RTAR

I'm stuck right now. I've read around these forums a lot and read about the HEAVY maintenance this car needs and I'm not sure if my funds will allow it.

I'm looking for something sporty but affordable like these two cars but the Rx8 design has got me glued. But a smarter decision (according to many of you I bet) would be to purchase the mustang. I'm 17 years old heading to college, this is not my first car, and yes, I do take care of my cars. I was just recently in an accident (not my fault) and I'm looking to buy a new car.

A big concern of my father is MPG. Internet says rx8 get's roughly 16 mpg, while the mustang get's like 19. Are these numbers even worth speculating since they're only 3 miles difference?

Unfortuantly, this forum provides a lot of BAD parts about the rx8 and it leaves me concerned. I'm sure it leaves other potential buyers concerned also. I don't want to wake up wondering if this is the day my car is going to give out, once i reach like 150,000 miles.

Honestly, try to be un-biased. What would you do?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Wow man, this is tough. I hate Mustangs but I would have to advise you to get it over the 8 just from a practical standpoint.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

1. this car does not require "HEAVY" maintenance. Check the oil every now and then, give it regular oil changes, and you should be fine. Like any other car out there: Take care of it and it'll take care of you.

2. Mustang is probably the 'easier' decision since there's lots of parts available for it, they are generally cheaper, and just about any mechanic can work on the. They are however, not exactly the most reliable cars out there.

3. MPG. If that's a big sticking point, get the mustang. The RX-8 is capable of 20+ mpg on the highway but driving on the street can net you as low as 13 mpg.
I would imagine the mustang would have a higher average mpg.


Since you're only 17, as much as it pains me to say it I think the Mustang might be the better choice. Up to you though.

RTAR

It's really a tough decision but the 8's body just makes me want to get it, no matter what the circumstances may be. Is this bad?

The mustang just doesn't attract me as much.
I DON'T WANT ANY REGRETS! ugh..

YaXMaNGTO

Buy a Civic.

CrazyJek

You answered your own question.

You say u are glued to the 8, but feel the smarter decision is based on practicality which is the stang...

Then u say u want no regrets...


Buy the Rx8. You wont have any regrets. Keep an eye on the oil, make sure it has gotten all the recall fixes. Simple. On your spare time, read about the car and its internals. Knowledge is power. The only reason why people who come here feel the Rx8 have serious maintenance problems is because many people do only come here when they have problems. There are many more people who do not come here who have no problems.

Jtaylor3

iTrader: (1)

Mustangs are for trailer parks and they handle like school buses...get the 8 or something with similar characteristics...unless you only like going in straight lines

RTAR

Wow, thank you kind sir.

RWatters

iTrader: (5)

RX-8's can be the most reliable car in the world or it can be one that lets you down at every corner. I've owned two now and I've had one of both. Should the car be unreliable is that something you will have the financial capabilities to take care of and handle? If not then I'd strongly suggest staying away from it. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. If you can't afford the worst then it's not the car for you at this current time. Wait until it is, then buy one. Trust me when I say I had to learn that lesson the hard way so I speak from experience on it.

WTBRotary!

iTrader: (6)

im 17 and have 8... Id never consider a mustang... they are a joke, plus they are a dime a dozen, Rustangs are a joke. Ill take muscle cars for what they are good at, staight line speed, but everyone whose 17 and has a Mustand thinks their hot ****.

The real question is who DOESNT have a mustang, they are everywhere...

Im not going to convince you to get an RX-8, research the differences between them and pick the one you want and stick with it. Take care of it of course...

Mr.ThunderMakeR

Looking at fuel costs alone is a mistake, you need to look at the overall costs. For example, assume you drive 15k miles a year and get gas at an average $3.00/gallon.

Mustang:
15k miles / 19 mpg * $3.00/gal ~= $2400 per year

RX-8:
15k miles / 16 mpg * 3.00/gal ~= $2800 per year

These are very rough back of the napkin calculations, but the mustang will save you approximately $400 a year or $2000 over five years. Thats not that big of a difference, you could easily make up that difference in purchase price or insurance costs. You need to look at the big picture. Go to Edmunds.com and use their True-Cost-to-Own, thats probably the best comparison you can find, it gives you cost per mile to own over a 5 year average. Looking at your 05 mustang and 05 RX8, I got these numbers:

RX8: .50 per mile

Mustang: .49 per mile

Thats a quick lookup guesing what models you were looking at, you should lookup the exact models yourself, but you can see the difference is only a cent per mile. In the end just pick which one you like better, make sure you test drive them both and you'll know which one to buy.

maskedferret

iTrader: (1)

Car forums are quite often dumping grounds for people's problems.

I've had my car for about 3 years now. It was almost an impulse buy. Was my first non-family sedan car. I take care of it and have experienced no mechanical problems.

No regrets.

Tweek

You do realize that you are posting this on a specific rx8 site right?
Youre obviously going to get biased opinions towards an Rx8, try posting on a more general site.

maskedferret

iTrader: (1)

I would assume he is doing the same on whatever Mustang forum of choice. Unless in the back of his mind he's already convinced himself and only bothered posting here.

Tweek

Theyre probably doing the same thing you guys are saying, but about mustangs, which is why i said a more general site.

Test drive both, see what you like, weigh the pros and cons.
Everyone is going to give you different opinions no matter what you do.
Half the people i spoke to said dont get an 8, hell i did it anyway and i dont regret it.
The same could go for a mustang, you really have to test them both yourself, and make the decision on your own.
You dont pick the car, the car picks you.

bhop

Get the 8 and use proper care.

New Yorker

You have to check the oil every other fill-up, and change it regularly – is that "heavy maintenance"? To most Americans, it is, because they're lazy about doing routine maintenance. If you neglect your 8 the way most people neglect their cars, you're asking for trouble. But if you give it simple, regular attention, you'll be fine.

The biggest difference here is that they are two very different cars. Mustang is all about speed in a straight line; with absymal feel and handling. The 8 is one of the best-handling cars in the world, at any price, but it won't pin you back in your seat. Most people are one type or the other; that's how I'd make my decision.

maskedferret

iTrader: (1)

Solid. Rear. Axle.

DemonRX-8

Tweek, I'd venture to say that he's probably gotten a more balanced and honest answer here than he might be getting in a Mustang forum. Some have actually recommended that he buy the Mustang for honest reasons.

To RTAR: Personally, I don’t think that the 8 is that much more “heavy” on maintenance requirement, and being a car guy, probably nothing that you can’t handle. Sure every model has some people who experience inordinate problems, and the 8 is no exception. But if you take the time to find one in good condition there’s no reason to believe you have anything to worry a great deal about.

Now keep in mind that this is coming from someone who grew up in the South and bled Ford Blue in the great Mustang vs. Camaro debates. I grew up loving the Mustang and even test drove both a GT and a Saleen when I graduated college, swearing to myself that I will buy one as soon as I get a job and am able to afford one. I never did buy that Mustang – and with no regrets – as my preferences evolved and changed. I also was not a big fan of the very long overdue redesign of the Mustang in the early 90’s. While I understood Ford’s reasons to keep costs low and preserve the pony car heritage of the Mustang, I had hoped that they would evolve the image into . . . well, really exactly what the RX-8 is! The latest generations of Mustangs are much more refined and closer to what I envision as a true sports car, and you really couldn’t be wrong to get one. But I don’t ever recall a major car magazine choosing one over the 8 in a head-to-head test. I think the upcoming 2014 redesign may finally get the Mustang there, but for my next car, these days my thinking is more along the lines of a Cayman than a Mustang!

sw-ontarioguy

I bought my 05 with 73 000km on it in feb of 09, I've now got 102 000k on it, and the only problem I've had with it is a bad cat. I took it into my local mazda dealer today, and the new cat (100% free coveerd under warranty goes on tomorrow at 2) I don't think an rx-8 has too heavy of maintenance compared to any other car. Just be smart and learn about your car

I thought about getting a mustang over the 8 because they were newer and lower km for the same price, but I love this car, and have ZERO regrets buying the 8

prighello

Dude, you're 17 and going to college get an Si and save the sports car for when you graduate. All the money you will save in gas can go towards your beer fund

WTBRotary!

iTrader: (6)

sigh... from what i read, what that said to me was "Buy a civic Si and spend just as much as you would for a RX-8, if not more, and call it a sports car" , when in reality it is a sorry excuse for a sports car, Fwd... really??? lol, granted around a track its probably just as fast but still, FWD= loss

CrazyJek

Civic Si SCREAAAMMMSS wannabe.

WTBRotary!

iTrader: (6)

V-tec!!!

prighello

Not exactly...what I am angling at is that the Si is the smarter choice for a college student. Even if the car costs the same as an 8. Over the 4-6 years spent in college the cost of ownership will be much lower and the vehicle will retain it's value better for when its time to upgrade. Why does one need a hot car while in college? When I went away to school I rarely drove for the first two years, but I guess it depends on where you go.