Runfox

Greetings all, I dont own a RX8 yet but I been reading your forum posts all through. Im real close to buying , but not yet.

My background, I'll be 49 come august, have a great family, wife I love and happily married to for 27 years, 3 beautiful kids, my youngest son just turned 18. My wife and I have had 4 new cars and of course she has driven them all. I have always had the old clunker, drive a 92 Ford F-150 right now that pretty muck looks like $%#@%! So I been waiting a along time for MY turn to but a new car for me!! It's going to be all mine , everyone one else has their own cars,( I finally paid off the two cars I bought for my daughters, along with all our misc credit cards) so I can basicly get what ever I want.Yahoooo!

So before your think, old man having mid life crisis, NOT! Just took me this long to be able to aford to but a 30k car. So for all you young college students wanting to rush out and buy one, be patient! When I was young and saw an "Old Man", driving a fast car I would think, That guy's too old to drive that fast car , I wish I had one I'd show him how to drive it!Well now that Im in that position, I have a much better understanding. For the avwerage working stiff like me, no college just raising a family, it takes a while to afford one. So the "Old man" desereves the fast car, he waited for it, young kids dont even have a clue how much 30k really is.

All that said, I started out with 3 cars in mind, Nissan 350Z, Mazda RX8, new 2005 Ford Mustang GT. I have read all the talk about cars and which ones you all looked at , but I dont see any other real sports cars I would consider. The MiT Evo and the WRX dont do nothing for me, they are both four door econoboxes with wings, ground effects and fast engines.I have shopped , read forums like this, reviews in magazines, talked to owners, test driven and narrowed my choices to RX8 and 2005 Mustang.

I loved the 350Z but have to rule it out for three reasons, Cant rotate tires, ( cant afford to be replacing $250 tires after 20k miles) it dosent have the radio controls on the steering wheel like the RX8 does ( they have that option on all their other cars but not the Z go figure), and its not real practical for a weekend get away with my wife. Its ok for araound town but the speaker box right behind the seats closes you off drom the back so you cant even reack back there.

I love the RX8, have driven it several times now, and am real close to buying it, but I have to wait till Sept. for the new mustang to come out. I love the looks of the 2005 Mustang inside and out, but I have to drive it so I can be sure that I m not missing out.

I know you all would laugh at me thinking about the Mustang, I drove the 2004 MACH1 . I love the looks but of cource its only an american muscle car, not a true sports car. Plain interior, solid rear axle, no spots truned ind rear suspension, but worst of all, the stick shift! I cant believe how sloppy the shifter is compared to the tight , close one in the Z or RX8. But I got to drive ithe 2005 , give it a chance , maybe they make it better than the one in the MACH 1 I drove.Cant say enough about that sweet american v8, 300hp go straight enegine. But that its bang for the buck, the rest is fairly unexciting.

therm8

Welcome, glad to have you here. I have an 8 and to tell you the truth, if I didn't, I would be considering the new Mustang as well (and I used to be a Camaro guy, Mustangs were the enemy :D ) Ford quality has come a long way in the past few years. Good luck with your choice whichever it may be.

moRotorMotor

That was a very nice story Runfox! You must be dying to get your hands on your very own car. You've waited a very long time and now it's just a few more months! :D I can only imagine just how happy you are. I can't say much about the Mustang but I can give you some of the strong points of an RX-8.

Your final two are very good sports cars with very different style of execution. The new Mustang will handle better than the previous model, but I'll doubt it will do better than the 8. If there was one thing I have to say about the 8, it would have to be the cornering. There is nothing compared to the handling abilities for the price. On the downside, the 8 is a little low on power compared to the V8 of the Ford.

I too, like the styling of the new Mustang and I would be interested to see just which one you would pick. Goodluck!

Phlash

Welcome top our cult Runfox.....I don't think you'll go wrong with the autos you have narrowed it down to. The Z and the 8 are from very similar worlds. The "stang" is a different beast altogether......I have family that work for Ford in Michigan, one has driven the the 2005 pony you speak of.....to qoute..."Oh my god it fast as hell.....until you throw a curve at it. Better than the current model, but scary at speed to say the least"

Us 8 folks are pretty opinionated when it comes to this forum, we luv our 8's, yes they have "quirks", but my god, nothing compared to the big 'ole Hemi I had before this car. Raw, big engine power is an amazing thing.........but zoom, zoom technology is a delight, and amazingly easy to live with having young kids of my own. You'r going in the right direction, I'm sure it'll be a winner no matter what you pick.....

rxeightr

Very good choices you've got there, as I've been keeping an eye on the new 'Stang for a while. In fact, the wife is seriously looking at that for her next new ride.

It would not bother me at all for us to have them both, but it would take more than higher horsepower for me to get rid of my RX-8. Having read what the Mustang designers were looking to do, I was disappointed they decided to keep a solid rear axle.

This means in stock form, the RX-8 will literally run cirles around the new Mustang, and basically be a stop light-to-stop light type of car. Looks are killer, and can't wait to see one in the flesh.

Keep us informed of your final choice, and appreciated your 1st post. I'm 45, so I hear where you are coming from -- enjoy whatever you end up with.

RX8_Buckeye

I'm part of the '05 Mustang launch team, and I can tell you that the shifter is a huge improvement over the current one. Also, as you might expect, the SVT-version of the 'Stang will have independent rear suspension. Combined with the much stiffer body, it will handle better than previous Cobras and will be MUCH faster.... of course, you'll have to wait at least one extra year for the Cobra and it'll cost much more than a Mustang GT :p

SMigneco

Welcome runfox.

Your decision will boil down to what you prefer...
If you prefer straight line acceleration and being pinned back in your seat then go with the Mustang.
If you prefer a better handling car and enjoy going through twisties then go with the 8.

I haven't seen the interior of the new Mustang yet, but even without seeing it I can say it will tough for Ford to beat Mazda in the interior dept. Good luck in whichever one you choose. You have waited long enough and I'm sure you deserve it!

TheColonel

I would go with the RX-8. I have an '02 Z28 that's around 400hp. Is it exciting and fun to drive? You bet it is, but I have to admit it's not as fun in the twisties as the RX-8. What do you want, a well balanced track car, or as my one friend describes my Z, "Unbridled power"?

Rcktman33

No bad choices there... while I never really looked in the American muscle car group when making my car purchase choice, I did look at the 350Z as well as the RX-8. Obviously I went with the 8. It just had that feel as if it was an extension of me when I climbed in and got behind the controls and nothing else I test drove compared to it. Add in great ergonomics, comfort, ability to actually use the rear seats (yes I have had 4 people in my 8 for drives of almost an hour in length now... no complaints from any of them), and alot more of the extras for a lower price.

Every time I get in (and out) of my 8 I find myself grinning like a fool and I've had it for a couple months now. Which ever you go with hopefully you'll have similar results!

Topgun

I am going to sell my RX-8 and try the new Mustang when it comes out. Nothing wrong with my RX-8. I just buy a new toy every year. If any wants my RX-8 it is a red base 6spd with 1100 miles on it. I will sell it anytime from now until the fall when the new cars come out. The car has not even had to be washed yet after 7 months it is just a weekend toy that sits in the garage with my other toys.

chinx

oh i didn't know you can't rotate 350z's tires. are they directional?

VikingDJ

The fronts and rears are different sizes that's why. The rears are wider.

Runfox

Wow I knew thie people on this forum were great just reading through, much better response than I expected. I'm glad I didnt bother posting on the z forums, I'd pobably just got flamed.

Buckeye if your really on the 05 Stang launch team I got to ask you a few questions. . Will the 05 Stang share much besides the engine with the 04's? Also why does Mazda have a 4yr50k warrenty on thier cars and Ford only offers a 3yr36k warrenty? That basicly tells me Mazda cars are better quality.Im just wondering if any of that Maza quality wil go into the new Stang?Will the new Stang offer radio controls on the stearing wheel like the RX 8 has?

I didnt tell you all but my family is already a ZOOM ZOOM family, wife has a 03 Mazda Tribute(200hp V6 really does ZOOM) , daughter has a 04 Mazda 3 with radio controls on stearing wheel.After driving around in her car I dont think Ill be happy with out the radio controls on the wheel, its sooo sweet!

Rcktman33 I agree with you about the RX8 , when you get in the car , you feel like your strapping on an extension of yourself. No other interior I have sat in comes close.

Thats what it will get down to, when I set in the new 05 Stang its going to have to excite me as much or more than the RX8 interior. All 3 cars looks and performance are exciting , but you spend your time insdie, driving not outside looking in. The RX8 interior just feels and looks so right. The relationship of seat, pedels, steering wheel, center consol and shifter feel like your in an easy chair driving the ultimate video game.

Runfox

chinx yeah rear tires are larger than front so that alone basicly puts the skids on the 350z for me. I read a thread on a Z forum asking how many miles people got on their tires. Keeping in mind the 03 model had tire problems, my 350z salesmen said they used the wrong typs of tire , but that as corrected for 04.The reponses of even 04 owners was scarey, they were talking about replacing tires after 15 to 12k miles.I dont know if any of you have priced thses low profile tires, but good Michilens will run like $240 each.Way expensive.

mhapner

This is great. I'm in the exact same boat. Thinking about a new car. Driving a 96 Miata right now. Looking at the 350Z, RX-8 and 05 Mustang. My first car was a Mustang....learned how to drive in a Mustang....my father drives a Mustang. But I've had my Maita for the last 5 years and corners have never been so much fun.
And I made the mistake of driving the "8" this weekend. A Miata with back seats a little more power....perfect!! I'm looking for a little more luxury and confort for my daily drive to work (40 minutes each way...my friends GS400 spoiled me). The Z was nice but the steering and shifter were heavy. And no audio controls on the wheel.
The RX-8 was perfect. Love the tach/speedo layout. Plenty of power to get in trouble. :D
Now if I can just figure out what color??:p
I've only got a few payments left on the Miata...I'll wait and pay that off. Just in time to check out the new Mustang, just to make sure.

PS I'm sure the 3-day Skip Barber Racing School I won (throught Road & Track) will help my decision as well. I'll be at Mazda Raceway at the end of Sept.

RX8Freak

Im 15 and I hope I get an RX-8 in a few years. I think its the best car in the class though except for 0-60 times. You should test drive the Mustang just to make sure though.

RX8_Buckeye

The '05 Mustang GT is the first ever program to use Ford's new aluminum 4.6L 3-valve V-8 engine. It's a completely different engine than the previous 4.6L V-8 and makes 300 hp. I think it will be a solid engine. The base model will have a 4.0L 2-valve V-6. This is the same engine used in the base Explorer/Mountaineer, and is also very reliable.

The new Mustang is an all-new platform based off the Lincoln LS/T-Bird/X-Type platform. It is much improved over the previous 'Stang platform, which dates back to the 70's! There is always some carryover with new models to save cost, but much less so with this program. It is essentially an all-new vehicle.

The difference in warranty length between Ford and Mazda exists because of marketing reasons more than anything. Remember, Ford and Mazda are still two separate companies even though Ford has a controlling interest in Mazda. To be more competitive with other Japanese carmakers, Mazda's warranty must be comparable. Likewise, Ford can afford to be more on-par with domestic automakers when it comes to warranty. It's all cost-related—how much would it cost the company to offer a longer warranty period versus how many customers would they lose by keeping the warranty period shorter.

The question of quality is not an easy one to answer. Believe it or not, Mazda is actually below the industry average when it comes to initial quality ratings. That has nothing to do with reliability, however. It's not easy to predict how reliable the RX-8 will be versus the 'Stang. In many ways, I'd be more worried about the RX-8, given the fact that it is such an innovative vehicle with a very unique engine. Also, remember that the new 'Stang is being built on the same line as the Mazda6. The same UAW workers who build the heralded Mazda6 will be assembling the Mustang… it will be interesting for sure.

z1n

Runfox, another vehicle to consider would be the Infiniti G35 Coupe or Sedan. Although I traded in a G35 coupe for the RX8, The lack of sportyness is my reason to go with the Rx8. The G35 would be a better choice against the 350Z IMHO. It has controls on the steering wheel and 4 seats but it also has the same problem with the tire rotation as the 350Z. The Sedan comes in rear or all wheel drive. I personally think the infiniti is a more luxurious feel where as the 350Z is a more sporty feel. With that said I think the RX8 has the most sport feel out of all the vehicles. All are good rides and when the SVT comes out in 06, I will be considering trading in my 8 for one. Good Luck

philly8

Excuse the french but mustangs are crap. Ford continues to build the american car the way it has been built for the last 25 years substandard and lacking any forward thinking design . I know many former mustang owners who pissed away time and money keeping them on the road. I owned american made cars for about 10 years until I tired of the bs repairs and and the low resale value. Good luck in your search but from this burned american car consumer you might want to consider building or buying a house next to a ford dealer that way you have easy access for all the visits you will be making.

8pex

I wish I could in good conscious own an American car. We all know of the quality issues and after owning my share of American and Japanese cars the quality is head and shoulders above in the foreign cars.
Secondly as the 2005 mustang will be the first all new mustang in 25 years (scary) the build issues will probably be huge. I would hate to see someone in your position who has actually done the right thing by taking care of all your family obligations and waiting for the day to get YOUR car end up with something that ends up back at the dealer more than in your garage. My vote: Get the 8

Runfox

Thanks for the replies all I appreciiate the input.

RX8_Buckeye
THanks for the input, it sounds very exciting. I'm getting excited about the first test drive cause I know , thats pretty much going to make my decision. I'll either fall in love with it, or buy my RX8.

z1n I thought about the G35, a guy at work has the 4door sedan and loves it , got to love that sweet v6 , lots of horse power.I know the coup is a nice ride also I just cant get excited about the Infinity version front end look. I dant need or realy want a sporty four door, but if I did , the G35 sedan would be a great choice.

A young engineer at my work has a new BMW 330i which looks realy cool, has a long list of nice features, but I got twp problems there. One I'm afraid of the maint costs, I know thay dont need scheduled maint for a long time but I'm sure whne they do it will cost mucho. Second problem 220 hp tells me its luxury 1st, sporty 2nd. The M3 real sports version is way out of my price range.

philly8 I respect that input I know just where your coming from. I grew up in a FORD family, my dad always drove one, my brothers too.One had a 68 Mustang GT 390, the other a 68 Torino GT 390. Ever since my brother took me for rides in his 68 Mustang GT 390 I have wanted a Mustang. The 05 really is the only one that has tempted me to buy new . Otherwise Im just planning some day to buy an old 68 and build my own "Elenor" version.
My family, mainly my wife got burned out on FORD with an 86 Aerostar, crappola Minivan. We has to sell it after 3 years before it really took a total dump. As a result my Wife would not even consider a Ford again.

By conrast our last car a ,93 Mecury Villager, was awsome. 93 was the first year build, I would never had touched it except, it had the Nissan Maxima v6 engine.That car was the best I have ever driven, 252k miles on it , hardly any problems other than timing belt and normal stuff,we sold it and as far as I know its still running. I dont know of any Honda's even with that many miles on them, and I have owned two.

I 'm having a hard time right now waiting till Sept to test drive the 05 Mustang, becasue I know I can go right now to my Mazda dealer, get a great price, on a great RX8 and live happily ever after.

And z1n I asked about the SVT at the Ford dealer also. Word is no SVT for 05, next one will be 06 and speculation is ( and I believe it's true) It will be a "Shelby" Cobra. Since ol Carrol is in the FOrd house I am sure it wil happen. BUT I cant get excited about that becasue I know it will be way out of my price range. The 04 Cobra is 35k now, add Shelby to it ( and consider original Shelby cobras are like 75k to 150k )and Im sure it will be 40k to 45k.

A more promising future car is the next Mazda RX7. Mototrend web page said and I believe Mazda has always said the RX8 is not a replacement for the RX7. the 7 is supposed to return in like 06, it will be shorter, wider than 8 , two seater, 300hp acheived with larger displacement not turbo. Now for all you RX8 drivers wishing for more horsepower , THAT is the car to watch for.I myself would not be interested becasue I want an enjoyable daily driver like the 8. Im not interested in a hard riding, performance driven race car like the 7 was or will be.

Runfox

8pex
I agree with you 100% ,beleive me quality is my main concern with the 05 Mustang. THat exact thought is what keeps going through my mind, making me SOO TEMPTED to go buy my 8 right now.The Mustang 05 looks are perfect inside and out, but Im thinking just like you, first year issues will likely be plentiful. I feel real good about the RX8 quality, I know our Tribute and M3 are near to perfection. My only concern for the 8 is way down the milage road, say 100k. I know an RX7 owner told me you have to rebuild the old 7 rotary at 100k, I got to believe we wil get more than that from the 8, but no one can really tell.

Im strongly thinking of buying an extended warrenty on the 8 also. I didnt have an extended warrenty on the 86 Aerostar when I really needed it, I had one on my 93 Merc Villagerand never needed it, but I think Ill get one for the 8.

Tirminyl

That statement can be applied to all new vehicles that have been redesigned or otherwise. So that above statement cannot be placed on the new mustang alone. All first year production vehicles will have some kinks to work out but lets hope Ford doesn't have anything seriosly bad with the 05 'Stang, as they have been doing good lately.

Mat

Also worth noting that the G35's are getting a healthy HP upgrade this year. If memory serves, the coupe will be a tad short of 300 (yes, that is 300) HP. That's one amazing V6.

Phlash

snicker, snicker....you all notice that he keeps saying..."My 8".....? I think RunFox has his mind made up......:D