This one is easy. Safety????




A car that can stop in 50 less feet from 60-0 is much safer than one that can't.


Example, RX-8 stops 0-60 in about 112 feet. That is about as good as it gets. According to Road and Track, that is a shorter distance braking than both the Porsche GT2 and the Turbo and the GT3.


What about handling? When a car handles and responds better, you can potentially avoid more accidents, as long as you are paying attention to the road. How about, get a bright color and say that you will be easier to see.

 

I almost forgot. What about the DSC or VDC (Dynamic Stability Control, or Vehicle Dynamic Control "I forget what it is for the RX8" Either way, this has saved me many times, it actually takes control of the car when it starts to slip.


This is one of the best safety inventions since air bags.

 

This is weird, I posted a reply and the reply was under Dobe-dad, what the heck is going on?

 

Well heres an update on my situation... I printed out selmeralto's story and showed it to my parents, it moved them, and they never thought that it was that good of a car till hearing his story, I printed out the safety information from the Mazda website, as well as the rest of this forum, and they agreed, and Im WELL WELLL WELLLL on my way to getting my 8 this weekend! THANK YOU ALL.

 

Good luck, and enjoy. It's the most fun car that I have ever owned. When people asks you "Is it a four cylinder or six", (and they will), say "NO PISTONS!!!"

 

HAHA, friends already have, and most ppl dont know what a rotary is, it stirs up great car convos.... The only things that kinda irks me about the car is, my friends want to race me, but i know that the auto im getting wont out race most cars in its class.... or does it?

 

Well, if you want a fun car, the auto is still likely to be fun.

But it won't beat a manual... of many cars.

But you and your parents want you and the car to be safe, right?

Then don't race on the street. You'll be safer than if you do.

Take it to an autocross. Get your dad to go with you and have some fun with it... and you'll learn a lot about how to drive it properly. And you won't hurt your car or yourself.

 

No I would def. go to a track (no thank you to tickets and higher insurance) its kinda a macho-father-son event with my family friends, as well as flaunting money, cars and homes... Its ridiculous....

 

Yeah, I hear you. Everyone deals with that at some point.

Heck, even people old enough to be your dad, right?

The thing is, once you go to the autocross or track once, you'll realize that true skill does not come from who has the most mods or HP and can *yipee* press on the accelrator.

No, real driving's about more than that.

Good luck with your 8, and good luck finding the fun in the car... where it's safe... especially when you're first learning about the car and how it reacts.

 

thanks for the wise words....

 

This is a wise man..is everyone listening????

 

WOW, I just heard the most retarded story in the world from my parents about a kid who got an RX-8, a family friend of mine has a son about my age and he got an RX-8 (idiot kid that is not responsible at all) he gets winter tires but they "dont fit" obviously he didnt get the right ones that match the car, and decides to go into the ice regardless... Well guess what the idiot hits a patch of ice and has a collision with something, and his parents dont like the car because there was "too much damage", what exactly is too much damage when you hit a wall? He even knew about the winter tire issue, and decided to ignore it and go into a patch of ice... Now his parents are going to get him a 4 wheel drive car... Now Im a honors physics student, and our teacher got on his knees and begged the 4 wheel drive car students to not think they are god in the snow because they have four wheel drive... I just cant believe that people dont know that people dont understand the concept that AWD helps you GO and not STOP, it amazes me... My mom who has the MB ML 320 with AWD does not perform 1 bit better than my dads Camry XLE, I know Im going to kill this topic, but can someone who has either a FWD or AWD and an RX-8 compare it with their car, you all seem to hold weight in my parents pocket, and they and I expecially appreciate it.

 

Tell your parents that S.U.V. are definetely not safer , only bigger .

Most Suv s have poor brakes , chew up heaps of petrol wear out components and tyres like mad , pollute the enviroment , but above all are mostly unsafe as they have a high center of gravity and are prone to rolling over ,

michael

 

Believe me they heard all that, and the gas millage on the RX-8 aint that great either, almost equal to my moms ML 320 from what I hear...

 

Unfortunately total independence from your parents comes only when you are your own man , pay your own way until that time comes you may have to do as mummy and daddy tells you .

**** happens .
michael

 

No it doesnt work like that in my family mummy daddy, and I are equals we discuss and debate like adults, i dont just do what they say, and they dont just do what i say, each of our arguements need reason behind them, I have never just gotten what I wanted.

 

I have and Audi A4 1.8t Quattro Sport and the RX-8 GT. The Audi does handle better as long as I have my foot on the gas. As soon as I need to brake or let up on the gas the Quattro or AWD disengages. If I felt like I could go into a turn at a higher rate of speed because of the AWD and needed to slow down I have some trickiness there to deal with. When this car first hit the market people were flying off the road left and right because the AWD disengages as soon as your foot is off the gas.

Also tell your parents that I call this the stealth car because for some reason no one can see it. My wife and I have almost been in many accidents together and just before we were married someone did hit her in that car. They were only going about 15-20 mph but it caused $4,800 worth the damage to the passenger side front quarter panel. Audi's and BMW's are going to be more money than the RX-8 to get repaired.

Also it sounds to me like this kid was exceeding the speed limit if he lost control by that much. I have found it extremely easy to drive this car around in the snow and on ice with good winter tires. I even take the DSC/TC off so that I can have more fun since that limits how much I can get the car to swing out. Let them know you need to the GT package for "safety reasons". Oh and Nav wouldn't hurt either.

 

93rdcurrent you think like I do... Im building my own nav though, I like those types of projects...

 

Glad to be of service. Just remember when you get your car to drive in a safe manner. The best accident protection is avoiding getting into one.

Hope you and your parents enjoy your new car.

 

My fathers version of a debate was his foot in my ***...I did what he said, I never asked him to do anything...

 

LOL... I know Im really lucky... But I also show my parents an unprecedented amount of respect, and I am (at age 17) my fathers right-hand man, when it comes to business advice etc...

 

Klegg,

Did you ever hear the dread phrase "HEY! Your in range?" Of course this meant stop whatever it is that you're doing and move quickly. Maybe your dad and my dad went bowling together?

 

jniamerhr

A 17 year old giving his father bussiness advice ??? .

You must be your" FATHERS SEXUAL ADVISOR "when he wants your F%^&*ng advice he asks for it .HA HA HA

Yeah right

michael

 

Whatever you do make sure your parents don't run out and get you the yellow one. Your friends will start calling you Pikachu if they do.

 

When I grew up there was this thing called a switch or paddle or belt or as klegg put "a boot in the ***". If your parents are already letting you debate what you do and don't have to do they have already lost control. So just tell them what you want and be done with this thread.