So after I long time of being inactive and bearing through my early college years I have decided to return to the forum and am very excited about it! I would like to say hello to everybody, its good to be back =D

My name is Alex Kauntz, I live in Richfield Ohio, and I am dead set on buying an Rx8. I have been researching rotory cars since I played my first need for speed game and fell in love with the Rx8. To my delight, it is very possible that I will be able to buy one in about one year (one and a half if I am unlucky with co-op/internships), but now that I think about it I have a big dilema so I was wondering if you guys could help me out. Should I look into buying a 2004 Rx8 or a 2009 Rx8? (This is under the pretense that this will be my daily driver and heavily modded within a few years after purchase.) If I bought a 2009 or later modle I would probably shoot for an R3, whereas if I bought a 2004 or 2005 I would be looking into a Sport (to avoid the moonroof). Thanks a lot!

 

I bought an2010 R3, it's a great ride,if you want fuel economy you won't get it,if you don't really care about fuel economy and just want the pure driving pleasure it's going to give you then buy it.
I would stay away from an early model for the fact that warrenties are over or soon will be.
How much can you spend

 

Im am very (for now) prepared for paying high prices for the low milage one gets with spirited driving, plus fuel lubricant and oil haha. I am definately buying for driving pleasure, and since I do spirited driving almost everytime I am in a car, I figured an rx8 would be a perfect fit since it needs to be rev'd high once a day.

Atm I have 3k to put toward a car, and by working only part time over the summer I could earn 3-4k more. If im lucky and get an internship that could move up to about 5-6k this summer, totaling 6-9k. My father is willing to "help" me with half of the car payment provided that I steadily pay him back the full amount by 2014-2015 ish. If I really get my nose to the grindstone and get a job next semester I could earn 1-2k more.

In essence, I could possibly make it up to a $20k R3 (I've seen a few on autotempest), Im just wondering if it is worth the extra load of work for a 09 or higher as opposed to the 04-05. Since I am planning on heavily modding the car and maintaining it through several engines, I figured an 04 might not be a bad idea at all, plus i would hate to do body work on a newer moddle. On the other hand I cant afford major fixes for a while after buying the car, so an 09+ would be more reliable. Plus I could sell the R3 parts if I change them out. Thoughts?

 

2007 or newer, don't waste money on mods unless ya really gonna race it. The misses can run down a 300hp mustang on the track with better tires and swaybars. The best handling car ya will ever get for the money.The only car I've ever driven was a porsche that cost twice as much can handle as well as this. Remember, it's not a muscle car, it's a cornering machine.

Stock rx8 6spd auto, A mere woman driving, good tires and RB swaybars. Draw ye own conclusions.
http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/c...theMustang.mp4

 

That is right,thank you.

 

Awww... Why hate on the moonroof?

 

Nice vid!

 

Let us know what you get

 

I do plan on tacking the car every month after a few years of owning and driving it and I am definately big into cornering rather than lining up. That being said, friends do like to line up and I will probably join in. Years down the line I do plan to get an esmeril turbo kit installed, but that is not a requirement for me to love the car or anything!

Wingznut, I dont dislike the moonroof, its jst that I am a tall guy (6' 3'') and they usually get in the way for the little use it would get.

Thanks for all the input guys! It sounds as though I will have to get my butt into gear and shoot for an R3. Any estimates on the price drop a used R3 will see in one years time?

 

Get an R3

 

Just know that right now there is only one company that I know of that will turbo a series2(09-11) rx8 and it costs right under 10k I think. If heavy mods is your plan maybe try for an 07-08 so you can at least buy an access port and tune your car. That is not available to the series2 cars.

Things change all the time, so some other options may pop up in a year or 2 for turbo/SC on a series 2 you never know.

 

xexok, I did most of my research on the 04 model, so I guess that is something to consider. On the other hand I would be getting a protune so Im not too worried about the accessport issue.

Also thanks for the warm welcome wsc, I should probably just not touch that comment. If you have any useful input I would be happy to hear it.

 

Just find any rx8 that are available, buy it, and be done with it...thread closed...jk lol

 

You want a Mazda RX8? A blue one?? Wow. It's a f*ckin clown car.

 

congratulations, you made the best impression possible with your first post

enjoy your stay