nomopistons

I have had;
2004 PT CRUISER TURBO (WIFES CAR)
2001 FORD CONVERSION VAN-TRADED FOR RX8-SAME GAS MILEAGE ???
2000 RAM PU
1996 BLOWN CHEVY 1500 PU :D
1996 CHEVY CONVERSION VAN
2001 VW GOLF
1996 TAURUS WAGON
1996 TRANS AM CONVERTIBLE
1995 TRANS AM
1995 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
1994 FIREBIRD
1995 DODGE AVENGER
1994 NISSAN PU
1994 DODGE RAM
1993 MERCURY CAPRI
1993 CHEVY 1500 PU
1992 CHEVY PU
1992 FORD FIESTA
1988 IZUSU TROOPER II
1987 FORD MUSTANG
1987 DODGE RAM 50 4WD
1986 PORSCHE 944
1986 DODGE LANCER TURBO
1984 DODGE SHELBY CHARGER TURBO
1974 FORD MUSTANG II
1973 FORD MUSTANG
1976 DATSUN 280 Z
1972 RANCHERO 351 4 BBL
1972 CHEVELLE
1968 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE
1968 TRIUMPH 2000
1965 FORD FALCON
1963,69,71,73 VW BEETLES
1959 RENAULT DAUPHINE
1953 DODGE CORONET (STILL HAVE)
1941 PLYMOUTH SEDAN
1995 HARLEY SPORTSTER 1200 (STILL HAVE)
1984 KAWASAKI 440 LTD
1984 KAWASAKI GTP
1972 YAMAHA 200
1969 HONDA 450
1953 INDIAN SCOUT
RX8 IS KING OF THE ROAD(EXCEPT FOR THE HARLEY)

c2k4-8

1989 Chevrolet Camaro (USED) – My first car - it was actually my Mom's and I got it when I turned 16. It was a V6 Rally Sport model with Auto. Not sure about the specs on this car. It was a nice car - in very good condition in and out. What I remember about it was it had a very rough ride - you could feel every bump in the road.

PROS: It was free. It had 115,000 miles on it when I traded - only thing I had to replace - the water pump at about 100,000.

CONS: Power - when A/C was on - you could really feel the power drop. Rough ride.

1998 Pontiac Trans-Am (NEW) –*Traded the Camaro for this after college. Was my first car purchase. This bad boy was sweet! Red with dark gray interior, T-tops, Auto, 310hp - put a Flowmaster on it, and boy did this thing sound mean. Had alot of power too - I used to do alot of power braking (until I had to buy new tires, that is) it came with the Corvette LS-1 engine. It had the absolutely best stock sound system of any car I ever owned - a 10 speaker Monsoon. It was the first car I ever loved.... missed it for about 3 months after getting rid of it.

PROS: Fast. Fun. American Muscle.

CONS: Dull gray interior. Gauges were sometimes hard to see do to steering wheel.

2000 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe (NEW) –*This is the best car I have owned to date. What else can you say but that "it's a Vette"! 350hp, 350lb ft of tq. 6-speed. Car would absolutely fly - looked sexy too. The Vette was a very comfortable car too - took it to Kentucky to visit the Corvette Museum and plant - never was tiring - a very good trip or day-to-day driver - it was the most comfortable car I've had. I still to this day miss my Vette - and I WILL have another!

PROS: Fast. Fun. Amercan Muscle. Heritage. Comfortable.

CONS: Expensive - everything from oil changes to tires. A little too much plastic on interior for at $43 grand car.

2004 Mazda RX8 (NEW) – My first import... actually never thought I would buy one. This car is fun. The best ride quality from a car that I've owned. The best fit and finish - the best interior by far. After having two torque loving American V8's the "8" does need a little more down low but it does seem like a very fast car. The first impression I had of the RX is that it felt really quick and nimble, and I love the 9,000 RPM - although I never get it that high. You can really swing this thing around. The handling is on par, if not better, than my Vette - and it retailed for $43 grand.

PROS: Quick. 9,000 RPM. Interior is gorgeous. DVD Nav.

CONS: Seats can be uncomfortable. Gas Mileage.

Texas 8

Good lord nomo, how do you remember all the rides you've had?

nomopistons

Texas 8, thats the ones I COULD remember

RotaryJeff

1984 Mazda GLC (new) (no laughing please, it was a good "first car")

1989 Mazda RX-7 GXL. (new) 15 years, 250K miles. Awesome car. Felt like I was part of it on the road. Only thing I ever had to do is replace a cluch and A/C compressor. Most reliable car I can imagine. Sold it when I got my 8. Should have kept it. Odd that not many 7's are mentioned here

2004 RX-8 MT (new). Similar to my RX-7, only better. Wish I still had the 18 gal tank. At first, didn't like the emergency brake on right side of shifter (was on left on my RX-7). But after 15 years, its hard to dismiss the advances in automotive technology.

Jeff

Gladiatoiz

1st car: 1997 DODGE STRATUS. AUTOMATIC, sold for $2,500.00 with 45,000 miles on it.
2nd car: 2004 MAZDA RX8. 6-speed, bought for 26,000 with 3,800 miles. $10,000 downpayment.
QUite a big upgrade, dont you think? im so glad my insurance is signed up on a 1986 mazda pickup. lol i pay 800.00 a year for insurace.

bluesunlion

2004 RX8- Awesome, of course.

1993 Miata. I still own this car, although it's in dire need of a new top and repaint. Most "fun" car to ever be driven as an extension of my body. It still consistently gets 29-30 MPG with 172K on the clock. the only thing this car needs mechanically is a 6-speed.

1998 Honda Civic EX Coupe. (manual, of course) Not too bad for a blahmobile. Great gas mileage, well put together (its a honda, duh!) I put 100K miles on this car in 4 years. Only major complaint was that the shifter felt like jello.

1997 Ford Probe SE- I loved this car. It had awesome seats and looked like a big black bullet. The frameless windows sucked, and whistled at highway speeds, but it handled well and had a great gearbox. I didn't have much time to enjoy this car, as it was totaled out from under me by some jackass in a pickup truck 3 months and 8K miles after I bought it.

1989 Mercury Sable. The only good thing about this car was it's aftermarket stereo, and the fact that the front passenger's seat was big enough to have sex in. This car was the biggest repair nightmare ever. 2 water pumps, AC compressor, 2 heater cores, one transmission rebuild, and several other things i've likely blocked from memory. however, it was a great college car and was significantly better than my previous vehicle.

1974 Chevy Nova- This was my first car, and people feared it. 350 engine, 4 doors, and non-functional air conditioning. This car was a tank, but you know how you always have feelings for your first =) There's nothing like that ohshitsecond the first time I took it out in the rain after learning to drive in front wheel drive cars. Completely indestructible, and i would still have it if it had been a manual and a two door.

Paul_in_DC

Before the 8, the funnest car I owned was a 1979 Triumph Spitfire. The Spit was very light (~1950 lbs) and was the most nimble ride I ever had. Steering was very tight, suspension was stiff (too stiff for long drives of several hours). It too had a 50-50 weight distribution, and it drifted beautifully (which saved my butt on at least 2 occasions). A 4-wheel slide was perfectly predictable, and it snapped right out of it like it was on rails. And it was just plain sexy. :D On the downside it was only a 2-seater, though I packed 3 passengers in more than once; one in the passenger seat, one on the passenger's lap, and one sitting sideways behind the seats. The trunk was approximately the size of a shot glass ( :D ) and there was a luggage rack on the trunk lid, although using it meant you couldn't see out the back.

The 8 is heavier, though it's amazingly nimble for its size. The suspension isn't as stiff, but still hugs the road wonderfully while being more comfortable on long drives. I haven't really tested the limits of handling yet, but it rivals the road-hugging of the Spit. It's much more comfortable inside and seats 4. Power-wise it would blow the doors off the Spit with both torque and horsepower, though on a very tight course the Spit's handling would even things considerably.