The first time I drove an RX-8 (LONG)
09-19-2009, 09:51 AM
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The first time I drove an RX-8 (LONG)
I was feeling nostalgic and since it has been almost 4 years to the date I thought I would reminisce a little...
I was young, oh so young, and so full of vitality and excitement. It was my 17th birthday and yay for papa bear, he was taking me car shopping.
It was really between two cars. A 2005 Acura RSX-S or a 2005 Mazda RX-8. In my heart, I knew what I wanted... It had sexy curves even the finest woman could not compare to, it had an engine smoother than the purr of a wolverine (thanks anchorman), and every time I saw one, I absolutely lost it and felt the need to bounce around the entire area I was confined to and alert everyone that an RX-8 just drove by.
My dad, on the other hand, felt the RSX was more suitable. My brother was 17 as well when he picked up his 03 RSX-S, and naturally my dad loved the car since he has owned quite a few Acuras with nothing but positive results from them all.
Well, we arrived at the Acura dealership in Savannah and they had a white 2005 out on the front ready to be driven. They proceeded to show us all its "amazing" features including the marvelous 4 banger engine, its 6 speed tranny, and the magnificent 8 inch sub in the trunk. Yada yada yada, lets get on with the test drive. I hopped in and the salesman and I sped off.
After flooring it up to 100 on the interstate, slamming on the brakes, and pulling a Uie and heading back to the dealership, my heart had still not changed its mind. All I could think about was that 8 waiting for me at Mazda on Abercorn. My dad was so reluctant to go see the 8. He said the only reason I wanted it was because it had like 30 more horsepower blah blah. I tried to tell him, "No father, it's not the power, it's....EVERYTHING!
We arrived at the Mazda dealer and the salesman promptly greeted us outside. There was a white 8 sitting on the lot and I made a beeline straight for it. Once the car had been running for five minutes or so, the salesman walked inside and said, "Have fun." (Awesome dude.) So my dad and I hop in and of course, the gas light is on, no surprise there, lol. We put like a gallon in it tops and proceed on. I was SOOO nervous that it took me nearly five minutes to put the car in reverse. When shifting to third I overrevved and accidently hit fifth. I had never felt a car with this kind of power before (I was 17 and drove a chevy blazer with 150k miles on it for 2 years b4 this that we got for free). The engine was smoother than butter and purred begging me to give it more. I gladly obliged. My dad of course protested and I told him to shut it for a few minutes to let me have my moment. After driving down a few twisties and back to the dealership, I was sold. The salesman must have really wanted to get rid of the car because he offered it to us for the weekend. I flipped out when I heard this since I would be able to show all my buddies but of course pops says, "Hell no."
I was entranced. Since I was 13 I had been researching RX7s (FDs of course
) and had wanted one for my 17th birthday. After trying to convince my dad for a number of years, the 8 came out. He refused the 7 because it was an old car and probably had a lot of maintenance issues (in hindsight, I'm sort of glad I did not end up with a 7). I was always so fascinated with the uniqueness of rotary engines, I loved everything about them and researched everything I could about them. I wanted to be an engineer and possibly work for mazda and help design a newer, better, and more efficient rotary engine. Unfortunately, things did not turn out that way for me but alas I am satisfied with where I am now.
Anyway, about a month after that test drive, it is Friday, me and my buddy are driving over to my house since we were going to hang out that night. When we were about a mile from home, we spotted a yellow 8 in front of us and we both flipped. I will never forget this, he said, "Dude, since we saw that, that means yours getting an RX-8 today." I thought it was odd when we walked in the door and my dad ran out to see us all excited in his boxers and a shirt saying, "hey guys, hey guys!" We get home and I go inside to tell my dad, "Hey pops me and Bryce are going to work out, can we take your car?" (He drove a 98 m3 roadster). He kind of hesitates for a while, obviously thinking about something else, then says, "Sure."
We hop into his car and as I turn it on, my dad walks up behind us in the garage and comes over to the window. I roll it down and he says, "Son, why don't you take this car instead?" I was thinking...what other car, moms in hers and this is yours... That was when I noticed the emblem on the key... Mazda. I got out and said in disbelief, "No way...." He opened the other garage port (it was seperate from the one which his car was in,) and I fell on the ground looking to see what was in there as it rose. I first saw silver, then a curved rear end, and then the badge, "Mazda RX-8." I absolutely lost it, I ran around the house about 5 times full sprint screaming for joy at the top of my lungs and gave my dad probably the biggest hug ever and told him he was the greatest. When I had finally calmed down, we got in the car and kept looking around just saying, "Yeah." (Like a self satisfied yeah, lol). After letting it warm up for 20 minutes or so, lol, we were about to go the gym and my friend said, "Wait dude, it looks like it might rain, let's take your old car." My dad laughed his head off and walked back inside.
Afterword: I must say, there really is nothing comparable to your firsts. Everything about them is always so memorable. Your first beer, your first car, your first love... For me, that day will forever stand out in my mind as one of the best days of my entire life. The rotary will always have a special place in my heart. Since I have been without one, life is just not the same, and I am being totally honest. I have tried to fill that void with over 400 horsepower in my current car, and, many would say, are you nucking futs how could you desire an rx8 when you have over 400 hp in your car, there is just something about the 8, maybe just the fact that it was my first car, that will forever entice and mesmerize me.
I don't know if any else of you feel the same way about your 8 as I do/did, but I hope you do. If you do, treasure your 8 that you have right now and for some of you youngsters, if it was your first car, do not lose it to jealously like I did. For me, the RX-8 was not just a car, it was a living, breathing entity. It will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never forget the two and a half years when I was a proud owner of one. Every one of my fondest memories involves that car.
Sorry for the trip down memory lane, I know there is already a thread on something like first time you drove an 8, but feel free to chip in your story here if you wish.
I was young, oh so young, and so full of vitality and excitement. It was my 17th birthday and yay for papa bear, he was taking me car shopping.
It was really between two cars. A 2005 Acura RSX-S or a 2005 Mazda RX-8. In my heart, I knew what I wanted... It had sexy curves even the finest woman could not compare to, it had an engine smoother than the purr of a wolverine (thanks anchorman), and every time I saw one, I absolutely lost it and felt the need to bounce around the entire area I was confined to and alert everyone that an RX-8 just drove by.
My dad, on the other hand, felt the RSX was more suitable. My brother was 17 as well when he picked up his 03 RSX-S, and naturally my dad loved the car since he has owned quite a few Acuras with nothing but positive results from them all.
Well, we arrived at the Acura dealership in Savannah and they had a white 2005 out on the front ready to be driven. They proceeded to show us all its "amazing" features including the marvelous 4 banger engine, its 6 speed tranny, and the magnificent 8 inch sub in the trunk. Yada yada yada, lets get on with the test drive. I hopped in and the salesman and I sped off.
After flooring it up to 100 on the interstate, slamming on the brakes, and pulling a Uie and heading back to the dealership, my heart had still not changed its mind. All I could think about was that 8 waiting for me at Mazda on Abercorn. My dad was so reluctant to go see the 8. He said the only reason I wanted it was because it had like 30 more horsepower blah blah. I tried to tell him, "No father, it's not the power, it's....EVERYTHING!
We arrived at the Mazda dealer and the salesman promptly greeted us outside. There was a white 8 sitting on the lot and I made a beeline straight for it. Once the car had been running for five minutes or so, the salesman walked inside and said, "Have fun." (Awesome dude.) So my dad and I hop in and of course, the gas light is on, no surprise there, lol. We put like a gallon in it tops and proceed on. I was SOOO nervous that it took me nearly five minutes to put the car in reverse. When shifting to third I overrevved and accidently hit fifth. I had never felt a car with this kind of power before (I was 17 and drove a chevy blazer with 150k miles on it for 2 years b4 this that we got for free). The engine was smoother than butter and purred begging me to give it more. I gladly obliged. My dad of course protested and I told him to shut it for a few minutes to let me have my moment. After driving down a few twisties and back to the dealership, I was sold. The salesman must have really wanted to get rid of the car because he offered it to us for the weekend. I flipped out when I heard this since I would be able to show all my buddies but of course pops says, "Hell no."
I was entranced. Since I was 13 I had been researching RX7s (FDs of course
) and had wanted one for my 17th birthday. After trying to convince my dad for a number of years, the 8 came out. He refused the 7 because it was an old car and probably had a lot of maintenance issues (in hindsight, I'm sort of glad I did not end up with a 7). I was always so fascinated with the uniqueness of rotary engines, I loved everything about them and researched everything I could about them. I wanted to be an engineer and possibly work for mazda and help design a newer, better, and more efficient rotary engine. Unfortunately, things did not turn out that way for me but alas I am satisfied with where I am now.Anyway, about a month after that test drive, it is Friday, me and my buddy are driving over to my house since we were going to hang out that night. When we were about a mile from home, we spotted a yellow 8 in front of us and we both flipped. I will never forget this, he said, "Dude, since we saw that, that means yours getting an RX-8 today." I thought it was odd when we walked in the door and my dad ran out to see us all excited in his boxers and a shirt saying, "hey guys, hey guys!" We get home and I go inside to tell my dad, "Hey pops me and Bryce are going to work out, can we take your car?" (He drove a 98 m3 roadster). He kind of hesitates for a while, obviously thinking about something else, then says, "Sure."
We hop into his car and as I turn it on, my dad walks up behind us in the garage and comes over to the window. I roll it down and he says, "Son, why don't you take this car instead?" I was thinking...what other car, moms in hers and this is yours... That was when I noticed the emblem on the key... Mazda. I got out and said in disbelief, "No way...." He opened the other garage port (it was seperate from the one which his car was in,) and I fell on the ground looking to see what was in there as it rose. I first saw silver, then a curved rear end, and then the badge, "Mazda RX-8." I absolutely lost it, I ran around the house about 5 times full sprint screaming for joy at the top of my lungs and gave my dad probably the biggest hug ever and told him he was the greatest. When I had finally calmed down, we got in the car and kept looking around just saying, "Yeah." (Like a self satisfied yeah, lol). After letting it warm up for 20 minutes or so, lol, we were about to go the gym and my friend said, "Wait dude, it looks like it might rain, let's take your old car." My dad laughed his head off and walked back inside.
Afterword: I must say, there really is nothing comparable to your firsts. Everything about them is always so memorable. Your first beer, your first car, your first love... For me, that day will forever stand out in my mind as one of the best days of my entire life. The rotary will always have a special place in my heart. Since I have been without one, life is just not the same, and I am being totally honest. I have tried to fill that void with over 400 horsepower in my current car, and, many would say, are you nucking futs how could you desire an rx8 when you have over 400 hp in your car, there is just something about the 8, maybe just the fact that it was my first car, that will forever entice and mesmerize me.
I don't know if any else of you feel the same way about your 8 as I do/did, but I hope you do. If you do, treasure your 8 that you have right now and for some of you youngsters, if it was your first car, do not lose it to jealously like I did. For me, the RX-8 was not just a car, it was a living, breathing entity. It will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never forget the two and a half years when I was a proud owner of one. Every one of my fondest memories involves that car.
Sorry for the trip down memory lane, I know there is already a thread on something like first time you drove an 8, but feel free to chip in your story here if you wish.
09-19-2009, 11:06 AM
#4
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06 GTO with LT headers, catback, high flow cats, tune, suspension work.
Would absolutely slaughter the 8 down the straight but doesn't compare in handling, braking, looks. Although it does get better mileage, LOL
Would absolutely slaughter the 8 down the straight but doesn't compare in handling, braking, looks. Although it does get better mileage, LOL
09-22-2009, 12:06 PM
#9
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I'm glad you're so excited about it! Make sure you follow the maintenance schedule, and don't do what every other teenager with a nice car does and put it into a wall.
And when you do have an accident - as we all have, I sure have - be responsible about it, and you'll be okay.
Lastly, the best thing you could do for yourself (before you even think about trying to make your car faster) is to look into autocross or high-performance driving instruction. It could save your life, or at the very least make you more likely to win the illegal road races that I'm sure you'll never be having.
And when you do have an accident - as we all have, I sure have - be responsible about it, and you'll be okay.
Lastly, the best thing you could do for yourself (before you even think about trying to make your car faster) is to look into autocross or high-performance driving instruction. It could save your life, or at the very least make you more likely to win the illegal road races that I'm sure you'll never be having.
09-22-2009, 12:06 PM
#10
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****, what an old man post, how did i get so stuffy at 25.... just redline the damned thing every day and defend the rotary in every online forum and you'll be alright :P
09-22-2009, 12:17 PM
#11
That was an awsum read!! Very colorful and moving. You write very well I must say. And the feelings you experienced with your first 8, are the same I feel/felt about mine. Unfortunately like you, I am without my 8 and miss it dearly everyday. There is not one waking moment that passes that I do not think about my lost love and there is forever a whole in my heart that no other car could ever fulfill. I dream of the day I will be able to bring home another one, but unfortunately for now I will have to wait.
To the youngins, heed his advice and cherish your 8.
To the youngins, heed his advice and cherish your 8.
09-22-2009, 01:40 PM
#12
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dang awesome write up!
haha the 8 is my first car after driving around the family's old 95 saburban.
this is a car that i'm paying for my self and ym first car and i absolutely love it...
i wonder if 2.5 years from now if i get another car if i'll be feelign the same. lol
you're defitnely right about all your firsts...
haha the 8 is my first car after driving around the family's old 95 saburban.
this is a car that i'm paying for my self and ym first car and i absolutely love it...
i wonder if 2.5 years from now if i get another car if i'll be feelign the same. lol
you're defitnely right about all your firsts...
09-25-2009, 11:29 AM
#16
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I have to say it is so true how much we as humans take for granted. It is so hard for us to realize how much we love something until it is gone. I can think of numerous examples like electricity, running water, air conditioning, cars, old friends, lost loves. I guess I just wanted to make this post for those of you who really connect with and love your 8, cherish every moment you have with it, because one day, like all other things, it will come to an end.
The good news now is that they are still on the market! For those of you who don't own one or are previous owners who miss your baby, now is your chance!
09-25-2009, 12:09 PM
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Here is my story. I still spend a few minutes alone remembering it every month, remembering the feelings and emotions. I'll never forget it.
__________________________
My very first RX-8 experience was while my 2002 Protege5 was in for service, I wandered up to the showroom, and then out to the lot and was peering into a VR 2005 RX-8, admiring the lines. A salesman predictably walked over, and I chatted with him for a few minutes, then he offered me a test drive if I would fill up the tank on it.
I proceeded to borrow the 8 for an extended test drive.... an hour and 45 minutes. The salesman was quite upset when I didn't sign the paperwork on it, though he called me every day for 3 weeks, backing off to only once a month for the next 8 months. I simply couldn't afford it at the time though. Fantastic drive however.
I never forgot it, and in March of 2007, I was looking at our finances, and realized I could sell my P5 for more than it was worth, and that we could afford a used RX-8.
My wife decided that she didn't want me to have one. Let's face it, she doesn't want me to have anything resembling fun. So in June she put restrictions on it...like "under $20k, at least 2 years of warranty left, under 20k miles...and said if I could meet them, I could have it. I spent the next 4 months watching all the car selling websites, looking for a whitewater pearl GT that met her criteria.
In early October, I found it. A 2005 Whitewater Pearl GT, M/T loaded with all but the Nav (i have a company one that gets upgraded every year anyway), 8,600 miles, 13 months of driving on it (yes, it was first sold on September 2006 at 19 miles), for sale by a Dayton Ohio Mercedes dealer for $19,500. I immediately called the dealer, then called me bank. The bank check was at the dealer the next day, and not a day too early. It took me 2 weeks to get down to it, but in that time, the dealer said he got 17 offers, from $21k to $29k. I flew in to Dayton on a Friday night, stayed at a hotel, and the dealer picked me up in the morning.
On the 20 minute drive to the lot from the hotel, he chatted a fair bit about the car, but I didn't hear much of what he was saying, my excitement was building way too much. The only thing I remember was, he asking, "What is it about this car? Even people in to buy Mercedes were oogling it. Is it something about the paint? None of us in the office could figure it out." I said, yeah, the paint is one of the rarer paints, a dealer surcharge, but didn't want to tip him off on anything else, still slightly paranoid he would realize I was practically stealing it from him.
We pulled into the lot, I could see it sitting in the middle of the showroom, glistening quietly under the soft lights only lit when the dealership is closed, between a pair of rows of Mercedes cars, all pointed generally toward it like they were watching it. He unlocked the doors and I walked in, my 8 beaming silently to me, like a lady in a high fashion dress basking in the attention. I walked slowly around it, letting my fingers drift over her curves, and I merely held out my hand for the keys when the dealer asked if I wanted to drive it before signing the paperwork.
I got it and she hugged me close, purring to life as I turned her on, instantly talking to me. I tooled around the backroads nearby with the saleman riding along, getting to know her.
I was in heaven.
It wasn't until after I signed the paperwork that I asked him more detail about what he thought the 8 was, and then that he said knew it wasn't a Shinka, so it must be the Coup, the only other KBB listing. Which just lists the value of the base model. He didn't realize that it was a loaded GT package. I told him what he missed out, the look on his face was a bit ...pained, when he realized he could have legitimately listed it for, and had received an offer for, $8k to $9k higher.
I took 2 days driving it back to Rhode Island from Ohio... now the 2nd best drive of my life, including an hour or so through eastern Ohio on I-70 with a Titanium Grey 8 with WV tags, smoothly ripping up the mountain curves.
I still get a smile on my face when I pull up behind a vehicle with a big flat shiny bumper, and I catch the smiling reflection of my 8, happy to be on the road.
__________________________
My very first RX-8 experience was while my 2002 Protege5 was in for service, I wandered up to the showroom, and then out to the lot and was peering into a VR 2005 RX-8, admiring the lines. A salesman predictably walked over, and I chatted with him for a few minutes, then he offered me a test drive if I would fill up the tank on it.
I proceeded to borrow the 8 for an extended test drive.... an hour and 45 minutes. The salesman was quite upset when I didn't sign the paperwork on it, though he called me every day for 3 weeks, backing off to only once a month for the next 8 months. I simply couldn't afford it at the time though. Fantastic drive however.
I never forgot it, and in March of 2007, I was looking at our finances, and realized I could sell my P5 for more than it was worth, and that we could afford a used RX-8.
My wife decided that she didn't want me to have one. Let's face it, she doesn't want me to have anything resembling fun. So in June she put restrictions on it...like "under $20k, at least 2 years of warranty left, under 20k miles...and said if I could meet them, I could have it. I spent the next 4 months watching all the car selling websites, looking for a whitewater pearl GT that met her criteria.
In early October, I found it. A 2005 Whitewater Pearl GT, M/T loaded with all but the Nav (i have a company one that gets upgraded every year anyway), 8,600 miles, 13 months of driving on it (yes, it was first sold on September 2006 at 19 miles), for sale by a Dayton Ohio Mercedes dealer for $19,500. I immediately called the dealer, then called me bank. The bank check was at the dealer the next day, and not a day too early. It took me 2 weeks to get down to it, but in that time, the dealer said he got 17 offers, from $21k to $29k. I flew in to Dayton on a Friday night, stayed at a hotel, and the dealer picked me up in the morning.
On the 20 minute drive to the lot from the hotel, he chatted a fair bit about the car, but I didn't hear much of what he was saying, my excitement was building way too much. The only thing I remember was, he asking, "What is it about this car? Even people in to buy Mercedes were oogling it. Is it something about the paint? None of us in the office could figure it out." I said, yeah, the paint is one of the rarer paints, a dealer surcharge, but didn't want to tip him off on anything else, still slightly paranoid he would realize I was practically stealing it from him.
We pulled into the lot, I could see it sitting in the middle of the showroom, glistening quietly under the soft lights only lit when the dealership is closed, between a pair of rows of Mercedes cars, all pointed generally toward it like they were watching it. He unlocked the doors and I walked in, my 8 beaming silently to me, like a lady in a high fashion dress basking in the attention. I walked slowly around it, letting my fingers drift over her curves, and I merely held out my hand for the keys when the dealer asked if I wanted to drive it before signing the paperwork.
I got it and she hugged me close, purring to life as I turned her on, instantly talking to me. I tooled around the backroads nearby with the saleman riding along, getting to know her.
I was in heaven.
It wasn't until after I signed the paperwork that I asked him more detail about what he thought the 8 was, and then that he said knew it wasn't a Shinka, so it must be the Coup, the only other KBB listing. Which just lists the value of the base model. He didn't realize that it was a loaded GT package. I told him what he missed out, the look on his face was a bit ...pained, when he realized he could have legitimately listed it for, and had received an offer for, $8k to $9k higher.
I took 2 days driving it back to Rhode Island from Ohio... now the 2nd best drive of my life, including an hour or so through eastern Ohio on I-70 with a Titanium Grey 8 with WV tags, smoothly ripping up the mountain curves.
I still get a smile on my face when I pull up behind a vehicle with a big flat shiny bumper, and I catch the smiling reflection of my 8, happy to be on the road.
09-25-2009, 06:58 PM
#21
Grand Chancellor
The RX-8's qualities are unquantifiable. I write part-time in the auto section of a local rag and got to drive many hot cars (and not some dowdy ones) with loads more hp, torque and skidpad Gs. But that's about it. The 8 has this feel to it that so far not been replicated yet. Well except for the R8. That felt like what a super RX-8 would've been like.
Well thanks for taking us down memory lane.
Well thanks for taking us down memory lane.
09-25-2009, 11:36 PM
#24
RoTorY
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the first car i had was a white 3kgt vr4 after i had accident i sold it and then bought the rx8 and 2 years later i had to buy another vr4 (my favorite car)
i kno its not a rx8, but its the first love (vr4)
i kno its not a rx8, but its the first love (vr4)
09-26-2009, 01:22 AM
#25
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I love pulling up behind other cars and seeing the reflection of my Rx8 Even though I only drove my 8 for 15 days while I was on leave 
I cant wait to get back to it
Even though I only drove my 8 for 15 days while I was on leave I cant wait to get back to it
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