so yes, i just joined the forum in the hope of some insight. First ill give you some background. -- Ive been in the market for a new car. Ive owned an 03 Porsche Boxster for a few years now and its getting to the point where mileage is high and maintenance is becoming an issue. Im thinking of trading it in for a new car ( ie. RX8, 350z, possibly new boxster but $$$:icon_no2:, s2000). My two favorites out of the group are the RX8 and the 350z. Yes i know the z has more power and all, but i like the platform of the rx8 better.. i just need some hints and tips on what about the platform is nice. Thanks for all the help in advance :)

The RX-8 is one of those cars that has the perfect "feel". On paper it doesn't stack up to the 350Z or comparable, but the driving feel makes the numbers irrelevant. If you're someone who likes "pounding" on the engine and don't mind little quirks like having to actually check the oil regularly, it's a great option!

RX-8 is a drivers car. 350z isnt.
RX-8 has 4 seats. 350z does not.
RX-8 is much more rewarding to drive.




Just Do It.

test drive both and your questions will be answered.

Its a one of a kind. The only production car in the world with a rotary engine. If you worry about mileage, don't buy a sports car. If you want to smile, buy an 8. Sounds great too...

go buy a R3. or a 40th anniv . or a shinka(if you can find one)
why are you even thinking?

stop. while your reading this JUST STOP READING.

stop it NOW.

your still doing it.

seriously your making me mad.

o.k fine. do it later. BUT DO IT.

how does the engine do when the mileage comes over 60-70k? is there any necessary overhaul that may cost serious money?

how does the engine do when the mileage comes over 60-70k? is there any necessary overhaul that may cost serious money?

Not if you keep on top of the oil, do basic maintenance like any other car, and redline the engine now and then. Plus, the engine warranty on all RX-8s has been extended again, now it's 8yr/100k miles.

Yep great car, just redline it once a day.

I have a 40th edition. It's so pretty i hug it everyday....best part is...the car hugs you back! what else is the suicide doors for?

Check out the "The Little Things" sticky towards the top of the Discussions forum. You'll find what you're looking for there.

First question for you to answer is whether you want a car with 4 seats. Sounds like you don't need 4 seats or you wouldn't be considering so many 2-seaters. Next decide if you want a car for great handling or low end torque. If both, the 8's not for you, nor are the 350z and s2k imho. Next decide if you want a convertible or a coupe, ie, Boxster or Cayman. You could also consider a Corvette. But if you want the best handling reasonably priced 4-seater, and don't mind poor fuel economy, the 8 might be for you.

my father has a 99 boxter that i love to drive and i can say that the rx-8 is very smilar in terms of driving enjoyment

If you are coming out of 03 boxster and want to drive something with similar driving experience, go with the RX8. If you want something completely different, go with the Z.

The 8 has that confidence inspiring quality that the boxster has. It's balanced and refined making it very easy to drive fast. It is deceptively quick and you feel hardwired to the steering and throttle - not to mention the pricise shifter and light clutch.

The Z is completely different from the boxster. It's a very heavy handed car. To go fast, you have to hammer the corners, grit you teeth and hope you don't end up in the wall. You won't hit the wall because the DSC cuts in way too soon. The motor pulls and pulls. They upgraded the brakes, but I'm still trying to get used to them. I'm constantly having to modulate brake pressure to get smooth braking.

I would get another 8, but I think they let the current model run a little too long. I swtched to a Z for something completely different......

I've owned an '04 RX-8 for nearly four years and have been seriously considering adding a 987 Boxster to my stable as a replacement for my '90 Miata.

In doing so I've driven many roadsters, including (obviously) the Boxster, S2000, and BMW Z4. Needless to say, I love my RX-8 and feel that it is truly underappreciated and misunderstood auto. As such, there are simply fantastic deals to be had on both new and used RX-8s. My *only* complaint with the car has been the poor fuel economy but I knew that going in.

My take on the S2000 is that it's kinda like an amped-up, super-focused version of the RX-8 with surgical precision steering. It's very tight inside and I'm not a huge fan of the Vtec power delivery, but it's a very fun car to drive.

One car that you may really want to consider if you haven't already is the Z4 3.0si. I was very surprised by this car and really enjoyed the drive with the sport package. BMW is basically giving these cars away right now with killer leases. Since all maintenance is included with the car this would solve your high maintenance cost issues with your Boxster.

Good luck and keep us posted!

ive driven an s2k and it really didnt surprise me around the twisties nor did the feel of the car, steering response is about .005 second off, just felt wierd unlike my 8, throttle response too, just not as good as the 8, the front windshied was WAY to small and i feel like the pillar got in the way.....my friend with the s2k said the 8 felt better than his car, but then again different strokes for different folks....choose wisely

I have a 40th edition. It's so pretty i hug it everyday....best part is...the car hugs you back! what else is the suicide doors for?

"Freestyle" doors.

If you are a rotary enthusiast, it's either this or an old RX-7.

Drive an 8 and odds are good that you'll understand why many of us bought one.

There is one last thing that hasn't yet been mentioned.

The RX-8 has a destinctive look. It's has a uniform designed exterior, that simply agree's with the eyes no matter which angle you are looking at it.

When I'm walking along down town Vancouver, I see few RX8's, but when I do, I always stop to admire the car's appearance. I never grow tired of looking at this car.

The OEM aftermarket kits are extremely complimentry to the RX8. Some front bumpers I've seen look more "original design" then even mazda's own stock front bumper.

Don't be afraid to pick up the rotary accents package for the RX8, it really adds to the experience of the car.

The best reason is because you convinced yourself to after you test drove all your options.

test drive both and your questions will be answered.

"Freestyle" doors.

Suicide doors. Only a granny calls "freestyle" . :spank:

test drive both and your questions will be answered.

+1...

Why not buy one?

so yes, i just joined the forum in the hope of some insight. First ill give you some background. -- Ive been in the market for a new car. Ive owned an 03 Porsche Boxster for a few years now and its getting to the point where mileage is high and maintenance is becoming an issue. Im thinking of trading it in for a new car ( ie. RX8, 350z, possibly new boxster but $$$:icon_no2:, s2000). My two favorites out of the group are the RX8 and the 350z. Yes i know the z has more power and all, but i like the platform of the rx8 better.. i just need some hints and tips on what about the platform is nice. Thanks for all the help in advance :)

Please do yourself a favour now, which may save yourself a huge amount of grief later; understand and appreciate the fuel economy of this car in balance of current (and increasing) fuel costs and what this means for you individually. The car is on many levels, simply amazing, but fuel economy is its bug bear. If this doesn't phase you then go for it, just dont say later you weren't warned

not sure as tho your gas mileage is gonna be all that much better then that of a boxter.

Aside from the extra seats, it seems to be a rather lateral move, all things considered. Just my $0.02.

thanks a lot for all your help... ive taken into account the gas mileage dilemma - sure its goanna be a huge burden to fuel a car that has the crappy mileage. I get anywhere around 360-400 miles to the tank with the boxster and im now wondering what distance you all can go on a tank with the 8. anywhere 350 and north would definitely be agreeable with my budget as fuel prices rise.

- a lot of my friends are also giving me tips on other cars to look into, and this includes the mazdaspeed 3. It has much more power then the 8 and it gets anywhere around 26 mpg on the highway, which isnt anything to be ashamed about. Could this become the better deal in the long run compared to the 8? - theyre both pretty versatile

260, MAX is what u will get on 8, 240 mix driving 200 city.

mile per tank does not mean anything, it's mpg. which will be 18.

260, MAX is what u will get on 8, 240 mix driving 200 city.

mile per tank does not mean anything, it's mpg. which will be 18.

I beg to differ..

If your traveling you can easily get past 300 I got 285 on 13 gallons of gas and my car was sooo loaded it didnt have power it felt like a corolla hahaha

but if all you drive is city you can get aroun 220

I usually get around 185-190 but i always fill up about 11 gallons.. never like to run on empty bad for the fuel pump

my bad, 260 is what you will get if u like to drive about 10 over constantly, i've had 290 once, going past 300 u must have been going the speed limit o.O

anywhere 350 and north would definitely be agreeable with my budget as fuel prices rise.

- a lot of my friends are also giving me tips on other cars to look into, and this includes the mazdaspeed 3. It has much more power then the 8 and it gets anywhere around 26 mpg on the highway, which isnt anything to be ashamed about. Could this become the better deal in the long run compared to the 8? - theyre both pretty versatile

WHOA, good luck crossing 300 miles on a tank. In the year and 1/2 i had my 8, i crossed 300 maybe a 1/2 dozen times...barely. And the sad thing is, i had one of the 8's with better mileage :uhh: If you have ANY concern whatsoever of MPG, seriously think about it BEFORE you buy one. As everyone else finds after they try and sell, resale is through the floor with these cars.

I would HIGHLY suggest a MS3 if you've got your eye on mileage at all. It'll serve you better and return gobs of TQ...not to mention the extra space and practicality. I have it's big brother (MS6) and couldn't be happier. 22 in town and about 27-28 on highway...that that's with AWD. Couldn't be happier with my MS6 over both the 8 and previous Cobras :)

Sounds to me like you first need to decide what you really want, as the 2 cars are completely different. If you want a total sports car with NO (and i mean NO) concern for mileage and limited TQ then the 8 really is a great car. If you'd be willing to accept a boxey MS3 or maybe MS6, chances are likely it'll fit your needs perfectly.

Just think it all over first bro. My mistake cost me almost $3700 after having owned it for almost 2 years. I just don't wanna see anyone else misjudge character as bad as i did :banghead:

i'm looking for a third toy car and i'm looking at used RX8s and used boxsters and s2ks.

i'm torn between a roadster that is 100% impractical, and a somewhat practical toy car like the 8. i've got three kids. all small - and the 8 would let me take one or two of them alone for fun drives, or use the 8 to do errands, whereas a boxste would not..

having driven both - and been comparing - you comign out of a boxster..one thing you may notice and NOT like is that in my opinion, the 8 is quite a bit slower than the boxster. i've been looking at 2000-2003 models...mostly 00-01 base models...to get in the same price point as a used RX8...and while the boxster base model of that year is rated at 217hp...less than an RX8..the boxster feels quite a bit faster.

the boxster has more torque and weighs at least a hundred pounds less..it might be 200 lbs less. either way, the 217hp boxster is noticeably faster. if you had an 03...base or S - you may feel the RX8 is just too plain slow.

it's a neat car...don't get me wrong. i have driven several for test drives, and love them. love the sound, the handling... but for "FUN" a boxster is hard to beat.

did you test driven an RX8? how do you think it compares to your boxster for power / handling / fun?

It really just depends on what you want. It sounds to me like you enjoy the "torque" of some of the other sporty cars. But this car was really developed for track driving at high RPM's. I love it though even when I am not driving it hard because of it's precise steering and handling. I have never driven a boxster, but I did test drive a new 350 Z, before I bought my 8. I am happy with my choice. One main consideration if you have kids, is room. The 350Z? Forget about it. It's too small for only me (I'm 6'3"). I felt as if the whole car was encroaching on me as I was driving it.
As was stated earlier the 350Z is a whole different feel. I think the 8 is more practical, room aside, even with the added maintenance. Which IMO isn't anything more than you would have with say, an old american muscle car.
-another option is the G35, which my friend has an '06 and it is a great car with a back seat. Also, many people don't know this, but it also has an inch more leg room than the 350Z. Makes a HUGE difference in terms of comfort and ergonomics. Then as far as the performance of the G35, you are talking again about the differences in the 350Z vs. RX8. Funny thing is my buddies G35 has Tein Basic's all around and has been dumped by a couple of inches, yet the handling is comparable to my 8 in the corner's (stock suspension).
Hope this helps.

I wonder what the guys on Z forums are saying?

"RX-8's a car for boys with small man parts!" :lol:

But seriously, the RX-8 is a car that makes you feel very special everytime you drive it. Right now I've been driving my dad's Infiniti because I drive to and from construction sites for my job and I don't want to get my baby dirty. I drove the 8 this weekend, and it caused me spontaneously burst into laughter and shout "YES!" at the top of my lungs.

This car's dynamics are not compromised one bit because it has 4 seats. It's a pure blooded sports car through and through. It definitely has a unique flavor but test drive one and don't think you'll be able to say no. The practicality is just icing on the cake. :)

my father has a 99 boxter that i love to drive and i can say that the rx-8 is very smilar in terms of driving enjoyment

DUDE, I just spent 10 seconds trying to squash the "bug" that was crawling on my screen! lol, that is one of the most deceiving things I've ever seen on the internet.

To the OP, before making a choice go out and drive 3 - 5 different vehicles. If you get the Mazdaspeed3, remember, it is not a sports car. You sit high up, as such you are not as connected to the road. There may be more power and a lot more torque, but it is front wheel drive, so be prepared for torque steer. Not at all a fan of the shifter and clutch, either, which ties into the "connected to the vehicle" feeling.

There are a few members on this board who sold their RX8 for a Mazdaspeed3 and regret it. Then again, there are some members who are happy with their decision. If you're looking for a car that you feel connected with, the speed3 is not for you.

If you're looking for a car that you feel connected with, the speed3 is not for you.

surely you had to know someone was gonna call you out on that one :smoker: kind of a broad statement. Everyone isn't looking to connect with a high revving, sporty racecar. I know it wasn't for me, and i LOOVE cars :naughty:

I'd go as far as to say owner-for-owner, Speed3 owners seem a heck of a lot happier with their cars :eek:

It isn't probably going to be a reliable car, but it is worth it.

surely you had to know someone was gonna call you out on that one :smoker: kind of a broad statement. Everyone isn't looking to connect with a high revving, sporty racecar. I know it wasn't for me, and i LOOVE cars :naughty:

I'd go as far as to say owner-for-owner, Speed3 owners seem a heck of a lot happier with their cars :eek:

Just the way I felt when I drove the speed3. It didn't feel like I was connected with the car in any way.

And my buddy used to have an 8 and now has a speed3. I know he likes the torque aspect, but every time he is in my car he tells me how much he misses his.

but every time he is in my car he tells me how much he misses his.

hey that part i could agree with tho. Although i didn't feel the 8 fit me at the time, I still do miss it. The payments were really high at the time, so that slightly shifted the limelight as well.

When I checked out a yellow 04 with low miles a month ago, just sitting in it did remind me of how much i liked it tho.

As stated by so many others, different cars with different purposes. For what the 8 was, i loved it.

This is probably providing a bias toward me at the moment, but this weekend i went to the house of my sisters room-mate for college. We got to talking about cars and she eventually let me take her 05 350z for a test drive. The instant i left her driveway i felt the hardness in the suspension going over the curbs. That car has TONS of power and more end torque. It was the high hp version ( i think its like 298 or round there) and it almost got away from me going around wet turns. The one thing i did like about it were the brakes, but it was a pretty harsh ride. For those of you who have driven a 350z before, can u compare the suspension rides? I will end up going to mazda dealerships when i get a chance for my own opinion, but what do u all feel about it?

- for those who are wondering, i dont have kids.... yet haha - thats kinda far off. im single and have a gf

i test drove a new 350z a few years back and didn't think the suspension was anymore harsh then the 8's was. The 8's suspension certainly feels a hair softer, but the general ride felt the same to me.

then again, this was a base model auto 350z...not a sportier/powerful model. Suspension on the sportier model is like even tighter yet.

thanks a lot for all your help... ive taken into account the gas mileage dilemma - sure its goanna be a huge burden to fuel a car that has the crappy mileage. I get anywhere around 360-400 miles to the tank with the boxster and im now wondering what distance you all can go on a tank with the 8. anywhere 350 and north would definitely be agreeable with my budget as fuel prices rise.

- a lot of my friends are also giving me tips on other cars to look into, and this includes the mazdaspeed 3. It has much more power then the 8 and it gets anywhere around 26 mpg on the highway, which isnt anything to be ashamed about. Could this become the better deal in the long run compared to the 8? - theyre both pretty versatile
Looks like you want the speed three.
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This is probably providing a bias toward me at the moment, but this weekend i went to the house of my sisters room-mate for college. We got to talking about cars and she eventually let me take her 05 350z for a test drive. The instant i left her driveway i felt the hardness in the suspension going over the curbs. That car has TONS of power and more end torque. It was the high hp version ( i think its like 298 or round there) and it almost got away from me going around wet turns. The one thing i did like about it were the brakes, but it was a pretty harsh ride. For those of you who have driven a 350z before, can u compare the suspension rides? I will end up going to mazda dealerships when i get a chance for my own opinion, but what do u all feel about it?

I have test driven and ridden in the Z and the ride is harsh compared to my Shinka. I rode in my friends Z and I was like get me out of here, because you could feel every little bump on the road. The same goes for my brothers 07 S2000. The 8 has a nice ride feel that I can travel with I would drive from NorCal to SoCal and was fine with the ride...SHE IS A HANDLING MONSTER! Drive with confidence. When you go on a test drive make sure to keep her above 7K rpm especially in the turns, she will thank you for it.

i test drove a speed3 and thought it felt like a cheap piece of $hit. it felt like a cheap econobox with some torque and a nasty sounding exhaust. sorry..afte reading all the magazine hype maybe I got my expecations up too high, but I was NOT impressed.

to the contrary, every test drive in an 8 was a blast. much much much much more FUN to drive.

speed3 is faster yeah in a straight line. maybe even on a track. but for fun..the 8 all the way.

boxster vs 8 - the boxster is more fun. no doubt. it has more torque, gets aroundf aster, and top down fun is hard to beat.

the 8 is hte clear winner, however, if you want the fun aspect of a sports car with SOME practicality.

if you've got kids, want a sports car you can "race" around in by yourself, but then pick up two kids from school, or make a grocery run in with a kid or two with you... the 8 is the only choice.