RTEC

Hey guys,


I've been a fan of both of these cars for a while now. I have the opprotunity to buy a leftover 2003 EVO8 for $26k, which is about the same price I'm hoping to get an RX-8 for. I can't decide which car to get. Part of me wants the no holds barred performance of the EVO but then the other part of me wants the coolness and refinement of the RX-8. I'm so torn......
What do you guys think?

Fred

evilbada1

for 26K u can prolly get an 8 only with sport package..
and personally, I think evo's no better than an econobox with a turbo.. spend some more and get an 8 with grand touring!!

Loaded8

I was trying to make that same decision a few weeks back. I liked the turbo of the evo... it's a cool car and has a lot of room inside. But... the 8 has a more forgiving ride, is more the size of car I wanted (I don't have kids and I don't haul a lot of people or stuff around).... it is more unique and just called to me.... the evo in looks is quite ordinary, in features is also lacking if you're looking for a lot of gadgets and such.... just drive both of them and go with what you feel more comfortable with. It was a hard decision for me but so far I'm happy. I just couldn't see using that stiff evo for a daily driver....

Twinturbo2800

Evo = really really ugly lancer with a ricer wing and turbo

get the Rx-8 youll be very happy.... take it for a test drive if you havnt yet. i smile everytime i get in the car. and you cant help to stare at it as you walk away.

i got my black auto Sports package for 26.5 k
(wanted stick but didnt have the $)

downshift

26k for an Evo 8 is a very good bargain. You should really ask yourself if you're into the hard core performance. Like everybody said, test drive both and see which one matches the kind of balance between drivability, style and performace that you have in mind. If I'm in your shoes, I would really consider it over the RX-8. I test drove it but couldn't make myself to fork out another 3k of my already stretched budget for my next ride. Ask yourself how much seat time in a day will you be driving it like a performance car. Then ask yourself if you're willing to look aside its relatively normal, sedan-like interior, punishing ride and the higher NVH at highway speeds while you're not pulling 1g turns and running crazy 1/4 times.

But at 26k, hmmm.... I would've then gave the Evo 8 another test drive to see if I can convince myself otherwise

Skyline Maniac

Please tell me where you can pick up a new Evo8 for $26k. If I were you, I'd jump on this opportunity. Performance wise there is no comparison, the Evo8 is also more practical. However, the RX-8 is more comfortable and styling is better. (though the Evo8 also looks pretty sweet if you can swap out the rice tail lamps and the whale wing)

murix

You have to drive both and then decide for yourself which really fits the bill for you. It usually only takes one test drive as they really are two different animals.

Figuring it out on the internet will only cause a debate.

shimZ

everytime i see those evo8's on the road...i must say that intercooler looks awesome and I'm not a big fan of HUGE spoilers BUT it compliments the evo8's box-y look.

i'm not a big fan of econoboxes as you can see in my siG BUT when an evo8 rolls by me i get a bit intimidated. I'd take the evo8 over the sti....probably because i have a z and I'd like a 4 door that can spank my car? and the PRICE of the evo you claim... the choice is tough. An exotic looking sport car or a boxy performing sports car.

-test drive it like everyone says...depending on the type of person you are you'll see what you'll like....the nice sporty, luxurious rx8 or the straight up performance package with 4 doors.

sjt

I thought we've already covered ALL the RX8 vs. 'X' topics???

I mean if we've had RX8 vs. Jesus, what else could possibly be left???

RX8 vs. LIME CAT!!!! YES!!!!

Hornet

I'm going to answer this from the experience of both cars! I actually had an Evo for 7 months and loved every second of it. It is a unique car in it's own right just like the RX-8 is. People ask me all the time which do I like better and my answer is I like the Evo for the performance and the RX-8 for the luxury items and extras. The Evo literally made my heart beat faster when I pushed it. The ride is not as bad as some assume. On rough roads it does become an issue but most roads are paved well enough for it not to be so bothersome. It does have a tendency to pull with the grooves in the road. The RX-8 is comfortable and handles better than all of my past cars except the Evo. I love being able to make a complete U-turn in about 3 lanes with my RX-8. I have done a trip from VA to NY in both cars and felt no discomfort in my back with either, both offer excellent back support from the driver's seat (I've felt some discomfort in my back after this trip in some of my past cars). I will note that a longer trip in the Evo would be a pain simple because there is no cruise control (I thought I heard of an easy way to add one though, you might want to check evolutionm.com to make sure). I personally like the looks of both cars as different from each other as they are.

Let's give the real deciding factor! How much attention are you willing to pay when you drive? The Evo requires some attentiveness when you drive. I have had a cop pull me over and tell me "I had a hard time catching up to you!" (no ticket that time). The thing about it was that although I was speeding through a windy road I was not purposely speeding, I was just tired and the car accelerates and handles phenomenally (this was about 4am after being up at 5am the previous day). I've been pulled over several times in the Evo (fortunately only 1 out of about 4 times resulted in a ticket). If I get pulled over in the RX-8 it is because I was trying to do something wrong! I've had the Rx-8 a little over 7 months now and have not been close to being pulled over (at least not to my knowledge).

I don't know what else to really address between these cars for a prospective buyer so RTEC if you have a particular difference between these 2 cars you have a question about feel free to ask.

I literally have put in 10,000+ miles on both cars and consider myself experienced enough in regular every day driving with both.

RTEC

Wow!

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm starting to lean towards the RX-8. I don't know if I can handle anymore speeding tickets, haha. Thanks

Fred

Logan072

I think people here are confussing power with performance. The evo is a turbo powered turd.

Ike

Yeah, because the RX-8 is incapable of breaking the speedlimit :p

Drive them both and buy whichever you like best. That is a very good deal on the EVO, you could probably turn around and sell it in 6 mos. if you don't like it as a daily driver for not much less than you paid.

Ike

You need to get a clue, the EVO trumps the RX-8 in every known performance category save for maybe braking depending on which publication you take your numbers from.

GiN

People still seem to think the Evo is a tuned version of the Lancer. Different powertrain, different suspension, different body panels.. We here in the States received the neutered Lancer before the Evo while the rest of the post-industrial world had several generations of the turbo variety for years already. The Evo's greatest competitor is probably the WRX, as both are compact awd turbo 4cyl saloons.
Get the Evo if you need the power and brash rally-style sportiness right out the box. As for the 8, there is always room for upgrades if you feel something is missing.

HeelnToe

LOL, oh my, have you actually driven an Evo?

It's an *amazing* car. I came very, VERY close to buying one. In the end, I decided I'd rather own and live with a sports car (RX-8) rather than a street-legal racecar (Evo), but wow... the Evo is truly a wonderful ride. If you want all-out, uncompromised performance, the Evo will not dissappoint.

Once my emotions cooled, I decided I wanted something more elegant, something I could "dance" with and make "sing." To some degree, driving the Evo mostly involves hanging on for dear life, lol. The RX-8 works with me as a partner, a team.

You could say the Evo is designed to deliver maximum performance.

The RX-8 is designed to deliver maximum driving pleasure.

Both are wonderful cars... you really can't go wrong.

P.S. Join some of the Evo forums and research the (possible) weak clutch issue before deciding.

Ike

He drives an AT RX-8 so I doubt he even cares a whole lot about performance therefore the chances of him having driven an EVO are slim, as are the chances of him understanding the merits of such a great car.

scorp76

There's that lack of reading comprehension rearing its ugly head again. Obviously he can drive a manual since the other vehicle listed in his signature is a 5 speed.

Not surprising you'd defend another factory ricemobile though.

Ike

Edited just for you Scorp.

Rotarian_SC

There is an issue most people need to get over. The 8 is a great car. Just because the 8 is a great car doesn't mean there can be other great cars. Otherwise all the threads go to "the 8 is really slow" and "the evo is an econobox driven by ricers"...

ManGaZeRo

holy crap an evo a ricemobile and a econbox what the **** kind of world do you guys live in. Lets be little more open minded here and lets think twice before calling other ppl cars ricers mind you the rx-8 has euro lights too....

kcruboy

TWINTURBO 2800 .....

It's people like you who reinforce my doubts about ever owning an RX8. Your comment about EVO's being ugly ricers with big wings is really ironic, seeing as to how your car has altezza lights juss like an evo.

I hope you realize that unlike your automatic POS that probably will be lucky to run high 15's in the 1/4 mile, an evo can actually back up its sporty looks. To bring you back down to earth, even my old 2000 4 door Honda Accord 5 spd I-4 would've taken you out at any dragstrip (ran a 15.5 1/4 mile). Not to mention that the rsx-s i own right now would take you by about 3 bus lengths (gotta 14.3 second time slip).

Not to totally bash on rx8's since I do like most things about them. But the EVO is a true performance car that 99% of Honda's hope no to run into, and many v8 boys even have to think twice about lining up with. And all this coming from a 4 door 4 cylinder is truly amazing, and very respectable.

Hmm... but at least your car looks kinda fast right?

Senseny

Not all 8 owners are unappreciative of other great (or even good) performance vehicles. Its cool for someone to say "I don't like the styling or certain aspects of the EVO, STi, G35, Z or whatever", but its uncool (not to mention inaccurate) to describe these cars in deragotory terms. I don't get the haters of other cars here, I love my 8 as well, but because of that I don't feel the need to insult other cars.
If someone is touting a vehicle I don't like, I take the time to explain what factors cause me to dislike the car.

scorp76

You ever seen 'Teaching Mrs. Tingle'? If you haven't, you should check it out. She had a thing about people misusing the word 'ironic' like you just did. Anyway, I doubt he or anyone else cares about your doubts about owning an 8. Not that I ever would, but people like YOU make me never want to be seen in a boring *** Honda. See how that works?

I hope you realize that unlike your boring *** Civic-lookalike that takes about 3 buslengths to stop from 60 mph, the auto 8 is about more than Friday nights at the local dragstrip. How much money did you waste to get to "14.3"? To bring you back down to earth, 14.3 or not, it's still a plain ***, overpriced Honda with sloppy handling and sad brakes.

Yeah, the Evo is amazing. That's a word I'd never use anywhere near an RSX, unless it's followed by 'boring.'

Too bad you can't say the same.

ypwpat

I think is this.
If you are a Power Freak better go with EVO8 Don't even look at RX8 Unless the styling that u are after.

If you are wanting style if enough Performance then RX8 As i'm not looking for too much power. I love the Styling of RX8

Really. Comparing EVO8 and RX8 is out of the league here.

I saw a Best motoring Japanese version. Even a Stock WRX (of course the WRX even Suffer a Brake fade) beat RX8 on the Track and I wonder how can RX8 win against EVO8? IMO