How's everyone doing, I'm new to the forum but I was wondering how everyone felt about me as in a teenager having an rx 8 as their first owned car. Now I know some will read this and say well it depends on how experienced you are and to save time on reposting, I have been driving by myself sence the age of 12 and I am currently 17, I have driven a wide range of cars from the H2 to the new viper, so with that said thanks for all replys

 

hey, im a teenager too, & ive had my 8 for close to a year now. my father bought it 2 years ago (today) &, well, "took care of it for me" until i got my license. its a great car, & i too have driven various cars, from sti's to m5's. are you new to the rx-8, or just the forum? either way, welcome to the club.

o yeah, & to answer your question, i think its great that you have an 8 as your first car!

 

Also a teen, only 17 - nuff said.

 

It'd be nice to be a teenager and be able to afford writing-off a 20+K car, when it's crashed.

Welcome!

 

I'd say if your parents think you're mature enough to handle a sports car, you'll be okay with it. What you've driven doesn't really matter, it's how you drive. Might want to look into some performance driving classes or autocross to get some of the need for speed out of yourself just to be safe. Don't say you don't have it, either, because I don't think there's a teenager in the world who doesn't have it! I still did stupid stuff and I made a point to be a damn safe and careful driver.

 

zz30344, Wellcome. Every one had there own opinion on what age you should start driving a car like this. All I have to say is if you get a RX-8 enjoy the ride! thats what its all about. No street ricing I mean racing.


























Oh yea an what ever you do dont do 80mhp over a puddle of water from a broken sprinkler!

 

thanks guys for the replys now i just have to run the idea by the parents and see what they think

 

It's a great chick magnet, i'm an Abercrombie model so I don't need it.. but it sure helps

 

Objectively, I don't care. Please drive safe. The most importantest thing of all, and the hardest to understand is just how important it is to pay attention and anticipate what other people may do. So, please, look out for everything, check your mirrors all the time.

Subjectively, damn, am I jealous! To be 17 and have MY DREAM CAR is, IMO, insane, especially if your parents or relatives bought it for you.

RX-8 is not particularly dangerous, at least any more than most other sporty cars. Be sure to get the DSC/TSC, as that gives you a bigger safety margin. For winter, insist on snow tires or dont' drive the car at all, or you will be kissing that curb soon.

 

Good advice Astral, definitly consider snow tires..........

By the way, at 17.. do you have a steady job? or is this completely out of your rants pockets?

 

I'm 16. I got the car on my 16th birthday. Brand new. Grand Touring, 6 speed, nav... it was an awesome day when I walked on the driveway and my brand new 8 was sitting on the driveway. I had testdrove one before and couldn't stop smiling and I knew it was the car for me.

 

i am 20 and i ordered my 2006 6 speed just 5 days ago, in 4 months itll be all mine.

when i was 18 and still in high school i drove a 2004 at mazda's rev it up competition and i fell in love immediately, i told my parents when i went home that night that i was gonna one day own an rx8 and i didnt care how long itd take.

i went to tech school, got a job at mazda as a technician and have been saving for months.



although its not my DREAM car, its one of my favorites and its worth the 500 dollar car payment.

piece of advice, i dont even own it yet and i have lost friends bc of jealousy. when you are young and have nice things, people wont show their feelings about it ina nice way sometimes. just dont be a jerk BACK to them and youll be ok. drive safe, and get the need for speed out on all the rx8's you test drive and not your own, like what i did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
________
Ecigarettes

 

Im 18 and I got the 8 for my graduation present...its not my first car though...I drove a Grand Prix GTP (supercharged) when I was 16 and then a Honda Civic when I was 17 (never been in a wreck, gave both away...the first to my mom and the second to my lil bro)...I dunno about havin the 8 for a first car though...

Just dont treat it like its a toy

 

Yeah, that was a decision my parents had to make. I drove probably around 200+ hours though with my permit. I drove everywhere, all the time. And my parents would try not to say anything and let me handle situations. And I did it perfectly. I could also drive a manual before I got my permit. My dad taught me to drive it on a 1992 Ford Ranger. Then I got good and moved up to his X-Type Jaguar, which is a manual also. After I drove his, I knew a manual was for me. Not only that, but I have had the car for around 5 months now and have never had a wreck, or not even any close calls. My parents also set forth major responsibilities for me to do to prove if I deserved a new car. In Atlanta, you have to know how to drive or else you will get run over. You also have to know how to drive a manual due to the hills and constant stop and go traffic everywhere you go.

 

<---also 17 and have driven a trail blazer, tahoe, maxima (manual), CRV, old mini van, volvos, and a low 12's trans am. so ive been around the block too...nothing to worry about being a teen...and if its ur parents who bought u it....good for you...you gotta do something with money

 

A little advice. I had "sports cars" when I was a teen. Totalled them both. Sober both times too. Just remember, if you get pissed off or something.....pull over, yell, scream, whatever but don't take it out on your car. Energy levels, hormones, adrenaline or whatever is about a million times more volatile when your "young". Express extreme emotions outside of your car. Had a buddy pissed off at 18, punched his car, reconstructive surgery gave him back most of the use of his hand. The cars I totalled, one wreck because I was showing off, the other because I was ticked off. Sorry to turn this into a serious type of thing, but I wish I would have had the same thought process 10 years ago. I would have saved a lot of money on insurance, new cars, oh yeah and doctors bills from cracking a vertabrae.

 

I flew the space shuttle when I was a teen.

 

^I bet that was one hell of a ride!

 

if i could have it at 17 i would .. this is definately one of the cars to start with to be on the right path ... i mean some ppl get camaros or mustangs and think thats impressive

the only thing i have to say about under 25 driving in general is DONT SHOW OFF .. usually it ends in a ditch or in back seat of a cruiser .. drive dynamic/fast/fun as long as its controlled but dont show off

 

What's with all these people having their parents buy them cars?!!! Maybe it was the way I was raised but my belief is that if you want something you will work hard for it and earn it yourself. What does that teach you when things are just handed to you, especially an expensive car? If you can work for something and get it on your own merit and expense, you will appreciate it much more because it was a huge investment in your time, money, hard work, et cetera, as opposed to it being someone else's hard work to get you what you want.

I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting this car, but it seems rude and presumptuous to tell your parents "Hey, buy me this car!" Especially with the expense involved.

 

Welcome. I had nice cars when I was 16, and the most crap I got was from other kids, stating I was spoiled etc etc (still get those comments), and so what if I am. As long as you are responsible who are they to say how your parents treat you.

In general, respect the 8 and thank your parents and always remember they bought you the car. Nothing wrong with that.

 

Well said BG!

 

I dont see anything wrong with it... I mean the world is not fair, some people are born into this world better off than others. If their parents wants to buy them a nice car, then they are just lucky.

I dont think it makes them any less deserving of it. Its how we act when we have a "nice" car that matters.

 

^ I agree. As long as one is not cocky thinking they deserve the car their parents bought them. lol.

 

This is not a car I would recommend to an average teenager. Its powerband encourages speeding and its mechanical quirks are troublesome to the inexperienced.

I have lost count of the tales of woe I have seen teenagers post on this forum. Gearbox failures due to poor shifting technique or downright giving the car a caning......engine failures due to coolant leaks caused by thrashing the engine when cold etc.

That said, if you think you can restrain the urge to burn rubber in it, and you can afford the high fuel use, and the requirement to keep it well feed on a diet of oil, and the occasional flooded engine caused by shutting it off when cold.......then this is the car for you.

If I were an American parent, I'd probably put my kid in a five year old Mustang or some other cheap American iron.

If you are going to get an RX-8, get one with DSC.....and leave it switched on.