RX8 is sold - and my story

Design1stCode2nd · 2008-12-19 18:03:46

My Story 10 years ago I owned a 1999 Mercury Cougar, not the big tank but the Ford Probe like car. It was a good car but after a few years I had a kid and a child seat just wouldn?t fit. I also had an older Honda CBR 600 sport bike which I loved. I sold that too when the baby came. You know ?A baby changes everything and all that?. So it?s 2003 and I need to be the responsible parent, need something family oriented. Looking back I probably should have gotten a nice used 3 series sedan or A4 but I chose the then radical looking Nissan Murano. Great vehicle loved it and would highly recommend it for anyone shopping for a family hauler who doesn?t need 3 rows. Only one problem; it was completely boring to drive, no changing of gears because it had none, you just stepped on the pedal and it went, like a golf cart, a roomy, well appointed, reasonably quick, great golf cart. Three more years go by, kid number two arrived some months back, I get a good promotion and figure the wife and I can both afford new cars. Bless her she couldn?t care less what she drove so mini-van was fine for her and I even like it now too, as long as I don?t have to drive it every day. I figure I can get something sporty and a manual and hey look the RX8 is family friendly, it?s got 4ish doors, those kids seats fit, barely but they fit. Sure it needs some extra care but that?s no big deal. Oh gotta get some rims and snow tires and store them at my brothers? house since I don?t have room, minor inconvenience. ?Oops sorry honey I forgot to move the car earlier, we?ll need to wait until it warms up before we can take your car to your moms house, only be a few minutes while we sit in the drive way.? Good thing the kids have a DVD player to watch. Fast forward another 2.5 years and the little things have becoming annoying. Need to take the wife?s car and she can?t drive mine because my aging parents can?t ride in my car and now she?s stuck at home we two bored kids. My 2 year old daughter takes a perverse joy in kicking me in the back any chance she gets. I have to park out far in the parking lot so I can open the doors wide enough for everyone to get out. Having to drop 3 gears when going 70mph just to get around somebody is fun the first 20 times but gets old after a while not to mention the modified Jetta or Cobalt SS will out run you. But, but I can beat you in the twisties looses its appeal when you never have time to go to any twisties, when you are taking kids to school and changing diapers and your daily commute is more or less straight. So now we come to present day. I sold the RX8, took a bath on it and feel a little sick about it. Still love the car and I?m sure I?ll have fond memories of it (it?s still a beautiful machine even after 5 years despite its fish mouth, and felt a little sad walking away from her) but it just wasn?t the right car at the right time in my life. I don?t know if my new car is or if it?s just another 2-4 year chapter in my life searching for what makes me happy automotively but it will do for now. Its fast, not stupid crazy fast but you get the ?hell yeah? look on your face, my kids can?t kick me, it still has a manual transmission, I can carry more than just 3 bags of groceries and I don?t have to take my wife?s car to transport anyone. Oh and no more damn snow tires, yes I know summer and snow tires are still the best but I can get by in MD with performance all-seasons (or I think I can as I got better traction today in stock summers than I did with my snows on the RX8 (cold tires both)). The only thing is its, well, I wouldn?t call it ugly but I?m sure most of you here will. I know it?s clich? but it really does look a lot better in person and I couldn?t pass up over $12,000 off MSRP with financing factored in for a new car. So can anyone guess what I got or even care to guess? And as is customary with this board I?d be disappointed without a few one word posts like ?bye? ?see yah? so feel free. Good luck everyone I'll still pop by.