I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I reconsidered somethings, after driving the 07 G35 and the 06 Bmw 330. I use to think our RX-8 was in the same class as these two but sad to say its not, This is just my personal opinion and everybody got one.

After driving a 06 base & 07 GT Rx-8 (blk, red&blk interior) I asked to drive the other two the sales man was very glad to show me and explained that I was stepping up in class and perfromance for a everyday driver. I usually toss what a salesman says and use my own judgement but this time he was right.

There is very little comparison between the three in material and atomosphere or the illusion of luxury, immeadiate power, responce and ergonomic.

Great handling and power in both auto and 6 spd these cars are a big step above, I guess I'm getting older and I'm starting to want all the amenities of a luxury sport coupe rather then a daily auto-xer. Auto to Auto the Rx-8 really looses out. And really theres no difference in perfromance of base and the GT RX-8 its the same vehicle minus the leather and odds and ends, same engine and transmission. The Rx-8 GT almost has every option the other two have, just in my opinion not as nicely packaged.

I'd probably place the bimmer just slight ahead of the G35 because crubside appeal, but performance and being loaded the G35 has it for nearly the same money, a newer car and less miles. If I bought that day it b the G35. I was impressed with used car value of the bimmer it lost very little in resale.

By the way the sale person drives a RX-8 home everyday.

Prices 06 Rx-8 base $18k, 15k miles; 07 RX-8 $32,950, 500 miles; 07 G35 $33,955, 450 miles; 06 Bmw 330 $34,000, 19k miles.

The Rx-8 is a good car just outof its leauge, value wise the base 06 for $18-maybe talked down to $17k make u say, hummmmm?

 

the G35 feels heavy when driving it if u are looking for simply performance theres 10x better out there for half the price, the bmw 330 has the most plain interior i have ever seen from a luxury car ive seen honda accords with better and more well thought out interior than the 330 and 225. but everyone has their own opinion and of course name brand has alot of "gotta have it" factor when people make a decision

 

He said the automatic RX-8 has a better package than the MT RX-8.

Auto FTW.

 

hmm.......i'm not sure if many people who are looking at luxury coupes would look at an RX-8, its a Mazda........

Also, i think Mazda is more sport oriented and the Infinti and BMW are luxury + performance oriented. No comparsion there.

Really, the RX-8 has no peer, its a niche car. It unique in its own way and also its a middle of the road type of vehicle if you are looking at features and content alone. It not suppose to be that luxurious but at the same time, its not a bottom of the barrel, no frills vehicle. It's sporty.

Someone shopping for an RX-8, i'm not sure if they would be readily comparing it to a BMW or Infinti......and vice versa....and also RX-8 are discounted reasonably with rebates and such that the 32K MSRP, is most likely brought down to a 29-30K car at the very minimum

I know first hand, that when i bought my 8, i wasn't thinking hmm wonder how it compares to the BMW 3 series and Infinti G35......most people shoppin for an 8, would probably compare it to a 350Z or something along those lines. Mazdas in general are'nt in the same league as a bimmer or Infinti......no prestige or status. So i'm not sure if the point of view that was brought up, holds any weight.

I think to put up an RX-8 along the lines of a Infinti G35 and BMW 3 series is actually complimenting the 8 because you're putting it up on a pedestal that it shouldn't be on in the first place.

 

Yea the G35 feels heavy/sluggish to me...

 

It depends on what you want, really. RX8s can be had for cheap, they fit the driver like a golve, and they handle like a dream. I'd personally say they lean more toward the younger driver who enjoys the little technicalities of driving more so than someone who wants a good all-around sporty car with lots of curb appeal, comfort, and the finest amenities.

You seem to focus on the luxuries of the other two cars more than the performance, and in the end, that's probably what you're after. You're not going to find luxury in an RX8 as it was never intended to offer any sort of opulence. It's a driver's car, and the fact that it has some nice options included in the higher up models is simply a nicety and by no means a claim that it's after the luxury market.

The RX8 is very much a niche car (for a relatively narrow niche, at that), and I'm fairly certain it just doesn't fit into your niche. For what you seem to be after, however, you've picked two great cars.

 

Lordy VR, stop stealing my thoughts as I'm in the midst of typing them!

 

people buy the BMW for the name go look at the bmw forums if anyone posts anything about driving fast they get bombarded with flames about ruining the car. if u own a bmw especially the M series you better never speed and mention it on the forums they will hang you even though the M series is their performance model which is based on the racing side of BMW

 

Ahem...mine fits me like a glove. And I'm only 48 years young, Rhawb...

I bought my 8 because I wanted an 8. I had a 1st gen RX-7 in 1980 and wanted another rotary-engined sports car because I like the whole package. The only shopping was between dealers and individual RX-8's. I agree with those who say the RX-8 has no real peer.

 

the bold says it all. You're not the "bearer of bad news" - anyone who thought the 8 came close to these two in the luxury dept has been lying to themselves.

I'll take the trade of between curb appeal & curve appeal. tho I didn't bother driving the 'bimmer' - I can say the feel of the 8 thru turns is much more stable than the g35 (2 door)

 

I think to put up an RX-8 along the lines of a Infinti G35 and BMW 3 series is actually complimenting the 8 because you're putting it up on a pedestal that it shouldn't be on in the first place.


Thats sorta what I was allearing to except $30k is $30k, I'd rather have the G35 (heavier or not) or bimmer (bc you not on the auto-x course everyday) over the GT Rx-8 as a daily driver.

And when you compare the three in Auto the water gets deeper for the $30k GT RX-8 imo.

I think its a compliment that the RX-8 would be even considered in this leauge.

As for comparing with a 350Z, the 06 Mazda 8 can't be touched, a 03 350z gonna cost you $18k-$22k.

All in All the 06 RX-8 base $18-$17k one year old is the best bargain buy, you can't touch a 05 bimmer (unless its the 318 did they make 318 in 05?) or a 05 G35 under $25k, unless it has very high mileages.

 

I bought mine new so I compared the prices when new. And the 8 was by far the best value of all the 'competitors'. I'm from Canada so the price differences were pretty significant in these cars. I remember the G35 coupe being about 10 grand more brand new than the 8 (comparing each top of the line models)

 

I recently came of a 2004 3 series lease. While I enjoyed the car very much, I knew I wanted something more sporty, both in the looks and handling.

IMO the RX-8 is the ultimate fun car! Or as others on this forum might say funner.

Good luck on whatever you choose.

 

I think this comparison is a little off. I mean, before I started even considering an RX-8, I was looking at WRX's and Z's. I would not consider an 8 a luxury. Don't get me wrong, I think it's nice inside and out but it's more a sports car than a luxury.

.02

 

What BMW forums are you talking about in particular? I'm on E90post, bimmerfest, e46fanatics, and m3forum. I have never heard ANYBODY say somebody is running their car to hard; usually I hear the opposite. "Drive the car the way it was meant to be driven." And usually M cars are praised for their luxury and sportiness combined.

Back to the thread. I wouldn't say that the Rx8 really compares with these two cars, because it's a different car. The BMW and G35 are truly much more luxurious, and hence, they have much more weight. Around 500 pounds more each? The Rx8 is also more of a GT car where as the BMW is a sedan and the G35 is a coupe. They all handle reasonably well, and have similar power, but they are still different cars.

 

ill find the thread where some young guy in his M5 made a video of him doing a burn out and taking off and everyone condemning him to hell for it

 

You are comparing apples to oranges.

 

Yes but should Apples and Oranges cost the same $30k, that almost put them in the same price range. Admittedly Mazda doesn't usually sale $30k cars since the last Rx-7 but you have to consider them just for the money.

Theres a lot of $30+ Sports cars that these cars beat out overall, like Z, 8, Vette even the Chryslers they got a $40k 300m strx hemi, $40k or $30k for a Chyrsler I think not. I'm getting snobish as you guys been test driving and thinking about a RX-8 too long.

On a Auto-x the RX-8 is a great car. But as a daily driver and future investment resale wise at its best the GT Rx-8 ain't a G35 or 330 r 35i (which is a 2 door coupe) for sure.

Theres a noticeable difference in the ride and comfort level. I agree that they shouldn't be compared on the same requirment as a luxury Sport coupe and daily driver.

Even as a Sport car I don't know the Bimmer and Infiniti still makes a fine daily driver and Sport car, same smooth shifting but torque and performance on the straight away or in and out of the curves. The RX-8 is a catch all Sport car but its really out of your leauge here, exspecailly when you are looking at that same $30k, you really got to be a fan of the Rx-8. I'm sorry I brought it up, but I'm glad that I didn't spend $32k on the GT Rx-8.

If I get a Rx-8 it will be a 2005 GT or 2006 almost base from a dealership or a suped-up turbo charged, fresh aired, 35s all around yokohama, mounted on a set of 20" Dangers, Rx-8, 6 spd, from 2nd hand owner that wants out, for $18k since I'm dreaming.

In reality a bimmer or the G35/37 awd wouldn't be a bad Sports car.

 

I tested all three. I think the 8 is the better car for the price.

I could not get into a G35 or a 3 series for 30k new. I was ready to spend 40k, but neither of those cars was worth 14k more than the 8.

But I did get into a RX-8 GT 6SP for 26K new.

The G35 felt heavy (it was a 6 speed also) as others suggested. The BMW was a mystery as to how they optioned and priced those cars. Could never figure out if the deal was decent or not. That, and the parking lot where I worked was full of them and none of the owners were gushing over them. Not like the 8 and Mini owners were.

 

What a shocking development. You mean to say that spending an extra $10,000 or so gets you a car that performs better? My God. Who would have thought? Thank you for informing us, we had no idea.

 

haha rhawb. Guess i'm telepathic, good to know that others think alike.

 

Rootski wrote - What a shocking development. You mean to say that spending an extra $10,000 or so gets you a car that performs better? My God. Who would have thought? Thank you for informing us, we had no idea.


Really we are talking about $2k-$4k more for a car that performs better as a daliy driver with perks. After owning the car for 2 or 3 years I could still sell it for $24k-$28k and the person wouldn't think I was trying to rob them pending the miles.
The $32k GT RX-8 your'e never going to get your money back out of it, you better like zoom, zooom!!

A $26k GT is a steal (those deals are long gone) but you don't want to auto -x race your GT do you?


mysql101 - Lets all start a forum and post a lot of negative things about the car so that younger drivers stay away. We'll call it RX-8 Club.

Hey, I'm in my mid 40s, just got the kids grown, divorced and dating just now explorering Sport cars and Sport Sedans/Coupes again. Just got out of the SUV, fam-sedans, and Mini Van camp. By the way how old do you have to be, to join this club?

 

I think your exploration is over...you want a luxury car not a sports car.

 

True.

By the way, to those of you that don't think the 8 has curb appeal, shame on you!

 

You should not buy an RX-8, for the simple reason that you ARE a BMW driver.

Your convoluted logic/rationalizations give you away - you are a natural, destined-at-birth, 3 series driver, just like ALL the others.

Why would anyone be surprised that a BMW 3 Series driver chooses to pay exactly double for the '06 "3" over the '06 "8"? It's the definition of a no-brainer.

(....and why would it be "bad news" to us??)

S