playa78

Hi guys,

I will be getting a new ride tomorrow which mean I am letting go of my ride and joy for the past 5 years, the RX-8..
The ignition coil situation scared me somewhat (since the car is out of warranty and all mechanical bill is chargeable now..) and I decided to look for a new ride when I had the car was in for repair. The situation was resolved well but yeah I decided to get an auto since I do more traffic jam driving now that I have moved company.. not very fun driving manual in the jam
I toyed the idea of BMW 135i a bit but what won me in the end was VW Golf R32 with 5 doors and DSG. :D
The thing I love about it is the noise first of all i guess and the supple but sporty ride with great engine and 4motion combination was also key factor. Also its like owning a modified car but its all done in house factory. (like how the ride is lowered, caliper painted, twin centre exhaust etc etc)
plus, you cannot go wrong with DSG if you need auto. It just ticked every boxes i needed and can think of.

I got fleet discount as well through my car allowance from the company so the discount on its own was nearly $6000
not happy about the trade in price but I guess you kinda expect that :|

last but not least I like that its kinda understated in its looks.
It's a plain golf with look and practicality but its also so not.. (performance and noise)

I would like to thank all the knowledgeable rotary heads here who helped and guided me through the ownership of one of truly great car. so it's farewell from me but hopefully not good bye

p.s. here's some pics I managed to take of both cars. its taken from iPhone so the quality is not the best.

Revolver

Sorry to see you departing the fold playa but congrats on your new pride and joy. Sounds like it's just what you needed.

If you decide to track it, we might be able to give you a 'stranger' invitation to this year's Nats...

takahashi

Congrats on the new ride....

I am still waiting on my delivery of 135i.

playa78

Oooh, I didn't know u were getting the 135i? :D
that's got one helluva engine for sure..
you will have to change your name from Takahashi though

takahashi

taka is to stay... Takahashi is my "make up" Japanese study name - Taka = tall. Takahashi is coincidence... and somehow initial D made me interested in rotary that is for sure.

Now I can't even say I will change my name to ****, coz Clarkson said all ***** are buying Audis .

I am builting the 135i from scratch, not floor stock; coz i want white with boston red leather. Have comfort access so that apparently everyone to start, sunroof so I can get sunburnt without going into solarium, and automatic coz my wife only wants one kind of stick .

BTW I did go and look at the R32 DSG.... but don't think the White R32 goes very well in the car... and 225kW is very tempting (actually most people dyno stock at around 200kW atw).

Gibbo

Taka....it has been a while, but congrats on the BMW, you will not regret it, I have had the 335 for almost 2 years now and had the Chip Torque chip done 3 months after buying it, 235kW at the wheels and 500nm certainly made a big difference.
Definately invest in the Chip...it is such an improvement.

I still miss the RX-8, and had flash backs when giving a turboed RX-8 a little run down the M2 motorway.

But for me I am back to the Japanese marque in less than 60 days....however to the dark side....Nissan.

GTR arrives mid April....maybe then I can come on the RX-8 cruises again....it did not feel right in ze German car.

Cheers,

Gibbo.

takahashi

GTR... now I am jealous!

Yeah, I will tune the car at SouthernBM... the only local dude I know there tuning so far but all my friends goes there and get results with Autowerks (i think what it is called)

So you selling your 335?

Revolver

Would be good to catch up Gibbo.

Has it been two years?!

And yes, we're all jealous of the GTR......hmmm, maybe I can sell my children...

DMRH

Shame you didn't want to get it fixed. Have done a few IGN coil change outs on RX-8's now for around $300+ of parts & labour. In & out in about 60min - 120min depending on how much chat during the job.

REgards

Gibbo

Yep the BMW will be going unfortunately, so it may hit the adverts soon....29,000km, 2 years old. All the options including sunroof 19 inch wheels, Montego Blue with Black Leather and Brushed Aluminium Trim. Will have 12 months Rego and brand new tyres.

Looking at around $85,000 for it....if anyone knows anyone who might be interested.

The GTR is White Premium Pack....cannot wait.

I look forward to doing some track days or drive days with you guys again.

Cheers,

Gibbo.

mikeyr

Gibbo,

If you don't bring the new baby round for us to drool all over we will have to hunt you down!!!!

Damn....so much for the recession!!!

Cheers

Mike

Lone Ranger

Hey Taka ... I traded my RX8 for a BMW too. I went for the 125i and I am very, very happy with it.

playa78

I did get it fixed for the trade in. The coils set me back about $200 and about $130 labour at the dealer.
in the end, it was the transition from manual to auto that I needed (being stuck in traffic since moving to new work) and other factors that led me to switch car.

although I miss having fun and not revving crazy like the rotary, I am happy to report, very happy with the switch to R32. It is one sweet sounding engine and the awd grip in the wet is fantastic and assuring. I get goosebumps every time I stop start the car

takahashi

Cool. I got the VIN number of the car but there is no ETA for arrival yet. I prob coincide the time I move to my new home.