Quanta

Figure I might as well make my first post here. To start with, I'm 18, I got my first real vehicle about 2 years ago, A 1994 GMC Yukon GT. Saw it, fell in love, and after a couple weeks I managed to convince my parents to let me get it. Jump to January of this year and as I'm pulling into an intersection during some back road cruising, another SUV comes over a hill and slams into my side, totaling it. Being utterly devastated, I get home and immediately start searching for another car(mild sarcasm). I found countless cars I liked, but my parents refused to get me any of them with the insurance money. So for about four months I get stuck driving my dad's old '79 ford f100, which is very reliable in not starting on the first try, along with various other issues.

Last month my dad finally starts trying to find me a car, first looking at things like buicks and ford sedans because the imports that I liked were "the wrong make and model". About a week later he starts looking at some imports and really liked eclipses, after trying to get a couple older ones off auction sites, he then starts refusing to consider anything older than '06 with more than 100k miles. This started to irritate me so I jokingly showed him a 2010 rx8 with 32k on it that I'd found, and he liked it. After talking to the dealership with the original one I found, he didn't want to buy from them and found another one in illinois(I live in kansas). So we take a 10 hour train ride up to pick it up.

About a solid day of driving later, I get back home with an 8 just in time for our school's prom.

Colon Terminus

An awesome car! I just can’t say enough good things about it. Wicked fast, though not a drag racer. Any Mustang, Camaro or Charger will beat it in the Stoplight Gran-Prix. It really comes into its own on a twisty back country road and there are plenty of those in SE Kentucky. An almost perfect balance of power and handling, it reacts predictably to inputs from the steering and gas pedal. Get a little overly exuberant going into a corner and the front end starts to break loose ... no problem, just stab the go pedal with your right foot and the rear end politely comes out and around to get the front end pointing in the right direction again. Thrilling! Exhilarating! Makes my face hurt from grinning so much. A truly amazing and fun car to drive. Its top speed is electronically limited to 148 Mph, probably a good thing in my case.

I’m no stranger to rotary engined cars. I've owned an RX2, RX3, RX4 and an RX7. I had one of the first RX7’s to hit the public roads. I was working in Warren Michigan when one of the car enthusiast mags, I don't remember which one, published a rumor that Mazda just might make a true sports car. That was in 1978, I think. I had purchased all my Mazdas from Torrance Mazda, just south of Los Angeles, so the sales manager knew who I was. I called him from Warren Michigan based on the rumored new car and told him I wanted to pre-order one. He told me that it wasn’t even for certain that the car would ever be produced, all anyone had ever seen was some mock ups and prototypes. After much begging and cajoling on my part he agreed to accept a $1000 deposit and put me first on the waiting list, if or when they actually made a waiting list. Several months later I took delivery of the first RX7 out the door from Torrance Mazda. I was back in SoCal by then. That RX7 was just too much car for me. After several months of terrorizing practically every citizen who chose to drive on Angeles Forest highway and environs I found myself well in excess of 100 Mph on the 405 ... sideways! I did a complete 360 but managed to get the car straightened out without wrecking it but did flat-spot all four tires. I replaced the tires and sold it very shortly after that, realizing that I didn’t have the maturity to own and drive a car like that.

So, thirty some years later Justen, my middle son, buys me this for my 75th birthday. It's a 1-owner '04 with 84K impeccably maintained miles on it. It even had the original window sticker included among all the documentation. I sincerely hope I’ve matured some in the ensuing decades. At least I’ve completed the high performance driving course at Willow Springs since then, although that too is in the distant past. Oh well, if I run off the side of a mountain or into a bridge abutment at 148 Mph I can take some comfort in the certain knowledge that it’ll take the funeral director the better part of a day to pry that grin off my face!

Nuclearchris

Ever since my father came home with one in 2003 (it was a pre launch model) I really desired to have one. Being a student at that time obviously meant I couldn't afford one when they were launched a few months later.

FFWD 10 years and I was on the casual lookout for one.

No intense search, because I had more than enough BMWs to keep me busy, but there was always a yearning for one.

For 2 years I looked and test drove some 15 cars during that time, but all of them were either down on power, struggled to start or was a mess in general.

I finally pulled the trigger on a 70k mile 2005 model in Feb 2015. I got stranded next to the road on the way home from the dealership. I was naturally pissed.
Returned the car to the dealer the next morning. They said they will have it fixed, but I insisted that I don't want the car anymore. They did fix it 4 weeks later at a Mazda dealership, because it turned out to be the fuel pump that was on its last legs.

Just as well I returned it, because 3 weeks after I did, I spotted my current 13k mile car. 2007 model and the price difference between this and the previous one was negligible. But the quality of the 2 cars were incomparable.

I would have been furious if I had kept the previous one and this came up shortly after.

So all turned out well in the end.

So far I have enjoyed a 1000km roadtrip through the mountainous lowveld, been on a track day and I simply love it for what it is.

PS - I am really happy its not my daily driver, because I dont think I would have loved it so much then.

El Rotario

Let me take the time real quick to say HEY EVERYBODY! I'm a frequent visitor of this forum recently, but I've never posted anything yet, this seems like the perfect place to give the personal backdrop I've been eager to share with like minds.

Let me preface by stating I made a fair share of mistakes driving when I originally got my license at 18, had 2 total losses by the time I was 20. Around the time I was about to turn 21 and was decently employed, I went car shopping. I had just been coming to terms with who I really was myself, and although I maintained interest in cars most of my life (my father had a white '71 Challenger, rest was history) I was a huge noob. While searching the used car section at the local BMW dealer, I came across an 04 gunmetal grey AT rx-8 with 74,xxx miles on it. The beauty of the car was something I couldn't get over, but not even a mile into the test drive the gas light came on, and I drove it around a street or two and went back. I hadn't driven too many cars up to that point, but something about it, aside from the turn on a dime radius, stuck in my head. I live in San Diego area, and I had read something about temperature sensitivity and a variety of issues I realistically couldn't afford to maintain. It sucked when I walked away and into a VW Jetta, but it was the right move.

I have also been in a few car accidents where I was lucky to walk out relatively unhurt, only once while driving personally, so having something I could use to perfect the feel of the road and limit testing that wasn't a sporty car was what felt right at the time. 3 and a half years later I'm out car shopping again, and was in the market for a g37 coupe (personally love the Skyline line). I have to say, it was an unprecedented solid feeling ride that had me in awe. It was a little small for my size, and a bit higher than I wanted to pay (F*** carmax for everything but their extended warranty), so I held off, and looked online for other possibilities when I came across my now current love and joy. It was a free transfer, so I had nothing to lose. As soon as I took it out for a drive I told myself I had to get it.

I'm now the proud a.f. owner of a silver 2004 6-speed, that had only 35,750 miles on the original engine. That was around 5 months ago, and I just logged over the 38,000 mark. I'm going to baby the ever living heck out of this thing now that I can drive a stick, and I'm damn glad I waited. Even though I'm 6'5" and my legs hurt here and there, I'm happy, and able to block anything stressful out once the engine goes on.

Thanks for reading, especially those who have posted the tons of helpful things I've read myself, including the people responsible for the Street Rotary book I have in my room!
-Alex

wannawankel

I found the RX-8 after many years of searching for a sports car that: (0) tremendous handling, (1) daily driver, (2) weekend getaway car, (3) comfortable for 6'4" person, (4) four "seats" and a usable trunk, (5) reasonably priced, (6) moderate maintenance costs with some reliability. Those criteria eliminated the BMW, Porsche, Solstice/Sky, Corvette, Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Miata/Spider, MB, Lotus, and the likes. I test drove a new 2005 RX-8 GT and was a passenger in a 1990's RX-7 FD and was thoroughly impressed with its road manners in the middle of a nasty Minnesota winter. The price was a bit steep new and house payment and other priorities got in the way of a purchase. However every time I reviewed a new car, the RX-8 road manners and other features kept percolating it back up to the top. Of late the Toyobaru 86 appealed to me but wasn't impressed with road handling. A 2010 GT came up on my robot Cars.com search and the rest was history. I actually enjoy driving even more now that the RX-8 is in my life. I also am very thankful for the breadth of information and assistance this site gives back to the RX-8 owners - again thank you.

Khurram

Since this thread has been revived.

Here is my story.. A Mazda was never in my mind let alone rx8. I hated Mazda's dont know why lol..

I had a 2002 Mercury Cougar 5spd XR modded, more like riced out :-)

I liked the shape of RX8 and had no knowledge of Rotary at the time.
I lurked on this forum, read through threads and knew it was not the car for me.

Once my Cougar died, I started looking for a car that was reliable, good looking, good on gas, low maintenance, loaded with leather and sunroof and not too expensive.

At this point I had read on Rx8s for about 2 years but nothing with seriousness..

My main options were an 04 G35, 04-06 Accord V6 6SPD Coupe, 04-06 Celica 6spd, or an rsx.

I found an accord and celica in the same lot so I test drove both, the next lot had the rx8 a pearl white rx8. I just decided to go for a test drive for the heck of it.

As i got in the car, i loved the interior layout, how the jet like cabin is, and piano black trims and the leather seats I was amazed.

The better part is yet to come. Cranked the car up. started driving, I've never felt a smoother tranny before. As I was merging on the highway it was a 40km zone and I noticed I was doing 85 km and the car felt like it was on rails.

After the test drive, when I pulled over, the salesman knew he had a deal. I had a giant grin from ear to ear.

On top of that my 3 year old nephew was with me, his words at the time "uncle, the big door is for you and small door is for me" and that's it we were sold on that car.. but the price was out of my budget..

2 weeks later a Galaxy grey 04 Gt came my way with 130ish kms on it. I bought it that car died 2 years later at 282ish k kms..

I started looking at other options but ended up buying my friends modded 06 GT Velocity REd Rx8 that I thoroughly enjoy now :-)

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

I had just returned from tour in Afghanistan in early 2010. I started reading about RX8's as I had previously owned 2 FC's (GX and 10th AE T-II) and I was looking for a vehicle. But to be honest, I never really liked the RX8 because there was no turbo option, it looked beefier than the FD and the wankle was still a bit of a worry to me. I prefered the FD. But finding one in good condition in my area was like searching for an honest salesman. I decided that a truck was most efficient for my needs.

I was at a Toyota dealership looking at a 2010 Tacoma TRD. It was the only manual tranny in the city, and I loved it. Made all the arrangements, filled out all the paperwork and held off on signing to see what they would come back with. As I left the dealership, I noticed a sleek grey rx8 parked in a Mazda dealership acorss the street. I didn't have anything to do, so I decided give it a look. "Just a look" I said...

2 hours later, I was driving away in my 2005 Titanium Grey RX8 GT.

I thoroughly enjoyed the car. Every twist and turn; Every time I started her; Every time I heard the "BEEEEEEP". But, there was something that was missing. I didn't know what it was. I loved the look of the deep grey, the 2 tone brown/black interior. But why wasn't I in love?

A Phantom Blue drove past me. It's possible that the driver waved, but I didn't even notice. The blue was the most beautiful colour (That's how we spell colour in english all around the world, btw). I'm usually one who avoids "loud" styles in a car. However, I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

The car pulled in to a Mazda dealership in the middle of town. The driver, it turned out, was the owner of the dealership. He owned the car since new and had just traded it in for another car. I spoke with him for a bit and he introduced me to a salesperson. After a few days of negotiations, I traded in and drove away with Roxy.

Just this past weekend, I sold her to a young lad. He asked lots of questions, and after a few hours, I felt confident that my Roxy was going to someone who would take care of her. He will be picking her up sometime this week, and I'll be saying goodbye to a wonderful memory. Trials and woes a-plenty, nothing could take away from the enjoyment and thrill I had when driving, fixing or modding Roxy. I learned more than I ever thought I'd care to know about a vehicle.

And I maintain that I won't be disapearing from these forums. Either just to check in, offer advice or flame a no0b, I feel like this place is a part of me. I even hope that perhaps one day, I'll be back in a rotary powered vehicle...

All the Best!

RX8Soldier

ZiG

Been wanting one for years. First started looking for one as a daily driver. That proved unwise because I needed more space and AWD was good for the winter, so even though I'd looked at a bunch, I bought an STi instead. That got pretty old after a while, wasn't really a fan. Then I found myself with room for 2 cars and I bought a DD suv and looked again for an rx8. Ended up with a 2011 Camaro SS.

Well, decided it was finally time to start racing but I didn't want to void my extended factory warranty or pay for tires on the Camaro, not to mention its mods would push me into a higher class. Figured I'd better buy something cheap that I can race and not worry about. Also, I still hasn't crossed owning a rotary or rebuilding an engine by myself off the bucket list. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Was a hard sell with the wife, but I finally managed to find an 8 in good shape aside from no compression, and spent the winter rebuilding the engine.

natthethaiger

For the longest time I was interested in "cars". I saw "cars" because it always tickled my fancy, but I never got into it. My family has been interested in cars for the longest time. Cousins had cars of their own: RX-7, Impreza, Miata, etc. I've always wanted to get into cars to be a "cool kid" or be someone who knew their ****.

Not gonna go too far into stuff that led me into the whole car scene, but I'll start where it's relevant. I was driving my '04 Civic and started to get jealous and started looking up to people who were driving the mountains like absolute monsters. It was at this point that led me to look for another car. A good friend of mine is really into cars and he's what brought me into cars and everything. So I started to look around for cars. I always loved the aesthetic of the RX-7 and looking further into the engine, the whole rotary aspect interested me. Being able to produce as much power as other stronger cars in a teeny engine caught my interest (I always like going for the little guy). Going into everything I wanted an RX-7 because of the rotary, but knowing the car itself it wasn't practical, I mean, 2-doors and 2-seater? That wasn't really going to fly by my family. So I looked at the little brother to the RX-7, the RX-8. I mean it made sense to me. A functional 4-door car with a rotary engine.

The good friend of mine has a brother that had an RX-8. 2006 Galaxy Grey. Beautiful thing she was. When I saw it I fell in love with it even more. The kicker, he was selling it and I was looking for one. It was clean, well taken care of and I couldn't pass it up. 18 months of research on rx8club, 6 months of 35 hour work weeks and a full-time college student and she was mine. Just bought her at the end of 2015 and I've loved her ever since. Her name is Roxy

Okay this post was hella shitty and I wanna post more, but I don't want y'all to read my life story about how I got into cars cause that's waaay too much, but it's relatable.