Hey everyone im new and i just realized i can afford a rx-8 but ive been scared of the fact that mazda build rotary engines. But it seems like its ok now. So i like luxury but i like speed too. So rx-8 or A4? both are nice but is the rx-8 to small?

 

The A4 is a very nice car, but its:

Slower than the RX-8.
Doesn't handle as well (skidpad, slalom, whatever measurement).
Heavier.
More expensive.

The one thing I'll give to the A4 is that the trunk is enormous, the interior is GORGEOUS, and it's a very well refined car.

But I'm not willing to lose the fun factor of the RX-8 just to get the Audi name... The only Audi I want is the allroad :D

As per the rotary engines... I am pretty sure this one, like other naturally aspirated ones, will be bulletproof.

 

Just for your info, I had a rotary with over 200,000 miles without any problems. And I've had piston engines that gave me much less mileage. The rotary has proven to be VERY reliable in my experience. Like anything else, you have to take care of it, and for a rotary that means letting the engine warm up before redlining and also making sure that the oil level is up to mark.

Far from some misconceptions, those who have experience with the rotary engine know that it is a great engine, revs to 9 grand with no problem, has good and linear power delivery and is reliable as hell. Damn nigh indestructable.

Now, the Audi is a beautiful car. The interior design and ergonomics is among the best that I have seen. I love the 6 speed manual also.

But the RX-8 gets my passion going. The body is aggressive without being overdone, the interior is really beautiful and finally, it has that crowning glory, the ROTARY ENGINE, whose delivery of performance to the relatively "light" RX-8 puts the car is the sub 6 second 0 to 60 category.

And all this for under $27,000.00.

Good luck with your new RX-8.

 

The two vehicles are pretty close to the same size. See edmunds for specs -- In fact as a taller driver I liked the greater front leg room in the RX-8 better than the A4.

A4
Exterior
Length: 179 in. Width: 69.5 in.
Height: 56.2 in. Weight: 3406 lbs.
Wheel Base: 104.3 in. Ground Clearance: 4.2 in.
Interior
Front Head Room: 38.4 in. Front Shoulder Room: 55.1 in.
Rear Head Room: 37.2 in. Rear Shoulder Room: 53.4 in.
Front Leg Room: 41.3 in. Rear Leg Room: 34.3 in.
Luggage Capacity: 13.4 cu. ft.



RX-8
Exterior
Length: 174.3 in. Width: 69.7 in.
Height: 52.8 in. Wheel Base: 106.4 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.3 in.
Interior
Front Head Room: 38.2 in. Front Shoulder Room: 54.8 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.8 in. Rear Shoulder Room: 53.2 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.7 in. Rear Leg Room: 32.3 in.
Luggage Capacity: 7.6 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 8 cu. ft.

 

I own an Audi A4 3.0....absolutely love the car!

The Audi will most likely be going to my wife and I will be getting an RX-8. So I will have the best of both worlds. Here are some thoughts about the A4:

The A4's are not as expensive as you might think. Audi dealers are very willing to deal on the A4. $500 over invoice is easily acheivable right now. Plus, there are great lease and finance deals going on.

The A4 1.8T is a little sluggish because of the weight of AWD, but spend $300, chip it, and you will get 210 HP and 240 lb-ft, and be more than satisfied!

The quality, fit and finish, and bang for your buck is unequaled with the A4. People are astonished at how much car you get for the money. It makes my fathers 3 series that was $7,000 more seem cheap in quality!

AWD Quattro is truly amazing. You really have to drive it to understand how good it is. And I'm not talking about just snow. In the rain, ice, slush, dry, Quattro is really great.

Like I said, I will hopefully have both an A4 and an RX-8, so I will have the best of both worlds, but you can't really go wrong with either car.

 

Actually two other major things going for the A4 are Quattro (if you live anywhere that gets a lot of rain or that gets snow you will love it) and, if you get the cold weather package, things like heated mirrors and a pass-through ski sack from the trunk.

The RX-8 has a trunk pass-through but between that and its RWD nature I'm not sure how good of a ski vehicle it would make. :D

Then again the A4 is sporty, but no sports car, and of course in theory the Renesis should be a lot more trouble free than either the 1.8T or 3.0 engines in the A4 (though for the first four years/50,000 miles all maintenance and everything else but gas and tires is free on the Audi under their warranty and the "Audi Advantage" program...)

 

I would thing the 1.8T in the Audi is the same engine in the VW Jetta & Passat 1.8T. The 1.8T are known for there coil pack problems.

 

If you're really into luxury and you're concerned about not having enough interior/trunk space, then the A4 is probably a better choice for you.

 

With the possibility of jinxing myself, I will say this, I've had my Jetta 1.8T going on two years and I haven't as of yet had any engine / drivetrain related electrical or mecahnical probelms. I did have to have my passenger window recently fixed when it stop functioning properly, but it was a minor issue that was resolved very quickly. Both the coil pack and window issues are known problems (some model years more than others), but considering the number of other things that can possibly go wrong with cars, the VW / Audis seem very well put together. Those two issues are also covered by a free extended warranty by VW if you have issues with them.

I actually enjoy driving my Jetta and like the look and feel of the interior and the car in general.

With that said, I'm purchasing an RX-8 if that tells you anything....

 

It is tough to compare the two cars but here is my situation. I have had an A4 1.8TQMS (turbo,quattro,sport package, manual transmission) for the past five years. There is now a For Sale sign in the rear window and a $500 deposit on a Titanium grey High Power RX-8 (and yes, it will be my daily driver as well as my snowboard hauler). think anyone will make a ski rack for it?

 

yes a ski rack has alredy been fitted to the rx-8. i do not know which company it was at this time. this was done several months ago.

 

My RX-8 will also be my daily car - I hope it will do OK in the snow!

 

I got the package with DSC, but I am sure it will be fine with a good set of snow tires.

 

if i order now? will i get the car by august? what do you guys think?

 

yes definitly by august. as early as june. if not then most defnitly july

 

how did you guys put for down payment? and what is your guys monthly? also what is the mazda warranty like? 4yr/50k or even better?

 

It was a bad run of coil packs - they are being replaced if they fail and there is a recall coming once an adequate supply of coil packs exists.

The coil pack problems have also only been on MY 2001 and newer vehicles, and I drove a 2001 Audi TT 225 Quattro coupe for 2.5 years and never had a problem...

 

Snow tires being the operative phrase; the RX-8 will come with performance tires, like most sports cars, which are absolutely dangerous in the snow as the tires turn to hard, tractionless hockey pucks in temps below 40°F.

Seriously - many folks who get Audi Quattros shod with performance tires (e.g. TTs and S4s) pay big $$ when their AWD cars slide into curbs and such on the OEM performance tires the first time it snows 1/2 inch...

 

I've only driven a lightweight RWD vehicle in the snow, so maybe I'm a little biased, but there are advantages to RWD in slick conditions. You just have to use the lower traction to your advantage. Where I live, snow is usually measured in half meters, so I do have some experience with inclement conditions. Honestly, I think that having AWD inspires a lot of false confidence and probably causes quite a few accidents as a result.

 

Yeah, people seem to forget that once you are off throtle there is no advantage to AWD. All season tires are crap and even with Quattro you have to get a good set of dedicated snow tires. That said, there is no way that the RX-8 is going to compare to the Audi when it comes to having fun in the snow. It is, however, rare that I get the chance to play in the snow hence my switching to a car that will be better suited to road conditions that I am lkely to encounter the majority of the time.

 

nissan QUEST or chrysler conQUEST?

norats

 

A friend of mine daily drives a S4 and tracks/weekend drives his RX-7.. if that tells you anything.