Helpless Rock

I've been lurking around these parts for a few months now gathering information and learning about the wonderful RX-8 and what it could become for me. I'm now nearly the point where I could be making a purchase.

I've been practically obsessed with this car for a months now and want nothing more then to own one. I've come to terms with the MPG and the oil usage. I've accepted the fact that it's a.. slightly.. more high maintenance vehicle then, say, my current 97 Toyota Corolla, that I've been driving into the ground with a mixture of hate and lust for a more fun car.

Now that it's nearly the point where I'll actually have enough money to drop a down payment and be comfortable with my bank account to further hold the monthly payments and gas prices (plus my apartments rent and food I guess), I'm starting to struggle if I should get a discounted 08 when the 09's hit the floor full stocked Grand Touring if possible (I'd even possibly splurge on the Nav if I could muster it). Or if I should look around used car lots for an 05-07 model and a nice reasonable price.
There is a used lot on my way to work I drive by daily and there are two. There is currently a yellow one, of year I don't know, up on the fancy rotating pedestal thing. Taunting me. Alluring me. There is also a red one that has been there for a while sitting there which I"m a little apprehensive about.

I will eventually (within a few months) be able to comfortably afford both options easily enough so I suppose answering my own question here would be to just get the 08 since money isn't that high of an option? Or should i be reasonable and look around used for one on the cheap? Having never owned a new car, that draw is pretty strong for me since I love me some shiny things.

I plan on finally trying to test drive one Thursday. Been to busy at work to get a good effort at it. I've also never owned a manual car before and am not fully skilled on how to truly drive with one, but I'm pretty set on getting the 6speed when I buy it, but hopefully I can test drive it in automatic. I don't see any reason to get a sports car especially one like the RX-8 in an automatic, personally.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

The Lightning Yellow is a 2004. I would get the '08. New car smell and all. You never know what your buying with a used one.

XlYesterdaYlX

For sure get a new 08 GT when the 09's starts coming around.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

They should have major rebates for all new rx8s on the lot (left over 07's-08's) soon.

04RX8man

yeah yellow was only made in 04(personally i would go with that haha check my signature) but seriously if you ca swing the brand new one i would go with that there is nothing better than a brand new car nobody has tampered with it new car smell etc. there should b a good discount on the 08 and possibly the 07 if there are any left.

ashwins

If money wont be an issue...get the new one.

mmats69

+1 you will get a really good deal on a leftover 08 if you can wait just a little bit longer. that way, you are the person to break it in and you'll have a full warranty, etc, etc. the list goes on and on. you will LOVE the GT edition

Altair 8

new 08 or 07, or leased 06 or 07 with under 25,000 miles on it. I got mine with 26,000 miles on it and it was a leased car. I'm happy with saving $10,000 personally, and i also had a corolla, 2001. When you get this car used or new you will still be over joyed! seriously.

tjbourgoyne

Go used unless you want to be flogging yourself in a couple of years.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

'09 are already here in Phoenix.

delhi

09 for the new engine. 08 for the price. Since Mazda is extending the engine warranty for 8 bloody years which effectively means you can have a new Renesis until 2016, might as well get the prettier 08. But 09 has the cool gauges. Although you will have to contend with the ugly Miata/CX7 steering wheel.
But 09 has R3 which is kinda neat.

Renesis07

iTrader: (1)

depreciation is terrible in this car, go used ftw.

Descent

I just got a brand new leftover '07 GT for 25k a couple weeks ago. Mazda was offering a $3750 rebate on any leftovers at the time.

dozer

iTrader: (3)

+1, just my opinion, but if money isnt a factor F*CK it get a new one!, just remember to break it in righ....good luck!

boondockjj

i say used. try and find a leased car cause you know the person driving it had to take care of it. I got an 06 with just under 17xxx and the car was immaculate plus i got the savings of not buying new.

MazdaJeff

Another thing you should think of is if you will mod the car heavily. I want to go FI, but am gun shy as I am still under warranty (which I paid for by buying new). If I were to do it again, I would go for a used 8.

ultradave

I agree. Look around a bit. I found my '07 with about 4K miles on it as a lease buy back. Still smelled new but cost me about $8K less than a new '08. But if money is not an object, go new :-)

Dave

robrecht

Used low mileage is definitly the way to go imho. I found one with 9k miles (still had some new car smell left) at $11k under MSRP. You can do even better in today's market if you're patient. Good luck!

briann

for an 07? not 8?
Do you guys think there will be any new 08s left if I wait until December?

To be named later

Considering that you are "nearly the point ....to drop a down payment and be comfortable with my bank account" and you will "eventually (within a few months) be able to comfortably afford both options" tells me that you are maybe not ready financially for a large purchase.

I mean......it sounds like there must be some saving and scrimping and re-budgeting just to maybe be ready in a few months.....maybe.

And if so the smartest choice would be used..

Maybe I am way off base. But if I am on target, this sounds like one of those "help, I may need to sell my RX8 to get out of debt" threads.

Helpless Rock

Yeah, and frankly you'd be partially right to be honest. I'm not currently as of this date in a financial place to make the purchase. I pretty much just jumped the gun on the thread to mostly get an idea before I start seriously, seriously looking. I make good enough money and I at least picture myself as a very good saver considering I'm 21 and have zero worry of money while living on my own (Well, with a roommate) and doing it fairly respectably. I, however, appreciate the concern and it's a lot of the reason I made the post in the first place to way my options more fully. I never plan on getting my bank account any where near empty for anything.

I did however drop on by the local Mazda lot today to get a serious look at the car. I'd never seen one up close and personal before and in turn never been inside one and certainly not driven one. To my surprise they had about 6 2009's available in the back lot very near selling time (Bakersfield, California, 2 hours north of LA). I still just looked at the 2008 GT they had available. The last non-09 they had available at that, which kinda shocked me really. Man, what an amazing car. The looks, the sound, the everything just hit me as perfect. Except the fact I over estimated my manual knowledge and got scared as **** at ruining the clutch trying to learn how to drive stick in a thirty thousand dollar beautiful sports car. So, I didn't so much test drive it as much as test rode in one. Which even that was pretty awesome.

I ended up talking to the dealer for awhile about the financial aspect as he ran my nonexistent credit check. He was a pretty awesome guy and seemed to really appreciate Mazda and loved the RX8 as much as most of you. Which I thought was pretty awesome and nice to chat about the car with a knowledge dealer. I left the lot with a better stand point on where I am financially and at what I need to get too. Which isn't much more really.

I may try out some used lots in a few weeks or probably wait until next month to give a more definite idea.

However, after all that, I'm pretty sure I'm sold on the 08.

CosmosMpower

Used or new if you can get over 6-7K in discounts. I bought my 05 in 06 as a leftover for 10K off. Paid 22 out the door on a 30K sticker sport with a few options.

mauricio

08 all the way...maybe 09!!!!

Helpless Rock

So I just got a call from the dealer I did the test drive with. They've got the 2009 models in apparently super early by his standards and they also come with a fancy deal. He said there is an offer for a new 2009 lease agreement for 319 a month (in m range) after just a 1,500 down payment. I was kinda still asleep when he called so I didn't think to ask how many miles/years that lease lasted for. He also said this offer will only last for 2 weeks or some such thing.

It sounds reasonable, but it's not really the car I want. The 09's are nice, with the new engine and other minor changes, but I really fell in love with the 08 GT's. I mean, I'd be over joyed to get the 09 version, but I'm not sure if it's really what I want. However, I won't be able to get a 08 for another few months and in this case I could get the 09 very soon. hah.

So, if anything; hey dudes 09's are out there and at least in Bakersfield they have a pretty sweet lease on them if you're looking.

arghx7

the 2004 models had a lot more problems...