dmc27

um, you qouted it, just like the portion below. But I'll bold it to make it easier to see.

balefire

iTrader: (2)

That is exactly what happened to the Honda S2000. When it first came out, my insurance was quite cheap, around 70 / month. It was actually cheaper than insuring my dad's accord, probably because only the very rich, responsible could afford a 30-40k car. By the time I sold it last year, insurance was on the order of 125 / month despite now being married, kids, etc. I imagine that this due to the fact that a much younger demographic owned the s2k, which then got in much more frequent accidents.

Oh yeah, my insurance on my rx-8 went up 5 / month this last 6 month period (no accidents or tickets, btw). I bet that it will only climb as the rx-8 becomes more and more affordable to riskier drivers.

Rems31

But you negated that stament when you didn't include the word 'much' when you talked about Insurance companies increasing your rate. You said your rate is your own and is unaffected by other drivers.

And if you read my original post, you can see I'm commenting on how insurance companies determine your rate - which takes into account other drivers and not just your own policy.

MrSuicideDoor

the horse is dead, now you're beating it

RotaryP7

wtf? Do you redline the car constantly..?

Aero8

Why do you attribute your rates going up to only younger drivers though? My rates went up on every car I have ever owned. Just about every other time I get a new statement the rates go up.

Also, if you were married, with kids, your rates aren't going to go up because younger people are getting in accidents. The age bracket for those owners are going to go up.

Young people aren't the only ones getting into accidents!!!!!! Your rates don't go up just because of the young people getting into accidents. Young people aren't the only ones buying cheaper cars. Adults don't mind buying cheaper cars too. now you have more cars on the road in general and more of a chance for one of them to get into an accident. That is not limited to the younger generation.


EDIT:
For all of you saying that "statistically" younger drivers get in accidents more and that is the reason the rx8's insurance goes up, please, show everyone the surveys you are finding these statistics from. or do you all just go by what the insurance companies and news tell you?

I suppose we could do a poll of all the owners of the forum, but then again, we would have to take into account that there are people that own the car not on this forum. And, since it is stereotypical that the young drivers are worse, I will use the stereotype that most adults aren't as tech savy or spend as much time on the internet as the younger generation does. Therefore, if we did do a survey and it came out to show that the younger generation does have more accidents than the older population I could just say well, there are more young people on this forum anyways.

I know it sounds like it, but I am really not trying to be an *** about this. There are so many people that just blindly accept "statistics" but don't look into where they came from. It really bothers me.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

It will not happen. Cuz most, I mean MOST young people only knows the word *horsepower* and *torque*, they dont give a **** about *Handling and Balance*.

Civics has no HP and TQ I know, but their reputation is simply great (among the youngers), and its 100000000000000 times easier to get one than most other cars.

Easy to get
Cheap ... low price
HUGE aftermarket
My friend has one
etc

All these factor adds up.

and some of you guys over estimate kids these days, they love cars thats UNDER 8K range. especially with gas price hike you will not be able to see them driving RX8 .... much.

Its a good thing to keep the kids away.

For the insurance part, it might have something to do with younger stupid kids getting more expensive cars, but I just think that it has more to do with greedy insurance companies raising their rates for no reason.

But you have to admit tho, most accidents were cause BY YOUNGER kids, I consider people thats under 25 to be in the *young* group.

balefire

iTrader: (2)

There are lots of reasons why insurance goes up, but I have no doubt that younger riskier drivers are a major contribution.

For my 98 camry, my insurance has gone down, not up in the several years I have owned that car.

CarAndDriver

Anyone who denies that more young male drivers affect insurance rates negatively is fooling themselves. It is clear by the arguments already made here and statistically proven.

I'm not saying that all young drivers are bad drivers, it is just that there are more of them for a given age group and that is going to affect rates, including the 8s.

Rems31

Just did a quick google search and came upon this website with some of the stats.
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/div...ash_statistics

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

As long as the cost of aftermarket accessories remains high, the 8 most likely remain unattractive to the ricer crowd.

eforer

I'm 26 and just bought a used 04 rx8 with 8k on it for $14,599. My car prior to this was a C230k and prior to that a 03 mitsu evo 8. I bought the evo new and the c230k used.

Many of my peers have scratched their heads as to why I would go from something like an evo to the MB and then the 8. I bought the evo when I was 22 and the neck snapping performance etc. was very appealing at the time. Owning that car matured me alot in terms of my taste because the misery associated with owning a car like that easily outweighed the limited enjoyment from mashing the gas.

Firstly, the car was expensive, 33k. Secondly the insurance was RIDICULOUS and the fuel economy was comprable to our 8s. Although it wasn't unaffordable, I did resent paying that much for the use of the car every month. On top of that the styling was mediocre at best and the interior wasn't really improved over a stock lancer. In the end I was shelling out big bucks for a dressed up economy car. Sure the performance was great, but breaking a rear windshield from hitting a bump (that really did happen) and feeling like I was going to rupture my spleen on a long drive on cruddy New Englad roads didn't help my enjoyment at all.

In addition, mitsu dealers suck for warranty service, they threatened to void my power train warranty if I installed a turbo timer! So I was stuck sitting in the car for 2 minutes of cool down after every drive. After 2 years and 36k miles on the car, I was ready to be done with it. The warranty expiration was another motivating factor for the sale. The car also had noticably lost power. I traded it in on the mercedes (with a 6 spd) and was much happier. The car was easy to live with, much cheaper, reliable (relatively) nicely warrantied and a pleasure to drive in terms of normal cruising etc. Sure it wasn't nearly as fast but it was decent.

Unfortunately the mercedes was totalled by an incompetent driver. I came across a great deal on the 8. After researching the specific car and the RX8 in general I went for it. Thus far I'm pretty happy. Its sort of a nice compromise between the evo and the MB. Its a good balance between practicality, quality (you laugh but comared to the evo this things a maybach!) and performance. I also find the balance to be vastly superior to the evo, and its easier to drive fast.

All told I think that this car will attract a more mature buyer who will apreciate the little niceties of this car. It has a subtle level of refinement that I find very appealing. Its quick enough, very fun to drive and priced very nicely both new and used. I certainly don't think its going to become the next civic, accord, prelude type of car.

dmc27

hhmmm . . . I think the real question is this: For those that have owned the 8 for 3+ years now - has your insurance rate gone up since the initial quote?

I'll bet my 8 the answer is yes. But it's only now that the 'younger' higher risk guys are getting the 04 8s.

hhmmmm. Now, I'm not crazy enough to say the insurance companies WON'T raise rates b/c of this demographic. Just saying they'd raise them anyway. Those of you who honestly believe "it's b/c of the 18-24 males" and NOT b/c the insurance companies have the greatest scam in United States history, well - I won't ruin your delusional bliss.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

actually, the 8 IS kinda like the last generation Prelude in its attributes: nice looking (debatable i know lol), relaxed, sporting, has some power, easy to live with day-to-day, a well-balanced sporty coupe

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

actually mine dropped a good couple hundred dollars for a year, but that's mainly due to my 2 speeding tickets finally rolling off my records lol

RX Gator

I would have to disagree with what many of you are saying about "young" people disliking the Rx8. Far from it. Many of these "young" people cannot afford a $17,000+ car. I am 16 and I drive an Rx8, but I split the payment with my parents, and I keep good grades in school. All of my friends love my car, but for the money, they would prefer some sort of fwd rocket ship.

My parents have always owned Mercedes', Porsche's and Bmw's, so it was natural for me to want a great handling RWD Sports car. I have not hit anything, received any speeding tickets, or done anything to crazy in my car. I care for my car better than 90% of the population, and I have learned to drive a manual because of it.

Anywho, I think we can all agree that Rx8's freaking rule!

alerx-8's

im 16 and drive a 05 rx8 and payed 24k and contribute payments towards it, and have yet thankfully got into any type of a accident or even a speeding ticket,

same scenario as rx gator was stating

gjase

I was at my local bar/hangout saturday night and the guy who bartends is a good friend of mine, hes a salesman at the dealership i bought my 8 at (he sold it to me) and when i walked up he quickly introduced me to a guy he just sold a used 04 to that same day.. i asked the kid how old he was, he said 18 .. second question was manual or auto, he said auto, i gave him a litle hell for that.. he said he's couldnt drive a stick and his folks got it for him at a great price.. i commented on how awesome the rotary sounded.. even when idling the whirrr, whirr,etc .. he was clueless and then had no idea what a rotary engine was (in his favor i think if i said "whats a piston engine" he would have looked equally clueless).. point being this kid had NO CLUE about what makes this car so great.. i went on about how to avoid flooding and to check his oil often/top it off and he looked and acted like i was an idiot and walked away.. I mean everyone figures it out at some point.. the oil light WILL come on, and the car MAY flood if not warmed, but is it just me or does the fact of someone driving an 8 for the looks or thinking its just a cool car and having no idea about the renesis, history of the rotary, and all that jazz that makes the pride of owning the car that much more (than it just "looking cool") meaningful? Maybe im a bit goofy, I do check ebay at least once a week for new 8's posted.. i dont want them, i just love gazing over the detailed photos.. or watching youtube RX8 clips for hours (if you havent did that, DO IT).. I parked beside a guy at the grocery store a few months ago who had one (he was middle aged) and was the same way, he just "loved the curves".. had no clue about the rest.. why that irritates me, i dont know, but it does. That, to me, is more of an issue over the young'uns driving them..

Ike

I've got two teenage nephews, one of them lived me for a while so I met other kids that he went to school with as well. My car was always a topic that came up since my nephew usually told them what I drove. Those coversations would often gravitate towards cars in general and cars that the kid was wanting to buy. Whenever I would suggest they check out the RX-8 was as if I had farted in their face. "It's ugly, it's slow" were common responses.

It seems most of these kids had 3 schools of though in what they wanted from a car. They often wanted something like a BMW, Mercedes, Infiniti, Lexus, or a luxury SUV. The ones that wanted something fast it was always things like the STI, Evo, 350Z, Cobra/Stang GT, or Supra. Then the ones that couldn't afford a nicer car usually wanted something they could fix up and customize like a Civic. Most kids could care less about how balanced a car is or how smooth the rotary is.

If you think teenagers are still defining what they like and don't you're wrong. They're quick to judge and quick to hate something or love something. Their tastes will change as they get older but they have no problem figuring out what they love or hate and there is usually little gray area in between.

Lastly, kids that want to buy a car that they think will get them laid will want something luxury with a nameplate that matters, or something really fast. The RX-8 doesn't qualify. Some girls really love my car, they're all really young (damn my morals!), the older ones have no idea what it is and don't get it.

Yes, there are teens that like the RX-8, but I don't think you guys have nearly as much to worry about compared to other cars.

wankleman

I got my 8 when I was 22 at $27k, I work for the railroad. You cant wrap all "early 20s" into young drivers because believe it or not some of us have equal if not more skill and maturity while in a vehicle than the balding crowd. I've only owned rear-wheel drive, manual sports cars and also autox every once in awhile. Never street raced it or got into a fender bender. A middle-aged crisis guy thats used to driving a minivan, whil drinking coffee and talking on the cell phone is more dangerous than me driving with hands at 10 & 2

CarAndDriver

You're a good driver, but the 20 somethings next to you at the stop light most like are not. It's all about averages and the group as a whole.

I do think the 8 doesn't have as much problem as the Z, EVO, WRX crowd. Those cars attract the pedal to the metal crowd.

I wonder where the MS3 will fall.

dillsrotary

every thread like this has "i'm 18 and bought it cash" members jumping in haha. I agree with Ike though, the stereotype sticks with the teenage crowd when it comes to auto's. Plus the luxury cars are all over now, kids leasing tsx's, infiniti's and so for. I've had this conversation, "so and so is making alot of money, he's driving an acura TL and he's only 19, it's in his name too."






oh and for stat purposes i'm 26 and stole my 8.

Skiptomylue

im 21.. i love the car..ive had mine for over a year and still love it...

Ike

Yeah, but you're Canadian...

Freddie

It's not a stereotype, it's statistics. If you're an exception, that's great. But, statistics don't lie.

Yes, I was.

Sorry, dude. There's no substitute for experience.