FINALLY THROUGH WITH MY 8: need recommendations
 

My 8 broke down for the last time. I'm through with it. I'm trading it in. It has about 190,000 miles so I drove it enough. The 2nd engine has about 60,000 miles. It's an 04 that I purchased in July 03 so it'll be 11 years old soon. That's longer than I've kept any car that I've owned. The thing is there isn't much that I can afford that I'd want to trade it in for. The 8 is practically an exotic car. It's poor sales makes it exclusive. I can go weeks without seeing another one. It looks more expensive that what is is. And while it's a chore to maintain it definitely isn't boring. It's also kinda practical. I just went camping with my son and was able to fit all our camping equipment in the car (with some creative packing).

I'm reaching out to find a good alternative to the 8. I know nothing I can afford will be as exclusive, but what's just as fun or almost as fun. I'm actually thinking of just giving up on the sports thing and going with something more luxury. I'm looking at the Buick Regal GS. I already have the Lacrosse and am happy with it. I really want the new Stingray but need a more practical daily driver. I'm toying with the strategy of buying a used minivan and saving up for a few years for a used Stingray.

What I looked at.

Genesis Coupe; afraid it won't be fun to drive and that I'd grow to hate it over time
Charger; The v6 doesn't really interest me, the v8 is too bad on gas to be practical
Mustang; I am actually trying to wait until the new one comes out next year but then am leery of purchasing another 1st year model.
Camaro; The more I look at them, the more I hate them. The car is twice the size as the 8 but has way less room.
BRZ/FRS; not in the cards as they are way too small. I can't even fit in them and have a 6 yo.
WRX; I looked at one today but they look cheap inside. Also, I'm trying to wait for the new one. The new WRX and the new Mustang are the ones that interest me the most. Both come out next year.
Honda Accord v6 coupe; very nice but front wheel drive. I'm still interested.
Focus ST; may be a little too young for me
Taurus SHO; interesting but a little pricey.

The big issue is that I've been living with the 8 for almost 11 years and that I'm afraid to commit to another car that I feel I won't enjoy driving as much as the 8. Now, I'm sure that most anything I buy would be mush easier to live with but the 8 is like a relationship with a woman who's no good for you but is all passion. I'm afraid I'll end up with automotive equivalent of my wife. No passion there.

also, I don't want another high maintenance car. I need a daily driver. I put about 18,000-20,000 miles a year so I need something that's easier to maintain.

I think in this instance I would go with the cheap car like a minivan or a cheap hatchback and save for something you really want (stingray). Its the only way to truly get what you want.

Genesis, Accord, and BRZ/FRS will fit your needs.

I hear ya, I'm 8yrs into mine, 2nd engine, 3 transmission, 3 clutch kits 157,000K but I can't seem to let it go..

Mustang or SHO (words I never thought I would say) and the third choice would be the Genesis. But trust me when I say this, nothing under 50k will feel even close to the 8. So you have to ask yourself how important that is.

I like the looks of the Genesis coupe, and the size. 2 years from now will I like driving it as much is the question. Can't fit in the BRZ. Somehow I feel the SHO would be a fun car to have.

Honda Accord V6 Coupe...i drove it and they are very fun to drive. A lot of room space inside too...

Try a GTi, you may be surprised. If used is an option you open a lot more doors: M3 notably.

A certified used V8 M3 sedan would certainly be an incredible car, with similar practicality and enjoyment as the 8. If you're thinking about something out and out comfortable, cheap-ish to maintain, and daily drive-able, I'd personally consider a new 6....a fairly loaded 6 speed Touring is around $25k, and they just look incredible.

Wait another year and get a VW Scirroco R with a body kit... I'm seriously considering it myself, seen them in person back in Thailand which got them a few years ago before us :wallbash: :anger: :( and they are sweeeeet!

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Sweet stance...

Rieger bodykit for the VW Scirocco

Is the Scirocco coming to the US?

I just read a Motortrend review of the Sciroco R. It's a few hundred pounds lighter than the Golf R. They said it was amazing. I've driven a MKV and MKVI GTi and was extremely impressed. They said it wasn't coming to the US anytime though.

My next car will most likely be a Mazda 6.

Mazda 6 = Lame wrong wheel drive dream killer.

If you don't want something that is high-maintenance, avoid anything German. They are easily has needy as an '8.

WRX STI... Genesis is a cool car. 6 cyl or the 4 cyl turbo. The BRZ with the vortech supercharger is fun as hell to drive.. My friend just did that springs and exhaust and its balanced very nicely for what it is. only like 225hp but fits well on that car. But without that fun stuff nice wheels, tires with springs and struts make it a fun car to drive... I went with a WRX after my first 8 and YES the insides are cheep and they don't at all give you the same cockpit feel as the 8 The newer ones are MUCH better in that area. Mine is an 2006. BUT I love the car fun as hell to drive but to make it feel alive you got to do some suspension mods to take the floaty feel out. But once that is done whole new beast.. but the inside still sucks.. lol.. Still with the fun I have with my WRX when i was able I still got another RX8.

I was trying to wait until next spring to trade my car in. Both the new Mustang and WRX would be out. I feel that in the next few years we'll see some really nice cars come out.

The RX8 didn't get the props it deserved probably because of the rotary not being mainstream enough. The BRZ/FRS has sparked a new argument for balance as opposed to just power. We have a lot of cars that have power but few that have the balance as well. The 8 sure does have the balance. If Mazda had turboed it, that would have forced people to notice it, even being a rotary. If Mazda wants to continue with the rotary, they have to find a way to make it more mainstream.

It's not mainstream because it is/was fragile from 03-08 in comparison to other cars. The series II Renesis has fared much better but it was too late, the damage to the RX-8's reputation was already done. Plus the power in it's price range just wasn't competitive and to some that is important despite how great the RX-8 is overall.

German stuff is actually worse. Dad has an 09 5 series BMW, and it has automatic headlights, so it left its own headlights on, killing the battery.

its got something called an "intelligent battery sensor", so when you change the battery, it needs an hour of labor in the shop to reprogram the car.

battery is $500, with labor, the bill was over $700.

the rx8 battery is normal, and the car needs 10 minutes to relearn the idle….

example #2. a friend of mine has a VW EOS, which is a cheap car. he's on transmission #3 in 40,000miles. transmission parts an labor is $6500.

the first one was under warranty (@20,000miles), second one, at 40,000 was not.

the Rx8 trans is ~2600 for the part, and ~300 to install.

#3. Dads previous car was a 2007 Audi A6. every 20,000 miles they want to pull the engine apart to clean it. My 1958 Tr3 had a service interval for this too, but the Tr3 can go 50,000 miles between cleanings. the first time was under warranty, but no warranty extension, so @40,000 miles when the CEL comes on, its customer pay.

with the Rx8 Mazda extended the engine warranty…

in short Germans make cars that drive nicely, but they fall apart, and are frighteningly expensive.

Pffft I've owned many German cars and my experience with them was the opposite of what you're saying (except prices but i was never having to fix anything)

Really?

Stay away from German used cars. I have seen too many problems and the bill is double to repair.

BRZ has serious problems mechanically and electronicly.

I'm looking at the Stingray......

A used Buick will last for ever so pick that and save for the RAY

used Mazda3 wagon? pre-maniacal-grin. cheap, reliable, tons of room.

wife has an 02 Protege5, 140k miles and going strong. zero issues. nice build quality, nice materials.

Dad has an 08 Mazda3, similar story. wrong-wheel-drive yes, but you can feel the Mazda DNA in it, still fun to drive.

The used expensive Germans are phenomenally expensive & complex to repair. Look at Edmund's long-term M3. 'cracked suspension bushings', $1500 as I recall, which 'only occurs on cars which are driven spiritedly'. WHAAAT??

forget about a BMW or mercedes if you're looking for practicality. for those who recommend an M, try working on one.

Would be a GTI for me, but if reliability and cost-of-ownership are priorities, I'd go Japanese. Maybe a Mazda 3?