Just went to the Local Honda dealership with a friend in the market for a car.
-The econobox, underpowered, undereverything Honda Fit is going for more than $16k+! (NO NEGOTIATING and you MUST pay some mandatory dealer fee on top of the price of the car.)

-A new loaded Civic SI had an asking price of $28k!?!?!

I understand the 8 has negative press (attached to a ton of positive press and accolades it's gotten) and Honda is Honda, but is it me or is the 8 starting to look like a ridiculous steal at low to mid 20 k'$ for a potential buyer looking for a sporty car?

I mean, let's be honest-even if the Honda dealership is willing to negotiate on the Civic and drop it to $25k, what would most "educated" enthusiasts rather have: a new Civic SI or a new RX8 GT?

Or in other words, if you saw these two cars parked side by side on the street, which one of these similarly priced cars would most people think sold for less than $20k and which one would they think sold for more than $20k?

 

IMHO the 8 was always a steal :D bt yea I get what you are saying

 

^^^agree^^^

like any first year/ first series run of a new production vehicle, there are going to be a few bugs to work out. I new what i wanted, i knew what i was getting, and i don't regret a thing about going with my rx8.

 

[QUOTE=-A new loaded Civic SI had an asking price of $28k!?!?!

I understand the 8 has negative press (attached to a ton of positive press and accolades it's gotten) and Honda is Honda, but is it me or is the 8 starting to look like a ridiculous steal at low to mid 20 k'$ for a potential buyer looking for a sporty car?

I mean, let's be honest-even if the Honda dealership is willing to negotiate on the Civic and drop it to $25k, what would most people rather have: a new Civic SI or a new RX8 GT?

[/QUOTE]


Most people will choose the Honda, that is why it is priced @ 28k. It is what the market will pay.

 

You are absolutely right. After all, "the market" used to pay $100+ per share for tech stocks before they came tumbling down.

So I just changed my wording in the original post:

What would most 'educated' enthusiasts rather have? New Civic SI or New RX8 for $25k

 

I have no regrets about buying my 8 I love this car, besides getting a honda was never an issue.

 

Love my 8 , gets looks everywhere...I just deal with the negative stuff and there issues with all cars...so might as well go out in style!

 

The difference being the stocks where overvalued. The Honda isn't

Most people are not enthusiast, and education matters not. They want a reliable car that holds it's value.

 

All very true, but Honda knows that it can sell its vehicles at a premium now due to the recent fuel worries. Let those honda bozos spend there money, ill take my beautiful 8 any day of the week.

 

The difference being the stocks where overvalued. The Honda isn't
-So comparing the options, performance, warranty, specs, and reviews, you trust a $25k-$28k Civic SI is not overvalued compared to the RX8? I think 90% of the automotive press reviews the RX8 compared to sports cars such as 350z and even M3--and the Civic is aiming to dominate Sentra's, Corolla's, Scion TC's, and at the very best, trying to replace the Acura RSX.

Most people are not enthusiast
-I totally agree the general public are NOT enthusiasts which is the reason why I posed the question: what would an enthusiast choose?


education matters not.
-Education matters even when you buy a Kia Sephia. That is the reason why Consumer Report's website and Edmunds.com are some of the most popular on the net. Most people try to educate themselves (at the very least by hitting the web) even when purchasing a toaster nowadays.

They want a reliable car that holds it's value
-Both cars come with bumper to bumper warranty so let's say reliability won't weigh too heavily in the decision. And if you paid $32k for an RX8 last year, I agree you lost a lot of value but today, most can buy a new RX8 for mid 20's when used 04 RX8's are still going for high teens to low 20's-- so for a NEW buyer, it appears there is a good chance it will hold it's value-

I do agree...most cars are sold by hype..the frenzyl to save a few extrahundred yearly at the pump will get people to get on a waiting list to pay a few extra thousand for a Toyota Prius instead. It makes no sense to me but you are absolutely right that in the end it is what the market is willing to pay.

 

A load Civic SI for 28K? Holly! I should become more religous.

But seriously, you can a get a G35 Sedan for 31K nowaday that the 07 G35 is around the block. Or an Acura TL for about 33K.

That doesn't look right.

 

 

This is my point, It truly doesn't look right--I have a feeling Honda incorrectly priced the Civic SI right out of the 'market'

 

Its pretty funny that you're asking something like that on a 8 forum, most people will say 8, cuz this is a 8 forum !

same thing if you ask the same question on a Civic forum.

They will say 8 is slow and rotary sucks.

We'll say Civic is for rice boyz out there and we will kick their *** anyday anytime.

It all comes down to you, you make the choice.

What I gotta say is that, I have the confidence to smoke any Civic SI stock without much effort.

For aftermarket support, Civic will always be better than 8.
For Style 8 wins handsdown.
For Maintence cost, Civic win
For performance, 8 wins (stock)

 

Let me point out that when it comes to women, I am 100% loyal to my wife.-- But when it comes to cars, I'm a damn **** who can't stay with one car longer than a year or two. The RX8 is the 33rd car that I've owned. I have no brand loyalty or specific pricepoint that I target whatsoever.

I've had a $1500 civic hatchback beater with bird-cacka stains that i'll rave about to the day I die (that damn thing ran WITHOUT oil for over month before I discovered it--without an issue) and currently there is a $70k CLS500 in my garage that I'm not impressed with.

I asked this question on this board because I have access to this forum and for the most part, it appears the people on this board have no problems voicing their issues with their 8's without blind bias so I'm confident not many here will blindly say, "the 8 rules!! civic sucks!!"

I doubt the new Civic SI sucks...I'd bet it is a great car, reliable car, and perfect daily driver--but so was. My point was, is there a market for a $27k Civic?! Only time will answer my question.

 

^ lol, but yea, its what the market will bear, supply vs demand

 

you'd be suprised how many people are willing to pay that price for a civic si or for any other honda. I bet you anything today if you go out and ask the average sophomore college student(who is an enthusiast), which one he would rather have (SI or RX8) im more than positive they would chose the SI. Car enthusiasts everywhere over here in Houston have been bashing 8's ever since they came out and it doesn't look like the negative comments will ever stop until they see a new Rx7

(btw i think the SI would burn our cars in a straight line. I KNOW IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE)

 

Simply put, over 90% of the people on car boards are NOT enthusiasts. They think they are, but to call them such is completely absurd. So who gives a flying f@ck what some idiots think or say? That rings true in every facet of life, by the way.

 

I see what you are saying, and yea, 28k is pushing it for a civic. That is pretty close to Accord V-6 range isn't it? I got a stripped down Lexus IS250 for only a little more.

Sucks to hear about the Benz....... I really like their cars. What has let you down so far?

 

Sucks to hear about the Benz....... I really like their cars. What has let you down so far?
The Benz is not a 'bad car'. I think it looks great and definitely oozes out 'presence' on the public roads. But if we had to do it again, I would not choose it--possibly for $50k but not for $70k (less than 1000 miles on the clock and the turn signal burned out plus the suspension squeeks during u-turns AND the alignment was off from the factory). I tried looking but I couldn't find the extra $40k worth of luxury 'stuff' over say....my old G35 coupe or even my current RX8 GT. Now the new Lexus LS.....that thing is PIMP. If all that electronic wizardry work without any bugs, I'd love to give that car a whirl. Someone just needs to make a kit to make that car a little easier on the eyes though. Wald? You reading this?

As far as some other recent cars I've owned, I'm just gonna cut and paste an old post since it is pretty relevant to your question.

I had a G35 Coupe before the RX8, and there really isn't anything bad I can say about the G. In my city, there are a lot of Z's and G's so the 8 is more of a rarity.
I can comment on the points that are important to me:

Rear seating:
Sitting in the back, you get plenty of leg room (for a 2+2) but no head room in the G. The 8's rear seats are more comfortable and usable but both have more rear seating space than most cars labeled as 2+2's.

Power:
As far as power, the G pulls harder off the line but for me, the 8 has ample power.

Ride and Handling:
Both my ex G and 8 had lowered suspensions. Tanabe on the G and Mazdaspeed on the 8--both also rolled 19" rims. When it comes to ride, both are very well composed but the G feels like more of a heavy Gran Tourer in the corners and the 8 feels like my old 03 Evo (I had the Evo before owning the G). Handling definitely goes to the 8. It is very "evo-esque". The 8 is more responsive to steering inputs/corrections and rides like the asphalt is one long sheet of flypaper. (I do have mazdaspeed suspension, f/r antiroll bars, strut tower bars, and upgraded rims/tires so maybe this isn't a fair comparison)

Interior:
As far as interior fit/finish and creature comforts, surprisingly for a car with a base price in the 20k's, the 8's interior seems much more refined and detailed than the $30k+ G. The 8's cabin is a very nice place to call home for an hour every day.

Dealer:
As far as dealer support though? I have yet to visit the Mazda dealer so I cannot comment on that. But the Infiniti dealer has been stellar--better than BMW and Mercedes. I work close to the dealership and when I needed service and oil changes, they would send a porter to drop off a complimentary loaner for me and then pick up my G or wifey's FX35 at my office to complete the service--then the porter drives it back to my office serviced and WASHED. I never had to step foot in the dealership or take time out of my schedule. (I'm wondering if infiniti will service my 8? lol)

Exclusivity and looks:
In my area, there a lots of G's but I never see ANY 8's let alone a Mazdaspeed kitted RX8. So for me, the 8 is more exclusive. As far as looks? Stock verses stock, the G wins hands down for me. I just don't like how the 8 looks stock.-- but perfectly install a Mazdaspeed body kit on the 8, and it has one of the sexiest profiles of any car on the road regardless of price. (my opinion)

In conclusion, in the 4 seater realm, you can't go wrong with either really. If you are planning on staying stock, I would prefer my G.
No holds barred performance? I'd have bypassed both the G/8 and would have chosen my old Evo.
But for now, the Mazdaspeed equipped RX8 is my cup of tea. Good performance, great handling, refined interior, room for 4 adults, and soooo damn sexy.

Next up? I can't wait to see what the 2nd gen G35 coupe will look like and the new M3.

 

I had a Honda stolen on me so Ill add that buying the Civic Si comes with that increased threat and the associated insurance costs. I for one will never buy a Honda again for that very reason.

 

I'd like to see the negative press—I've read dozens of articles, and I only find positive. The only negative "stuff" I find is here on this little forum! Weird. Which negative press, exactly, are you referring to? Thanks!

 

I'm with you on that. When I was car shopping, every review I read about the 8 was glowing. Car and Driver has the 8 on its top 10 list, complaining only about the "wimpy" air conditioning and the perforated sun visors. (For the record, I *love* the perforated visors. And my AC worked fine at 100 deg F.) Consumer Reports recommends the car!

I had no idea there were any problems at all until I started reading this forum. Fortunately, my 8 seems to have only read the reviews and has not joined up here.

Ken

 

First, whoa, you have a CLS500 and still want to drive a Civic.

Anyway, I think any Honda can be mod up and will be very competitive agaisnt the rx8 - even the honda accord, not just the Civic. But the question here is does it make sense to buy a civic for 27k? I would not personally. for 27K, you could buy so many car out there that can outperform the civic. The civic also is FWD. The other issue is image-wise. Civic always has a bugdet, my-first-car-out-of-college-when-I-had-no-money kind of image so if you have money to spend, you want to buy something more upscale.

 

Negative press in regards to the engine recall news and the news on how the RX8 customer satisfaction surveys were bringing Mazda's overall scoring down.

As you stated though....there is not too much negativity ..most press about the 8 is nothing but praises.