Hello everybody!

I just wanted to say "Hi' and compliment you on this forum!

I was recently in a car accident and now in dire need of a new car. My old car was a 2000 Celica GT-S Auto E-Shift and it was totaled by an SUV (her fault) - I will be getting 19k from the insurance (did I mention that I paid off my car in Nov- grrr). My original plans were to trade in my Celi, save up enough for a large downpayment and purchase a 350Z in a year or two. Of course, b/c of the accident, my plans have changed.

I've been researching like crazy as many cars as I possibly could and I have visited many forums (like this one) many times over the past few weeks and was able to narrow my choices down to the list below:
1 - Tiburon: PROS - nice styling, V6, auto/manual (sorry, I can't drive stick but will use the manual override all time time), fully loaded, will be able to pay off the car with the ins check (under 18k). CONS - questionable reliability & resale value
2 - RSX: PROS - 5 speed auto/manual, nice interior materials, good resale value, prob will not have to finance (approx 20k). CONS - blah exterior & interior styling & colors, I don't like Hondas
3 - CELICA GT-S: PROS - I know this car, good resale value, I love the styling (ext & int). CONS - is it sacrilegious to drive my former car that died?, priced a little higher now (21-24k) so I will have to finance a small portion.
4 - 350Z - PROS - great styling, should have good resale value, new & fast! CONS - priced high (approx 30k) so I will have to finance quite a bit, only a TWO seater with limited storage space, seems to have some small problems (tires, window grease, etc)

Up until about a month ago, I didn't even know that the RX-8 was due out (plus, I missed this year's car show). Oh a whim, through Mazada, I emailed a dealer for a price quote for the following: RX-8 Sport Automatic, Silvertone or Titanium, Cloth interior, Touring and appearance packages & spare tire kit - MSRP - $30565. After reading this forum, I realized that I had no chance in heck to get one b/c of the pre-order program (remember that I need a car right away and can't wait till like August or Sept).

Well guess what??? The damn dealer just called me stating that 5 RX-8s are due in at the end of MAY!!!! And one will be in Silvertone!!!

Question: Should I go for it? I really like the styling and features of the car - plus the auto/manual on the steering wheel & shifter really appeals to me. Looks like it has great storage space! If I get it, my guess is that I won't be able to get it for less than MSRP, so plus tax & such, this will come to about 33k (not to mention the ext warranty if I decide to get it)

I made an appointment for this Saturday (5/10) to talk to the sales rep to see what he has to offer. What do you guys think? What about the other cars I mentioned? What about insurance (State Farm doesn't have the car in their database yet to quote me)? If I go, should I try to bargain and at what price? Ext warranty worth it?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice!

 

i pry won't be the last to say this, but if you buy an rx-8, you really should learn to drive manual...really it's not all that difficult. surely you must have some friends with manual cars and understand the whole concept of friction zones and what not. my reasoning for this is that in most cases, the normal differences between auto and manual tranny cars is the power loss in the transmission...but in the rx-8's case it's a different engine with the automatic.

the storage space in the rx-8 really isn't that great...atleast not compared to say the hatchback of the celica and the rsx. and most of us here on the forum have been tracking the car for a while... it's not looking so good for late may and seems more along the lines of some time in july.

 

1. why cant u drive manual

2. car wont be out at end of may

3. that price for a low powered auto sounds a bit too much

4. if u need a car NOW then get the evo. or u could wait for the STi at the end of may but that sounds like its out of ur price range

 

In the past , I have asked all of my friends & family members who could drive stick to teach me. The response I got was "you don't want to do that!" or "I hate it (b/c of the city commute)". Eventually, every one I have asked have gotten auto in their new cars.

Oh well.

I don't plan to race it or mod it in anyway. Also, I think the RX has more storage space than the 350Z... and it has backseats which I may need in the future.

 

As for what he said about May...

I was shocked as heck when I got the call. I even asked he was absolutely sure about that date b/c I heard about the pre-order program and about the shiiping dates and such (from this forum).

I'll make sure to report everything after I see the dealer this Saturday.

edit: thats the MSRP from the Mazda website - the auto is actually cheaper than the manual - go figure

 

i could teach you on the forum, if the manual's something you'd rather buy.
if not, the 210hp (<- the reason its cheaper) version will likely be just as sporting (if not moreso) as your GTS was.

anyhoo, welcome welcome, and if that's the MSRP quote then you can't really do better or worse (they're all suppost to sell at MSRP). i think he's fibbing a bit about the May arrival date: it's more like a May PRODUCTION date, and arrival in June.

btw: a 19k downpayment up front ought to land you one HELL of an intrest rate if you decide to purchase and finance this car.

 

yup, because the automatic RX-8 only has 210hp engine, whereas the 6 speed manual RX-8 comes with 250hp.

it's almost like 2 totally different cars aimed at totally different audience.

I'm actually gonna recommend to you the 5 speed auto RSX. Seems like large usable space is important to you. In that case the hatchback format of the RSX will suit you really well.

plus it's definitely gonna be cheaper than the RX-8

now if you can just get over your hatred against Honda :D

 

wait until fall and get the mazda6 hatch. it is one sporty car, has lots of room thanks to the hatch, the way the seats fold is way cool, has a 5speed auto, has almost as much zoom in auto form as the rx8 and loaded with the things you were going to get with the rx8 it is @ $5,000 less.

 

good choice zoom44!

i totally forgot about the mazda6 hatch!

damn mazda, why couldn't they bring over the hatch and the wagon at the same time as the sedan

 

Thx for the responses! Really appreciate it!

If I had the choice, I would LOVE to wait until the fall. It's just that I need a car to commute to work (it's approx 20 miles one way) and I really don't want to take public transportaion until then (I heard it's a 90-120 min ride each way -ugh). It's been hard to get rides or borrow cars and my rental coverage has run out.

Also, I should have also mentioned that I may not be the only one who uses the car and of course, SHE can't drive stick...

Wadda bout the extended warranty? Good idea? What are the average prices that you've seen dealer charging.

RSX - yeah! That 5 spees auto/manual sounds sweet to me. Just wished the car looked a little more... I dunno... different. I don't like how it's the highest (tallest) sport compact by a few inches.

Oh... sorry about the Honda thing. It's just that I see so many on the street and at work... I don't want to be just one of the crowd.

 

Another question: does the RX-8 also have paddle shifters for the auto?

210 hp is alot more than my 180 hp Celi (altough it was prob less b/c it was an auto)

 

how about one of these?

 

Yes it does.

I'd still double the voices of getting the Mazda6; it's lighter on insurance, more on space, and better on gas mileage too.

 

Maintenence on the BMWs will be the hardest thing; at around $70 an oil change, plus any electronic gizmos that might break... I dunno I'd rather get something else.

 

yes

 

I already beat ya to it

 

yeah by like seconds thanks for the agreement on the 6 or 6 hatch. i think it is the best alternative in a fwd car and mass transit for a couple of months will save you gas and insurance money which could give you enough extra cash to put towards the car. you may end up not having to finance any of it

 

learning manual really isnt hard at all. u can learn in a matter of minutes. then u just get better and better. hell u could prolly get a salesguy to teach u.

 

Test drive the 6 auto. You will NOT be dissappointed! I took it for a spin at rev it up and you will be surprised at how well it drives for an auto. Good luck on your decision. :D

Learn stick if you can... makes driving a car so much better.

 

Hey OmegaBob

You should attend the Mazda Revitup event to race the Mazda 6 and you check out the RX.


Philadelphia, PA 7/19 - 7/20


http://www.mazdarevitup.com/locations/f_default.asp

 

Wow! Thx Rotorgeek! I think I will attend that! Kewl!

Has anyone else attended these b4 (remember I'm new here lol)?

 

hey I'm gonna be at the Philadelphia Rev it Up!

I'll show up in my blue RX-7 :D

say hi if you are gonna be there! (or anyone for that matter!)

 

Get the Auto RX-8 if that's what makes you happy....the majority of the time (commuting to work, etc.) even those of us with manual trannys will never touch 7250-9000 to take advantage of the extra 40hp. I've heard that the autos actually have a bit more torque in the lower rpm ranges, where most of our day to day driving will be. Let's face facts, this is not a true sports car, but a sport/luxury package with awesome handling and a unique, efficient, & space-saving rotary engine. If you want a light to light racer, get a 350Z, it's in the same ballpark price wise, has no creature comforts, but is fast as hell at around 300hp. If you want more luxury, get a cadillac & fork over a lot more cash. If you want a good mix of both, get the RX-8. IMHO, i really don't think the auto's going to disappoint as much people think.

 

Hey OmegaBob,

Two things, I'll be at the RevItUp in Philly on the 20th. I can't wait, should be a good time. Hoping beyond hope that I actually will have the 8 by then, but I doubt I will.

Secondly, I just talked to my State Farm agent 2 days ago, and the 8 is in their database. I live in central Jersey, I'm in Tier 6 (their top and now unavailable tier unless you are grandfathered in) and will be paying $1133/6 months. No accidents or points.

Hope this helps.

ERIK

 

Addressing your choices: I agree on Tiburon, question reliability, and materials in the car too - drive one - if you like it you, you get a great warranty and a cool looking car - I've driven the older model before, thought it a bit tight inside but nice to drive, albeit not a sports car, but a 'sporty car'. For many of us, the best thing about the RX-8 is the engine - it's reliability, power, smoothness, etc etc etc., so it's a no-brainer - RX-8. BUT - and I can't believe I saw only 1 reply I think mentioning this - MAY is a NO CAN DO. Your dealer, like many others, are either stupid or lying. Nobody in the US of A will see an RX-8 on their showroom this month - they don't begin production until next week. Those of us who preordered don't have our VIN assignment emails yet. July is realistic and might even be a 'consensus' delivery expectation here -if there is one. I'd say get a loaner car until the RX-8 comes in - a monthly rental - IF you want to get the RX-8 - meeting w/ anyone at the dealership this Saturday will not change the facts. They want to sell you the car - if they think they can keep you in their place by promising May - they may continue to do that! Good luck, welcome to the RX-8 forum!