hi all,

got my 07 rx8 paid off this month

I'm now faced with a dilemma that i'm seeking your advice on

keep it or change it?


07 rx8 grand touring has 45k miles on it, fully paid off
will need new tires for the summer (need to buy them in next 1-2 months)

my options
-keep it
-keep it until the Focus ST comes out in the fall
-change up for GTI or golf R
-change it for a mazdaspeed 3
-change it for a WRX


my priorities
1-prefer good handling over power
2-MPG is an issue considering prices are expected to rise over the spring/summer. currently commuting ~40miles/day
3- practicability/space
4- not a luxury brand (3 series, IS, g37) even though i like RWD

I have a 2 yr old son, so that removes the option of getting a BRZ/FRS, which leads to another option:

-keep the rx8 for another 2-3 years until my son can seat himself in the rear of a BRZ/FRS


comments well appreciated, sad to say this is causing me stress

 

If financial reasons are valid at all, then keeping it will be far less costly than trading it for anything else. It crushes the other considerations for your #1 priority as well.

 

yup, good point, which is what is weighting the most in my mind.

how do i calculate @ what gas price does it make sense to trade in?

 

#1 does not equal failed wheel drive

 

i keep hearing the GTI is one of the best handling hatches on the market, better handling/steering feel than the WRX

4 door Golf R~= $40k i dont even.....

fuuu....i love taking high speed hairpins in my rx8, just not sure if i'd like something else more

 

([Current Monthly Gas Spend] + Current Monthly Insurance) - ([New Monthly Gas Spend] + Current Monthly Insurance) = [Gas And Insurance Savings]

This is the break even point for a new car payment. If you can get a payment for less than the [Gas and Insurance Savings], then you will be ahead. If not, then it's actually more expensive.

If you assume a 7% interest on a $20,000 car with a $6,000 trade in credit from the 8, you are financing about $15,000 (when you factor in taxes tags registration) and will have a $297 monthly car payment. Assuming your 8 is healthy and you have a mix of city and highway, getting ~18mpg on average, driving an average of 1,200 miles per month, and premium gas at $4.00, you are spending ~$266 per month on gas. So with a new $20,000 car, you would actually be spending more, even if you got something that used no gas at all.

If you use the above driving assumptions, you would have to find a car that gives you a car payment of less than $266 per month, you can't finance any more than about $12,000, so you are talking a completely base Kia as well as giving up your #1 listed priority, or else trading the 8 for a different used car.

 

You would be downgrading in the handling department unless you got something with a fully (and correctly) modified suspension / chassis for the equal or better balance.

Whether or not you can live with that downgrade is up to you.

 

New car payments would wipe out any savings from the gas usage difference.....most would be depreciatin on the new car

If you are happy with the 8...you can buy a lot of gas for the difference

 

buy a beater for DD and keep the 8 for weekend fun.

 

Why can't people make up their own minds anymore. This world is full of "I don't know what to do" people.

Grow some nad's and make a decision. Then you will know you are the one in control of your life.
If everybody else makes your decisions for you what will you become in life? A puppet.

I'm doing a facepalm now.

 

^^ wanted some advice before i dropped $$ on new tires

 

Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110
relatively cheap high performance summer tires.

 

^^yea, will look but leaning more towards the continentals cuz they're lighter (22lbs per tire)

 

Maybe because they don't have minds?

I'm puzzled by this kind of situation, someone doing an econometric analysis of whether or not to keep their sports car. Not the kind of person who I'd expect to get a sports car in the first place.

Ken

 

I sold a wrx, to buy my 8 over two years ago. I paid cash, no payment is a good feeling. I drive an average of 60 miles a day for work. I pay about $1800 a year more in fuel. $200 a year more for insurance. Nothing I have driven makes me smile like my 8. Only you can make that choice, but I will be keeping mine.

 

What a ****** joke. You're going to trade your car in over ****** tires. Do you know how that makes you look?

Now, I do have to commend you on the good taste in considering the BRZ/FRS, but, still, it's weaksauce to get rid of a car over routine maintenance.

 

Car is paid off. I would keep it