Gord96BRG

I'm always very low-key when I get a new car. My friends know all about it, but co-workers are kept in the dark for a while - if they don't ask, I don't tell. I've seen the jealous or disapproving reactions like that before - currently, I explain either that the RX-8 is actually not very expensive, or I just say that my wife makes a lot more than I do (which is true).

I first saw this type of reaction when I was in University - in 1980, I bought a 1972 Mercedes 300SEL 4.5. Beautiful car (and the only auto trans car I've ever owned), I knew the original owner - my father! I was driving a 72 VW Beetle at the time, and he was going to trade in his 72 Mercedes on a new 81 Mercedes. When he told me the dealer was only going to give him $5K for the trade-in, I said "hell, I'll give you $5K for it!" When school started that fall, I managed to keep the car secret for 2 or 3 months, which wasn't easy since I lived in a residence on campus. A few close friends knew I had the car (since they were often in it), but I'd asked them not to mention it to anyone. It became a bit of fun, because we'd occasionally hear people in the residence talking about the car and wondering who owned it. It certainly was not the most expensive car in the residence parking lot (there were quite a few new cars), but it was the only Mercedes, so it was quite noticeable in the parking lot. It was never vandalized, though.

Regards,
Gordon

stanfordcole

It really is too bad that people act that way. It is really no fault of the Rx-8. It just happens that the 8 looks like it is doing 100MPH when it is sitting still(That is a direct quote from my dad). When I first bought it and no one had seen it before, people asked if it costs 40 to 50k. I simply laughed and said that it couldn't cost that much because I couldn't be driving it. But until people actually research it and find out how much it costs, they assume it is very expensive. While 24-34K is not chump change it is not the same price range as others think.

I have to agree with the post about people with BIG SUV's saying something to me about it. Knowing full well they paid a good bit more than I. Anyway just my 2 cents. Also I don't want to start a flame about big SUV's. They have their place in the world to. Just don't make a comments to me about my vehicle.

04MazdaRX8

I ran into this issue when I bought my 8 in February.. I guess my best friend wanted one too and I happened to get one first. At first it wasnt noticable and he was very supportive, but then after a week he started to hate and just gave me a hard time by saying that my attitude changed ever since I got the car and that I was more "cocky". I was like BS dude I've been the same even before I got this car.. He did nothin but call me and tell me about how we was going to purchase a 350Z or a Corvette to match mine.. He even called and said that he wanted to get a porsche lol.

I finally snapped and told him to f*ck off and think about what he is saying. We talked about 2 hours and alot of f words were said and to this day he still holds this grudge and our friendship is no more.

Winning_BlueRX8

Damn, that is sad to hear. But hey, if what you say is true you have to question what kind of friend he was in the first place. Also, I noticed you're attaching a picture of you car from within the post itself. If you get tired of doing that, you can add it to your signature instead, and it'll automatically add the picture everytime you post. Click the "User CP" button towards the top, and then click edit profile.

04MazdaRX8

Yes everything is true.. and thanks for the help on the sig, I'll mess with it right now.

zoom44

hell everyone knew what i was getting! i talked about it for a year before the pre-order and then had to wait 6 months for it to be delivered. they were all very nice and happy when it finally arrived. gave rides to most. of course they also probably thought i would shut up abotu it finally! nahh. i also have teh scale model at my desk as well as wall paper and screen saver. in case anyone is not sure

04MazdaRX8

Yea when you talk about it they think you are bragging.

762gunner

Holy crap that sounds just like something that happened to me with a former friend about a year ago.

My family is pretty well off and they tend to buy people really expensive gifts. So on my birthdays and Christmas they usually get me some top of the line tools, vacations, etc.

I'd tell him about these things and he would get so envious!

So I thought I'd lighten things up a bit by playing a little joke on him. He and his wife were shopping for a new Volvo XC90 SUV. They were acting pretty pompous and snooty about it, so I thought I'd mess with his head a little by saying how I was going to ask my folks to help me get one before they did.

Big mistake! He totally flipped out over that and our "friendship" took a nose dive!

It's gotten to where we don't talk at all anymore. He lives in the neighborhood next to mine and he doesn't even acknowledge my presence when we cross paths on the sidewalk! I'm leaving out a lot of stuff, don't mean to bore you with my soap opera life, but they've gotta start teaching people in school to stop the whole "Keeping up with Jones" mentality.

04MazdaRX8

I feel your pain! I told him that my wife wanted a 350z also just because he wanted it and he almost had a fricking heart attack lol. Anyways, I moved on.. and so did he. We just dont keep in touch anymore.

TODreamer

Eventhough I think your friend overreacted and needs to seriously chill out and worry about his own game....

I also think that your joke wasn't too hot and not well placed at all. Ok so your family is rich (or "well off"...whatever)...thats fine and dandy. But nobody likes the typical "rich kid" behaviour even if it was only a joke... and yeah your friend was acting all snooty because hes buying a Volvo, but thats no reason to make yourself look silly too by making a remark like that (again, even if you are only joking)....jokes like that never come across well.

Sometimes its best to just hold your tongue and let sleeping dogs lie

HeelnToe

Curious, ain't it?

The friday before we bought our 8, a coworker noticed my screensaver and commented, "Dream on, there's no way you're getting a car like that."

We bought the car the next day.

First thing he said to me (while laughing) monday was, "I apologize. I guess you CAN get a car like that."

It's odd, as my previous car (Eclipse GST) wasn't all that much cheaper when new (24K), so I don't know why the 8 seemed so far out of my league to him - except that he must be assuming it cost much more than it did.

Renesis2004

I've had mixed reactions to my Winning Blue 8. Just the reactions from people on the street have been worth the price of the car!

I'm a teacher (high school), and I didn't say anything to anyone. Just parked in the teacher's lot and let the chips fall where they may.

Since November I have been the talk of the school... the kids went NUTS (especially the boys), and stayed that way for the rest of the year... like I was a hero or something! Most of my classes BEGGED me to take them out to see the car. -No exaggeration!

My co-workers were different. Many loved it, but many others said virtually nothing at all, deliberately avoiding any comment. As the school year went by, I got a few remarks about the cost of the car. People think it's REALLY expensive.

One night we took it to a local Dairy Queen, and a twenty-something guy came up and talked to me about the car. He seemed to know a bit about cars and even a little about RX-7s (-keep in mind what the last turbo 7's cost new). Then he asked (seriously), "What did you pay... aren't they running around $62,000?" -I just smiled and said it was a little less than that!

I'm telling you... people think you spent over $50K. That's OK by me!

TODreamer

Up here in Canada, you can easily pay 50K for an 8...mind you it will be a fully loaded GT