robrecht

Gotta love the RX-8! Been wanting to buy one for years. Would never trade my 140k '93 Miata, wouldn't be worth anyting in a trade, but could never do it anyway. Wife is a FTM (full-time Mom) so I don't absolutely need a 4-seater, certainly not on a daily basis, but I have always loved the RX-8. Just love it--especially the fender strakes and the 9k rev limiter!

So do I drive my '93 (red, of course!) Miata into the ground or just make it into a weekend convertible project car (turbo? 1.8L conversion? 1.8L turbo?) and finally get the damn RX-8 before I absolutely need to (when the '93 Miata is finally no longer worth maintaining)? Does that ever happen?

Wife has been willing to let me buy the RX-8 for a while, but my dad taught me to be be a cheap bastard and with the Miata I have been able to be a cheap bastard while still driving a fun little roadster.

I do now have a second pole barn garage so that's not an issue if I really want (only!) 3 cars. I have two boys (2 and 4) but only one sports car so eventually I have to buy a 2nd sports car before I die for the inheritance thing to work out fairly. I can't really fit into an Elise very well so I guess I should just go ahead and buy an RX-8 ... right?

Have also test driven G35 Coupe and Mustangs a couple of times too BTW.

Thanks, Robrecht

Razz1

Go for an 06 it's worth it.

Or wait 3 years for the Camaro/SKyline/Supra/Challenger

yellowRX

You should just buy it if you love it that much. I just say that because I want everyone to share in the joy of owning one. I already had 3 friends that bought one, and when they got it I was just as happy as they were. But I always tell them that mine is better

swerver

Frank thoughts coming from a guy similar to your position..........

I too, was driving a first gen Miata ('97 M Edition). Loved that little roadster, course it was the 1.8; every little bit helps.

I just decided it was high time to get another car and had been eyeing the 8 since before its release and I've always been a Mazda fan. So I sold the Miata and bought the 8 knowing full well that I was giving away the convertible experience.

My impressions:
The 8 is a great car! given its total attributues. It really is. I'm only listing my bitch's for the purpose of this note.

1) it is not a free reving as I thought it would be. In other words, having driven a Miata forever I was looking forward to some real pep. Oh, it'll drive once you get the revs up but it is a bit a of slow-poke off the line (which I'm sure you already know)

2) I sucks gas like a beast!

That said, my advice is (if you can afford it) keep the '92 Miata around. I don't care if its a beater or not, just having the little convertible around is a mind relaxer.

If you want the 8, buy it for what it is; excellant handling car, relatively nice finishings, a bit anemic in horses, etc........

Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my 8 if for no other reason, I just love the way Mazda tunes cars. But if it was me, I'd keep the simalarly handling Miata and buy something with more muscle just to appease my "other" side........but thats just me.........

robrecht

Thanks for your helpful ideas. Did a 2nd test drive in a G35 with my 4-year-old. Getting a car-seat in and out of the back seat--orget it!

OK, so if I can still find an '05 Titanium Gray sport package (too tall for GT w moon roof) for an insanely great price ($20k?), I may buy any time now. Otherwise, I'll probably wait till the end of the year and see if I can decide between Galaxy Gray, Copper Red, and Phantom Blue. I hate to spread unfounded rumors, but there may even be a turbocharged MS 8 to consider by that time. Would probably be anemically tuned and too expensive for my normal commuting use ... but we all have our Walter Mitty moments, don't we?

RotaryRider36

I say go for it. Those are two great cars to have in the garage. If I ever have a couple extra g's laying around, I wouldnt mind picking up a first gen miata. I love my 8 and have no intention of ever letting it go. Its a real drivers car. Since you are comming from a miata, then you already know what I mean. Good luck!

msrecant

I owned a 93 Miata until I got my RX-8 in July 2003. I would say keep the Miata so you don't lose the roadster experience (the RX-8 is definitely NOT a roadster). Particularly since your Miata doesn't have a high dollar value. Making it a project car is not a bad idea.

The RX-8 is a much more serious car. Handling and shifting are awesome. Despite comments on this forum the power is awesome, particularly compared to a 93 Miata. Braking is so good it will bring tears to your eyes. The RX-8 is much more comfortable, spacious and you will love the trunk space (don't get the optional spare unless you really need it). This is the first sports car with a back seat that I don't think of as a 2-plus-2, but simply think of as just a pure sports car.

Things that you will have to adjust to:

1. The RX-8 comes with Summer tires, not all season tires, so you will have to park it in snow and watch yourself below 40 degrees in wet.

2. The RX-8 drinks gas compared with the Miata.

3. The RX-8 is bigger than the Miata and will feel so when you drive it.

erica

Absolutely go for it ASAP! I've had a '99 Miata as a daily driver for years, and it recently passed 150K. The repairs were starting to add up on the poor thing, and I figured that it was time to get into something more reliable. I got a great deal on an '05 RX8 leftover and just took delivery last week! I had actually gone to the dealership to pick up another Miata. But since I'll be keeping my '99 Miata (it's got no trade-in/resale value, and I'm unbelievably attached to it), I decided that it was finally time to purchase the Miata sibling that I'd had my eye on for so long!

The RX8's been fabulous. It maintains the superb handling and the "I think it's reading my mind" aspect of the Miata, and it's nice to have a more "grown-up" interior and four seats. The lack of low-end torque has been an adjustment, but I've discovered that a lot of that's just in my head since the engine's quieter. My Miata will forever be my warm sunny day buddy, but it's now going to be a tough call as to which car gets taken for long winding road trips.

Of course you want to do your research, but definitely chalk me up as another vote in favor of the RX8. As rotaryrider36 said, it's a real driver's car - puts a smile on my face the same way my Miata always has!

ucfracerx8

Go forth and procure your 8 NOW, delaying that kind of gratification hurts the soul.

9291150

Had the last version of the first gen Miata, all 133hp of it, drove the wheels off of it, was an everyday go-kart. Did solo 2 in it, posted pretty fast times in my "girlie" car.

Something to be said about a car that feels great when driven aggressively without being caught at three times the limit.

The Miata was a balanced car, and so is the 8, just with everything elevated. I have a 3 and 9 year old, and they love it, fit easily and say its more comfy than my wife's SUV. You'll find it's very smooth and refined for a sports car, yet with a distinct character missing all to often in today's cars.

But...the 8 needs regular oil checks, and guzzles fuel like a fat guy eats donuts - I average 20mpg.

If you are ok with that, get it!

bluesunlion

I had a 93 miata, now own a 99 miata, and the 04 8.
Definitely keep the go-kart and mod the crap out of it, and buy an 8.

I love my 8, but it's not a miata. I love the miata, but it's not an 8.

Clavius

All I can say is if you looked at a Elise and your still thinking of going for a 8 your are definatly a Mazda Loyalist! I've heard raves about the Miata from people at my work who own them and on this board, and the most commen theme is that the drive is a experince. So far in my 8 its the same its a experince. To me I'd keep the Miata unless I find a ultra sweet deal on a left over.

Things to note like others have.

1) Gussles gas (I came from a Chevy truck so to me its normal haha)

2) Eats Oil (always have a quart in the truck)

3) You'll be asked why your driving such a small Viper and when Dodge released it.

4) You may want another kid just so its first words will be Zoom-Zoom.

ok last two are light hearted but couldnt help it.

robrecht

I suppose I am, but if I was in the market for another 2-seater, I would consider going on an extreme diet to see if I could fit better in the Elise!

robrecht

Will it do OK with snow tires like the Miata?

But it doesn't usually snow that much in NJ so I hate to ride around on crappy tires for several months. Maybe the Miata will become my winter car on the few days when it snows!

Clavius

I looked into this a lil bit when I got the car since I live in MA and I've heard its 50/50 as its either crap or decent. Though I think those who have said its crap are those who forgot they have summer performance tires, and those who said decent have the A/S. Myself mine has A/S much to my dismay but they are Avon's which are Z rated to 150mph and are pretty much brand new. I have the A/T so driving in the snow should be interesting for myself but I'm used to driving in the snow and how to handle it. Since you seem to come off as someone who knows how to drive I'm sure a 8 with A/S tires will be easy enough to handle and figure out hehe.

Though for myself I'd be taking that extreme diet for that Elise (I love that car if you can't tell hehehe I'd give my first born and force myself to learn stick to own it!) heheheheh..

msrecant

With winter tires the RX-8 is great, particularly if you have TCS/DCS but you do take a performance hit. If you just have light snow an all weather tire (like the Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S) is fine too and the handling is still pretty good.

robrecht

Thanks. Are those Blizzacks supposed to be really great in lots of snow??? In NJ, we have maybe 2-4 real snow falls all winter. I'm looking for best possible traction in the cold and acceptable performance in occasional snow. Are there winter tires that fit this category?

Winfree

If you plan to park it in an old barn - please consider this before you even move it through the door - spray a little deep woods off on the fabric in the hood compartment, then while the car is still warm place a mothball or two on the little metal brackets on either side of plastic covers - this will keep mice and other barn babies out of the hood - the firewall is made from something that is very very attractive to rodents - wish I had known this - had to have everything replaced - fortunately insurance covered it but dealers and insurance company was aware of this problem -

robrecht

Thanks. Don't worry, you don't have to sell me on the value of getting the best tires you can afford. I just want to make sure I get the best match for my desired driving style and the local conditions. I don't want to try and save money by getting all-season tires. I've had Ultra high performance all season tires before, and they are surprisingly good, but not as good in the summer as a true high performance summer tire. Nor are they a real snow tire. In fact, an ultra high performance all season tire may do worse in snow than a really crappy all season tire like the GY Aquatread.

I want reliable snow performance on the few occasions when needed and best possibe wet and dry traction and hydroplaning resistance the rest of the time. Blizzaks might be over-kill, not because of cost, but only because I'm wondering if their excetional deep snow performance limits wet and dry grip the rest of the time. I've started to read through the snow tire threads here to learn more about the various trade-offs. So far have seen some positive comment about the Dunlop Winter Sport M3s

msrecant

Just remember that with the stock Potenzas there is no trade off. They can't be used in any level of snow or ice at all. You MUST park the car in that type of weather!!! They are also a challenge in rain below 40 degrees. However, this is probably also true for any "summer" tire.

If you want a car that can be driven in snow you have two options: switch to winter tires during the snow months or run Ultra High Performance All Season tires year round. I suspect your research will show that the All Season tires will have better dry pavement performance than the Winter tires and that neither one has the dry pavement performance of the Summer tires.

robrecht

Some people have told me that a good summer tire that has good wet traction will also have better dry-cold and wet-cold performance than an all-season tire in the same conditions. They say that cold temperatures definitely inhibit the performance of a summer tire but that the summer tire still performs better on cold dry pavement than an all-season tire on cold dry pavement.

True? (All other things being equal of course, I know there are many other variables)

If that's true, maybe I would want to replace the stock Potenza's with summer tires that have better wet traction and run them till snow.

prozakis

Father of two as well and everyday driver of 99 Miata 1,8. I am about to purchase a new everyday car (keeping the miata of course). Considered the RX8 (231 hp). Test drove the car again and again trying to convince me that I like it.
Finally I decided that I don't like it that much. It is not what I expected. Ok, fast and sporty, handles well etc etc. But still I am not that enthousiastic.
So, I ordered a Golf MKV GTI. More honest and involving in my opinion. Better put together. It's both a beast and a relaxing cruiser. Easier for everyday commute. More luxurius, cheaper, frugal (RX8 needs a petrol truck following you at all times).

And I am reffering to the DSG model.

Rgrds

Panos