delhi

an rx-8 can sit 4 people inside. So it's you, wifey and 2 kids.
Then again so can a 911. hahahaha....
for a proper sedan, why not consider a legacy gt? or maybe a g37 sedan?

23109VC

first, I have THREE kids. so we can't ever ALL fit in the 8. unless i stick the 3 month old in the trunk.

kids are 6, 2, and 3 months. I HAVE toyed wih the idea of keeping the volvo for the 6 year old, but honestly, it will be toast by then. i know time flies...but it will have 250k by then and may be not worth keeping. not sure.

i'm leaning toward getting a low mileage used 05 or 06 and have two cars. the RX8 will be for driiving to work *sometimes* and for weekend cruises. the only bummer is it won't fit *everyone*. so i can't ever use it to take the whole family oa short road trip.

thre are a lot of times though were my wife or I go somewhere and take one or two kids. like this AM, my wife ran to the mall to do some returns and shop and took the 2 year old. left the other two home with me. she could have had a FUN drive to the mall and back the RX8. instead she took our MDX and just put more miles on the "nice" family car.

there are a lot of trips whee we don't ALL go - but more than two go. an RX8 could be a really fun car for those trips. and when / if we do all go places, we just take the new/family car - or - if we want to just beat up the beater, we all squeeze into the volvo. t he volvo is stilla good car, it's just not a "nice" car like the 07 MDX is.

we took the volvo to legoland a few months back. as legoland is swedish, they actually have PREFERRED front row parking for VOLVOS... ha! so we took my old beater and got front row parking. nice. it ran like a champ. i have toyed iwh the idea of just upgrading the shocks/springs and then it would drive half way decent. i already have sway bars on it, and a cat back exhaust! yeah, figure that, i modded my volvo. as a T5 model wih exhaust, it's pushing 250-260hp. it has a LOT of torque and is quite fast. it's just not a sports car.

which is a HUGE reason why i want an 8. i've had a volvo S60R...with piles of mods...a SERIOUS spots sedan. i mean serious. my R outran M3s on a TRACK (Buttonwillow) and at drags. it flew. 290hp to the pavement on the dyno. AWD, 6 speed...body kit... but it was having reliablity issues and I just got bored with it.

a TL-S would be a slower more boring version of my S60R. when I first test drove the RX8 I still had my R and drdove them back to back. i honestly liked the 8 better. it was way way way way slower.... cannot emphasize tha enough. way slower. but the 8 was still more fun. hard to put into words...although you all are 8 owners so you know exactly what i'm talking about.

something about the 8 it's just FUN. i used to have an RX7 in high school.. it was my fist car. i had a 79 RX7. i ended up puting exhaust on it from racing beat....headers and all...suspension, ported the motor after it blew up. i loved tha thing. maybe the RX8 is somehow reminding me of being young.. i'm 35...is this some midlife crisis thing??? maybe i don't need an RX8 just a shrink.. hahaha

seriously. i'm taking my wife to the mazda dealer this afternoon to test drive them. right ater the chargers win this game.

mdw1000

So, what were the results of your wife's test drive?

NoRotorNoMotor

The RX-8 is a true sports car that just happens to have backe seats and a trunk.

Even if I do have stuff in the trunk , or back seats (sorry kids) It's easily forgotten when you drive the car. The RX8 is a drug. It's addictive as all hell... The reason is simply the rotary engine. I dont care what other cars may come close in performance or versatility... the 8' is crack.

If you really do want a boring piston engine ... look at the Volvo c30 also.

DonP

get the TL

eviltwinkie

DEEEEEEP INSIGHT....haaa

23109VC

my wife drove the 8. we test drove a VR GT wtih the appearancepackage / spoiler. HOT looking car. 6 speed manual.

she thought it was small. not that fast. and had a small trunk. i dont' think she was all that thrilled with it. granted she drives an MDX...so she likes space.

i pointed out that the small size, tight handling, and FUN factor were the reasons *I* liked it...not for it's big trunka nd practicality.

the pricing ont he new 08s is way high for me - this is a third car, so i'm trying to keep it on the cheaper side. an 07 leftover might work. i want to be at or udner 20k.

a used 05 or 06 would keep me under 20k and leave a bit left over to lower it, add exhaust, and a few other goodies.

a new one will run me over 20k for one with the appearance package....which is something I really really want.

even though she was less than excited about the 8, she understands why I like it. it's just a matter of finding one, and timing it.

with all the recession talk and economic woes - i wonder if deals will just get better in about 6 monthsl i can wait. maybe see what happens when the 09 refreshmodel hits the dealers?

mdw1000

I would say you'd be ok with a lower mileage 05 or 06. I know for 05 they extended our engine warranty to 4 yrs/50K.

I guess my thoughts are that with the TL lease you won't own anything, but if it is the same amount of cash as what you'd pay in payments on an 8, at least you'd own the 8 at the end of the payment cycle.

Sounds like you really want an 8. If you are at the point in your life where you can do the fun car thing, then do it! You may never get the chance again. But only if it is financially viable for you - feeding the kids has to come first

Just don't be one of those follks that buys their kids a car. Make them earn it. They will thank you later in life. I bought my first car (a truck, actually) and it made it so much sweeter because I bought it myself. Made me appreciate hard work that much more.

mdw1000

You could also start checking the RX-8s for sale forum here. Give you an idea of what some of them are going for. Perhaps post a WTB thread to see if you get any people selling what you are looking for colorwise, optionwise, etc.

flyboi1121

sounds like to me... u WANT the rx8 and you really do enjoy driving it.

yea you'll be paying a bit more here and there... but if you can afford it, then get the car you WANT as long as you can afford it cuz then u still have 2 other cars you NEED.

doesn't come so often where you can have what you need and what you want all at the same time... get the 8, enjoy it, drive safe, and let the wifey enjoy her mdx (great vehicle btw lol)

i'm in the northeastern area of nj and on craigslist, i saw a used rx8 in great condition for 14k.

snoop around ur area, test drive it and get it inspected, and when the stars line up, buy it!

TrochoidMagic

^^ what are you waiting for 23109? for another great deal to pass you up?
want to get another SUV? why? do you need 3 full size car with so much smog we contribut to earth already?

you already have a big mdx for its purpose...hauling things in size. all your other cars should be big enough to easily accomodate everyday space. keyword EVERYDAY. given you have kids, i understand. but you don't always drive them to work with you everyday to work...

i think the time you spend on here now should be more on understanding rotary engines and function. and picking up tips from ppl on how to go about maintaining it properly and extra tips on how to go the extra mile in caring for it.

i feel you may get it, and will waste your time debating and miss out on yet more better deals.

from what i see...you got a volvo, a mdx, and looking for a third car. if an S2k is too good for you, why lug around a 4 door 5 seater when you've already got one?

mdw1000

^ what they said! Just do it! Seriously, you won't regret having this car. I've had a blast both driving and modifying it (with a lot of help from both here and my local club). And I've made some really great friends by joining my local club. Really great people who are extremely helpful and fun to be around.

delhi

winter is a great time to buy sports cars. i bet you can get some good deals on remaining 07s too!

23109VC

thanks for the input guys.

lots of great ideas.

with three kids - despite having a nice new MDX as my family hauler, I really don't want to go to a two car household and have that second car be a sports car. an S2k would be totally out as a second car. if you have kids, and if you have 2-3 of them, you KNOW there are times when wife is somewhere with one or two of them, and you may be somewhere with one or two - and you both need a vehicle capaple of hauling kids/stuff. so an s2k as car two is out.

an RX8 as car two would be somewhat more practical, but still not that realistic. there will be times when I can't take the MDX, or don't have it, or don't want to take it and want to fit the whole family in another car. what if the mdx broke down unexpectedly. i'd feel pretty dumb if my second car was an rx8 that seats 4 and I've got a family of 5.

my volvo, while old, still looks and runs great. it's just not all that fun.

so I'm looking for a third fun / toy car.

I can get a PURE toy car like an s2k OR get an rx8 that is still a toy/sprots car, but with *some* practicality.

I don't particularly like driving my volvo. it does the job, but it's not all that much fun. an rx8 would be mega fun. if i get one, i can see myself using it not as a total daily driver, but i can see myself driving it a lot more than just weekends. those times where i go somewhere nearby and take two kids - i could take whatever car I wanted - but i'd be more likely to get to drive my fun rx8 for thsoe trips vs an s2k or some other two seater.

if i was going to drive my s70 every day to work/bck and only drive my "toy" on the weekends, maybe a more hardcore care like an s2k would actually be better. but for something that I want to use 2-3 times a week to drive to work, and to play with on weekends - an rx8 would be way more livable.

plus, insurance on a third car is 30-40 bucks LESS a month in an rx8 and used rx8s are cheaper. so there are a lot of pros for the rx8

i can always just compromise, sell my volvo, and get a newer sports sedan like the TL type S, or a used Audi S4, or somethign like that...but honestly, i've been there done that. i had a soupled up volvo s60r and sold it to fund my mdx. i really am not all worked up to get a large heavy super sedan. they are fast and stuff...but having driven one of those, and driven a small sporty car, even though an rx8 or s2k would be tons slower in a straight line than somethign like my 350hp S60R or an S4, or even the TL-S - you can't compare the FUN.

boxster, s2k, rx8, miata, mr2, probably a mini - they all are FUN cars. not super fast...well a boxster S is pretty quick...but an rx8 or s2k is no dragster but a lot of fun to drive around and that's what im' after.

i think an rx8 is a good blend of fun, practicality, and costs. i can find a good deal on a used one, get more than just weekend use out of it, and it won't break the bank. and i personally think they look NICE.

i'm still working on finding a good deal and convincing my wife that a third car like an rx8 makes more sense than buying/leasing a newer $$ 4 door sedan lke a TL...
wish me luck

flyboi1121

haha sweet, good luck!

the stig

i would take the TL in a blink of an eye if its AWD or RWD. but because is FWD, RX8 FTW. after have AWD wrx, and now im on RWD RX8, i dont think ill ever want a FWD in my life.

23109VC

test drove another s2k last night. this time a new one not used. nice. nice.

very cool car. after having driven both an 8 and s2k all the reviews/comments here are dead on.

the 8 is a far better commuter car. both handle about the same but the edge goes tot he s2k. speed is the same. similar but the s2k is slightly faster. low rpm they seem similar in torque/pickup...but if the s2k is wailing in vtec, i think it has a bit more oomph than the rx8 even if the rx8 is heading toward 9k....

for soemthing i only drove bymyself and tore the hell out of the road i'd rather have an s2k. for a car i had to LIVE with, take people in, kids in, AND occasionally rip up the streets, i'd take the 8.

i called my insurace and guess what.. their online calcs were off. the rx8 and s2k are about the same to insure.

also the lease deals on a new s2k rock now. 2500 down and then 350/month.

on a new 08 rx8 i'd be looking at about 450 with a similar amount donw.

mdw1000

But again, with a used RX-8 you would own it when you are done paying for it. And you could mod the 8 a little more since you'd own it, not just be "renting" it.

You can also make an 8 a very quick car with FI. I was pleasantly suprised to see people talking about sub 5 second 0 to 6 with the pettit kit.

I'm guessing you would get better mileage with an S2K and be able to put the top down. But you wouldn't be able to use it to haul any kids.

Yet another monkey wrench to throw into the discussion - I believe a new TL and new TSX are going to be out in the fall. Not sure on that, but I think they are about due. Speculation is that they will have the SH-AWD that your MDX has. But both are sure to be heavier than an 8.

RX-8Newb

well if you are getting as a car to just zip around in by yourself then get something else, you will not need the 4 seata and doors if you never take anyone along. But if you plan on taking spirited drives with kids in the back (which i would not recommend) then the 8 would be good. If i had other cars to drive and it would only be a weekend car then i would get somehting like an s2000, it would end up being a better buy for that purpose, better quality, faster, better resale value.

23109VC

if I can talk the wifey into getting a two seater as the third car, i think i'll go s2k.

it's a better car for JUST racing around. and yeah, i don't really want to take the kids when i tear up the roads.

i was partially leaning toward the 8 b/c it was a better buy, but the current lease deal on the s2k is amazingly good and the 8 leases suck.

if i buy, i will buy used. but honestly, it's cheaper to lease an s2k than it is to buy a used one!

RX-8Newb

my brother has an s2k, its sweet. Its not as comfy and usable everyday but it is better quality and faster

TrochoidMagic

they don't call the S2k a poor man's boxter for no reason.
i've read somewhere the acceleration times 1/4 for the boxster and S2k were cimilar and very very close. not even of by a full 1/10 iirc. it may be in car&driver, but honestly, its been so long so not sure. just thought you'd like to know...

but honestly, don't make the rx8 ur first choice-if you're also considering a ease of maintanence car. do it if you have the time to take care of the car yourself or a good trustable mechanic... the 8 is just about as unique of a car as...well, no others come close. so i truly hope you owning the 8 won't be like all others who complain and regret getting the 8. as much as i don't mind helping, its just rather annoying with all the "why didn't i get a better car, sholda got a 350z" or etc.
don't make that you.

RX-8Newb

yeah if you want something you can just buy and drive every now and again and not worry about then dont get this car. Just my opinion. My car is starting to fall apart, i swear i will be driving it and the wheels will just come off lol.

mdw1000

I meant to say earlier that mazda extended the engine warranty on the 04s and 05s to 5 years/60K. Sorry for my mistake!

Yeah, the S2k is supposed to be a great car. I hope to add a two seat roadster to my stable someday. Only bad thing I've heard is that its ride can be very harsh, but it is supposed to have amazing handling. And it would probably run for a million years.

You might also want to look at an older miata. There are a lot of FI options available for them - you can turn one of them into a little monster I would consider second gens in your situation. Or 3rd gens. But you can also pick up a good 1st gen for cheap. And they are super reliable and easy to work on. I met a guy at my first track weekend that had put almost 3000 racing miles on his miata that year without one problem. And it was an older one.

RX-8Newb

yeah tha warranty only covers the motor itself. I went in to have the TSB done for the oil pan and they said since it was bolted to the motor it was not covered. lol. So i am pretty sure it is pretty much for motors going.