ZOOMNRX8

man what did I do wrong, RX8 at 16-17, I mean im only 20 but, I graduated busted ***** in college, landed a good job and then got one, no one has ever helped me to afford a car so I believe you then appriciate it more. I just don't want to see you get peer pressured into speeding, drifting whatever, loosing control, crashing car, hitting something/someone, then making your insurance go up, especially after F&F TD comes out. Thats just my oppinion, I could be wrong. To answer your question, yes the RX8 is a great car, looks amazing, sounds good, sucks on gas, comfortable.

Nodoz

neither of these cars is a drift car. wrx isn't for obvious reasons, but it takes a little more to get an 8 to drift. that "awesome handling" you were refering to makes the car want to grip a lot more than go sideways, so you can take right angle corners at 35+ not go sideways through them. it will drift however if you put some money into it, but like i told the other guy, a good 240sx is like $2500 used and it loves getting sideways. it's reliable, and after you've got your skills up you can switch to the 8.

supergoat

I was thinking the same thing. I'm only 24 but also bought/insure mine myself(as well as my other car), and will still be paying for it for the next 5 years! Of course my payments are basically nothing thanks to a huge down payment but still, I WISH I had a car this nice at that age.

mysql101

17 y.o and a STI, that's a nice insurance combo.

OzzieRizz

Well its kind of a long story why I can get such a high priced car, but basically, its my parent's "bribe or incentive" to get me to move to the US. Because initially, I was going to stay in Australia and just board at my old school there.
And as for the appreciating part, I am a car freak, so I will be appreciating it. Even though I'm not "paying" for it, I love cars, so I'll do everything in my power to take care of it.

OzzieRizz

Yeh my friend back in Australia is going to do that. Get an old 240sx and turn it into a drift pig. Hm.. with 20k, I guess you can do a truckload of performance. But I don't know, they have just never appealed to me. BTW, are 240sx RWD or FWD?
I wish Skylines are legal here though. I still can't believe that they are illegal to import. Sucks *****!

Another note, if i was getting one, where would you go to find a 240sx? I mean its not the most popular car here. Where would I find one? And would I be able to find one in a decent condition?

tjbourgoyne

Any parent that gives their teenager a sports car as a bribe is complete garbage.

OzzieRizz

Why is that garbage? Its like an incentive for something. Like at least I'm earning it in some way. Most people that goes to my school gets like 20 odd thousand dollar cars just because they need a new car.

tjbourgoyne

like a bribe is like offering somebody something for like nothing to influence their like decision making process.

Torchmonkey

Man, it is absolutely crazy to drop that kind of change on insurance. You should look at something you can buy for cash, keep liability insurance only on it and get the driving experience under your belt. Even if your parents are out of their mind enough to pay for the car and/or insurance, it is irresponsible to do it. As a father of teenage children (I gave them a cheap car and made them pay for their insurance-gas). Further, as a lead-footed 8 driver, I do not recommend this car to anyone who hasn't had a couple of thousand hours behind the wheel. The RX-8 will be there when you're ready. Hopefully, you will be able to afford it yourself...nothing like earning what you want.

soldano

you are not like earning it like AT ALL

ps like

tjbourgoyne

It doesn't matter if she earned it. What does matter is giving a teenager a sports car who thinks the engine needs replacement at 30,000 miles. That scares me!

musclecarconvrt

Wow, what a country. 16-17 y/o getting free sports cars for good behaviour! My first car was older than I was, wieghed about 4000lbs, and cost my dad a cool $150 dollars to get it out of the nieghbors weeds. A gallon of Bondo and a case of grey primer spraypaint later I was on the road! Count your selves blessed young ones (under 20!).

btw my RX8 has 51,000 engine replacement free miles on it. Guess I forgot to take mine in last year. ;-)

Ice Blue

As a kids first car I would not recommend a nice new car sorry. But let’s just give you the benefit that your a mature responsibly teenager without the desire to mod and hack and rice out your car. Then yes it would be a great car.

If you want to race it around and put something other then an air intake a catback and rims then don’t buy it. It cost too much chedda to mod right.

If I did it again I would have 20k set aside and buy a more base model and mod it. Knowingly most moding would be custom fabed mucho cheddar.

So consider that if you treat it responsibly it will be a good car for anyone.

Nodoz

do i really have to answer the first question?
rwd

if you're in the states just go to autotrader.com or cars.com to find one. it shouldn't be too hard to get one in good condition. hell there's one for sale at a car shop where i live for $2500 right now. i'd buy it if it wouldn't jack up my insurance another $200/year. (still got a credit card to pay off - plus i want to get a bike). another car you may want to think about is an old bimer. you should be able to find an early 90s/late 80s mt bmw for $3-$5k. then you just add a limited slip diff to it and you're set. i'd recommend an fb or fc, but it's harder to find one you don't have to put money into right away.

edit:
i almost forgot. you can get a 1st gen miata for $2-$5k also and not only will you be a king of autocross in it, all the girls will want to ride with you in you're convertable roadster.

HolyCross05

I'm praying that you don't get the 8

OzzieRizz

Okay half-way through writing a response I realized why the hell am I justifying myself for getting a car that I seem to love. So basically I still don't know if I'm getting one or not.

I thank you all for your responses but in the end, it comes down to my choice anyway. So yeh.

Ahahha sorry about asking that Nodoz. I was kind of in the middle of it, so I might aswell just asked "while in Rome" =P
But yeh I'll think about them. The thing I don't like about getting a 240sx is because its probably close to imposible to finding one that is bare-bone stock. So like I said, I don't know. Im still considering my options.

Just one thing I don't understand though is why you all think sports cars are so "dangerous" for teenagers. Yes they are dangerous because they are fast but compared to a truck or 4wd, which a LOT of teenagers have, they seem like.. innocent. A sports car is dangerous if its going fast only. A truck or 4wd is dangerous 24/7 no matter how fast or slow you are going. So yeh, I just can't seem to understand you guy's theory on that.

But on a last note:
And I will definately treat it like a queen.

Elite-Eight

I don't know why but I am really attracted to this car. I have no plans on moding it up, I simply want to keep it stocked and then after this car dies, I am getting a Lancer Evolution (probably an 8 unless they come out with a better one within 10 years). Once I get the Evo, then I plan on really getting into upgrades and mods and what not. I hear what you guys are saying about not getting this car. But, I simply want to drive it like a casual car to work and where ever else. I mainly want it because it is 4 doors and it is a sports car. That's another question I want to ask, is getting in the back seets hard? I know there are 4 doors but is it still hard to get in? But I really want to thank you for your opinions!

tjbourgoyne

Seriously, I don't think the car is a good fit for you. Yes, it looks great, but the other qualities of easy rear entry and casual driving put you in another market. You would also have to appreciate the rotory engine, something you have yet to mention.

Nodoz

it's not just sports cars. i'm more afriad of newly licensed drivers in suvs rear ending me like a year ago before i got my 8. and i'm not saying you shouldn't have one at your age, i just feel someone your age should have more experience before owning one. prove you can handle 150hp before 200+hp. now if you'd have said you used to compete in karts as a kid or scca or some other motorsport, then i'd have less of a problem with you having an 8 for your first car. granted i still feel any 16-19 year old isn't really mature enough on the road to have a sports car (most adults aren't either including myself) if you can seriously prove you can handle it then i'd be ok with it.

anyways don't let me or anyone else persuade you from what you want to do. i just want you to be aware of your options. as you said it is your decision to make, and you have to live with it. chose wisely

Ice Blue

I have to agree with you. I am 22 now and raced karts and shift carts since I was 11 and raced motocross since I was 3. I got a miata when I was 16 and I still was not mature enough for it. I treated it superb but riced it out. You don’t know at that age but when you’re older you can put the pieces together. I know the 16yr old poster will just brush this off his shoulder. It is young and you don’t think and he will know in a few year. A car is dangers and a blessing, young ignorance can bite you quick.

I built / still building a car for my gf that if you look at it the wrong way it will kill you. But I made her go to driving school and I trained her prior before she is aloud to drive the car or me give it back to her. Safety being the first priority. So driving a capable car is only half the puzzle be safe out there it’s not just your life.

NotAPreppie

I don't agree with your parent's methods but if I were in your shoes, I sure as hell would NOT pass up an opportunity like this.

Consider the negative responses about "bribery" and parenting methods proof that most people don't get this kind of opportunity and you should be very thankful.

Be very, very carefull. One could take your comparison to trucks and SUVs and analogize it to the difference between a .22 rimfire (Boyscout rifle) and .50 AE (Desert Eagle pistol). Sure, one will do more damage, but both are lethal. Speed is lethal regardless of car type.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HOW MUCH ENERGY A 3,000LB CAR HAS AT JUST 40Mph!!! That's not very fast but it is fast enough to kill.

OzzieRizz

AHhaaha well I was surprised myself that my parents did this. But to think about it, its basically just using the money that would have otherwise been spent on my boarding school and living cost in Australia on the car. But either way you look at it, I am definately greatful because if it wasn't for the move, I would have probably got a 92 Civic... if that......

But yeh I understand that any car for that matter is lethal, but its just kind of hypocritical that there is no problem with teenagers driving a truck or a big 4wd, but when a bit of speed comes to it, all hell breaks loose about it.

Elite-Eight

Trust me...I appreciate Rotars. My brother has an FC with a 20b in it... I am quite appreciative of that baby. I know this is wrong but at 12 I started driving a 1994 Chevy Suburban in the back woods to my camp. I have been driving it ever since but only up there. So I actually have a lot of off road expirence which isn't saying much due to the fact that there are no passing cars or anything. As of latley, my father purchased himself a 2006 Chevy Suburban and I am suprised he has the ***** to let me drive that on the PA Turnpike. I really do thank you guys for your opinions and I have been looking into other cars; however, my father thinks I have enough road time to drive the RX-8. I guess I will let the decision come naturally?

silvernite8

if my parents offered me an 8 as a first car i wouldn't hesitate I'll go for it
I would definitely take that offer. I got a 95 Nissan Maxima as a first car. So you are lucky to get offered an 8 as a first car

Just remember driving is a privilege

about that 30,000 miles engine problem... i think i may have brought the wrong car

gl with any future car you drive- just be safe