dragula53

After lurking here for the past 18 months or so, I finally brought an rx-8 home yesterday afternoon. I traded my 2003 wrx for it.

'04 Titanium Gray (6 speed) with 5 miles on it. Everything just fell into place. I ended up spending 25,395 for it, and got a much better than bluebook trade-in for the impreza. Mazda USA financed me, so they gave me a $1,500 discount (making the total price 23,895!) on the car, and a much better interest rate than I had. All that, and my insurance is cheaper.

My dealership is pretty friggin awesome. It was extremely low hassle and professional. And they didn't spring any extra costs on me. They actually kept springing extra discounts.

And the car... is a dream. Careful on those icy roads, fellas. Rear wheel drive is just awesome. I forgot how much I missed it.

The first person to sit in my car said "God... this car is sex". And she was cute, so her opinion matters.

I've been watching everything closely, and I have no complaints whatsoever. I have been watching the gas gauge creep down as I put miles on it, and I definitely didn't get one of the "10 mpg no matter what" cars, which pretty much was my only fear. I'll know in a couple days for sure, but frankly, I just don't really care. I managed to squeeze a 15 miles per gallon out of the impreza a couple times.

So yeah, having an rx-8 has made me realize a few things.... like mcdonalds doesn't start serving breakfast till 5am. so I had to drive around for another hour and a half... because I really needed breakfast..

happy zoom zooming, folks.

Mikelikes2drive

ur not gonna miss the AWD and the awesome launches? congrats and welcome :D

dragula53

Yeah, I will miss the awesome launches a little. But they always seemed a little brutal to me. dropping the clutch in an all wheel drive always whips the hell out of you and you feel like you are going to break something serious on the car since it is darn near impossible to break traction.

I'll miss the high clearance and the snow traction most of all, probably.

It has more to do with enthusiasm to drive one car over the other than anything else.

the wrx is a fine automobile, and in 2 years of ownership I had 2 recalls, neither serious. It never once had a mechanical problem. Everything was routine maintenance.

I hope the rx-8 can live up to that standard.

WildOne

Congratulations and welcome to the cult! Post pics. What options do you have! I have been looking for a Ti 6 speed with GT package, black on black interior. I just got to have it. My auto tran is fine but I want a 6 speed!

dragula53

I didn't get any options except for the spoiler.

I really like the GT package, it is just too expensive. my primary goals were 6-speed and then price.

I am actually pleasantly surprised with the interior. I figured after driving one with leather, it would spoil it for me. not so. and definitely not worth paying $31,000 for the car versus 25,000.

And I took a couple pictures this morning, and they didn't turn out so well. too dark outside.

WildOne

Ok we can wait. Again Congratulations and let the fun begin!

Phlash

Welcome to the cult! You may never leave!

Gambit

Congrats on a fine purchase...where is this dealer you speak so highly of?

dragula53

this dealer is in omaha. woodhouse mazda. pretty cool people.

rx8wannahave

Congrats!!! I also recently (end of December) got my 8 after about 4-6 months at rx8club.com and I've been in love every since. Driving to work has never been so good...

I also got a base 6spd (while you got the spoiler too) and the fun factor level is in no way deminished. Sure...in bad weather and on a track it would be harder for me but what the heck, maybe it will make me a better driver without having a nanny protecting me.

Note: But, if I had the money I would have gotten the traction control stuff...it makes the car even more easy to drive...so dont get me wrong...

Congrats!

czr

iTrader: (3)

Congrats! With all that driving, sounds like you're on your way to pass the break-in period. 18 months is a long time to resist temptation, but it looks like you did the right thing and got a great deal.

With all the negativity on the board lately, I think the well-informed people will love this car and people who buy it not knowing what to expect, are the haters.

SD-8

Congrats......I just got the touring package on mine. The cloth interior is sweet on this car, and a nice change from all the leather interiors I have had.

Pics!

dragula53

I filled it up today, because I couldn't wait to get an estimate on mileage.

152 miles, 8.6 gallons of gas, all city driving. 17.6 miles per gallon. On winter gas, in 20 degree weather. No problemo. I'll do a highway estimate some day, but as far as I can tell, everything seems to be exactly what I expected.

And more smiles and satisfying sighs than I can count during those 152 miles. God I love this car.

Deslock

Another WRX convert.

Congrats!

Riggs

Congrats!

Question for you out of curiosity.
You being an old WRX owner, if you had a choice between the 8 and an STi, and you can only have one, what would it be?

dragula53

the STi still turns my head every time i see one on the street.

I actually could have bought one... but I am not willing to pay the 31,000-34,000 price of entry. There is also the fact that it is almost exactly the same car I was getting out of, that I didn't like the interior/cheap plastic of.

It would have been sweet... but I think I might have preferred to buy a cobb or vishnu upgrade to the wrx and make it even better than an STi for less. That was actually my original plan back when I bought it.

So, I would prefer the RX-8 because I do like rear wheel drive and the lower price.

automaton

Welcome to the WRX traders (traitors?) club.

dragula53

oh, and the wing is ugly.
heh.
actually, imprezas will always have a soft spot for me.

dragula53

And found this one.

I guess I was wrong.

The rx-8's interior is way less cheap plasticy/nicer.

But I just stomp on the gas in the new STi and hear the engine gargle at me, and listen to the blow off gasses and feel all better.

JRichter

awesome launch can be:

a) the quickest possible launch off the line

b) the most exciting launch off the line including smokey, drama-filled tire spin and slight manipulation of the steering wheel to keep the car straight

WRX is "a" and RX-8 is "b"

I'll take "b" as it seems a litte more awesome to me....


but no offense to you Mikelikes2drive as I know what you meant.