Shadow12one

You definitely want to keep your car longer than what your loan term is. Alot of people get used to having car payments since they never pay it off. They take one car, pay that for 2-3 years then trade in and buy another.

jayk

If you don't mind rolling the dice out-of-warranty. I personally just lost an S4 because a faulty $50 roller caused $12k worth of engine damage. I really really wish I had not kept the car once my extended warranty ran out...

Spin9k

Well, with the typical saving of buying a GOOD (and by that I mean I do due diligence of checking out the car's mechanicals and the model's typical repair history) one can do a LOT of repairs!!

So I don't really think in my case I would call it a roll of the dice, rather more a calculated risk

Oh yea, and my mother taught me NEVER to own a German car out of warranty! So right there that's probably eliminated like 70% of the cars that will cause an owner problem as a used car and I might consider buying .

jayk

I do most of my own work myself and it was in good condition, a roller replaced during the timing belt service (that I let a professional do) failed 1-month out of its 12 month warranty and took out the engine. It was just horrible luck (and poor engine design).

And yeah, I was definetly rolling the dice with a german car out of warranty, but I also have a third gen seven that I track frequently which has just as much potentional for disaster.

Nobody really knows how the rx-8's are going to play out long-term since it is a relatively new car...

Plus, any good gambler will tell you that rolling the dice is always a calculated risk It just depends how much risk you want to take on the car. Most people don't want risk on their cars and in-turn are willing to always have a monthly payment because they trade them in every 4 years. I'm just pointing out that isn't always a bad idea.

ULLLOSE

iTrader: (1)

This post is inaccurate, and in no way can you compare the 2007 MX-5 MS-R package to any of the previous "R" option packages, or the proposed R3.

The MS-R was not available directly through the dealer, you had to be a Mazda Team Support member to get one. Mazda Comp would supply you with the code to have the parts retrofitted to a new base 5 spd car at the shipping port, before delivery. This was done to get the car legal to race in the SSB class for SCCA Club Racing, as well as CS SCCA Solo. The kit included an LSD, 17" wheels and revised suspension (which included Koni shocks not Bilstein). The MS-R did not have race seats, it had a full audio system and the carpet insulation was intact. The numbers I have heard were two to four cars were port built cars, the rest were all built by the end user, who would order the parts from Mazda Comp. The MS-R pkg was also not available until June 2007, and about eight weeks later the 2008 was released, this made for a very small window for people to order a 2007 MS-R. Most dealers had no idea it could be orded, you had to supply them with the option code, and it was not on the MazdaUSA website.

For 2008 SCCA Club Racing no longer requires that the package to be a factory/port installed option, so Mazda dropped it from the line up. Mazda Comp will still sell the parts to a team member so a 2008 MX-5 SV can be converted to MS-R specs for Club Racing. However, dropping it from the dealer option list means a 2008 MS-R is not legal for Solo.

vVipervRX

Actually I'm going to have to side with Riggs on that one., as much as I love my RX8 if I have had the funds at the time I definitely would have gone with a porsche, a cayman to be exact. Granted our cars outperform porsches in the twisties,but on a straight line dash it's a whole nother story. Check bestmotoring vids if you doubt the sincerity on that. The rotart in any form is a monster granted, but nontheless the specs on a well tuned cayman can be mindblowing.

Haris

I'm talking about dual-clutch, SMG is single clutch.

VW has dual-clutch transmissions called DSG. Not sure what Nissan GTR and New Evo's will be called, but they have a dual-clutch transmissions as well.

They're faster than their manual counterparts (in VW GTI's case...)

I just don't get why they even use an automatic on a sports car, that's a waste of such a fine machine. Besides, I'm sure single or dual clutch sequential transmission would only be a couple grand more.

Rotary Soul

ok... the new rx8 is going to be "faster... but the renesis engine is supposed to be new, right? i mean if a new motor is undergoing r&d for four years and they couldn't find any way to increase power, what does that mean?

1. the company didn't really try that hard to boost performance
2. the engine is pretty much maxed out as it is.
3. they purposely didn't give rx8 more power in order to not compete with the upcoming rx7/rx9

I'm pretty sure mazda tried just as hard as everyone else to squeeze some extra juice from this engine, so it isn't #1. There's no basis for #3 so the answer seems to be answer #2. So for future rotaries, will there be a new engine or new technology to produce more reliable power? hydrogen doesn't seem like the plausible answer right now, and a 3 rotor renesis will definitely eat up much more gas in addition to being a lot heavier.

This car was considered underpowered four years ago. While i think it's awesome that the car is becoming more refined in other aspects, shouldn't we have seen some more development to the engine? isn't the engine the most important aspect of the rx8? i mean all they've done is change pretty much everything else about the car except for the engine! prettier face, better handling i'm sure, more responsive, but exactly the same engine. hell, mazda's been updating their piston engines like every year. what does this imply? why does it seem like they're pushing style over performance with the rx8??

alz0rz

iTrader: (41)

16x?

Spin9k

In a word, ROI. Look at Porsche, e.g., which DOES improve their engines regularly. They also sell more SUVs than sports cars now. Why, well $$. The ROI is huge selling hugely expensive SUVs.

The difference is in Porsche's case they CAN and DO sell hugely expensive sports cars too (producing great ROI), whereas Mazda believes it CANNOT and instead prices it's technology development to the $35K and below 'everyman' market.

If Mazda thought there was a market for a more expensive rotary, we'd already have it. Bad gas mileage hasn't put a dent in Porsche's sales, and a more powerful rotary's thirst would be similar, just NOT in tree hugger territory, just like Porsche.

Shadow12one

Yup, with everything going "green" these days, or atleast claiming to do so, it wouldnt be in Mazda's interest to step too far beyond the bounds of its primary market. Porsche, BMW, etc can do that because those are the markets they established themselves in long ago.

whitebeau

I want these seats...... But then again, the Bride Brix's would be nice to, minus having an airbag light for no side airbags.

WreakLoosE

Hay Guys!!

Like it for the most part. Hate the red reflectors on rear bumper above exhaust tips and HATE the fender vents with the stupid light in it... Oh please mazda dont release that car with that..... The front bumper is cool but I think making it all same color but the grill would be nicer. I give the new look 8 of 10. IMHO..

Zelse

iTrader: (12)

I dunno..I'm going to have to say it reminds me a lot of their new Astina that's coming out.. (That's Mazda 6 in America for those who don't know) Like..honestly..compaire them. You can't tell me the 8 won't remind you of it.

I'd say I appreciate the 8's appearence more as it is currently. It really revolutionized (spelling?) the sport car world in the sense of practicality along with style and performance and really just was an all around excellent package..considering it came from a almost track ready two seater. I just think it has great potiential as is now and is an excellent tuning base. The new one just looks too... concept like for me. Like it's going to grow wings and fly. The current 8 looks like it just wants to eat the road...That's just me. Laugh if you want.

jayk

FWIW - Alot of people feel the same way about the look of the current car. Especially when it first came out it got as many sour looks as appreciative. I think this update i s rubbing some people who got used to the old car the wrong way, but moving forward will end up tidying up some of the loose ends and gimmicky style choices on the old 8.

Zelse

iTrader: (12)

Nicely put. I can agree with that. Though honestly.. I think I'm going to just stick to this 8..Tune it and what not and enjoy it... But as for a next car..I'll be awaiting their next Rotary monster..Whatever it may be. If it's the Furai, looks like I'll get one of those then.

Endgame

^ What Zelse said. Keeping my current car until Mazda drops the next real Rotary sports car. I just hope it is within the next 3-4 years. The 135i is starting to look tempting, especially with the Tii concept....

Zelse

iTrader: (12)

;o

Don't betray... :P

I'm just waiting to see when this superior engine comes out because I'm debating just dropping it in my car as well. That'll be cool. 16x RX8? Yum~

delhi

How can one compare a Cayman at twice the price to an RX-8? The cayman is a fantastic car and with enough funds, i'd get one. But it is not twice better than the rx-8.
The 8 is a wonderful sports car. Without it's rear seats, I wouldn't buy it. the total package of this car is what makes it such an involving driving machine. If you are not a lazy driver meaning likes to row the gears, it is a quick car. I have no problem getting around torquer cars by maximizing each cog and rpm.