ziploc_ca

Hi all,
am new here and I want a RX-8 !!!!!...:D

I went to the dealer today to get a quote, and i meet a very friendly, RX-8 owner salesman.

For Your info I live in Montreal, and I want to use my car all year around....

The salesman told me that the rx-8 doesn't like cold weather...
this is not about the flooding problem...
He told me that if the car is sitting outside for several hours or overnight in a cold temp (canadian winter; below 20C or 0F)
it won't start........
it will have to be garaged or keeped in warmer environnement.....

I want to confirm that....

The salesman seemed to be honest, and he told me that he prefers to tell me this, that i came back in winter time because my 40000$ car doesn't start....

I can't afford 2 cars and i need reliable car even in winter..

I tought that RX-8 was the perfect car for me, but now am not so sure....

I need Your input, to help me decide....

Thx in advance for your answers

Rick/Kimberly

Definitely the wrong choice for Qc. I spend a lot of time there winter and summer. If you get the 8, buy yourself a cheap Honda or equivalent to get you through. Even if you were able to get the car through the 15cm snowfall, all the winter pot-holes would ruin the suspension. Qc doesn't have the best roads to begin with including the 40 and the 20 east from Mtl. I love my 8 but wouldn't think of running it in winter in Ontario. For the price of winter tires and rims you can get a winter beater.

ziploc_ca

Rick/Kimberly thx for Your input,

Your advice is very good and i was already considering that option, but the thing is I want to lease the rx-8 and dont want to pay for months that i will not use it, and having 3 cars (mine, my wife's and the beater) will be almost impossible for me.....but maybe feasible....

As for the snow, am rarely getting out of Montreal Island and the roads are cleaned fast, i remember maybe only 3 big snow falls and roads full of snow in past winter....otherwise the roads are clean; full of salt..((

In the same time somebody can post the RX groung clearance???

As for the pot-holes, You are absolutely right, MTL is a full of them..never seen worst city on that point......and i will have to be carefull......

but for now my major concern is that possibility of no parting in cold weather.....

Anyway, i think your comment is very constructive, thx for that....and You're probably right...i probably shouldn't get my RX....
but i love that car and am thinking with my heart instead of my brain....hehe.....

Gord96BRG

There are plenty of us that ran our RX-8s all winter - put winter tires on it, and it's great! Several people found that their 8s would not start below about -30C... at -20C to -25C, it's not a problem at all (mine was fine). Lots of places have potholes, I sure would not let that hold me back from buying an 8 or using it in winter - in fact, if you get 17" winter wheels, you'll have a taller sidewall on the tire and will have less problems with potholes than with the summer tires! Suspension damage? No more than any other car would suffer. Get the 8, it's great!

Regards,
Gordon

PS - visit the Canada regional forum, there are several Montreal RX-8 owners that post there.

ziploc_ca

Hey Gord96BRG, thx for the reply as well........
You give me some hope...

If I understand well, Your RX doesn't have problems with cold starting, even in temp. around -25C ????
For how long did You leave it outside, overnight, 8-10 hrs???

And how's with the snow....I've searched and the ground clearance posted here it's about 13-14cm...,but in my dealer pamphlet they give 12cm laden...is this causing any major problem???

and how's for the aero front lip, in those conditions???

thx again for help...

Rick/Kimberly

Any car can be driven in winter conditions. Ferrari's, Porsche's etc. can all be fitted with snows and all is well. Even those cars will suffer when compared to a skinny tired Honda/Hyundai. And then there's the other guy. How do you control him in a snowstorm. Your RX-8 sure won't handle any quick maneuvers with a 1/2 cm layer of snow under it.
How many Porsche's, Ferrari's, Corvette's, Camaro's, MG's, Alpha,s, Opel GT's, Datsun 240-280's or other rear wheel drive sports cars do you see in the winter. What about the sandblasting the car will get from the salt and sand. The aluminium wheel corrosion.
BTW, Calgary winters are a lot drier than Mtl. winters and there isn't nearly as much salt on the Deerfoot as there is on the 40.
Just my 2 cents worth.