I am in the market for a new car as I recently wrecked my previous G35. I am wondering what other people opinions are on this topic, even though this is sort of a biased site. This decision is tearing me up. By the way I am 20 year old male.

05 MCS( Mini Cooper S)
+ Style, handling, options, gas mileage
- longterm reliablity comes in to question ( over 100,000 miles how will this car hold up through the years?)

Mazda RX-8
+Style, handling, power, rwd w/ limited slip, brakes
- Rotary engine could be iffy, Gas Mileage at 18 mpg

Acura Tsx(Euro Accord w/ 2.4 liter engine)
+ Handling(sort of), Amenties, reliabilty, gas mileage, ride, interior
- Slower, heaviest, least sporting of three, bland exterior design, brakes

Thanks

ps all manual cars

 

im 19, i would seriously get another g35, awesome car, or a rx-8. I drove both, g35 wins in power, rx-8 wins in handleing. Both look good. Mini, not my style. TSX, i think the car is very bland and not worth the money. THe exterior and interior does not wow, i would pay more for a TL. So all in all, a rx-8 or another g35!

 

Due to finances I have to stay under 30k w/ tax and tags, so the G35 is out otherwise I would get it.

 

A G35 can be had for 25K, and after tax and title, it would still be under 30K. It's a beautiful car, but we all know what I chose...obviously. Test drive the 8. See how you like it. I test drove a G coupe, and it didn't connect with me quite the way the 8 did...there was alot of truth to all the comparos of the G35 vs RX-8. If you don't connect with it, then it's not the car for you. Different cars for everyone, that's what makes it great to love cars right now.

Do you really need the back seat? Might I suggest the Z? Loaded, it's alot less than your G35.

If you do test drive the 8, as bad and as selfish as it sounds, really drive it. Hit a windy road. Do a brake test....the 8 has superb brakes. Listen to the engine, wring it out to 9,000 RPM's, consider the interior design and exterior design, despite the lack of torque give the engine a chance...especially once you hit that buzzer...if it hasn't taken you to bed yet, then it's not the car for you.

I've driven my friend's TSX a couple of times...it's fun for a hefty family sedan. I mean, it's the Accord of the European and Japanese market, so what can you really expect? Great car none the less, but for sportiness, not the best choice...

I can't really comment on the mini other than the fact I think they look cool...especially with the surfboard mounted on top cruising around the beach. Get it with the british flag on the roof. But in all seriousness I hear they're pretty fun.

You might wanna check into the VW R32 as well...

 

You're on a RX8 forum, what do you think the majority of your replies will be?

 

Since I just turned 58, it's interesting that your choice of vehicles was identical to mine when I was recently looking for a new car. (One of us is seriously misplaced in our respective generations. )

Having driven all three of your options fairly extensively, as well as the G35, here are my impressions.

MCS. Rocket powered roller skate. Serious fun. Good mileage. Pretty worthless back seat for humans, but the hatch and fold-down seats enables the LARGE dog access. Put a deposit down on one but the 12 month wait in the Seattle area is just silly. Price was about $1000 more than I paid for my 2004 RX-8. And as much fun as it was, it just didn't compare to the handling of the RX-8. Lots of fun in the twisties, but not as much fun getting there. All in all, BMW has done a great job with this car, an accomplishment surpassed only by its marketing.

Acura TSX. It's a Honda with all the positives and negatives that implies. Very sporty but not a sports car. Best NAV system in existence. Engine is a wonder. They've really dialed in the I-VTEC system. (I was replacing a 2.2L VTEC Prelude.) I was very tempted, but in the end, it lacked a bit of "character." (This is not necessarily a bad thing. "Character" is a term reserved for British sports car and motorcycle owners that suggests blind devotion.) It's also one of those cars that either looks like a Japanese sedan or a serious sports sedan depending on the color.

G35. Outstanding sports sedan. Much better looking in the coupe version, however, and I wanted four doors if I could get them. Deal breaker was the price and the dealer. I hate haggling over price and the dealer kept "revising" his best offer and moving me from one salesman to another. All in all, it failed the "character" test, as well.

RX-8. Well, I bought it. What can I say. Best handling. Worst mileage (and that bothered me a lot.) Room for the LARGE dog. Unique. Closest to a true British Sports Car (other than the S2000 and the Miata, neither of which were in the running due to the lack of a back seat.) At least as much fun as the MCS, probably more. Outdid the Acura in handling, engine, and performance. Made me feel younger than the G35 (an important consideration at my age, not at yours.)

In the end I asked myself which car I'd still love after 100K miles. The RX-8 won hands down.

 

MCS = FWD = no-go. If the car were RWD, I'd likely have one.


So between the others - which car will have you doing double-takes over your shoulder as you walk away from the parking lot? Which car will you hear comments about such as "Hey dude, nice Bimmer!" or "What kind of Ferarri is that?" or "That's got that V8 Rotary, right?"

:D

 

I would get the mini in your situation. You will probably never have another chance to get one in the future with marriage and kids and family and stuff but you could always get one of the other two down the road. You will have a blast with the mini and could mod it too and it is cheap!

 

My dad had one of the first mini S in town and it lost it's appeal to him in 8 months. Sure, it's fun but impractical; more of a toy even if you're 20. But it's also the cheapest on the list. Also, due to its size, I didn't feel "safe" whenever I was in it.

TSX is an accord. You didn't mention Style on that one for good reason. It's just ok styling. I'd get one if I was a girl who needed that space or didn't care about fun factor.

You know how I feel about the RX8. It did outrank the G in the reviews. I have a 6MT and am getting 16.4-19.4 mixed. Test drive all the cars extensively and see what calls out your name. I don't know your long term plans but remember, I'm assuming you'll be stuck with your car for the next few years.

Did you have a G35 coupe? My friend has one and is getting about 1 mpg better than I am. I think the G is a great car but the 8 "fits" so much better compared to other cars. It's like you and the car are connected. Good luck!

 

Actually, the MCS can get pretty pricey if you load it with options. The version I'd spec'ed was right at $29K for a 2005, considerably more than the 2004 RX-8 equipped comparably. (Dealer installed options are a VERY high profit item on the Mini's since BMW pressures dealers not to add markup to the msrp. Hasn't prevented many dealers from doing so, however.)

The good news is that due to limited availability and demand three years into its production, the value of used Minis is astronomical for a used car. The bad news is that depending upon where you purchase a car the wait time and/or additional dealer markup can be a real PITA.

As for safety, BMW has done an admirable job of constrution. Despite its size, it ranks high in terms of crash worthiness. Not to say, however, that it matches various behemoths with 4-6 feet of steel between you and an intruder. (Of course, it's also less likely to roll over making a turn at 35mph.)

 

my g.f. has a mini......it's fun to drive and it turns heads.......i'd stick w/the 8 though....acuras aren't my style......

 

I would NEVER EVER seriously consider a Mini Cooper. Now you have 2 cars left to choose from.

 

Jsh, young at heart right.

 

Get the 8. 'Nuff said.

 

Where are you getting the $25K price for the Infiniti ? Even their least expensive sedan model (coupe versions are more expensive) are MSRP'ing at $30,700 (Edmunds.com) with no options, and not including destination charges. Invoice is $28K. If you are talking about getting an 04', then we can talk about getting an 04' RX8 and you will be getting a steal of a car for way under $30K.

 

Also, you might consider a Mazdaspeed Miata. It's nearly as fast as the 8, great handling, it will be easy to mod because it's a factory turbo engine with a cast-iron block and beefed-up clutch and tranny, and they are pretty cheap with big discounts right now. Not very practical, but who needs practicality at 20?

 

Test drove the RX-8 today and wow it handled :D, I didn't even push it hard(still trying to drive a manual smoothly). Steering and brakes were great. After that I drove the TSX. Steering wasn't as good imo but the interior was definitly nice. That navigation system was quite impressive, but I think it lacked enough sport. Now I just need to test drive the mini. By the way does anybody have a guess on how much I might be able to negoitate off the msrp in the month of Feb - Mar.
Thanks

 

^^Well, if the dealers try to take advantage of the fire, which they probably will, they'll try to charge more for them and say that there's not any more and this is the best deal you'll get, which is BS. You can always just go from dealer to dealer and get them to lower the price because the other guy beat theirs. I think MINI's are bad price-wise too, since the dealers believe they can get whatever they want for them and will screw you over. (not mentioning personal feelings on the mini)

 

I just got back from the Infiniti dealer with a price that might get me back into a G35 sedan. I am looking at a 05 G35 Sedan 6mt base. This thing has alot more useable torque and 298 hp. I have pretty much settled on either the RX-8 or the G35. Before I found the price for the G35 I was about to settle on the 8. Now it is a tough choice handling or power.

 

Not to be trivial but I believe the Sedan, even with the 6mt gets 280 hp. The only model in the Infiniti lineup that gets 295 hp is the Coupe with 6mt.

 

Apparently for 05 both manual cars are getting 298hp. All automatics are getting 280.

 

One of my turnoffs on the G35 (both of them) was that there were very few young people who had the car (i'm 22). That and I see 20 of them a day, I wanted something no one had. I only see another RX-8 about every other week or so

 

I was going to ask you that. Well...the TSX is not bad if you are not too concerned about a flashy car, or a car with the G's lines. The TSX will offer you a ton of ammenities + relatively strong resale value down the road + it's a 4 door for insurance purposes (the 8 is a sedan as well...but..)

Yeah, I made up my mind for you: go the TSX route.

 

Then you should have gotten the new thunderbird or aztek. I only see these cars about every other month or so.

 

Yes, but they are ugly