I dont know what to do,i have a choice of which two cars i want(only one thou my wife will let me have)Its between a RX8 or MustangMach1,the Mach is all Black with 12000miles on her and a very good price under $18500 and 5sp 300+horses,I also Love the RX8 in silver or gray with the two-tone seats red&black, (used) of course.I have Driven both cars, the RX8 handles like a dream i love it the looks the style,but the stang has so much power and its very fast.I know the RX8 is fast but i dont think its that fast.Look dont get me wrong Im 40 years old two kids one in college,im not looking to race anyone but when you get at a stop light with another fast car someone always wants to race.Thats why i need help should i get a used RX8,ive found some use ones at between $23000&$25000the miles are low the most about 4300miles,but the problems that come with the car i.e flooding brakes M flash L flash who knows,i dont care about the gas,if you buy a sports car you shouldnt worry about gas,Im going to buy within 3weeks,the mach1 is year 2003 its been sitting for around 2months at the dealer,the RX8 i want is in NJ sitting at the dealer as well,6sp ,nav,spoiler silver and all black leather,please help

 

easy choice, the 8...I'm younger but I appreciate the handling of the 8 and the style...I know that if I was driving around a Mustang I would be unhappy...I wouldn't feel comfortable with the power, not because it is too much horses but it is because with all those horses your not in a connected ride, you feel distant from the car

besides you have kids, or rather you have a family right? good luck cramming them in the back seat of the Mustang...they'll hate you for it

 

Well.... most of us here are partial to the Rx8.

It depends how unique you want to be...?!?
There are more "cookie-cutter" Stangs then there are 8's.
Your insurance will most likely be less in the 8...
at least it was in my case (I traded my Mustang GT for my 8)
You'll need an obsessive-compulsive personality if you get the 8....
with all the cleaning and waxing you'll be doing

 

Wrong place to ask for a straight opinion. The 8 obviously.

Frankly, the mustang has always had a good power train and that's where the good stuff stops. Its running on a platform that is 25 years old! Yes, 25 years old!!!!! The rest of the car is cheap and this is common knowledge. Look I'm 42 with 3 kids and I love power. But I will not take power over quality. The 8 is just too well engineered and too fun to drive and looks to special to pass up. Furthermore, it has a higher resale value than the Mustang and depreciates at a lesser rate. The mustang is loaded with cheap foams, plastic and little sense of feeling like quality or well put together but it will blow the doors off the 8 anytime anyplace. Once last thing to consider, you can rest assured that the guy who had the stang before you beat the living hell out of it daily. Another "last thing to consider" is that its been sitting for 2 months. Bad, very bad for a car. He's having a bitch of a time unloading it and if you go mustang, you can steal it because he's losing money everyday on it.


Good Luck.

 

turbo kits for the rx8 are now hitting the market. You can expect over 300 hp at the wheels with them, and with more time, bigger kits. So if you can afford to drop another 4-6k on the car later on, then the rx-8 will give you looks and power.

 

being in first place from one red light to the next gets old after a while. the 8 is a more sophisticated, refined automobile with more character than any muscle car. bottom line: it's just more fun all around!

 

in an 8 change gears from 6th to 3rd at 55-65mph give it some gas as you do it, you'll forget about the Stang in a heartbeat (if your heart doesn't stop while doing it :D)

 

once again i would say the 8. you have your everyday mustang that you see all over the roads...don't get me wrong, i love the mach 1. but if you compare the styling inside and out...unless you are a die-hard mustang fanatic i don't see how you couldn't pick the 8! just get a picture of both and put them next to each other...its a no brainer!

but good luck with your decision and keep us posted!

 

You should see if the dealer will let you take the 8 home for a night. Go for a long drive and get to know the car. See if the dealer that has the stang will do the same. I can tell you with fact that the 8 is a far more enjoyable car to drive. The 8 may not be the fastest in a straight line, but trust me, she makes up for this in many other areas. My last car was an 04 Mustang GT. I enjoyed the stang, but never really loved it. The 8 is rare, the stang is not.

As for reliability, yes the 8 has had some issues. But these are all pretty much addressed these days. I have had my 8 since March and the car has been rock solid. No issues!!

Good luck.

- Irish

 

If the street drag routine is an itch you'll always need to scratch or if you want really cheap hot-rodding, go with the Mustang. For everything else: handling, steering, road feel, ergonomics, quality, and uniqueness, the RX-8 wins hands down. The 8 is practically telepathic in how it drives.

 

thanks alot fellow RX8 people, you're probably right. My decision will be to get a RX8, at the
best afforable price. Please tell me about any flooding issues you guys have, because I
travel alot. My problem with the flooding issue is.... if I go to A.C , and have the car valet,
that with an in-experience valet, might hit the gas, thus, flooding the car.

 

Dont forget that with the release of the new Mustangs, that old Mach1 may not look so sexy and special any more.

 

flooding is a RARE problem, I hope this eases your mind even more...as for a valet...just leave a little note for them on the steering wheel if your worried, that is what friends do when they valet at the casino (well they leave a note with the mileage on the car so the valet won't take their car for a joyride)

congrats on choosing the 8...keep up with the forum, you'll love it

 

Your statement sounds a bit contradictory. If you feel the need to street race, by all means, get the 'stang. On the other hand, if you want a true sports car that has class and you won't find on every corner, get the 8.

1.3L

P.S. on street racing:

It doesn't take much skill. Money, and/or mods and foolishness will produce
the fastest car. My question is, who are you going to brag to after the race?
The cop who arrested you? Your insurance company? The guy who sold you
the car? The speed merchant who sold you the mod parts? And even if any of
them cheer you on, how many of them do you think will help pay for your
traffic violation?

Count your costs, make your decision.

 

Sounds like you've already made up your mind, in the correct direction. But let me reinforce what Shamblerock said. If you're in your fortys you probably remember 1979. It was the year I graduated high school. It was one heck of a long time ago.

At that time, Ford was selling a wonderful car called the Fairmont. If fate is kind, you don't remember it. A truly forgettable car. The chassis for the Fairmont was called Fox and it was tweaked and placed under the new Mustang. It was great! Heck, it replaced the old Mustang II; how could it not be great? Only problem is, that same old chassis, with a few additional tweaks, is under that used Mustang you're looking at!

The RX-8 has had some problems, true but it's gone very well for such a totally new product. As far as style and sophistication, the 8 has it all over that Mustang. No argument, the Mustang is faster... in a straight line. Hit a few curves in that antiquated Fox chassis and then try them in the RX-8. No further evaluation is required.

The other thing is the quality of the interior. Face it, the Mustang looks just plain cheap inside. It is what it is: fast (in a straight line) and cheap. And the interior really looks the part.

 

short version: get the 8
long version: definutly get the rx-8.

hehehehe:D

 

Here's a real good reason:

That Mach One, when stripped naked to the bare floor plan and rear assembly is an old Ford Fairmont from 1977. You really want something with the DNA of a Ford Fairmont in it?

There's no comparison whatsoever. If you were comparing devices to drive nails, the Mach One is a 3 lb generic claw hammer from the discount bin at Home Depot. The RX-8 is a pnumatically powered Bostich framing nailer, with autofeed and adjustible force and depth controls.

Bottom line: They both drive nails. Just that one of them does it so much better and with so much more precision. The three-pound hammer can generate more force though. But what's the use of that force if all you're going to do is dent the wood.

Same thing with the cars: Both go fast. The Mach One can go faster. But the RX-8 goes fast better, rather than just plain faster.

 

great response! this is how I will describe the car to my male friends, along with the 'Hot Asian Girl' refernce

as for how I describe it to women? hmmm well that might be inapropriate for this forum as my female friends LOVE to be crude that includes my girlfriend

:D

 

Umm, well, my wife likens other cars to a clumsy finger while the RX-8 is a finely crafted, multi-function vibrator ... both can get her off, but one is so much better than the other.

 

I just got a RX8 this past week and trust me, I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH, and I would go with the RX8. I put it up against...

350Z, G35 2dr, new GTO, 2005 Mustang, EVO, WRX, used Mustang, used Camaro, do a search and you will find my other "thoughts". I did a spreadsheet and everything...LOL

The RX8 won because of alot of things but with kids I'll tell you this, the RX8 KILLS the stang in rear seat comfort and ease of entry/exit. Quality also is a hands down winner for the RX8.

I've got 215 miles on my car and I'm loving it more and more with each drive.

Learn about the rotary some more before making your choice...but I went with the 8 and I'm SO HAPPY I DID!

 

8 wannahave. I didn't know you just got your 8. Wow! congrats to you for getting a new car. Is it 05 or 04? Mine with 1,000 on it just picked up a CEL this weekend. Not happy with that at all since its a new car. 2004. Can't get the car into the dealer yet because Denver is going to get hit with some snow tonight. Will have to wait until Friday or next week I guess. The car runs great so I hope its just minor.

 

not to mess with your anology since it applies 99 percent of the time but if you learn deep penetration technique with your fingers that vibrator may never be needed again

 

who's going to care if you buy a mustang? who's oignt to look if you drive by in one? who going to ask for you to take them for a ride ?

Nobody...

 

Right now I care b/c their numbers are sparse. I'd like to drive or ride in one though. Right now I pay attention to them on the road now just to size them up in different colors b/c I've only seen 4 stangs (And I think they are quite painful to look at especially in yellow). I'm sure I won't even know they are on the road a year from now.

 

Just got back from my Christmas trip to FL. 1000 miles roundtrip on I-75. Saw ZERO RX-8's and three new Mustangs. The 8 has been out for two years and the Mustang for months. Before long you wont be able to swing a dead cat without hitting the new Mustang.

Also, the retro looks were nice about ten minutes ago...

My .02