Hey Guys,

I just wanted to send a shout out to the RX-8 community for all the great info and help I've received over the last 7 years. From the day I first saw the RX-8 prototype at the Toronto auto show, to the day I put my 2 grand down in February of 2003, to the day I picked it up in Sept 2003 (one of the first in Toronto!), and on through the next 7 years, this site has been an amazing way to extend the benefits of ownership beyond your garage. The car is unique and therefore the drivers are unique and it shows on this site!

I just recently sold the car before my 7-yr extended warranty expired to try to maximize the value. Truth is I have two kids and with all their junk I have literally outgrown the car. (arrgh)

I will never forget driving around Toronto in that first year in 2003 and seeing heads turn driving down Yonge Street and getting thumbs up from every other Mazda driver out there. Rock star delusions started creeping in... My VP at the time questioned what he was paying me... lol .. Good Times.

Thanks again to all for the great discussion and information-sharing on this site. I will continue to visit and when the kids are finally fending for themselves, I will be back for my rotary fix. With fingers crossed a 3-rotor version will make it's way into my sweaty hands before I die!!

Long Live the Rotary!!

-SHARX8 - Still my license plate from now on regardless of what I drive!

 

Time to get a station wagon ;]

 

Dude that's crazy! That's what I bought... a 2007 E350 4Matic Wagon.. 7 passenger (5 adult 2 little persons). I can't stand driving SUVs or minivans so the wagon is the family-man/enthusiast's compromise!

 

Farewell Good luck!!

 

Volvo wagon for da win!

 

Volvos are nice and all but this no Volvo!

 

Sad day Sharky. Good luck with your next car.

 

If you had to "upsize" I hope you gave the CX7 a test drive. I had an AWD CX7 for 3 years; like the RX8 it was a little thirsty but it certainly had the soul of a sports car.

The driver feel is better then a 350 Z in terms of steering feedback and pedal controls. Driving through mountain roads with switchbacks the CX7 was simply incredible to drive even when pushed a bit hard.

In 72,000 miles there were no real problems to speak of. 17 MPG in spirited city driving 23 on the road at 75-80MPH. The usual Mazda rattles but nothing annoying.

A blast to drive on slick surfaces. Not bad on unpaved roads including logging trails; certainly no Jeep.

 

WHAT?!?! it's an 8 year warranty.................you coulda had ONE MORE GLORIOUS YEAR!!


not all suv's are created equal
good luck!

 

Come back and visit. Enjoy the Benz.

 

^^it's not a wagon it's an estate car LOL take care man.

 

Thanks for the laughs guys!

 

farewell you will be back the rotary n the feel mazda has given the 8 is like an addiction it will never go away ... gluck with the estate

 

Very good points kartweb. I have always liked the look of the CX-7 (no doubt because of it's obvious RX-8 DNA!) and it is definitely one of the finer cross-overs out there. For myself personally though, I have never grown fond of the higher driving position or center of gravity that cross-over or SUV-type vehicles offer in general. You just can't completely overcome raw physics which is what drew me to the perfect balance of the RX-8 in the first place. My experience in renting and test-driving cross-overs and SUVs has always been that you get more bounce and roll when compared to wagons or sedans, simply by design. The biggest advantage of the E-wagon is the smoothness and plush ride it offers which, for a father of two sub 5 year olds is a huge plus.

I will give you an example, I had the wagon in for service last month and they lent me a GLK-350 4Matic for three days (they were waiting for parts from Germany so I kept driving their loaner. lol!). Man, driving that thing reminded me of why I love the wagon so much. It leans like crazy in every turn and it bounces erratically and damn was I ever glad I wasn't a passenger... This is a $50K plus vehicle (scoffaw loudly and belligerently). So for the ultimate test, I lined up the kids with their own car seats but in the GLK... guess what? fought the whole time! Never once fell asleep despite 3 separate hour-long drives.

On the other end of the spectrum we place the kids seats back in the E-wagon, and on 3 different occasions since the car has been serviced take the kids out for a drive and they are both asleep within 5 minutes every time, regardless of time of day! (Can you say parental bliss?!). My data may not be scientific but in my mind it is conclusive. Long live the wagon!!!

 

sleeping kids is a bonus while driving