Do you think current (& future) gas prices will deter deter people from buying new sports cars or driving their current ones?

Have any of you began to refrain from driving your RX-8?

I have a feeling that in the near future, having the post powerful car will not be on everybodies mind, but getting something that they don't drop 100+ dollars on a fillup.

There are people, like me, who will see that price and claim it as the cost of enjoyment with the car. Times will change a lot of peoples views on cars....but some will stay true!

*EDIT* poll?

i know the bmw 335i gets 29mpg and is 300+ hp, thats pretty good.

I don't feel badly at all. I insure my 8 as a recreational vehicle, and drive it as such. It's not my DD.

I just got 21mpg on my last road trip, good enough, especially when I see that my neighbor with his recreational vehicle, a Ford F350, only gets 11mpg with a tailwind. 8mpg when he's towing his trailer or boat. And his drive isn't anywhere nearly as fun as mine!

I'm a rotary enthusiast so something else just isn't going to cut it, even at 3 times the mileage.

I traded mine in on a Mini Cooper S
I couldn't afford the gas and upkeep on the 8 as a daily driver

Silvercloud, what kind of gas milage does your mini coop get?

I'm just got a 2nd job to balance out the costs. Driving is what I love to do so until they come out with an affordable electric sports car I'll keep spending the money to drive a fun car.

Corvettes, at least the old ones only get about 12 miles to the gallon and people are not giving them up.... Now I could see giving up an SUV, but even hummer owners feel that its a bigger status symbol now than in the past because they have enough to throw it away on gas!

I drive a mix of highway/city and am getting 28.5 mpg and (with spirited driving of course ) .
I'm going on a trip in August look forward to finding out what the highway mpg is.

My 8 was getting 15 mpg and falling as mileage increased.

My 8 was getting 15 mpg and falling as mileage increased.

At my last fillup I calculated 21mpg. About 75% highway driving, 25% city. And the highway driving was usually 80-85mph. I think if I set the cruise control on 65 I could eke out 23mpg.

I know there are a zillion posts about our RX8 and variable mpg.
This is my third rotary and as much as I like my 8, I'll be trading for a
better MPG vehicle soon. I drive my Harley when the weather allows.
It would be nice if we could swap the 13B for a Mazda 3 / 6 engine, unfortunately
it would not be cost effective.
I like the mini too and may cross over to the dark side...

PS: My 93 RX7 got 13 -15 MPG, my 04 RX8 AT got 12 MPG on a good day and my
current 06 MT Shinka gets 15 to 18. All with 95% in town, stop and go driving.

I know there are a zillion posts about our RX8 and variable mpg.
This is my third rotary and as much as I like my 8, I'll be trading for a
better MPG vehicle soon. I drive my Harley when the weather allows.
It would be nice if we could swap the 13B for a Mazda 3 / 6 engine, unfortunately
it would not be cost effective.
I like the mini too and may cross over to the dark side...

PS: My 93 RX7 got 13 -15 MPG, my 04 RX8 AT got 12 MPG on a good day and my
current 06 MT Shinka gets 15 to 18. All with 95% in town, stop and go driving.

12!!!! omg!! my 04 AT gets 17-19 in city and 19-25 hwy...wow!!

I still feel a twinge of pain when I see an 8 on the road but love passing up those gas stations :)

I just charge my customers more and do what I can to usher in the next recession.
Why stop at getting a mini, have you seen those "Smart Cars" These work great if gas is your main concern,,,,,,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZs1QuHerTU&feature=related

I don't feel badly at all. I insure my 8 as a recreational vehicle, and drive it as such. It's not my DD.

...

I'm a rotary enthusiast so something else just isn't going to cut it, even at 3 times the mileage.

I'm with JT. My '8 is my "fun" car, so I don't feel the pinch when I drive it once a week to work and on weekends. I normally drive my Yaris HB to and from work, so when I do drive my '8 I could care less what the mileage is :D:

Driving a sports car comes down to priorities in a situation like this. While other people go out to dinner weekly, see movies, buy expensive electronics or weekend trips...I drive my car.

I actually think I've driven MORE since gas has gone up than I did before the $3.50+ cost.

Actually the future of the sports car will more or less be based off of what regulations the car makers will have to deal with. If they have to stomach producing vehicles with insane mileage to have that one halo car with 12mpg, it's not going to work.

Sports cars will always be around, but what you might start seeing is instead of supercharged v8's or v10's you'll start seeing more v6's with turbochargers or inline 4's turbocharged as well. The American muscle car will give way to a small engine with forced induction, lighter chassis etc.

The problem is these cars will become more expensive because the research and development costs will need to bring in some kind of profit. While technology like this isn't rocket science, the overall changes with mileage will result in more expensive cars beyond what inflation will yield in prices.

What you will also see are people keeping their sports cars longer becase some won't be satisfied with what's on the showroom floor. Could old school Corvette owners and Mustang owners really stomach a 4 banger with a turbo or maybe a v6? I've seen old school mustang guys talk about how the modular motor is a piece of crap despite it making some serious power.

For some, displacement is everything not matter what else you show them.

I see lots of people every day on the forum who stop driving rx8.

Some are walking, some are biking, and some managed to trade another car. This is good news for the rest of us.

This is weird but I always look forward to the next fillup. At that time I can test the latest pre-mixture I've formulated into the little 3.5 oz Amsoil bottles. Only the exact proportions of cleaner and oil will unlock all the power.

I see lots of people every day on the forum who stop driving rx8.

Some are walking, some are biking, and some managed to trade another car. This is good news for the rest of us.

This is weird but I always look forward to the next fillup. At that time I can test the latest pre-mixture I've formulated into the little 3.5 oz Amsoil bottles. Only the exact proportions of cleaner and oil will unlock all the power.

Less RX8's on the road makes mine more unique. I'd lose so much money on a trade in it wouldn't be funny. Only way I'd save money is by parking the car and not using it.

Ha, fat chance of that happening...I'd drive to get my mail in the morning if I could. Oh wait, I do.

My '8 is my only ride, so I'm sticking with it. 61K miles and still going strong, averaging about 22mpg for my daily commute. As long as it drives I'll be sticking with it.

i like cold pizza

I know there are a zillion posts about our RX8 and variable mpg.
This is my third rotary and as much as I like my 8, I'll be trading for a
better MPG vehicle soon. I drive my Harley when the weather allows.
It would be nice if we could swap the 13B for a Mazda 3 / 6 engine, unfortunately
it would not be cost effective.
I like the mini too and may cross over to the dark side...

PS: My 93 RX7 got 13 -15 MPG, my 04 RX8 AT got 12 MPG on a good day and my
current 06 MT Shinka gets 15 to 18. All with 95% in town, stop and go driving.


You want a hybrid with all that in town driving. A Honda civic will get crappy gas mileage going zero miles per hour.