Anybody out there can give me an honest, non-biased opinion which car I should get for graduation?:D

I went to the NY auto show to see the RX8 and was floored by the new Mustang. First platform resdesign in alomost what... 20years? I thinlk it will be an exciting vehicle and will certianly be better than RX in straightline performance, and it's looks in person were excellent.

ANythng else is a guess. Also depends if you feel like waitinng.

I love the RX's handling, italian looks, convenience of a 4 door design (and I love the 2 tone interior.) I also like having a distinctive car that not as many people have - I love being the only in in Manhattan with it. Mustangs sell in boatloads, which to most people is an asset. I'm sure your RX8 would have better gas milage than mine, but that is a different story.

have you test drive an RX8 yet? if not, you should and see how it feels. If you want style go with the RX8 but if you want POWER go with the Mustang.

Here's a photo I got of the stang recently, nice looking car and the interior on the concept is great.

If you're wondering why everyone looks like a biker there, it's because this was dring the 100th Anniversary Harley bash.

I love how the RX8 and the 05 Mustang concept looks but the only drawback I have for the mustang is it's interior. If Ford sticks with those interior of the concept, I wouldn't buy it...it's old looking :D The RX8 on the other hand have a terrific interior, it's so comfy...if only the RX8 have 260-300hp

you're right, being an 18 years old with the mustang concept interior doesnt look right. hehehe!

"If only the RX8 have 260-300hp"...well there are other positive aspects of the RX8. Just look around this forum.

If you can wait for the 05 Mustang, might as well wait for the 05 RX8...you'll never know what Mazda will do bout the missing power.

Originally posted by 04RX8or05Mustng
I love how the RX8 and the 05 Mustang concept looks but the only drawback I have for the mustang is it's interior. If Ford sticks with those interior of the concept, I wouldn't buy it...it's old looking :D The RX8 on the other hand have a terrific interior, it's so comfy...if only the RX8 have 260-300hp

I think I just got called old, I love that interior... :(



The interior will not look like that on the production model.

The production model will also still have solid rear suspension. Only the SVT Cobra will have Indepedent rear suspension.

Botom line on the cars though: If you want straitline speed then go with the mustang, but if you want a well engineereed, great handling car to Auto X or just through around in the twistes then go with the RX8.

if you can wait till '05, might want to consider the Lotus Elise. That car looks exotic and fast, 0-60 in 5.1 sec is what i heard.:D

Here's a quick look at the stat
http://www.criswellauto.com/index.cfm?action=modelsList&id=12&modelID=99&display=models&finish=yes

Originally posted by IkeWRX


I think I just got called old, I love that interior... :(



The interior will not look like that on the production model.

Any interior will look good to you if you are driving a WRX. ;)

While I really do like the Elise, Lotus has never been known as a manufacturer that prizes build quality or reliability. Better be ready to only have the Elise as a part time driving machine.

New Mustang will be interesting. I saw the '05 Mustang at the Detroit Auto Show this past winter....the same time I saw the rX8 in person and fell in love with it.

I think it's a critical mistake on Ford's part not to offer the independent rear suspension. I also agree, that the interior in these pictures is not going to be the interior that makes it into production. Trith told, it will be an updated V8 muscle car, pure and simple. If I had wanted that, I would have bought a Cobra, which I could have gotten cheaper than the RX8 with all the discounting and rebate going around.

Well, I wouldn't call Ford reliable either, but I know what you eman on your point Graphicguy.

I am not hugely into this retro look. If most of the buyers are in their 20s and 30s, why would you design the interior so 40-60 year olds would remember their youth???

Originally posted by revhappy
Well, I wouldn't call Ford reliable either, but I know what you eman on your point Graphicguy.

I am not hugely into this retro look. If most of the buyers are in their 20s and 30s, why would you design the interior so 40-60 year olds would remember their youth???


You hit the nail right on the head!

I like the looks of that Lotus! That being said, I betcha it'll be very, very expensive to insure.

Not sure how the Mustang would rate. Lower or higher than the 8?

edit: i just checked out the Lotus again and noticed that the US will only be getting the 120 hp version. Maybe the insurance won't be as bad as I thought....

Originally posted by OmegaBob
I like the looks of that Lotus! That being said, I betcha it'll be very, very expensive to insure.

Not sure how the Mustang would rate. Lower or higher than the 8?

edit: i just checked out the Lotus again and noticed that the US will only be getting the 120 hp version. Maybe the insurance won't be as bad as I thought....

The US is getting a 190 HP 1.8 liter 4 cylinder with VVT-I (presumably a tweaked Celica GTS engine) and Toyota transmission (hopefully Lotus also tweak the ill-advised gear ratios found in the Celica GTS).

Lotus is saying it will be under 2,000 lbs. The guys over at elisetalk.com are betting that it'll be around 1,900 lbs. Lotus is claiming a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds or less. Not bad for a convertible that'll probobly get 30 or MPG that is focused primarily on handling!!!! :D

Now..if I can only get that promotion!!!! :p

Originally posted by revhappy
The US is getting a 190 HP 1.8 liter 4 cylinder with VVT-I (presumably a tweaked Celica GTS engine) and Toyota transmission (hopefully Lotus also tweak the ill-advised gear ratios found in the Celica GTS).

Kewl ! Thanks for the clarification. The Lotus link posted above mentions that it'll be 120 hp.

Hmmm. If it meets the specs that you mentioned, then it will be very expensive to insure. UGH.

btw - I wasn't aware that Toyota and Lotus were affiliated. Learn something new everyday. :)

Originally posted by OmegaBob


Kewl ! Thanks for the clarification. The Lotus link posted above mentions that it'll be 120 hp.

Hmmm. If it meets the specs that you mentioned, then it will be very expensive to insure. UGH.

btw - I wasn't aware that Toyota and Lotus were affiliated. Learn something new everyday. :)

Not sure how old you are, but it might NOT be that bad. If its only a weekend car, it might be reasonable. Probobly similar to an S2000 or a Z4.

Omega... i have a 2001 mustang gt and the insurance rating on that car is much higher then my rx-8. I am not too sure about this but i think my insurance rating on my rx-8 is 18 while my mustang gt is 24.

I am not hugely into this retro look. If most of the buyers are in their 20s and 30s, why would you design the interior so 40-60 year olds would remember their youth???

just right for my dad on his birthday since his first car was a 64 Mustang:D hehehe

the Elise looks good and the specs are acceptable. But I'll be only 18 yr old and insurance will be high.

ford
fixed or repaired daily


The car looks cool but thats about it

And you don't think your insurance will be high on a New RX-8 or Mustang ? Man your parents need to adopt me if thats a high school grad present.

Originally posted by pyrospawn
if you can wait till '05, might want to consider the Lotus Elise. That car looks exotic and fast, 0-60 in 5.1 sec is what i heard.:D

Here's a quick look at the stat
http://www.criswellauto.com/index.cfm?action=modelsList&id=12&modelID=99&display=models&finish=yes

There is some elise I saw in this month's R&T. It has toyota's 190 HP engine. I think its 2005 oo. Not sure though... But 190 HP for 1700 lbs. car is awesome.

Originally posted by mikeb
ford
fixed or repaired daily


The car looks cool but thats about it


Yea, I've seen many mustangs (perhaps V6 models) that have stopped on the roads. And these were like this generation. Ford F series and ranger are very reliable though... :D

the only way your gonna know is if you take both cars for a test drive
i dunno how much of a mustang your gonna get for the same price as the rx8
maybe the mazda speed rx8 will be out by 05; sounds awesome to me
i wouldnt want a mustang just because everybody and their brother drives one, unless you plan on getting an svt screw the stang

Originally posted by mikeb
ford
fixed or repaired daily


The car looks cool but thats about it

My 1995 Mazda B4000 pickup has a Ford engine and I've not had a single problem with it after 136,000 and going. Now that I just jinxed it I'm off to go shoot myself.

Originally posted by mikeb
ford
fixed or repaired daily


The car looks cool but thats about it

ford
first on race day...

Seriously, as an owner of both a Mustang GT and a Miata I can tell you that the 8 is a nice balance between the two (based on my one test drive).

I read somewhere that the average age of a V8 Mustang buyer is 44. We like those retro styling cues!

My opinion? Get the RX-8. And as an objective viewer (dont own an RX-8) I am going to tell you why the RX-8 is going to be better.

1.) Fully independent suspension. The RX-8 has double wishbones and a multilink setup at the rear, making it one of the best handling cars you can buy for the money. If not the best, but I'm trying to keep it objective. It has been stated that the '05 Mustang is still going to have a live axle rear end because the bean counters thought IRS was going to be too expensive. They say they are keeping the live axle because it makes it a better drag car, but I think that is PR bull. Only the Cobra version of the Mustang will have IRS and if that is the Mustang you are considering, you are officially out of the RX-8's range. Now maybe not the Mazdaspeed's, but thats another story.

2.) Interior- Mazda's interior is in production already, and although it has not lived up to some people's expectations, I consider it better than the 350z which was the measuring stick for the segment. I have seen interior mock-ups of an interior between the concept's and production. As it stands now, it is tolerable, with a retro feel and a gigantic bar of aluminum across the dash. Now when this makes it to production, replace anything of any value and ass a cheap harsh plastic (fight me if you want, admit it, American interiors are not up to the world) and you have something highly lacking in style and substance.

In my opinion, the RX-8 will not be the faster car, but it will be the more complete of the two. And with that I am done, and about to resume me continuous patrolling of the boards.

Carry on. :cool:

first on race day
thats a good one

Maybe it should read "First On Race Day" unless you have to make right hand turns. :D

From what I understand, most new car buyers are in their 40s or older, so going for retro styling on cars is an awesome idea.

On the other hand, it's only an awesome idea if done right. Example: PT Cruiser. Doesn't matter whether you personally love it or hate it, Chrysler made a fortune on it. Retro can be an awful idea if done wrong. Example: New Thunderbird, overpriced and underpowered. Ford lost a lot of money on them, from what I understand.

I personally am disappointed with all the photos I've seen of the next generation Mustang. Ford tried to make it retro and New Age at the same time, and I would say they failed at both. If they had copied the exterior styling of any Mustang from up to '69 perfectly, I think they would be fighting off the middle aged buyers looking to reminisce with a stick.

The Ford Mustang today still shares the basic front suspension geometry found on the 1976 Ford Fairmont. For someone who is just graduating today I'm sure that doesn't mean much but leave it to say that it was a pig back even then.

Why is that so bad? Simple, the roll center on the front is 3" below ground. Yes that's not a typo, below ground. In comparison, the roll center of the RX-8 is 19" above ground in the front. GC on both cars is comparable at 21" above ground (my estimate, the RX-8 may be lower).

What does that mean? The closer the roll center is to the CG height the less yaw to roll coupling you get. It's the reason why when you toss a Mustang into a corner you feel like you're in a school bus. Even the latest Cobra shares this roll center problem its just muffled better with larger sway bars and springs.

Why don't they fix it? Don't know. There have been several aftermarket fixes which relocate the lower suspension arms to improve geometry for years. Ford just doesn't seam to be in line with any fix that doesn't equate to some metric which improves strait line performance.

Sorry Dupe.