Okay, so I finally got a new IT job, and quit my crappy interim job (selling used cars at a shady dealership). I've got the week off before starting the new gig . . .

And I decided it was time to test-drive an 8. I went down to the dealership, and told them the truth--that I was cleaning up my credit, and that my wife might be looking for a Mazda 3 next year, and I an 8 the year after. He presented the 3 to me, and I have to say it's an unbelievable ride for the money. The exterior is better in person than it looks in pictures, the interior is nearly the equal of the 8, and overall it's just a great car.

However, only one car occupies my dreamspace, day and night: the RX-8. So, I made cow eyes at the salesman and said "If you let me drive the 8, you'll be my new best friend!" He said, "Well, if you promise to keep it between the fenceposts . . ."

It was a Nordic Green 6MT, Grand Touring, absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, the salesman kept me on a pretty tight leash, but I was absolutely amazed at the ride and feel. It lacks the visceral punch of the G35c (the only comparable car I've driven), but the 8 is in a whole different class in terms of response and attitude. Don't even get me started on the exhaust note! Man, what a feeling to get my foot down and hear the rotors wail . . . I was hoping this little indulgence would satisfy my 8 hunger for a while, but it's only fanned the flames. I MUST own this car, as soon as humanly possible. If that means 2006, then so be it! By then, perhaps, we'll finally see the fabled turbo MS model? I can only hope!

Thanks for letting a non-owner invade this space for a little while; I just had to share.

Peace
policy

 

last week I dropped my 8 off at the dealership to add some accessories and was given a 3 to drive around for the day. All I can say about the 3 is you get a lot of bang for the buck. With its lightweight and 160 hp, this little sucker will get up and go. i was also impressed with the handling. The Mazda 3 is a fun car to drive.

 

Yeah, this weekend I'm twisting the wife's arm; she's agreed to learn to shift a manual, but ducks out every time I try to teach her . . . this weekend, she'll have to learn. When she gets good . . . test drive time. I'm hoping it's fun enough to drive to get her hooked; right now she's thinking about a New Beetle and I am loath to have one of those things in my driveway.

Peace
policy

 

Welcome to the world of T.O.D....

I got hooked the same way you did after a test drive an made a decision that day at all costs

Fiance keeps ducking out on me to teach her stick as well

:D

 

policyvote,

life is short, don't waste any moment of it! Get crazy and get the 8 soon! that's what I did. I'm enjoying every moment of it and if I died tomorrow at least I had a very good time with my 8. (hope I won't though).

Good luck and hope you become an 8 owner soon.

Cheers.

 

I want to take one for a test drive, but after reading a bunch of posts, I'm already a believer without even sitting in one.... listen to me, I sound like an infomercial!! anyways, I WILL GET ONE, but I'm in the same boat in that I need to wait... Just out of college and got an IT System administration job. Saving up at least 7k to put down, which will take close to a year. Definitely getting an 05 model.

 

Thanks silver--I absolutely will as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I'm a 22-year-old with a new wife, a baby on the way, significant debt, and bad credit. Fortunately, I have a great new job, and a paid-off 2004 Pontiac Sunfire--which will make a decent trade-in. In a year, my wife will buy a new car (a Mazda 3 if I have anything to say about it), and then the 8 will come soon after that.

Oh, and I'm taking the advice of a friend, and opening an "RX-8" bank account. I'll put fifty bucks a week into the account, come hell or high water. By the time I'll be able to get the 8, I'll have several thousand in there to put down. The Sunfire ought to be worth around $7000 by then, plus about $5000 saved up . . . should make the payments on my 2006 Mazdaspeed RX-8 pretty darn reasonable, no?

Peace
policy