dodiox

I will be buying a brand new 2006 rx8 or a brand new 06 wrx.
i canīt make up my mind. the only thing i donīt like about the wrx is the interior and the looks are not like the rx8 which i think is amazing.
iīve read that the A/C on the rx8 sucks! it was said by car and driver magazine. is this true?
im also worried about the MPG on this thing iīve read its pretty bad.
im also worried about the fact that it has a rotary engine and that pretty much only mazda dealers can fix the car.
I donīt know how good mazda is with their warranties.
i donīt know if its expensive to mantain this car so i wanted to hear from you guys what you think.
i want a car that gives you a very enjoyable driving experience in stock form.
i test drove the wrx and in stock form is nothing wow.
please help to convince me.

oreo

If youre looking for a car with great handling, excelent ride quality,Incredible looks and all arround fun. Then this is your car. If youre looking for raw power from factory then not.test drive the 8 it will give you perspective.
mpg is pretty bad but I dont mind, constant 11 to 14 city mpg. Might get 20 mpg on highway only mabe. The AC is prety god for me, the radio also.

Krankor

The AC isn't great, but it's not awful. Top fan speed is a bit too much for it, you get better cooling using the third fan speed. If you're worried about MPG, buy an econobox; if you want any kind of car that performs, that costs gas. I haven't had mine long enough to have information yet about repair costs or warranties; but so far I've got 6000 trouble-free miles. But as for enjoyable driving experience, my stock Shinka is the most fun I've ever had driving a car, period.

Krankor
2005 Shinka 6MT

Nigandahu

Most peoples mileage isnt nearly that bad. Id say most people get about 16-19mpg city, and 21-25 hwy. SOme have gotten almost 30mpg hioghway. Seems like the early build 04 cars were more prone to bad mileage.

Deuse

you'll get laid more in the rx8, hands down

btw i ive in vegas and my 8's ac works wonders in 115 degrees

steven888

I you like Subaru Impreza Wrx you most probably like fat women because the wrx in interior and exterior is awful, the only thing you are buying is a 4wd very very fast car!!!!

mrthundercleese

It is rather special but being that it's a rotary you wont have much to fix :-).
I've never had a problem with mine. For the most part dealers are linient as long as your not doing major engine modifications.
Not any more expensive than the WRX would be. So far all i've had to do is oil changes. Since rotaries consume oil, you will have to watch the oil level a little more and keep an extra quart or two just in case. It seems to not be much of a problem for me unless im 9King routinely (which of cource i never do... )
I've got two words for you, Mazda RX-8. haha. If all you care about is a stoplight rocket, then the rx8 isn't for you. All other aspects of driving (ride, handling, breaking, neck snapping responses of others as you drive by with the "That thing is gorgeous" look on their face, etc) then the rx8 would make you happy. Go testdrive it and see for yourself.

rodrigo67

ok, the no nonsense answer...

The 8 takes the wrx hands down in the looks department, also in the head turning dept, and you'll have to get used to the extra attention you get at the gas station.

The A/C is not the greatest but it does work well enough to do what it's suppose to.

A few of the earlier cars were getting under 15 mpg, but most people are getting between 16 and 19 city and over 20 highway. I think it's more driving habits then anything due to the fun factor of keeping the revs up. The only negative that I think is getting only 260 miles out of a tank. It would have been nice for 5 more gallons in the tank.

I've had my 8 for a year, got 8K on it and has never been into the shop other then oil changes, so it hasn't been anymore expensive then most cars and quite a bit less then some. There is not much to maintain, just check your oil level every few fillups, and pay attention to cold shutdown situations. I've added only 2 quarts in btween oil changes in 8K, so it's not really that big a deal.

Get the 6 speed, very different car over the auto, but the wow is definitely there. If you are looking at the throw your *** into the seat kinda wow, then you might consider the WRX. The 8's powerband is so smooth and linear that you don't realize how fast it gets up there. Not saying it's a power demon, but it's faster then word on the street gives it credit for. If your looking for 0-60 speeds, then you might want to look at a mustang, but if your looking for looks, unbelievable handling, excellent feel for the road, comfort, roomier then you thought for a sportscar space, 10+ fun factor, and more attention then you'd get in almost anything else, then the 8 might be for you.

automaton

I traded a 2002 WRX in for the RX-8 and havn't regretted my decision once.

The 2006 WRX is supposed to have the new 2.5l engine, right? That would fix one of my complaints about the WRX (can we say "LAG"?, I thought so), but the handling isn't supposed to be improved by much. I'd still buy the RX-8.

Either way, buy the manual tranny, both cars suffer under the autos.

BlueRenesis82

nope!

Toddz

You will know what to do after you drive the 8. as for gas mileage; I do mostly highway driving and I usually grt around 22mpg. I live in Arizona and the a/c works great. I think they had some problems with the 04's but it was corrected in the 05's. I have had many types of cars and my advice is to buy the car that does the MOST things well.

dodiox

thanks guys.
I love! the looks on the rx8 and the interior is amazing! the problem witht he test drives is that they donīt let you go over "X" revs! and that sucks! how r u gonna really test drive a car that way. my GF loves the rx8 but to be honest with you guys i have been dying to buy a wrx for 4 years now! cuz i didnīt realize that the rx8 was actually affordable or at a same price range as the wrx.
it seems that my decision is hard cuz i cant let go the desire i had for the wrx.
i tried to test drive the rx8 but they wouldnīt let I HATE THAT im 23! not a teenager. this arrogant bastard at the dealer in savannah GA woulndīt let me.
you guys have great info, any else is very appreciated!

ltorres23

First you should wait for '06 Subaru test drive. And second, any www.zoomzoomlive.com around your area???

mitty

Both cars are ugly. RX looks like a cockroach. Sub looks like an AMC Pacer. But you don't have to look at either one while your driving it.

The Sub looks good on paper, low c.g., etc., but I have driven a couple of them and they understeer like pigs. The RX is one of the best balanced street cars that I have driven and the wheelbase is long enough that it doesn't pitch much when hiway cruising. Unlike my wife's TT coupe.

The RX loves gas stations; 17-18mpg and 220 miles betweed stops for fuel in city/freeway. Barely over 20 mpg freeway at 70-75.

The Sub can carry things. The RX's ability is quite limited.

With both on good winter tires, the Sub will be far better on snow/ice than the RX. Anything is better than the RX on its OEM tires on snow/ice. Anything.

The RX is adequately quick for a street car. IIRC the WRX is as well. The RX has too many gears for a street car. I don't recall the gearing on the Sub. IIRC the Sub is a turbo; I don't like turbos because the throttle response is inconsistent, depending on how spun up the turbo is.

If you want sports car performance, the RX wins. If you want AWD or need to haul stuff, the Sub wins.

"you'll get laid more in the rx8, hands down" If you're less than 4 feet tall, that is.

Krankor

My advice to you is to buy an RX-8... from some OTHER dealer who lets you have a test drive, and tell the savannah *** to **** off.

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

willhave8

IMHO - Depends on what the RPM limit the dealer gave you but my first reaction is that this may be THE dealer you want to purchase your RX8 from. You don't want the 'test drive' 8 that people have taken to 9.5K every third day probably with the engine cold and certainly within the break-in period. You want to buy the car that this dealer has kept limited to low RPMs during test drives...

6speed8

If you NEED to be convinced to buy ANY car - don't buy it. Getting a car like the RX-8 or the WRX is a passioniate decision, and you either DESIRE a particular car or you don't.

Like all cars, both the RX-8 and WRX have their strong points and weak points, it's up to YOU which ones are more important.

cowboyup75146

Let me give you a insight on the rx8 that a woman pick out , looked at a dozen cars. according to this forum she bought the wrong one ? AUTOMATIC
I get to drive it when we go somewhere.
She drives in traffic on the highway/ city in the DFW area ( thats in Texas )
Yesterday the temp was 105 and her cars AC does Great does not go from hot to cold
The only thing she added was the rotatry accent , she has05 Black SPort Pakage sun roof and the wing .She gets about 300 miles to a tank about 21.5 to 22 mpg
We went out of town to enroll my daughter in collage , about 180 each way we got 24.8 mpg , and theres only 2500 miles on the car thats driving 75 mph
I think the low gas milage is with the manuels and the high rev's.
THe warranty we bouht the extended warr. to 100,000
The car LOOKS GREAT , RUNS GREAT, DRIVES GREAT
The only quirk is you have to add oil that the rotary uses to lube the eng. about 1/2 qt. at 1500 miles
I don't know about the WRX but it is piston driven , the rotary even in auto once you clear 3000, its put you aganist the seat
Car does not have a lot on standing start speed ( you can't smoke the tires ) but the shifter on the sterring wheel it is a blast to drive in the manuel mode
OVERALL the car is rated at a 4 - door in the ins eyes , cheap ins , we pay about 68.00 a month , the 06 eclipse was a little higher
She really enjoyes the car and she gets a lot of looks , she enjoys that lol
Test drive both cars , look them , make your pick
enjoy the 8

NOPR

interior is over-rated. If you fit in the seeat comfortably who cares where buttons are.

It works, dont be a pansy. A/C is over-rated anyway.

It depends on how you drive it, but its not going to be any worst than a WRX which requires high octane since it's turbo

Actually, the mazda dealer is the ABSOLUTE LAST place i would take my rotary engine. rotary specialist shops are scattered across the country, stay the hell away from the deealership unless its under warranty.

Do you know how good Subaru is?

There isn't much maintenence. Change the oil every 3000 miles, redline it once every couple days. If anything breaks its a new car so theres a warranty. It all depends on what you want. If you're going to keep it all stock and want a comfortable somewhat sensible car, get the 8. The WRX has way more potential in every category, but in stock form i'd take the 8.

Oh yeah, if you get the RX-8, WAVE AT THE SEVENS!!!

ironmedic

i went from RX8 to WRX and never looked back. i didnt spend much cash to get a big HP/TQ jump. i went to a turboXS stage 2 and now i went from 170whp to 230whp with just a turboback setup and the UTEC map set on stage 2. i also did my uppipe and it helped too. i switched to a MBC and i am boosting at 16.5psi in each gear. the UTEC stage 2 map is set for 16.5 psi on a stock turbo (safe tune)

Smoker

I'll let Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear convince you.

http://www.mininova.org/tor/28985

TODreamer

Whats with these "convince me to buy an RX8 " thread....

its up to you dude, not us. Convince yourself.. its your car

legokcen

A good friend of mine has a WRX and we routinely autocross and drive together. I've driven his and he's driven mine, both on the track, and on the road. When I first drove his WRX (the 227 hp one), it felt a lot like the 8. It didn't throw me back in my seat like a vette or porsche, but when I looked down at the speedo, I said "Damn, it doesn't feel as though we accellerated that fast." It has a smooth accelleration like the 8 that you don't feel, but it's really there. I don't know about the STi, but the WRX is a lot like the RX-8 in performance as far as the driver's seat feels. I didn't track the car at a road course like Road Atlanta or anything, but on the autocross course, I liked my RX-8 better, as did my friend. The brakes are wonderful on the 8. They can empty your tear ducts if you stand on them. And they don't have any fade at all after lots of braking. We boiled the WRX brake fluid at the autocross course. The hadling is about the same. In the rain, the WRX would be tons better, but the 8 and WRX are both damn good. The feel of the cars from the driver's seat are like night and day different. The RX-8 is a driver's car. You get _IN_ the seat. The car surrounds your and it's a cockpit for the driver. The searing is very responsive, you can almost think of where you want to go and the car goes there. The shifter is amazing, it just takes a small flick of the wrist to change gears. I can rest my elbow on the center console and easily hit every gear in the RX-8 without lifting my elbow. The WRX felt like a sedan. I sat ON the seat, not IN it. The shifter felt like I was driving a bus. OK, not that bad, but my brother has a 5 spd toyota camry and it felt like that.

I'm not going to comment on the looks and such, they are so different they don't need any comment.

As far as the base WRX is concerned, please get the RX-8. The only way I'd choose a subaru over my 8 is if it was the STi, and even then, since I'm a rotary fan and have been driving them since 1991, I'd go with the 8. My RX-7 has 190,000 miles on it. It's still a blast to drive. My RX-8 has 27,000 miles on it. Again, I smile every time I'm in the thing. As far as gas milage goes, I've gotten about 19.1 mpg since I've had the car. This includes all my long distance driving, autocross weekends, and my 4 track days where I got 7.2 mpg once. On the highway, I usually get above 20 and have gotten as high as 24 mpg. In the city, I usually get between 18 and 20, depending on how I'm driving it. I don't know why some folks are claiming 14-16. I've never seen that in normal driving. And I love driving and I don't drive it like my Grandmother. I've attached an older picture of my gas milage in case people want to refute my claims. I can add the rest and post a new one if needed. The build date on my car is 11/4/03 and I bought it in January brand spankin' new.

These are just my opinions, take them as such. Just my $0.02.

Titanium_Eight

My thoughts exactly.

nzarnow

pwned X2