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Would you buy an RX8 if you were me?

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Old 01-11-2007, 09:28 PM
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Buy the RX-8! You will not be dissapointed. Four doors, four seats. What more do you want?
Just take one out for a test drive. And not a short test drive, find some freeway and some on ramps and off ramps.
Then go back and make a good deal with the salesman.
Old 01-11-2007, 10:25 PM
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Originally Posted by DaveCM203
Getting in and out of the back of a GTO sucks. The seats won't tip forward much so you have to slide the power seat forward on both driver and passenger sides.


But if you want one, I have one I would like to sell you.
I'd have a hard time explaining to my wife what there was YAFC (Yet Another F-ing Car) in the garage.
Old 01-11-2007, 10:35 PM
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Buy it. you won't regret it.
Old 01-11-2007, 10:51 PM
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damn you guys are seriously loving the 8 ... i guess once you have kids things get really put in a different perspective
Old 01-11-2007, 11:22 PM
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I have two teen aged girls. As long as you have a 'real' family car then the '8 qualifies as practical....enough. Buy it and you'll feel so good that your family will appreciate your improved mood!
Old 01-11-2007, 11:29 PM
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I have kids, grandkids, Mom etc. and car works - bring your family, let them try it out and I bet your kids (if over 4 yrs) will not let you leave this car! - room inback for stroller but you may need to remove upper posts on the stroller. Room for groceries, picnic stuff -

Yes keep your old car as a beater - the compliments you get on this car will make you want to keep it nice.

Get a spoiler - you will get a lot of laughs but do not yeild to temptation to race...
Old 01-12-2007, 05:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Astral
That's not correct, 2004 was the first year. 2005, and 2006 models have the kinks worked out. My 2005 had none of the first-year issues.

Buy a 2006 and save money *and* get a better warranty to boot.
You are correct. I meant to say "The 2006 models should NOT have all of the "first-year" issues. " Unfortunately, I mistakenly left off keyword "NOT" .
Old 01-12-2007, 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by 9291150
Funny, you sound like me...38, 2 young kids, wife with SUV. Came from a boosted 1.8T Passat, also had a Miata I loved. Bought mine 15 months ago, 330i coupe and G35 coupe was on my final list.

Kids? It's perfect. Access is better than the coupes I mentioned, space is great, but legroom tight for anyone well into 5ft. tall.

Reliability? Got a new tranny under warranty, otherwise it's perfect.

Performance? Braking and handling as good as you'll find, and it'll feel as tossable as your old Miata. Otherwise the 14.5 quarter flatters it, 'cause if your caught in a roll on anywhere under 6000rpm you'll be dissapointed. I have a MS flywheel that makes a nice diff, but it's not an easily or cheaply modded car. If you love linear power delivery (I hated my turbo!), smoothness like nothing else, and high revs you'll love it.
I am 27 and have one child with another on the way. My wife has the CX7 as the family car. I was suppose to get a Mazda 3 but came home with the RX8. She was mad at first, but after she drove it, SHE LOVED it. She agrees it is practical enough as a second car. Trust me, if my wife signed of on it, it is good. The car will definitely be better than an EVO or a Subie if you are a professional. It is compared to a more mature sports car like a Z, and in some cases, even ranking with Porsches in some circles.. My almost two year old daughter loves it; I am sure she will make a bid for the car when she can drive (I plan to keep this car forever). Maybe I will get an RX7 if Mazda ever comes back out with it at that time..

In regards to power delivery, I am coming from a supercharged Stang (not the luxury you had) with 450HP, and then a JDM modded 240sx. The Stang was MUCH faster, of course, than the RX8 in a straight line, and the 240sx handled better than the RX8 (it was set up more for the track). I find the RX8 very refreshing in that the power is enough for around town; in Phoenix I see police ALL OF THE TIME now and they always eye me if I am revving. You do need to watch it however as you will find yourself going 80MPH on the streets before you know it. It accelerates like a jet... The 8 handles MUCH better than the stang also while not being as harsh as my 240. It is a true sports car, that just so happens to have four seats. Gas, no big deal...really. Oil consumption, no big deal, really...

As long as you know the quirks, issues, potential problems, required maintenance, and the WOW, ZOOM ZOOM factor before getting the car you will love it. Go for a test drive, you will be sold.
Old 01-12-2007, 08:06 AM
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Just do it and don't look back. If you mull over it you will end up in a Camry or something "smart." The dealer let me take mine home for the night before I purchased it. It was a done deal that evening. (Of course it came back with a couple hundred more miles)

You have one lap in the race of life so make the most of it. You've got kid transportation covered. The RX8 will make you "The Cool Dad" when you pick the kids up from school. I'm 37 and have one child. The daughter loves the car and is quite the envy in her Jr. High.

We can't do it justice by posting up words. You need to just go try it. Have a fun afternoon by yourself and visit the dealer. This is just something you have to experience.

When you're alone on a winding road with the sun roof open and the windows down, you will realize that moments like that make working all day worth it. The sound of 9K rpm will be music to your ears so much that you might not notice the car comes with a radio.
Old 01-12-2007, 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by PhreakdOut
Just do it and don't look back. If you mull over it you will end up in a Camry or something "smart." The dealer let me take mine home for the night before I purchased it. It was a done deal that evening. (Of course it came back with a couple hundred more miles)

You have one lap in the race of life so make the most of it. You've got kid transportation covered. The RX8 will make you "The Cool Dad" when you pick the kids up from school. I'm 37 and have one child. The daughter loves the car and is quite the envy in her Jr. High.

We can't do it justice by posting up words. You need to just go try it. Have a fun afternoon by yourself and visit the dealer. This is just something you have to experience.

When you're alone on a winding road with the sun roof open and the windows down, you will realize that moments like that make working all day worth it. The sound of 9K rpm will be music to your ears so much that you might not notice the car comes with a radio.
I never listen to my radio. Only to the beatiful sound of the rotary which sounds like 5000 angry bees...
Old 01-12-2007, 08:19 AM
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have you thought about a Subaru WRX? i had one...
Old 01-12-2007, 08:28 AM
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im 6 feet tall so for me to be able to drive comfortably the diver side seat almost touches the back seat. My girlfriend is only 5'4 so my son has no problem with room behind the passenger seat. No one sits behind me
Old 01-12-2007, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by 23109VC
I am 34. wife, 2 kids. The wife has a family car. I currently have a 4 door sports sedan that I like but is getting "up" in miles, and is probably going to start costing me an arm and a leg in terms of maintenance/etc etc.

I am going to sell or trade my current car.

I am looking into 4 doors. I'd love a two seater like an S2000 or Boxster...but need back seats. While my wife shuttles the kids (5 and 1) around most of the time, there will be times where I have to take them somewher ein whatever I'm driving..so back seats are a must...

any of you who have kids, and have dealt with putting kids (both infants or toddlers) in/out of an RX8 - fill me in of it is really doable..or if it's a big fat PITA.

I considred the 335 and IS350..which would be similar to my S60R in terms of power/luxury..etc... but I candidly don't want to spend that much money, and I kind of want something more sporty. I considered an EVO or STi...they are 4 doors, VERY sporty and very fast..but at 34, being a professional..I don't see myself rolling to the office in an EVO. it just has that "rice" image to me. my coworkers would think i'd lost my mind.

a 350Z or RX8 looks a tad more mature. The Z is out - no back seats. the RX8 is an interesting car. it is really a sports car..but a very functional 2+2 - almost like a sedan but not quite.

the power may be a tad "low" for me..coming from an S60R that has 300 hp..and I chipped my R so it's more like 330 with 300lbs of torque. my car is a high 13 second car....so the RX8 may feel slow..but I'll bet money the RX8 will feel more sporty and more tossable. more like a sports car and less like a powerful sedan.

i want something relatively safe..i don't want to get killed in my car, and i may have my kids in it. i am assuming the RX8 is less safe than my Volvo..but how much so?

i know the 1/4 mile times aren't that great in the 8..but how is the car from roll? if you are willing to rev the stink out of the car, is it faster than the 1/4 mile times would suggest?

reliablity - i plan to lease the car for two years. as long as it won't rattle, squeek or fall apart in two years, long term reliablity is not a concern. have there been tons of people with lemon type problems in the first two years of ownershp

feel free to offer me advice, suggestions, or other comments.

i don't really plan to mod this car. i went down the mod road on my S60R and it caused me just as much pain and pleausre. the car go tfaster but i had issues iwth the delaer, more relaiblity problems due to mods..the dealer was a major PITA and refused to work on stuff due to my mods...i just want something fun, relatively fast, relaible, and functional/pracitcal.

i like to shift gears, i like to take corners fast, i like to redline my car and get that pushed in my seat feeling..and have "fun" behind the wheel of a car.

i used to own a 79 RX7 and briefly had a 88 TII. both cars blew motors...i later had a miata...great car...then a VTEC prelude..great car...then the S60R. R has gobs of torque vs my past cars...but a lot of reliablity issues and it's not as asporty feeling as the miata or RX7s.

i assume the new renesis motor is not as prone to blowing up as the older ones...

i need to test drive one.
Lots of 7 (before REW) blew up cuz of improper management.

but I suggest you to get yourself a minivan or SUV instead. Doesnt hurt to have another Family car !
Old 01-12-2007, 10:40 AM
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WOW. thanks for all th einfo so quickly.

one person asked what kind of 79 RX i Had. it was a 5 speed stick. I loved that car. I actually put a RB full exhaust on it, had the carb rejetted, lightened flywheel, and when the motor blew teh guy who rebuilt it, was a independent rotary specialist guy and he ported it. that thing FLEW...but boy did it smell bad..no way it would pass smog her ein CA...ended up selling it.. i loved that car.

the most "fun" cars I have owned were my Miata and Prelude. The miata by far was th emost fun. The current S60 I have is the fastest most luxurious. but at 60k miles...the car is headed toward $$ repairs... not yet..but soon. besides, i've had it a few years and want somethign different. it is about as fast an an M3. I've run a few and we are neck/neck. not the old E36..but the new 333hp E46. My car put down 300hp to the pavement on an AWD dyno. it's heavy..3700 lbs....but it's AWD...so it handles nice b/c it has AWD to compensate...but it's still heavy and you feel it. it's not tossable like my Miata was, or like my dad's 2000 Boxster.

my dad's boxster is a BLAST. it's a 2000 base model..which has more torque than an RX8, but a bit less peak hp...also a bit lighter. i wonder if the RX8 would have a similar feel to the boxster in terms of power delivery? his car is not super torquey..but probably better than th eRX8..i think it has about 30lbs more...

I like driving. I am a "car guy". if I were single, and had no kids, I'd have a 2 seater pure sports car in my garage. I'd love something like a 911 or even a Boxster S. heck, even an S2000 would be a blast..but i need enough practicality to fit kids and the wife for times when the other car is tied up, or if i drop off/pick up from school.

i'm going to try and test drive one, and i'll report back.

as far as buying vs. leasing... what could I get them down to on a purchase?

if I buy one...I know I want that appearance package. I think the wing and the body kit thign looks so good on the car. I could live with cloth...but leather would be cool.

i'll keep you all posted. only thing I may not like is the lack of torque. drove my car this AM and was thinking... "i'm gonna miss all this low end power'. my car hits hard at about 3000 rpm and pulls HARD ..but it drops off at 5500. so it's nice for daily driving..but honestly..for hard driving, where you'll pulling high rpms..it's not as much fun... the RX8 would be the reverse. no low end powr..an d then it would hit and pull hard to 9000.

my brother in law has an RSX type S. i drove it recently. how would that compare to an RX8 in terms of handling, acceleration, power curve, etc?? his ar seemed to be really suggish until it hit VTEC at about 6000 rpm..and then it didn't seem to pull harder..it just pulled nice and hard and smoothly to about 8000 or so...kind of like my prelude VTEC I had back in 1999. decent around town power..nothing to get too excited about...but then when VTEC hit, it had a "small" burst in power..but then it just held it rock solid to redline...
Old 01-12-2007, 10:54 AM
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oh..I'm only 5' 9"...so i wouldn't have to put the seat too far back.

to the person who posted about coming from the s/c mustang... thanks for that ifno. the only thing i think that might "frighten" me away is the lack of power. no one "needs" all that power..but having it is fun.

my S60R has gobs of low end torque. the turbo kicks in hard at about 3000 rpm and it pulls hard to about 5500-6000. but then itapers off and you shift. it's a turbo.l.so you get some lag...and some minimal lag between shifts...I've diven plenty of NA cars...and each NA vs turbo have their ups and downs.

one thing I HATE about my car is the heat soak problems and gas issues. the car is VERY picky abou fuel. especially with the ECU uprade I've done. the car is making more boost than stock..so it's mor susceptible to knock. in CA on 91 octane the car loses a lot of power..you really need to run 93..but you obviously can't get that in CA...so i have found a statino that sells 100 race gas at the pump and i mix in a few gallons with 91. that's fine..not very epensive..but a big fat PITA.

also, amost worse thatn gas, is outside temps. i know cars run better in the cold..i've always been able to notice that my cars run better in cold vs heat. but i'm talkikng this S60R runs like a DIFFERENT car in 50 degrees vs. 75+ degrees. in 50 the car is a friggin beast. it screams. if temps hit 80 or 90, or more..forget it. it's beconmes a slug. i am pretty sensitive to power, and would say that EASILY...the car is losing 40-50hp in temps above 80. no exaggeration. in 90 degrees I couldn't pull away from my bro in laws RSX-S. in 50 I would leave him like he isn't even moving...

so it's great in the cold. this month the car is ablast. in june when temps hit 90-100 i'll hate the car..

does the RX8 have a night/day personality due to fuel or heat like my car? i'm hoping not. i'm hoping it runs just fine and smoothly on 91.

i think i'd honestly be ok with the power. as long as it/'s fun. my dad has a boxster S that is not nearly as fast as my car, but WAY more fun. i had a miata that wasn ot all that fast but TONS of fun. i think i want somethign fun...still fast and sporty and great handdling..but brute raw power is something i would sacrifice to get more FUN.
Old 01-12-2007, 10:58 AM
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Not really sure that I can add anything different here. I was in your same position. Previous car was a Saab 9-5 Aero which I loved but it was time to move on. The wife drives an SUV so the family vehicle was not a real big concern. But I do have two kids (1st grade and preschool) that I need to shuttle around 3 days a week so two seater's were out. The 8 is the perfect blend of sports car and sedan and is exactly what I was looking for.

Not sure if anyone else mentioned the cars safety record but I believe it received a 5 star rating for rollovers which no other car has ever received. It also comes with 6 air bags. The front passenger seat is weight censored so the front passenger air bag is disabled if the person sitting up front does not weigh enough. This is a great feature my 7yo son loves.
Old 01-12-2007, 02:09 PM
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came from a miata and an s2k. when the wife got prego, those cars left, and my rx-8 arrived. same reasoning as just about everybody else. absolutely no regrets. handling on this car makes any "sedan" based sport car feel sluggish. i would say a lil better than the miata and a little worse than my s2k.

one con tho: the trunk doesn't fit strollers very well, so I carry the car seat when we take my car.

another pro: my lil guy sleeps better in my car than hers (vw gli). =)
Old 01-12-2007, 04:27 PM
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how is the RX8 in terms of power and acceleration to a car like the RSX-S? S2000?

how about compared to my dad's 2000 base model boxster?

i am going to try and go drive one this weekend. i'll report back.
Old 01-12-2007, 05:03 PM
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The rx8 (low 6 seconds 0-60 mph) should be as fast at the base model boxster (around 6.4 seconds 0-60mph), and can outhandle and out brake it.
Old 01-12-2007, 05:36 PM
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if its just a 2 year lease. its a very short commitment with very little risk. id go for it.
Old 01-12-2007, 05:40 PM
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If I were you? Not sure. But, I am me and I bought one. I have no regrets. I love my car.
Old 01-12-2007, 05:46 PM
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by 23109VC
how is the RX8 in terms of power and acceleration to a car like the RSX-S? S2000?

how about compared to my dad's 2000 base model boxster?
I can't speak to how these cars feel as I've never driven them but I can tell you have the 8 is.

It builds power as the revs rise so the harder you push it the faster it wants to go and the bigger your smile gets. It's very smooth, unlike a vtec where you get a burst of power. The 8 just keeps building up and never feels like it's running out of breath.

When you do your test drive make sure you rev it up and keep going until you hear the beep. The car loves to rev like no other car does. If the salesman won't let you rev it up you'll think it's a dog and they don't know what they're talking about. Go somewhere else that will, or grab a used one that's broken in so you get the full experience.

Enjoy the test drive!

Last edited by shaunv74; 01-15-2007 at 05:02 PM.
Old 01-12-2007, 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 23109VC
how is the RX8 in terms of power and acceleration to a car like the RSX-S? S2000?

how about compared to my dad's 2000 base model boxster?

i am going to try and go drive one this weekend. i'll report back.
a previous S2000 owner told me that the RX-8 is quite similar to the S2000 in terms of power curve.
Old 01-12-2007, 07:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Astral
a previous S2000 owner told me that the RX-8 is quite similar to the S2000 in terms of power curve.
The S2000 is noticably faster though. Also, the RSX Type S is depending on model year is a little slower or a little faster.
Old 01-12-2007, 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Winfree
...Yes keep your old car as a beater - the compliments you get on this car will make you want to keep it nice...
An excellent point. Then my beater (MX-6) had to go to my son - turned 16 - so I bought a Yaris to take over as beater. woot! Now my two sons both drive (older one owns an FC). Time for the new RX-7 for me. You hear me Mazda??? It's time!!!!


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