I recently turned 16 and im lookin to buy my first car. My parents are buying like they did with my 2 older sisters. Unfortunate circumstances have led us to a sum of money that is helping me get my car. Ive been looking at cobalts, accords, ions, rsx's, among others. I found an RX8 on autotrader that we are going to look at tommorow (the place also has a mustang gt that im going to look at, just for fun). I was just wondering what i should know about the RX8 before i make my decision, like insurance, repair costs, and reliability. Thanks for the help. BTW, heres the link to the one were going to look at:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ice=&cardist=5

 

Insurrance for a 16yr old is going to be killer..Im 21 and pay out the @$$.

 

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/rx8-faq-new-owners-116484/

 

You'll put your eye out, kid.

 

oh my bad, i only looked around quickly, thanx for the link

 

I honestly think a new driver shouldn’t get a sports car as their first car. Your insurance bill will go a long way to explain that but if your set on getting an 8 there are some things you should keep in mind.

You need to have a thick skin; most of your peers will know nothing about the RX-8 and will ridicule your choice of car and tell lies about it. That is where this forum can help. You will need to be well informed when other kids ask you “ how come your car has no cylinders”
Be prepared to have the slowest car in straight-line acceleration compared to other “sports cars” your friends might drive. The RX-8 is not a drag car get used to it. Please don’t come back here a month from now complaining about getting dusted by someone in a Cobalt SS and is a turbo an easy mod.
The RX-8 comes pretty maxed out from the factory. That and compared to the other cars in it’s segment has small aftermarket support. That makes upgrading this car harder than lets say a Mustang GT.
However if you maintain the car well and drive it hard every now and then you can have a reliable, somewhat unique, comfortable car that handles well and to use a cliché “ connects you to the road”. How are the winters by you? If you get any ice / snow you should plan on another set of tires just for the winter. You don’t mind checking the oil every other fill-up? I don’t think that’s a big deal but some car owners do. If you were to get that 2004 you wouldn’t have much time left on the warranty. You should check with owners in your area is there are any shops that specialize in rotary Mazda’s. Otherwise paying the dealer full price will get expensive. There are some other minor things I would suggest but that can be asked after you get the car. Mine by the way has over 114,000 miles on it and I would have no regrets about it. But if I were your age I would have hit a pole in three months.

 

Dude, Get the rsx

 

idk where in Jersey you are (nd too lazy to look up machester, haha, sorry) but winters vary up here in Poughkeepsie. Some years there no snow at all, nd then this year, no snow until the last few weeks. Actualy, its sleeting right now.

 

i wouldve, but i didnt fit...... Im 6'5, mostly leg

 

better yet, get a accord

 

so the RX8 isnt the car to get? Because i do want a car that i can customize, nd wut ive seen, the rx8 is easily one of those. I plan on turning it to a car that i can take to shows, so im lookin for a total performace car.

 

money is key, Parts are expensive, If you want a show car, Your gonna want a car that has alot of aftermarket parts, Go with a Rsx. Its fast cheap and they are pretty sexy, Or, Have you seen transformers? the stang in that movie is killer sexy. Get a stang GT black, Black it out as in the movie, Turn some heads real quick

 

tru. Like i said, i dont fit in an rsx. The mustang gt is in yellow nd its $19,995, a lil more then we would like to spend. I have looked at a gt convertible just for fun, started that up nd it was amazing. Just like a stock car!

 

if you want the american muscle go ahead, The civic SI's are nice, But you dont fit in a rxs..you might be able to get into one of those.

 

Its odd, i looked at an 03 rsx that i didnt fit in, but at a ford dealership, just lookin around, i fit in an 07 civic coupe. I also fit in an 08 shelby cobra, but that pushin it a lil at $80k, haha

 

yea, Well, i dont know what else to tell you.

 

Anyone else find it weird that it has cloth seats, moon roof, and navigation?

 

good luck

 

How tall are you?... What are you? An amazon warrior?

 

but thanks for the info

 

np cheers

 

you should fit in an rsx. i am 6'8" and have no problem...longer legs too

 

for 16k, it's not a bad deal. Looks like it has the sports package based on the wheels and interior... I have the same setup but mines yellow :P

I love the car. Call your insurance first if you can, some consider this a 4door, and some also base insurane rate on cylinders & litre size of motor.. so it's a win win if you can land a 4door sub 2.0 litre engine rate....

I as an example of worst 2nd hand experience, recently had my engine replaced. Unless you know the previous owner and trust them, get the extended warranty that will cover all but nav and high end electronics.. (TCS). it's a good peace of mind knowing you wont have to fork another 5k down the road if reliability goes south, Since i've had the swap and serviced 1/2 the parts. It's just as reliable as any other car.

Oddest quark is to make sure it warms up to the 2nd temp line before shutting off. (Search threads for wiki level info). AND confirm it has TCS/DSC via button on the left side next to interior light level adjustment.

Warranty coverage on the nav won't be needed... it's solid... and dated if it dies on you, and since you'll b e having it as a show car, it's be an awesome mod for a double touch screen interface ... make that flip-up the 2nd zone movie.. so u can have aftermarket stereo nav on the other monitor IMO.

The car is awesome, and warrants a redline rev a day to keep the carbs away. (Again search redline for wiki level knowledge).


Uhh test drive tell tale signs... get it while it's cold, and do a test drive then.. not when it's warmed up. The car shouldn't experience any hard starts (long turnovers before firing up).

2. inspect panals for gaps or mismatch coloring, and look underneath for any parts that look newer then the rest showing signs of accident repair.

3. Make sure your girlfriend or boyfriend likes drifting..... Because Chuck Norris loves drifting (This last part may belong in another thread, again search.... Chuck Norris)


IMO.. go buy it! one of the few cars that likes to be driven hard .. oh let it warmup 2nd line before really driving it.. This makes sure the internal parts are at the expected expanded temperature, hard driving while cold could shorten the life of the apex seals in turn the engine. so keep it under 4k if you do need to get moving before warmup.

 

If you want a show car, find something that is easily modded....but forget about that mustang, especially the convertible. 300 horses is nothing to sneeze at, I had one and traded it for my 8..too many bugs at the time. Use your head....start with something that you can be proud to own, but can afford to do what you want to with. There's nothing worse than not having the funds to buy something when you spend months and months searching for just the right kit, or wheels....and then you have to save more because it's more expensive than you thought. Insurance is going to be a PITA no matter what you buy...and that deductible is going to be high to keep the premiums down. If you wreck it, or some idiot hits you and has no insurance you are really going to be in a bind. I'd go used, and start from there...restoring something and making it shine is so much more fun than taking something new off the lot and tearing it down and rebuilding it. It will still just be a new car with mods...At your age..the accomplishment of getting it done will be alot more rewarding, and you will appreciate it better...Trust me.

 

i'm surprised noone here has mentioned mpg..

op, expect to get very wary mpg.. to the tune of mid-teens.