I also came from a Scooby to the RX-8. Performance aside, you feel like you are in a car that cost twice as much as the 8 really does. Subarus just don't give you that feeling. It's high class. So far I have 2,000 miles on a used 04 + I drove it on the stock tires through winter in Chicago. No problems yet!

 

That quote is rather ironic given current events.

 

You won't have to worry about that. In fact, the more you drive it hard, the better it will feel. You will notice that the engine feels more powerful and also incredibly smooth at continued high rpms. Sometimes I would cruise on the freeway accidentally for a while in 4th gear at 6-7K and I don't realize it because the engine is so smooth!

 

I too have many times had the experience of it requiring looking at the tach to notice that I'm not in the gear I thought I was in. Not enough o's in "smooth"!

 

Meh, some aftermarket exhaust will let me know if I need to shift. I put on my silencer in my exhaust a couple times in the rex and I would hit the rev limiter cause I got used to listening and not watching the tach.

I probably won't be looking at getting a turbo for atleast a year and a ton of research. I can only hope that something cheaper (and in most cases better) than greddy will come out. Just wait until the code for the ecu finally gets cracked or leaked and cheaper kits will pop up left and right. Just having a fuel map is probably not good for the car, I want a full control piggy back system.

 

cheaper than 3k for full kit and fuel management?

 

I thought they were between 3500-4500 from what I've seen. 3k really isn't all that bad when you account for FMIC and everything. I need to read more, I've heard that turbo'd 8s tend to run super hot.

 

Don't get an RX-8. Get a used 2004 STI and mod it.

 

and when you get it, and break it in, redline it a lot - for you may've built up some carbon, hah.

Glad you like the 8. Before I got the 8, a wrx was a choice at hand (17k) but my love for the Rotary did me in. I couldn't believe how awesome the handling felt.

goodluck with whatever you do. hope to see a thread of your purchase if you get it.

-Cody

 

The best advice for you is to go do your test drive. Go there with a totally open mind. Do not "expect" ANYTHING from the car. Leave all of your reservations at home. Similar to the dark-wooded area for Luke Skywalker (if you're old enough to remember Empire Strikes Back). Let the 8 surprise you with what it can and can't do.

Also, try to find a place with a mixture of hills, straight-a-ways, and hair-pins. Don't let the salesperson give you one of those weak-*** 5min testdrives! Then, and only then, will you get a more accurate appreciation for the 8. Drive it long and drive it everywhere, from over potholes in city traffic to narrow backroads. Then you'll know if it's right for you. Abuse the b!tch! Redline it and corner--HARD--till the salesperson grabs the "oh-****-handle" and wets their pants!

 

I think he said he has about 15k to spend so that's not happening.

To the OP, it sounds like you're worried about reliability yet you are talking about adding FI to an NA car. One that is rather sensitive to heat and detonation... You need to figure out exactly where your priorities are and probably look elsewhere if you're not happy with the stock HP of the RX-8.

 

Ike: I was just toying with the idea of FI. It will probably never happen. I like feeling the rediculous pull of a decent amount of hp, but I think the route of a good looking, well handling vehicle with moderate power is going to be more up my alley. Getting greedy with horsepower breaks the bank with the quickness.

Speaking of bank, hows the Insurance on the 8? I know it's technically a 4 door and doesn't have a turbo, hows it compare with say a wrx? My insurance was rediculous in that car.

 

You asked how it compares to the STi/EVO...it doens't really. Their completely different machines with a different purpose. The only somewhat close comparision between the 2 would be the 8's tight handling. On about every other level, they're nowhere similar.

Modding the rotary is a much more expensive and tedious process then with a piston engine...espeically in comparison to the EVO or STi.

not big on BS'in people. doesn't sound like this is the car for you.

 

why not a 350z or a g35 coupe then? they have more power/tq to start with and i read good thing about FI on those cars. You'd have to drive it to see if you like it. I have a stage II 05 wrx wagon. I've test driven many rx-8 and they are not as slow as the number suggests. Perhaps it's the gearing or the entire package, but it felt pretty quick. Maybe I am getting old, but hp stuff no longer interests me. The rx-8 is autoX ready, has 4 drs, insurance is similar to our family wagon and it's a comfortable car. So better go drive it.

 

The stick may get a little getting used to - So you might find an automatic first to test, and then check out the pure stick -

This car kind of sneaks up on you - after 2 months you hate driving anything else!

Be cautious of cheap RX-8s they may be a real bargain , but they may have had a bad engine, see if you can locate previous owner and ask! - make sure it runs, make sure that all the recall items have been corrected by your dealer, make sure it has a bigger battery than called for as far as cold cranking amps go -
and then if you are lucky - you will find you have a really great car!

 

The RX-8 will probably be about the same or a little less to insure than a WRX.

 

OK i have to say it...This has to be one of the first posts (i've seen) you've made in the year i've been on this board that wasn't plagued with sarcasm or hate towards the 8 OR the poster!

You should do it more often. You really do amaze me with your vast knowledge about a car you don't even own. That's dedication.

I couldn't even begin to imagine how much you know about the EVO.