After reading many post of current owners who are unhappy with the 8, i have to ask why or what did you buy the 8 for? I could understand why many of you are unhappy, or unsatisfied with your purchase, but what did you expect when you were buying the 8 to begin with?

The 8 is not a Asphalt tire shreading 1/4 mile car, nor is it some 200+ mph top speed exotic......

What the 8 is , its a drivers car that rewards its passengers or driver with 50/50 weight distribution,good handeling,adequate power, uniqueness from other cars,smooth revving 9k rpm motor. Period.

I have driven many cars and owned many interesting cars from sports cars to muscle cars to fast sports sedans. And i have to say , the RX-8 is a joy to drive and own. Its unique in its own way, it has character like no other car on the road and gets respect from the most advid enthusiast, journalist , and car buffs. I traded a 99 Mustang Gt for my 8, and i don't regret it one bit, my Mustang was bullet proof too, fast in all gears, would tear my 8 a new one, i apreciated my stang for what it did best .... put massive amounts of power and tourqe to the rear wheels in a authorative manor.

But my Stang didn't handle well , it was a far cry from my past TTZ, and other Z's in the past that i owned, it was common, yet how many people liked or loved it, you seen one stang you seen them all. It wasn't light, or nimble on its feet, it was big and bulky and styling was ho-hum. Mainly i bought the stang for power and nothing else. And you know what, i got what i payed for......

It wasn't a sports car and it was a far cry from having any sports car characteristics like my previous Z's in the past. When deciding on my next purcahse i wanted something unique , a all around performer, something that would put a smile on my face again like my coveted Z's. Was going to buy a 04 M3, instead with a litte persuasion from my wife i got the 8 instead.

And it felt good to get back into a RWD car that touched my heart and made me smile when driven like my past Z's did. No the 8 isn't the fastest, but its an all around performer that can be appreciated by its driver.

Why do people buy Mini's, VW bugs, etc.....these cars aren't fast,they don't leave two black marks 50 yard longs on the road. But people love these cars , because they are diffrent, there unique in there own way, and they bring smiles to the owners face when driven. Here at my job, my co worker is a Mini enthusiast, he has 4,3 older ones and one new sport Mini. One day he took me for a ride in that thing, and what a little amazing car! The car drives like a go-cart , its fun, fun, fun!!! Because it handles so well in the S's you would think you were going 100+ because the cars just pushes so well to the limit! Where other cars would have to back off or would have lost grip and eaten a pole, the Mini just keeps wanting to push harder through the corner.

Yet your average Honda civic or Dodge neon would beat it silly in a strait away, but speed isn't everything....its the way the car feels and reacts to the drivers input. Just like in my 8 and your 8, the car could be tame as it wants to be, but can be pushed to the limits in a rewarding fashion.

I think people get the wrong idea when they drive the 8, they expect to much from the power plant. People its a 1.3!!!!!!! Yet it can nip at the heals of 350Z,keep up with a S2000, shame and flat out embaress cars that cost twice as much on the twisties and on the track. And all of this from a mere, measly 1.3 liter......If you want more power , buy a turbo kit or SC if you feel the need to prove something to other people or yourself. Mazda engineered a hell of car that can do it all!

Hey even owners in exotics aren't happy with there rides, i can't tell you how many times i heard , Viper owners say, i love the car, but dang the heat coming from the footwell and firewall is overwhelming, and i wish Dodge could have thrown in some more amenities and toys, or how the Viper beats you up after a long drive. Or the Lambo owner will complain about the seats , how uncomfortable they are, or how the Ferrari owners will complain about the stiff clutch and how the car is not easy to drive to the limit. Never seen a video of a Ferrari owner who really pushed his car on the twisties, yet i can find many owners who take videos of themselves pushing 180-200 mph on a long strait away. The reason why... because they can't, many don't have the skill or know how, to push there Ferrari or Lambo on the twisties. I think its fair to say many owners who buy exotic cars , just buy them for status or show off factor.It would suck to buya car that cost 180k+, yet you can't even drive the car to its limit, or the way it should be driven......

Yet we have 27k-35k sport car that can be driven to its limit, that can be driven like the way it should be and at the end of the day, still can pick up grocieries,and haul for indviduals to where they want to go. Yet for many, that is still not enough......

I love my 8, its satisfies my needs and wants on the road. I hope Mazda doesn't change a thing about it, if they add a new power plant then fine, if they revise the front, then fine, but i apreciate for what the 8 can do, instead of what it can't do...i think many of you need to do the same.

well said, obe-wan!

I bought the rx8 (and i bought it on March 1 '06 - 2 days ago).. cuz i love the car.. and thats it! Some of my friends appreciate the 8 for what it is.. others tell me that itis not the fastest car out there... has oil/gas trouble and a whole bunch of other negative things.

Personally, I am aware of all the negative aspects about the car. But, the good outweigh them easily. Bottom line is that i love the car.. i bought to treat myself to something exotic. It is NOT to prove a point to anyone..

Hehe, nice post.

I love my 8 too. I don't need to go that fast. I guess for me the car had enough all around that it was the one for me.

2 usable back seats, suicide doors, a usable trunk, incredible handling, a great look, uniqueness. The list goes on, but I'll just say that I'm happy with my car (though I've only had it for 1 month).

Last, but not least, the rotary engine. I think it's an incredible engine with a lot to offer. This may sound dumb (and don't think I based my choice of car on a cartoon), but I've watched Initial D and the 1st season when he races Takahashi Ryosuke, Ryosuke talks to himself in the car and mentions how he loves the rotary engine because of the concept of 'aiming higher.' That stuck with me and I also love the concept of 'aiming higher' than the norm and not accepting the standard. I think the rotary engine is a great piece of engineering and if only more resources were put into it's R&D it would be even more incredible. Simple and elegant to me. :)

I've owned 116 cars (including the RX8) and driven many, many more.

The RX8 was chosen as a replacement/followup to a 3.0 Supra MA70, a Ford XR4i V6, a Beetle Convertible, a Subaru Legacy Outback (fuel economy wise... ;) )...

I looked at what I could afford, and what I wanted in a car. Above all, I wanted something fun to drive, ideally RWD, but I was also going to consider something significantly cheaper than my Beetle and very basic if I could find it.

My Beetle cost £210 a month plus tax.

That gave me:

Toyota Yaris 1.3 T2
Mercedes A-class A150 Classic SE
BMW 1-series (3-series was too expensive on a company lease)
Mazda MX5
Mazda RX8
A second hand car like my XR4i costing the same as my lease - about £2,000 a year including basic maintenance and depreciation.

First, I needed 4 seats - my girlfriend has enjoyed being able to have friends with us on trips, and the Beetle was good for that, my little Sera is very cramped. So out goes the MX5.

Second, I need reliable. Now, the Mazda has shown me up here already, but at the time I discounted my XR4i because it was rotten underneath. Buying another XR4i would have cost £3,000 and it would have been lucky to last a year without needing major work - so it was discounted.

Third, I wanted significantly cheaper. The Yaris, being a very new model, cost £188/month, so was ignored. The A-class was £159/month, but I couldn't have the full-length roof which I thought was the most attractive feature.

We're now down to the BMW 1-series and Mazda, though the A-class had actually taken second place and the BMW third due to the amazingly practical design of the A150 being such an advantage.

The 1-series was slightly more expensive, but competition between brokers meant I could be sure of finding one for £209/month if I tried hard. That was for a 1.6 litre model. It also has the problem of being a BMW (wankers drive BMWs, but I could overlook that for the 116's eager, basic quality and sharp chassis, something which is apparently muted in the bigger-engined models) and a bit of a cheap model (as BMW's cheapest model, wankers would think I wanted to be a wanker so much I'd put up with anything - even a lack of A/C and alloys - to have that badge).

The Mazda had always been priced over £300/month in the UK before. So why was it in my list? They were £199-£219 a month from most brokers. Naturally, I chose the cheapest broker (all the cars were from the same dealer anyway!), and at that price, who wouldn't have chosen it?

I think I would have chosen it had I had cash to buy a car, too. It ticks all the boxes.

Except mine had a faulty damper and the local dealer is so busy it could be a month before it is fixed. So I'm not entirely happy with it :(

Before I bought the car, I know I want a 2.0 litre high rpm N/A that weigh less than 1350kg, RWD a must and very good handling, everything else I don't care. I just need something to improve my driving skills coz I strongly believe driver matters more than car. I'm so into performance driving and I love harassing more powerful cars if they ask for it. Best choice at time is a HONDA S2000. I shop around, found one but some asshole beat me to it. The next thing closest to S2000 is the 8, my friends told me I should get the Z, STI or EVO but what the heck, I bought it for the 9000 rpm (yeah I know, its silly and doesn't make sense).

I bought mine as an all-around town/highway/backroad seat-warmin' curve-huggin' music-blastin' turn-your-head-real-quick-and-get-a-glance-at-that-sexy-car...car. :)

Rotary engine. This would be my third rotary and I wanted Mazda's latest variation to modify and build upon.

I bought mine as an all-around town/highway/backroad seat-warmin' curve-huggin' music-blastin' turn-your-head-real-quick-and-get-a-glance-at-that-sexy-car...car. :)

awesome!

well said!
________
Live Sex (http://livesexwebshows.com/)

After test driving my 8 I bought it out of love. It moves me like no other.

I bought mine for cup holders. :)
________
Web Shows (http://livesexwebshows.com/)

I bought mine for cup holders. :)

HAHAHAHAAAAA :lol:

I bought mine 'cause the engine goes Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....:evil_laug

Saw the pictures of the car, liked it, test drove the car, fell in love with it. And since I needed a reliable and safe car for daily driving ... ;)

oo another reason... the "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep"... gotto love that sweeet sound!!

One of the greatest things about owning an 8 is the rotary engine.

How many people really appreciate how rare and unique a rotary powered vehicle is today? And to own a N/A one that puts out 183 hp per liter, meeting emissions standards, backed by a 4 year/50,000 mile Mazda warranty is the icing on the cake.

It handles extremely well, looks great and has a classy and refined interior.

It's nothing short of a bona fide automotive bargain.

Oh God. This is the only board that I have seen 30 posts a day made on why you purchased your car. It's kind of annoying.

Bought mine to travel from golf tourny to golf tourny. Was looking at many cars but drove the 8 and was hooked.

"When im feeling blue all I have to do is take a ride in you" Its a expensive toy for the weekends that just puts a smile on your face when you drive it. Unfortunatly I cant go more than 1-2 days with out taking her for a quick spin :)

The rest of the time I drive a corolla.

After reading many post of current owners who are unhappy with the 8, i have to ask why or what did you buy the 8 for? I could understand why many of you are unhappy, or unsatisfied with your purchase, but what did you expect when you were buying the 8 to begin with?

The 8 is not a Asphalt tire shreading 1/4 mile car, nor is it some 200+ mph top speed exotic......

What the 8 is , its a drivers car that rewards its passengers or driver with 50/50 weight distribution,good handeling,adequate power, uniqueness from other cars,smooth revving 9k rpm motor. Period.

I have driven many cars and owned many interesting cars from sports cars to muscle cars to fast sports sedans. And i have to say , the RX-8 is a joy to drive and own. Its unique in its own way, it has character like no other car on the road and gets respect from the most advid enthusiast, journalist , and car buffs. I traded a 99 Mustang Gt for my 8, and i don't regret it one bit, my Mustang was bullet proof too, fast in all gears, would tear my 8 a new one, i apreciated my stang for what it did best .... put massive amounts of power and tourqe to the rear wheels in a authorative manor.

But my Stang didn't handle well , it was a far cry from my past TTZ, and other Z's in the past that i owned, it was common, yet how many people liked or loved it, you seen one stang you seen them all. It wasn't light, or nimble on its feet, it was big and bulky and styling was ho-hum. Mainly i bought the stang for power and nothing else. And you know what, i got what i payed for......

It wasn't a sports car and it was a far cry from having any sports car characteristics like my previous Z's in the past. When deciding on my next purcahse i wanted something unique , a all around performer, something that would put a smile on my face again like my coveted Z's. Was going to buy a 04 M3, instead with a litte persuasion from my wife i got the 8 instead.

And it felt good to get back into a RWD car that touched my heart and made me smile when driven like my past Z's did. No the 8 isn't the fastest, but its an all around performer that can be appreciated by its driver.

Why do people buy Mini's, VW bugs, etc.....these cars aren't fast,they don't leave two black marks 50 yard longs on the road. But people love these cars , because they are diffrent, there unique in there own way, and they bring smiles to the owners face when driven. Here at my job, my co worker is a Mini enthusiast, he has 4,3 older ones and one new sport Mini. One day he took me for a ride in that thing, and what a little amazing car! The car drives like a go-cart , its fun, fun, fun!!! Because it handles so well in the S's you would think you were going 100+ because the cars just pushes so well to the limit! Where other cars would have to back off or would have lost grip and eaten a pole, the Mini just keeps wanting to push harder through the corner.

Yet your average Honda civic or Dodge neon would beat it silly in a strait away, but speed isn't everything....its the way the car feels and reacts to the drivers input. Just like in my 8 and your 8, the car could be tame as it wants to be, but can be pushed to the limits in a rewarding fashion.

I think people get the wrong idea when they drive the 8, they expect to much from the power plant. People its a 1.3!!!!!!! Yet it can nip at the heals of 350Z,keep up with a S2000, shame and flat out embaress cars that cost twice as much on the twisties and on the track. And all of this from a mere, measly 1.3 liter......If you want more power , buy a turbo kit or SC if you feel the need to prove something to other people or yourself. Mazda engineered a hell of car that can do it all!

Hey even owners in exotics aren't happy with there rides, i can't tell you how many times i heard , Viper owners say, i love the car, but dang the heat coming from the footwell and firewall is overwhelming, and i wish Dodge could have thrown in some more amenities and toys, or how the Viper beats you up after a long drive. Or the Lambo owner will complain about the seats , how uncomfortable they are, or how the Ferrari owners will complain about the stiff clutch and how the car is not easy to drive to the limit. Never seen a video of a Ferrari owner who really pushed his car on the twisties, yet i can find many owners who take videos of themselves pushing 180-200 mph on a long strait away. The reason why... because they can't, many don't have the skill or know how, to push there Ferrari or Lambo on the twisties. I think its fair to say many owners who buy exotic cars , just buy them for status or show off factor.It would suck to buya car that cost 180k+, yet you can't even drive the car to its limit, or the way it should be driven......

Yet we have 27k-35k sport car that can be driven to its limit, that can be driven like the way it should be and at the end of the day, still can pick up grocieries,and haul for indviduals to where they want to go. Yet for many, that is still not enough......

I love my 8, its satisfies my needs and wants on the road. I hope Mazda doesn't change a thing about it, if they add a new power plant then fine, if they revise the front, then fine, but i apreciate for what the 8 can do, instead of what it can't do...i think many of you need to do the same.


:ylsuper: APPLAUSE!! VERY WELL PUT BRO!!!! STRAIGHTEN EVERYONE OUT A BIT!!!!!!

wow, i just wiped the tear from my eye and had to go for a drive again.

I bought mine for cup holders. :)

Actually, I did look hard at the cup holders (a previous car had none, causing me to scald myself seriously one day!).

I bought mine because the insurance is super cheap, it has four USABLE seats, the interior and exterior are both unique and sexy, it handles wonderfuly, and its pretty quick on its feet.
and oh yea, THE PRICE WAS RIGHT! This car you really get the bang for your buck.

Oh God. This is the only board that I have seen 30 posts a day made on why you purchased your car. It's kind of annoying.

Then don't read this thread anymore.

Daily Driver 2k5--eloquently expressed.

DarkRose--how could you get to the point any more concisely??

Oh God. This is the only board that I have seen 30 posts a day made on why you purchased your car. It's kind of annoying.

When I first read your post, I thought your name was TIMMAH!

Oh God. This is the only board that I have seen 30 posts a day made on why you purchased your car. It's kind of annoying.

Personally, I would rather read interesting stories about this topic than look at people's timeslips, 0-60 numbers, trap speeds, or kill stories.

Ok I bought my 2004 Rx8 -6 sp Shrinka edition in Feb 2005 for 19500 with 10K miles. That was the number one issue I got one heck of a deal. Secondly I liked the look interior and how it handled.

The car is abit sluggish in the higher gears but if ya downshift it performs good. I have read other posts here about oil problems ?????? huh A ROTARY uses oil that is normal so that ends that issue . The gas mileage is ok I get 17 to 18 MPG good for me and I drive a little bit fast. I am happy with the car the only issue I have had is the flooding isuue but upgraded plugs and a high torque starter / & bigger cranking battery solved that.

I think for the price it is a good car. So far I have no issues, show me a car for that price with all I got, you can't

I had a rotary (not nearly as fast) in the 70's and loved it. The rotary keeps it zip as it gets older unlike a piston engine. After raising 3 kids and being very close to an empty nest, I have no need to haul a lot of people around and can't wait to get out of my SUV and into the RX8 - my mid-life cure. It is a very nice little zippy car that can take a couple of passengers and my 3 year old grandson who loves anything with an engine will love it too! My GT 6MT is on order - supposed to be built this week.

Happy Trails!

Yeah i hope people read this, wether they have a RX-8 or deciding to get one. I just think people assume when they are about to purchase a 8 , there getting a Corvette Z-06.And there not..... Then a few months later to a year, they wish they never bought the 8, because the 8 isn't at fast as the "other" sports cars on the road. Mazda never intended it to be a strait line performer.....its performance is focused on "all around attributes and performance". Ford and GM focus on strait line performance, that is why they make Mustangs Gt/Mach 1/SVT and Camaro'sSS /Firebirds WS6.

I wanted people who own this car just to sit back and reflect why did i just drop 27k-35k dollars on this car again? Instead of complaining, you would think before purchase they would have done there homework or tested the 8 many times to reasure themselves, is this the car i want or don't want?

Because if your looking for that neck snapping, burning the rubber off the rim performance, the 8 isn't it.......

Good post. However, what does the displacement of the engine have to do with anything?

Good post. However, what does the displacement of the engine have to do with anything?

Well its common assumption, bigger displacement, the faster the vehicle will travel,mostly people who live, eat and breath numbers like seeing when buyinga vehicle, for example: 8.0 Ltr 400HP, makes people feel better about themselves for some strange reason knowing they have a 8.0 ltr....... :mdrmed:

People see 1.3 liters and they kind of look like this :mad: , yet little do they know that 1.3 could be just as potent as the 8. Ltr.

It's a common assumption for piston engines, yes. The Rx-8 doesn't have a piston engine.

I just think people see the hp number, and expect more torque.

I bought mine to sit in my garage - if only these morons would stop salting the roads. :ftw:

Haha. Water>Salt

It's a common assumption for piston engines, yes. The Rx-8 doesn't have a piston engine.

I just think people see the hp number, and expect more torque.


True.... :hahano:

When I first read your post, I thought your name was TIMMAH!
Reading is fundamental....though many at a quick glance think so.

Personally, I would rather read interesting stories about this topic than look at people's timeslips, 0-60 numbers, trap speeds, or kill stories.
Just do a search. There is nothing wrong with loving your car and reconfirming why you bought it but geee. 8 owners take it to a whole new level.

Correction: Reading is FUNdamental.

DarkRose--how could you get to the point any more concisely??[/QUOTE]

Only by strapping a skeptic into the passenger seat of my car, and taking him on the north course at Pocono. WEEEEE!!!! :jump:

I bought mine because I wanted a sports car that could still take me and my girlfriend and a LOT of luggage on a serious road trip. The rotary engine, and the fact that I was favorably inclined towards Mazda, having had good experience with them before, only sweetened the deal.

Best bang for my $ hands down

My reasons:

- I wanted a sporty second car for three season driving with a focus primarily on handling but still quick
- I didn't want to spend the $$'s for a Porsche or comparable
- I wanted something unique, a car you dont' see every day (like Mustangs). I rarely see other RX8's in Buffalo
- I wanted to be able to drive my sports car and still be able to pick up my daughters and their friends (rules out the two seaters or I'd get a Vette)
- I wanted to have enough room to take a road trip

The RX8 does it all for a great price when you consider what you get. Far more unique than anything available under $50k and to me it is more than competitive on performance with any sports car in every aspect except raw straight ahead power (and that's not all that important to me).

Would I love to have a bit more torque off the line - yes - but not that much of a compromise considering everything else.

Ok I bought my 2004 Rx8 -6 sp Shrinka edition

Is that one of those new-fangled cars that starts out 16ft long and reduces to 12 for parking?

Thanks for today's chuckle, RichardK.

I wanted something sporty that would not cost me an arm and a leg. I just fell in love with its looks...and the performance.

I lubs me teh rotary action. I've owned an '85 Rx7 GSL, and the holy grail of NA RX7s: a 1990 GTUs (I still miss that car), one of only 100 made. I felt like a war criminal for crashing it. I wanted a 3rd gen rx7 but just couldn't afford it. When the 8 came out, there was no question in my mind I had to have one. When the car I was driving after the GTUs (94 Probe GT) starting to cost more than it was worth, I had my chance.
I knew it wasn't the fastest thing out there, but by Bob it's the sexiest car on the road. People stop and stare, children literally have run alongside as I drove by. It turns heads. It drives great, and it's a rotary. What more could you want ? Well ok, a few things like better gas mileage, and not having a blind spot the size of the USS Missouri, but in the long run, that stuff pales in comparison to how much I love the car. My company recently had a contest, one of the prizes was limo service to & from work for a month. AS I said to my cube mate, "I don't want to win that, I have a sports car. I LIKE driving to work."

Lightness, balence, agility, and it "beeps" approaching 9000 RPM. Fun car.

I had an RX-2, RX-4, and 3 RX-7s, and really liked the rotary engine. It had been about 14 years since I had one, so I was excited about getting the RX-8. I was somewhat disappointed that more progress had not been made with fuel mileage, heat, flooding, etc. But, I did thoroughly enjoy the 14 months that I had it. And, I would seriously consider getting the next RX-7, or whatever they might call it.

1. engine .. but i was just dreaming about it then .. i never cared for high torque burnout cars .. having grown up around rpm loving alfa romeos and enojying every second of my si's 8k redline
2. price .. this close the deal

though i knew this is gonna be a love/hate relationship and 4 days into I already see it ..

hate/love
twitchy,loses end but stays right on track
eats loads of gas but goes bzzooom, bzzzooooooom, bzzzooooommmm (i can do this all day)
were is all my cargo space (i had 6 grocery bags in one hand nad couldnt load theminto the trunk in one shot because of the small opening, had to divide in two) but looks hot
window is so high i can't comfortably rest my left elbow but if straighten my arm i feel like driving a sports car and what do you know .. now that i'm passing another car it needs no resting
the center arm rest is so comfortable to rest my right arm on but i really want it on top of the shifter off the center to run the gears up and down
the gears are so hard too go through but eh at least the short shifter looks cool
parents and (potentially) inlaws cant believe my immaturity in getting such an impractical ride but they dont realize the mental benefit of my forgetting and forgiving all the bs they put me through while im in it
new car payments, oil cost, premium gas, $1000 winter tires (hope it will be less) but if didn't jump on this now i could never had own such a superb sweet hot ride

For that Rotary HUMMMMM

Quoting Mazda's jingle from the 70's ...

"Other cars go boing, boing, boing, boing, boing. boing, boing, but a Mazda goes HMMMMMMM."

It's like getting a hum job every time I hop in. :)

having a car to get from A to B: a pretty penny
Having a car that makes you want to go from A to B to C to D...: PRICELESS

It's a FUN car...

(Life is stressful at work and sometimes at home... Might as well have fun somewhere...)

Saw it in a magazine in 2004
Test drove it in 2005 (had to wait to get rid of my Honda)
Four seat sports car? Wow, I had to have it.
Fell in love.
My only problem now is that the car is still in the shop due to unfavorable contact with wildlife. I can't wait to get it back. :crying:

2004 Rx8 -6 sp Shrinka edition

Exactly what version is that. :eek:

I discovered the RX-8 when my mom was getting an oil change. They had literature on it before it came out in 04. I decided I had to have one, that it was going to be my first car....and it is as soon as it gets out of port!!!! My goal was always to get a car by/at the time I was 25. I ordered one and am now anxiously awaiting it!!! :)

After reading many post of current owners who are unhappy with the 8, i have to ask why or what did you buy the 8 for? I could understand why many of you are unhappy, or unsatisfied with your purchase, but what did you expect when you were buying the 8 to begin with?

The 8 is not a Asphalt tire shreading 1/4 mile car, nor is it some 200+ mph top speed exotic......

What the 8 is , its a drivers car that rewards its passengers or driver with 50/50 weight distribution,good handeling,adequate power, uniqueness from other cars,smooth revving 9k rpm motor. Period.

I have driven many cars and owned many interesting cars from sports cars to muscle cars to fast sports sedans. And i have to say , the RX-8 is a joy to drive and own. Its unique in its own way, it has character like no other car on the road and gets respect from the most advid enthusiast, journalist , and car buffs. I traded a 99 Mustang Gt for my 8, and i don't regret it one bit, my Mustang was bullet proof too, fast in all gears, would tear my 8 a new one, i apreciated my stang for what it did best .... put massive amounts of power and tourqe to the rear wheels in a authorative manor.

But my Stang didn't handle well , it was a far cry from my past TTZ, and other Z's in the past that i owned, it was common, yet how many people liked or loved it, you seen one stang you seen them all. It wasn't light, or nimble on its feet, it was big and bulky and styling was ho-hum. Mainly i bought the stang for power and nothing else. And you know what, i got what i payed for......

It wasn't a sports car and it was a far cry from having any sports car characteristics like my previous Z's in the past. When deciding on my next purcahse i wanted something unique , a all around performer, something that would put a smile on my face again like my coveted Z's. Was going to buy a 04 M3, instead with a litte persuasion from my wife i got the 8 instead.

And it felt good to get back into a RWD car that touched my heart and made me smile when driven like my past Z's did. No the 8 isn't the fastest, but its an all around performer that can be appreciated by its driver.

Why do people buy Mini's, VW bugs, etc.....these cars aren't fast,they don't leave two black marks 50 yard longs on the road. But people love these cars , because they are diffrent, there unique in there own way, and they bring smiles to the owners face when driven. Here at my job, my co worker is a Mini enthusiast, he has 4,3 older ones and one new sport Mini. One day he took me for a ride in that thing, and what a little amazing car! The car drives like a go-cart , its fun, fun, fun!!! Because it handles so well in the S's you would think you were going 100+ because the cars just pushes so well to the limit! Where other cars would have to back off or would have lost grip and eaten a pole, the Mini just keeps wanting to push harder through the corner.

Yet your average Honda civic or Dodge neon would beat it silly in a strait away, but speed isn't everything....its the way the car feels and reacts to the drivers input. Just like in my 8 and your 8, the car could be tame as it wants to be, but can be pushed to the limits in a rewarding fashion.

I think people get the wrong idea when they drive the 8, they expect to much from the power plant. People its a 1.3!!!!!!! Yet it can nip at the heals of 350Z,keep up with a S2000, shame and flat out embaress cars that cost twice as much on the twisties and on the track. And all of this from a mere, measly 1.3 liter......If you want more power , buy a turbo kit or SC if you feel the need to prove something to other people or yourself. Mazda engineered a hell of car that can do it all!

Hey even owners in exotics aren't happy with there rides, i can't tell you how many times i heard , Viper owners say, i love the car, but dang the heat coming from the footwell and firewall is overwhelming, and i wish Dodge could have thrown in some more amenities and toys, or how the Viper beats you up after a long drive. Or the Lambo owner will complain about the seats , how uncomfortable they are, or how the Ferrari owners will complain about the stiff clutch and how the car is not easy to drive to the limit. Never seen a video of a Ferrari owner who really pushed his car on the twisties, yet i can find many owners who take videos of themselves pushing 180-200 mph on a long strait away. The reason why... because they can't, many don't have the skill or know how, to push there Ferrari or Lambo on the twisties. I think its fair to say many owners who buy exotic cars , just buy them for status or show off factor.It would suck to buya car that cost 180k+, yet you can't even drive the car to its limit, or the way it should be driven......

Yet we have 27k-35k sport car that can be driven to its limit, that can be driven like the way it should be and at the end of the day, still can pick up grocieries,and haul for indviduals to where they want to go. Yet for many, that is still not enough......

I love my 8, its satisfies my needs and wants on the road. I hope Mazda doesn't change a thing about it, if they add a new power plant then fine, if they revise the front, then fine, but i apreciate for what the 8 can do, instead of what it can't do...i think many of you need to do the same.

I'm very happy with my 8.

Bought for style, performance, handling and yes, practicality.

I have triplet daughters who are now five and I can easily carry them in back.

Just wish Mazda was considering powertrain enhancement -- I'd gladly pay $40k for the car if it had better power!

I honestly wasn't even looking for a "sports" car. I was test driving luxury type vehicles and was coming back from a very disappointing test drive at a Jaguar dealership, and decided to give the 8 a spin. I was hooked after that.

I wanted something unique, with lots of comfort and sophistication. I loved the lines of this car, and then it happened, took a test drive. Love that hummmmmm! Two weeks in now, and I definitely have that "zoom-zoom" feeling.

tho I don't own one yet I'd say any doubters need to only take it for a drive and they'll realize WHY the RX8 is such a good overall drivers car. I'm hopin to hold out for '06 clearances unless the 07s are showing positive changes.

Exactly what version is that. :eek:

Haven't you heard of that? It's made of 100% wool. Be sure to not wash it in hot water and then put it in the dryer! Then it will turn into a Mini Cooper.


:lol2:

So I could join here, and then listen to owners of other cars denounce the mileage and lack of torque in the 8. :rolleyes:

(Problems I have not had - 20 mpg, and torque isn't an issue in the upper RPM band - the car moves).

I bought mine so I could argue with you guys.

I bought mine so I could argue with you guys.
:iwstupid:

corner carving

I bought mine cuz of the looks, HANDLING and interior design and the 2 + 2 and rear door thing!!! But the Oil/Gas problem is catching up to me and recently I had a very bad dissapointment with the car/dealer or MAzda it self (more info look into general discussion and SE FORUM)

But Overall its an incredible car to driv and the handling is GREAT!.....

Wont buy one again unless the HP and Fule is improoved

I got this car coz it's like the ideal woman. SEXY, it screams when you give it to her. It wants more if you slow down. When you think you are in trouble... she is very forgiving. More importantly... she commands your wishes.

Seriously... I got this car coz it makes me happy and proud owning my RX8. RX8 is also a great platform to learn to improve your driving skills. I am even forcing myself to take up track lessons, just so I can enjoy the RX8's (close to) full potential. It'll take some time... but I know I'll become a better driver as time goes by. It's gonna be fun doing it as well.

BE PROUD OF YOUR RX8!

Given some of the responses on here I guess I bought mine because I wanted to own a car that is down on power, has no torque, needs to have a fuel tanker hooked up behind it, has shitty resale value after a short time, and to bitch about it "using" oil. :)

Now in reality I bought it because I find it to be an amazing fun car, that is great to drive and look at and my wife and I could both agree on a car.

I bought mine so I could argue with you guys.

No you didn't!

No you didn't!
:yelrotflm

I love threads like these, it gives some of us diehard RX lovers a chance to speak out.

Originally, I bought mine because of the looks, the handling, and the uniqueness of it being the only current production vehicle to have a rotary engine...even though I knew next to nothing about the rotary. I didn't even know it had a rotary until I got into the passenger seat with the salesman and he pointed out that purring note at idle..."that's the sound of a rotary engine, just something a bit different". That, followed by him pulling some massive g's around a carousel convinced me that this was definitely a car that would match my "corner like a madman" driving style.

Over time I noticed that with the RX-8, it was incredibly easy to become one with the car. And it was happening not only on a physical level, but on an emotional level. Handling aside, there was something about even just hearing that "REEEEeeeeeeeen" while at a steady 3000 RPM cruise that would make me grin like a madman. At this point I decided to really read up on the rotary engine and its history.

Getting to really know the Wankel rotary, how it came about, what it represented to Mazda, and how they struggled to make it a viable alternative to the common piston engine was quite an eye opener for me personally. Watching clips of the 787B and how it won the ultimate victory for Mazda at Le Mans, and the promotional info for the RX-8 that were heavily centered around the rotary, made me feel a lot more love for this engine than ever before. And it made me see the RX-8 in a completely new light.

The rotary engine indeed has the spirit of aiming higher. It literally personifies the spirit of driving for fun, and you can just feel this in how insanely smooth and effortlessly this engine can rev up high. It is this sensation of unrestrained ease that has me breaking out in big grins for absolutely no reason at all, other than knowing that the rotary's probably having just as much fun as I am at high RPMs.

As Jeremy Clarkson said, this is a car that is just so easy to drive fast. With new passengers I always have to dial down my cornering because it is just so incredibly natural to toss the RX-8 into a corner at high speeds. It has incredible balance and poise. It has looks that would allow it to keep company with Ferraris without being embarrased one bit. And it has a sound that no other production car in existence can ever hope to produce! And none of this would've been possible without the rotary engine to center the RX-8 around.

In the end I think you need to love the engine before you can love the car. And there are definitely people that own a RX and "get it", and those that own one and don't have a clue. And I feel pretty sorry for those that don't get it. Me personally, I would be hugging this car after every single drive if it were a little more huggable. I absolutely love it and its great big triangular heart.

I've said this before, but what the heck...

When I went looking for my next car there were certain things I needed other than the common sports car stuff (power, handling, looks-style, etc)...I needed rear seats since my wife and I were planning on having a baby.

The finalist came to the 05 Mustang GT, GTO, and the RX8. Of course there were alot more cars on the list but those 3 were the ones left standing.

I knew the Mustang and GTO were significantly faster, but they were also not as good looking as the RX8 nor as easy to get into the rear seats. The Mustang (eventhough it's significantly longer and has a bigger wheelbase (I could be wrong about the length)) still had poor rear seats considering my head rested on the rear glass. The GTO had better comfort all around than the RX8 but it's heavy weight and sadan like handling killed it for me.

So, in my opinion...at my price point, I got the best all around 2+2 sports car possible. I'm all smiles every time I fill the trunk with stuff or drive around with 3-4 people in pretty good comfort. The RX8's fun to drive factor really put's other cars to shame...and it can do it with 2 people in the back seats.

Basically, I got a family friendly sports car that looks great and has a super unique and special rotary engine.

I'm not sure why you say alot of owners are not happy with their 8's, look at the poll section , but while I would love another 50HP and a bit better fuel economy I'm as satisfied with my 8 as the day I drove it off the lot.