vipertag313

thanks a lot for all your help... ive taken into account the gas mileage dilemma - sure its goanna be a huge burden to fuel a car that has the crappy mileage. I get anywhere around 360-400 miles to the tank with the boxster and im now wondering what distance you all can go on a tank with the 8. anywhere 350 and north would definitely be agreeable with my budget as fuel prices rise.

- a lot of my friends are also giving me tips on other cars to look into, and this includes the mazdaspeed 3. It has much more power then the 8 and it gets anywhere around 26 mpg on the highway, which isnt anything to be ashamed about. Could this become the better deal in the long run compared to the 8? - theyre both pretty versatile

xsnipersgox

260, MAX is what u will get on 8, 240 mix driving 200 city.

mile per tank does not mean anything, it's mpg. which will be 18.

05rx8mazda

iTrader: (4)

I beg to differ..

If your traveling you can easily get past 300 I got 285 on 13 gallons of gas and my car was sooo loaded it didnt have power it felt like a corolla hahaha

but if all you drive is city you can get aroun 220

I usually get around 185-190 but i always fill up about 11 gallons.. never like to run on empty bad for the fuel pump

xsnipersgox

my bad, 260 is what you will get if u like to drive about 10 over constantly, i've had 290 once, going past 300 u must have been going the speed limit o.O

Stavesacre21

WHOA, good luck crossing 300 miles on a tank. In the year and 1/2 i had my 8, i crossed 300 maybe a 1/2 dozen times...barely. And the sad thing is, i had one of the 8's with better mileage If you have ANY concern whatsoever of MPG, seriously think about it BEFORE you buy one. As everyone else finds after they try and sell, resale is through the floor with these cars.

I would HIGHLY suggest a MS3 if you've got your eye on mileage at all. It'll serve you better and return gobs of TQ...not to mention the extra space and practicality. I have it's big brother (MS6) and couldn't be happier. 22 in town and about 27-28 on highway...that that's with AWD. Couldn't be happier with my MS6 over both the 8 and previous Cobras

Sounds to me like you first need to decide what you really want, as the 2 cars are completely different. If you want a total sports car with NO (and i mean NO) concern for mileage and limited TQ then the 8 really is a great car. If you'd be willing to accept a boxey MS3 or maybe MS6, chances are likely it'll fit your needs perfectly.

Just think it all over first bro. My mistake cost me almost $3700 after having owned it for almost 2 years. I just don't wanna see anyone else misjudge character as bad as i did

23109VC

i'm looking for a third toy car and i'm looking at used RX8s and used boxsters and s2ks.

i'm torn between a roadster that is 100% impractical, and a somewhat practical toy car like the 8. i've got three kids. all small - and the 8 would let me take one or two of them alone for fun drives, or use the 8 to do errands, whereas a boxste would not..

having driven both - and been comparing - you comign out of a boxster..one thing you may notice and NOT like is that in my opinion, the 8 is quite a bit slower than the boxster. i've been looking at 2000-2003 models...mostly 00-01 base models...to get in the same price point as a used RX8...and while the boxster base model of that year is rated at 217hp...less than an RX8..the boxster feels quite a bit faster.

the boxster has more torque and weighs at least a hundred pounds less..it might be 200 lbs less. either way, the 217hp boxster is noticeably faster. if you had an 03...base or S - you may feel the RX8 is just too plain slow.

it's a neat car...don't get me wrong. i have driven several for test drives, and love them. love the sound, the handling... but for "FUN" a boxster is hard to beat.

did you test driven an RX8? how do you think it compares to your boxster for power / handling / fun?

brilliantblackrx8

It really just depends on what you want. It sounds to me like you enjoy the "torque" of some of the other sporty cars. But this car was really developed for track driving at high RPM's. I love it though even when I am not driving it hard because of it's precise steering and handling. I have never driven a boxster, but I did test drive a new 350 Z, before I bought my 8. I am happy with my choice. One main consideration if you have kids, is room. The 350Z? Forget about it. It's too small for only me (I'm 6'3"). I felt as if the whole car was encroaching on me as I was driving it.
As was stated earlier the 350Z is a whole different feel. I think the 8 is more practical, room aside, even with the added maintenance. Which IMO isn't anything more than you would have with say, an old american muscle car.
-another option is the G35, which my friend has an '06 and it is a great car with a back seat. Also, many people don't know this, but it also has an inch more leg room than the 350Z. Makes a HUGE difference in terms of comfort and ergonomics. Then as far as the performance of the G35, you are talking again about the differences in the 350Z vs. RX8. Funny thing is my buddies G35 has Tein Basic's all around and has been dumped by a couple of inches, yet the handling is comparable to my 8 in the corner's (stock suspension).
Hope this helps.

Danny Ocean

I wonder what the guys on Z forums are saying?

"RX-8's a car for boys with small man parts!"

But seriously, the RX-8 is a car that makes you feel very special everytime you drive it. Right now I've been driving my dad's Infiniti because I drive to and from construction sites for my job and I don't want to get my baby dirty. I drove the 8 this weekend, and it caused me spontaneously burst into laughter and shout "YES!" at the top of my lungs.

This car's dynamics are not compromised one bit because it has 4 seats. It's a pure blooded sports car through and through. It definitely has a unique flavor but test drive one and don't think you'll be able to say no. The practicality is just icing on the cake.

Huskyfan23

DUDE, I just spent 10 seconds trying to squash the "bug" that was crawling on my screen! lol, that is one of the most deceiving things I've ever seen on the internet.

To the OP, before making a choice go out and drive 3 - 5 different vehicles. If you get the Mazdaspeed3, remember, it is not a sports car. You sit high up, as such you are not as connected to the road. There may be more power and a lot more torque, but it is front wheel drive, so be prepared for torque steer. Not at all a fan of the shifter and clutch, either, which ties into the "connected to the vehicle" feeling.

There are a few members on this board who sold their RX8 for a Mazdaspeed3 and regret it. Then again, there are some members who are happy with their decision. If you're looking for a car that you feel connected with, the speed3 is not for you.

Stavesacre21

surely you had to know someone was gonna call you out on that one kind of a broad statement. Everyone isn't looking to connect with a high revving, sporty racecar. I know it wasn't for me, and i LOOVE cars

I'd go as far as to say owner-for-owner, Speed3 owners seem a heck of a lot happier with their cars

fahrfegneugen

It isn't probably going to be a reliable car, but it is worth it.

Huskyfan23

Just the way I felt when I drove the speed3. It didn't feel like I was connected with the car in any way.

And my buddy used to have an 8 and now has a speed3. I know he likes the torque aspect, but every time he is in my car he tells me how much he misses his.

Stavesacre21

hey that part i could agree with tho. Although i didn't feel the 8 fit me at the time, I still do miss it. The payments were really high at the time, so that slightly shifted the limelight as well.

When I checked out a yellow 04 with low miles a month ago, just sitting in it did remind me of how much i liked it tho.

As stated by so many others, different cars with different purposes. For what the 8 was, i loved it.

vipertag313

This is probably providing a bias toward me at the moment, but this weekend i went to the house of my sisters room-mate for college. We got to talking about cars and she eventually let me take her 05 350z for a test drive. The instant i left her driveway i felt the hardness in the suspension going over the curbs. That car has TONS of power and more end torque. It was the high hp version ( i think its like 298 or round there) and it almost got away from me going around wet turns. The one thing i did like about it were the brakes, but it was a pretty harsh ride. For those of you who have driven a 350z before, can u compare the suspension rides? I will end up going to mazda dealerships when i get a chance for my own opinion, but what do u all feel about it?

- for those who are wondering, i dont have kids.... yet haha - thats kinda far off. im single and have a gf

Stavesacre21

i test drove a new 350z a few years back and didn't think the suspension was anymore harsh then the 8's was. The 8's suspension certainly feels a hair softer, but the general ride felt the same to me.

then again, this was a base model auto 350z...not a sportier/powerful model. Suspension on the sportier model is like even tighter yet.

AJ's Shinka

Looks like you want the speed three.
[

I have test driven and ridden in the Z and the ride is harsh compared to my Shinka. I rode in my friends Z and I was like get me out of here, because you could feel every little bump on the road. The same goes for my brothers 07 S2000. The 8 has a nice ride feel that I can travel with I would drive from NorCal to SoCal and was fine with the ride...SHE IS A HANDLING MONSTER! Drive with confidence. When you go on a test drive make sure to keep her above 7K rpm especially in the turns, she will thank you for it.

23109VC

i test drove a speed3 and thought it felt like a cheap piece of $hit. it felt like a cheap econobox with some torque and a nasty sounding exhaust. sorry..afte reading all the magazine hype maybe I got my expecations up too high, but I was NOT impressed.

to the contrary, every test drive in an 8 was a blast. much much much much more FUN to drive.

speed3 is faster yeah in a straight line. maybe even on a track. but for fun..the 8 all the way.

boxster vs 8 - the boxster is more fun. no doubt. it has more torque, gets aroundf aster, and top down fun is hard to beat.

the 8 is hte clear winner, however, if you want the fun aspect of a sports car with SOME practicality.

if you've got kids, want a sports car you can "race" around in by yourself, but then pick up two kids from school, or make a grocery run in with a kid or two with you... the 8 is the only choice.