guyonthemoon

Hi all. I am new to the forums.

I've kinda wanted a RX-8 since I was little and my parents a considering looking at one for my first car. I'm 18 right now and am about to get my provisional but wanted to know what you all thought of as an RX-8 as a first car. I've read about how it does take a lot of maintenance and much responsibility by the owner. How you do have to check oil levels very often, how it does have a rotary engine and cannot quick start the car, etc. But I want a car that I have to take care of so it can teach me diligence with all cars that I will own and allow me to take care of my cars, if that makes since. I don't know how to drive manual yet but my dad is a mini car expert and he said he will teach me and want me to get a manual car.
My mom is worried about insurance as I am a teenager and it is technically a sports car but State Farm which is insurance that mom has classifies the car as a 4 door sedan.

Please share your experiences with the car and your honest opinions on it for a first car or not. Thanks much

Edit: Also if you disagree with it for a first car can you suggest another car that is like the Mazda RX-8 for one or another Mazda as well.

Beodude

iTrader: (3)

First off, I'd say that this car needs a lot of respect. Like you know, there are a lot of quirks about the engine, and things that need to be done. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. From what I've read, there are a few mods that can help the engine last longer. Carbon is always a danger, so revving it is necessary. Tuning will help lean the air fuel out, reducing carbon. Taking out the cat makes it more reliable as well. There is an ignition upgrade from Black Halo Racing, so look into that.

I think those few things will help a lot. Also, using the Sohn adapter will allow fresh 2 stroke to be used in the combustion chamber. Premixing helps with the lubrication, and combined with the Sohn adapter, keeps things nice and slippery.


Learning manual isn't too hard. It can be done pretty quickly, and is worth the buckets that it gives.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

The 8 isn't really much harder to maintain than any other car. She's just less forgiving if you neglect her
As for it being your first car, it all depends on your maturity. You've already shown that you've done some basic research, and that's good! Just, don't expect your car to be faster than your buddy's mustang, because this is NOT a straight liner monster! The 8 is more of an elegant performer...
Read through these to get a bit more of an understanding
FAQ’s https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/rx-8-faq-please-read-before-posting-959/
New and Potential Owner’s, Start Here https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
New Owner FAQ’s https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=FAQ

Also, make sure you read the “stickies” in each sub-forum for more understanding of each subject.
Hope this helps!

laythor

dont worry, as soon as your parents see how much it will cost to insure you'll be in a civic

rz-jacks

I wish I had an rx8 as my first car... although I don't think its a great idea but it all depends on what kind of person you are. For example:
I'm 19 and I've been driving sine I was 15. I consider myself a responsible driver (I don't know if that's the word I'm looking for) . I've never crashed and I have good "avoid-ability" skills (metropolitan driver) originally from a 5 million people city where there is no police and gas is 0.07$ a gallon, (I'm not even kidding) so imagine the freedom I had to do whatever on the streets......

Now that I moved to the US for college I bought myself an rx8, and despite that there is police everywhere and gas is 3$ a gallon I drive it waaay more aggressively, and do waaayyy more stupid stuff with it than any of my previous cars, like power-sliding corners etc. because it just feels sooo damm good in this car. its truly a very nice handling car. And no, I didn't use to drive a minivan hahaha most recently I had a VW Jetta GLI turbo (very nice car btw) soooo..... if your not careful it can get you in a lot of trouble.

My point is that you really have to be honest with yourself and consider the possibility that you can get carried away and do something you might regret. But if you truly think you are a responsible driver, and you promise yourself that if you ARE going to practice all the crazy stuff you wanna learn in a safe environment so that you can be a safer driver in the street then you will enjoy that rx8 like no other. I should warn you tho.... getting an rx8 as you first car is like loosing your virginity to a pornstar, because after you drive it; nothing else will feel quite as good

Jasonawojo

iTrader: (2)

As long as you keep the car's quirks in mind (not shutting off cold, occasionally checking oil, etc.), it really isn't much more difficult to maintain than any other car out there.

One thing I will say is that recently I'm quite glad that I learned to drive manual in the RX-8. I've driven a few other manual cars recently (BMWs, Jeep, etc.), and found them all easier to drive than the 8, which leads me to believe that the 8 is one of the more difficult cars to learn on. So mastering that with this car should mean smooth sailing later on.

Silver6

I have Statefarm and insurance is actually pretty cheap for the rx8. A civic would be cheaper but not as surprising as you may think. This car is only $100 more every 6 months than my 97 prelude. I was very surprised.

ken-x8

Excellent first car. You're not likely to lavish as much care on later cars as you do on your first, so it might as well be something worthwhile.

On the in loco parentis side...good power, but not fast off the line, so you're less likely to engage in stoplight grands prix. And it has really good crash ratings - all four and five star, I believe.

Ken

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

I got an Rx-8 as my first car when I was 18 and it was $20 a month more to insure an rx8 over a civic. Not even joking.

Speed_8

Here in Canada, I pay 110 a month for my RX8, yes I am 26 passed the magic number of 25, but compared to a 350z which was 245 a month.. that is a huge jump, and yes they classify it as a 4 door and go by displacement which is 1.3L compared to 3.5 l on the 350z

ttame16

iTrader: (2)

I bought mine about 6 or 7 months ago and I'm pretty young myself, 19. Insurance for me is a little on the high side because its under my own name and my driving record isn't the best. take care of the 8 and she'll keep you smiling. make sure you don't put any maintenance off (like i may have :/) because one little thing will get the ball rolling and **** will get expensive. good luck and have fun.

deadphoenix52

not true. a civic wouldve been more than my rx8. insurance rates are high for civics because they are one of the most frequently stolen cars. and i have state farm as well, they classify it as a four door. my rx8 is $10/month more than my old car which was a 99 millenia. i got my rx8 at 17 and im now 21

gunfyter

I am letting my 18 year old drive my 2004 RX8. I just got it and traded in a 96 Crown Vic. My insurance went down about 86 cents a month.

I thought about keeping the Crown Vic because I thought it was a substantial car and would be safer to let my son drive. But I figured with the 8 sitting around ... there is no way he wouldn't drive it anyway and then I would be paying $50 bucks or so a month on insurance to have a car nobody wants to drive sitting in the driveway. As stated above ... I was surprised to pay less for insurance.

Kaiser bun

iTrader: (2)

Insurance is cheaper on my rx8 then my older brothers base impreza (not wrx/sti)

Jacob6875

This is kind of a hard question to answer......... what is your budget ( or you parents). How much do you have to spend on a car?

Unless you have something like 13-15k (insurance, registration, tax etc) I doubt you are going to be able to get an RX8. Even for that you are looking at an 04 with 50k+ miles.


My advice though would be not to get a fairly expensive RWD sports car as your first. Almost everyone wrecks there first car. (everyone thinks they are the exception and wont but without fail almost everyone does). I would get something under 5k and in a few years you can get the car of your dreams.

guyonthemoon

Thank you all so much for the answers

I believe I would be a responsible driver, but I know many people say that and end up not. I do not plan on "racing" any of my friends who have cars because I'm not really into that type of thing. Thank you for the info on the insurance as well. My sister had a Toyota Solara (however you spell it) for her first car and my mom didn't have problem ensuring that at the time, however times are rougher now on the economy and my family. I want to try and spend less than 12,000 and have researched and found a couple in my area that are less than that, and actually found one that was 8,900. Those were only dealers as well and there were better offers from private sellers.

What would you all suggest at Dealer vs. Private Seller? Also what other good cars (sporty like) can I get for same price range?

Also it might not be like my "first" car that I drive when I get my licence, as my dad would let me drive his truck in the meantime so technically not first but you guys get the picture. Thanks again

guyonthemoon

Thanks so much for the info man

Did you parents have a problem with you buying the car or them buying the car cause they were unsure of you? My dad is pretty chill about it and would like to get me the car while my mom is the one that is not too enthusiastic. How much did yours cost at the time? I've seen one for $10000 that had about 50,000 miles. Is this a good deal?

Kaiser bun

iTrader: (2)

What year?

guyonthemoon

Thanks for the input man. That was what I was thinking. Most people say that you will not take car of your first car but I think the opposite. I'm still in high school and I would love to take care of my car all through college and beyond. But when I get older I will have a serious job, and maybe family, etc. and will have less time and want to have a car with a lot of maintenance. That's why I'm thinking of getting a kinda high maintenance one to teach me good car ethics.

Not really into racing though. But I say that now with no car haha. And thanks for info about safety. Also was another one of my parents as well as my concern

guyonthemoon

It's a 05 I believe

Here's the link, it was actually $12000:

http://edmunds.autotrader.com/fyc/vd...standard=false

Kaiser bun

iTrader: (2)

Thats not a bad deal for an 05, i would suggest carfaxing a collection of rx8s that you are looking at, before purchasing one.

edit: 12000 isnt that great of a deal...

guyonthemoon

And here is an 04 for $11,000 with 66,000 miles:

http://edmunds.autotrader.com/fyc/vd...standard=false

RotaryP7

I got the 8 as my first car. Didn't even have a drivers license. Only had my restricted. I haven't had any issues/problems. But I will admit, this forum has helped me maintain the car.

guyonthemoon

Nice man! How much did you end up paying and what year was it? How is insurance for you if you know?

dmedz8

iTrader: (5)

go for it... its my first car