youpey

I had looked at the 350z and I didnt really like the styling or the handling around town. So after about 2 months of not really thinking about a new car, I was driving my 2001 explorer, and I knew i had always wanted a sports car. Then I said to myself, I think I will buy an rx 8. I had never sat in it or driven it, but I knew i really liked the style. I went to a mazda dealership and test drove one for about 2 minutes. thanks to mazdausa.com, I knew exactly which dealership had the car i wanted. I went there told them i was interested and i bought it. I am not quite sure if it qualifys as an impulse buy

Microdot

I traded in a '97 Jetta for my 8 back in April

I was in the market for a new car, and had several models on my short list;
Nissan 350Z, Honda S2000, Acura RSX, and Subaru WRX to name a few.
The RX-8 originally found it's way onto my radar after I played Grand Tourismo 3
GT3 had an RX-8 prototype as a bonus car you could unlock by winning a specific series of races. The RX-8 made it on my short list when I figured out that the production model had suicide doors (I believe it was an Ad in Maxim that did that)

I actually did not expect to buy an RX-8. I honestly believed that the 8 would be no bigger than the Miata inside. Since I'm 6'4" this would have been a big problem (I can't drive a Miata comfortably) So, I went to test drive an 8 expecting to rule it out because I wouldn't be able to comfortably fit in it. About an hour later I was driving it home.

I never did test drive the S2000 or the RSX. ...But it didn't matter, I knew the 8 was the right car.

Red-Devil

I had Ordered the new Volvo S40 T5 and was waiting out the 4 months waiting period. Well, boredom set in and to pass some time I decided to test drive a few other cars. Amongst them was the RX8 and 350Z. After I drove both once, I went back to drive the Volvo. Well, I cancelled that order soon after. It was just too ordinary and conservative for me.

I was impressed with the 350 Z, but found it very noisy inside, plus it only has the 2 seats. I drove the 8 again this time loaded with passengers. Well, it still pulled past 200kph and felt rock solid around the bends. I then checked our local car mag test figures and satisfied myself that this is by far the best bang for the buck in all respects.

When you consider what you are getting for significantly less money than the competition, you can only smile. Now that I have had my car for almost 3 weeks, I can really say that I made the best choice. I have taken a few passengers for some blasts and they are stunned by the speed around corners, with no tyre squeel!!! Yesterday I smoked a Subaru WRX (not Sti) from start to 130mph.

Its more than fast enough in the straights, but when you hit the corners, your face is gonna light up.

You just gonna love this car......

gretathegreek

When I went to the Mazda design center in Irvine and set in a prototype. As a wife of a Mazda Master tech I have been lucky to see alot of cars before everyone else. Anyway I was in love with the cars years before they were available to the public.

Grabitquick

My previous car was a Mazda MX-6 and lasted 10-1/2 years, and everyone in my family has owned Mazdas at one time or another (my late father loved them), so I knew what an innovative company they can be. When it came time to shop around, I started by researching the Mazda 6, but then noted that the base RX-8, even with the manny tranny, wasn't that much more. The real kick was when my attorney buddy in my office (a 60-year-old guy who's on the track with his Corvette several times a month) said, "Look, you're 50 and your knees may not be able to handle a clutch forever, so get it and have some panache while you still can." From that point, I never looked back or seriously considered anything else. One month of ownership now, and it's been too much fun. Taking it down to San Diego later today on its first real road trip, and I can load my niece and nephew into the back seat on Sunday and scare the hell out of them on the way to the Padres game.

foxman

When the first comparison came out in the car rags, the first one I remember was Mustang vs G35 vs RX8 and of course the RX8 was the overall winner, I was totally hooked on the look and the features. Only hitch was I waited 18 months until my lease on the Montero Sport was up. And then it was time and I test drove only the RX8 and bought one immediately, there was never any question I knew it was for me. And it so is...We are now having that good car connection, only problem is it pains me when I have to drive the truck or my wife's van, it's always like I am missing something.

nt5k

Awesome tranny, loved the interior (especially the gauge cluster), awesome handling, and.... 9000 RPM!

Fritz the Cat

My 10 year old MX-6 was on its way out, and I had shortlisted my candidates to the BMW 325ci, the Nissan 350Z, the Infiniti G35, and the RX-8. Well, my skis wouldn't fit in the 350Z, so that was out. I looked at the Infiniti and the BMW in dealerships, and liked them.

Then I test drove the 8 on a Monday. End of story. Ordered it (from a different dealership, for various reasons) and had it by Friday.

I still love it, and it's coming up on five months now.

RX-Hachi

Having owned all 3 generations of RX-7s, I was naturally interested in this car. I had watched the prototypes evolve from the RX-01 to the RX-Evolve and finally to the prototype Yellow RX-8 that was shown in Tokyo in 2002. But I wasn’t sure if I really liked it or not, the 3rd gen. FD RX-7 was a hard act to follow.

I finally got to sit in a pre-production model at an auto show in early 2003. The car sure felt like the good old RX-7 and was starting to grow on me, but I still wasn’t sold. Once the car finally made its showroom debut in July of 2003, I took one for a test drive. I immediately knew I had to have this car! It just felt so right and was so much fun to drive.

I had told myself then to wait for a 2005 model. But when I learned yellow would be discontinued for ‘05, I decided to get one back in May '04. (I had always kicked myself for not buying a CYM RX-7 back in '93, couldn't let that happen again.)

bmcc49er

When I first saw the car ad I was hooked. Being a family guy the 4 seater was easier to sell to the missus. All it took after that was a test drive!! Never owned a rotary and learning alot from this forum but the car is so damn smooth and I love the lines. Being a older guy I guess the car looks perfect to me the way it is. Kudos to those with a little more flair but stock or not the car is beautiful. Getting around 20 mpg, hope to improve but their is not another car in my price range out there that I envy...

buzzwordenabled

My BMW entered the expensive ownership phase ($5k last year, $2.5k this year) and it was time to move on. Given that I'm mid-30s with two kids, I directly fit the RX-8 demographic. haha

When shopping, I also considered the following on my short list:
-Prius - Appealed to the tree-hugger inside, slow
-Mini Cooper S - A friend of mine has one that puts out 253HP, not so family friendly

The test drive sold me on the RX-8. I had never driven a Wankel and I'm still in awe of its unique power delivery.

Jarred

Fun, uniqueness, (more practical than it's competitors), better priced, attractive, fun, and fun.

JeRKy 8 Owner

Two andahalf months before the release of the Rx8 I totalled my white 6speed WS6 2001 Trans Am while ******* around w/another car andwalked out of the accident unscathed. WhenI finally got my reimbursement fromthe insuranceI was desperatelysearching for a newcar but since I wasa little weary from the smash Ithought I was justgoing to buy a safe sedan andthe Mazda 6 wasone of the cars I looked at. Unfortunately the Mazdadealers around herewere trying to ripme off on the 6 andI couldnt get a decent deal anywhere. A fewweeks later I wentback again to tryand seeif they had come to their senses but then I had lost all of mine whenI laid eyes upon the Rx8 forthe very first time inthe showroom. The Sports Package Rx8s wereonly slightly more than the fully loaded Mazda 6s I was negotiating on and it even had more air bags than the 6 did. As a compromise to my dead Trans Am I bought an 8 in automatic and notstick and that decision actually does make me less prone to speeding and driving likean *******. Thenagain - that statement only holds true when Im not comingup on a turn.

IZoomZoomI

I test drove the 350z right before I bought the rx8. Personally I picked it because it was unique at the time to have a rx8 (noone really had it). The power was there to be honest I couldn't feel much difference in power btwn the 350z and the rx8. What sold it was the cabin noise, when I heard that rotary engine going I think I almost wet my pants. I didn't really care too much about them back seats I just liked the car because it is more balanced than any car I have driven in before.

mysql101

The 350Z got me interested in buying a new car. Then I saw reviews of the RX8 vs 350Z, and read about the rotary engine. One day I passed by a Mazda dealership and decided to go for a test drive. Two months later, I still wanted the RX-8 and so I bought one.

Vertigo-1

iTrader: (3)

In a way, the RX-8 was my dream car the moment I first saw a pic of it. It was actually within my reach for one. Seeing it up close and personal at a car show only made me want it more. Finally when I was ready to buy, hearing the engine fire up and the way it sounded at idle, along with the "OMG we're gonna flip!!!" sensation I got when my salesman took me into a full circle turn at full speed sold me.

kevinus99

I have been out of school about a year now and originally was waiting around for the 05-mustang. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to go see one at the NYC auto show. Unfortunately due to huge crowds you couldn't sit in the car and get a feel for it. but way back in a corner were two 8's a red and a black i believe. i looked at them a few times, got to sat in them and get a feel for them. a few months later which was 2 month ago, i wrecked my neon and was in the market for a new car right away. the 8 was on my short list, and after the test drive i was sold. come to think of it now that i have the 8 the 05-stang isnt looking so hot anymore. although i am sure i will at least test drive one when they come out.

HeelnToe

I never had to "decide" to get the 8. That's what set it apart from everything else I had driven: RSX-S, TSX, WRX, Evo, GLI... all great cars, and I was having trouble "deciding" on what to buy.

And that really bothered me. I didn't want to spend the extra money on a sports car if I had to pick it from a list. I didn't want a car I liked, I wanted to fall in love.

Then I drove an 8 on a whim, and that was that. There was no debate anymore, no more questions, no more comparisons. I never had to "decide" to buy it, because I was in love

Johnnyma45

I went to the dealer looking at the 6 initially, and saw a bunch of RX-8's sitting outside. Love at first sight, you could call it...test drove it and signed on the dotted line a week later. Probably not the smartest purchase for my current status, but whatever!

StewC625

I've been wanting another RX- car since I traded away my 1985 RX-7 in 1987. The series 2 cars just didn't do it for me and the series 3 cars ("FD") were too damn expensive. Then the -8 comes out and it's perfect for my lifestyle - a usable back seat accessible through four doors, great power and handling, PERFECT.

Here's a shot of my original baby, and the new one ... both at SCCA Autocross events - one in the early spring of 1985, and one in early August of 2004 ... mercifully you can't see how much more hair I had in 1985.

That's why for me ...

Liquid Rhino

This one's easy... It had to be the little rotary symbol on the headlight projector! :D Still today this tiny detail amazes me.... and made me finally take the plunge.

shelleys_man_06

I've loved this car since the RX-Evolv concept. I secretly followed the RX-8's development since the Super Street issue. My true love of this car escalated when I received an issue of Sport Compact Car highlighting the RX-8. I had to own one, or get my truck set on fire.

irish8

What made you decide to get the 8?

Simple....The Test drive!!!!

I drove a buddies 8 a few months ago while on vacation. When I came home I tried to fight the urge for sometime. Then one day I woke up, drove my 2003 Mustang GT to my local Mazda dealer and took the plunge!!

It's been months...I am still glad I made the decision!!!

- Irish

Hellbreed

I owned 3 first gens (81, 80,79) with the 79 being street ported. The 79 was so much fun and handled great with 230HP but I ended up having to sell it a few years into my marriage since we bought our house and I wasn't making enough money to maintain the car. I fell in love with the 3rd gen but it was WAY out of my price range. I drove an MX-3 for a number of years until it started to have many problems, I needed a replacement. I had heard many rumours about another rotary car then saw the RX-01 at the autoshow, that got me pretty excited. I then started seeing all this information on the RX-Evolve and I new there had to be something coming to production. I drove my MX-3 as long as I could until 2002 knowing by this time the RX-8 was on its way but the car was dieing. I leased a Protege5 for 4 years but 2 years into the lease and the 8 readily available I could wait no more. The Protege 5 maintained it's value so well that I could get out of my lease 2 years early with only a $1000 penalty, brought it in and signed for the 8. Once you've had a rotary its hard to let them go, it's great to be back in one!!

BlueFrenzy

Well I think I first heard about it on TV ... that commercial with the guy hugging the red 8. That intrigued me a bit but not much. Went to the Toronto Auto Show last summer and was stunned by it. Oogled it for 8 months (until dental school was finished). But for some reason, I was REALLY liking the Mitsubishi Eclipse (must have been the movie) and was convinced that it was MY car. Started reading about the Eclipse and fell out of love. Then started thinking about the Subaru WRX but it was just too brutish for me. At the same time, my buddy just bought a Mazda 3 and said that if it weren't for winters, he would get the 8. To prove him wrong, I searched the net and found you guys. After reading what you guys had to say about it ... I was back to my original love (the 8 of course). Wrestled with dealers for a month and FINALLY in a week it will be here!