Hey

[sk8withm3]

I currently have a Ford Focus (please no ragging) but I am looking to eventually get a RX-8. Financially i cant afford one but my girlfriend doesnt want me me modify my focus at all and i cant really object since we are getting married in like 6 months. I really want a car I can get into and modify the way i want things to be done ya know? What do you guys think?

 

[8.5MS3]

Speed3 is a good package out of the box, dont like the looks of the new one. but thats my personal taste.

How deep into modding do you want to go? This car is great with light bolt ons. anything more than that and your gonna run into issues.

 

[Sea Ray]

The RX8 is not really a mod friendly car in my opinion. Unless you are just going for looks and suspension mods. The engine is quirky enough stock.

Get a Speed 3 and you will have to do very little to have a rocket ship, get the 8 if you enjoy an almost perfectly balanced and precise handling car. Oh and my 8 gets as many looks today as it did when I bought it almost 6 years ago.

 

[Speedkid]

Get a speed 3 you'll be happy.

 

[sk8withm3]

Get a speed 3 you'll be happy.

I looked up the Speed 3 and it looks pretty damn tight. 6 speed and 263 out of the box. pretty nice. As far as modifications go i want to do heavy engine mods and a decent exterior. not exactly ricer status but a nice looking body kit and a mean stance

 

[8.5MS3]

just a heads up heavy engine mods with this platform can get very expensive. guys are blowing engines with CAI, TBE, FMIC and no tune. gotta do this one by the books, tune after every mod. Also there seems to be a wall at around 325whp. gotta go forged if you want to go beyond that along with a bigger turbo. even then the highest speed3 out there is at 430whp with nitrous

 

[sk8withm3]

just a heads up heavy engine mods with this platform can get very expensive. guys are blowing engines with CAI, TBE, FMIC and no tune. gotta do this one by the books, tune after every mod. Also there seems to be a wall at around 325whp. gotta go forged if you want to go beyond that along with a bigger turbo. even then the highest speed3 out there is at 430whp with nitrous

Damn. Still that's a lot of horsepower for a car. Is there a year that was only a 3 door hatch instead of the 5? I really like the smaller cabins (even though I am a bigger dude. 6'2").

 

[8.5MS3]

Damn. Still that's a lot of horsepower for a car. Is there a year that was only a 3 door hatch instead of the 5? I really like the smaller cabins (even though I am a bigger dude. 6'2").

no only 5 door

 

[sk8withm3]

no only 5 door

Do you have the Speed3?

 

[8.5MS3]

yes mods in sig

 

[sk8withm3]

The only thing thats keeping me from buying it is that I dont really like the body style on the newer ones. Any good year suggestions?

 

[8.5MS3]

08.5 and 09. 07's and early 08's had issues

 

[sk8withm3]

The RX8 is not really a mod friendly car in my opinion. Unless you are just going for looks and suspension mods. The engine is quirky enough stock.

Get a Speed 3 and you will have to do very little to have a rocket ship, get the 8 if you enjoy an almost perfectly balanced and precise handling car. Oh and my 8 gets as many looks today as it did when I bought it almost 6 years ago.

I am looking for a good Auto-X car. and if the RX has a really good stock suspension then when im done with it...it will go fast and just be a freakin badass

 

[RotorDad]

If you went the Speed3 way you would have a decently quick car out the box & the price isn't all the bad. Heavy mods doesn't seem like it will be in your near future, you said you couldn't afford the RX8. Power can be made with the 3 as listed above, but a draw back is the stock fuel system. There is an upgrade for the fatory pump without going to crazy. If you want something to play with & money is an issue at the moment look at the FC RX7's. There is a strong aftermarket for them, cost can be low & alot of the guess work has been done so you can read up on other builds to get a car where you want it. Now cost will rise as your needs for speed grow, but at first I'm sure your new wife won't mind opposed to buying a simi new car or new car and dumping money in it after the cost of the car. Trust me there's always a way around the wifey, I have been with my wife for over 15 yrs & I have found it to be easier to start off on the low cost project. Good luck with the car situation & Congrats on getting the ball & chained surgically implanted!

 

[solidtrance]

Lots of good advice here. I hope you are paying attention. I think you would be unhappy with an 8, at least from reading your posts here. If you are looking for an auto-x car what about a Miata?

BTW, if you drive an 8 and don't immediatly think "I have to get this car" then move on to something else. If the 8 doesn't jump out and grab you, then you will be unhappy with it pretty fast. I guess its not a car that grows on people, for the most part.

 

[sk8withm3]

With no offense to the Miata I am definitely not middle aged haha. And a little bit earlier I drove my friends GTI and I love the way it handled/drove. I will have to try out the Speed3 and the RX. Maybe the Miata. Only if its a hardtop though

 

[solidtrance]

No worries about the Miata. One of the guys in the local club has a speed Miata, and that thing is a blast.

If you liked the GTI, you will prob like the MS3. Both are much quicker in a strait line than the RX though. Let us know what you think after the test drives.

 

[sk8withm3]

Will do