I started my car hunt with the intention of getting an RX-8, and I (think) I finished it last night by deciding to get ... an RX-8. For those going through a similar process, I thought I'd share my thoughts about it. I don't want to insult any other cars here. Without exception, every other $30k-or-so car that I considered had a lot going for it, and I would be pretty content (or very happy) to own one, but the RX-8 is what I want. I must also disclose that I love RWD cars in general and Mazdas in particular (and have had three Miatas, all of which started out normally aspirated, then two wound with superchargers and one with a turbo), which makes the decision easier for me. Anyway, here goes. These are just test notes, mainly from various e-mails I wrote during the car hunt:

[THE HUNT BEGINS]

I took about a half-hour RX-8 test-drive last week. I think I would get the base six-speed with the Sport Package (HIDs, fog lights and DSC/TC). Blue or yellow. I dig that blue.

I didn't come even close to its limits, but I did observe:
The powerband reminds me of the Miata, the S2000, and the WRX: Mushy down low and strong up high.
The exhaust note is sexy but subdued, maybe too much so--then again, we had the windows closed.
The rev limit beeper (warning at 8,500, redline at 9,000) is quiet and unobtrusive; dare I say perfect. (Don't worry, it was a dedicated demo car.)
The (sport) suspension is firm but compliant, with almost no body roll.
Visibility front, side and rear is quite good.
The sense of space around the driver and front passenger are excellent; much roomier than a top-up Miata.
The upgraded 300-watt Blows sound system sounded pretty generic.
The seats are excellent.
The (upgraded sports) brakes are extremely easy to control and powerful.
The car had an solid, almost Teutonic feel.
The clutch is soft, like a stock Miata I suppose; very different from my Charles Atlas Signature Edition ACT Extreme clutch.
The electronic-assisted steering is OK, but maybe slightly overboosted.
The shifter is very Miata-like.
Turn-in seemed Miata-like; not sharper (like the S2000), not duller.
I'm not sure I noticed any real benefit from the sunroof, but it might be nice in the countryside.
It's cool how you can see the protuberant left front fender from the front seat.
Sixth gear is pretty damn boring.
You have to push the shifter down to get into reverse, on the right.
I didn't notice the carbon fiber driveshaft.
Traction control is defeatable.
Compared to the Miata, the car felt much more like a real car, Larger, more solid and poised. Not a go-kart at all. I felt more like a BMW driver than a Miata driver. Can I be that person? I think so.

[THE HUNT CONTINUES]

Looked at the RX-8 again at lunch. ...

You can throw this message in my teeth six months from now, but the more I think about it the more reluctant I am to modify this hypothetical RX-8 that might (please, please) reside soon in my garage: Maybe an intake, conceivably an exhaust some day, and eventually new tires when the old ones wear out. But I would not want to install more punishing suspension, lower the car, or force the induction. And it already has so many of the things I added to my Miata: Nicer interior, gauges, seats, headlights, wheels, brakes, etc. Yup; it's already just about perfect. And since the stock airbox is probably a CAI routed from below, putting in a cone-style K&N would probably impair its performance, not enhance it.

[I LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES]

Test-drove 20th Anniversary Golf and loved the outside. Great yellow; great body; great wheels. Interior kind of chintzy. Bolsters huge; shifter sloppy. Great power; great handling.

Checked out G35 Coupe 6-speed but the salesman was a real jerk and the car was marked up to about $36k. The interior was a little too glitzy for me. Couldn't test-drive it.

The only new Audi A4s and 3-series Bimmers in this price range are a bit too generic and underpowered and Buick-ish for me.

[LATER]

Test-drove a silver Lancer Evo ... silver, with the huge wing. Turns out they can order it without any wing, or with a little wing. Sweet car; tight as a rat's *ss. Great shifter, good clutch, great steering, terrific brakes. Rough ride on bad pavement; decent freeway ride. Terrific grip. OK power down low, pretty powerful up high. Ugly, cheap interior, but comfortable and functional. Great Recaro seats. Nice on the outside. I liked it overall, but the cheap interior would really bug me. Rockin' stock stereo; sounded great on Everything Must Go, title track.

Test-drove blue '04 WRX sedan. (They aren't giving STi test drives unless you're buying--chicken and egg problem there). Not much power down low and less than I'd expect up high. Not crazy about the interior, esp. the awkward steering wheel. Just doesn't get my blood flowing at all.

So now I guess I'm down to the Evo versus the RX-8, unless something else comes* along. Not sure which I prefer. The RX-8 look cooler and is a better freeway cruiser. The Evo feels like a go-kart and is really fun to drive. The RX-8 has a very nice interior with a hundred excellent touches. The Evo has the same interior as my rental Protégé, except in some respects it's even cheaper, but the stereo and seats rock. Both cars have great brakes. The Evo has a lot more power. The Evo seats five; the RX-8 4. The prices are a virtual wash. What to do?

[I MAKE MY DECISION]

Last night I pored over the STi brochure (don't have an Evo brochure)....

I then pulled out the RX-8 brochure again (I hadn't looked at it for almost a week) and started going back through all the interior and exterior and mechanical details and it felt like easing into a warm bath: It is SO MUCH NICER in so many ways. The Lancer Evo's interior is from ... well ... a Lancer, which is a $14,000 car. The STi is very similar to the WRX interior, which I find extremely bland and uninspired. The rest of the Evo and STi are pretty nice, but the RX-8 looks a lot better from the outside, too, at least from my own perspective. And the stock WRX really does not feel very exciting to me at all, to drive.

In light of that epiphany I have made up my mind--if all goes as I hope, the RX-8 is my choice. ...

Just as a minor twinge, however, as I drifted from wakefulness into sleep I relived driving the Evo, and that thing really is a hoot. The whole thing is reinforced so well it all feels like a solid block of rubber, like a superball. As they said in Car & Driver, a Viagra pill the size of a hockey puck could not make it any stiffer. And with those almost-slick tires and perfectly flat cornering, I felt like a hero just pulling out of the parking lot. What a fun car.

 

Nice post!

Almost sounds like an EVO is what you want, but you like the superficial looks of the RX8 <--- wait did I just say that?

I hate the looks of the EVO, doubt I would ever buy one, but it sure sounds like you enjoyed it more, but if you can't get over the looks........

The RX8 is VERY classy and a great drive.

 

What a great line. :D

Note to self: Don't kick sand in Zonker04's face. His muscular left leg would kick my *ss.

 

Hey, that was a great detailed review!!! I was like you, going into my buying decison, the RX8 was the clear choice. In fact, I put off my purchase for nearly two years in anticipation for the RX8. Last May, I test drove the EVO as a goof. I always respected the car when it was overseas, but never thought I was one of "those people".

The car floored me when i drove it back to back against the 350Z and the S2000. It was the intangibles that won me over. Steering feel, shifter and clutch action, seating position, seats, steering wheel, etc. Of course the power and handling were were top notch too, but these other things were a very nice surprise.

Anyhow, I bought the EVO in July and have not looked back (excpet for the ticket I got!!!).

It sounds like you feel like I did when I bought the EVO. Really, your decison comes down to how much weight you place on your perception of exterior and interior looks. Good luck with your decision.

 

Thanks for the replies. After I made that post, I realized I had closed it with that last wistful Evo thought. (It would screw up this thread's continuity to edit it out.) And the Evo certainly made me wistful: I was extremely impressed with the car. But let me please add this new closing thought:

I have been driving bugs-in-the-teeth, flat-handling Miatas for 12 years now. My current Miata has about 250 HP, 240 ft. lbs. of torque, and very stiff springs and clutch. 2340 pounds on the scale, manual steering, manual windows, no cruise control. In some ways it's like a convertible two-seat Evo. And I love it. So I love the Evo, too. As RevHappy says, the "steering feel, shifter and clutch action, seating position, seats, steering wheel, etc." are all to die for.

But, as I go to a four or five-seat car, and look at the Evo and the RX-8, I think the RX-8 is the one for me:

Most of my miles are 200+ mile freeway trips up and down this state (California), and it's not the smoothest freeway in the world, and I love the notion of having that jet-fighter cockpit, smooth effortless ride, six speeds, etc. etc. If it were a question of power and handling, I'd pick the Evo. But for my purposes right now, I want something a little more polished, but which will still give oodles of thrills on the country roads. If I could have an Evo in one garage bay and the RX-8 in another, I'd do it. But for me, right now, the RX-8 is calling.

 

Thanks for the insightful post. Giving that you are doing a lot of highway driving (especially on so-so surfaces), you are making the right choice. Considering the lack of a sixth gear and cruise control and a stiff suspension, it makes more sense. Also, with Califiornia's crappy gas (91 Octane max), you are going to lose 20 or so HP. There are some ECU reflashes and other mods that can make it up though.

 

I am not sure how old you are, but it seems the younger drivers like the EVO and the WRX etc. To me( I am 38), those cars seem like a young man's or woman's car. I could not even see myself in either of those cars no matter how fast or how well they drove. I guess as you get older you feel like you want something sporty,luxurious and different. The Rx 8 is all that rolled into one package. Don't get me wrong...I bet those cars are a blast to drive but the styling just appears "too young".....gearing towards the teens and 20's crowd. The RX 8 is a fine choice though.....I guess who cares what other's think...it's what you like and what meets your needs. My current car feels too young for me...I have the Protege5 sport hatchback and I feel young in it.......I have seen a mix of ages in this car but I guess I ready to mature a little...hee,hee! In 3 weeks I will be a new RX 8 owner....and well, we shall see how mature it makes me feel......yea, right!!! When you getting the 8?

 

You said it exactly, CruzDreamer (and RevHappy): I just turned 40 and, with three kids, suddenly I feel like it's time to get a more "mature" car, which is not to say anything against street-legal go-karts, but for my purposes right now I'm kind of looking forward to pampering myself a bit. Finishing a four-hour drive in the turbo Miata always left me feeling completely thrashed.

I won't be able to take the whole family on trips with only four seats (with my wife there are five of us), but our Odyssey can do the job for that. I will be able to take the three kids to school, soccer, etc. in the RX-8, and make my frequent business trips up and down the state. (My nine-year old daughter is four feet tall and with the front passenger seat all the way back, and making sure she doesn't lean forward, I think she'd be OK with the airbag up there, although I'd like to figure out how to turn it off.)

I'm waiting for an insurance determination on some damage to the Miata from a fender bender, but as soon as I get that worked out I should get the '8. Maybe as soon as in the next two weeks. Thanks for all the interest. Oh ... and I want a blue Sport Package.

 

My wife isn't much of a car person, but is most understanding of my insatiable desire for cool cars. Yesterday, we were returning from a drop off at the airport, interstate to interstate (I95/I16) and I took the ramp, about 300 degree one, as fast as I felt controllable. I can only tell you that my entrance speed (at the end of the ramp) was slightly more than 100 and she didn't complain! There was no lean, no roll, no DSC/TC, nothing. It just tracked as I intended. For me, that was a revelation since she goes nuts if I go over 65 in my Miata! All is well.

 

I have no doubt of it, Tybee. The RX-8 handled great on my test-drive and it has a wonderful chassis. [I guess I should do a search, but I don't know anything about the OEM 18" tires. I don't think they're Z-rated, but I know that's not the end of the inquiry. I have been running Proxes T1-S on my Miata and wouldn't mind putting some on an '8.]

Anyway, I see the RX-8 as something like a lesser-powered, more practical Porsche 996, which is all right by me!

 

Couldn't agree with you more. I have ES100s on my Miata (a little cheaper than the T1-S) and they do fine on the road and in autox for CS, just having fun. The OEM tires are W-rated I think...should go check first but I was here now. They are 'stones 040s and not the best tire in my book, 140 rated for mileage, "A" rated for traction. Chances are when replacement time comes, I'll get either 030 Pole Positions, or spring for Pilot Sports. The 030s are rated "AA" and 240 and are less expensive than the 040s!

 

One of my favorite threads on evolutionm.net:

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthr...threadid=42415

I'm 29, so I guess maybe I'm a middle-aged driver for an EVO. :D

 

Great to hear another decision. Posts like yours help other to see the decision process and the "why" you chose what you did. I spent forever deciding and then did it all over again during the buyback offer and STILL came up to the same conclusion - RX8.

While there are a lot of great cars out there and MANY MORE coming out this next year, the RX8 is a real winner.

BTW, we have a 2001 Miata Special Ed. If you were going to "upgrade it" which would you do, turbo or supercharge and why?

Also, have you heard of the True-Flow foam filters that use the OEM housing yet boost performance? I am waiting on them since it doe not modify the car.

 

My dilemma re the Miata is much the same, but if you turbo/SC, you'll also have to do some serious mods to the suspension. I put a K&N in my '02 SE and it may help a little, but it sounds good too. And Mazda can't complain. If you want to have some fun and want to autox, just lay out some bucks for a set of wheels and some Hoosiers for the track. One autox I went to this year was "won" (FTD) by a 2000 CS Miata running Hoosiers. The lineup included an S2000, two 350zs, 3 WRX's, 1 EVO and two 'vettes. If you can't go fast with 90hp, 300 ain't gonna help...except in a drag race.

 

RevHappy: When I was checking out the Evo yesterday, I saw a family man bring his kids in and check one of them out. Very cool. I hope he gets it. They all looked way psyched about it.

Rodster: Your avatar frightens me. Who is that? I dig it. I don't know about that foam filter but K&N makes a flat filter that fit in my '92 box way back when. If you go on the Miata.Net and check the forum (as I'm sure you've done) you'll see all the heated fighting over supercharging versus turbos. As I see it, either one is a fantastic way to go, but if you want something that's bolt-on, right out of the box, the Flyin' Miata II turbo (which I have) is the most effective way to get big power. The supercharger kits just aren't really there yet, unless you want lesser amounts of power. I have owned two JR SCs and installed six of them in various Miatas, but they just aren't all that satisfying and I don't like the throttle response or overheated intake air. The Bell superchargers had reliability problems. But the new FM Ubercharger SC (still in development) should rock. Right now, for big power, the FM II is hard to beat.

And yes, Tybee, for flat-out Miata fun there's no need for forced induction. (But it's also a lot of fun.)

I can't wait to get my 8!! Like a grown-up Miata, huh?

 

Zonker04,

Having read your posts in this thread, I'm in exactly the same boat as you. I'm also in my 40's with 3 kids. My current ride is a 2 seater (87 RX-7) but we have a minivan for hauling the family. My 7 is just too much fun to give up without a fight.

I think the RX-8 is the perfect "evolution" for me. It combines the practicality of 4 seats with a level of refinement missing from my 7. And its not giving up anything in the fun to drive category.

Since I've been driving a blue rotary powered car since 1980,I tihnk a Winning Blue RX-8 is my destiny. The only question remaining is when. I'm trying hard to wait out the first model years bugs but resistance is fading fast....

 

Zonker,
That miata sounds like a beast. There is something to be said about a turbo-charged roadster!!

Roadsters are really starting to grow on me. I think the Lotus Elise might just be my next car. How about an EVO/RX8 and an Elise in your garage. Sounds like a nice couple.

 

Heh heh; yes, the Miata is a beast, and kind of a sleeper, too. You can see it here.

This (insurance) wait is really bugging me ...

 

I'm in total agreement here. I keep dropping by my Mazda dealer from time to time and they have a yellow MSP there. I test drove it, and without having the knowledge of testing a BMW newer then 99, I'd say the MSP is a better handling, smoother riding machine with one kick*ss stereo and some get up and go.

Having said all that, its too kid punk / generation X for me. I'm 39.

I'm sticking to my guns, Black GT RX-8 for spring 2004.

 

Hey Eric A., is that you? A belated 'Hi!' and welcome to the forum. I enjoyed your notes above from your various test drives - you've captured well the feel and spirit of the RX-8. It does make a nice family hauler that still lets you really enjoy the drive. It's been compared to a 4 door Miata before - but like you say, not the same go-kart feel. I'm really enjoying the 8, and have to admit that there are days (like today) when I could have driven the Miata but still picked the 8!

Are you planning on keeping your Miata? It sounded like you were going to switch to the RX-8 rather than have both...

Regards,
Gordon

 

Yo, Gordon; yeah it's me all right! Thanks for the kind welcome. The deal is, I had a little fender-bender (OK, a panel bender) in L.A. on Sept. 10, and I'm waiting to hear from the insurance company about what they're going to do with the car.

Even if they total it, I'm gonna buy back the salvage, because the damage is only cosmetic, but the whole ordeal is taking forever, and in the meantime I've been driving a rental Protege. Since I have three kids, the five-seat Protege has really come in handy taking them to soccer games and school, etc. And I had been ogling the RX-8 for some time now anyway, and one thing led to another and here I am.

If I keep the Miata I'll probably strip it down and sell the turbo, etc., to finance the RX-8. I dunno. I'm pretty much determined now to get a bigger car. Whether I keep the Miata or not is a separate question. But, as you can see, I do love the '8 so that would take a lot of sting out of the transition.

As for the MSP (Evolv) I've been driving this rental Protege for a few weeks now, and even with a turbo and some suspension bits I'm still not sure I can get excited about this car. I guess I could test-drive the MSP, but FWD cars generally aren't my thang.

 

my avatar was actually a practical joke that a friend pulled on me. If you saw the theatrical poster for Terminator 3 you might recognize the body and background. The head is my own taken from another picture. Mike, my friend, was playing around in photoshop and well, the rest is evident. He had just done that when I joined this site so I thought I would use it for something.

 

How do you get an darn avatar under my name? I go to the part where you can download and there's just a small box w/ a red x in it...no choices. I tried downloading my own and can't seem to. What do I need to do. I am not a computer whiz so........I had a graphic pic reduced to fit and could not get it to work. Any suggestions? thanks.

 

After you have 10 posts then you can add your own avatar. You go to the User/CP button at the top and to Edit options. At the bottom is the avatar control. There is a button to change the avatar. oh, you have to get the image to an acceptable lower res or it will not accept it.

 

So yesterday I bought a red Sport Package with CD changer, rotary accents and spare tire. (I may sell the spare kit; it's too damn big for my trunk.)

I am very happy with my purchase. :D It really is an amazing car. The kids love it, and made me drive them into the parking lot at school so all the kids could ooh and aah, and they did. It's powerful enough for me without being crude, and extremely smooth and well-damped. I would never guess at the low torque numbers if I didn't know them.