ARIAL NARROW Alright so my 16th birthday is coming up and i really want an RX8.. Would you say that this car is for an "experienced driver"?.. Just wondering.. Also, how come i only see Men in this car?

 

welcome.

it is a car. anyone can drive it...

my guess is because more men drive the car that women...

beers

 

yes, it is a car that anyone can drive. it is faster than most other cars on the streets though. if you are a confident driver i would say go for it but if you feel like you may end up gift wrapping it around a pole for your 17th birthday then i would say get a civic or neon!! it is a lot of money to be spending on a first car aswell. think about it...you may just want to get an r/c rx8 to play with and crash first.

 

I generally don't think it's a good idea for first time drivers to get rear wheel drive cars. However, with all the electronic stability systems in cars today perhaps some of that is changing. I still think you're better off with a front wheel drive car to start, but I would be lobbying for an 8 too if I could.

The main reason you see more guys driving these cars is because guys are willing to spend more on cars than girls. If this car had a $20k sticker every chick driving an Eclipse would have an 8 instead. Expect to get a lot of chicks with this car despite the fact that you yourself seem to be a chick.

 

ya, my first car was a manual Geo Tracker. I gotta admit I'm glad I had that cheap thing as my first car... Stuff happens and it's so cheap I don't car (I flipped it once too). But nah, RX 8 as your first car isn't bad, just remember that it won't go over curbs... AND! I rarely see men in the RX 8... Sometimes I see so many women it makes me feel pansy

 

nothing wrong w/ gettting a Rx8 as a first car if you can afford it, as long as you ( or your parents) aint' taking out a second mortage for it.

I think it should be a pretty good 1st car since its easy to drive, not torque or rough like the 350z and it has all the little toys like DCS, LSD etc to keep you relative safe...er

 

you'll be fine with it as a first car. you can even show this post to your parents if they don't believe you for whatever reason.

i would recommend used over new since it is your first car. you may find one under 20k. this car will teach you to be more **** about a car, it'll spread through all other cars you own in your life.

 

wow,
you guys are taking this post for real... party on...

beers

 

Well coming from someone who also has the 8 as their first car, I might be biased...

...but it really, really depends on the person. My dad & I share the 8 & an E36 M3 because my parents feel that I am responsible enough to drive it & have earned it. I am crazy for cars & a very, very responsible guy in general, but I cannot resist the urge to drive 'enthusiastically', & this car certainly doesn't help. I got a ticket for going 56 in a 35 about 6 months after I got my license & my license was suspended for 45 days. That taught me more than I expected, but I still can't help but make driving fun by making the car 'dance'.

It really comes down to how you honestly feel about it. This is not something to take lightly, as you know. So sit down with your parents & talk about it, read around here & learn about the car, try to take a test drive, go to a high performance driving school even. Good luck!

 

Yeah for some reason, this car appeals to both men and women equally. Unlike, say, a Eclipse or Hummer H2, which only appeal to women.

 

that is to stupid to even comment on...

beers

 

Learn on a car with FWD first, for your own sake.

 

this is my third car. first car was an 2000 grand am gt which me and my friends beat the hell out of it, then i got a 2005 mazda 3 but realized a year later it was too slow then in march i just got my 04 rx-8 and i love it.

 

DSC doesn't stop stupidity though. Personally I believe it is all a matter of maturity. I tend to agree the idea that someone's first car should be fwd. I especially agree this if its someone who wants to buy a car to push it to the limit.

barbiechick-
On another note, don't buy this car purely on looks. Know what you may be getting yourself into (rotary, mpg, etc) I wouldn't give up my car for anything (unless a later jdm 7) but just be sure you know what your parents are paying for.

On another note, women do drive the 8. Saw a white one a month ago a stoplight ahead getting on the freeway. I'm with a couple friends and we catch up to say hi. On the sweeper onramp turn, I caught up to it and before we knew it, I was cruising next to it. We all look over and its some ditsy blonde chick. She non-shalantly speeds up to 90 and is gone. It was an auto though, so its alright

 

I'd go for a cheapie car for the first year or two to get some experience under your belt. A new driver can be responsible, smart, and know everything in the driver's manual but all of that doesn't pass for experience. My first car was an old Nissan Sentra which I pretty much beat up (trust me, once you get to college your car takes a beating ) but taught me all the little ins and outs of driving without a lot of costly damage lol

Maybe I'm a bit on the cautious side but learning to drive heavy machinery (and 3,000 lbs of car probably qualifies) I'd rather ease into it before getting to something with this much pep. Just my opinon of course!

 

seems like you got something against me Swoope, but I don't mind...

 

I'd have to agree with others that maturity level would have a lot to do with it. My personal opinion on the issue is that my kids will NOT have a really nice car for their first. Not to be confused with a RELIABLE car, but once that a new driver proves that they are able to control their speed, and care for their car responsibly...then i'd consider nicer.

just my 2 cents, but I'd much rather have a new driver prove themselves before i give them a really nice car...especially a RWD...reguardless of DSC or not.

Would it make a nice first car? Of course! A SMART choice for a new driver? Not the top of the list...

 

i dont know you... but your posts i have looked at... and buy a car or dont.... it is a lot like this thread...

chick asks a stupid ???? everyone answers... she he it never sees it again... it is a waste of time...

lots like your stuff...

this whole thing is silly... first car fwd or rwd... does not matter... you just have to be responsabe for you actions...

and a driving school should be the law...

this is another troll doing what you do...

beers

 

like everyone said, as long as you can afford it. Even though its rwd, all the electronic assist will help you out so don't even worry too much about it. But yeah, think about it because gas mileage varies but is pretty low on the 8. If you want something economical and nice, i would recommend a lexus or acura. I spend $30 a week (in CA) but thats because i don't drive often, and i dont drive very far, i would be spending much more. So, if you're willing to spend that much a week, then you should be fine.

 

yeah, i have my permit now, and might get an RX-8. I drive my mom's Magnum R/T (HEMI!) right now, and my dad's X5. I think I can handle the RX-8. If it is my first car tho, it has to be in AT according to mom... anyways, good luck! let us know if u get one!

 

i would suggest an Automatic as your first car so u can get the feeling of the road and how traffic works before you have to put in the work of shifting and paying attention to rpms and everything else that comes with it especially when learning.

 

Well Ive seen chicks in this car.....but in cali.....its allways busy in cali, atleast when I go, so you probably couldnt have to much fun in this car, per its cali and they suck with the laws of you cant change anything or else you get a ticket....

 

cali is so lax on all the laws except emissions and even then they arent too bad try living in states where you cant change anything that alters the height of the car that includes side skirts

 

Its my first car, and I already was able to lose control (base model, no tractioncontrol) on the first rainy day of the season.