Bmwfan

Alright please don't flame me, I know. I am just trying to get some other input from some outside sources. As i am sure you can see, I am a huge BMW fan. My wife on the other hand loves them but doesn't think that we should spend the money on it at the moment. So I am investigating other cars, the only cars i like to drive are rear wheel drive so naturally I turn to something like the RX-8.

I have driven the RX-8 and really enjoyed it. The thing that I am concerned with is how they get around in the snow. Also how it would compete with an e46 M3 in auto-x.

DOMINION

Its a great Car to AutoX. Tons of things you can do to set your Car up fot that but do you want to AutoX your Car or daily drive it? I would say one over the other but thats just me.

The 8 is bad in the snow. When I found this fourm back in late 2003 start of 2004 I seen tons of "wrecked my Car in the Snow" threads. Dont do it on stock Tires. A lot of People get 17" wheels and Winter Tires. Thats your best bet aside from learing how to drive in the Winter

BTW Have you seen the new 8? From the sounds of things you want a Car from $20-$30K right?

Bmwfan

Yeah i am looking for something in that price range. The car will be my daily driver, auto-x is just one of my hobbies. I am supposed to be going out to the stealership this weekend to drive a brand new one. I am not sure which car would make a better daily driver/ part time auto-x car.

As far as driving in the winter, I grew up on rwd car's. My first was an early 80's BMW 6 series and I learned how to drive in the snow really quickly.

DOMINION

Ahh I see. Well then old Man Winter should be no prob for you.
I say get the 8. After time you get use to people looking at your car like its a UFO. Oh and when you open the back doors pople are like oh wow!. I love it. People will just never get use to this car. Its just not like every car on the road.
And in the turns/twistys, man, Its like your foot just wants you to go faster

reaper1

In regards to winter, there's lot of threads around on this subject ..The main thing is to get yourself some snow tires , thats what I hear . I put mine away for winter , its my number 3 car . Only come out on weekends .

When you test drive it, see if they let you take it by yourself. Then you can really get into it and have the opportunity to redline it .

Enjoy..................

Bmwfan

I definitely want to take it out by myself, i need to be able to get the rear end loose around a few corners to get a real feel for it. I have a 5 series right now and it seems that it spends most of its corners sideways and I need to know that I can still do that with the 8.

DarkBrew

You need to disable the DSC/traction control for your test drive.
Let the engine fully warm up
Revs are your friend. The engine makes power in the upper rev range.

BTW
I'm driving my 8 through its third winter; Just get winter tires on 17" wheels.

Startl_Respons

Many people who live in cold climates just have a second set of wheels/snow tires ready to swap in when the snow comes and swap back out in spring/summer. A bunch of people were getting cheap deals at Tire Rack for 16" or 17" wheels plus snow tire combos.

After a 5 min warm up drive, why not go all out WITH the salesman in the car? What's the big deal? Just tell him to hang on. The RX8 will go around corners faster and better than any BMW or 350z or G35/37 coupe.

I have a winding canyon road I like to drive every now and then, and let me tell you NO ONE goes through that canyon faster than me, not 350z's and not 911's. Ok maybe part of the reason is because I know every curve but still my RX8 is so incredibly nimble. You'd need a Lotus Elise to beat it in the corners.

dothackRAVE

RX-8s compete in B-Stock class, and I don't think the M3 is in the same class. RX-8s dominate the class though. Most of the top B-Stock drivers drive an RX-8.

Rems31

it's totally fine in the snow if you have winter tires and assuming you have enough ground clearance...

Riggs

From one BMW fan to another...you will love the RX8. I have owned a couple of BMWs in the past (04 330Ci, 05 M3) and I honestly believe the RX8 is superior in handling, feedback, and chasis response than both. It's not as quick as the M3 of course but as a complete package, and taking into account the prices, the RX8 more than holds its own against the M3.

If you have to go BMW look at the leftover 07 Mcoupes. You can get them new for $14K off msrp. That is a sick deal!

Startl_Respons

Man Riggs that is an awesome Cayman S you have there.

Riggs

Startl,

Thx man...its been a labor of love.

Socket7

BMW's are technological wonders.

RX-8's have souls. There is no better car for the money.

Startl_Respons

Are you going to put an LSD in? I remember reading about people putting in the Quaife LSD.

DOMINION

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

I drive mine year round. The only problem with the RX8 in the snow is the ground clearance. I've only got stuck once and it was because of that. As was said earlier, tires are the key. Get snows or at least a good set of all-season tires for the winter.

Riggs

It's in, I just don't have it in my sig I guess (i will update it!). Put it in as soon as the Quaife became available last year. Car needed it badly, especially for track use. Car would slip pushing out of turns. It should have come with one standard for $70K but Porsche were being tight a$$es as usual.

Riggs

I have driven my 8 in Chicago snow with just Blizzaks and have had no problems getting around. You just have to be careful of course.

Startl_Respons

Well I would like to hear your detailed comparisons between your RX8 and your Cayman S. Obviously you didn't do as much to your RX8, but a qualified evaluation of each car and each car's potential would be very appreciated. I'm sure the OP, Bmwfan, would also appreciate it. Maybe you could write about it in a new thread.

Riggs

Startl,

Sure thing. I will do a write up sometime and post some pics of both. The Cayman now looks quite different to the picture of it in my avatar. It was bone stock when I took that. My RX8 is stock except for a few cosmetic changes.

I will start a new thread as you suggested as not to hijack the OPs thread here.

Startl_Respons

Awesome, I can not wait to read it.

Razz1

It will kick *** in in Auto X.

Does your wife know you plan on racing it?

mikesol

I've been driving around in the snow all week here in Vancouver and as long as you have snow tires it's a cinch. I have been easily plowing through areas that all my coworkers' FWD econoboxes with all-seasons have been spinning their tires in.

LSD at the back really helps compared to an open diff when you're trying to get going in snow. Traction control will keep your *** in line, too, but don't be afraid to turn it off if you want some fun.

The only problem with an RX-8 in the snow is the same problem any other sportscar has, and that's that it is low, so if there's more than six-eight inches of snow you won't be going anywhere. But when snow gets that high, it's time for a snow day!

dothackRAVE

Honestly, I turn DSC off everytime I got in snow. I don't know about you, but I really hate the idea of a computer deciding what the car does. It's also annoying when it clicks in, your slide suddenly goes out of control (swaying side to side due to natural tendency to countersteer + brakes). That's far more dangerous than manually stopping the car.

IMHO, learn to drive. It's much better than anything DSC or any other computer can do.