New Owner Joining the Club - Ditched the Saturn Ion!
05-02-2008, 01:19 PM
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New Owner Joining the Club - Ditched the Saturn Ion!
Like a recent poster, I am the new owner of an 04 Yellow RX-8. Unlike most of the people on this forum who are moving from RX-8s to economy cars, I drove a Saturn Ion for the last 4 years. While it has been a reliable and economical car, over the last year I have found myself hating it to the point where I can't stand it. I commute on the highway to work and the ride was too rough. I haven't listened to the radio in it for 2 years because the road noise was so bad. The power train was bullet-proof, and I couldn't stand the thought of driving it until it died 6 or 8 years down the road. I also felt modding it was essentially a waste of money.
After a lot of searching and debating, I settled on the RX-8. I wanted something 1) sporty 2) unique 3) affordable 4) with a manual transmission 5) safe and 6) had room for our upcoming family member. The 8 met all my criteria. I looked at a couple on this forum - unfortunately I couldn't swing one particular deal due to vicinity issues.
So I'm now the proud owner of a yellow RX-8, Sport Edition with Performance Package & spoiler. Also the car came with a Greddy exhaust (love it!).
I've never driven a manual before and spent about an hour learning last night before I took it out on the road. This car is more fun than I ever expected. The engine, the revs, the sound, the handling . . . you all know this already. On the highway it is smoother riding (!) than the ion, and *much* quieter.
I don't want to ramble, but I'm thrilled with the car and hopeful that I will be a happy owner for a long time!
-Mateo319
After a lot of searching and debating, I settled on the RX-8. I wanted something 1) sporty 2) unique 3) affordable 4) with a manual transmission 5) safe and 6) had room for our upcoming family member. The 8 met all my criteria. I looked at a couple on this forum - unfortunately I couldn't swing one particular deal due to vicinity issues.
So I'm now the proud owner of a yellow RX-8, Sport Edition with Performance Package & spoiler. Also the car came with a Greddy exhaust (love it!).
I've never driven a manual before and spent about an hour learning last night before I took it out on the road. This car is more fun than I ever expected. The engine, the revs, the sound, the handling . . . you all know this already. On the highway it is smoother riding (!) than the ion, and *much* quieter.
I don't want to ramble, but I'm thrilled with the car and hopeful that I will be a happy owner for a long time!
-Mateo319
05-02-2008, 01:36 PM
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05-02-2008, 02:25 PM
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05-02-2008, 02:34 PM
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Congratulations! I don't see too many yellows so yours is unique!
I agree, black wheels, clear corners and tint will make a world of difference. Really happy to hear you already have an exhaust. Good luck and enjoy the hell out of it.
I agree, black wheels, clear corners and tint will make a world of difference. Really happy to hear you already have an exhaust. Good luck and enjoy the hell out of it.
05-02-2008, 02:45 PM
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05-03-2008, 02:48 PM
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welcome to the cult!!! errr....."club". 
Yellow is quite a color choice; take pride in knowing that 04 was the ONLY year yellow was offered. (in usual mazda sports car fashion)
Enjoy the car, read up on some of the sticky threads, and let us know if we can help in any way.
Yellow is quite a color choice; take pride in knowing that 04 was the ONLY year yellow was offered. (in usual mazda sports car fashion)
Enjoy the car, read up on some of the sticky threads, and let us know if we can help in any way.
05-04-2008, 07:14 AM
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I was totally wrong, though. The RX8 seems to have great noise isolation, which helps make it seem more like an upscale grand-tourer than a cheap-and-cheerful sports car.
Oh, and welcome to the club!
05-04-2008, 10:44 AM
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My neighbor has an Ion. He offered to trade it to me for my 8. Sure. I test drove an Ion Redline before I got the 8 and it was the only current car at the time I had driven to which I could compare the 8. No comparison. The only thing I liked about it was the responsive throttle because of its supercharger. I also did not care for those stupid gauges in the center of the dash. If you think driving should be more than just getting from A to B economically then you will love the change. Welcome.
05-04-2008, 11:14 AM
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10. Saturn ION - The lame duck ION waddles off the field of battle without achieving any glory whatsoever. From its Frankensteinian proportions and ditchwater dull detailing, to misaligned panel gaps visible from low earth orbit, to a Playskool-inspired dash made of recycled plastic swords, to engines so coarse they might as well been stickered “for agricultural use only,” the ION was a born loser. If only Saturn has followed its own advice to “re-think American.” - SM
05-04-2008, 02:11 PM
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Nice color choice. The only other 8 in my town is yellow. Damn sexy. Ive never seen a LY until I moved to Cali 5 months ago. Be careful when you start modding if road noise is important to you. Mine is lowered, CAI, and a midpipe and cruisin at 70-80 mph can get noisy in these mountains. Thats why I have some aftermarket stereo equipment
05-04-2008, 02:21 PM
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That Ion power train will never die. The ecotec is a beast. And that was a big part of my hatred of that car. 
Reliability, should in fact, have it's limits with a car of that level of blandness.
It is weird having a metal car again . . . never thought I'd say that!
Reliability, should in fact, have it's limits with a car of that level of blandness. It is weird having a metal car again . . . never thought I'd say that!
05-04-2008, 02:38 PM
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welcome to the cult!!! errr....."club".
Yellow is quite a color choice; take pride in knowing that 04 was the ONLY year yellow was offered. (in usual mazda sports car fashion)
Enjoy the car, read up on some of the sticky threads, and let us know if we can help in any way.
Yellow is quite a color choice; take pride in knowing that 04 was the ONLY year yellow was offered. (in usual mazda sports car fashion)
Enjoy the car, read up on some of the sticky threads, and let us know if we can help in any way.
05-04-2008, 02:43 PM
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Yeah, the lack of road noise in the RX8 has really impressed me. When I was first thinking about getting one, I thought "sports car + high-revving engine = loud on freeway".
I was totally wrong, though. The RX8 seems to have great noise isolation, which helps make it seem more like an upscale grand-tourer than a cheap-and-cheerful sports car.
Oh, and welcome to the club!
I was totally wrong, though. The RX8 seems to have great noise isolation, which helps make it seem more like an upscale grand-tourer than a cheap-and-cheerful sports car.
Oh, and welcome to the club!
05-04-2008, 02:47 PM
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My neighbor has an Ion. He offered to trade it to me for my 8. Sure. I test drove an Ion Redline before I got the 8 and it was the only current car at the time I had driven to which I could compare the 8. No comparison. The only thing I liked about it was the responsive throttle because of its supercharger. I also did not care for those stupid gauges in the center of the dash. If you think driving should be more than just getting from A to B economically then you will love the change. Welcome.
Fact is, the 8 outperforms the ION so well in every single driving category, I'm completely ok with the increased fuel bill. Small price to pay.
Last edited by zeru57; 05-04-2008 at 02:54 PM.