is a bit skiddish.

 

calm down blue eyes xP
he's just a fortunate lucky guy whose parents will purchase him a car...
dont you believe that if his parents are going to buy him a car, they should buy him a car that he wants? I think he should fight for the car he wants.
chill out and just try to help the guy out...

 

yeah i had to buy a 92 dx non hatch civic for my first car but then i add like 3g to it and i was taking si out then i blow the engine in it. and then i baught the 99 ex and put around 5g in it and then i was taking out RX-8s and other fast cars like the srt-4.< get this car fwd and runs low 14.0 and with a grand in to it u could run low 13s. if u a good driver. i would not suggest a rwd car if u have never driving one. but then again this car has a lot of stuff. i am now looking into getting one i keep breaking the hondas so i am going to try a mazda now. next is a nissan if this breaks.hehe. here u go if u have never drove a rwd car take out a iroc in the rain it will help. that is what i did for 5 month tell i got good at it now i can drift it pretty well ( in the rain)
but man ur getting a 35k car for free damn i wish that was me . i am only 18. i have to work for my money.

 

What do you want me to say that hasn't already be puked out a million times before.
I'm hardly uncalm about this. I really don't care. I just presented my opinion after the inital post and people who didn't agree got their panties all twisted and shoved up their asses. I'm just telling him to be grateful that his parents are willing to buy him a car, and not to argue about the one he wants. If they don't see that what he wants is fit, TS, go buy it yourself if you want it that bad. Otherwise, be grateful and accept what they are willing to give.

 

im just trying to see if i still have a chance to convince them that this car isn't as bad as they think. they said i could choose the car also, and this is what i want. if they still think that i shouldn't get rwd, then i wont, and i'll go find another car. i was just hoping with the help of the people on the forums, i could acquire some information that can show them rwd isn't so bad. i really do appreciate their gesture in buying me a car thats $35k, and i am thankful for having an opportunity like this. i'm just pushing as far as i can without creating conflict with my parents. i have no intention to verbally fight with them to get this car.

i also dont plan on racing the car, i was never into that kind of stuff. im not like your brother, and would never sell the car they give me to get what i want.

 

blah blah blah, yeah we heard ya the first three times. Now do us all a favor and STFU!!!!!

 

get a srt-4 that is what i would do. not to crack on the rx8 but u will have fun with that car if u like to race. i would get one but there are too many out here in toledo we have the fastest one in the us and the fastest gril in the srt-4.

 

mojoxjojo answered my concerns with what he was doing. He did so without saying, that was uncalled for, calm down, or STFU. The fact that I have seen a very similar situation turn out completely shitty for someone is something he might want to know about. Good on him listening and putting to rest and doubts. I hope it works out for him because he showed he's just not some whiney kid wanting his way.

As for you, you know why you heard it three times. Because smart asses like yourself have to throw your worthless two cents in and tell me what to say and think.

 

You never plan on racing the car or do any other stupid things....but they will happen, even if other people do them to you. You're honestly better off buying a car that's a few years old that you won't get too upset about when someone crashes into it, or if you crash it. Chances are you're not going to crash yourself, but learning to dodge other people who are trying to kill you is a skill they don't mention in driver's ed.

 

Everytime someone younger comes here and utters the words " my parents want to buy me..." your all over them like white on rice. You start spewing your beliefs and moral convictions as if that what they want to hear. Try answering their questions posted and not interject your own morality. And if you don't like what I have to say there's always the ignore function.

 

Spring for the TCS/DCS and get some winter tires. Plus the RX8 has really good saftey rating for collision, and is almost impossible to roll.

http://www.safercar.gov/NCAP/Cars/3207.html

 

SRT-4
but tell ur parnets to talk to me i am only 18 and i am getting one. i have ben looking into this car alot. really is a nice car. there don't have cars eith rwd like in the 80 and early 90s. my dad has a z4 and that is rwd and it handles very well in the snow and it is low as can be

 

Me? I don't care if their young, age has nothing to do with it. I don't think someone is automatically underserving because of their age, never have. I defy you find differently. When I care is when they haven't the maturity to undertstand or appreciate what they have and enjoy it safely. In fact, go find when I jump all over someone solely for his age.

If someone is smart enough to understand they're fortunate and respect what they have, awesome, I hope they enjoy their car and I am happy to help wtih any questions. If it's some spoiled little punk, ya, i'll tell them how it is. Someone has to tell them how stupid they sound.

 

I hope you don't get stuck with an sti

 

hey sti are sweet.
but i think he should get a SRT-4 that or buy my civic runs 12.7 and it is a 99 it needs to be rebuilt has two spun bearings

 

Personally, I think his parents have strudel in the noodles, but that's just me. Nothing wrong with the kid. The parents are another issue.

 

Well, here is my opinion.
Anyone immature would have already cracked by now after reading some of these posts. I think mojoxjojo's comment here, free and clear of any flaming, or hostility, shows some degree of maturity, and I fully respect that. I have seen simular threads desintegrate into helpless arguing pretty fast, but mojo has kept his head on his shoulders.
I say go for it....and if your parents visit this website, then have them read this comment. More important then the safety value of any car, is the maturity level of its driver/owner.

 

The danger of this car in the hands (or feet) of a kid is not the fact that it's RWD, but the fact that it's fairly powerful, and begs to be driven hard. That, in my opinion as an old curmudgeon and father of three driving kids (note sig), is a recipe for disaster.

If your parents are willing to buy you a little rocket, try to convince them to pay for a quality track school, so you at least have some real education on how to drive the car right, and how to get out of trouble when (not if) you don't.

That said, if your parents want to spoil you, and aren't worried about a powerful car been an attractive danger to you, there's nothing wrong with RWD in the snow, as long as you have good snow tires, and drive responsibly.

Come to think of it, there's nothing wrong with this car at all as long as you drive responsibly. Anyone who claims that this (or any car with this magnitude of power, rather than a Viper) fishtails while being driven reasonably on the street has no idea what "reasonably" is.

 

not that i don't agree with u but my buddy 86 iroc-z fishtails all the time i had to give him a push to his house because of it. and he knows how to drive and yes it had good tires and yes it was nearly stock. key word nearly.