I don't know if there's a thread like this already, didn't see any recent ones. But for the people who don't daily drive their Rx8's, what do you drive?

By daily I mean you don't use the Rx8 as your commuting car to and from work every day of the week.
Main reason is I'm hard pressed to get rid of my 8 as its my only car (for something more dailyable year round, instead of stealing my dads truck on snow days), because its not the best for commuting year round, not good in snow, rain can be a hassle, fuel mileage, warm up time, reliability, etc. I'm considering getting a beater daily (something cheap) and keeping the 8, relieving it of daily duty.

So for you people who use your 8 as a leisure car on weekends and such, include your daily car, why'd you choose it as a daily, and location/climate conditions.

 

I disagree with your reasons, though I don't disagree with your goal. My 8 was stellar in the snow, rain was likelywise no problem (I'm guessing your problem is in your tire choice), warm-up time needs to happen for all cars, my 8 was incredibly reliable, and the gas mileage wasn't unacceptable for nearly all of my ownership period.

I did end up getting a 1999 Miata to DD instead, then after I got fed up with trying to stay ahead of the problems that I inherited from the prior owner, I traded it for a 2005 Mazdaspeed Miata. The reasons are fairly simple, 50% better gas mileage than the 8, still fun to drive, still great in the snow (provided i have ground clearance), and for the MSM, it's will romp a stock 8 in most driving contests with 60wtq and 10-20whp more, but 500lbs less (excepting top speed, it's aero unfriendly)

However, that being said, I'm tired of DDing it on the highway all the time. It's more raw and wearing with significantly more noise from every source. Cruising on the highway is not it's forte. I'll take the worse gas mileage of the 8 to get back the refinement, comfort, and rotary.

 

My daily driver is a 94 Jeep Cherokee. There are days in the winter that the RX8 could end up being a snowplow here. That's not good.. Plus, I've had corrosion problems on the car. The Cherokee will get me through any snow storm that we have. And, I take it off road in the summer.
There's a picture of it in my sig.

 

1984 Toyota "Hilux" Pickup SR5 Extended Cab 2WD. Has the legendary bulletproof 22re four cylinder and a 5 speed manual trans. I'm a pool guy so it's a great work truck and daily driver, even with constantly stopping and starting the truck all day I get about 25MPG mixed city/highway and it's super reliable. The motor was swapped with a brand new shortblock from Toyota only about 35k miles ago, so this thing has hundreds of thousands of miles of driving left on the clock. Also here in AZ it never snows, no need to worry about that ****.

Bed cover has been removed, that's when I first got it lol.

 

There you go:
Reason, I can't fit sheets of drywall or plywood in the 8

Sorry about the pic but you get the idea

 

I daiyled the rx8 for two years 40k miles + and loved every second of it. I am in fact driving a 1997 Tahoe now and miss the **** out of my 8. Stupid *** apex seal will do it every time

Im putting a new engine in her and can't wait to drive her again soon. In my experience, nothing comes close to the sheer enjoyment of this machine. Its as good as sex....


Almost

 

srt4, I barely drive the 8 since it likes to not start when hot. We all know why -_-

 

In 2008 ! bought both a new 2008 40th Anniversary edition RX8 and a new 2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT. Put Mazdaspeed CAI on both , to great benefit (more so on the Speed3 GT). Different feels and strengths but both a blast to drive all over the country. Started using the Mazdaspeed3 GT more in the snowy weather with its front-wheel drive. Job circumstances forced me to have to sell one. After a hard choice, I chose to sell the Speed3 GT and keep the RX8. Put great Continental Extreme Contact DWS All-season tires on the RX8 and have never looked back. It is my daily driver, year round and in all kinds of weather it is still a blast to drive. Hey if you know how to drive and have appropriate tires for your area's weather conditions the RX8 makes a great daily driver. Even a short drive to the store (properly warmed up) puts a smile on my face. And long drives to SC and Florida (being sure to include as many twisty roads and ramps as possible) confirms why the RX8 was named one of the Ten Best Road Trip cars in the world.

After owning seven rotary cars I knew what I was getting myself into, so the mileage and maintenance don't spoil my love affair with the car. To me it has always been worth it since I was age 21 and driving a new RX3. It is in my blood and I just hope to keep my RX8 together (it is running great, no problems) for many years to come. I have upgraded to BHR ignition and Nippon Denso plugs, got the racing beat screens and a few other small upgrades along with the Mazdaspeed CAI. I am lucky I have a truly great Mazda dealer and good mechanics (sometimes hard to find) who take care of any work I don't do myself. At purchase, my dealership gave me a 8yr/100,000 mile full powertrain warranty before Mazda extended the Renesis engine warranty. As this may or may not be the last Mazda rotary for some years, my dealer and I have made a pact to keep my baby healthy and happy as long as possible. But don't get me wrong, I don't drive it like a baby. I have had RX7 with over 400+ HP (not street legal) and other bone stock RXs. The refinement of the RX8 is great and makes it so comfortable to go fast and corner like on rails.

 

2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It's seriously fun and dead-nuts reliable.

 

Toyota 4Runner.....has 300K on it and am still on original everything

Needs a bit of suspension work....starting to get a bit bouncy

Doubles as my tow vehicle to get the car to the track .......

 

2004 Renault Trafic dci100 diesel van.

 

My daily is a 94 Dodge Dakota 4x4 3.9. I live a blue collar life. Having a pickup helps a lot. The 8 only comes out on the weekends in the summer.

 

The RX8 is the Summer daily driver. I only put about 5K a year on each vehicle.

My new (used) Winter daily driver, a 2008 FJ Cruiser.



My old retired Winter daily driver, a 1993 Cherokee. Ready for some fixing and trail riding.

 

Being located in Nova Scotia, one of the road salt and corrosion capitals of the world, you don't winter drive anything you really care about. (Seriously. Manufacturers send prototype cars here for corrosion testing. I see Euro market Honda's driving around every once in a while.)

My 8 was a summer daily for the first 2 years I had it, but I always had a second winter car when the 8 was stored. But as time went on, the quality of my "other" cars has improved, so I tend to daily drive them year round now. Once in a while I'll get the urge to take the 8 to the office on the right summer day, but not often.
Usually because I have to move one of the other cars out of the way to get it out, so why bother?
Also, we have a large dog we do a lot of activities with so need something to transport him in.

Current "daily drivers" are a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche (race car hauler) and 2012 Subaru WRX 5-door (all weather dog hauler.)
As trucks go, the Avalanche is great for my needs. As a practical, all weather daily driver that is comfortable enough, practical enough but fun enough that I don't want to shoot my self, the WRX is perfect.

 

Agreed, my tires are Michelin Pilot super sport and even though they are considered an all season, I feel nowhere near safe driving in 4-6inches of snow. Would the 8 on a set of Blizzaks (or any other decent snow tires) formidable to heavy snow.

I've driven in snow maybe 3 times with the 8 so far, chancing it each time. I'd rather invest in a set of snow tires and be able to use it year round. The fuel consumption and other reasons I listed are minimal to me. It mainly the issue of using the car year round. Being low isn't much of a problem as I can raise my coilovers to close to stock height for the winter also.

 

1998 Integra GSR.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/11436436995/

 

Wow. You are a way braver person than I am. I have Pilot Super Sports on my RX8 and I don't even like them when it gets cold out. Anything under 10c (I think that's about 50 in US measures) air temp and I feel them dropping off.

As a note, the Pilot Super Sport is NOT considered an all season tire. It is classified as an Ultra Higher Performance Summer Tire. Says so right on their web page.
Pilot Super Sport | Michelin Tires

 

we've raced one of those for years, and its not a great race car, but we always are saying how good it would be as a DD!

if you want setup tips shoot me a PM, i (unfortunately) know those things upside down and inside and out

 

Thanks. Yeah it's a great daily. I spent over a decade or so racing and boosting Hondas so I am pretty familiar with them (I had a turbo 93' EJ for 13 years and a nitrous B16A swapped CRX). I am keeping it daily friendly, it has an Eibach Prosystem and a new stereo and that is about all it will get

 

Of course it is, it's a FIAT!

 

It's the Ford in the background. 1995, 4 cylinder, 4x4, 196000 miles. It's sole reason for existing is to protect the 8 from salt. Once I transfer out of NE it's GONE!

 

'95 Nissan XE 4X4, V-6, 5 speed, 230k, surprisingly rugged little truck.
Snow & road crud use, dog hauler, & truck stuff.

 

The wife's suzuki sx4! Or one of many pushbikes!!

 

Xterra's are rock solid. My dad was president of the SW Xterra club and owned two of them that were highly modified. He is still goes to Gone MOAB yearly in his Jeep.

 

Yes! My neighbor had an Xterra for years, that thing was a trooper. My dad has a Pathfinder and I drool over the Superchaged Xterra. It's like the perfect daily SUV to me.