Hey guys,

Last week my dad wrecked my 2005 wrx, while trying to "drift it" in the parking lot. He ran into a light pole ... with me in the car. It has a bent frame and the front end is gone. If the insurance company fixes it, it will be worthless as a trade-in. The repairs cost almost $10,000 and it will have a title with an accident report on carfax.

Since the repair shop is a Mazda shop, they offered me an option to buy a new rx8 ... and they'd give me $23,000 for my wrx. The sticker price on the rx8 was like $32k (with all the options).

I really want just the base model, and I'd spend the money on performance parts. If I find an rx8 for about $28-30k new ... should I take the deal? Thanks.

(I'll have a very hard time selling my wrx or trading it in)

-D

 

i say trade it in, just because the damage sounds very extensive. you can probably find a much better deal on a base rx8 also. but please be aware of the tradeoffs...

and get a new dad while you're at it.

 

Tradeoffs: tunability?

I took 2 of them for a test drive today ... I had a lot of fun. Its not very quick off the line, but at high rpms it was very responsive. Its probabily the funnest car I've driven. What are some common ways to gain some more power (within a 3,000 budget)?

 

save a lil more and get a greddy turbo + tuning costs.

the best gain n/a would be from midpipe (about 8-9 hp i think), nitrous (of course), ecu (maybe canzoomer or interceptor-x) and that's kinda it.

 

Well, the Greddy turbo is running for, what, $3200-3500 or so?

Close enough?

 

about 3000-3100, but tuning will cost ya.

 

just make sure you get a new dad so it doesn't happen again.
or at least retune your old one.

 

Trade it in. If they will really give you $23k for a wrecked 05 I say go for it. I went from a WRX to my RX-8 and am loving it.

Joe

 

Trade it in and ask your dad to pay for the greddy turbo kit

 

If you get an O5 you will get a good deal right now. We were looking at an 05 GT with everything except Nav with a sticker price of $32k. They dropped to $25,600 without missing a beat. That included the $1000 deduction for using Mazda Credit for financing. I would say take the trade, but see if they will come down in price. The 2006's are hitting the lots so any remaining 05s have some leeway for price negotiation.

We ended up buying an 04 Touring (with the 6 disc changer, bose, and moon roof added) from a private seller for $18,800. We were replacing our 04 base model and the extra features (particularly DSC) are really nice.

Good luck and however you do it, get an 8, you'll be glad you did. BTW- there are two levels between base and GT (sport and touring) which both have the DSC so you don't have to go for the GT if that is a specific option you want.

 

Make sure you test drive the RX8--its not as powerful as the WRX but handles better and is more stylish (IMO).

 

there's more info in the thread than just the first post

 

Damn

 

1. look if there is frame damage you dan't have to accept the repairs. you can have the insurance company cash you out(claim deminished value).

2. remember just because your at a mazda dealer doesnt mean you have to trade it in there. you can trade it anywhere and the other dealer will pay the towing.

3. that being said look at all your options. from 25k to 32k you have the new wrx, sti, s2000, mazda speed6, mitsu lancer evo 9, ect... but dont limit your self to new there are also many great used cars in that range like BMW M3, merc CLK AMG, SLK AMG, RX7 94'( the only good rx, all others are buckets!!)

4. if you are considering dropping 3k into a car after for more hp, think about this. the subi wrx sti has 300hp(248 at the wheels) you can swap the stock turbo for a FP RED(forced performance) and then get a new cpu from turboXS( i use this one personaly) or a cobb cpu. including tuning you should be right at $3k and 340 hp at the wheels ( ruff est 400hp) it will be fast and pull like a rocket. the evo is versimular in this aspect. the biggest difference in my evo from my sti is the turbo spool. it seems like the sti spools faster but the longer spool in the evo builds up to a much harder pull(that feeling that shoves you back in your seat).

5. to sum this rant up, look at all your options, and remember that the RX-8's are **** boxes.

 

Dump it, anytime you wreck a car it's best to just get rid of it since you don't know the repercussions down the road and you'll take a value hit.

 

This thread is 18 months old and your information is pretty terrible.

 

Quick trade it in on the base model.

Check the Mazda website for any rebates. Then right before you sign the botom line.... give them the rebate information and have them acknowlede it.

Next time try a frozen lake. It's easier for drifting.