Mike, also comparing to a Nissan 350Z, which is what my dad drives, and ive had the chance to drive them both, i feel that the rx-8 is a better all around car, yea it doesnt hvae as much power as the 350 but its a smoother ride and all in all more fun to drive.

 

I like it a lot and nothing has happened to mine. It's the most reliable fun to drive car I have ever owned. No BS

every car has recalls. They don't cost you anything so just make sure they are done.

Now go use the search button. and search Threads like...
The little things
Are you satisfied with your 8 (97% highly satisfied)
Recalls
flooding

 

dude seriously, just drive it... if you like it, take it home... if regular maintenance is an issue buy something less maintenance heavy. if affording regular maintenance and possibly snow tires if you live up north is an issue, buy something thats not RWD.

i hate the reliability question just because any car can be reliable as long as its cared for and maintained... being a rotary does not mean OMG TIME BOMB. its the second most reliable car i've ever owned... it starts when i turn the key and it turns when i turn the wheel... it even stops really fast when i jam the brakes on.

the only more reliable car I've had was my parents 82 Oldsmobile POS wagon... and only reason that was more reliable was i beat the hell out of it; did no maintenance and it ran like a champ... but occasionally the steering column would lock in place while driving, but that was in 99-00.

i don't regret my 05 shinka one bit, but first thing i did before i even joined this site was i drove the car. you can tell more by driving than you can by someone saying "well i had x problem caused by y." if possible get a long test drive, see if they'll let you take it over night.

i'll tell my story and see if you can relate:

my rx8 story started when i was just hangin out with my parents one night talkin to my dad about gettin a new car, i did mention the rx8 which my dad erased from my mind cause his friends wife had one and said it was slow and had no pickup. now my dad's been driving sports cars a long time both import and domestic so his opinion really counted.

but anyway, i was actually looking for a trans am cause i've always wanted one, went to my local pontiac dealer and asked about it, they had one on the lot but wanted more than i thought it was worth to me... so i drove home, down dealership alley... one of my friends suggested a miata cause i was getting rid of the sunfire and was getting a sports car... coulda been a 350z (i come from a long line of z owners) at that point, but i liked having 4 doors and easy access back seats.

so i saw five 8's on the lot... i test drove it, up the highway down the winding back road and back to the dealer. i wanted the car then and there. told the dealer to let me sleep on it.

i slept on it for 7 months (mostly that was saving a big down payment)... after i drove it, did my research, learned about was a marvel of modern engineering the wankel really is, bought my blackcherry 05 shinka in february of 06 and i couldn't be happier with the car.

this story is really alot more detailed cause i basically thought about it from june/july of 05 to feb of 06 but most of it is boring and involves long talks with other gearheads and car people about what i should get.

and all i needed to do was drive the damn thing :p

go search, read, drive, then make the hard decision

 

goddamn i'm long winded

 

rotarygod jr.

beers

 

thanks for the info...and swoope I enjoyed the video..lol..

 

solarflare is exactly right. At first i was looking at an impreza wrx sti, i went to look at them, was looking for a used one and i test drove itm but i didnt really find it was me, and i saw a brand new rx-8, test drove that, and just fell in love..with everything..the price, 23,300, the color, red.. everything.

 

yeah Ill keep reading and my best bet is just to go and drive a couple different cars to see which one fits me.

 

exactly. Dont make the mistake my dad does. He sees a car he likes in a magazine or somewhere on the street...goes out and buys it..then wants a different one a year or 2 later

 

but did you learn anything????

and really i did spend 6 months learning about the cars before i made a choice...

and i am very happy... pm me if you really cant find the info you need... but i will say again you get what you give. we are not your bitch / dont be lazy.

beers

 

At the top of this forum there is a sticky "How did you first find your RX-8?"

Couple of hundred posts that exactly answer the question you just asked. Better than any additional answers you'll get in this thread.

Ken

 

People are so gullible. Bridge in New York anyone?