Easily modded Whats so difficult of modding the 8? intake, exhaust, turbo's, superchargers, engine swaps, seats, double din stereo... Enough Bodykits to make NASA proud. and thats just the USA market, there's different brands in Europe, and for JDM, www.takakaira.co.jp doesn't even list all the aftermarket company's that build for this car...

Sorry rddragoness to be on the other side of the fence on this, but i once almost tuned a Geo Metro to a Suzuki Swift AUSsi conversion... then in the end after estimating 5-7k in parts and labor... i realized it was still going to be Geo Metro... how far you want to tune a car is always in relative to how deep your pockets are, or Rabbit hole if your a Matrix or Las Vegas fan.

My only concern is the kid (sorry man your 16) is going to kill himself, even with ABS/TCS/DSC, a fully loaded car, and teen antics. One can still manage to launch a car into the air off a runway as proven at that one residence/private Air Port that John Travolta lives on.

Only solution to that last paragraph is get some safe track time/auto cross to know your cars limiits... toss in some 200lbs ballas in the rear seats and let him have at it to get a good familiarity with the difference of 400lbs (Assuming guys or Amazon Women) does to handling. Hell this thing isn't a 0-60 car, so quarter mile races are basically out the window. and with Show cars to keep the dings and dents to a minimum it's typically a low and slow approach, become super pimp at the shows you might get **** to trailer queen it to and fro.

 

First car I drove was an rx7, you can do heaps and not so exey on the $... Still has that unique look and an engine sound like no other

 

+1 if you're paying for gas yourself, I don't know if you'll have much for mods

 

i dont get why you pay so much insurance. the 8 is the cheapest insured sports car ive had and im only 22. i pay 100 a month w/ a 500 deductable compared to my srt4 or tibby, or chevelle, 04 lincoln ls v8, which were all over 225 a month w/ 1000 deductable

 

OP, I would strongly urge you to consider carefully what you're going for here.

Now, I love the RX-8. Mine is a gorgeous example, and I take a lot of pride in it. One of the reasons why is because I had to work hard to save up to buy it. Doing it the hard way makes you respect it more - you know what it takes to get one because you did it all yourself. Messing it up will not be an option.

You may think, oh, I'm different from my peers. So many accidents with teenagers given overpowered cars prove you wrong, no matter what you think. With just you in a car, you'll be okay. Nice daytime drive completely awake and sober, no reason to go crazy, you'd have to be an idiot to hurt yourself.

But when it's you and a hot girl or a buddy you're trying to impress, nighttime, raining or cold out, maybe a drink or two in your system, and you're trying to drive standard at high speeds while you blast music, and it's a completely different story. Even people who have been driving for ten years have difficulty with a lot of distractions.

Oh, it won't happen to me. I know what I'm doing, I'm not a fool, you think. That's good and I hope you're right, but I am a pessimist by nature and I want to be realistic about this. If I had had a sports car when I was first starting to drive, I might be dead right now.

Here is the best possible option for you.

1. Don't spend all of that money (inheritance, I assume from the "unfortunate circumstances") on a car. Take half of it and save it for college or for housing / etc. for after high school.

2. Don't start with a sports car or a new car. Start with something that's solid and reliable, good on gas, looks good and goes quick without being a handful to handle.

You didn't say whether or not you have a job; I assume you do if you're even considering the 8, because at ~11-15 MPG you're going to be shelling out at least $200 a month just to drive it on top of insurance. As the kid with the car, you'll be having to transport your friends all the time. It's fun, but it puts a lot of responsibility and cost on you, and friends hate it when you ask for gas money.

My recommendation is for you to start with something like a Mazda3, a Corolla, or a Civic. Yes, they are boring FWD econoboxes, but they are solid and reliable cars that you can fix for pretty cheap and get good mileage. You should be able to source a good Corolla for around $8000 and perhaps have some money left to throw at a couple of simple fun upgrades.
Make sure it's a standard, of course, so that you can get a good handle on it for when you are really ready for a sports car.

The idea here is that you need to get a feel for what it's like to own and be responsible for a car without putting yourself into a rough situation. And you'll be thankful later when it's time to head off for college, when you have a bunch of money saved that you can spend to have an easier time there, partying it up and the like while fellow students are forced to eat cheap 25-cent ramen to survive.

I know you're not going to listen to me. You think I'm some old geezer who is telling you to get off the damn lawn.

But I'm only 24, man, and I personally am glad I started off with a much cheaper car. I learned the hard way about body and suspension damage from hooning around like an idiot in an econobox, and I learned about all the incidental costs that go with a car - oil changes, brakes, belts, new tires, insurance, gas, everything else. And even now, I find owning the RX-8 to be expensive when I make good money at a job and have a second income from my wife.

I am not trying to say that you're too young, I'm trying to say you're too inexperienced and not in the best life situation to do this right now.

Thanks for reading, anyway. Enjoy your RX-8.

 

mmmmmmMMm.... if i could do it over again, i woulda got an 86" toyota corolla GT-S.... instead of an 86 honda civic..... lol heck i'm still thinking of getting an '86'

 

If this kid listens to you , You will be my Hero .... You could talk to my kids anytime.

By the way where is the OP , I want to know what is , his desicion .......