RX-8 : What's your story? What else did you consider before buying one?
 

I haven't bought an 8 yet but have been giving it some serious thought these last couple weeks. Hell, I wasn't even looking for a sports car! I was actually out looking for something less expensive and more fuel efficient than my 04 Acura TL... little did I know that I would be seduced by a car that's even less fuel efficient...

It all started with a Prius due to my concern about fuel prices going back up. When the dealerships kept adding mark up and refusing to haggle on price, I decided that saving a few dollars on fuel made no sense considering they wanted $30-35k for them!

So I then considered the Mazda 3. Nice car, but a notable step down from my TL. Sure, it was cheaper, but you get what you pay for.

It was at that moment I looked at the RX-8 and out of sheer curiosity, I asked the dealer if I could take one for a test drive. Minutes later I am grinning like a total idiot because this car is so much fun to drive. :icon_droo

I didn't buy the 8 then and there because I'm the kind of guy that does his homework. I also wanted to test drive some other comparable cars, too.

I test drove the Hyundai Genesis Coupe in both the 4cyl 2.0 Turbo and V6. Sure, you can laugh at the brand name, but the car is no joke. It had more torque and horsepower than the 8, but the handling wasn't as tight. The main temptation is the fact that they are leasing these things for almost nothing (2.0T GT ~$335/mo for 36 months; V6 G6 ~$380/mo for 36 months).

I then test drove a Nissan 370z. Wow. It has more power than the V6 Genesis Coupe and handles almost as nicely as the RX-8. There were a couple problems though. First, the model with the options I want is just south of $40k. Ouch. Second, it has no back seats and almost no truck space. Fun to drive? Hell yes. Practical. Hell no.

What's next? A 2002 BMW M3 SMG... with modifications. Man, what a bad ass car. This ranked up there with the 370z and looks stunning. The SMG gearbox is a lot of fun and the torque and acceleration are really impressive, though the thing is loud and the ride is bumpy at slow speeds (< 40mph). Maintenance costs are also the highest of everything I looked at, which makes me nervous.

Regardless of what I drove, I always ended up comparing them to the RX-8 and my TL.

I'm just torn because I want the fun that comes with the RX-8, but don't want to part with the reliability and practicality of my TL. :dunno:

when i was looking for a car to buy i was caught between a mini cooper s, honda civic, and this one

i've always liked a mini cooper s, but then couldnt never find one at a good price, tthey are way overpriced...anyways, finally found one around 14k at carmax, then the next day it was gone. thannk goodness...

so back to shopping around..checked out a local car dealership and they had an 05 civic special edition. considered, it was basically what i was looking for, but wasnt completely too content with it...

thats when i remebered when i was shopping the carmax website i saw an rx8 for 13k, haha decided that defintely need to check it out before considering the civic. saw it, loved the color, test drove, and it was amazing as compared to the civic, and bought it the same day!

its a sweet car! sure mpg is anywhere near the civic, but this is just wayy more fun!
haha good thing i didnt get the mini cooper, cause then i would of had to trade in my man card...

i was looking at some VW 07' GTI's, Acrua TL's, ford focus.

but im glad i got the RX-8!

Had an RX7 and wanted another rotary, so I guess I was a little biased because I went right into the dealer knowing exactly what I wanted. Test drove it, and it only confirmed that.

What was it about the rotary that you liked so much?

I had a audi a6 2.7 BiTurbo 6spd Quattro before my rx8. Thats was a beast. what a lovely car. Handled great. I maxed it out at 135mph limit (sic) but it stick to the road like nothing I have ever driven. The I took the skipbarber racing school which is sponsored by mazda and I fell in love with RWD. then I made my decision. The Audi had to go and I got myself a velocity red rx8 GT. Loving it but I do miss that audi :(:(

I had a Mazdaspeed Protege. Modded it a bit and decided I needed something new

The car I wanted really at first was an S2000. Really not that practical for me due to me wanting to have a year round car

Ended up going to to the Mazda dealership. Saw the 8, test drove it and it was a done deal. Also couldn't beat the 0% financing

I actually bought my RX8 at South Coast Mitsubishi.

I originally went in to make a deal on an Evo X. Well due to my credit being....not-so-perfect....the bank was only willing to finance 15k on the car. That would've meant VERY high payments, poor interest rate, and just pretty much forking over a 15 grand down payment.

Being a little disappointed, I took a look at their used cars (none of which really caught my interest). Before I was able to leave, the General Manager told me about an '05 RX8 with 20k miles that they got in on trade-in. Took the car for a test drive and absolutely fell in love with the sub-lime handling!

Made the deal with them at 15,000 out the door, down payment was $5000, and I financed $10k.

My payments are MUCH more comfortable, I got a great little sports car, and now I can save and re-build my credit to a better standing with this car.

I'm still planning on getting the Evo X sometime next year.

Oh....and I've owned a FC GTU before. So I kind of had a soft spot for rotary-engine cars!

i had a z28 camaro before i got the rx8. but i was lookin at a silver rsx type s and a dodge ram 1500 several different ones. i really wanted a truck because i figured it would be a mature decision to do for the future ya know, but i just couldnt see spending all that money aswell as spending alot of money on gas lol

but then i was driving home after test driving the rsx and this red beauty caught my eye. i did a quick u turn and took a look at it. it was love at first sight lol i told the salesman (biggest jackass ever) what my options were money wise and he said that "well son you shouldnt be looking at a car like this with those kind of options" i was so effing PISSED lol the dude didnt even try to work with me

i went home and told my dad what happened and it pissed my dad off and he said "we will show that prick what kind of car you can afford" i was LOLing i was so excited.

lo and behold (see sig) i got my baby haha and its been amazing

When I was shopping for a car in 2006 I considered the Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline but decided on the RX-8.

I bought mine at a Nissan dealership actually. I was just looking for a new car, something sporty and two door to replace a Jetta. I test drove a lot...Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe, VW GTI, Honda S2000, BMW 3 series, BMW M3 (with some sort of strange automatic gearbox that was just terrible), looked for a Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP and couldn't find one. I actually didn't even test drive the RX8 I bought, I drove an older one with tons more options that I didn't need and wasn't a color I liked at the same dealership so we actually left and came back later to find they had figured out they had a blue one in the shop that they had just gotten on trade. Bought it without ever driving it, since they didn't even have the battery hooked up, I loved the drive of the older one so much. I love everything about it - the handling is phenomenal and the power is amazing. I'm just sad I didn't get one sooner :)

I cant really describe to you the feeling...nor can any other rotary driver. Its like sex on the beach....Till this day (4 years) i still get a smile when i get in/ see my car. The car lets you drive it so outta control, but keeps you in control at the same time....Just make sure u can afford the payments....with all that said, you will cherish the rareness/body styling/turning of heads/suspension/ how it fits you like a condom/the sound of a rotary at 8k rpm screaming and the rev limiter :yesnod: (it doesnt really limit)/ the 2+2 design/the suicide doors/ the handling/ Rear Wheel Drive/ The body kits available for it are sexy and not ricer-ish. Its def the car to have.

Its funny to read what you guys were considering before getting the 8. Mine was between, G35, 350, and the 8. I really wanted the G35 with the 19" Volks but the deal I got on the 8 was sick (although it makes me sick now to see what they are going for). I know certain someone here who paid nearly 40k for his 8 in 04' with all the MS accessories (including rims) and it just sold for 15k with 30k on it.

^sorry i was in ur situation...350z, G35, Suby, RX8

350z- too plain and everywhere, feels heavy, but has some power....only sits 2

G35- was like 50k, and more power/luxury than the 350, and seats 4

Suby- too overated, i dont really like the 4 doors, but very fast seats 4

RX8- A little bit of everything. :yesnod: perfect

I agree. G35's can be had fully loaded for a steal so since the 8's paid off I may snatch one up to have the best of both worlds. But I really want an M3 so we shall see.

i was in the market for a G35 skyline eddition or a Ducatti 1098s.

i test drove the G but was just to bulky and only had about 14mpg so i said NEXT. so went to see the 1098s sat on it and felt right but asked how much am i looking at if i drop it? didnt like what i heard. after that mazda called and said i was approved there. so they had this SS all by its lonesome. i jumped in and the rest is history.

If i could of afforded a G35 at the time I prob would of bought it....but im glad i didnt now...wouldnt mind having one also though. Get the M3 dude...way way way way way better. Plus seems like a lot of JAPs are getting into EURO VIP right now ...like its the thing to do...it is:yesnod:

My options were:
Rx-8
350z
IS 250
335I

After checking out this site my feelings for the Rx grew more and more... and well I ended up with an 04 BB RX-8.

^hey u going to the socal beach cruise tomorrow or what?

For me it was a Jeep Wrangler (4door) with 4WD or RX8.

I've always wanted a jeep and always liked the rotary engines.

When I went shopping, I checked out a Jeep, liked it, but not overly impressed. The one I wanted with all the options was around 30k.

I went and test drove an 04 rx8. With my back ground of RX7s, I fell in love immediately. I think I will have this car for quite some time, that's why I'm fixing it up now. Once it's paid off, it will sit there as my little sports car for the ages.

You asked a question about the rotary. First of all, it's cool b/c it's different, but that's what I love about the RX8 too. It has its idiosyncracies, but those are okay b/c you understand why (like natural oil burn or 4 door sports car with suicide doors). The Redline is awesome. 1.3 liters? 200HP? cmon that's cool!


Anyways, I can't say no to buying an RX8. I can't imagine you regretting it!

it all started 5 years ago, when my horses passed away. they where such beatiful horses too. infact the horse carriage that i used was my first automobile. we use to ride thru down houston at 2mph, just enjoying life. then on that dreadful day, my horse where mutilated by UFO's.

so yep that is how it all started.

^^^where can i get some of the shit you smoke? seriously :yesnod: cuz damn thats a good high

Roxy
 

I had a string of cars not worth mentioning, last year i wrecked my Sentra on a curve trying to answer the cell phone ( all the stupid stuff i have done in a car and that is how i wreck!) I was working alot of overtime so i had no time to go look for a car but i know i wanted a car with a stick, i was tired of driving an auto. One day on lunch i see this beautiful Winning blue GT for sale sitting in a grocery store parking lot, lonely. I was with a girl who i had just started dating she as driving, and i knew she was into cars so i asked her if she want to look at it. She replied, "Hell yeah!" We got the number on the car and asked some questions, decided to meet the guy for a test drive the next day. As soon as i got in the car i was smiling, when i started it up i was hooked. we took it on the highway and some backroads, i had never driven anything like this before. I almost had a heartbreak when the guy wouldn't come down on the price but we worked something out. Now we are a happy family. My now girlfriend (same girl) gets all hot and bothered when i drive it fast and slam the gears (i have a great story to tell about us test driving a SRT-10 Ram) and i still look out my front door every morning and am blown away at my beautiful car, whom i have named...Roxy.:boink:

sorry, but i dont get high. taht is the work of the devil.

well u didnt have a horse and carraiges unless u were OMISH...or however u spell it.... yup...