Saying Hello + RX8 questions/opinions

[evanryan]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum. Found you guys doing research on the RX8 as I'm looking to buy a new car in the next month or two. Already read through the new users guide and maintenance info posts. Great info, you guys have already been a huge help!

What I want to hear is your opinion on if you think the RX8 is right for my situation. Basically I live in Chicago, make about a 50 mile commute daily (usually hit about 30 min of traffic on the way home but not in the morning) and need to drive the car year round. Whatever I decide to buy is going to be my daily driver and weekend cruiser (I like to throw in an autocross every now and again as well). I realize the RX8 is not the worlds most practical car but I'm not the worlds most practical person (I currently drive a V8 camaro year round snow and all), I like a quirky car with personality. What I'm concerned about is the RX8 being overly tedious in traffic, getting terrible gas millage and burning through tons of oil. Driving in the winter seems like it should not be a problem with some good winter rubber. I'm also very concerned about reliability, my current car has started throwing tons of little problems at me and it adds up to be a big hassle and has made me late for work on a number of occasions. A lot fo miles are going to go on whatever I end up getting.

Other than the RX8 I'm looking at 05-09 Mazda3 hatches and 07 Mazdaspeed3's (though the speed 3s are for the most part out of my price range). I like the 3's (good gas mileage, lots of room, etc) but they feel a little practical/slow and not off beet enough for me. I recently drove both a base 3 and an 05 RX8. Despite currently driving a torque monster, I loved the 8. I think its a beautiful, quirky car and would love to buy one, but I want to hear what the experts have to say.

Also I've read a number of peoples comments saying stay away from the 04s and 05s. My financial situation dictates that I would probably have to get an 05 (or 06 if I found a great deal), is that really that bad?

Thanks for any info/thoughts guys

cheers

Evan

 

[altspace]

What I'm concerned about is the RX8 being overly tedious in traffic, getting terrible gas millage and burning through tons of oil.

I think you answered your own questions. 50 miles a day would equate to a lot of gas and oil indeed. Other than that I love my 8 as a daily driver. Of course driving any manual trans car is a pain in traffic. Will it cost a little more than a Mazda 3, of course it will. But will it put a smile on your face everywhere you go? Oh hell yea! Not to mention all the looks you get. Lol.

I've owned mine over 3 years and it's the best car I've ever owned. BTW, it's a 2004 with 61K miles and never a problem.

 

[evanryan]

I think you answered your own questions.

Yeah I guess so. I'm kinda half looking for advice and half looking for people to talk me into the RX8 haha

I already drive a stick camaro with a heavy clutch in traffic without much problem so I'm guessing I could handle it. I was just concerned that the high revving nature of the engine would make it extra tedious to drive in slow traffic and wanted to see what people thought about that.

Plus whatever car I get will probably have to live to or past 100,000 miles, anyone have a high millage rx8 as a daily driver that can attest to its reliability?

thanks for your response altspace

 

[altspace]

Honestly the OEM clutch and trans is one of the easiest and smoothest to operate under all conditions. Not just my words, it's been observed by many.

I know plenty of people with high mileage 8s and have no problems at all. Like I said, I'm at 61K and original clutch. Drives very smooth.

 

[R-X-R]

thats cuz that 8 always is smiling in front of a camera most of the time