Well, I realized today that RX-8's are kinda more expansive than I had hoped. I saw a 6 speed that was bone stock with like nothing on it for $27,200 thats the absolute max (and then some) that I was willing to spend. It comes with none of the nice options (no fog lights, no body panels, no sunroof, no spoiler, no leather...bone stock folks!).

Question is, will I be satisfied with this? Or do you think i'll always wish I had gotten something else with more options, say a fully loaded civic or something?. Also, as an RX-8 drier, do you shun people who get these cars bone stock without any cool effects like the spoiler and fog lights ect? That last one is kinda selfish but answer honestly.

Any HONEST feedback with little bias because you own an RX-8 would be appreciated. I need to decide within the next couple days. Thanks folks!

-Rupes

 

I hear there are rumors of the 2005 model to be supercharged, honestly, if this is true, I would have waited.

I'm more than pleased with my 8 though

 

Rupes,

I just got my 8 a few days ago and if you are thinking of "modding" up a Civic or the like or purchasing a stock RX-8, get the 8.

Want to be convinced....test drive one. You will NOT be disappointed with the 8.

If you want mods, do it over time. While most people here spend way to much money on mods, they don't shun anyone for owning a stock..IMHO.

You gotta get/drive the 6MT though. I drove an auto then the manual and it was like night and day.

good luck and let us know how it goes.

spaceman

 

Well if you compare it to other cars in its class i.e. 350Z & G35 coupe, you know you're getting the bang for your buck. Try pricing those cars with options and then compare and see who is cheaper. Plus with the 8's excellent handling and great interiors what else do you want? If you want the car, then get it with what you want if you can afford it. I got the works with my 8 because this was going to be a onetime shot for me. And No, we don't shun people who get bone stock. The fact is that if you own a 8, you're part of the community. My .02.

 

You Should be able to get the sport edition for that price. A GT loaded should be about $29100, and a GT with Navi should be about 31100. The $5000 is worth it and will add about $60/mo to the payment, if you are financing.
A bone stock base Manual should be about $26000.

John

 

never pay the MSRP, check invoice prices, negotiate a price over the phone before you go into the dealer.

I paid 28.500 for mine, and MSRP was 30,680

 

Go for it... you won't regret it! Or alternatively, if you can find one used (pretty difficult, but possible) you can probably get one with most of the toys for around $27-$28K.

 

I have a manual GT that has no accessories on, no appearance package, no rotary accents, no spoiler. And I like it that way. I think my car looks more elegant that way. The front air dam spoiler looks nice but can be said to make the front a little busy. I don't like the half-length side skirts. And I feel, as a professional who is not a teenager anymore, the lack of a rear spoiler just accentuates the conversative yet elegant rear deck.

I would NEVER get strakes because they give the car a gothic look that is, in my opinion, too busy because the side of the car is already quite busy with details.

Rotary accents are cool but something I can add anytime in the future for relatively cheap.

I'm not sure what package you're looking at, but I think you should get the bare bones one WITH traction control and 18-inch wheels (I forgot, do the two always come together in the ???Touring???Package?), unless you plan to buy your own set of wheels later on. If you're not going to buy your own wheels later on, I think the base wheels (the ones other than the 18" five-spokes) are unacceptable-looking.

 

It comes with the 18's, but not the fog lights. I think i'll prob end up buying it and adding fog lights later, since I kinda like the way those look. Thanks, more to come as time gets closer.

-Rupes

 

I hear that adding the fog lights afterwards is an expensive venture.


Also, the invoice price on a stock 6M is $24,659. Add on an additional $520 and that should be the price you aim for if you wanted the cheapest decent RX-8.

 

The sport pkge adds Xenon lights, DSC & TC & fogs for additional $1000. You should be able to get for 26,600 at worst.

 

Exactly.. if you don't get the GT, and you don't get the sport.... it will cost you more than $1000 to upgrade your lights, and you don't get DSC or TC.

 

Get what you want!! As others suggested check Edmunds for the invoice price for the car with all the options you want and then aim for that price. I got mine $400 over invoice.

 

It will, i heard it directly from Mazda!

 

Ok so it's called the Sports Package, not the Touring Package. Then that's the relatively basic combination that I would get if I were Rupes. It's got everything you need without the frills.

 

As far as "bare bones" some of us like ours that way. Mine's a Titanium GT and the only options are the spare tire and front rotary accent only. IMO, the Mazda designers did an awesome job and it looks perfect just the way they intended. All of the factory appearance parts add more seams and clutter the visuals. Besides, unless you are replacing the front or rear bumpers, all the addons add weight.

As far as the foglights, not worth adding. When they are added at the port, you lose the grills over the oil coolers. I have never used the fogs even once and would have preferred the grills.

 

Dude. Buy what you can afford. If you think you'll be stretching it by buying the '8, don't do it. You'll have a cool car, but won't be able to take your honey out for nice dinners, and buy her things.

If you can afford the '8, you won't be disappointed. If it's a stretch, wait a while and see if things change.

 

After driving a fully loaded Civic, and some other sporty cars I can't bring myself to buy one. They really aren't that "sporty" at all. I must get an RX-8, so maybe tomorrow i'll run down and get this one i've had my eye on, its a manual, and thats all I really care about.

So...even though this car will make me go bankrupt, it'll be worth it, I can always live in my car, right?:p

Also, if I do end up buying one, it's only (or at least a big part of it is) because these boards have helped me more than other car boards in deciding what it was I really wanted in a car. Thanks for that, and hope to see you on the road.

-Rupes

 

Rupes, get one with the Sport Package. You many end up needing the traction control one day to save your life (it really does work). The package only adds $1000 dollars to the MSRP making it $28,200. Find out invoice and if Mazda has dealer rebates and you should still be able to handle the price.

 

Well Rupes, I just got out of a 2000 GS Mitsu/Eclipse. That I got on 12/03 for 13,K in excellent condition. I loved that car. But When I looked at the new 8 on a drive to work I knew I had to have one no matter the $$$... My Eclipse had a Sunroof and was a At/Sporty 4cyl pig. I had my 8 for just about one month now and it too is a At/Sporty. No sun but I got her for $26,K. I Miss my Eclipse and had BIG plans for that car, Body kit, Supercharger, Rims, System, New paint job ect ect. As for this car. Just Rims and a nice Tien damper system. Oh yea I have a 2,K Kenwood system out of the Eclipse I need to out in my 8. All in all I like my 8. I give it a 10...

 

have you considered leasing? its the best of both worlds, you can get the options you want and also in a couple years if you are making more money and the lease expires and you want to purchase a car instead of lease you can just buy a new car then and still be happy now as well.

$33000 RX-8 with $3000 dollars down ends up being $566 a month over 5 years at 5%

the same car with the same down payment assuming an $18000 residual value ends up being $359 a month

thats a 200 dollar difference. Something to consider

 

Unless you absolutely need a car at this exact moment, why strain yourself to afford the 8? Why not save up for 6+ months and get what you want, or get the straight manual with less strain on your budget?
It's hard to have fun in something when you have no money for gas to drive it and/or no money to go anywhere in your 8 to eat, shop, etc.

 

Drive the RX-8, & the Civic. Then decide.

 

You guys driving GTs and saying you like it bare bones are not driving a bare bones vehicle. The GT package adds a lot more than most accessories one would purchase.

 

plus i have no idea where you are getting that $31000 number for a Grand Touring model, the cheapest ive seen them for was $32500. TAke the navigation out of my touring and it costs $31000.