SQC049

Hey guys,

I need your help as I am trying to decide what my next car will be. I know this is a Mazda board so I assume that most of you will tell me to get a Mazda, but here we go anyways:

First a little background about my car buying past. My first Subaru was a 2000 2.5 RS. I traded that car in for a 2002 WRX. After that car was killed I spent a brief amount of time in a civic before buying a 2003 WRX. Last September I traded it in for a 2005 RSX type S due to the fact that I was bored with the car and decided I needed a change. After a year of owning the RSX I sold it in an attempt to get myself out of debt, which I have completed. Now I am in the market for a new car again and I cant decide what to do. I have been thinking about every possible option and have been driving myself crazy over it. I do not want to take on a big car payment again and I am looking to spend around $20-$25K. New or used it doesent matter.

Here are the cars I am considering:

1. 06 WRX TR - Great value for the money, but the front end is hard to look at.

2. 05 Legacy GT - I am looking at a used 05 because a new 06 would be a little more then I want to spend. I have a hard time doing this, because for the same price as a used GT, I can get a new TR.

3. 06 Mazda MX5 - Great looker and handling, short on power compared to the other cars listed, but a good value none the less.

4. 05 MAzda RX8 - A ton of left overs still around make this one very appealing. I have seen left over 05 GTs go for 24K. Again, short on power, but great chassis dynamics.

5. 94 Mazda RX7 - Great performance for the money, but the problems with the rotarys really are keeping me away from this one.

6. Any sort of project car... I was thinking of getting an older L wagon and putting a version 4 or 5 drivetrain into it. This would be nice because I would not have any car payment and would do it all in cash. However, I dont feel that I have the time or energy to put into this.


These are the cars that I have narrowed it down to. I have also looked at used STIs, S2000, and 350Z. Any input you guys have for me would be great. I have a daily driver in the form of a work car so this car is not going to be used everyday. And please dont say an EVO, I wont be caught dead in a Mitsu.

Sorry for the long winded post, thanks for your help guys.

-Drew
SQC 049

dmp

The RX8 isn't short on power...it's short on people who know how to use the power it has.



Have you checked insurance rates for these cars? Insurance rates are what kept me from signing the papers on a 2004 STi, and put me behind the wheel of an RX8.

V_for_velocity

Good line; I think I'll steal it.

sti_eric

That is quite a range of cars you have there...from an entry luxury sedan to a two seat roadster to a project car. It's tough enough to try to suggest a car to someone when they have it narrowed down to 2 cars. You will just have to drive all of them and see which you like best.

I drive an STi and my wife has an RX-8. I love 'em both, but they are completely different cars. The STi is just a monster while the RX-8 is more refined but has much less performance. Decide what you prefer and go with it.

From the list you give, my personal choice would the the LGT.

BTW, do you know Earl SQC 120?

As for insurance, for me, the RX-8 is a tad more than the STi. Something like 760/year vs 740/year.

SQC049

Insurance is not an issue, I have gotten quotes on all of the cars listed and they all come it around the same number.

I do not know Earl from SQC, I have not been to any meets in over a year, been real busy with work and life. Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming.
-Drew

Ike

I don't think it really matters what you get since you'll be getting something new in a year anyhow

SQC049

Thats not true, I am looking for something that I can hang onto for a while. I am older then I was than and have learned from my mistakes, that is why I am considering such a wide range of cars.

Raptor2k

Save yourself the trouble and just buy an RX8

tuj

I'd go with the RX-8 only because if I was in the same situation, I would probably go with an STi. Its nice to mix it up, and since you've already done the Subaru thing, why not check out Mazda and the rotary?

dmp

How the hell does that work? Insurance companies rate cars based in part on how expensive they are to repair. At least 'my' company gives those ratings a number. The higher the number, the higher the repair costs. An STi was a 26, if I recall. My Rx8 is a 19?. My F150 is a 14. My 93 Miata was a 9?.

Unless your rates are already over-the-top high, or you are very old and the rates are very low, I'd find it hard to believe the insurance for a 2004 STi is 'about the same number' (for comprehensive) as a 2004 RX8.

In fact, based on State Farm - the Impreza is rated at a higher liability index than the RX8.

http://www.statefarm.com/insuranc/au...ing/subaru.htm

http://www.statefarm.com/insuranc/au...ting/mazda.htm

I know my insurance company - one of the least-expensive in the nation (USAA) wanted about $90 more per month to insure an STi over my Miata. Wheras, my RX8 is only about $30 more, per month, than my miata.


Note the current MX5 shows substantially less-expensive to insure than the RX8.



If insurance weren't an issue - STi hands down.

SQC049

You dont know how insurance works. I have worked for one of the largest insurance company in NY state. Cars are rated first by a number based on the performance of the car. Then the rate of accidents for that given car is factored in with you driving record. That is how rates are determined. Since I live on LI where all the rates are high to begin with all of the cars listed come in with 50 bucks of each other with comp and collision.

This is not a thread about what I pay in insurance, I am trying to make an informed decision on that car to buy. Back on topic please.

Sephiroth

Id wiat for word on the MS8/RX-7

dmp

I know EXACTLY how insurance works - I've 'had' insurance for pushing 20 years. Insuring a car is a vital concern when making a purchase - tis why I brought it up. No need to be an ***.

DARKMAZ8

I don't think you know how insurance works

Could that be the reason you no longer work there?

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

definitely 3rd gen Rx-7 "project car", a few maintenance mods and you'll have nothing to worry about, plus you'll have one of the most beautiful car designs to ever come out (my opinion anyway), you'll have potential for crazy power, handling, styling, and you'll have something far less common than any of the other cars you mentioned.

RedSheDevil

buy anything but an rx-8 ... then you can find another forum to be mean to people?

you ask for help, they offer, you decide you dont want to hear it?


BUY A NEON!

NomisR

Since you live in NY and this is an Rx8 forum... I'd suggest the Subarus.... :D

SQC049

How does living in NY have to do with anything?

I'm sorry if I came across as a dick in my last post, I was having a bad day, i didnt mean for it to come across like that. I have worked in insurance in underwriting and I understand how insurance works, that is not a concern of mine.

Again, sorry for being a dick, I would like some sound advise from you guys.

archangelcomp

I would say go with any of the subarus. A used STi would be a really good idea...those things are pretty nasty. Thats only because you said you wouldnt be caught dead in a mitsu :p

But...if you would be caught dead in a mitsu...

...2nd or 3rd gen VR-4. . It would whoop all of those cars asses listed...stock.

And you probably would be caught dead in it, its very easy to wrap it around multiple trees at very high speeds.

BoosTED

iTrader: (2)

Have you test drove the cars you have listed?

Try an 8 and get back to us.

The handleing is excellent and it looks nicer IMO than the other cars on the list. The acceleration is smooth and great for a daily driver with the GT package a person gets traction and stability control which does help with insurance even though it is not a factor.

Statistics show that vehicles with traction and more so stability control are less likely to get into accidents. Course if it is disabled during a drive it is not going to help anything.

The 8 is very easy to drive and can be modest and quiet or crank up the RPMs and chirp the tires shifting gears.

I have had my RX-8 for over a year now and love the car just as much if not more than the day I drove it home.

Steiner

If the STi costs more than you're willing to spend check out the WRX TR (tuner ready). The MSRP is high on the Subaru website for that car, but I've been hearing that dealers will sell them for considerably less. After the WRX I would maybe look at an RX-8, but I don't know if you could get a new one for less than $25k. If it was me, I would feel better paying $28k for a NEW sports car than $24k for a USED sports car. You'll always wonder how the previous owner treated it.

Ike

Ok, what's with you and that pig of a car??? They weren't the best, nor second or third best car in their class a decade ago. What makes you think they're somnething special now?

Sephiroth

3000GT VR-4 were the best from mitsubishi, bar none IMO. VR-4 were way ahead of their times, all kinds of features on that car. It was an amazing car and still is, if you can afford replacing trannys.

DARKMAZ8

I would take an eclipse any day over that fat *** pos.

Sephiroth

^ The VR-4 had the all wheel steering, in car adjustable suspension, dual exhaust options, AWD, some nice luxury amenities, turbo engine w/ 320hp, and the car is a tank. Indestructable really, it will rip through all the plastic cars of today. There is no way any eclipse can come near this car or even the evo. This was and still is a very special car.