UFGator12

I did some searches and could not find a thread that compared the RX-8 to the 2005 or 2006 Mustang GT. Just wondering what all of ya'lls thoughts were on it!

280RX-8

I'll sum it up: the Mustang's cheaper, faster, and ubiquitous. The RX-8 handles better, is built better, and is more unique. The Mustang has a huge aftermarket, the 8, not so much. Both good cars.

tiltmode43

iTrader: (15)

The 06 GT was one of the biggest competitors against the 8 in my car search. I realized that, if line was driving in a straight line I'd be more inclined to purchase the 'stang - but its not, therefore, the rx8 was for me. Yeah I could have gone faster but then I would be parking next to one in every other parking lot, unlike the 8. Also, the Ford isn't nearly as comfortable as the 8, the Mazda seemed to fit me better.

dillsrotary

one is a v8 with bad gas mileage, one is a rotary with worse gas mileage

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

actually it's the V6 mustangs that are everywhere... i actually don't see too many GT's around...

dillsrotary

i also have a 2000 v6 mustang and ford made the same mistake with the 06 v6, the wheels are just to small. they don't match the large rear bumper and large wheel wells, especially in the new body design

dayvei214@mac.com

i sat in one the other day and that by far was the cheapest interior I've sat in since i had my power wheels.

Hornet

I hate it when people bash other cars but the comment itself is pretty funny!

Hotsauce

I have one rule about buying cars... I don't buy cars that you would see on a Hertz or Avis parking lot. So, the Mustang was out.

bascho

OEM's use small diameter wheels on base versions to keep repair costs down. It is a whole lot cheaper to replace 4 215/60/17's than it would be to replace 225/40/19's. I agree that every car should have wheels that fit the wheel well......but that is not practical. If you don't like the wheel size, then buy new wheels and keep the stockers for winter. 20's fit very nicely on the new stang.

khtm

Well, one's a driver's car and one's a "hey look at my little *****!" car.

Nahhhhh just joshin' ya. But you really didn't try to search very hard:
https://www.rx8club.com/search.php?searchid=1167809

snizzle

I'm not sure why anyone would buy a V6 Mustang anyway.... you're missing most of the appeal of the car when you don't get the V8.

snizzle

Yeah I was wondering about that. There have been multiple threads about this comparison.

bascho

Well, if you really love the 'look' of the new Mustang, the V6 might be the only way that some can afford to own it. The insurance almost doubles for the GT vs base V6. Besides, the base V6 isn't totally gutless....it's just not as fast as the GT.

snizzle

Yeah, but it just totally changes the personality and appeal of the car.... personally, I don't get it. If I could only afford the V6, I would move on.

bascho

I totally agree....but the large # of V6 sales shows that some people disagree.

But I now exactly what you mean, V6 versions of supposedly 'muscle cars' are like 250cc versions of super-sport motorcyles and chics with stuffed bras.......stop pretending to be something your not.

BlueEyes

You didn't do a search did you? You just said you did.

Cito

I am not so sure the RX8 is built better than the Mustang, but clearly a much better handler. Further, the RX8 can be had cheap whereas the Mustang GT's are going for MSRP plus.

For the street only, I would go with the Mustang GT, but for any type of track days, stock for stock, the RX8 is a better car.

snizzle

Good point. How often as 8 owners do we get a chance to really test the true capability of our cars? Muscle car owners are doing it day after day once the light turns green regardless of whether or not they ever hit the track.

snizzle

I believe the V6 outsells the V8..... that's just crazy. I've had girls tell me they own a Mustang and when I ask if it's a V8 they don't even know

A "muscle" car should have a V8, period. I'm guessing Ford makes quite a bit of money though on the V6 so it'll never be that way.... it's the bread and butter Mustang. I kinda admire what Pontiac did with the GTO despite it's poor sales for a while.

bascho

For most younger people the Mustang GT isn't really an option vs the RX8, because the insurance premiums make the total monthly pmts hard to swallow. I shopped the stang and the 8 (which had the same monthly lease pmt). But when I called my insurance company about the two cars, that kinda of made the decision for me. My 8 only runs me $98 per month where as the Mustang GT would have been $198 per month. That extra $100 per month is a drastic difference when your car note is already $440 per month.

bascho

The only good part about V6 sales being so high is the added $$$ it allows the program to put into specialty versions like the GT500. If all goes well for me in the next few years, my next car will be a GT500 convertible

snizzle

Part of the reason for that is that many insurance companies don't understand the 8. At one point, my insurance company had my 8 listed as a 4 door sedan with a 1.3L 2 cylinder engine. It costs less to insure than a Mazda 6 V6 would have at the time.

I hear ya on the insurance premiums. I got a quote for a 2001 WS6 Convertible Trans Am when I was shopping around..... OUCH

bascho

That is the greatest strength of this car. I had a 1997 Probe GT and a 1988 Conquest Turbo that both had really steep insurance rates.....granted I was a lot younger....but still, those little half-doors on my 8 saved the day. Seriously, $1100 a year for full coverage on a car like the 8 is amazing. I hope the insurance companies never figure out what the 8 is all about

Steakboy42

I guess us young un's are getting ***-raped on insurance. I'm paying $1200 for six months. no tickets, no accidents, no points, 19 years old

-Steakboy