Drove it home today!
 

Back in November, I test drove an 8 at Mazda Bastrop (part of the Roger Beasley dealerships). I was interested in a nicer car to make my 100+ mile (round trip) commute. I was driving a very practical (28 MPG over the last 65,000 miles) Ford Focus, but let's face it, it's a nice, practical econobox. It does handle well and can be fun, but a 100 miles every day was beating me down.

So, we (my boyfriend and I) stopped in a drove a Winning Blue 8 with the six speed manual. I was completely taken with the car. Also, my brother-in-law works for Ford so I knew I could get Friends & family pricing. I stopped to drive the 8 because I was sitting in traffic behind eccles. That got me to thinking.

I returned home to think about it and run the numbers to make sure it wasn't a budget buster. I also did a quick Google search and found this forum. I registered and spent lots of time just reading. I'd like to thank 8_wannabe for originating "The Little Things" and even Quino for "The Little (Disappointing) Things". Those made up my mind to get an 8. Thanks to everyone here for the wealth of information.

I purchased from Ron Kennedy at Mazda Bastrop and I would heartily recommend him if you're in the Austin area. This was one of the best car buying experiences I've had. Pleasant atmosphere, coffee or soda for the asking, excellent test drive range, and just friendly folks!

I look forward to spending 2+ hours a day in my 8!

Welcom to the Pack!

Zoom zoom zoom...................

Your ride to and from work will become an invigorating experience. Glad I could help in my own way. Welcome to the club!

I talked to Ron briefly. I'm currently looking to make my purchase next month. I'm currently working with a dealer that's a little closer to me.

Does anyone have a good method to get this car out of my head for the next three weeks? It's going to be a LONG three weeks.

There is no such method. You're pretty much doomed to become hopelessly addicted to this forum. It will be a long three weeks.. but it will be so worth it. :)

That's the car I was looking at! I wasn't dealing with Ron though. I'm located in La Grange, about 30 miles from Bastrop (Opposite of austin). Congratulations on the car, I didn't get a chance to drive it, but it was definatly a beauty.

Sounds like you really thought this out, but I wouldn't let your boyfriend know that you decided to buy the car by looing at Eccles's rear end :) .

I also agree that long commutes really do need a car that is quiter, smoother, and gives you a feeling that you are doing something worthwhile. That's alot of your life to spend doing somethng that isn't fun. I know. I used to have a 100 mile commute.

The Zoom Zoom kid from the commercials has been haunting my dreams for 2 months. Until last night. Now, just the car, silently gliding through, is there.

I've never wanted a car like I wanted this one. First time I ever bought a car and didn't wonder an hour later, "Did I make the right purchase?"

Yeah, it's quite a beauty. Once I settled on Winning Blue Metallic, that's all I wanted.

If you do a quick search here on RX8Club.com for dealers in the area, Ron and Mazda Bastrop get very good press.

Good luck on your purchase!

Congrats and welcome to the "club". My 8 came from some dealer in Bastrop (I'd assume there's only one Mazda dealer in a town that size). I bought it trough a group in Houston but they brought the car in from a dealer in Bastrop. That was about 7 weeks ago and it's more fun now than it was 7 weeks ago. Enjoy!!!

Congratulations! We're always happy to hear about a new 'delivery'! You thought two months was bad - just imagine how we pre-orders felt! Some of us laid eyes on just a picture of this car well over a year before it was available. Then the actual order (having never actually touched one, mind you), and the 6-month wait. Of course, we knew it would be everything we've come to expect from a Mazda rotary-based vehicle (although we were all hoping for that original 30MPG claim :)).

I never even test drove mine - I just knew. My only fear was lack of headroom, which kept me out of an FD. So now I drive with my head cocked to the side, but it's worth it! :D JK - I actually fit.

Enjoy your new ride. It takes the pain out of going to work.

I've got a method pavehawk...

It's called winning the lottery and buying a Ferrari 612...

I must admit, I'm still having trouble with first part of my plan...

That, in a nutshell, is the whole reason I'm replacing the Focus.

Drove into town yesterday and even with the breakin restrictions, I was having fun and smiling the whole way. :D

I think I sat in that one. Yes, there's only one Mazda dealer in Bastrop. In fact, one of the factors that lead to my original test drive was we wanted a local dealer. I didn't want to have to drive (tow, whatever) into Austin for service.

Enjoy your ride, I sure am enjoying mine!

Hey dont feel to bad... I woke up every morning at 4:00 (almost exactly) for a week before I was going to get my car. I couldn't go back to bed until I looked at pictures of what my 8 was going to look like. Is that sadd or what?

Thanks to buddy voodoo..... his car pics (awesome btw) were exactly like my car (minus navi). I hope to have picures I can post here of my baby soon... she is now 1 week and 9.5 hrs old.

Found my cure! An email from a department manager and uncertainty about my future employment.

The new 8 takes a back seat to ensuring continued employment. Once that's settled, back to finding my new 8.

kinda cool isnt it. i have had mine for 5 days now. it doesnt suck. went to school in austin.

is the catfish parlor still out in bastrop???? damn they had some cold beer.

service on the 8 is so simple. dealership almost dosent have to be involved.

beers

Yikes! Yeah, that would be a cure. I hope you stay employed!

The one downtown? I think so. I haven't been there, I'm not fond of fish.

Enjoy!