WHealy

So tonight, I was heading over for a business meeting. Seems I got there about 15 – 20 minutes early. There were a few car lots near by. I thought I would kill some time just driving through.

The second lot I went though was an old Auto Nation lot that was not a big three dealer. The significance of that was the main lot that faces the interstate is blocked from drive thoughs. They have a frontage area off the access road with a few cars showing.

Well in this area, there were probably two to three families with kids wandering a portion of the parking lot. There were some small children. I assume some of the parents were occupying the children so their significant other could car shop.

So I drastically slowed down and turned the radio down to almost nothing. I had my windows open as I was driving past the few cars that were on display when I heard a small child, probably 5 – 7, talking with his dad. He simply said in a voice that I could hear clearly as he was facing my car as I drove by, “You wouldn’t want to trade that car”.

I thought that was perhaps one of the most sincere compliments that I have ever received on my “8” and worth sharing it here.

truemagellen

I was driving to the dealership to get my NAV upgraded and I came up on what looked like a dad driving his 3 kids to school...all boys...

I wasn't paying attention but my girlfriend kept smiling and smiling...the young boys were looking and pointing at the 8...I drove closer to them when my GF suggested to, it made the father happy...he must have been a car buff

by the way WHealy you have one of the nicest 8's on this forum...stock form but the added touches are what really make it shine (makes me wish I bought Winning Blue each time I see your signature)

Speed-ER doc

I was picking up my daughter from school today, all the kids wait in a big group while the cars line up to pick up the kids. As I eased by, one of the girls said to her friend "Ooh, that's the car I want" :D

truemagellen

I always like these storys keep em coming folks... :D

WHealy

Thanks truemagellen. I don't think you can go wrong with an "8" color and I think moded or not, the "8" is certianly a looker.

I must admitt, I'm behind on my sig. Here's a pic from Agent of Chaos's Dragon pics of what then engine bay looks like now.

truemagellen

to tell you the truth I believe I would have bought the blue one if I'd have known about clear corners when I was shopping for 8s...that is the key

Vertigo-1

iTrader: (3)

Interesting statements that made my day since getting my RX-8:

-Drove into Blockbuster and parked the car. Just as I was walking away, a group of guys in a modified Civic drive by and start going nuts over the 8. Passenger: "Whoooooooooaaaaaa, what's that car???" Driver: "That's the RX-8 man! Mazda's newest car!!!" Then they drive right by me still staring at the 8, and I try my absolute hardest to keep my face straight as they drove by. :D

-Drove by an elementary school, and some boys were sitting on top a stone wall. All of them started pointing and going "Whooooooooaaa!!!" while one of them starts going off "That's the Mazda RX-8!". It's amazing how fast kids know their cars nowdays.

And just tonight, reversing out of the parking lot in Wal Mart...some kid stares at the 8 and goes "niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice car!!!" while his mom repeated "niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice car..." Incidentally parked right behind me was a WRX STi, and the kid had been standing right in front of it. I didn't hear any "niiiiiiiiiice car" for it. :p

truemagellen

don't let IkeWrx (banana sex avatar) see that...he will start trolling :p

shaolin

Well, I've had my car for less than a week. While I was filling up gas (geez, what a gas hog, oh well, gotta pay to play) this old guy in some kinda Buick asked if it was an Aston Martin. I smiled, and said, "no, but if you want it to be, I'll call it that." "sure looks like a Bond car," he said.

Vertigo-1

iTrader: (3)

That's funny, as that's exactly what the silver RX-8 keeps reminding me of everytime I look at it from the side...it looks like an Aston Martin Vanquish.

I, Claudius

I was pulling out of a slot in front of the local convenience store the other day when I noticed a little kid - maybe seven or eight - standing in front of the store and watching me as I backed away. He was beaming at the car - huge ear-to-ear grin. I waved, and he waved back with both arms flailing until I lost sight of him. My old Miata regularly got compliments from kids too - maybe Mazda had that reaction in mind when they chose the Beaver Cleaver 'zoom-zoom' kid for their ads.

kdlunde

I didn't get to see the reaction myself, but I was getting ready to leave our driveway in my '8 when my daughter got onto her schoolbus. Later that day, she told me that the bus driver said, "Whoa, that's a nice car! What is it?"

I've gotten lots of little compliments like 'nice car' or 'great wheels'. Then there's the occasional oddball (for some reason it always seems to be a soccer-mom in an SUV), that decides that they need to 'prove' that they can go faster than the '8. What gives? Now, it was another sports car, then they probably don't NEED to prove anything. I go ahead and let them get in front, then I just pass 'em by once I get my speed up. Besides, wouldn't it be funny to see them get a speeding ticket for trying to 'outprove' an '8! :D

Kern

phee

On the first day of junior high for my daughter, we were in the "lineup" of cars to drop her off. As I eased up, a group of her friends were hanging out in front. As Kelsey got out, they all turned to greet her and in unison they went "oooooooh", while looking at my car. Then one of them called out "I LOVE your car!". I replied, "Thanks! I do, too!".

StewC625

Similar story when I dropped my son off at Jr. High a few weeks ago. As we rolled up, several of his friends that he hasn't seen since last year spotted the car, all started saying "whoaa!" and all that, when one of them spotted my son sitting in the passenger seat - and THEN they went crazy. They ran to meet us at the door and were going crazy over the car. As it was time to move on, my son leaned back in through the open passenger window, and said, "Ok, that was cool. That never happened with your Acura."

Damn straight skippy.

Ole Spiff

I have a blue 8 as well, and around here the SUV/Large Pickup crowd does this to me ALL the time. It's ridiculous! I start out from a signal like I normally do which is competent but not racing by any means, and the next thing I know I see and hear one of these big vehicles pushing hard next to me to beat me. It happens practically every day. I think their ego and/or self-esteem must be firmly linked to the size of their vehicles and they just cannot stand to have a car that obviously looks better than their vehicle, beat them. Or some other childish reason. I've noticed when I'm behind them, and other cars are alongside that they don't do this nearly as often; very rarely actually, even if another SUV or pickup is next to them at the light.

Something about the 8 makes people want to race you....I've had people in all kinds of vehicles show this behavior; even a guy in an Adelphia service van did once! That was hysterical; I was literally laughing it was so ridiculous....which probably egged him on but geez that was funny!

markd

- I parked my car in my friend's driveway a few weeks ago and went into the house. When I came out, several guys from next door were standing at my car just staring at it. As I walked up, they all said, "Man, that's a nice car." Being modest, I said, "Yeah, it's really nice. I love it, but I haven't done anything to it yet since I've only had it a month." One guy simply responded, "I wouldn't do anything to it. It looks great just the way it is. Wouldn't do anything else to it if I were you."

- I was at a stop light once and this truck pulled up next to me. Guy in the passenger seat gestured for me to roll down my window, and when I did, he asked, "Is that an RX-7?" "Nah, it's the new RX-8." "Man, that's a niiice ride." I looked in my rearview as I drove off and they were still in the turning lane staring at my car. Looks like the '8' is continuing a great legacy...

rex

iTrader: (2)

Tell me about it!

When I first drove my RX-8 to my favorite local cafe, the barista said to a girl, probably 7 years old who was with her, "hey check out his coooool new car!". The kid stood on tip-toes to see out the cafe window and without batting an eye said knowingly "Amemiya?"

I wish!

Soundave

When my friend first saw my 8 (it was night time), he said "man, it looks like you're driving the Batmobile" and another friend said "I can't believe you're driving the X-Men car."

I've gotten a lot of stares, but it seems this car attracts the attention of guys more than gals. Well...I guess attention is attetion no matter where the source is...

kantonm

I have a Brilliant black/blk&chaparral 6MT with chromed rims and blacked out windows..I went with a friend to pick up her daughter from school...all the kids (9-10yrs old) were pointing and saying "its the Batmobile" and they went crazy when they saw the back door and the interior!

I get the cars speeding up when i pass them, but mostly I get the thumbs up when they catch me!!

Damn I love this car, guys in 90K mercedes' double take!

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

even my slammed highly customized totally tricked out truck I had before this never got the attention my practically stock 8 gets, people staring, pointing, waving, yelling, even being arseholes in traffic sometimes just to geek on my car, wonder if it's the yellow?

LuvMy8:)

The first day I drove my car off the lot I had so many stares a few people damn near got into accidents by not paying attention and just staring! Then a couple of weeks later I got my mazda speed bodykit drove a couple of miles and some guy got out of his car and took a pic with his cell phone! I was so flatterd!!!!

Johnnyma45

Two quick stories:

I pulled up to a school bus at the light, and had to get out for a sec to take off my suit coat. I noticed all the kids leaning out the windows, gaggling at the 8. I was changing CD's and could hear them going "wow!" and "awesome!" One kid even asked "Is that the MazdaSpeed version?" This coming out of an 8 year old impressed me...one little brat tossed a coin at my car though, and his friends all went "Don't throw things at him!" Hey, if he wants to contribute to my Gas Fund...

Also, another time I had it parked by the street, and these three kids biked up to it. One goes "Wow! That's the new RX-7!" His friend said, "No moron, that's the RX-8." The first kid just gapes at the car, and when he turned around his friends had already biked off. He goes "Wait up! You guys can't appreciate good cars!" and pedals to keep up with them. I had a good laugh from that...

frig

I'm a middle school teacher and today one of the kids noticed my 8. She asked me if I was rich. Of course I said yes! Those of you who know what teachers make will get a laugh out that. All of my kids think it the coolest car on the lot. Another teacher's daughter asked her father why he couldn't be as cool as me and drive a nice car like that? I told him anyone can make payments, just go for it.

mysql101

I picked up my son from school today. At a stop light, a school bus pulls along side me. All the kids were going nuts, yelling "cool car!", "awesome ride", and so on. They were waving their arms around... So I rev the car up a few times and they went ape ****. It was fun

Rob Tomlin

You guys are killing me with these stories! I want my 8 NOW!

In a related story, I was driving my 3rd gen RX-7 next to a school bus. I looked up at one of the kids and saw him staring out his window at my car just in time to see his eyes grow very large, and he clearly mouthed the word "WOW"!

It was the perfect combination.....young kid (12 to 14), eyes get big as saucers, and says "WOW". The whole sequence is still firmly implanted in my brain, even though this happened about 5 years ago!

I still consider it the best, most genuine, heartfelt "compliment" that I have ever received regarding my car.

I love it.