Not much time at the moment to discuss this in great detail but I will in a little bit. I bought a brand new 350Z and Im trading it in for a new Rx-8. Forget about the loss in my a$$, this is about the cars and why I did what I did..

The Z is a great car, but tight fitting. Im a big guy ( 6ft-275lbs) and the seats in the Z were too confining. It seriously started to hurt my hips.. The car can be a blast to drive but around town, its kinda hard to drive smoothly. I also paid too much for what I got gas mileage was pretty good but there is no room to put really anything save for the hatch area and even that is screwed up by the brace. Blind spots are pretty bad and it worried me everytime I would back out of anywhere or make a quick lane change.. ( ok ok.. yes I KNEW some of this stuff prior to buying it.. there are reasons, yes.. but remember this is about the cars)

Someone said it best in that the 350Z is an American Muscle car flavored with saki.. It simply is not a comfortable car for me to drive in. Everything else can be debated.

NOW, the real reason for this post is to stop the bashing of one of the best if not THE best sports cars for the money. The RX-8.

When i bought the Z, I was shying away from what I perceived to be problems with longevity and reliability with the RX-8. I had to do more intensive research into it and I just did not have the time enough to DO enough to satisfy me.. ( yeah yeah I know, If you had time to do it twice, you should have time to do it once the first time )

Yesterday, I got the chance I was waiting for. I drove a '04 that had 75K miles on it. The interior was in great shape and the leather seemed to hold up well as well as the overall feel and condition of the car. It started fine and I got to drive it by myself and boy did I take advantage of that. I screamed up the on ramps and threw it into the curves. I stomped on it and redlined it and on one time, I looked down and holy I was hitting 100 on highway 85.. Slowed my butt down and continued to maneuver in and out of traffic up shifting/ downshifting, braking accellerating etc. In short I hammered the car but did NOT abuse it. I simply drive it like it was meant to be. Then I drove it soft at the end, nice easy 3-4K rpm shifts and slow turns and just normal driving.

results?
The RX-8 is a gem. Misunderstood like nobody's business ( which is a good thing since I myself am often that way) This car put a grin on my face that lasted for hours. It handled everything I could throw at it and then said, "Thank you sir, may I have another?" It was FAST in a light quick on your feet kinda way.. And it gave me confidence to drive it hard. No other car gave me that kind of feeling... The best way I can describe it is this...

Have you ever gotten into your car flamingly enraged at the world? I mean pissed and on fire? Amazing how you can shift, corner, and maneauver so precisely... Well, thats how I felt with the RX-8 minus the anger part

The seat also allowed me to open my legs a bit and it did not bite on my hips so hard!

Its also nice to have a back seat.. for my son who is 8 years old. EVEN I FIT and its pretty comfortable..

Long story short and the point is.. Stop ragging on the RX-8, there are no surprises with this car, It puts everything out on paper for you to see before you get in..

What a wonderful car and its a beautiful one to boot!


peter

**EDIT**

I had thought about the new '09 but I am way put off by the instruments (WHY??? would they do that?) that look like a toyota corolla and front that looks like a Saturn SKY... I am also told by several people at Mazda that they changed too much and as such, the car does not drive the same.. I can kinda confirm that since I test drove both.. hard to put a finger exactly on what's has changed ride wise.. but I know I will be happy with the '08

 

Your title is almost misleading. I had prepared a "GTFO" comment.

 

i did that on purpose.. got your attention didn't I? love the passion though.. Rx-8 people are a special bunch..

Whats a GTFO comment anyways?

 

no need to tell us that - go tell it on the 350z site where i'm sure you will get a big reaction

 

yeah.... ur title..


i almost told u to go pork a donkey and be raped by 7 dwarves and spat on by the gods.


and a quick P.s I hate you.

then murder some sheep and blame it on you.



but thats not the case.


Good decision.

 

welcome to your epiphany.

 

Welcome to the world of RX8 It's kinda like the high school prom queen, a little bit of high maintance and you always get comments on it.

 

Wouldn't you come out better selling the Z (since it's new anyway) than trading it in? Just considering how much you stand to go upside down. If it's already done, then never mind.

 

all that matters is hes an 8 owner=]

 

It's nice to see someone who gets this car. Thanks for that post. Enjoy the 8!

--Jonathan

 

Welcome to the addiction but this really should also b posted on a Z forum so those "boys" can see what a real "man's" car is like!!....Enjoy it

 

oh my god, the inequity!!! LOL, enjoy the car regardless, you may have it for a while

 

GET THE F..........wait........omfg I got tricked!!!!

congrats, yes, thats what I feel every day when I drive the 8

and then I go drive a honda Civic 1985........and I die a little inside......T.T

 

oh god the inequity!

 

Congrats, I know the feeling. This car makes me smile from ear to ear. And it's so fun to see people driving by in SL's looking like they envy my car and probably wondering wtf it is :P

 

I almost didnt read that post but glad i did - brought me back to my first test drive paco at the stealership wanted out !! AHhh the memories - congrats on the new purchase

 

Welcome... this car enchants like no other!!

 

Good choice!

 

Congrats. I was like you too only that I didn't pull the trigger on the G35coupe. Decided to take an rx-8 out for a drive and it was the car that left an indelibly positive memory thereafter. The other cars just didn't have the character and dynamic driving experience. There were just cars with makers that just wanted to stuff a big engine and called it a day. The rx8 is more than that which I appreciate and applaud the guys at Hiroshima for doing so.
If you post this news at my350z.com, be prepared for a 50 page flame and eternal damnation from the Temple of VQ.

 

I thiink everyone here knows what it's like to just "feel" the car and just b cruising and look down and be a "tad" haha over the speed limit

 

The Z is a Marine. It will hump 25 kilometers in intense heat, over rugged terrain, to prove it can.

The 8 is a Green Beret. It will use some Marlboro's or snuff to gain a lift from a passing villager's truck, pass the Z, and give him a friendly finger as he drives buy, relaxed and with a load off, with a little time to nap even.

Z = Straight line

RX-8 = Apex

Z = Budweiser

RX-8 = VSOP

 

I felt the same way the first time I drove an 8, I test drove it and bought it the same day. I didn't care about the rest of the cars I test drove. It was a no brainer for this car. No second thoughts, nothing. Just straight up bought it lol. Good choice!

 

Well said, i completely agree.

 

hahaha that was great

 

*throws rocks at cogsNsProckets* oh wait nevermind lol. . Just dont end up like one of those rx8 owners whose car is flipped over on the freeway haha.