Michael

There's a correlation between teenagers(+) with above-average intelligence and RX-8 purchase. It's not a car that appeals to you when you're 16 because it doesn't have out-of-the-box *****. Most of the teen-to-25 8 owners that I know either autocross or DE with their parents, and are in the top 10% of everything they do. You have to understand that for the same price an 18 year old going to college can purchase an '04 Cobra, so most of the high-risk drivers are going to pursue that path.

On the other end of things, you've got the ignorant-impulse or aesthetic buyers, that know nothing about the car, who come on the forum to ask "HOW MUCH TO TURBO MY AUTO" or "WHERE TO BUY NITROS" (sic on purpose) with 0 posts.

It's funny - I know 3 sub 22 year-old RX-8 owners, and all of them were gifted their 8 when they put themselves through college (scholarship straight out of high school). 2 of the 3 (and myself) have a family history in motorsports of some sort. They're the kind of people that would rather have a 968 or a Miata than a 325i or Tahoe.

ZOOMNRX8

I didn't read all the way though this thread but, I believe a young driver is one who their parrents bought the car for them. I was 20 when I bought mine, when your making the payments responsibility, respect for the car increases dramatically compared to mommy and daddy buying the car. I know some are going to arguee my parrents bought my car and I do have repect and responsibility, trust me, it will be different when your making $450 dollar car payments each month.. I dunno, thats just my .02 cents..

Przemot

Its not about the age of the driver its about experience the driver has. Anyway the tests in the U.S should be harder that makes people thing. I am not imagine higher speed limits in the U.S. People would kill themselves on the road withouf further knowledge how to drive.

StewC625

Herein lies the reason I'm really glad I leased this car, rather than owning it and watching my investment disappear.

14 more months of fun, and I'm out. Then off to the Mercedes-Benz dealer.

shaunv74

When I was a "young driver" I am assuming 1st carish high school type. I couldn't afford much over $1000 or so. I'm thinking now a first car would be around 3K. In that sense I think RX8's are safe for a while. And there's never accounting for daddy splurging on their little darlings so I don't consider them a representative sample of "young drivers." Kinda like Paris Hilton isn't a representative sample of mid-20's women (thank god).

636

^rofl , yes thank goodness. Well , im young (18) and have an rx8 , im a good driver though and not much like an average teen. Well , im considered an adult now i suppose so..... yay? Oh god here comes the taxes lol.

xxatlan

err... Well, I'm 16 and I'm like in love with this car. I've been doing research and reading these forums for several months now. I seriously cannot wait to get one.

I'm probably the only person in my age bracket and area that really wants an 8. My two best friends both have celicas, another friend has a civic, and two of my cousins have a 350z and a tiburon. I like those cars as well, but I still like the wayy 8 more. I really like the uniqueness of the rotary that the 8 has, that not many people have an 8, and everything else behind it. haha I still get excited when I see one on the road. I have a calendar that I got from Mazda earlier this year after I took a tour with them and its been stuck at the month that had an rx8 as the picture haha.

but just because they are getting cheaper, i personally dont think "young people" will buy over it other cars. a lot of them just want faster cars than what the 8 can offer.

CarAndDriver

[QUOTE=xxatlan;1909155]err... Well, I'm 16 and I'm like in love with this car. I've been doing research and reading these forums for several months now. I seriously cannot wait to get one. /QUOTE]
Thank you for reading and searching!

diem

If you don't like it, get a Vibe.

DViOuS

I couldn't agree more, I did exactly the same... just be prepared, they will offer you a very sweet deal to buy the car when your lease is up... the residual for mine was $19k, but they offered the car at 15k since its depreciated like a rock, but at 15k it cant really drop that much more, and I had the only remaining few yellow RX-8 on the road...

I would of probably purchased it back, if it wasn't for the engine problem they couldn't find and fix and that I hadn't already put an order for a new car, I would of waited an extra year for the 08 model so they could fix the 1st gen problems...

Rems31

If you take good care of your car, it's a better investment to own it. Cuz you're paying these monthly payments and after all those payments you're left with nothing when you lease.

dmc27

There are some leases that are a sweet deal. Tho, overall, not actually owning something after shelling out a good chunk of $$$$ isn't the greatest deal. But let's be honest - who buys a vehicle as an investment? c'mon now. Gotta be the worst "investment" anyone could make.

"I have a great investment tip for you - you sign for 30k worth of car, and as soon as you drive it off the lot it's worth 20-25% less money."

ssswwwweeeeeeeett!!! I'm in!

Rems31

Well yea no one buys a car to make money off it. But you get other 'value' in return for your money.

Kdoubt

No offence, and I'm just playing the devils advocate here, but who is anyone to say what cars others (be them teens or geezers) can or cannot drive? You're basing your "club" on who can afford them. Those who can now afford something that you paid $35K for new, is now $15K, you may just be jealous that someone young might have the same car as you.

The only real legitimate cause for concern is a certain stigma an 8 drive might get, but other than that I don't think its any cause for alarm.

dmc27

quit trying to keep this thread on topic.

CarAndDriver

This site has gone downhill. If I'm going to get criticized for telling people to do more homework than this site is going to the dogs, especially the RX-8 Discussion forum.

The people who help the welfare recipients just keep feeding the multiplying pigeons. They are pathetic.

I think the other sections of this site are still useful, this one is tragic.

TheBoneFletcher

I myself am 16 years old and still in High school, Im probably one of the lucky kids whose parents are kind enough to buy a new 06 (tho I wanted MT.. not AT!) and I actually do look through all the posts and do a search before I start a thread. I have to agree on one point which is that I probably do drive a little bit crazy compared to you guys, but I have not yet had any accidents or tickets. (Only driven for about a year though)

I guess I will also share an experience with you guys..

most of my friends love the look of the rx-8, they always ask me for a ride or simply just want to sit inside, they usually become very excited and want to find out the engine specs while expecting it to be a hp and torque monster. After my explanation of 1.3L wankel engine they usually go "wait.. this only has 1.3L? Let me see your engine" They look under the hood and examine the engine and the general comment is "Wow where the heck is the engine?"

Sometimes I would ask if they would ever get a car like this and they usually denies and said they would spend that same amount of money and buy a car with more horsepower, I suppose hp is everything for them. Very naive view.

Ok.. im blabbing.. ill shut up now.
Bone

NotAPreppie

In general, young drivers are bad regardless of the type of car. Lord knows I was.

Just one man's opinion.

deadphoenix52

mature, responsible young drivers who arent dumbasses and appreciate the car for what it is = good
irresponsible dumbass young drivers who just want to street race and make ridiculous horsepower numbers and thats it = bad

I myself am 17. no wrecks, no tickets, no racing. had the car about a year now.

BlueRenesis82

had my 04 since new

Rx8urZ

ok guys let me clear things up i just turned 18 on january 6 and i bought my rx8 like two months ago. dont think that my mommy and daddy are paying it either it is in my name with my 1 thousand dollars down payment i gave and i alone pay 440 a monthe for it plus i am not struggling to keep it by working like three jobs or somethinglike that. i work only one job monday thrue saturday i am a technician at a mitsubishi dealership and yes i am the youngest one ther even the lot attendents are older than me..plus a know alot about cars especially about rotary's i have a 12a rotary motor off of an 83 rx7 that is about to go in my gokart in a couple of weeks....so this thing about "young Rx8 owners " is not entirely true please feel free to ask any questions oh ya and this website rocks.......

Rx8urZ

hey guys i just turned 18 january 6 and i bought my car 2 months ago ya i bought it myself its in my name okay so do i qualify as the youngest 8 owner in the club?

RX26b

I'm sure there are lots of 18 year old (and younger) 8 owners here. Doesn't matter.

Tell us more about the 110 hp go-cart that'll be doing wheelies upon half-throttle.

kartweb

110HP kart at Mazda Raceway (Laguna Seca) http://www.kartweb.com/Archives/2002...test/kranz.wmv

Qualified 4 seconds off the WSC pole the same weekend.

There are rotary powered karts.
50 HP Rotary kart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKayagHUCw8

SolarFlare665

eh, if they can afford and handle the car, then sure i mean i learned to drive on my parents firbird (T/A it was not but still more power than i would have trusted to myself back then). and when i was 18 and buying my first car my dad took me to a dealer that was having some crazy used car deals and all he kept saying was "get the T/A :p my dad was acting more like a kid than i was :p