Ike

I'm always glued to the screen when WRC is on If Burnsie is back next year Citroen is in trouble! Seriously though, I've seen some wrecks in a WRX where the car was demolished and you wouldn't think there would be a chance of anyone living and the occupants are perfectly fine.

shaolin

I know what you mean I've got a few vids of WRX rolling multiple times and the driver is just pissed off about not being able to finish...

BlueEyes

Don't those folks have full roll cages and every harness and safety device possible on those cars? I dunno, maybe there is a class where they just drive from the showroom to the dirt road.

Ike

Yeah, but I'm talking about regular WRXs, a lot of the safety features that go into the rally cars go into the Impreza and it is ranked the safest car in it's class. The Impreza can withstand some incerdible amount of weight on it's roof so in rollovers it's pretty remarkable.

PaulieWalnuts

There have been a few severe RX-8 accidents posted here where the cabin was in amazingly good condition while the rest of the car was destroyed. The drivers were shaken but walked away with minor bruising for injuries.

I thought I remembered a WRX owner on here who got pinned between two semis and the car looked like a crumpled beer can but he walked away fine.

MI_FamilyMan

I think the truth of the matter is that there are very few people out there (other than those on the boards), that really know much at all about the RX-8. It is a very unique automobile that many people just never take the time to learn about. I know when I was a young lad back in the day reading car mags as a pre-teen that I always kind of ignored the 1st gen RX-7s because of the fact it was so different. Then 2nd gen came and as I got a little older I began to take notice. :D

I am sure there are lots of people out there who dismiss the RX-8 simply because it is different. But that's ok, I think it adds to the mystique

Enjoy your test drive and make sure you are able to take it out on your own. Check out the build date. I know the car I test drove was an early build and probably was not flashed because when I took delivery of mine, it felt a lot peppier than the test vehicle. And remember, on this car you will pretty much have to ignore everything anyone tells you (ie. the salesman) and educate yourself (like you're doing now). Let everyone know how it goes...

MI_FamilyMan

What was cool about when I bought my car was that the sales manager knew I had bought my wife's van at the dealership about six months prior and basically let me take delivery before they had verified everything with the banks so I was able to take the car home that night. They even gave me their own dealer plate until I could take car of the insurance. He said, "We know your good...". That was kind of a neat feeling, especially since I was driving off in a 8. I know they were probably just trying to make that sale and get it on the books by the end of the month, but I was going to buy the car anyways so I thought it kinda added to the experience just a little.

TODreamer

very true... I've heard people say some ignorant things about the RX8 and they couldn't be more wrong.

I think the RX8 gets that alot... people make all kinds of assumptions on it and they dont even know what they are talking about... they dont even care to want to learn about it either becuase you try to explain things to them and they are like... "yeah.. I'm sure...whatever, Kevin" lol

GT350C

If 24-25K is your sweet spot what about an 05 MGT or GTO (O4) You might want to look at a left over GT0 they are cheaper than the 8 and only 2K more than an SRT , it is heavier and does not handle as sharp but it is a better riding car than the 8 and for sure the SRT. The trunk is smaller than the SRT, insurance is cheaper for the GTO and the interior is nicely finished - I think the car drives better than it looks so it makes me smile. The power delivery is very smooth it will not point and shoot like an SRT but it is a hwy roll-on master.

Take the advice of some other posters buy less than you can afford- there is more to life
than cars - I have an old 66 ford truck that I drive more than much more valuable cars.

ninco

I love these kinds of threads...

I believe this may have already been said, but can never be said enough.

The SRT-4 is an interesting car. It is fast, even by today's standard. This thing will hang (surprise) people who are driving known faster cars (Camaros, Trans-Ams, even 350Zs)

As you get older, at least for me, I want something that I can enjoy AND the TCO (Tocal Cost Ownership is reasonable. Also, if I decide to sell the car, for whatever reason, I would like to get the most I can for it.
Sorry to say, but a neon is still a neon. No matter what performance enhancements are made. It is a neon, where there are thousands and thousands of neons.

I, personally do not like Turbo charge cars. I understand what they offer a vehicle (inexpensive performance). Even for those who keep their cars maintained to the hilt, once a Turbo goes, that car's performance is worse than those with the same vehicle manufactured without a turbo.

Just my 2 cents!

raji

how long does it take before a turbo is "gone"? I thought the turbocharger was like the rest of the engine, which would mean that it just gets older and less reliable or something... there's a point in time where the turbo just dies?

also, to all of you jerks who have been talking up the WRX... thanks a lot!! lol. Now i'm looking at the WRX as another option. I'd have to get it used to get it down to the price of a new RX-8 (i prefer the look of the 2004 models over the older ones). I showed my wife the 8, the SRT and the WRX STi side by side and she still says she'd choose the 8 over either of the other options. But then i don't think she understands what an STi can really do... hell i don't even know, i can only imagine based on my experience with the SRT!! But yeah my wife is shallow too. Everything is about the looks. I must have married the right one!! haha

TODreamer

The STi is a great car but frankly speaking, many people dont care quite that much about what it can do....
"so its a more or less a rally car, big deal I dont rally race and I dont like 'such and such' about it" (whatever it may be)... thats what goes through the mind of many consumers (entusiast or not) when push comes to shove and its time to drop your hard earned cash... when its time to spend the ducats, many other things come into play, and looks is one of them (admit it to yourself or not)

That car was made for a highly specialized and segmented market. Here in Canada an STi is going to run you about 60Gs on the road... but lets be honest, it certainly dont look like a 60 G car... it barely looks like a 30G car... but the performance and tech put into it is top notch. Yeah its AWD but there are other much cheaper AWD cars out there. Not too many "regular" people are going to take to that, especially at 60Gs!!! only a certain type of person will but an STi

VikingDJ

You are right about that. Cars like the EVO, SRT-4 and STI were built to a specific breed of enthusiasts that want performance, and are not meant to appeal to most people who buy an RX8. The RX8 is for those of us who put looks and refinement as our top priority, and the car will appeal to a wider mass of people. This is why, these cars were created off their base model versions, and are limited in production. We tend to be so opinionated, that we mock cars without looking at the big picture. It's ok to express your opinion about a car. It's funny to be on both sides of coin owning an RX8 and STI, and see how STI owners are caught up in the performance of STI, just as you are in the overall quality and looks of RX8. It's all preference. I do find it funny that many RX8 owners get defensive with the lack of power the RX8 has, but I guess it's a natural thing for most. Each car has what the other doesn't, which is why this kind of garbage will go on forever. It's kind of pathetic really, because they are such a different breed of cars, and aren't worthy of comparison.

TODreamer

well its not that I'm only interested in looks..... it just so happened that when I look at performance (speed/handling), looks (interior/exterior), how well it fits with my life and price (thats a biggie)... and average things out.....the RX8 just seemed to sit best with me as it yeilded the most amount of overall satisfaction.


what bugs me about the power thing is not necessarily because its not super fast... what bugs me is owners of other cars that were clearly built with something else in mind talk like power is the "only" thing and in not so many words, imply that the 8 is inferior; simply because its not as fast.

VikingDJ

Well, you have to just understand and accept that there are diehard enthusiasts that put performance on top of their list. People like you want the complete package, and are willing to sacrifice power for looks and luxury. To them the RX8 most certainly is inferior, because they look at cars differently. They love the looks, but it's understandable how they criticize it's power, just as it is for us to criticize the looks of cars like srt-4, Evo, and STI. I mean lets face it, as great as the RX8 is, it looks faster then it is by far. There is no arguing that. The STI is faster then it looks. We don't realize it, but many people on here do the same thing by criticizing the looks and overall refinement of those cars. Like I said, there is no reason to compare, because they are built for two entirely different personalities. I happen to have both personalities.

Steiner

Turbochargers can last up to 100k-120k miles in ideal situations. That basically means the driver of the car isn't on boost a lot and has invested in a turbo timer, catch can, or some other relatively inexpensive gizmo that prolongs turbo life. Make no mistake though...if you own a turbocharged car for long enough you WILL eventually have some sort of maintenance issue with that little snail. They're not cheap either.

Raji...here's an idea. If you want the power of the SRT-4 and the refinement, looks and handling of the RX-8 what about waiting for the Mazdaspeed RX-8. Supposedly it's going to be close to 300hp and I would guess that Mazdaspeed will have it handle a little better than the standard RX-8 too.

In the meantime buy a used WRX or used SRT-4. The reason I recommend buying a used WRX is because $25k+ is a lot of money to spend for a car you will trade in or sell in 18 months or less. The reason I recommend buying a used SRT-4 is because nothing depreciates like Mopar. Believe me. I'm selling mine right now and it's disgusting what it's worth to a dealership. I've got a few private party offers between $16k-$17k. Car dealerships are only offering me between $12k and $14k. Furthermore, if you're worried about a turbocharger going out, the '03 and early '04 SRT-4 models came from the factory with a 7yr/70k mile powertrain warranty. Dodge ditched that warranty on this car in mid '04 for the standard 3yr/30k mile powertrain warranty. Just something to think about.

Ike

That's no different from how everyone on here talks about other cars besides the RX-8.

TODreamer, you're falling into this segment yourself. I get a good amount of attention and compliments on my regular old WRX, and just about every single one of them is a car enthusiast. Thats's the kind of attention I like, not some clueless person coming up to me saying "oh that's a neat car, what is it", like I suspect many RX-8 owners get. I could care less what the people that know next to nothing about cars think.

Lastly, it's not really more or less a rally car. Yes it was inspired by a rally car, yes it can go to a rallyx in stock form and do very well, but you make it sound like it's some sort of offroad vehicle. It's set up for tarmac and it's damn impressive on good old blacktop. If you don't care what it can do, then you're not much of an enthusiast.

Ike

What Steiner said for the most part... But, turbochargers are not that expensive, and I'm hoping my turbo in my WRX goes out soon because I want a bigger one! :p If you get a regular old WRX you can get relatively new stock turbos for a couple hundred dollars, or a bigger aftermarket one for 600ish (which is about what the stock STi turbo goes for) with the most expensive of them being around 1200. Also, the WRX is setup with a system that continues to cool the turbo with water after you turn the car off so a turbotimer is a waste of money. I've also seen cars with 150k+ miles and the original turbo.

That being said, don't drive an STi, you will want one! If you drove the SRT-4 and liked that you will fall in love with the STi. Also, keep in mind women have lousy taste in cars in general, think of what steroetypical cars women tend to like and drive and ask yourself if those are cars you would want :p I'm going to get a lot of heat for that one...

shaolin

^^^ Yea no ****...so you're implying that because a woman preferred the RX-8 that it's a terrible car? Oh hell no

Just busting your ***** hahaha

But I do think that women have a certain taste when it come's to their MAN's car. I mean, a girl would much rather see their man driving something with flair I think. Neons, WRX, and EVO's while cool looking to me, and most enthusiasts, I think women in general just don't get it. They think it looks like a souped up econobox you know?

raji

^^^^ they still look like souped up econoboxes to me!! Now however, i have much more respect for them than i ever did in the past.

Thanks guys for the new suggestions!

man... Tuesday is really taking its sweet time to come around :D

TODreamer

I never said it was merely an offroad vehicle and I didn't say I don't care what it can do

Ike... If you properly read what I said, you would know that I was more or less putting forth what the "regular" car buyer who isnt an enthusiast would think of the STi.... they aren't my sentiments.

man you're touchy

cas2themoe

Put it this way. A women would rather get in a RX8 then a SRT-4 any day. Point Blank, I dont know what kind of women you hang around IkeWRX. I hang with women that have taste. How many people, men or women would say a SRT-4 is better looking than a 8? Come on now, be real for once. Just like you'll saying a SRT-4 is that much faster than RX8. Thats a bunch of Bull. I dare anyone to come up in there SRT-4 and Blow me out of the water in my 8. Yes, they will beat me, but not as big of a gap as you all non-RX8 owners think! If you want to go to a track and find out, email me! Most of you under-estimate the 8 because of it Broad Power Band!

theCATALYST

[QUOTE=cas2themoe]Yes, they will beat me, but not as big of a gap as you all non-RX8 owners think! QUOTE]

Thats not always true.
It depends on the driver in each vehicle. Had a teenager showing off to his girl in his SRT, and ummmmm...well, he didnt keep up. I DONT CONDONE STREET RACING by the way

veilsidev1

this has to be the biggest coincidence. To make a long story short, about 2 hours ago a neon revs engine. i take it. I figure imma smoke him, he keeps up with me, and im like dam (this was when i realized it was an srt-4. We are head to head until about 110mph, then we simultaneously begin braking because of traffic, it was a tie. In other words, if your looking for speed, the srt-4 never passed me, so its not that fast, everything else you want in a car, the 8 has it. Do the right thing
p.s, girls dont give a #@$& how the car speeds up or handles, they see a neon.