23109VC

I currently have a 2006 Acura RL. a really nice luxury sedan. it has AWD, is loaded with luxury features...and honestly, for a big fat sedan, it can tackle turns pretty nicely due to the AWD system...but one thing it lacks is FUN. it's a ver ver very very nice but booooooooooooooooring car to drive.

I'm dying to get into a fun car again. I used to have a dedicated "Fun" car - a two seat roadster..but with the economy downtrn, and pay cuts at work, I opted to sell the toy as it was a total frill..

I'm married. 3 kids. my wife has an Acura SUV/MDX that is still relatively new, only about 50k miles on it... it is the ideal car to haul the whole family..

there are times when we take my car on family trips as it is large enough to seat everyone.

when I bought my roadster I ALMOST bought an RX8. I test drove quite a few and absolutely loved it. I used to have an RX7 in high school...a 79... and later in college for a few y ears I had an 87 RX7 Turbo II... that blew up and I sold it..and then got a honda...

anyway..driving the RX8 has a bit of nostalgia too..it sounds and feels a lot like my old RX7.. which i liked! i like the way it drives, love how it sounds..handles..and the two rear seats give it some functionality..

here is my one thought... right now i have two cars that haul the whole family. if I were to get an RX8..it would only hold 4 people... which means it would never be usable as a family car for ME.. it would be great for running kids to school, trips to the store, taking kids to sports events, etc. - al those times wh en one parent has to take off and bring some or all teh kids - it would work fine. or times when one of the adults just goes somewhere solo... my wife has night classes...she coudl leave hte SUV and take the sports car... but then I wonder about times when the sUV gets a flat nd then we have no way to drive everyone... although honestly in the 3-4 years we've had her car, that has NEVER happened. also, our SUV, a Acura, we get loaners whenever out car is in for service..so it woudl work...

i'm curious if anyone here thinks I'm nuts t consider an RX8 as a second car or is it doable? anyone in my siation - threekids.. have an RX8 as a second car?

to do this, i'd sell/trade my Acura RL and buy an 8.

If I got one, 'd probably get as new of one as I can find, an R3 likely. i love how they look.

thanks, for any suggestions r input.

if I got an RX8 i'd use it to commute to/from work - for me, my commute is only 10 miles max.. maybe 7... i know gas mileage kind of stinks.and in this current economy...gas guzzling cars aren't big sellers... so maybe on that front i'm nuts to consider an 8...maybe it woudl get me a better price as the dealers have a hard time unloading them??

another serious question - and I know this is an RX8 forum, so everyone here is RX8 biased..but if I were to sell my RL and get somethin OTHER than an RX8 that is either a 2+2 or a bigger 5 seater - but somethign very sporty and int he 20-25k price range (used/CPO) what would you get????

wicked stuff lke M3s, RS4s... are all 45-50k cars and I'm not spending that much.

a 335i could be had in the hihg 20s.... although I wonder if the repair bills would be outrageious...

i assue an RX8, is relatively affordable to maintain and keep up as it's japanese?

how is overall reliability of the RX8 vs other cars? one upsdie to my RL is that it has ben roc solid reliability and I sitll ahve 2 years left on my CPO warranty... so I have virtually no bills to repair it except tires, bakes, etc... i only have about 50k on my RL...

another thoght I had..and callme nuts..but was to just slap some H&Rs onto my RL, put on some 19" wheels, nice tires..maybe add the OEM aspec body kit and make it into a really nince sporty luxury sedan...but part of me thinks taht wouldn't satisfy me..it woudl be more "Fun" but it still wouldn't be "fun fun"... l ikea sprots car.

an RX8 is a true sports car..with those back seats....

anyway..fire awy with thoughts, opinions, etc. thanks.

Mrktplayer

We're planning on having kids soon so I had similar issues as you. My wife has a 4 door sedan so I could get away with getting a sports car.

My list of cars were (in order)
Corvette
STI
M3
Rx8
350Z

IMO, the STI and M3 would be the best choice for a family man and the Corvette was my top choice due to raw performance. But I found a terrific deal on a mint Shinka and chose the Rx8. The Rx8 was the cheapest out of my choices and most practical.

FWIW, after we have our first child I am not transporting my family in my 8. We're taking my wife's car but in the instances that I have to take my kid somewhere the 8 is a better choice than a corvette.

jasonrxeight

3 kids? how you gonna fit 5 people in a 4 seat car?

monchie

I have 2 kids, 17 and 14, they fit just right, a little bit tight, but it's all good. My other car is our family car.

Roidz

I think it could work based on ^^this. As long as you only need to transport 4 people and your kids are small I don't see why it wouldn't work. Good luck in your search.

Roidz

He said that he would just take 4 people. It would be for when just one adult is taking the kids around.

23109VC

exactly - no way I can fit the WHOLE family in an 8, as there are FIVE of us!

but being able to fit 4 would mean that it would be functional for any trip where one parent needs to take ALL three kids, as long as you aren't taking the entire family...

so I could run my kids to school, take them to mall, etc etc... and use the SUV solely as the full time family car. the downside to this is that the mileage would be somewhat more heavy on teh SUV as we would drive it on more of our family trips..w whereas now we can split the major driving between both cars...

half of me thinks I'd love the 8, half thinks as I'm getting close to 40 years old... I might miss the luxury stuff on my RL... man I feel old to say that!!! there was a time when luxury was the LAST thing on mymind... now I think about it.

nice leather, swiveling headlights, heated seats, nav, voice commands, plush headrests....

i need to go test drive one and see what i think. it's been at least 2 years since i drov eone....

ken-x8

Makes sense to me. The only time you won't have the SUV available for all five is when your wife is off with it by herself. In which case there are only four of you. Just make sure that whatever sports your kids play involves equipment small enough to fit in the 8's trunk or on their laps.

Never too soon to start that second childhood.

Ken

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

I think it would work out just fine, but the ride sucks *** with 4 people in it. Also sucks for the two in the back lol. But once you off that load and shes all to yourself, well its a whole different ride.

ken-x8

I have a friend who weighs about 280. When it's my turn to drive, the pep in my 8 after I drop him off is amazing.

Ken

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

Fun is seldom practical. One thing I discovered that, in the practical age of minivans, my young son and his little buds, loved my 2-dr coupes. It was different, and they liked the private cocoon afforded by the back seats. Riding in special cars made made him feel special too.

1.3_LittersOfFurry

iTrader: (4)

I'm 5'11, 220lbs and I rode in the backseat of my buddies 8 for 4 hours straight. It's not a bad ride at all, in fact I fell asleep halfway there. My legs were a little cramp but overall it wasn't that bad.

Hauling 4 adults in the 8 does take the fun out of it though...

cyonsinn

i give people rides all the time and ive had some big kids in the back seat, leg room is an issue but your head doesnt hit the roof. its kinda cool not having to get out of the car to let people in the back seats just gotta take off the seatbelt

SteveP

I had this same problem. I have two young children, in carseats, and wanted a new fun car. The wife has a new MDX for a family mobile, but I decided that it had to be possible to transport my family in my new car. Once I ruled out the two seaters, there was nothing with the fun factor of the rx8 south of 50k.
I put a deposit on an R3 a few days ago and should pick it up in another day or two. I am not a fan boy, and don't really even have one yet, but it was the best four seater I could find.
On the flip side i loath driving the MDX. I can not imagine a more boring car, and I used to own an Xterra. How Honda sucked the soul out of that car, I will never know.

Gex

For 22-25k you could get a very nice 2009 R3 loaded with all the bells and whistles with low mileage. Kids can fit just fine in the back. I have transported 4 people in mine on a few occasions and it wasn't that bad.

The Rx8 is an awesome car! I am very pleased with mine. The Series two has proven to be pretty reliable so far so I don't think you would have a problem there. The gas is a pain but hey prices are kinda dropping.

I'd say go for it!

_Alex_

We have 2, 6 & 8 yo and I commute ~9 miles one way and so far so good.
Getting kids in and out actually very easy.

Still there's few things to consider:
- RX8 is noisy and most likely will have some sort of oil smell
While my 2&6yo does not mind 8 yo hates RX8 for those two reasons alone
- In case of accident kids most likely will not be able to get out without help
- Some surprises happens time to time due to infamous reliability
- Maintenance & gas cost may be a big surprise for you (being current Honda owner)
- Due to your short commute you will have to premix or use something like LC20 + FP Plus to prevent carbon build up

Car is really joy to drive but far cry from "family" car.

Unless you crazy about RX8 I suggest going with something less hardcore (328, G37, WRX or even Mustang 5L ).

If you want to stay under 20K check out 2006-2010 Civic SI, those are fun to drive and very family friendly. Plus you can tune hell out of it and cheap.

kc chief

If you want it bad enough, you will make it work. I am in the exact same boat as you. I will be getting an 8 sometime, and will just make it work, sorry wifey, you no ride with the kiddos. I also have 2 BMWs, a highly modified 325i and a 740IL, both of which are high on the fun factor list. The 3 series is almost, not quite, as good of a handler as the 8. For the $'s you listed, I would recommend you look at a BMW E39 540i sport 6 speed, or an E39 M5, they are beasts and can fit 5 people easily.

Good luck!

23109VC

I considered an M5, but I'm afraid of an older one for the maintenance costs.

I used to have my RL and a boxster...and the boxster KILLED me on repairs...I sold it. older German cars are NOT cheap to fix....

how much "less" reliable is the 8 vs something like my RL or my wife's MDX. Both of are cars have been bulletproof... very very few things have ever gone wrong and what has, is all under warranty.

i'm toying with the idea of just slappign some 19s and H&R springs on my RL... it would look cool and handle reasonable well for a fat family luxo sedan..

i need to go test drive an RX8 and see how bad i want to buy it..

I ran the RX8 idea by my wife and her response was "how are you going to fit all of us in that car?" I don't think she sees it from my point of view...

a 335i with a chip? but that has the maintenance issues.
used M3 or M5 is either too expensive for one new enough to be CPO/reliable and if it's old enough to afford, the repair costs would be high. I'd be worried abou ta used E39 M5...

the new TL is cool looking..but it's too much like my RL...

the RX8 is just a really neat car... very very fun and very affordable.

michael Dombrowski

iTrader: (2)

We have 3 kids and the 8 works out fine. It usually either my wife and I or me and the kids in the car but we just take the other car if all of us need to go somewhere. I say go for it!

ken-x8

It's not a Honda or Toyota. If you're really worried about that kind of thing, you're not ready for that second childhood.

I don't know the dynamics of your marriage, but think hard about whether your wife's objection will be a festering sore point versus a topic of mutual amusement.

Ken

Razz1

After 12 years of age the 8 is small in back.

For 4 people get a good American car.

michael Dombrowski

iTrader: (2)

My 16 year old is 5'9" and my 14 year old is 5'11" and neither of them complain when they sit in the back. Granted, it doesn't have as much room as the A6 but they would rather be taken to school in the RX8.

ARK

I think the 8 will work ok for you. My only piece of advice is to take the wife along with you if you test an R3. I was almost sold on a really low mileage R3 until my wife sat in those Recaro seats. She is smaller than average in terms of height and width, but when she sat down, she said "ouch, this car hurts". Talking to the salesman, that's exactly why the car came back to him - original owner bought it without the wife, but she made him bring it back after only 2k miles.

I ended up with a 40th Anniversary Ed. RX-8 with seats friendly to woman hips, and couldn't be happier.

MyRXdrug

Where else are you going to find a great (not good or well, but great) handling car that is also:
fun to drive
cheap to buy used
Seats 4
RWD
lightweight...