Juice

iTrader: (1)

I know what you mean about culture differences. I've been working since I was 14 so I could save up for my first car. My parents weren't gonna buy me anything!! I thinks its good that they didn't though. I don't think that I would have learned the value of a dollar and a good days work had they did.

Coming from outside the US, I can see that you don't take your car for granted and appreciate it. I had assumed that you were from the US and I'm sure that you can see where I was coming from now. Most kids these days, at least in the US, don't really know what it means to work and to save for what they want. They are going to be in for a rude awakening when they move out of mommy's basement.

dothackRAVE

Learned my "dollar value" by working for grades, not for a paycheck. I call my pocket money "salary for staying alive". :p

Many people here think I'm some pampered douche who does not know the meaning of work. I do know the meaning of work. I've been working for everything that I wanted since I was a small boy.

I moved out of mommy's basement to another country (Singapore) when I was 12. Was under the care of a guardian for some time, but left to live alone after a year because I couldn't stand the unreasonable bastard.

Juice

iTrader: (1)

Glad to hear that there is another responsible RX8 owner in these forums. We need more people like you to outweigh the spoiled kids in this country who get whatever they ask for no matter what they actually deserve. You're alright in my book. Anyways, I am off to bed, Its late and I gotta get up early and snowblow the driveway.

dothackRAVE

Eh, love my car more than I love my life. Guess that's the way the 8 has charmed me.

Good night!

RX8 dood

iTrader: (1)

I joined the military....I cherish every dollar..haha and I spend it every month on a rx8 its like almost half my income lol but i love it

Therefore the absolutely best care will be givin to my ride...I like to think I'm very responsible when it comes to my vehicles, but I also thank my dad for that, ever since I was young he would stress the importance of maintaining my dirt bikes and other small engine vehicles, which was GREAT experience. My first car was a 1994 eclipse gs I thought it was the ****, btw

Absinthe

In my opinion, I would strongly recommend against the rx-8 for your first car for one main reason: blind spots. The rx-8 doesn't have good visibility, and that can be a recipe for disaster with inexperienced drivers.

I would recommend a mid 90s civic in relatively good condition for your first car, as it's a very good overall car to learn on. Give it about a year or so, and once you've become familiar with driving and general awareness, then go grab that RX-8. Plus, you'll probably end up with a bit more appreciation for the RX-8's overall feel.

tidmutt

I agree a good first car is a 4-cylinder front wheel drive like a civic or something similar. However, in my short experience with the RX8 so far, I would think if he MUST buy a "sports car" then the RX8 would be a good choice, at least in terms of the trouble he can get into. It seems to me that it's linear power delivery and sure-footed handling would be a safer option than say a Mazdaspeed 3 or a V6 or V8 sports sedan, especially if he found a GT with traction control, stability etc.

As for the additional maintenance... well, that can be character building. Seriously though, it's not like it's a lot of work. It just takes a little discipline to check the oil every few gas tanks, and let her warm up before switching it off.

If it was my kid, I'd buy him a civic or a NA Mazda 3. Better yet, I'd encourage him to get a job and buy it himself! If he was buying it himself and he insisted on buying a sports car, I would encourage him to get an RX8.

mwfpolska

Thanks for all the help guys, but i think i know how to drive. haha. my dad was a driving instructor for Le Mans. He worked with the Audi drivers I think. He wasnt the real deal, but he taught stuff about being quick to your decisions and response to things that might go wrong. stuff like that. Hes taken me to many tracks including Sebring, Sarthe, and Nurburgring, and hes driven me on them. we were on a BMW M5 on Nurburgring. (amazing car).

I know I have not had enough experience to redline, or race, but its just that i've never driven an 8. It looks sporty, interior looks just amazing, so on and so forth. I dont know if its a beast or more relaxed. Once more thank you for the suggestions and everything else.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

More teenager bashing! YES!!!!

RX8 dood

iTrader: (1)

Driving on tracks, and dodging raging soccer moms on the street is a big difference!

But since everyone is throwing in their opinion, here is mine!

Buy a DSM! 92-99 eclipse/talon TSI GST GSX - These are turbo cars that are powerful but a stock one isn't TOO powerful for a beginner and they are VERY modable and is an EXCELLENT car to be introduced into the modding/tuning world with some power, and plenty of window for those blind spots...Thats my opinion...

daisuke

blind spots, I forgot about those, and yes it does have them.

I still think that a celica or is your best bet, cheaper than the 8, a bit more toned down in the engine department and more reliable in the long run being a toyota piston engine. And it's good looking and comfortable to ride in. The eclipse is also in the same range.

The 8 is one of those cars that manages to be both a beast and relaxed. It won't explode off the line like something with a V8 or V10 and is very quiet and civilized at low revs, but once you get the revs up it will start to want to go very fast when you hit the gas. Also, the rx-8 drives like a motorbike when you're going hard, using all the top end power instead of the midrange, so the engine is used differently than most other cars. If anything stay away from the 8 so you know what driving a "normal" car is like.

tidmutt

Well, I don't think it's "bashing". It's just that some of the "old" guys on here probably remember how they were when they were 16.

mwfpolska: Sounds like you've had plenty of exposure to good driving techniques etc. also sounds like your background is such that you won't have a problem taking care of an RX8. You also seem to realise that no matter how much training/instruction you've had, nothing replaces experience. I feel like an old fart saying it, but it's reality. On the flip side, it's not to say some experienced drivers couldn't do with some training.

To answer your question about what sort of car the RX8 is. Well, in my short experience, it's a refined, forgiving, fun car that is a blast to drive but also is enjoyable on a long trip and is practical enough that you can take some friends along with you. It combines looks, performance, technology in a way that you won't find in any other vehicle. I wouldn't describe it as a "beast", more of a thoroughbred horse. When you launch, it doesn't feel like you have an ICBM strapped to your ***, but it's quick enough to be satisfying. When you throw it around a twisty road and those twin rotors are whining like a turbine out of some high-tech fighter jet and the car feels like it's reading your thoughts and going exactly where you want it to, it's true automotive bliss.

If you're still interested in the 8 after reading about them on this forum, go and test drive one.

rled

After reading through all the posts, I thought I would put my 2 cents in. I think whether the Rx8 is a good first car depends a lot on what kind of person you are. You can get your *** killed or someone else in any car built today. Just because it is a sports car does not mean you have to race around the streets all the time. You don't have to flog this car to keep it running well as some seem to think. I drive mine just like any other car . If I need to pass I get in it hard in a low enough gear to bring the revs up and clean it out without being stupid about it. Winding the engine to redline every time you go somewhere is not necessary .All cars have blind spots, all cars need maintenance. I would have to say that the better a car handles the safer it is. The "8" excels at handling. It is not a monster car . It has enough power to be fun to drive and get into traffic without having to wait for traffic to clear a half mile down the road.My car has 53000 of virtually trouble free miles on the odometer. Buy your "8" , drive responsibly, keep up with the maintenance, and remember that your right foot can get you killed! Enjoy.

Soapflake

If you get this car as you first car you will learn to respect and care for cars at a young age.

dothackRAVE

Or we get another thread a few months later titled, "ZOMG ENGINE BLOWN. I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TO FILL OIL UP!"

Ike

The kid wants to drive, not learn how to be a mechanic Good DSMs are pretty hard to find nowadays. I loved my DSM, was my first car as well, but unless you're into wrenching and spending a lot of money on repairs they're just not a very good choice. I also don't think it's a car that a first time driver should own.

Yes, I had a '90 Talon TSI as a young driver. However, I also had been racing karts for years and had been doing trackdays trackdays in an E30 M3. All that managed to do was give me the confidence to tear up the streets... It never bit me in the *** other than some speeding tickets, but I think most young drivers it would have. An overwhelming majority of kids should have some slow piece of crap to drive for a while before they're allowed to drive something more performance oriented. Yes, any car can get them in trouble, but fast cars and sports cars are too tempting for most youngins. Keep the limits of the cars low and lods will be less likely to try and find them. Plus if they do push the limits the consequences will usually be less tragic.

P.S. I'm curious why you would leave the two best years for the DSM off your suggestions?