Tinob

Hello everyone,
well my first post after browsing the site for a while..

The Begining
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in 2004 I sold my 01 camaro z28 (due to mechanical problems) and bought a brand new 04 mazda 3.. I loved that car but it was a little too "youngish" for me and my line of work (I am owner of HN Enterprises) so then I bought a used 02 mercedes c240 sedan with 30k miles last march. I have enjoyed that car very much since then, very luxurious and comfortable and obviously class. My fiance' liked the benz but when I bought it I never heard "oooo wowww" or anything else except "yea its nice"

Turning Point
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Recenly being inside my friends 05 acural rl, I was like wow all these options (nav, xeons, etc.) is very nice along with nice HP. My mercedes only had I believe 170 or 180 HP so in hunger of more hp and wanting to enjoy my recently turned age (25! aka cheaper insurance) I went looking for some speed.

I checked out the vettes , Love em but can't use them as a primary car. Also a used 02-03 vette was costing about 35-37k.

I looked at the 350z (like other rx8 owners on this board). I never test drove it, but I have seen some nicely moded ones and they look great... but a little too bubbly for me (looks like someone with a big butt), roof is way too high too..

I love the low profile car look when the car is not too high from the ground (overall height) such as the rx7 or corvette, camaro's,honda s2000 etc.

So yea ofcourse I asked my fiance' if she had the choice of getting
a) corvette , b)350z , c)rx8
which one she would pick

In less then 1 second she said "Duh, the RX8, its only the hottest car ever"

I looked over some reviews and problems and such with rx8, I don't mind the gas mileage problem but hopefully I won't face any other issues as long as I keep it maintained and checked.

Whats Next
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Went today to the dealer I bought my 02 benz from and signed all the paper works with a option to test drive the rx8 for 24 hrs and if I don't find it satisfying , just go back and drop the rx8 off.
Ever since I got it (about 6 hrs ago) , I have shown it to my friends and family and they all love it but and here is what a few said "How can you go from a MERCEDES to a MAZDA?? Its like going from a 5 bedroom Single family house to a apartment" and to that I said " Well the apartment is in manhattan with a beautiful view of the city unlike the 5bedroom house in middle of nowhere"

But that comment is making me think... is mazda that bad? Should I keep the benz?

Tigster

The C class is not a real mercedes. Just get the Mazda.

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

I have to say that the C class is a real Mercedes, Tigster (IMO), and that's a big part of the Mercedes problem.

The C class is a turd. If Mercedes wants a 'near luxury' vehicle, they should design one that truly can compete with the BMW 330s and Audi A4s of the world.

Mercedes is just plain stupidly drunk with arrogance, and if cold hard reality (reliability issues, pricing issues) hasn't yet awoken them to the new paradigms in automotive trends, nothing will.

Ike

I honestly can't understand why someone would buy a C240 so I'm not sure what your family is talking about... They just see a Mercedes badge and think it's something special, which is precisely why Mercedes can sell such a mediocre car. That and they sell a ton of them as rental cars in Europe... Even if you end up not wanting the Mazda, don't keep the Benz unless you're just a badge *****.

Tinob

Thanks for all your opinions, its definitely helping me feeling better and better about my rx8 decision. :-)

9291150

Mercedes isn't what it used to be. I preferred my Passat over a 240.

So listen to your fiance...your gonna have to get used to that!

Krankor

You should buy a model or brand of car because YOU like it. Perhaps also because your fiance/wife/partner/whatever likes it. But screw what anybody else thinks. Jeez, who are you buying the car for? Or, more to the point: are you buying the car to drive and enjoy, or to impress other people?

Tinob

Well the night is over and I am about to take the rx8 for a long drive on the highway to va beach. Will write my decision tonight :-)

gt005

I think just like Krankor, buy the car for you and you will enjoy it. and talk about it with passion and this will make other people said WOW about your car. Don't buy it to impress.

A C class, a Vette or anything else if you don't like it it not worth it to buy. Because you will never be satisfied with the car.

In my couple I told to my wife, I paid, I choose. You pay you choose. So like that I bought the car for myself, almost all the time when I buy a car she don't even know untill I come back with it. I'm with my wife for 11 years now, this rule is not so bad.

born2drive

I don't see what the big deal is with Mercedes. Americans think that just because someone has a Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar etc, that person must be wealthy. I do admit that some models of these cars are very nice, but they're still way too pricey.

I went overseas to a couple of European and Middle Eastern countries and every where I went in these countries I seen BMW's and Mercedes. They're just like Ford's and Chevy's over here, they're every where. If someone in Kuwait has a Ford Mustang they're admired by everybody.

Almost everything you see is a Mercedes or BMW. Everything from delivery trucks to cop cars. I actually liked Mercedes until I went on that trip and found out that they're nothing special.

If you like the RX8 then you should by it because you like it, Mercedes is just a status symbol.

Tinob

Well just got back from my 4 hr drive (back and forth) to va beach. I loved the way rx8 handled. It was fun to drive (even in some traffic). Not a difficult decision now, I love the rx8 and I am buying it right now (gonna call the dealer and finalize it).

Thanks everyone for your help!

BunnyGirl

Colors, options, pictures?????

Tinob

its a silver with all the options inc nav. I have set a few grands aside for mods, etc. Should be fun :-)
here is a pic from the dealer.

http://images.getauto.com/vehicles/J...40126162-a.jpg

mcstin

I sold my 98 Mercedes SLK to get my RX 8. I also got alot of the same questions about going from a Mercedes to a Mazda. People are quite surprised when I tell them that there is no comparision between driving the 2. The only thing I miss about about the Mercedes is the hardtop convertible.

I drove several C 240's as service loaners, nice quiet cars, but barely adequatly powered. The C230 Sport Sedan was also on my short list when I bought my 8. I like the C class personally, but I am almost twice your age and you have lots of time left to buy a "regular " 4 door sedan. Have some fun, if you like the 8 buy it!!!

W1CK3Dninja

that is what i'm doing now. i want the car in blue with all the options and packages you have. looks so bad. if you don't mind, what are you paying and how many miles are on it? i found a blue one with same stuff yours has for 22,990. it has 21,000 miles. just wanna see if i can do better.

gonnahanvan8

Here, I'll make it simple for you. How big is the smile on you face while you are driving the 8?

With the exception of very few (that one guy that was a tool) that smile appears each and every time you get in the car and drive the Rx. There really is nothing else like it in the world.

Tinob

I got it for 21,500 with 15k miles on it. Had one minor ding on the side door that the dealer fixed (i can't even tell if there was any ding there). Hope this helps!

Tinob

oh I definitely Love it and always have a big smile while I am driving it. Also like others I go to the garage a few times just to check up on the 8

The only issue I have right now is since my last car was a auto, I have to get used to the 6 speed... it can get tiring in traffic!

gonnahanvan8

Welcome to the club!. Cheers and much happy motorin'

Yes, a 6 in traffic can be a handful. It's worth it thou.

saturn

I know you made your decision already, but I figured I'd chime in anyways. Don't ever listen to anyone about going from "car company A to car company B" unless they're talking about things like service and maybe parts. Different models are just that -- different.

I knew this one guy in high school that bought a used BMW 3.18 which cost around 18k brand new and had a 0-60 time in the high 8's (from what I remember). People would say, "oh he's got a Beamer, he's rich" and I want to punch them in the face. But they were girls so I didn't.

Raptor2k

Welcome.

rodrigo67

Back in the late 80's I lived in germany. It was a condo type house, had 7 units, and was a mix of American and german families. What we all thought was the funniest thing was that all the Americans drove german cars, but all the german families owned American cars. They always said mercs were junk, and bimmers were like fords over there.

Don't think twice about your decision. A few on here, myself included, went from a porsche to a mazda. Imagine the ego it takes to do that. My friends and family kept asking why I did it and couldn't believe it when I told them that the mazda was faster and handled just as good. My cousin bought my porshe, it's a 944 in excellent condition, but now he wants an RX8...

Terrance26

I traded my 01 325ci for the 8, and have no regrets. I'm not saying my bmw wasn't nice, it just didn't put a smile on my face when I drove it like the 8 does.

Tinob

Definitely no regrets here, I have been driving it for about 7 days now and loving each time I ride.

My only problem right now (same with other members) is the gas mileage...