MarWar80

After a little over two years of desperately waiting for more performance out of the RX-8, with mediocre results, I just had to go. I bought my Winning Blue 6spd RX-8 in october of 03. As Soon as the Greddy Turbo kit was out,in Dec 04 it was already in my car. I was despirately waiting for a better EMS, but for $1700 more in addition to what I already put in was out of the question. Studdering,hesitation, pops, and Gas consumption were also factors. At almost 10 miles per gallon on the street I was paying approx $450 a month in gas alone. I had to do something. With so many headaches that car giving me after the install, I had to let it go. Not to mention no more warranty and the dealer treating me like garbage aftwards.

Yesterday, I test drove the Lexus IS350 and man was that cool. The sales agent just kept yelling "Pedal to the Metal baby" Wow, That thing rides hard. with 306hp and 276 pounds torque, you really feel the thrust. He Kept saying that even through corners and going into curvy roads at about 80 mph. The car never let up. It is literally glued to the ground. I can't remember, ever taking my RX8 to that limit. For the Price one would pay for the shinka, you get litterally get about 20 times more for your money. Well, Anyways, I ended up Leasing th Lexus just in case the New RX7 ever comes back, but with FI.

I know some of you are going to flame, but all I'm going to say is that if you opt for FI on your RX-8, be ready for some headaches and unreliable times. I knew what I was getting into, but I didn't think that it would be as bad. Even with tuning. The car just didn't feel the same.

Well I gotta go for now. I'll be back

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

....just pity

Nice sedan.

S

dmp

I think you made a good choice. If somebody wants a fast rx8, they'd better enjoy headaches and tuning...Personally, it'd be better to simply buy a faster car.

Good luck w/ the IS

-=Rowdy=-

You must have hated the 8 to trade it in for the Lexus. That model is boring. Good power but way boring. You'll blend in nicely with the rest of the cars out there.

allmotorRX8

at least you knew

dmorales

So Benedict Arnold...I agree with Rowdy, you'll blend in great with Soccer Moms!


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INFANTS PAXIL

buzzardsluck

I heard the paddle shifting was terrible on those. Maybe you can comment. I like Lexus but wouldn't buy one myself. Sounds like you bought the wrong car (the 8) in the first place.

As for problems with a FI 8, when your among the first to do something that's the way it goes.

adrian-1

I was in the same boat as you until I got the Interceptor.
No more studdering, hesitation, or backfiring AT ALL once it was in. Much better EMS than the emanage and easier to tune.
$1700 well spent.

Detrich

sounds like u really didn't do ur homework b4 buying the 8... that said, the '06 is350 is a very cool-looking sedan, and i predict within months it will become a dime-a-dozen here in LA- just like all lexuses. the reviews have been excellent as well- though if you load it up it'll still cost more than the 8, shinka or not... personally tho, for that kind of $ i'd get the '06 bmw 3-series instead. they r also dime-a-dozen these days, but so much more fun to drive...

shaolin

Hahahahahaha I find this funny being that I nearly traded in my 8 for the IS350 when I snapped out of it and slapped the **** out of myself. It's a nice Lexus, but it has no pinache (sp?) or uniqueness at all. It would be a great car for business and it has a great interior, but when I had my 8 parked next to it at the dealer, I just couldn't do it. Good luck with your purchase. And by the way, a Shinka is alot cheaper than an IS350. The one I was going to take delivery on was 43,000 fully loaded. Shinkas go for what? Maybe 32?

yiksing

Errr..... how does a heavier IS350 perform better than the 8 in corners? Maybe it was a false sense of security that the heavier car is more stable, is that why you don't dare to bring the 8 up to speed in corners?

Anyway post some pics of your new ride.

MarWar80

There is no way I could hate it. My problem is that I am a car enthusiast and I just love cars. I wish I could have them all. The only way I could kinda of do that is one at a time. I thought I was going to keep the 8 forever but I couldn't resist having another taste.
As for the boring part I already miss and don't miss the Manual. It definately keeps you alert. This car also turns heads but I noticed that a wider range of people stare at the car. Ie. Before someone in a Mercedes or BMW would look at my 8 and look away. With this car they examine it.
I'll blend in for now, just like a stock RX8 would. But if you lower the height just a bit and Put some 19 inch 8.5 front and 19x10 inch rear Rims in the rear with a nice lip and your definately noticeable. It give the car a mean looking character.

MarWar80

My neighbor had a auto 8 and he let me drive it once. Yes, maybe it did shift a bit faster, but barely a noticable difference. Plus this one shifts to 6 speed.

as for buying the wrong car. Nope! not at all. The car is bad ***. I loved every second of it. I am just waiting for more power. I did test drive the car and at the time I felt that it was so great, I knew aftermarket companies were going to dominate, but apperantly that was not the case, hence two years later and still minimal horse power upgrades. Not only that, but when I got it, it was rated at 250.

MarWar80

I know Adrian, I researched it up and down. Then I came across some guys who started having problems with it! Not Only that, but convincing the wife that the interceptor x was going to be the last modification was impossible. She said "first the rims, then lowering, then the Typhoon air intake, No but then, I need turbo, but with turbo you also need gauges, but to get it work good you need to dyno, now you need a laptop computer, now you need another "computer for your turbo?" Dude, she nocked some sense into me. Where was it going to end? Believe it or not, I was already looking into getting a 20b. ITS ADDICTING AS HELL! Not to mention, with all those upgrades I could have bout a corvette!
what I found to be funny is that my wife learned so much about cars with my 8

MarWar80

Not much homework you could do when your one of the first to buy the car. I live, eat, ****, fart, and dream about cars. I live off of them. I did as much homework as I could with the limited and biased information we received. Its going to be hard to believe mazda again. Most reviews at the begining were basically going off of what Mazda told them.
I also went to see the BMW 330 which compares to the IS350, and I felt that the interior is way better in the IS, more refined. Oh, the power is uncomparable. The IS will leave it in the dust. Maybe on a track it would be different.

MarWar80

It may be cheaper, but I can tell you right now that it doesn't compare in luxury. And I believe that shinkas are about $35k-$36K. Sticker price on my IS350 was $36,966. Its not fully loaded but extremely well equiped. I could have gotten super loaded IS250 with Rear TV when backin up and all the extra goodies for about $35k or even cheaper, but I wanted the 276lbs torque.

MarWar80

I don't recal saying that the IS performs better. I just can't remember taking a curbe the way I did with the IS. But I also have to consider that I did change the rims and tires not to mention that the quality of tires I bought were not the best but still good. I do notice some body roll with the IS but maybe I just got use to all the mods I did to my 8. I had the stiff GS- Tanabe down springs, Mazdaspeed sway bars and Mazda speed strut tower brace.

I'll see if I can take some pictures and post them up tonight. I think you guys will like it.

RENESIS_NEENJA

yeah I wanna see some pics!! I've seen a white one around here a couple of times and they are pretty sexy!!!

TODreamer

Why would we flame you? the IS350 is nice.

But I suggest taking a look at the mazdaspeed6 as it is much cheaper and gives similar performance

grapes

Good Luck-Toyota makes great vehicles. I'm sure you'll miss the 8 though.

KJ238

I am sorry to hear that you left the 8...

Maybe
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=53406
could have helped you like it helped me....

MarWar80

Thanks, I was on top of this as well. Mazda Maniac was sending me a few maps, and no tuner in the area could fix it.

MarWar80

I would have probably considered it if it were not for the crappy service I get. How do you post (quote) something from a different thread? I have to show you a couple of bad experiences.

-=Rowdy=-

I didn't mean to degrade your decision. What matters is what you like. I am sure half the fun is dressing it up and customizing it to look the way you want it.

Detrich

well, all that matters is that u r happy w/ the 350...

the 8's been on car & driver's top 10 for 3 years in a row now. and, it's lacking in the speed area was never really smoke & mirrors. i still think it's one of the funnest cars to drive- and the only car that has a completely unique personality & versatility to go with it... honestly i don't think u can fairly or objectively say it's a lesser car. it just might've not been the right car for u.

beauty is, afterall, in the eye of the beholder. enjoy the 350.

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