My RX-8 is my daily driver. I love the car on weekends and on back roads. I do not like it in rush hour traffic or when I need to haul stuff (like my snowboard).

What would YOU buy if you could get a second car?

I'd lean towards a Volkswagen Tourareg/Acura RL/Infiniti M-35 (the new one!).

 

Another RX-8. Something in a conservative color, like Titanium, for when I don't feel like grabbing the world's attention with my Lightning Yellow car.

 

My second car is a toyta trecel 1992. I paid 300 bucks for it and it runs like a champ. I drive an hour to work and an hour back everyday. The gas and miles was killing my 8. I drive my 8 on the weekends and keep it covered up during the week now!!

 

Nice choices - go with the Touareg! Otherwise you'll always be limited to the capacity of the sedans....

 

My actual second car is a Honda Odyssey minivan to haul the family of five around. And I love that bus - full leather interior, a factory-installed overhead-mounted video entertainment system that I added a permanently-mounted PS2 system into (unit mounted on the sidewall of the back behind the left side slider door), killer sound system for a minivan (I beefed up the standard Honda system, which is damn good, with a subwoofer and better speakers in the major spots, left the stock dash tweeters alone), and improved tires and brakes. The bus will cruise at 85 mph all day long without fatiguing the driver, gets 22 mpg doing it. We call it the "road trip machine" ... and it's the daily driver for my wife.

 

A truck with 4WD; it bugs me I cant haul big things around when necessary.

 

See signature... :D

 

Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon. Turbo. 250 HP. Comfortable, fast, swallows a lotta stuff.

 

My '96 4WD V6 xtra-cab Tacoma is great.

 

I have a 97' Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. I drive this in winter and rainy summer days. It is so weird getting in this truck after driving the 8 for weeks on end, it feels like i'm driving a Sherman tank! I got 136000 miles on her and she's still goin strong!

 

He said haul stuff like his SNOWBOARD. He does not need a truck nor SUV for that duty, a sedan would do fine, a wagon would do wonders.

Audi Allroad perhaps.

 

99 ford escort...cheap on gas....front wheel drive....perfect beater

 

We have the VW Touar-crap--- It is an 05, and the the worst car/suv we have ever owned-- Everything brakes on it-- we traded our Honda Pilot- for this junker--
Huge mistake-I did not do my homwork well, and paid the cost-The quaility of the Honda compared to VW--day and night. You would not belive the depreciation on this thing-I'm stuck

 

Frank Patrick , Thats good to know, when my truck does finally die I was thinking of getting the new Honda Ridgeline Pick-up, it looks great.

 

I picked up a 96 Subaru Legacy AWD just before the snow.
A second car is a great idea.. especially one that is snow-able.
-B

 

get a car that will save you gaz and save a bit of pollution... do you REALLY need an SUV?

 

I also was thinking of a small 4WD Pickup..maybe a slightly used Tacoma or Mazda B Series. The 4WD would be great in the snow and the utility gains speak for themselves.

I definitely don't need the headaches of a fullsize pickups gas mileage or girth

 

Nissan Murano

 

This is sorta funny. I bought my RX-8 to be my second/daily driver. :D

 

I have a 2002 PT Cruiser MT which I drive in the winter, the rain, and when the 8 isn't big enough. I have put 6K miles on it since I bought the 8 in September-- which has 3K. I expect the 8 to catch up some time this summer.

The Cruiser much more fun to drive than the SUV I had before, it gets better gas mileage (24/29), and it's almost as good in snow. However, in order to address it's failings relative to the 8, I have already felt compelled to replace the suspension and wheels. Now that I can feel the road, I'm thinking it really needs an aftermarket turbocharger. I'd definitely get the turbo version if I were buying one now.

The choice of a second car really depends on why you think the 8 is inadequate. You'll end up making a different set of compromises. I don't think I could stand driving an SUV on a daily basis anymore.

I like just about all the cars Mazda is making these days. I'm thinking the Mazda5 or Mazda6 SW might be a good eventual replacement for the Cruiser. If I just wanted a commuter car, I'd think about a Mazda 3 or 6.

I'm in Rome right now, and I'm keenly aware that Europeans have a lot more choices in small mutli-functional fuel-efficient cars than we do in the US. No Mazda's here though.

 

go for something fun like the sti or evo...or wrx if you dont have that kind of scratch lying around

 

Let me suggest an Acura TSX, Accord Hybrid, or a G35 sedan w/AWD...

 

I've actually thought about this before because the reasons I would get a second car are a) to drive something more fuel efficient, and b) I put way too many miles on my 8 and I want to keep it longer than at least two years!

That being said, for my reasons stated, I wouldn't go with any of your options and have considered either the Scion Tc (simple, not compromising in the looks) or perhaps the Honda Accord Hybrid, for max fuel efficiency. Obviously, performance isn't high on the criteria list for me with my hypothetical daily driver. And I'm sure both have pulldown rear seats for which you can store your board.

 

get a Mazda6 wagon...keep it in the mazda family

 

My primary (2nd) car is a 92 Lumina Euro. Drives great. When that goes I want a Jeep Wrangler, something to beat on especially in the winter.