rocketrider2

I know this will raise an uproar, but the RX-8 is my winter beater, daily driver. :D
And using the M3sport winter tires it did great in the Chicago winter and snow. I drove it every day snow, rain, or shine with never a problem. No starting problems, no driving problems.

Ohio-RX-8

PORSHEGORG, I think I'm with you, I have heard a lot of people say, "don't worry about it, the RX-8 is a great winter car, don't get the beater," but I'm not sure these people have experienced Northeast Ohio winters...cars really take a beating! The one positive thing is, and I'm sure you know about this, since you are from Ohio, sometimes during the winters, it gets really sunny outside, even though it is bitterly cold, and the roads are nice enough and dry enough to take the RX-8 out. So, depending on how the winter is, I should get to drive the RX-8 during the winters on good days.

ALLMOTOR-RX8, Maybe you are right, I think I am out of line. I respect everyone's opinion and I really appreciate them, but the fact that I even slightly considered driving my Mazdaspeed body kit, Greddy exhaust, RX-8 in the middle of the winter is a little bit insane. I think I'll buy the beater.

VIKINGDJ, Your post confirmed and validated my fears. Northeast Ohio winters are very similar to your winters, and they suck. Cars really take a beating, the paint gets chipped, the wipers break from freeze and more, it would really be horrible to put the RX-8 through such horrors! It's my baby.

Deslock

I'll see your Northest Ohio Winter, and raise you a Western Mass Winter :-)

Seriously, I dunno if you guys have it worse than us, but our Winters are pretty severe. In any case, while I want to keep my car looking and running well, I'm not going to worry about a few new paint chips from Winter driving. I have touch-up paint and at <$25k, the RX8 isn't an exotic (even if it looks like one).

G8rboy

Sounds like you already had your mind made up anyway. Chicago winters are no cakewalk, but the real proof is all the canadian RX8 owners that drive their 8 in the winter... there's no better proof than that. Cars get dirty & paint gets chipped any time of the year... not just during the winter.

BlueFrenzy

I drove my 8 all winter in the "lovely" Calgary winter ... no troubles. I don't see any evidence of the winter "beating" that the 8 took (it looks just fine). I made sure I didn't drive behind any Stupid Ugly Vehicles (SUVs) or big trucks that shoot rocks at the 8. I washed and waxed it the other day and it looks showroom condition. One or two rock chips are present but that was from dry driving conditions in the summer!

If you are getting the MS front then perhaps clearance would be an issue so that would be my only arguement for getting a beater. Otherwise it's great!

Hunter

Can you take the lower part of the front kit off easily? Thereby reducing the likelihood that you make it into a snow plow.

I'm not trying to be flip here -- but you never hear Arizona and New Mexico and Texas people saying they only take their bright shiny toys out in winter.

Can you imagine what the Phoenix sun does to a modern red car with black leather interior parked in an office parking lot all July? Because of environmental concerns, some paint colors -- red is a good example -- aren't as "hard" as they used to be. You can't use all those nasty chemicals any more.

What about the road crud that gets kicked up in August? Or following a cow manure tractor in Kansas in September?

Cars on the western coast of Washington that lived near the ocean used to rust just as fast or quicker than anything in the northeast because of the salt in the sea breeze.

Unless you live in Hawaii or Puerto Rico you're going to have some sort of temperature extreme.

Like someone said, life is way too short and precious to spend it driving around in a beater 5 months out of the year. Drive it like you stole it 365 days a year! :D

Hunter

Ohio-RX-8

DESLOCK, Everytime I see your user picture, with the RX-8 covered in snow, I cringe!

BLUEFRENZY, I understand your point, however I am going to get the Mazdaspeed bodykit installed, and that alone would be a major issue during the winter.

HUNTER, I don't think the front section of the Mazdaspeed bodykit can be removed with much ease, so once it's on, it's on. Also, the summers here in Ohio are very pleasant and not extreme at all.

THINK OF THIS...A 2005, Red Mazda RX-8, includes the Grand Touring package, a Mazdaspeed bodykit, Cat-Back Greddy exhaust. Now, Imagine that same car plowing through constant snow, ice, blizzards and freeze-overs. Just does not sound right, does it?

KKMmaniac

Yeah, winter driving the RX8 will cause it to deteriorate faster. Driving any car in the winter crap will cause it to deteriorate faster. The salt is the worst factor, at least around here.

When I bought my car, I figured "hey I"m gonna drive this thing." that's what I bought it for. I figured I'd just take the best care of it I could, conditions as they are, and enjoy it. Hey, it's my transportation!

I've had cars (and have a car) I wouldn' t drive during the winter though, and it is pretty nice knowing they won't be subjected to that nonsense.

What do you want the car for?

Deslock

Heh. Actually, that was the only time it's been parked outside overnight during a snow storm (was able to start parking in our garage starting the next night). Snapped the photo since I'll never see it like that again.

V_for_velocity

Oddly enough even though I'm in the middle of the Canadian prairies I think you snowbelt folks -- Canada and U.S. -- might have to endure more **** and abuse. Sure it snows here but nothing real dramatic. They don't use salt on the roads (too cold to be effective) so that's good. What it does do is get cold (minus 20F and worse) for long periods. Not ideal for mechanical components.

BlueFrenzy

I think it depends on what your city does for the roads (salt vs gravel). Below -10C or so, salt is ineffective at clearing/de-icing roads and it just useless. At this point, you "give up" on clearing ice/snow and concentrate on getting more traction. This is where gravel and sand comes in. I wouldn't be surprised if many municipalities don't know this simple scientific principle and waste cash on salting roads when in fact they need gravel.

In Calgary, we don't get salt on our roads, just gravel. Besides, salt is bad for the environment. So for people who get gravel on roads, I don't believe that their cars will deteriorate faster (just be more careful with flying rocks).

Like Hunter said, I would be more concerned if I lived on the coast (ie Vancouver or Seatle) with all the salty goodness.

Ohio-RX-8

DESLOCK, I'm glad.

Wurmfist

I'm in the Cleveland area and I have a business car for all my driving needs in the winter. But I know a couple of other people that really complain alot about how the 8's do in the winter. I drove my down the driveway in the snow once and that was enough for me, I parked it back in the garage because I was just about to get stuck. I hear people say though that if you just slap some all-season tires on it instead of the stock one, you'll be good to go. I like the idea of having a junk car for the winter and just using the car in the warmer months. Salt is murder!

vitaliy

It depends on what you think of a junk car. If I can pick up an RX8 for $23-24K, this is pretty cheap compared to some SUVs and luxuary sedans. It is not the most expensive car I can think of.

I am going to get a car in order to drive it, not watch it get older in a garage.

V_for_velocity

All-season? I doubt it (although there would be an improvement). Snow tires all the way. It's one of those night and day differences that will amaze you.

vitaliy

This winter quesion makes me wonder.... How will RX8 handle a Boston winter. This one was kinda tough on us; however, I think it was an exception.

RXATE

Have driven through two winters with trips to the ski hills every two weeks. The centre opening really does hold the skis without a problem. Two sets of ski boots in the trunk pretty much fills it up.

Never had a problem starting or being stuck. You must have snow tires and remember to turn off the traction control when going up a slippery hill.

Only suffered a couple tiny paint chips which have been touched up. Just got it polished and waxed. Looks as good as new.

Only problem is if you have really deep snow that would have the front end plowing.