deadOn

Hey Guys,

Found a lot of amazing info about RX8 from here ...and even before buying it ...i can feel my connection with it ..

I am looking for used 2009+ model .. and these are the 2 options I have ..

1) 2009 RX8 sport - white - 18K miles ... about 18.5K
2) 2009 R3 - Red - 4K miles ... Listed at 24.5K ... (Still have to talk to dealer to negotiate)

I did a test drive on the sport and found it amazing .. i also loved the white color ... looks awesome .. will have a look at R3 today ...

I would be putting a big risk by buying the car right away rather than waiting 3-4 months cos i will be starting my first job in 2 weeks in SFO .. but the only reason i was interested was these seemed really good deals and havent found many RX8's out there for the past 2 weeks that i have been looking around ...

I would really appreciate it if i could get an experts opinion on whether these are good deals to risk on ...or would it be sensible to pass these out till i figure out my living in the new city..

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

I would wait.....

Those are nice cars, but nothing special $wise, so wait and see if your new lifestyle fits.

You'll never regret taking time to make sure, but jumping in before the move could be a regret.

deadOn

thanks for the quick response StealthTL ... that sounds like good advice ... but the car is just too enticing ... realistically ...what would be good prices for those 2 cars to make the deal worthwhile

jrx13

Well, 2009 is the only year white was available in the Series 2 in the US, so if your set on a white S2, it's going to be hard to find one. I bought mine new and it was the last non-leather stick shift one available in California.

Red R3's have been here every year the S2 has been out. So might be ok to wait on an R3 purchase if you decide to get an R3. R3's are great but some people say the seats are uncomfortable, but that's a personal preference.

The sport model is considered a "base" so there are no fog lights, HIDs, or stability control but if those things don't bother you, then don't worry about it. I just wasn't sure you know some of the model differences.

xexok

The sport model can be a little more challenging to drive because of no dsc or tcs, but its fun. I paid 16,500 for mine with 18k miles over a year ago, that was before TTL though, so it ended up being about 18.5 after all was said and done. If they are trying to charge you 18.5 then you will end up paying over 20k for it.

The white is a very nice color, its what I got. I was not shopping for a color though I was just looking for a fair price on the car. Not having HIDs does kind of suck because the lights just are no bright enough for me, but you can always upgrade the current lights.

deadOn

Wow ..thanks guys ...those comments have been really helpful ... though i really like the white color ... if you've paid like 16.5 for it ... i guess 18.5 is not all that great a deal ...

yepp .. I was aware of the differences in the models ... and though i would like to have all the additional options, i dont want to pay ton loads of money for them ..

Thanks a ton guys ... I am thinking to push the white one for around 17K ... if i get it ..i get it .. else will look out for R3 in a couple of months ...

jrx13

You have to remember location also. The SF Bay Area is one of the highest cost of living areas in the country so everything is priced higher. If your shopping in the SF Bay Area it is going to be hard to get the same deal if your comparing prices from another state.

Wait...I am assuming SFO mean San Francisco International airport right?

BTW xexok that sounds like a hell of a deal!

Bladecutter

If you're thinking about paying $24k +, why not just buy a brand new 2010 or 2011 car? There's plenty of them floating around the country, just waiting for you to come in and buy one.

And for $24k, I'm sure you can convince a dealer to part with a brand new R3.

BC.

pistonhater

Starting your "first" job? I would STRONGLY encourage you not to buy right now. Wait until you find out how things go at work first. You don't even know if your employer will keep you after your first quarter evaluation. Not a good idea to get into big financial commitments starting a new job and living in a new city. Wait until you haver more security at work.

In regards to the Sport vs the R3, I personally like the handling of the R3 the most. Test drive both and you'll see what I mean. Don't get me wrong, the Sport is fun to drive. But the R3 is just something else - in a good way. Just make sure that you test drive both cars in roads where you can make tight turns. That's where you'll feel the difference of the R3. And yes, the Recaros might be uncomfortable if you have a few extra pounds

In regards to the issue of "good" deals, don't fall for the trap of thinking that whatever deal you have in front of you is the only deal you'll ever find. There are tons of deals for RX-8s out there. I almost bought an R3 this spring, but the deal didn't go through with the dealers near me. Guess what, the cars are still there getting dusty. And of course, I get the occasional phone call/email from the sales guys.

At the end, I've decided to wait a little longer simply because I want to save a little more money - not because I'm afraid the deals will go away. In the meantime, I've tested five RX-8s (Two R3s, 40th Anniversary Edition, Shinka, Sport), done tons of research, read article after article about these cars, etc. The most helpful thing of all has been the test drives. You've got to spend time test driving these cars. That's where the whole experience begins

....plus...patience is a virtue!!!!

Texas RX8 R3

^ Couldn't agree more.

Agreed with you, as well.

OP: Good luck with whichever decision you head for... Just remember not to rush yourself though... It's not worth the additional pressure afterwards if something doesn't work out to your plans.

xexok

Yea cost may be different around the country, but I would have thought the price would be cheaper than 18.5 for him considering its now over 2 years old.

I bought my car at a lotus dealership in the back lot where they kept all the cars they were not that fond of. They just wanted it gone and I was happy to buy it.

pistonhater

That's awesome. You put yourself at the right place at the right time, which gave you a great deal at the end