chrism

im not a big domestic fan and now all i gotta do is convince the boss (wifey).....which shouldnt be too hard

Speed Racer

I have to agree with Speed-ER doc with regards to the RX-8 not providing the best bang for the buck. The Mustang GT, Pontiac GTO, Nissan 350Z, Infiniti G35, Honda S2000, Mitsubishi EVO, Subaru STi, and Neon SRT will all out run an RX-8 and they cost about the same or less. You will find that the RX-8 is a real underdog in the class and draws a fair amount of derisive comments from a lot of car buffs that are not familiar with how it drives.

With that said, I still have really enjoyed owning my RX-8 for the last 18 months and 29k miles. The car provides a unique balance of acceleration, braking, handling, styling, and functionality that fits my tastes/needs better than the cars I mentioned above. It is the overall package that makes me enjoy the car every time I sit in the driver's seat.

Over the last 18 months I've had good and bad experiences with the car. In that time I've been to several Mazda dealerships for routine maintenance, TSBs, clutch, front brakes and have yet to find one that I completely trust. I won't go into details of their incompetence here but I'd rank Mazda's service below average because their dealerships generally don't have a lot of experience working on this car.

As other people have mentioned, the car burns oil by design (0.5-2 quarts between oil change) and is rather thirsty (16-18 city, 18-23 hwy, 7 track). The original front brake pads create a ton of dust and are noisy. This has since been noted by Mazda and a new compound is available. You also have to be mindful of warming up the engine. If you shut it off cold you run the risk of flooding the engine.

On the other side, this has been one of the best handling cars I have ever owned. Not only does the car handle well but it is also very forgiving which makes it easy to recover from small errors of judgement. This trait makes the car easier to drive at the limit and I have routinely embararrassed boastful inexperienced STi and EVO owners on the track. The RX-8 may be slower down the straights but it is so much fun to carry more speed through the corner and pass them with an under-powered RX-8. :D

The delivery of power is also much better than your Matrix. My last car was a Celica GT-S which had the same engine as your Matrix and I'm very familiar with that surge of power from 6k to redline. The rotary on the other hand has a very smooth delivery of power which gives you a much broader range of RPMs that are really useable (5-9k RPM). This slow build up of power can be very deceptive and I remember when I first bought the car that I routinely found myself driving 10-15 MPH faster than I had anticipated just because the speed sneaks up on you.

As for aftermarket mods, the typical bolt on mods (intake, exhaust, pulleys, light weight fly wheels, piggy back ECUs, lowering springs, sway bars, coil overs, body kits, etc...) are available but they don't provide the same gains that most import tuners have gotten used to seeing. That is not necessarily a bad thing because it points out that Mazda worked pretty hard to get the most out of this car.

Bottom line is that this car tends to have a polarizing effect on people. Take one for a extended test drive. If it feels right go for it. If you have any doubts I highly suggest looking a little closer at some of the cars I mentioned above before you make a decision.

Paul_in_DC

Gas mileage - I get about 16-17 in town, 19-20 highway.

Power - I think this is a paperwork complaint. It's got plenty of power for me! :D

Stock tires - GREAT in warm weather, suck in winter. Get good performance snow tires and rock on.

Other than those (and they're minor complaints) I'm still head over heals in love with my 8. :D

Gambit

well since the thread has been un-hijacked from the mustang...If you're really into doing sound systems, I think the head unit in the 8 is hard to replace

Dinhx8

vaule comes in a lot ways, so I see the basic point of the above, but must say that the Evo, STI and 350Z and G35 comparably equipped are actually a few grand more than the 8 (I'd be hardpressed to find anyone who paid less than 32 for those- while a nicely equipped 8 can be had for around 29 some lower-)

The s2000 is the same price and nearly equal in performance, so I actually think the 8 is great bang for the buck.

Speed Racer

I guess I should have prefaced that as price to performance comparison. The RX-8 definitely falls a little short of the competition when looking at performance specs but as an overall package I think it is the best of the bunch.

hagar852

Hey man.. Go for it!!!!

I was in the same situation with my 2004 maxima.. I was upside down with that too due to the fact the maxima is over priced. I just picked up a 2004 rx-8 Winning Blue on Saturday. My payments are almost the same a month for each car but the Rx-8 isn't a downgrade, I consider it an upgrade since I got the nav in it.

I did have to buy new tires.. I baught all season tires (toyo proxes 4) which seem to be working very well so far.

I to spent hours on this forum researching all the tsb's and the car before breaking down and going for it.

So far I have 300 miles on my RX-8 and like other people I acutally look forward to driving to work and driving home.. Key word is driving . Infact I look for the scenic route with my nav and drive that one . It is a great car.. Awesome handling, looks great, all my students love it, costs the same per week as my maxima did so far on gas, and it is just too fun to drive.

Just go for it!!

I did, and I have been turned into a RX-8 junkie!!!!

Reactionary

25 isn't relevant for all people, sure, but it's a general more-or-less transitional age/period for many folks, a critical point in the mid-20's during which decisions matter more than before.

If you plan to keep or have no choice but to keep your car for a long time, then you don't need to give a crap about being upside down or the resale value. If finances are an issue, then why trade in your car when you may be more than halfway through paying it off? Another related issue might be planning to buy a home. If you start all over on a 5-year payment plan, not only will it add to the total amount you dish out for car ownership (when you could be done paying your current car in a couple years) but it will affect your chances of buying a house, regardless of if you're not financially strapped.

Speed-ER doc

Now you do.

That was a nice post, Speed Racer. The ergonomics and sense of "oneness" with the car are things I will always miss about the 8. They are unmatched imo, by any of the 8's price competitors. And the 8 is very stable at high speeds, and holds a line well. The brakes are excellent. Once you perfect the 6 to 3 downshift, you can pass many cars with ease, and look (and sound) good doing it. It is a very comfortable GT cruiser.

If only it had more HP.........

chrism

ok now i am pretty convinced....im gonna run it by the wife tonight and start the flow of paper tomorrow on this....i thank you all again for your great insight on this and if it all goes through im sure i will frequent this place

chrism

ok called the dealer and if all works out i should have the green mica in less than 2 weeks.....wish me luck guys...you have been great and helpful in my decision making!.....i will post pics as soon as i get it.....as long as i am welcome here

124Spider

ROFL

First, the S2000 lists for about $33,000, with few of the refinements available in the RX-8. The RX-8, comparably equipped to an S2000, is _much_ less expensive than the S2000.

Second, the stock S2000 is significantly superior in performance, not "nearly equal," to the Stock RX-8, if by "performance" we mean whatever a car does on any track or at autocross. The RX-8 is a very good performer, but, in the right hands, a stock S2000 will beat a stock RX-8 on any track, any time (and there are more mods available for the S2000). For driving legally on public roads, there is not a large difference.

The RX-8 is, IMO, a great value, especially if you are looking for some utility (of which the S2000 has none) to go with the performance.

Speed-ER doc

He already had his mind made up anyway, facts weren't going to get in the way.

As the great physician of the late 19th century, Sir William Osler once said....a consultation is sought in order to confirm an opinion already formed (or something like that).

124Spider

I think he's making a fine choice, assuming he's done his due diligence (I know Houston has as many curves in its roads as it has "left" in its politics, but other places have roads on which nimbleness is far more important, for having fun, than torque). I just wanted to correct something, not to dissuade him from buying an 8.

chrism

you guys are both right...i wanted some assurance on what im about to get....i know the competition but for eye candy in my humble opinion the rx is superior to most....im not looking for a rocket ship..im looking for an all around car that will be hella fun.....my trix is fun but the power is set way too high....the tach is similar because i have an incredibly high cut off on rpm's.....the clutch is friendlier for sure....mine engages almost at the very top so you almost have to ride it a bit in order not too stall (which isnt fun in traffic).....power delivery is just right in the rx....i like some low end torque too which i dont have...the s2k is too small for me and only good for 2......the z is ok but kinda bland looking for me and the evo and sti are boxy and somewhat ricy for me.....i refuse to do domestic so this seemed to fit....and there are enough twisties that i can have fun with here in jersey and i am a huge fan of taking road trips....so if i dont have them ill find them.....but no one answered my query as to being welcomed :D :p

Dinhx8

-I don't disagree with you- but my brother has an 04 s2000, he bought it 2 wks after I got my 8- and paid 800 more than I did ..(i didn't pay a lot for my 8 either, GT and air dam and 6 cd at 29.6K).and his is 'loaded' among the options that an s2k comes with

-As for performance, I wouldn't use the word "significant" to classify the s2k over the rx8. 0-60 numbers are within .5 seconds, top speed is within 6mph, and they handle similarly. But I don't doubt what you are saying, and agree with you that on public roads, there's little diff- that's more where I was coming from- to me out of most of the 'competitors', the s2k matches up most closely - and, so far- my brother has yet to catch me in his - btw, how the hell do you have an 04 s2k and an 8 anyways? both awesome rides.

Speed-ER doc

See, that's the part that bugs me. I used to be an import snob for over 20 years, since my last American car, a 1980ish Mustang II which was the worst POS I ever owned. So I know where you are coming from. But things have changed since then.

I went from Rabbit to Celica to RX-7 to 4-Runner to Lexus SC400 to Miata to RX-8, and enjoyed them all. Then I gave the Cobra a chance....... :D

hagar852

Well it all comes down to personal preference. If you don't care about a bose stereo, being able to sit 4 people (kinda), having a navigation system, decent sized trunk, or any other practicality then buy some other car.

In my opinion the RX-8 is the everyday sports car. Those other cars aren't much of an everyday car. I have seen them all , sat in them all except the mustang cause I didn't feel the need to get into it, and driven most. I don't think many other cars handle like this one does under $50k. Not to mention all of the nice little toys you can get in it.

Chris I just went through what you are going through for the past 2 weeks. And I decided just to get it. It is a great car that has "everyday" use. I might even be able to fit my 190 salamon skis in this thing.. Pretty damn good for a car this size..

Anyway, once you get the chance to drive one everyday you are hooked. You are almost hooked already and you don't even have one yet .

chrism

not trying to flame cuz i have owned a few domestics as well....none of them seemed to be worth the money.....and the only cars that could handle my driving were imports with the exception of one....i have respect for all cars because i am an enthusiast....but i dont like fit and finish on domestics and i dont like the lack of reliability....things have changed for sure.....but they arent there yet in my opinion :D

bmcc49er

The only thing I don't care for about the Mustang is already they are all over the damn place. On base I see a new one pop up almost daily. Only 1 other 8 on base and everyone loves this car. Be amazed at how people approach you almost anywhere to look at it and discuss it. Dime a dozen Mustangs will not have that unique attribute and while thats not the main reason to by a car, the 8 has everything I want in addition. Unless you go to the track all this talk about horsepower is pointless. Where can you use it legally? The 8 can go 140+, if that isn't fast enough plus add in the handling ability then I don't know what to tell you.

Speed-ER doc

Fair enough, an informed opinion is always better than the other kind.

And to bmcc, it isn't about max speed, it's about acceleration. :D

capitolgator

IMO the Mustang is trying too hard to look cool and looks goofy- like the recent Ford Thunderbird blunder... besides, it's a Ford- need I say more?

The RX-8 looks naturally cool- not forced. I get compliments on mine all the time- and I highly recommend the nav system and snow tires during the winter season.

Mine has over 3k miles on it and no need for additional oil yet... and with Bush in the White House for 4 more years, I figure gas prices have to come down, right? (insert your joke here) so the bad gas mileage will be a non issue real soon!

bmcc49er

Don't get me wrong Doc, I do like the Mustang. Started a thread a while back saying how much i liked it but as far as accelaration unless you street race i don't see the point. The 8 doesn't exactly make me worry I can't get out of a pinch or get by someone in a hurry. Point to me is the 8 is not slow by a longshot. and I can get well past the speed limit quickly so unless you are wanting to race at the redlights what does excessive acceleration do for you considering the 8 is plenty able? I just find it fascinating that some buy a stock car and feel that they are showing someone up because it accelerates quicker. You didn't do anything but buy it. Someone who builds it is a different story but picking a faster car is suppose to impress someone that could have bought that car just as easily? Not necessarily aimed at you Doc, just venting on all the mine is faster talk.

PaulieWalnuts

Are you starting to work your way back down to a Rabbit again?

Speed-ER doc

Well, there is that tuned R32..... :D



http://www.motortrend.com/features/p...12_0401_tuner/

Street "race" is such an inflammatory term these days. I have honestly never street "raced" since I was in High School, and then only once or twice.

I do, however, occasionally familiarize myself with what WOT feels like in various gears, purely for my own enjoyment, and in no way engaging in a contest of speed with another vehicle. :D