I stopped at the local Scooby dealer to look (I swear that was all I planned to do) at the STis they had on the lot. After some silly banter I was offered to go for a drive, I should have run away. I am not even going to talk about the acceleration and handling because you all probably know what a 300bhp car feels like. What I will say is that because I am looking for a year round car, the Scooby makes more sense. I can probably deal w/out the AWD except for the fact that I snowboard, hence: snowstorm = get to the mountain as fast as possible. The cargo space and rear seats are more usable than the RX-8, and the STi is here NOW. Ugh, I feel dirty. I could not help but smile as I drove it but I will have to remember that once I park the car and get out I cannot look back or I will be disgusted at how ugly it is. I have not yet had a chance to drive an RX-8 and I will reserve final judgement until such time.

On a side note, I drove a silver one, which I like much better than the blue w/gold rims, but there is no way I will buy the one I test drove. The car has less than thirty miles on it and the salesman drove it right up to redline the second we left the lot. He even missed a shift going from 3rd to 4th and hit 2nd at nearly 80mph. Yeah, that instills confidence

Originally posted by OrangeBingo
I could not help but smile as I drove it but I will have to remember that once I park the car and get out I cannot look back or I will be disgusted at how ugly it is.

:D Thanks for the chuckles. Hey at least you were honest about it.

My brother told me that when he went up to New England, he noticed alot of Audis and Scoobies. It seems New Enland's winter and AWD go hand in hand.

Originally posted by OrangeBingo
but I will have to remember that once I park the car and get out I cannot look back or I will be disgusted at how ugly it is.

And you think Scotty is just gonna beam you back into it, or do you only go outside at night and park in unlit lots, don't drive next to milk/gas trucks and avoid all glass buildings?

Originally posted by SPDFRK


And you think Scotty is just gonna beam you back into it, or do you only go outside at night and park in unlit lots, don't drive next to milk/gas trucks and avoid all glass buildings?

As soon as I got the car on the road, all the ugly in the world couldn't keep the smile off my face. I only see it as being a problem after the fact. So... yes, I will just have to remember not to park it near any windows... ever.

So what you're saying is, "Go ugly early or go home alone?"

With the right tires, the 8 will be fine getting you to the mountain. The somewhat lower torque will actually be a benefit in that situation.

Different situations call for different cars. Even though the RX8 is a great car it may not make sense for certain people who need more than a practicle sports cars.

I'm not saying go buy the STi, but if it is a better car for you than you shouldn't take any flake for or feel bad about it. Buy whatever is better for you.

OrangeBingo - Please do not buy an STi without driving the EVO (which looks bland rather than outright hideous). Read my review of a test drive of the WRX (not STi) against the EVO in General Automotive here (http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6961).

I had that same grin on my face yesterday when I test drove an RX-8. I didn't realize it at the time, but both passengers started laughing at the same time about it. Must have been real obvious.
I wish y'all could have seen my wife drive it back to the dealership. I guess I'm just not used to being a passenger, but she had me kinda scared a little. Geez!
This happened right after spending another hour over at the Mitsi place around the corner. I can test drive an Evo tomorrow , could have yesterday, but I want dry roads when (if) I do it. I got the salesguy so excited - it'll be his first test drive in the EVO VIII, not to mention his commission. Hee hee. I got him thinkin we're so close to buying one...:D
I am in no way gonna change my mind about the RX-8 though. I was SO impressed with it...I can't explain just how impressed I was. It's just beautiful in all of the different ways that a car can be. I'll just leave it at that - it's RX-8 for me - no doubt about it!

You have good reasons to go AWD, can't knock it. Yeah, test drive an EVO VIII if you can, before you go STI, just so you know, if for no other reason. Also, test drive an RX-8, nomatter what. My decision wasn't all that 100% before my visit to Mazda (after leaving Mitsi. But after leaving Mazda, after seeing and driving an RX-8 for the first time, I know that some reading this won't understand, but I really have no desire to test drive the EVO VIII anymore. The RX-8 just fits my and my wife's wants precisely. We are just plain finished looking around and we know without any doubt what we want. My wife & I left the Mazda place all giddy & stuff, just like a couple of little kids.
Whatever you buy, I wish for you happy trails!

Originally posted by cueball1029
Different situations call for different cars. Even though the RX8 is a great car it may not make sense for certain people who need more than a practicle sports cars.

I'm not saying go buy the STi, but if it is a better car for you than you shouldn't take any flake for or feel bad about it. Buy whatever is better for you.
Not to mention that it would be a SIN to mount a snowboard rack on top of an RX-8! Still, if a good snowboarding car is what you need, why not look into the new Forester Turbo? It's much more tasteful than the STi, and a much better snow car because of the ground clearance. It won't be nearly as fun to drive in the summer, but it'll handle all the snow you can throw at it.

Check it out. (http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=reviews&loc_code=index&content_code=09093914)

It won't be nearly as fun to drive in the summer, but it'll handle all the snow you can throw at it.


Well...it *is* faster in a straight line quarter-mile mash than the RX-8 :) Apparently sub-14s...

Originally posted by OrangeBingo
What I will say is that because I am looking for a year round car, the Scooby makes more sense. I can probably deal w/out the AWD except for the fact that I snowboard, hence: snowstorm = get to the mountain as fast as possible.

Isn't it great that there are so many cool cars out now?

FWIW, I take my Miata skiing all the time. Pass plenty of upside-down SUVs too. :) All it takes are some good snow tires.

Life is full of compromises, unless your Bill Gates or a Kennedy.


About the Sti, I'm with you as to it's "inner charms" and not so charming exterior. And it would be good in slippery conditions (once you mount snow tires).

However, did you look at the ground clearance? In newly fallen, deep snow it will make a great plow.

The WRX is actually better in that characteristic.

Forester XT WITH some aftermarket suspension, wheel/tire and brakes modifications can be pretty fun car. And the acceleration is formidable, faster than the WRX wagon actually.

But, drive all the cars that might be an alternative and then decide which "compromise" makes YOU the happiest.

Remember beauty is skin deep, or so they say.


Now if you could afford a S4 Avant.

Remember there is also a trunk pass-through so there is no need to mount a snowboard on the roof and ugly the car up.:)

As soon as I got the car on the road, all the ugly in the world couldn't keep the smile off my face. I only see it as being a problem after the fact.

You make it sound like a bad beer nite

Did you guys notice the Forester XT has a curb weight of 3,210lb? That's not bad at all for a car that size with AWD and good ground clearance. And with 210HP and 235lb-ft it wouldn't be a slug either. Not exactly a sports car, but not your typical SUV. And at $24,970 it's not that expensive either.

I think that little wagon makes a lot more sense than your typical SUV with a body-on-frame truck chassis. Indipendent suspension gives it better ground clearance and handling. And it got the highest possible ratings in government crash tests AND the Insurance Institute's crash test, which is very tough to do.

Have you guys noticed that Subaru has been ranking pretty high in all those crash tests? I get the feeling that Subaru is trying to become the poor man's Volvo.

As for driving in snow, AWD or 4WD makes a HUGE difference, if you know how to drive. The only problem is that it is so good, that you can get over confident and drive too fast. When the road turns into a skating ring, there is no substitute for AWD and a good set of snow tires.

SUV / AWD / 4WD drivers don't seem to be able to remember that everybody has 4 wheel brakes. Just 'cause you can get going that fast doesn't mean it's going to stop any better than everybody else.

you forgot the subaru also looks like ass and requires 93 octane!