I speak from experience.

I had the same thing happen to me when I bought my first crotch-rocket. It was terrifyingly fast at first, but quickly became slow and handled poorly.

So I started throwing parts on it. Exhaust, new air box, brakes, tires, tuning, carbon fiber body parts, etc. Then I "wised up" and just traded the bike in for a GSX-R750. I was impressed- for 2 months. Then more parts started going on.

It's basically a never ending cycle.

 

I think I read where Mark Donahue was asked one time by the engineers what enough power was. He said something to the effect of "I have enough power when I can spin the tires in top gear at the end of the longest straightaway".

 

Hey Chris, sounds like you're facing the same dilemma I had a few months ago. I'd been debating between a 2004 Mustang Cobra that is conservatively rated with 390hp and for around a grand you can upgrade that to closer to 600hp. I ended up deciding to go with the Cobra, but I had my own reasons. Partly because the 8 was just too much $$$ for me to get it where I wanted, partly just because I wanted a new project. Having a unique boosted rx8 is something that I miss though. You pull up to a car meet and people are interested. Not so true with a car that's a dime a dozen like a Mustang or a Corvette.

 

Well I went vette shopping. Got to see a sold ZR1 (went for 160 large with markup.) All the vettes that I was looking at were C6; mostly base but one Z06 caught my eye.

The prices were pretty reasonable. Used looks to go for under $35k, new $50k. The used, red Z06 was in the sixtys. Great car, great quality (a real suprize given C5s and C4s that I have seen.) I am afraid that had I walked in with cash in hand, I would have walked out with one.

My only complaint is the lack of a back seat (I buy cars for their practicality PLUS other things, hence my history of owning minivans and trucks. )

The key though is the money. For that amount of juice (the difference between what I would sell the RX8 for and the price of the vette), I can play with my RX8 and my Turbo Baja (shooting for 400 AWHP) for more than 5 years and still come out on top.

And I am afraid I WOULD break my promise to the wife not to mess with the vette if I bought it. I would have to play and that might be expensive, in more ways than one.

THe extra hard part about this is that many close friends and relatives have been urging me to buy the vette. I am quite confident that I would get NO flak from family, even in these troubled economic times.

But the final judgement is that I am going to stick with the RX8, play with the power adders, get some new seats (Bride Gias), get some new paint and use the extra money to buy some cheap stock (got some GS today at $103)

 

From what I've seen happen with others- the fact that your gaze is wandering, as well as asking to be talked into sticking with the 8, means that the end is near.

You want the Vette. You don't need relatives and friends pushing you in that direction. Go get it.

 

Good to hear that you stuck with your RX-8, mine always reminds me of everything I went through and I think this one will be sticking with me for a long time.

Let me know what Bride Seats you were interested, I Have Bride as one of the manufacturers I work with but do not yet have them listed on the site.

Shoot me an email or pm.