RX-8 to replace E46 M3 Coupe?
 

I REALLY like my current car. For years I lusted about owning the "legend", and for the last 18 months I have. I got the SMG-II paddle shifter, 333HP, great torque , great handling, superb brakes, etc.. This car is totally awesome !!!

However, my wife and I have a 4-month old baby girl and we are thinking about having a second child, so the 2-door coupe (and high monthly payment) is no longer that practical.

I had a second gen RX-7 (1987) that I still miss so I went and test drove the new RX-8 late last year, although for only about 10 minutes. It was not equal to my M3 (which is not fair since the RX-8 is half as expensive), but it was pretty good, and it felt lighter and nimbler than my car (makes sense since the RX-8 is about 500 pounds lighter).

Yes, the difference in power and torque was pretty big, and I had to wound up the Renesis a lot, but it was a very decent car to me. I would have to improve on the brake feel (not bad at all, but mushy compared to my upgraded M3 brake setup) and I would have to get used to the rear visibility in the RX-8 (either I am used to the M3 or the M3 does have better rear visibility), but I found the car very good for the price. Plus I really miss having a rotary engine !!!

I looked into the Evo Mitsubishi and the Subaru STI but although those offer higher "raw" performance, I did not like the overall package as much as the RX-8. My wife found the RX-8 too small for her (it is smaller than the M3 coupe, no question about that), but the rear doors on the RX-8 look pretty practical to me. Anyone with small kids here who owns an RX-8?

So, am I completely nuts for wanting to downgrade from my dream (but very expensive) M3 to a very good and afordable car like the RX-8?

I have kids (3 and 6)... They like riding in my car, and fit quite well. Their only complaint, however, is that they can't see anything when riding in my car because the beltline is pretty high back there. We don't all go for a ride in my car often, but they don't usually complain too much when we do. The car seat fits fine by the way, and there's enough legroom for them.

Are you nuts for giving up your M3 for an '8? I don't know about nuts, but I'd likely keep an M3 if I had one :)

Hi I've just traded my 325i w/BMW sport suspension for an RX8. Loved the 325i to bits, but at the end of the day the RX8 is simply more involving, expecially in the steering which I never felt was a strong point of the E46. The RX8 represents an amazing amount of leading edge technology for the money, and is an incredibly tightly focussed car - the focus being on superb agility. I think the decison vs an E46 M3 would be very much harder to make. You won't be disappointed in the handling, but the sheer accessibility of the power in the M3 is going to be very hard to match. In the RX8 you definitely need to be prepared to drive it within its 5500 - 9000 rpm powerband to make exciting progress. It's a car for rev heads, and dawdling around just won't do. Also while the RX8 is decently bulit, the quality of its interior trim materials is well off BMW standards.
I'm satisfied I've made the right decision for my driving priorities, but I know thedecision would have been much harder coming from an M3 or even a 330Ci.

Good luck!

I had a tough decision to make when I got my RX-8. I was all ready to order my '04 M3. My wife and I bought our house at the end of April and we were married in August. Of course my $20k savings for the downpayment on my M3 went to the house and the wedding ate up any chance I had at saving it up again. I decided that I would keep my current M3 and go look for an SUV for my wife. While we were test driving a Toureg we saw that next to the VW/Audi lot was the Mazda/Subaru lot... lo and behold they had an 8 just sitting there begging to be driven. I jumped right on it. Needless to say 4 weeks later I am the owner of a brand spakin' new RX-8. I liked the handling, the hp was of course not quite the same, but over all that was the biggest complaint I could come up with. I liked the looks and feel of the car and I get more compliments for it than I ever did in my M3. You will feel your loss, at least for now, until MazdaSpeed releases a turbo to the US market. At that point the hp will most likely be more than a stock M3. Hope this helps.

I understand your hesitation. I have a 2 year old daughter and it is co convenient to put her in and out of her baby seat thank to the freestyle door. I find it really comfortable so does my wife and my daughter. When I was shopping for a car I looked at subaru wrx, bmw 325i and rx8. After driving all three I had no doubt to buy rx8. And I do not agree bmw materials are so great. I had a 92 525 and all the problems with reliability... Anyway your m3 was revving pretty high too wasn't it? I can assure you you will have plenty of fun in rx8 and after some time you will not even miss m3.

hmm... if you're really into practicality, AND keep some of the performance of the M3, AND keep it more afforadable, why not look into the STI?
compared to the rx8, I think it's still balanced and has closer power levels compared to your M3 AND 4 doors AND 4wheel drive...
but if you want the LOOKS and handling balance and driver involvement that is in line with something like the M3 then you should stick to the rx8 =)

There are several RX-8 owners who sold their M3's (e46's).

Personaly I've chated to a UK owner who thought, despite the writeups and all the power, the M3 was very dull to drive and thats why he swaped to the 8.

I don't know if you've seen the Top Gear video in another thread, but they have a test track which all their "sporty" test cars use to see how fast they go round it. The RX8 went round it in the same time as the E46 M3! Pretty spectacular considering the difference in torque and BHP.

I think this points out the benefits of having a well balanced chassis, and a decent sporting suspension, as well as lugging 500LBs less around the corners....

The time was 1:31.8 best time was 1:23 in a Lambo Murcialago (sp?) I think.

This is not a flame of the M3 which is a fine car (and the only Bimmer I'd consider having), but merely a note on what good value the 8 is. Must go now, I'm off to pick up my new 8 from the dealers, and I can't wait :-)

RX-8 got the same time as the 350z and M3 bmw. Almost a whole second faster than the v6 AudiTT (which looked ragged).

Fastest ever I think was the radical sr3 at 1:19.

Dont know if they managed to test an M3 CSl yet, looks like the UK's market has basicaly rejected those at £60k~ anyhow.

Rotary Titus,

I couldn't personally imagine going from an M3 to an STI... Ouch!!! That's like graduating the university with a doctorate and, a few years later, finding yourself back in highschool. I test drove the STI and yes it has power, AWD, and excellent braking but I felt like a was driving a car that some highschool kids had fixed up to race around the street. No refinement whatsoever. What I liked about my M3 was that it demanded respect from everyone around it. The RX-8 while not so demanding still grabs everyone's attention. And I don't feel like I am "showing off" to highschool girls. If you are having a severe mid-life crisis and want to re-visit your highschool days than the STI is for you.

Re: RX-8 to replace E46 M3 Coupe?
 

I have an off topic question, are your M3 Brakes aftermarket? Orstock? Or upgraded stock?

Having driven both, despite their selective differences and strengths, I would undoubtedly keep the M3. Just my opinion, however much it's worth.

hmm... hahahaha well I guess I wouldn't really know about the refinement since I never test drove one yet. Well, I think if you delete the spoiler option, it'd be ok.. still looks "econobox" but I mean like I said if he's looking to trade something NOT for the looks and "respect" and just pure practicality for his kids, and something affordable and not flashy with power similar (not sure about refinement) you can't beat the real 4 doors and 5 seats!
anyways, just my opinion, I personally would never trade my 8 for a STI though :p (but then again I don't have a wife and 2 kids)

Rotary Titus,

Yeah that rear spoiler thing really turned me off too. I just don't know what happened to the wonderful days of the high-end sports car. Fix up your ricer if you want to but don't make a ricer out of a production car at the manufacturing level. The STI is a great car for your kids to kill themselves in when they get their drivers licenses. But seriously sit in one and imagine yourself driving the boss and co-workers to lunch... Might feel kinda outa place. I know when I first got my drivers license that is the car I woulda dreamed about (after the 8 of course). There is just something more refined in the RX-8, M3, 350z, etc. over such cars as the STI, Lancer, Evo, etc. I believe that this trend was started with Acura's NSX. They offered a production model with aftermarket equip that was tried and tested. A fantastic idea on a car that had a hefty price tag. So spending an extra, I believe it was, $40k was no big deal and all the equip worked very well. I am not trying to say that what you suggested had no merit but a WRX is still just that even if it says STI on the price tag. And in the sports car world it will never quite fit.

I love the M3, but I now only respect them when going straight (I should, with almost 100 more HP). On the curves however, I just smile at them through my RX-8’s rear view mirror.

The M3 does handle well but you certainly have a good point. I think that the Top Gear polls demonstrate this when the 350Z, M3 and RX-8 all three had the same track time. Gives new respect for cornering.

to all - thanks so much for the great feedback. I feel much better - not so crazy - for considering this change. I still have a couple of months to decide, so I will definitely test drive the RX-8 again soon :D

to rotarymagic - aftermarket (front) and upgraded (rear). For the front brakes (rear rotor/caliper still stock) I have a Big Brake Package with 2-piece, directional, 18" vented rotors and 4 piston fixed calipers from StopTech, DOT-approved stainless steel lines (front and back), Axxis Ultimate Pads (front and back), and ATE Super Blue braking fluid. The stock brakes on the E46 M3 are great, but after my upgrade they are very firm, solid, and simply outstanding, with ZERO fade even after heavy use during local auto-x events (up to 80-90MPH on some segments). This is why I felt the stock brakes on the RX-8 were "mushy" - I am simply used to mine!

I don't know.. I love my 8 that I picked up last week but an E46 M3 will be a very hard car to give up :)

I'm a past owner of a M3 E46 I Sold it because of O2 sensor problems. I have a 10 month old It's a hassle to load the baby when I need to but it's still works better than moving seats

its great if you like 14 mpg... =)

I am actually in the reverse situation as yourself. I am thinking selling my RX8 and 02 VW GTI and getting a 04 Audi S4. I recently got a new job and find myself quite a bit going out with clients and the bosses to lunch, and the RX8 is just to small for 4 full size adults, and my GTI seems to have more space, but it is lowered, chipped, and exhaust is a bit on the extreme side.

I have a 4 year old and 1.5 year old toddlers. They love my RX8.

Three kids: 10, 7 and 5. They love my 8 and fit in just fine (the 5-yr.-old uses a booster seat).

M3 is for Suckers...
 

Although the M3 is a truly phenomenal car, at 55K, you could buy the next three generation RX-8 (or 7) for the cost of a single M3 would buy now. A few maintenace or repair outings done at the local BMW dealers for your M3 can buy you a new Ducati Monster or even a preowned Supersport. Besides, the next three-rotor RX-7 will definitely be a M3 equivalent or better, and current M3 styling is going to look dated real fast with the new 2005 redesign.