Hi,

I am "new" on here, though NOT new to Mazdas. I have an early 1990 Miata (I've driven since 1998) that I plan to supplement with an RX-8 as my "daily driver." We had a hand-me-down Crown Vic that died last week, so we need a second 4-seater for me to haul my kids around while my wife drives here van.

A local dealer has a used 2006 Black RX-8 automatic with 22,000 and cloth seats. For my purposes, an automatic is OK, as the wife isn't "comfortable" driving stick. (As Fenix, my Team Lotus painted Miata, is a stick, I'm fine with a manual.)

I know the basics of the RX-8, as I followed it's development on Miata.net.
It is also the BEST option for a 4-seater "four door" car I know of, MUCH preferable to me than MOST stuff on the road and ANYTHING else in my price bracket.

So, is there ANYTHING I should know?

Me:
I will be driving 8-16 mile trips (mostly 35-60mph) to take the kids to daycare some days, then returning home where I work. Every couple weeks, I'll be driving to Atlanta, a 190 mile one-way trip.
(I live in a small town in the country, but have major Mazda dealers within 50 miles or so.)
(I live in South Carolina.)

I know the mileage isn't as "good" as the Miata, though the RX-8 SEEMS to be comparable to non-econo sedans.



Oh, if I buy the RX-8, it WILL see the Dragon and EARN a sticker. The Miata has been there numerous times.



(All I have to do is CONVINCE the wife that the RX-8 is "better" for me than a Scion . . . or ANY American crap-> her parents like large yank-tanks.)


(Edit: THIS is my first post on here.)

Edit 2:
I tend to drive pretty aggressive and redline the Miata (N/A) regularly. I WILL keep up with the oil -add as needed- and use it "as designed."
-> THAT is why I want the RX, a REAL sports car that I can carry my kids in. What I don't know is if there are concerns with the AT, miles, year, or anything I REALLY need to take into consideration, coming from the car's biggest fans.

My Miata was white, the paint "fell off," as happens. Now it is Lotus Racing Green with a yellow stripe. I have been "stuck in reverse" twice and had the "short crank" wear-down issue (replaced engine at 190,000 miles). I would STILL seriously look at a white 90 Miata.

The RX WILL get TLC.
(I DO NOT expect to "like" the Scion XB or XD when I drive them. They should drive like crap compared to the RX.)

 

Wow, you drove a crown vic, I am sorry, jk. Don't get a Scion though!

The 8 will not get comparable gas mileage, I get about 17-18 and I drive a nice mix of highway and city with little traffic. However, that aside I think the car is well worth it. You just have to take good care of it. On doing that you can read around here though. Learn about the rotary as much as you can and the renesis (oil, flooding, warm up, etc.), and you can keep it going as long as your Miata.

When I was about 10 or so my dad had a '87 Cadillac Eldorado and my brother and I fit in the back seat just fine, and I would say it was about the same size as the 8, if not smaller, with no extra doors. So it should probably be fine for your kids. The suspension is pretty stiff (no crap), but it is nice on the highway and just pop it into third and you can pass anyone.

 

Buy the Scion....

 

The CV was my wife's grandfathers. We got it for $500 and sold the carcass for $300. I REALLY HATED that thing, though I tried HARD not to.

My Miata has 336,000 miles. My father got it in 1989, August. I "bought" it off him (paid less than was worth) and he bought a green and tan 1999 Miata.

Actually, according to fueleconomy.gov , the RX-8 gets BETTER mileage than the CV
Our Grand Caravan
Our pre-van Ford Taurus
Or others my in-laws think we should get.

I do plan to learn as much as I can on the Renesis and its "oddities."


(I would MUCH rather have the RX than the Scion, which is better than runamok sedan.)

 

Delete this, as I combined it with another post.

 

I'd actually rather have the Miata than the Scion, except it doesn't seat 2 KIDS.
The RX-8 is FAR more fun to drive than ANYTHING I know and more along the lines of the Miata, but with the advantage of a rotary.
(I wish the Miata would come with a rotary alternative.)

Is the 22,000 mile AT (2006) an issue I should be worried about or RUN from?

Oh, are the AT issues only with the 4-speeds or do the 6-speeds have issues too?

 

Just stay away from an Auto, they are slower, and probably harder to resell. People will give you hard time about it too.

If you want a fun car that is bullet proof, check out a Mazda 3 (or even an Impreza, I only say that cause we have one). Not that I am saying not to get an 8, but the 8 will take attention.

 

I'm confused. Your wife can't drive the RX-8 if you get a manual, and you want the automatic? That's the best way to get the car alone I've ever heard

Seriously though, I know if I'd be making 180 mile trips I'd SURELY get a manual, or I'd be falling asleep on the way. I find automatic to be REALLY boring on drives longer than 15 minutes. Guess you guys in the US are more used to it, but I'd consider it hard if I was going for longer drives.

The stuff I hear is that automatic had it's problems on early cars but not latter, but don't take my word for it, search and you will find

 

Get a newer miata. Drive the van when you need to take the kids anywhere, that is what vans are for.

Read up on the upkeep needed for the RX-8. Being 50 miles from the dealer may require something that doesn't need as much TLC.

 

[QUOTE=Shoafb;2483490]Get a newer miata. Drive the van when you need to take the kids anywhere, that is what vans are for.
[quote]
MY Miata AIN'T going anywhere without me in it.

I'd just like to be able to drive in something that is not 2 decades old with 336 THOUSAND miles.

Thanks.

I have been.
It sounds like some of the TLC might require "special tools and equipment" that I and "normal" car shops don't have.

Thanks.

I'll have to look into this more and see about rotary-addicts around me.

Anyone in the area BETWEEN Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia, South Carolina?
(I am in Clinton.)

 

With any AT rotary i would be concerned about how it was treated, meaning how much it was babied. I've heard that carbon buildup is a bit of a concern with the ATs because people don't rev them...

Personally, if i were to get an RX8 then it would have to be in a manual. The manual in the 8 is a really good unit, i enjoy it thoroughly and im sure you will too. Perhaps teach the missus...

 

I never drove manual before 3 months ago when I got my 8...go for it. Your wife (I am the wife) will love it once she gets used to it! Nothing like being in 3rd and needing more speed...3 more to go-yeah!!!!!
I drove a big conversion van for 20 years, then along came the rx8 - love, love, love it (even more than driving our '66 440 Charger). Kids fit fine too.

 

my girlfriend was a lost cause when it came to driving a stick and she learned, your wife will be fine. Grow a pair and go with the MT. If you do go with the AT, make sure to go with the 6 speed/6 port. Theyre faster. AVOID 04 TO 05 ATS.

 

Dear OP. thanks for dropping by. The rx-8 is a natural step up from the miata in terms of performance. But without the drop top. I suggest that you visit miata.net as there are lots of miata owners who also own an RX-8.
At the end, you have to like the car. We cannot convince you because we chose our cars with our own unique preferences.

 

I've owned three Miatas, and I say definitely go for the 8. Reliability-wise, I would have no hesitation buying a recent AT. (Mazda added a second oil cooler a couple of years ago; I'd avoid the early, "one cooler " AT models.)

Like many, my 8 averages 17-19 mpg; that's about 65% highway/35% city. (Of course, with your Miata's superior gas mileage, maybe that should be the daily driver, and the 8 your weekend fun/pick up the kids car. Except the 8 is way better on long distance interstate travel. Doesn't beat you up.)