Ok so I talked with a salesperson and one thing he mentioned sort of made me wonder. He said that since the RX-8 has 4 seats instead of 2, the insurance rates on it would be lower because insurance companies wouldn't consider it a real sports car (i.e. a coupe type). Is this true?? I kind of think this is a lot of hoo-ha but I've been wrong before...

 

I'm not totally certain it works like that but my insurance did go down from my '95 BMW M3 which had seats in the rear.

 

Im not so sure it has to do with the seats as much as it does about the doors, a 4dr with a 1.3 liter engine does not throw up flags with the insurance companies.

 

So there could indeed be some merit to what the guy said. This would be a good sign because I'm driving a lil' Sentra and I'm worried moving to an RX-8 would explode my insurance rates. :o

 

1.3L engine, 8 airbags, 4 seats, 4 doors, safest from roll over.... I kinda have to think that they all have something to do with insurance rates being very generous.

We went from a 2000 Grand Cherokee to the 2004 RX8 and our rates only went up $4 a month.

 

Call your insurance company and tell them you are thinking about going to the RX-8 and see how much it will raise it. Also you might check with some of the other big companies like Traveller's or Amica who offer great rates if you have a good driving record. I can personally recommend Amica since they treated my wife so well when she was hit by a women with Amica insurance. We have USAA since we get such a good deal on home and house but you have to have a military or federal service (I think the FBI is eligiable)background in order to qualify.

 

My insurance will drop by $13.00 per month by trading in my 2001 Honda S2000 for my new RX-8. :D

 

In Canada, the RX8 is considered by insurance companies as a "4 door sport SEDAN".

 

The results will probably vary from one insurer to another, but my State Farm rates stayed virtually the same, which is just fine with me. :D

 

Well, my insurance on my 8 includes comprehensive and collision, and it's still $200 a year cheaper than what I was paying on my 10 year old MX-6, which only had basic insurance.

 

I have always had a hard time swallowing this arguement. Insurance companies aren't stupid, the people who determine the rates have the internet, television, radios, magazne subsciptions and what have you. I don't think they get the physical and mechanical stats of the car and base their rates on those numbers alone without some qualitative factors. It is pretty obvious the performance capapbilities of this car, and if it isn't get the internet. I think the insurance generally goes down because it is a 5 seat, 4 door car and it is safe.

 

Man now where is that 5th seat, I've been looking for that thing :-)

 

Now a 5th seat is hard to swallow

 

I'm with Blue Eyes - anyone that buys the notion that the insurance company is confused by "1.3 L 2cyl engine, 4 doors" has got strudel in their noodle. You DO give them your VIN which firmly ID's everything about your car - manufacturer, date of manf, model, trim level, etc. They know. The agent or idiot taking your order may be confused, by they don't set the rates - the actuaries at home office do, and the company's health depends on them getting things right.

My insurance went UP $310/year from my 2001 Acura TL - they said it's because the car has a higher insurance symbol and a higher "liability group" which includes all the kids that drive the car.

Lastly, the car is much more costly to repair in a collision due to a variety of factors - lower volume car means fewer aftermarket parts available (yes, my damn ins. co. uses those - USAA), more costly construction - the freestyle doors and hood are made of aluminum-very costly to repair, and poor scores on the low speed collision scales.

I had a similar situation with my Integra GSR, although to a lesser degree.

 

Insurance also depends on your credit history, and by the way 4 doors does drop your insurance, why you think it wouldnt is beyond me, the fact the car has 8 airbags also plays a factor, and Insurance companies dont replace the airbags in case of an accident, thats left for you to take care of, now if the car had a turbo the would driveup your rates, but a N/A 1.3liter is not a huge deal, maybe an LS2, the people that determine the rates do have a good idea of the performance #'s on every car, if you think its compariable to say a Mustang your wrong.

 

He is basically correct. Considered a 4 dr sedan and as such a cheaper rate than what is should be. Another good reason to get this car.

 

For folks in Canada: Just for kicks I used the online insurance quote provided by PC Financial and the difference in insurance between my 01 Protege and an 04 RX-8 GS (only one they have in the system) was about $260/year ~ $22/month more so pretty good if you ask me