spork

The fact that it's a sports car with 4 seats and.... SUICIDE DOORS! I feel in love with the suicide doors and interior. The exterior looked nice too. But the suicide doors just killed me (no pun intended). When I saw the suicide doors I knew I had to have it.

But what else is killing me is... (I know, I know, you've heard it all before) the fact that I'm almost at half tank and I'm at... get this under 80 miles (something like 78). That's like 10.7 MPG!!!! I'm shifting at 3.5 to 5k! My previous tank (or fill up if you prefer) was like 15mpg and I was hoping I'd be going up slightly in mileage. T_T Eh, I'm going to write this tank off as a fluke. But if this becomes a norm I'm not gonna be happy. Sorry about the mpg rant, but I just drove home and noticed how bad this tank is.

ironmedic

i did some homework before i was stationed back in the states (i was overseas). i kept reading up about the british RX8 and they showed it doing some awesome handling maneuvers on a track. they turned the traction control off and went to town on a wet track and it was awesome! my wife likes the body style so we went ahead and got it for her (since im a stanger). unfortunately i had to get an automatic cuz that is all she will ever drive.

thai_cookie

I was influenced by my boyfriend and one of our good friends who both have first gens. But when a visitor pulled into our apt. complex with a winning blue 8, we all practically ran to him and asked to look under the hood and inside. I was awed and wanted one bad. My mom later asked what I wanted for a graduation present and I ended up getting my 8 a few months before my graduation. I knew I didn't want to get anything other than a MT even tho I couldn't drive one. I didn't even test drive it cuz I was so deadset on getting one. I had to call my best friend to drive it off the lot for me and teach me to drive it. but no regrets. This car is badass. The only one I've ever been proud to own. :D

Riccio

went to "look", took a test drive (almost 90 minutes long!) and drove it home.

No regrets whatsoever - stupid silly grin everytime I drive - still happening :D

rotten42

Cool...finallly! PM me and tell me the details of your deal. ($, where did you get it) You are now offically in the cult.

ayap888

If you're looking for good design and you want to stand out from the rest, only two brands stand out. In the German car market, Audi has the best and exciting design (I have the allroad). In the Japanese car market, it's Mazda.

I wanted to get a bimmer for a 2nd car. I test drove the Z4 and 325. I also tested the Crossfire and the RX8. I did not get the Z4 because top downs and open air can cause me and my wife allergies (convertibles are just not for us). Then, the Z4 and Crossfire were also only 2-seater cars. Crossfire did not have Xenon lights. I almost got the 325 bimmer .. but so many of those are running around and the dashboard is pretty bland. The BMW 325 was the color I liked but did not have xenons. I tested the RX8 again before deciding on the bimmer. This time I tested an RX8 with Nav (boy that changed the whole story). Where can you get a Navigation system with that big a screen and the voice spoke accurately if you have to stay on the right or left lane. The handling of the RX8 is not that different from the Z4 2.5 I tested. It rides like a luxury sports car - supsension is not as hard as other sports car. The RX8 automatic felt faster or as fast as the BMW Z4 2.5 automatic. They're both official rated at 7.2 seconds 0-60. Going back to the BMW 325, the RX8 backseats had more knee room than the BMW325 (believe it - the sales guy who rode with me during my first test of the RX8 was a 6 footer and he fit comfortably at the back). The dashboard of the RX8 is also fun and youthful. And the Bose sound system ... boy that's not easy to beat.

If you are looking for an all around fun car that you can take your friends with you and have all amenities (xenon, bose, 6 disk CD changer, speed, looks, space), you won't go wrong with the RX8.

jtimbck2

I didn't get to test drive before I bought mine (I preordered), so I guess for me it was the looks and the rotary. I always wanted an FD, and the 8 filled that void for me.

Soundave

Had two RX-7's, big rotary fan, the rest is history

w0rm

This forum, and the car... well- mostly the car.

vegas RX8

I traded in a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, while getting a flat fixed at a local shop I opened up a mag and saw a full spread article on the RX8 and I just had to have one. I remember reading about it around Feb 03, and when they finally came out I couldn't wait to go check them out.

romulus

After driving my ’81 Datsun 280ZX 2+2 for almost 10 years with 230K in the odo, I knew that sooner than later I needed a replacement car. The poor thing always had issues with unrelated components failing every other month due to its old age. At least I was able to fix it my self most of the time since I had the manufacturer’s service manual in which cars of that era are not as thick as the current ones. In any case, I had an eye of the 350 Z before coming out to the market, but I got disappointed that is only a two seater (G35 coupe still on the drawing board) Then I saw the RX Evo prototype in one of the car magazines so I did more research and found out that it’s a 4 seater with “suicide” doors. At that time I knew that is the car for me since I don’t want to get a sedan and having retired parents that would be perfect for them when I give them a ride for whatever errant they need to do. Yeah, every time my parents get in an out from my old Z, it breaks my heart seeing them struggling. Surprisingly enough, I did not bothered to test drive the 350Z nor the G35 coupe. And, the only requirement that my wife gave me was to see if the rear seats can accommodate child seats (no kids yet). If not, the 8 will be out of the question. So, I asked borrow different types of child seats (from newborn to toddler) from my sister. So, I went to the dealer with my wife and brother in-law. The dealer did not have any problem in trying to fit different child seat in the back of their demo. They told us that we were the first buyers who wanted to try the child seats. So they were eager to find out what works as well. It was a bit funny in trying to figure out how to take the newborn seat in and out of the car without straining someone’s back with a 10 lb bag of rice. After figuring out the best way, my wife got sold in getting my 8. Now after 9 months of driving my 8, I still have a big grin in my face when I push it to 9k :D . By the way, my parents love the way how easy they can get in and out from my car. Sorry for the long post…..
Cheers!

hotpot

For me it was 1. Price, 2. Looks, 3.Performance, in that order. As simple as that

MELRX8

Styling, performance, balance, and the ability to transport a couple of pre-teen grand kids when needed. I looked at the 350Z, G35, Mazdaspeed Miata, all great cars, but none could do it all so well! BALANCE!

Xystas

Had an Infiniti G35 coupe, fully loaded, and traded that in for my 8... never looked back... rotary over pistons any day...

NomisR

I've always wanted an FD but they were eventually discontinued and the used ones costs too much for their trouble. They finally came out with it and I got to beat up one at the Mazda Rev-it-up which sealed the deal for me.

Wankeler

1.) The fact that it has a rotary engine. (missed out on the 3rd gen RX7s)
2.) A test drive.
3.) And the fact that on no other test drive did the salesperson say... "OMG! it's like we're riding on rails! I've got to get me one of these!" when I took an uphill 25mph left-hand curve at 58mph.

Art Hazebrook

The rear end of the 8 (kinda) looks like the rear end on the SVT Contour...my previous ride