Cars similar to the Rx8??
10-13-2010, 08:33 PM
#1
Jared
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Cars similar to the Rx8??
My recent post consisted of me asking questions about the Rx8 and if it was good for my first car. The majority of the answers came out 'no', as it would run my wallet down even after I made the 10,000 purchase of the 2004 model. Gas milage and maitn would take that into account.
With that said, I really want to know other cars that have the same look, or similar for that price range. The Rx8, I think, was a great find and a great car yet not for me. I do not want to be generic and get a honda civic, or a random 1990's car. Can you guy's help on my search?
PS: I already looked at the Miata, I really do like it except for the fact it is only 2 seats. I will be 17 next year and I'd really like the space.
Thanks again Rx8 Community,
Jared
With that said, I really want to know other cars that have the same look, or similar for that price range. The Rx8, I think, was a great find and a great car yet not for me. I do not want to be generic and get a honda civic, or a random 1990's car. Can you guy's help on my search?
PS: I already looked at the Miata, I really do like it except for the fact it is only 2 seats. I will be 17 next year and I'd really like the space.
Thanks again Rx8 Community,
Jared
10-13-2010, 09:02 PM
#3
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For $10k, you could go with a lot of things... But like was said in the previous thread, it's not going to be a sports car. However, if you don't want something generic that everyone else has... Here's a few ideas I would consider... (Sticking with 4-doors for insurance and passenger comfort)
1) 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer (Base) w/ ~50-60k miles.
2) 2004 Subaru Impreza Sedan (RS) w/ ~50-70k miles.
3) 2007-2008 Dodge Caliber or Jeep Compass w/ ~50k miles. These are AWESOME! I just about bought one a couple years back for a commuter car.
1) 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer (Base) w/ ~50-60k miles.
- Should be about your $10k mark
- Great reliability
- Decent fuel economy
- Decent insurance
- Fun/cool/sporty with potential for mods/upgrades later.
2) 2004 Subaru Impreza Sedan (RS) w/ ~50-70k miles.
- Also should be about your $10k point
- Fun to drive, sporty
- GREAT reliability
- Okay gas mileage
- Also, being up north, it's got AWD for the winter road conditions!
3) 2007-2008 Dodge Caliber or Jeep Compass w/ ~50k miles. These are AWESOME! I just about bought one a couple years back for a commuter car.
- The Jeep has a cool flip-down speaker pod on the liftgate for tailgating.
- Good fuel economy
- CHEAP insurance
- Inexpensive to maintain
- Pretty reliable
- Should probably find one in this price range that has quite a few bells and whistles. (Steering clear of the SRT... Yeah, that maintenance/insurance thing again)
Last edited by RotaryBoi; 10-13-2010 at 09:06 PM.
10-13-2010, 09:05 PM
#4
Registered Rxabuser
SNAP!
Look dude, (being serious) your obviously interested in an RX. But you have honeslty come to the wrong place if you want some hand holding.
Seems like you are obviously a young guy, so Ill try to be nice.
Step 1: get in an Rx and take it for a drive. Have a go.
Step 2:Do some reading. Like really. I know you will say you have but if you creating these sorts of threads, you obviously haven't done enough.
Step 3: Before someone shoots you down (Like above) stop asking silly questions. You are dealing with the uber obsessed and dedicated on this site. And....well, it kinda sounds like you are creating threads to get attention.
Nuff sed?
10-13-2010, 09:58 PM
#5
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SNAP!
Look dude, (being serious) your obviously interested in an RX. But you have honeslty come to the wrong place if you want some hand holding.
Seems like you are obviously a young guy, so Ill try to be nice.
Step 1: get in an Rx and take it for a drive. Have a go.
Step 2:Do some reading. Like really. I know you will say you have but if you creating these sorts of threads, you obviously haven't done enough.
Step 3: Before someone shoots you down (Like above) stop asking silly questions. You are dealing with the uber obsessed and dedicated on this site. And....well, it kinda sounds like you are creating threads to get attention.
Nuff sed?
As I can tell you are deffinitly right that the people on here are dedicated to their Rx's but they have provided me great information to helping me on my search so far.
Thanks,
Jared
10-13-2010, 10:00 PM
#6
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Also, thank you to the other 2 above! I really appreciate it, especially the pictures. The Lancer was something I looked up actually previously but I do not know why I strayed from it as it is still a nice car. I really like that Subaru as well, living in NJ with all the snowy winters, AWD is probably my best bet.
Thanks, keep the suggestions coming please!
Jared
Thanks, keep the suggestions coming please!
Jared
10-14-2010, 02:38 AM
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Test drive! Drive the RX-8, Lancer, Imprezza, GTI, etc. Hell, drive a minivan. Drive all the cars you can get your hands on, then drive the RX-8 again. If the thing that grabbed you about the 8 is its looks (as it sounds from your posts), there's nothing wrong with that, but what you're buying when you get an 8 is not looks, but a fine tuned sports car. After driving all the cars you can you'll either find that a 'normal' car is good enough, cheap, easy to maintain, etc. or you'll find that the experience driving the others is a gigantic let-down and you must have the performance of the 8 despite the extra hassles.
You're buying your first car so its understandable that you're excited and good that you're asking questions. The reality though is that you cannot shop for a car using magazine rankings, pictures, or internet forums. You HAVE TO test drive. You may find that when you sit in the 8, that you can't get a comfortable seat position or something else seemingly trivial, but it's the little trivial stuff that will really get on your nerves a few thousand miles down the road. Maybe you find that you really like that GTI's leather interior and extra trunk space even though it looks like a breadbox on wheels. This is stuff that you can't really understand until you're in the car turning the wheel and pushing the buttons.
Make a list of a dozen or so cool cars you might be interested in, then add to that list a few more mundane options (Civic, Camry) for comparison then get out there and drive a couple every week. Chat up the guys at the dealership and see what else he's got on the lot that sounds interesting and drive that too. By the end of all that I'm pretty sure you'll know exactly which car to buy.
Or you can do what most of the rest of us did and snap up the first cheap POS that you can get your hands on and love it anyway simply because it's your first car.
(By the way, my two cents...Don't get an 8 as your first car. Get a Mazda3 instead.)
You're buying your first car so its understandable that you're excited and good that you're asking questions. The reality though is that you cannot shop for a car using magazine rankings, pictures, or internet forums. You HAVE TO test drive. You may find that when you sit in the 8, that you can't get a comfortable seat position or something else seemingly trivial, but it's the little trivial stuff that will really get on your nerves a few thousand miles down the road. Maybe you find that you really like that GTI's leather interior and extra trunk space even though it looks like a breadbox on wheels. This is stuff that you can't really understand until you're in the car turning the wheel and pushing the buttons.
Make a list of a dozen or so cool cars you might be interested in, then add to that list a few more mundane options (Civic, Camry) for comparison then get out there and drive a couple every week. Chat up the guys at the dealership and see what else he's got on the lot that sounds interesting and drive that too. By the end of all that I'm pretty sure you'll know exactly which car to buy.
Or you can do what most of the rest of us did and snap up the first cheap POS that you can get your hands on and love it anyway simply because it's your first car.
(By the way, my two cents...Don't get an 8 as your first car. Get a Mazda3 instead.)
10-14-2010, 02:49 AM
#13
My recent post consisted of me asking questions about the Rx8 and if it was good for my first car. The majority of the answers came out 'no', as it would run my wallet down even after I made the 10,000 purchase of the 2004 model. Gas milage and maitn would take that into account.
With that said, I really want to know other cars that have the same look, or similar for that price range. The Rx8, I think, was a great find and a great car yet not for me. I do not want to be generic and get a honda civic, or a random 1990's car. Can you guy's help on my search?
PS: I already looked at the Miata, I really do like it except for the fact it is only 2 seats. I will be 17 next year and I'd really like the space.
Thanks again Rx8 Community,
Jared
With that said, I really want to know other cars that have the same look, or similar for that price range. The Rx8, I think, was a great find and a great car yet not for me. I do not want to be generic and get a honda civic, or a random 1990's car. Can you guy's help on my search?
PS: I already looked at the Miata, I really do like it except for the fact it is only 2 seats. I will be 17 next year and I'd really like the space.
Thanks again Rx8 Community,
Jared
10-14-2010, 03:27 AM
#14
blue over 1000 is an understatement. Apparently from what I was told its closer to 300 a month so 3600 a year.
try reading this http://www.leaseguide.com/articles/a...e_bestcars.htm
try reading this http://www.leaseguide.com/articles/a...e_bestcars.htm
Last edited by DocBeech; 10-14-2010 at 03:29 AM.
10-14-2010, 03:30 AM
#16
I stand corrected. I forgot, when I was a kid and had a POS civic, I was paying aroung $225 after an accident so I can only imagine a sportscar with a clean history.
10-14-2010, 05:03 AM
#18
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Whats your reasoning for steering away from the 8? Is it from the forum members or the fact that insurance would be outrageous? If the insurance doesnt bother you than just go with the 8 since we all know thats what you really want. You seem smart enough to learn as much as you can for the maintenance and upkeep part of it. With any newer car, the parts and labor is going to be more money so a Lancer or WRX will probably depending on the model, cost as much in insurance, parts and labor but maybe a little better on the gas money.
10-14-2010, 06:36 AM
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Calibur,
I agree with the IS300 suggestion. It's still RWD so you gain experience there, it's power output is lower than the 8 but not massively lower, it's still 4 doors, considered a sedan by insurance companies, it's got pretty good handling for a sedan (though a bit numb on the steering feel as most lexus's are).
2004 IS300s are in the $4,000 to $8,000 range, which isn't bad at all. If my wife and I weren't so personally against Toyota, I probably would have gotten one for a 'beater'.
And I recognize that you are already (mostly) steering away from the RX-8, which is a route that I encourage. You are still ont he forums though, and that isn't a bad thing. This is a fantastic community, so when you ARE ready to own an 8, you will already be a member. So this part is a bit belated, but didn't see a link or quote from one of the regulars in the other thread either, so just tossing this out there. Might be beating a dead horse with it, but just some points to think about, some of which carry over to whatever car you get.
From my New and potential owners start here thread:
I agree with the IS300 suggestion. It's still RWD so you gain experience there, it's power output is lower than the 8 but not massively lower, it's still 4 doors, considered a sedan by insurance companies, it's got pretty good handling for a sedan (though a bit numb on the steering feel as most lexus's are).
2004 IS300s are in the $4,000 to $8,000 range, which isn't bad at all. If my wife and I weren't so personally against Toyota, I probably would have gotten one for a 'beater'.
And I recognize that you are already (mostly) steering away from the RX-8, which is a route that I encourage. You are still ont he forums though, and that isn't a bad thing. This is a fantastic community, so when you ARE ready to own an 8, you will already be a member. So this part is a bit belated, but didn't see a link or quote from one of the regulars in the other thread either, so just tossing this out there. Might be beating a dead horse with it, but just some points to think about, some of which carry over to whatever car you get.
From my New and potential owners start here thread:
Young Owners:
To be brutally honest though, we often make heavy attempts to steer kids (sorry, you are ) away from the 8 as a first car. First cars are usually neglected, abused, and/or wrecked. And we don't imply that it would all be your fault either. My first car last 2.5 months, ending it's life with an SUV landing on it's hood while I was stopped. **** happens. How prepared are you to lose a car that you will probably form an emotional attachment to? (it happens. Everyone either loves or hates this car)
Abusing the 8 doesn't have the same definition as other cars, but, with no real road experience, driving the 8 properly is insanely easy to land you in significant legal trouble. My first day driving my 8 I was up to 123 on I-70 winding through the mountains without any straights before I got woken up from heaven by passing another car like it was standing still, glanced down at the speedo and was shocked to realize how fast I was. Most owners have this same type of experience. If it happens at a bad point you are talking arrestable.
Again, you seem smarter than most teenagers that come on here, and with the money saved up for it, more responsible and probably would take better care of it, but just some things to keep in mind. You can find a great Miata for a few thousand that will help teach you about maintenance while still getting the same handling without nearly the speed potential.
Regardless of your decision, I highly highly highly recommend you get to local SCCA autocross events. Seriously. Even 1 event will help improve your driving. Keep doing it for fun and education though, it's the best bang for the buck that you can have in your own car. Driver mods before car mods.
To be brutally honest though, we often make heavy attempts to steer kids (sorry, you are ) away from the 8 as a first car. First cars are usually neglected, abused, and/or wrecked. And we don't imply that it would all be your fault either. My first car last 2.5 months, ending it's life with an SUV landing on it's hood while I was stopped. **** happens. How prepared are you to lose a car that you will probably form an emotional attachment to? (it happens. Everyone either loves or hates this car)
Abusing the 8 doesn't have the same definition as other cars, but, with no real road experience, driving the 8 properly is insanely easy to land you in significant legal trouble. My first day driving my 8 I was up to 123 on I-70 winding through the mountains without any straights before I got woken up from heaven by passing another car like it was standing still, glanced down at the speedo and was shocked to realize how fast I was. Most owners have this same type of experience. If it happens at a bad point you are talking arrestable.
Again, you seem smarter than most teenagers that come on here, and with the money saved up for it, more responsible and probably would take better care of it, but just some things to keep in mind. You can find a great Miata for a few thousand that will help teach you about maintenance while still getting the same handling without nearly the speed potential.
Regardless of your decision, I highly highly highly recommend you get to local SCCA autocross events. Seriously. Even 1 event will help improve your driving. Keep doing it for fun and education though, it's the best bang for the buck that you can have in your own car. Driver mods before car mods.
Cost of Ownership.
The cost of owning this car isn't low. It's not as high as some people think, but it is alot higher than people expect that aren't actually thinking it through. DO NOT MAX OUT YOUR FINANCES purchasing this car. Any car really, it's stupid. But here are the costs you should have over the first 30,000 miles:
- 1,764 gallons of gas - $5,294 (using 17mpg and $3 per gallon)
- 40 quarts of oil for oil changes - $160
- 10 oil filters - $120
- 30 quarts of oil to top off with - $150
- 4 spark plugs - $80
- 4 coils - $140
- 4 plug wires - $60
- 4 tires - $800
- 2 quarts of transmission fluid - $20
- 2 quarts of rear diff fluid - $20
= $6,844
Plus any other failures that occur, such as:
- Cat failure - $1,400 (free if within 80,000 miles, but can cause other issues)
- O2 sensor failure - $285
- Steering rack failure - $2,000+
- Lower intake manifold or SSV failure - $2,000 (dealer, I don't know the parts cost to have a self cost)
Multiply any items by 2 if you purchase them from a dealer.
Multiply any items by 3 if you purchase them from a dealer and have the dealer do the labor.
The cost of owning this car isn't low. It's not as high as some people think, but it is alot higher than people expect that aren't actually thinking it through. DO NOT MAX OUT YOUR FINANCES purchasing this car. Any car really, it's stupid. But here are the costs you should have over the first 30,000 miles:
- 1,764 gallons of gas - $5,294 (using 17mpg and $3 per gallon)
- 40 quarts of oil for oil changes - $160
- 10 oil filters - $120
- 30 quarts of oil to top off with - $150
- 4 spark plugs - $80
- 4 coils - $140
- 4 plug wires - $60
- 4 tires - $800
- 2 quarts of transmission fluid - $20
- 2 quarts of rear diff fluid - $20
= $6,844
Plus any other failures that occur, such as:
- Cat failure - $1,400 (free if within 80,000 miles, but can cause other issues)
- O2 sensor failure - $285
- Steering rack failure - $2,000+
- Lower intake manifold or SSV failure - $2,000 (dealer, I don't know the parts cost to have a self cost)
Multiply any items by 2 if you purchase them from a dealer.
Multiply any items by 3 if you purchase them from a dealer and have the dealer do the labor.
10-14-2010, 03:46 PM
#21
Jared
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Thank you guys again so much for the tips. I actually JUST got back from my first driving lesson. It was pretty cool, nerve racking, and scary. My instructor was a bit rude and would yell and or get pissed off at me for doing things wrong and he talked SO fast it was impossible to understand him. All in all, he said I did a good job which I feel kind of comfortable with. I do not think my driving was very good though haha. Having driven now, and knowing the road a bit, sports cars seem a bit scary for me. Do you think that's just the beggening nerves settling in?
Also I will continue to look into the ones you guys listed like the lancer, lexus and more, thanks so much again!
Jared
Also I will continue to look into the ones you guys listed like the lancer, lexus and more, thanks so much again!
Jared
10-14-2010, 03:56 PM
#22
Yeah Sioux Sioux!!!
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lol... i got my permit at 14 and license at 14 and 1/2 and i didnt think it was nerve racking... then again my town is about 1/100th the size of yours.
and looking back seeing 14 year olds driving is more nerve racking then being 14 and driving...
/end story
and looking back seeing 14 year olds driving is more nerve racking then being 14 and driving...
/end story
10-14-2010, 04:22 PM
#23
agreed... My dad let me start steering at 6 and driving full on at 14 in my sisters MT 95 civic.
That would scare the **** out of me to do with a 14 yr old now!
I have found that people who's parents didn't let them drive, and just relied on the 'driving school' to teach their kids, were scared to drive and were really bad at it.
I would recommend you get as MUCH seat time as possible, anywhere you can.
That would scare the **** out of me to do with a 14 yr old now!
I have found that people who's parents didn't let them drive, and just relied on the 'driving school' to teach their kids, were scared to drive and were really bad at it.
I would recommend you get as MUCH seat time as possible, anywhere you can.
10-14-2010, 07:58 PM
#24
You are going to want to test drive the specific car your interested in. A used 8 will feel a little different than brand new so driving a brand new one will not be productive, besides I dont think a dealership would really want a young kid test driving one new. A sports car is only going to be more scary if you drive it like an idiot like slamming on the gas or going around corners too fast.
I dont know what I was thinking earlier when I said insurance would be a little over a thousand. I guess I was really tired but anyways DocBeech is correct about a more realistic price range.
I dont know what I was thinking earlier when I said insurance would be a little over a thousand. I guess I was really tired but anyways DocBeech is correct about a more realistic price range.
10-14-2010, 08:14 PM
#25
I spoke with a friend of mine that has a 17 year old he is insuring. In a ford focus its costing him 190 a month, and thats with a year of driving records, good student discount, defensive driving, having passed a driving course, and putting the module that tracks driving habits in the car. Thats on a 10 year old ford focus hatch back they paid 2grand for
