There ends my love of my RX-8 :(
 

Yesterday, I spent the last day with my RX-8. I took it out for a last final spin and enjoyed the hell out of it. My lease ended yesterday, and I returned the car... I needed to 'own' something and the RX-8 while extremely fun to drive (even more than my new car), has hiccups and problems that need addressing. I'm not going to get into a whole conversation about the car, but needless to say it was one of the best things I ever bought, and having owned it, it's the most fun car I've ever driven.

Anyways, RX-8... you will be missed.

Here is my new baby:
http://picasaweb.google.com/shayaan/M3/

well i must say... the m3 is a pretty fair trade.. very similar in speeds and times (top gear's list can vouche for that). I was gonna get an e46 for a while... but... too expensive for me..heh.

Lets not go there again. I'll be the first to say it, the M3 is way faster in a straight line.

Anyways, good luck with the BMW if you are looking for trouble free motoring. But a 1st class car, enjoy.

later Shayaan have fun with the new ride:)

nice car!

Good choice, M3>RX8. I had an E36 M3 sedan and I wanted to get an E46 but they were a bit out of my price range so I settled for a RX8. I will say the steering feel and and handling isn't quite as good as the RX8 or E36 without suspension mods, it's a portly car.

The E46 M3 is one hell of a car. The only gripe I have about it is that the interior is way too plain for that price. The 8 on the other hand is the opposite! :)

I have a nice long warranty and I don't drive much :)

Handling on the M3 isn't NEARLY as good as the RX-8, but the ride is very comfortable and it's decent in attacking corners... it is a bit portly as was said, but I think the fact I can drive and not hear the entire outside world (wind noise always a sticking point in the RX) is very nice... getting older now and I need an everyday car, and the RX-8 while it was very usable wasn't very comfortable on a day to day basis because that car was always meant to be agile and fast, while I can drive the M3 like a 4 cylinder car and get 22 MPG to boot!

Enjoy the new ride Herc.. watch them potholes... :)

nice addition, this seems to be the route of many 8 owners besides the is330 (i guess you like black)

Herc --
Nice ride, for sure. Did you do the lease thing again?

How much did you sment on that M3?

No, no more leasing.... I bought this one used. It's a 2003 with 40k miles.... i got it for a steal so I won't say how much I spent :)

I haven't been able to find an 03 for under 36k. If I could find an smg for 31k (and under 50k miles) I'd be all over it. My current second favorite is an 06 8.

Enjoy the M3, I sure as hell know I would. Don't forget the special oil it takes.

It better not be for anything less than $25k.

Wait until you have to repair it.

That's all I have to say....... Great car but it will cost money to fix.

its been said, but shit the m3 is a dope car. have fun with it,.

Have you actually driven an E46 hard through corners?

Yes, but not even trying to push the car you can tell it's not as nimble as the RX.... the weight of the car is something that you can't easily overcome.

Herc,

You definitely stepped up your game to a new level. Enjoy the M.

M3 is just as agile as the rx8, just doesn't feel like it. it feels much heavier. the rx8 is a dream to drive at it's limits. it almost effortless. other cars require effort and balls to drive at the edge of their range.

I guess that will take time :) I got the car only a little while ago so I'm still not as comfortable in it as I was the RX-8... I need a few more weeks to make it an extension of my body like the RX-8 was :)

you guys understand how big a step this is? me and herc were both awake in the middle of the night the "day" the pre-order system for the 8 went live on the Mazda site. it was liek 3 hours late going live there was like 4 of us total on the forum that night all waiting for it so we could order right away.:):) then we all had the same horrible times with our dealers who didnt put our orders in correct. all that time haggling with the folks at the rx8orders@mazdausa.com email. i still have all the emails archived. they all new us by first name and were probably really sick of hearing from us after awhile- but Ashley Inman(not there any more) and Bill Zdan did help out and we got our pre-order gifts!!!! hehehehe. i already miss having you around all the time herc. hope you still check in from time to time.

Awwww, please do.

I want an M3. My lease is almost up too. (though it's a pipe dream to get an M3 at a reasonable price for me I think). :)