List of Cars Rotorocket has test driven in last 3 weeks to replace RX8: Will Keep RX8
 

Sorry for the third person reference in the title. I took dramatic license.

With that said, here is the list of cars I have test driven in the last three weeks as a possible replacement for the 8 now that our little one is nearly a year old, and momma wants Daddy to get a more "kid friendly" vehicle (it's been an endless quest):

1) Subaru Legacy
2) Subaru Outback
3) Honda Accord
4) Mazda 6
5) Chevy Equinox
6) Hyundai Sonata (2011 version)
7) Toyota Venza (rubbish & ugly)
8) Ford Taurus
9) Ford Flex
10) Nissan Murano
11) Nissan Maxima


Three conclusions here: Shopping for a new car is a ROYAL pain in the ass, many of the cars listed above are absolute rubbish while others are okay as long as your soul has been vacuumed from your body, and not one car listed above has persuaded me to part with my 8.

Bring on the spring time twisties.

Whats your price range? New or used? And other than kid friendly, what is your criteria?

(And the RX8 is a 4 door which can have a car seat just fine... I think you have 4 more years before you need a cute-ute grocery getter to shuttle young ones back and forth to practice)

Of that list, if I were at a similar decision point, only the MazdaSpeed6 would qualify.

All others as you soul-cite herald "abandon all hope all ye who enter here."

I bet a test drive of the new SHO could be fun. . . but 40k for a ford taurus? And no proper manual trans. . . :icon_tdow

I could say the Mazdaspeed3, but that's like conforming to the enemy, who is actually sleeping with your wife... Rotor power!

I liked the speed3 all the way up until I drove it. . . putting that much power in front wheel drive is dumb... I spun the tires lightly everytime I tried to get started and the power is great until the torque steer tries to rip your hand off...

I was too busy fighting the steering wheel and spinning the tires to enjoy the experience. . . not saying its not a good car. I'm saying its not a good car for me. :sad:

Never make a decision find something wrong with every one of those cars. Thus it will truly be "an endless quest" Plus kids will fit fine in the back of your car there tiny and will not complain about the legroom. Also if your kid ever ends up with an interest in cars it might be nice to still have the 8 around. I was totally in love with cars + my hotwheels when i was 5, just being allowed to ride in what ever cool car dad had at the time was a treat.

Not to thread jack, but may I amend this with my own list over past few months:

Mazda CX-7
Subaru Forrester
Audi Q5
Audi A6
Audi A8
BMW 135i
BMW 328
BMW 335 x-drive
BMW 535 x-drive
BMW 545 manual
Jaguar XJ
Porsche Cayenne
- And I would still rather keep the 8

However I could replace RX8 with these two:
BMW X5 4.4i
Saab 9-3 convertible

And definitely with these not-family friendly beasts
Audi R8
Jaguar XK

YMMV

I drove a Mazda 6 sport for a couple of years and although it does handle nicely for a 5-passenger car, I eventually felt like it just didn't have enough soul. Having said that, if a safe family-friendly car is what you're after, I'd recommend it without hesitation.

I have had my 8 since my kid was 2 she is now 4 and loves it and ever since i was laid of I have been mister mom with preschool runs and trips all over running duties for my wife while she is at work perfect family car :)

Hey Roto, got a question for ya.

Was any of the vehicles you test drove a manual? If so, how were their clutch pedals? As in any feel to the engagement point or anything like that? How's their transmission itself?

I might be in the same boat as I'd like to replace my daily driver 02 Lancer soon, still not sure if I want automatic or manual, as all manual FWD cars I've tested so far are simply not all that enjoyable to drive. I'd rather drive an automatic for daily driver than an annoying incompetent manual transmission.

For FWD the trick seems to be how the trans is actuated. My old SE-R was with a rod, my newer SE-R switched to cable actuated. The cable ones are the ones that feel like garbage.

To the OP - have you tried a GTI / GLI? They seem to be a decent balance between family and sport, without big expense.

get a second vehicle for family stuf and a vascectomy. keep the 8 for driving to work.

Did you test the 6 or 4 cylinder versions of these cars? What are the top 3 and bottom 3 cars?

Saturn Astra. Reliable and can get a good deal now.

Comadore ( Pontiac G8 )

Volvo C 30

Volkswagan GTI or othe model



I liked the Accord and the Hyndai I test drove.

Eh... I can understand but I've had mine since 04 and all 3 of my kids fit, car seats and all! Just can't fit the wife... HA! I've thought a 'tiny bit' about trading in just as you have but I love my 8 as much as I did on day one, I still get compliments on it, still runs great, has 108K miles on it and fits the kiddos... I just don't think I'll ever get rid of it!

Vyndictive -20k to 30k.

Huey52 - I liked the 6 the best of the bunch, but I didn't test the speed 6.

I would've tested an Acura, guys, but Acura has ruined their new TL and even TSX, IMO.

SleepeR1st - I've driven in an driven the Mazda3 and Speed3, and their more of a biting (good thing), tied down, frenetic car, and not a quiet, refined cruiser for the kiddies and mommy and daddy.

Gopherage - You are right. If we had to, we could use the 8 with our little one until she was a teen, theoretically, but mom's really into the safety issue now, and wants to really get a tank with 48 airbags.

the1jesster - See above.

Toly - The BMW X5 is WAY overpriced for what is delivered, IMO, and I'm leery of Saab reliability and, now, customer service going forward.

MICHGoBlue - They were all manuals. With traffic and having all the stuff in the cars that go along with kids, a manual is less practical now than ever. Bluetooth would help, but only in a truly quiet car.

The CVT in the Subaru felt odd, and would take getting used to, and the paddle shifters in it and in all the other cars that were so equipped were gimmicky, IMO.

CarAndDriver - Some 6s but mostly 4 bangers. The Outback, Flex, Murano and Equinox were the top four. The Maxima and Venza were definitely my least favorite, but I have a hard time picking the 3rd 'least' favorite car, for some reason.

Agreed on keeping the 8. Its interior/structural engineering was purposeful built to hold four passengers, from kids to adults in both comfort and safety. Have you seen the RX-8s crash test ratings? Not to mention full airbag coverage all around. Not to mention the large volume trunk space (for car size). Too be honest it was a big part of my buying decision over a 350Z.

Side note: My daughter is a teen now and she much rather drive with daddy than mommy. ;) Kids flock to the 8.

I've really been very impressed with my daughter's 2003 Mazda6, and it's only a 4-banger. But it is a GT (pleather, power everything, spoiler, etc). I had a loaner base-6 last summer and it wasn't nearly as well appointed.

Again, a MazdaSpeed6 would seem to give you the best of both worlds. Relatively economical to buy and operate, easy to self-maintain, very family friendly (incl. large trunk for its size and pass-thru), but plenty sporty for the "old man."

;)

One word of caution about the 6. Make sure you practice parking and turning it before you buy. The turning circle is a killer. Everything else is good.

I've heard/read that both the speed3 and speed6 can be rather fragile if you start to autocross/track day them... but isn't everything else, I guess.

What about a used Caddy CTS-V? You can pick up an '05 or '06 in the 20k range. Not german or japanese, but still quite a bit of car for the money.

Just keep the 8. I have two kids 6 and 4 and they love it. The only problem is opening the door for them at school because you have to get out and open the back door, but other than that they fit just fine.

Accord Crosstour looks pretty decent. Otherwise, the Legacy or Outback would be my next pick.

The cross tour looks good, but seeing in person puts in perspective... that thing is HUGE. Long, tall, I'd say its about the size of a Subaru forrester with a taller stance.

Wow, a pre-owned CTS-V would truly be a "family sleeper!" ;) Montrous performance yet stylish.

Obviously I agree with this statement. Its a great car, and I enjoy it when I have to take my wife's car somewhere. Great chassis, lots of power, decent through corners, tons of modding potential and a great community of fellow owners. With that said, the 8 out performs it in all those areas except for power. It is only available in manual shift, and you would have to get it used. Not sure how you feel about that.
G8 or GTI would be interesting although I'm not sure the GTI really increases the interior space that much. G8 would be fun for sure, and looks good too.

I also love the look of the Astra. Its a good looking car, but I don't know anything more about it.

If you are willing to look at used cars I would add the Volvo S60R. That might be ideal, though I have never taken one for a drive personnally.

This is what my list would look like.

New:
G8
GTI
Legacy GT V6

Used:
Mazdaspeed6
Legacy GT (Bspec maybe if you can find it??)
Volvo S60R
S4 (RS4??)

Drive them all and see which one speaks to you. Good luck.

This is true. This and getting use to the on/off lightswitch nature of the clutch take some getting use to.

The range of cars that are cross-shopped against the RX-8 never ceases to amaze me. I own the top of the line last gen Mazda6 GT 5-door, which is better than every car on your list except the Maxima, IMHO. After less than two years owning the car, the only thing that has kept that car in my garage and a RX-8 out of my garage is the 6's poor resale value. That's it! The Mazda6 is a "nice" car that handles very well for its class. But it is not a car you decide to take for a drive just to drive it. It is very functional, a little sporty and not that much fun when you get down to it. All you have to do is drive a RX-8 to understand what you are missing.

There are cars I would consider as altenative to the RX-8, but most have not been mentioned here. The most obvious choice would be a used Cayman. Downside is that lack of a back seat and being at the mercy of high priced Porsche mechanics. Another choice would be the 128i/138i/335 BMWs. The only one that compete new with the RX-8 is the 128i and the RX-8 is a better car. Getting either of the other two used puts me at the mercy of high price BMW mechanics. And none of them handle better than the RX-8.

I would prefer a Lotus Elise (reg or SC) over a RX-8 in terms of driving experience. HOWEVER, there is no back seat and virtually no storage space at all. The cars are much more expensive and just too basic for my tastes. The RX-8 makes a great 1st or 2nd car, the Elise is strictly a toy, the 3rd car you only take out on nice days. FAR too limited for me. Would probably prefer the Evora to the RX-8. If anyone wants to lend me $80k with VERY liberal payback terms, let me know. Other than maybe an EVO, that is the list unless you want to add in convertibles like the Miata, S2000 or Boxster.

The RX-8 gets poor gas mileage relative to hp produced and doesn't have that much power or torque compared to many cars. HOWEVER, it is one of the great handling sports cars on the market regardless of price and is also one of the lightest cars on the market as well. That is the great virtue of the RX-8 and it should only be compared to other great handling cars. If If great handling in not your priority, there are better cars out there for you. If you value a great handling car, then, for the money, the RX-8 is virtually impossible to beat.

Judging from your list you want a sedan/wagon/crossover that won't put you to sleep behind the wheel, for under 25k. Have you tried the CX-7 or looked at a slightly used EX35? In the sedan bracket, I'd try to find a G8 GT.

It seemed that we were definitely leaning towards a CUV, and my list of (relative) favorites indicates that, but both the CX-7 and Infinity EX are way too small in the rear seat to really justify getting one of them over a midsized or large sedan.

The CX-9 is too big, along with the Acadia, Traverse...

I did like the Flex, but the gas mileage sucks and there is no driver feedback at all through the suspension or steering. I know that I said we wanted a cruiser, but we don't want a novocaine injected driving experience like the Venza (hated it) and to a lesser extent, the Flex, offer up.

If the Subaru Outback didn't get saddled with its CVT and the incredibly stupid MPG gauge (they actually put it where the engine temperature gauge should be - big mistake) that doesn't even give you any accurate estimate of fuel economy or anything else (just an annoying, always moving gauge), it would have been more compelling.

Probably?

For me, abso-@&$#%-lutely! LOL. (getting mine this Friday :ylsuper:)

those are all terrible choices. If I was looking for a good family car to accommodate my increasing family size, I'd be looking at the Enzo, Porsche 959, or a Jaguar DBSS.

About the only thing I found redeemable in that post is the mention of a fun little roadster, but that would have to be as a 3rd vehicle. This would allow you to buy a soul-less vehicle to make momma happy. I've always found having a truck around the house to be very handy. Have you considered getting a 4-door truck, then buying a cheap miata as a toy car?

Mazdaspeed3, Mazdaspeed6, STi or WRX, Evo(VII, IX, or X), BMW 3 or 5 series.

There are alot of options that come in 4 door and wagon that are very kid friendly but still have alot of pep

id try out an evo or an sti. or even the wrx would still be semi quick and fun to drive. not to mention subarus last forever

Did you look at any cars that might at least be a little fun? The wife and I just had our first child a month ago and my car shopping was;
Audi A4
Audi S4(07 V8 model)
Mercedes C Class
BMW 328i
BMW 335i
Pontiac G8
Infiniti G35/G37 sedan

Most of these cars were used, but still under warranty. I ended up with a 07 335i CPO and love every minute of it. Infant baby seat fits perfect, with room to spare.

you guys know this is over a month old right?

Uh oh, we mustve broken the one month old thread rule!

4 door GTI, Autobahn package, Xenons, DSG transmission, in Carbon Grey.

I'm 6'4" and over 300lbs I can sit in the back seat with the front seat all the way back comfortably. Nice little cargo area in the back, the rear seats fold down.

200hp 217ftlbs in a 2.0 turbo, chipped and mid pipe on these get you close to 300hp.

DSG transmission is an awesome unit. Dual clutch transmission based on the same transmissions VW put's in Lambo's and the Bugatti.

They handle very good, and are a blast to drive. My 08 averaged 26 mpg city if I stayed out of the throttle.

:icon_tdow The Accord Crosstour is the new Aztec. That thing is fugly.

Buy the wife a CX-7 (the turbo version) and keep your 8.

You can pick up a 1-2yr old TL Type S with CPO for your price range.

Try as we might, we can't get away from Mazda products.

We're now leaning towards keeping my 8, and getting a CX-7 (the new, non-turbo one - I know, I know) because they added a lot of sound insulation, softened the suspension just enough, it gets way better MPG than the turbo version (combined 22 versus combined 18) and the back seat should be big enough until our little one is 4 or 5.

They also dramatically improved the dash and interior materials and some of the gauges.

The 7 drives as nice as many CUVs costing 10k more that we test drove.

I swear on everything holy that Mazda's marketing studies pinpointed my wife and I - this would be out 4th Mazda in 9 years.

Your list is all shit cars that's why man.

Get a GT-R it has 4 seats.

yeah, none of those cars are comparable in anyway.

want a family friendly fun replacement for the rx8?

bmw 335i.

and with all due respect, what is your wife smoking? how can she say the rx8 is not safe? it has 9 airbags. it literally covers the entire interior with airbags. it has a 5 star roll over rating. i cant recall how many newbs have come on to the forums with "i just wrecked my 8, im not really hurt, just a few bruises."

its a REALLY safe car.

Yeah, wasn't the 8 the first car to get a 5-star roll-over rating? Before I bought mine, I had the service manager put on my receipt for inspection: "Certified Mazda 4-door family sedan."

Genesis coupe ;D

I agree.

lol I love how they are newbs because they wrecked their 8

but you are right - it has a ton of air bags and incredible accident avoidance characteristics - great breaking and ease of steering

smoke em if you got em :SHOCKED: