Hey guys,
Looks like l might be selling the car soon. Since l purchased the car late last year, l've bought a house with my partner. Unfortunately this means priorities have changed and l need a DD which is more practical.

I've learnt quite alot with the RX8. All my previous cars were v6/v8's, which handling wasn't one of their top qualities. Try driving the way l do in the 8 on a cruise through the national park and there is no doubt l'd end up off the road. I still get a smile (re: big smile!) when taking it out for a drive. The 8 is certainly a head turner...

Anyway, l'm looking at picking up a VS/VT/VX SS and stroking it, possibly adding a blower down the track. Unlike the RX8, I can do the work myself (or with my friends help) as the 8 was my first rotary. I know what your thinking, how is a stroked V8 more practical then a RX8. I'm leaning toward the VT/VX as it is more practical space wise, cheap to pick up and it's going back to something that l know.

Let me know what you all think..

 

Sad to see you go, Love the wheels, hope they go to a fellow enthusiast.

 

I think you should keep the 8 - a lott of the fun is in learning new stuff .

Can't see how how will be better off financially . Praticalty wise yes .

BTW - no (factory) Aussie v8 can beat my RX8 in a straight line - it can be done and it is not as hard as you think .

 

Thanks! Yeah l hope so too...

I'm not really doing this for any financial reasons, as you said, at the end of the day it will be about the same once you factor in all the modifications l'd want to get done. The only place l can see a noticeable saving is the servicing since l take it the 8 to Mazda. It's just not a practical car.

Speed wise l'm not so sure about. Stick a CAI on a V6 commodore and it nets you about 5-10 RWKW, it's just so easy to make ridiculous power from the commodore.

Maybe l'm just in a lull. Anyone else ever thought about selling up?

 

I think about selling all the time. But I usually keep my cars until they fall apart. I will be looking at a used M3 or 335 here soon enough. But, then I will wash my car again and fall in love all over again.

 

Yep, a growing family means that I may need to have to move it on soon and get something more practical. Also being made redundant and picking up a job at half my old wage means that there's a lot less disposable income nowadays after repayments are factored in.

I love the 8 more than any car I have ever owned though. After 2 years of ownership it still brings a smile to my face whereas in the past I have gotten sick of cars pretty quickly.

2SeekU - good luck with your decision. I think you have done a good job on the 8.

 

Keep the 8 and buy a beater for your DD. Can pick up reasonable cars for $10K these days with all the space and comfort you need.

You'll only love the stroked V8 in a straight line now that you've lived with something that is actually built to go round corners and doesn't weigh 2 tons.

 

I'm always looking and test driving but finding good looking 4 seat coupes (not hatchbacks or sedans) under $100K is hard work.

For example:-

135i - goes like stink but is dog ugly, no matter how many mods you pay for;

335i - slab sided overgrown whale that is beaten by little brother;

TTS - goes like stink but is too girlie looking and rear seats are a poor joke;

Brera - can't outrun it's own stink;

A5/S5 - boring looks and a whole other price category;

Tiburon - Hahahahaha

And that's about it atm in our market...slim pickings until BMW finally shakes the Bangle dust free and goes back to making good looking cars again.

 

I've been seriously thinking about a 135i for a while now but I'm not sold on its looks or lack of an LSD. If Mazda had a new rotary out by now I would have got that but thet haven't unfortunately..

 

I'm not saying that that isn't true but is your RX8 capable of doing 0-100kph quicker than 4.9 seconds which is what the current HSV Holdens do it in? I hope that it does as I am keen on FI for the RX8 but I do not see any that can endure regular track days or that are anywhere near what I would call reasonably priced. The most reliable set-up I have seen is the Mazfix kit so far.

 

This seems a bit like throwing good money after bad.
Unless you are carting a lot of stuff or more than 1 adult passenger around the 8 is fine.
I have done a 400km round trip with 4 adults (3 6 footers and a garden gnome) and we survived.

I also have a 10 year old Caprice that is still a good car and has cost me very little over the years. It gets off the line within a few pubes of the 8 and my wife loves driving it. Although it is a great long distance tourer, especially on freeways, it has never put a smile on my face. I would have traded it on the 8 but I couldn't get more than $10k 2 1/2 years ago so I kept it.

After the 8 I can't imagine anything exciting about driving a Holden although I had an EH that used to change lanes when I put my foot on the brakes.

I am getting close to wanting a solid 4wd to travel to places a road car won't go ( like the back of my farm) but I spend a lot of time on the road so I would be mad to take a loss on the 8.

Better to pick up a cheapie and have an extra car.

 

sorry to see you go.

it seems power is all you want? the other reasons for selling the 8 don't make sense. a commodore as a family car with a supercharged v8? that's a death trap. yeah it will be fast and fun but sensible?

std 8 cost nothing to service I only spend $250 per service and that's what most people get charged for any car. tyres don't cost that much and a v8 will eat 18" just as fast if not quicker.

I had a vz ss at the same time as my 8. while the v8 was fun I preferred driving the rx8 to the shops as it felt better.

 

I agree with the sentiments shared by most people here. Mazda made a car that was ahead of its time in 2003 and six years later it is still hard to find something that will replace it in terms of looks,performance and practicality.

If you spent another $100k then you might be satisfied with your choice however, in this price bracket the RX8 is a clear winner. On the track it commands respect and blows all the hotted up commodores and does similar lap times to evos and STI...well around Lakeside anyway.

skc

 

I find it amazing that BMW can market itself as 'pure driving pleasure' but forget to include an LSD in a performance car...

 

Go to the FI threads in the main game and check out his mods Matt. Brettus is chasing max gains and I wouldn't mind betting 4 sec 0-100 is within his car's capability.

How many track days it survives is another story...

 

Yes - I think it is capable of matching that and running a sub 13s 1/4 as well . I posted a video around here that shows about 5.4 0-60 and 13.4 0-110mph with a very tame takeoff . From a roll - anytime
Would I want to try doing it ? Not really ,the drivetrain is not really up to that sort of abuse .
On the track I would dial it back a little as well to keep it from cooking . I would need to spend a bit more on supporting mods to enable me to run lap after lap at HSV crushing speeds . Maybe some more driving lessons as well .

 

I actually don't mind the 8 as a "trip" car, to be honest. I've taken it on a handful of long treks, most recently from Wollongong to Dubbo (and back). It wasn't bad on fuel really, and it was a comfortable drive.

I know what you mean about the caprice. I've had a few SS's and a cammed vs v6, they never put a smile on my face. Sure, they were fast of the line, but they weren't really a pleasure to drive...

And you might need to check the brakes on that EH... surely thats not normal!

Power isn't all l want, but it's something l've missed since buying the 8. And l pay about $250 - $300 a service, plus as you mentioned, 19" tyres aren't much. If it were a ford/holden l'd do the servicing myself however. The considerable saving is in parts from what l've noticed. But then that leads to the point that at the end of the day, the falcon or the commodore are still just family cars.

Agreed! Especially in terms of visuals. Look at most other cars from 2003, they already feel dated. I don't feel that way towards the RX8.


I think you guys are swaying me towards keeping the car . As Brettus mentioned, it's about learning new things, which is why l might look into tunning (either using Hymee's or the AP). Should be right up my alley since l'm into IT..

 

Actually no. Just wait for their brakes to fade (usually within 5 laps) and you'll reel them in easily.

I do that at mixed drivedays and my only drivetrain mod is a catback!

 

Have you driven one? I was lucky enough to have one as an overnighter and I must say I didn't really notice the lacking LSD at all - my driving was spirited at times, but not track-day spirited, if that makes sense. They go extremely well in a straight line, and handle and brake very well. They really are a pleasure to drive. If I had the cash, I would buy one without a second thought... but that's just me of course

 

Yes, twice actually and the 130i before that because the drivetrains in both are obviously fantastic. However, it's really the track performance I'm interested in - that's where my car does it's hardest work. There have been a few comparos now where the 135i has come second to the RX8 in terms of handling, so I think the lack of an LSD does matter.

And whether you notice it or not, I'm still surprised that such kit isn't standard equipment from a marque that prides itself on chassis and suspension design/speccing. Perhaps we're seeing where they cut corners in pricing the 1 series.

Apart from all those sensible things though, I really can't bring myself to buy one on looks alone. I'd never look at it in my driveway and be glad to see it. It'd be like the ugly girl who gives great head...only brings a smile to your face when your eyes are shut...but that's just me!

 

thanks for my new sig. Revolver

 

And thus justifies the decision to buy an Outback as the family car, methinks!!!

 

No sweat...

 

Nope, not at all.

1. I care far more what my car looks like than what her car looks like.

2. As posted elsewhere, I don't find the Outback ugly, just bland, which I can live with. You're the one who thinks it's ugly.

3. Also as posted elsewhere, there's nothing else on the market which gives that kind of power/price/space/economy/refinement combination, so looks don't really come into it.

4. Don't make me come down there and open up a can of whupass!