yeeper

Howdy all.


I've posted this in the clubWRX forums and thought I would share with you as well my experiences seaching out a new car. I've had the WRX wagon in the back of my mind for years now..... but I finally have some spendin' cash to shop with. However, it would be dumb to buy without seeing what else is out there....

Anyway, did some test driving today. I had driven the wrx wagon twice already.... really liked the handling, lag kind of bugged me. Trim wasn't great, but I drive a '93 Cherokee, so I haven't been spoiled in that department. I had previously sat in the s40, RX-8, and C230 coupe and loved all three interiors.

First off today: Volvo s40 T5 - they didn't have the manual so I tried the "manumatic". Incredible fit and finish. Interior is great. Love the looks. The low end torque was nice (full 236 ft-lbs at 1500 rpm) and handling was nice.... but not sporty, even though it had the sport suspention. Very nice, but nothing to blow me away.

Next: Legacy Outback XT - Once again, no manual to try, so I was forced drive the auto. Nice power at a lower end, once again. Trim wasn't as nice as the Volvo. Handling: not bad, but it is a heavy car. I guess there is no way to hide that fact. I skipped the Legacy GT since I would get an outback for the clearance and trim.

Then: WRX wagon. Didn't notice the lag much this time. Nice, light, and tossable. For some reason, I couldn't shift for sh**. I had to throw in the clutch twice to stop the power lunging (then put it in 2nd and recover). I drive a 5 speed currently and drove the rex twice before without problem.... so I don't know why I was retarded with that particular clutch. Anyway, walked away smiling and confident that I would be in one soon and started planning the accessories I would get with it.

And finally: I promised myself to drive an RX-8 before I purchased. I like the looks of them and the interior is great. You REALLY feel more like a pilot in one of these cars. (Kinda like that in the rex, not so in Legacy/Volvo.) I jumped in the driver seat and spun up the Rotary engine. This car is FUN. I didn't have to brake for corners. Power isn't through the roof.... but it is SMOOTH delivery. The wrx seemed so less refined in accelleration. (This is normal street driving. I'm not concered about "kills".) I really had fun in the thing. Wow. Great car.

Didn't try the Mazda6 5-door like planned, because..... well.... Wow. RX-8. Wow.

So... now I'm confused. I can afford either car, but I don't know what I want.

WRX pros:
Quirky
Raw driving experience
cargo for camping/biking/road trips/sleeping/work(I'm a cameraman)
cheaper
been envying them since I say my first WRC race and outback sport's.
milage
doesn't eat oil
can put bike rack on it.
low maintenance (don't have to rev to 3000 to park it.)

RX-8 pros:
Beautiful sports car (subjective, but I like the look)
incredible handling
smooth power delivery
tons of fun to drive
not many out there
great interior
cockpit-like.... well... cockpit
gotta admit- the rotary engine has the coolest sound to it.

So... that's where I am at. Practicality isn't too much of a concern, since I'm keeping the Cherokee. All I can do is drive the finalists once again (rx-8 first this time) and figure it out from there.

fyi- I found a dealer to do a '05 wagon for 200 over invoice NOT COUNTING the $1250 rebate and the RX-8 is going for $400 under invoice. 22000ish versus 24500ish.


Any thoughts? (especially from those who were in the same situation)

-Yeeper

Rxdriftingaction

nice post... dude do u know wat.. at the very first time.. I were thinking about buying a evo or sti or rx-8. and I have consider about the milage and the maintenance.. after I considered all the stuff.. i think rx-8 good to buy. =)

bmcc49er

Sounds like you need more room to me but if not the 8 is so much fun. I don't have to rev at all. I have pulled it out many times to detail it, Shut it down right away and when I am done it starts right up everytime. As you have mentioned, gas mileage, a little oil(not a big deal at all) makes me smile and gets headturning looks. Not why i bought it but nevertheless. My only concern for you is room as mentioned but fun factor give me an 8...

Ike

Let me start off by saying the WRX is not a very good testdrive car. It's a car that rewards experienced drivers, and in particular experience with the WRX. When I first drove it I liked it but I wasn't nearly as thrilled as I thought I would be. At the time I was in a Maxima and I tried to drive it like my Maxima which had a good amount of torque and I could just let the clutch out with low revs mash the gas and go. Try driving the WRX the same way and you will feel nothing but turbolag and bogging. So on my second testdrive I harkened back to how I used to drive my DSM and applied it to the WRX and bingo, I was home again. Evereything I loved about my DSM was back but with a little less lag and a little more get up and go. I also got to drive a WRX without the horrible stock tires which makes a world of difference in the handling department. Quite simply the WRX is a car that rewards good drivers, the RX-8 is a car that is easy to drive. Just to give you some insight, this is why I would chose a WRX over and RX-8 if I had to make the choice.

1.) Modability: The WRX has a plethora of tuning options, from simple to use fairly inexpensive things that can give you nice powergains to full out I want to be a racecar driver kind of stuff. Some of the neatest little tuning gadgets on the market are for the WRX, want an example look up the Cobb Accessport.

2.) The rotary still scares me with its history of problems in certain applications, call me paranoid but I am what I am and I don't want to have the worry of expensive engine work in the back of my mind.

3.) A real backseat with real doors with no center console to worry about.

4.) AWD is not only safe in bad weather but can be a hell of a lot of fun, I love driving on snowy and rainy days! :D

5.) The boxer rumble, others may not like it but I just love it, and it has a great exhaust note.

Some things that may bother you with longterm ownership of the WRX... There is very little sound deadening in order to save weight, that I like, the end result can be bothersome at times but that's nothing a little loud music won't fix. :p The brakes are adequate but not great, there are some cheap mods you can do to make them better, but honestly it's something you won't notice 99% of the time you're driving. The interior... I could care less, I think it's a well thought out design with nothing flashy but everything I need. Lastly it has a way of humbling any driver. Just when you think you've got everything down just right you'll bog first or second gear, but that margin for error gets smaller with some mods. I'm sure you've realized they're both very different cars, you just need to decide what is most important to you.

RX-Hachi

IkeWRX - For someone who doesn't seem to like the RX-8, you sure hang around this board a heck of a lot. Admit it, you secrectly long to own one yourself, don't you

Yeeper - Ultimately the choice is yours, one's a sports wagon the other a sports car like no other. Apples and oranges if you ask me. But once you test drive the RX-8, it's pretty darn hard to get it out of your system. I've had mine since May, and I still can't find the time to drive it enough. It's just so fun to drive.

Also, I assume the $400 under invoice is for an '04 RX-8? If it's for an '05, that's a heck of a deal! Unless you want the color yellow, which has been discontinued for '05, I'd recommend getting an '05 over an '04. Although there are no major problems with the '04s, there are some little bugs that have all now been rectified. But you won't need to worry about 'em if you get an '05. Plus the new key with the "05 is cool.

6speed8

If you are looking for a fairly FAST car or one that can easily be made faster and are not concerned about the ride, interior, uniqueness and such - get the WRX. If you're looking for decent speed, unique (not econo car) styling, a great interior, great brakes and the smoothest engine on this planet - get the RX-8.

IkeWRX said regarding the WRX " The interior... I could care less..." I think that says alot. Most people DO care about the interior cause that's where they spend most of their time with the car.

I too looked at the WRX, but personally I couldn't get past the econo-sedan exterior and interior, not to mention - I see way more WRXs than RX-8s on the road.

If you will constantly be driving with back seat passengers and are not concerned with the pther issues listed above, then get the WRX. You can seat 4 people in the RX-8, but it requires the front seat passengers to undo their seat belts and open the front doors just to let someone in/out of the back seats.

yeeper

Hiya Ike

Somehow I knew you would post. Your analogy was spot on.... I am used to low end Jeep torque and let out the clutch... then mashed the gas. The rex laughed at me. The RX-8 purred and said "well... ok. We can do this..... I won't smother you into the back of the seat, but let's go!"

As for the styling dislikes from others: I'm honestly not a fan of the sedan stylings either. I really like the Wagon looks, though. I first fell for them with the old Outback sport (fake hood-scoop and all.... which I initially thought was functional.) The new 2005 trim is really nice. Not like my roommie's RSX interior, but nicer than the pre-05's.

Anyway, the RX-8 is also a very beautiful car in a vastly different way. I just need to figure out the balance of sports car versus swiss-army knife of a car.

-yeeper

picosrx8

If youve got an SUV, then you probaly dont need a wagon (swiss army knife car). Get the 8. You wont be sorry.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

every time I see Ike post I just don't get it. I still don't get why you continue to insist that the WRX is such a big deal to drive, (rewards good drivers? what car doesn't?) there's nothing spectacularly difficult about driving a turbo boxer 4 door sedan, I would argue the 8 takes a lot more getting used to but I hate arguing :D How is it that the WRX rewards a good driver and the 8 doesn't? I'm glad we have forum members on here that aren't 8-happy but sometimes your posts just make me go "huh?!"

Ike

Well if you would take you head out of your *** you would realize when I say the RX-8 is easy to drive fast it's a compliment. If I said the RX-8 was really difficult to drive fast would that make you happy, or is it prettymuch everything I say that you will have a problem with?

czr

iTrader: (3)

This is my opinion... Put the WRX and RX8 side by side. The "beautiful sports car" comment is not that subjective.

I find myself turning around to look at what I just "piloted". When I'm driving, I've never felt so connected to a car. In other cars like my friends g35 coupe, i feel like i'm driving this machine.

Pound for pound, the RX8.

Ike, your avatar is crazy. I'll never see bananas in the same light..

Riccio

[QUOTE=czr]This is my opinion... Put the WRX and RX8 side by side. The "beautiful sports car" comment is not that subjective.

I find myself turning around to look at what I just "piloted". When I'm driving, I've never felt so connected to a car. In other cars like my friends g35 coupe, i feel like i'm driving this machine.

Pound for pound, the RX8.

Wow - couldn't have put it better myself! Nearly 9 months of ownership, I still turn to look at it every time. Not one second of regret!

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

damn dude no need to get all pissy on me, I just get confused by your posts sometimes, yeesh, are all wrx owners easily offended or is it just you? lighten up a bit, try some decaf. i don't have a problem with anything anybody says on here, forums are what forums are, a means to communicate and exchange opinions and ideas, some time even intelligently and stuff :D

Ike

Bleh, now I feel all bad... :p Sorry for coming off as harsh, just been a stressful week for me so don't take it personally.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

no harm no foul, crappy week for me too, glad it's Friday!

Ike

Cheers to that!

rx-cars_rock

I would need to drive a modded WRX to be able to compare it to the RX-8. In stock form I could not stand the lag and weak knees the stock '02 WRX wagon I test drove. The handling was decent. The RX-8 I drove obviously doesn't have much torque, but with a 9K redline I was happy to keep it in the higher revs. I also sensed its likeness to the RX-7. The steering feel, the responsiveness, everything was just crisp and I felt connected to the car. Essentially I fell in love the the RX-8 after the first drive. The WRX wagon failed to have the same affect in stock form. I did get a chance to drive an automatic 2.5 rs wagon in the snow and I loved it. AWD is a blast in bad weather.