6 months ago I bought my silver RX8 6mt with the moonroof and GT package. But I’ve been unsure about my purchase, thinking I should have waited for the big annual auto show to decide on which car to buy. Just once I wanted to go to a major auto show (or motorcycle show) with checkbook in hand, but the timing never worked out, even considering 11 new sets of key passed through my hands in the past 16 years.

So yesterday, I visited the big Toronto show, and re-visited all the cars that I shopped 6 months ago. The conclusion? I’m now completely convinced about my 8. Here’s why;

With a family of four, I need four seats. But even if I could get away with two seats, the cars I’d consider wouldn’t cut it. The 350Z felt like a plastic bathtub when I sat inside, while the S2000 felt just right. Still, the S2000 looked positively obese next to another two seater; the Elise. Odd that a two seater can weight nearly as much as my four seater.

When I bought the 8, I tried a Mustang GT, and a G35 coupe. Both are much smaller in the back seats, and ingress/egress sucks. I can’t stand the G35 interior, but overall it was a close second to the 8. As for the Mustang, the suspension is too primitive, and its, well, a Ford. I also looked at the 3 series coupe, which are getting long in the tooth and are pretty bland unless you’re talking the M3, but not at nearly twice the price of an 8.

As for sedans, I looked at the new 3 series, and the new Lexus IS250. Good cars, but both two soft and bland. I also looked at the STi and, stunning performance aside, there was no denying its econocar roots. There is no Evo in Canada, but same thing anyways.

The only front driver I’d ever consider is the Mini Cooper S with the JCW package. But at 37, I gotta grow up someday. The new GTI was there, looked like a 2 door minivan, and terrible sightlines from the drivers seat, but gotta love that seat and steering wheel.

So after the show, got back into my 8, beautiful interior, the engine revved like a turbine, and prefect sightlines of the fenders and hood. Now I can officially be called a fanboi, ‘cause there was nothing else like the 8.

Anyways, this is a kind long thread so flame away, but I thought I’d share.

 

Well, congrats. Though it's not at all clear to me what you learned at the show that you didn't already know.

 

quote:
The 350Z felt like a plastic bathtub when I sat inside.

Thanks for the chuckle.

 

Completed your due diligence 6 months after purchase!!! Good thing it worked out for you

 

I was going to go to the Auto Show today but with my car damaged all I can do is hang around and watch the Olympics...

The damage https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/hit-animal-way-home-83692/

 

Your purchase sucks. The 8 is just way to slow and can't hang