What do you guys think? Am I out of my mind? Here's the deal. I know that these cars are very different but I've owned the RX8 AT w/ sports package since No. 04. It's a great car and I don't really have any major complaints (other than HP of course) but I wish I had the MT. Driving a 4 sp AT is starting to annoy me. I test drove an 8 MT and picked up the manual driving in about 5 mins. It was great!! For reasons I won't go into now, the 8 MT isn't really an option. At this point I can trade in my 8 for a Mazda 3 4 dr, 5 speed MT sp23 fully loaded (security package, NAVI, moonroof....all the goodies) , with the S plan and still come out with money in my pocket. (the 6 doesn't interest me, I really don't like the looks. It's either stick w/ the 8 or trade for the 3). Now like I said, I know that these cars are very different but that's my situation and I value your opinion guys. Let me have it.....

 

thats a BIG step down.


I say no

 

I am going to give you an honest opinion, my opinion. I cannot fathom why people would spend any money on economy cars like the Mazda 3. I would by a base Mazda 3, but I would never load it up with anything, it is an economy car. If you start adding luxuries to it, it isn't very economical is it?. That said, I would probably trade the AT 8 in on a base 3. However, I would rather buy a used civic hatchback and drop a B16 and some suspension goodies in it. Save more money, have a fast and fun little car, it would likely smoke the AT 8 too.

 

I'd stick with the 8. You may get "goodies" out of the 3, but consider the base car itself. What would you rather have? I'd choose the 8. It gets the looks, looks sexy... the 3 is just another compact car.

 

I personally wouldn't do the trade because I love my RX-8, but if you don't like the AT, and you can't get the 6 speed, and you genuinely like the Mazda 3 that you are looking at, then I would say go for it. A car is too expensive of a purchase not to enjoy driving it. Just do what makes you happy. You have to drive it every day.

 

I would rather a base 3 in stick than a fully loaded auto 8. Some people are weird like that, he could be one of them :D

 

Without you going into the reasons that you "cannot go into now", yes you appear out of your mind. If you're stepping down to a 3 I'm guessing the payments are less.

 

Well, my first thought was for him to get a MT 8, but he said that wasn't an option. My old car was a MT 4cyl and I recently drove an AT 4cyl...... I'd take the MT over the AT ANYDAY!!!!!

 

i don't see what the big deal is...he'll get better gas mileage, more practicality, and more options. sure, you lose the looks and the prestige, but it's different strokes for different folks. i was set to buy an sp23 until the 8 drew me in at the dealership.

 

That's kind of where I'm at now. I love the 8's handling, cool looks, stability/control at high speeds...I think that having the automatic though is getting to me. I'm not really interested in modifying it because at the end of the day, it's still an automatic. The 8's 4 gears just seem really long to me. The problem is that everytime I look at the 8 say to myself what the hell am I thinking?! why trade this beauty? but then I think would I rather have a pretty much bone stock AT RX8 or fully loaded 3 MT for the next couple years?! Slap me silly if necessary but keep your advice and opinions coming...

 

I guess if you need to, you need to, but think of the money you would be losing on the 8 if you were to trade it (or even sell it on your own). Doesn't the biggest loss happen when you drive it off the lot - being that you just got it in Nov isn't that pretty much where you're at right now?

 

Im my opinion, the 3 is a pretty fun car for what it is. The ones at the Rev-it-up last year had just a replacement exhaust and sport springs/shocks, and it was pretty damn fun on the autocross track. While I really don't like front wheel drive cars, I'd rather drive an MT 3 than an auto RX8. I need to drive, not just point and be driven. It's not even the lack of power (which is a huge difference), but also not being able to constantly keep it in the right gear for instant response (which is impossible with the 4AT), being able to downshift and gun it, and just be in more general control.

 

When I bought it back in Nov., I paid about 24500 using the S-plan and other rebates. I can get about 21k from the dealer or 24k if I sell it. Using the S plan and other rebates (new grad and Gerber) for the 3, sp23 MT fully loaded would be 19,9k (vs. 23,7k sticker or 21,8k invoice) . Like I said, i'd walk away with money in my pocket, although that's not my main motivation here

 

Why a Mazda 3? just because of the S-plan??

 

how much fun factor/practicality trade-off are you willing to make if you do make the 8/3 swap??? that's a BIG question you need to ask yourself.

unlike blueeyes, i support your idea of getting the sp23 mazda3 instead of a barebones one. If you're gonna get a car, why not get the top-of-the-line trim model if you can afford it, instead of making yourself miserable with a barebone model. The only reason you get the bare bone models is if you want to save $$, and it seems like your main priority isn't about saving $$.

have you test drove a sp23 mazda3 yet??? if you have, do you like it???

 

mainly because it's got very good handling, a nice 5 speed MT, I like the looks, I think that Mazda builds really good quality cars, and yeah..the s plan.
As far as whether I drove it...not yet, and of course my decision will made only once I've driven it, which I plan on doing when I take my 8 in for the squealing brake TSB next week.

 

isn't the sp23 the one with the upgraded suspension, plus special trim items here and there.

it's a really nice *compact* car IMO (economy is such a dirty word lol)

 

I just picked up a new 2004 6MT w/ sport, appearance and spare tire kit for just over 23K. I could have had a slightly more loaded car for 22K but I didn't want VR or LY.

I can tell you the shifter on the 8 is absolutely awesome and it's a blast to drive.

I know you can't tell us your reasons, but if I were you, I'd do whatever I could to get into an 8 with a MT. I chose the RX8 after test driving a few different cars, some of which cost over twice as much and I chose the RX8 because it is such a great driver's car.

And if I was looking to get something fun to drive in the low $20Ks, I wouldn't buy a Mazda 3 because I think they are underpowered with only 160hp. Instead, I'd take a hard look at the RSX Type S. I've driven the RSX-S many times and it is a real joy. All Type S's come with leather and sunroof and Bose stereo and there are a ton of aftermarket parts for them. Also can't beat Honda reliability.

Other cars in the low 20s that I'd consider before the Mazda 3 would be the Subura Impreza WRX and Mini Cooper S. The WRX is an incredible performance bargain and the Mini Cooper S is just plain cool although performance might be similar to the 3. I've also driven the Celica GTS but I think they are a little overpriced and look pretty dated now.

I'm not bashing the 3, because it seems to be a great car from what I've read but since you say you didn't like the Auto and you wanted more hp, I think you should get something that is more of a drivers car.

But I really think you should get an RX8 MT.

 

I may have better insite into this one since my GF owns a fully loaded Mazda3

the fully loaded 3 has almost all the goodies of the fully loaded 8...the nav is identical (she has nav too)...the 3's 5 speed is the SMOOTHEST shifting car I've ever encounter...it is enjoyable to drive and the only thing I would reccomend to change off the bat is put a short shifter in...which should cost that much.

I agree with another poster here...I would take ANY stick over ANY auto, PERIOD. I'm not opening up the gates of flamewar hell I just want to answer your question.

So if it REALLY REALLY comes down to it, go with the Mazda 3...BUT BUT BUT

I still think you should fight for a manual 8 even if that means it is a base model...no harm in that.

Let me also add that if you are over 6ft tall the Mini Cooper is UNDRIVABLE even with the seat all the way back...it is like a freakin clown car even though I thought it would be cool to have as a winter car.

 

even a SLK55 AMG?

 

I can relate to this guy. I made the mistake of getting an AUTO 8 and when I finally tried the stick, I was a convert. I thought also about getting a stick 3 or RSX Type S. Great cars but in the end, I went with a used RX-8 stick and despite the financial loss, I'm much happier, it's a wonderful car and truly fun to drive.

I agree with others, try to get a stick 8 if you can...

 

I went the other way around. Had a Mazda3 MT, just couldn't get comfortable at all in it because of the console design eating away so much knee room, and I ultimately found myself hating manual as I drove it. Went to an AT RX-8. Strange as it is, I find the RX-8's cockpit much roomier and comfortable than the 3's, and there's definitely no knee room problem with the RX-8's console. Much, much more fun to drive than the 3, simply because the RX-8 handles so much better. Strangely though the 3 felt considerably faster on straights...maybe that's part of the effect of not having a torque converter?

Either way, the 3 would make a great car if that was what you had gotten first, but to go down to it from an RX-8? After EXPERIENCING an RX-8? The rotary purr, the unique exhaust snarl, the smoothness of the power coming online, the stratospheric redline, the handling, the looks, the attention, the screams from the passengers as the g's build up...I could go on and on. But yeah, I wouldn't go trading in an RX-8 just because of its transmission.

 

are you sure you don't like the 6's looks it looks a LOT like the 8 maybe you didn't see one with goodies on it

 

While I like the SP3--you'd be foolish to step two rungs down the ladder. If its a matter of pure economics then go right ahead--but honestly; I think its an act of lunacy. I don't even need to read the other responses to this thread to make this decision.

 

Call me ignorant, and yes, I can search, but I HAVE searched and can't find anything other than talk ABOUT the "S-Plan" but nothing that says WHAT the S-Plan actually is.

HELP ... what is the "S-Plan"? What are it's bennies, what are its qualifictions?