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Car for me (SUV for the Mrs. Followup)

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Sidekicknichola

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So the other day we were able to test drive a number of SUVs for the Mrs....

While at the Mazda dealer (to test drive CX-7) I noticed they had a nice shiny RX-8 I test drove, and it was a ton of fun. The salesman mentioned he could do a great deal if we wanted a SUV and the RX8.... so my question to those out there with RX8 experience are the following:

* Are there any major 2007+ RX8 mechanical issues?... seems like most problems are common to 2006 and older RX8s, in 07' they seem to hit their stride. The one in question is a 07' with 42k miles.

* We're moving to a new place in about 2 months... it is a condo with assigned heated underground parking - so I will NOT have space for a "Winter beater" meaning the RX8 would have to go year round. My commute to work would be 15 miles round trip, would the RX-8 with snow tires be a realistic option in the winter? We would have the CX7 for any sort of trips or adventures out into the snow beyond my commute.
 
Any car with winter tires will get you through just fine. Just be reasonable about when you expect to drive (i.e. not in the middle of blizzard with 12in of snow on the road).
 
I put about a 1000 miles on a friend's Rx8, moving home halfway across the country. The Rx8 is a super fun car. Make sure you get the stick shift version. The 4 speed automatic was an absolute turd. I have also driven the 6 speed manual, and that was amazing.

Also the road noise is pretty beasty in there. Take it on the freeway and try it out before you buy.

Visibility is terrible.

Gas mileage is embarrassing.

If you can live with those downsides, it is a super fun car. Just don't get the automatics.
 
I had a 2009 Rx 8 Grand touring edition. Pearl white, beautiful car ..got it after I got my first job after school. The rotary engine is so much fun. 6 speed manual, leather, pretty much all options except the navigation.

My commute was about 23 miles each way. The maintenance on that car was a little bit of a pain. About a quart of oil every 2-3 tanks of gas, had to use 93 nothing else because it wouldn't perform otherwise and I didn't want to damage it. This was when gas nearly hit the highest price here on the east coast. I was spending probably 110-120 a week just on gas. I drove a lot, to and from work, to my gf's house which was an extra 10-15 miles depending which way I was going.

I didn't have snow tires because I wasn't expecting it to snow that bad where I lived at the time. Well I got stuck in about 2-3 inches of snow on the highway. It was not drivable at all. No cars in either lane and I was going about 15-20 mph and each time a bend came the car would turn sideways and start sliding. I don't know how I made it home that night in that storm.

I had driven it in snow before but I guess it wasn't this bad previously. Then I moved to where I live now and insurance was a killer, that and I wanted something more practical gas wise.

But in all, the car is super fun just not so practical. Wish I would have tried snow tires but since I had just spent quite a bit on it, I didn't want to spend extra money when the tires it came with were new. If it wasnt so bad on gas and I had switched insurance when I moved I probably would have kept it. I think I bought it with 7k miles and I put about 10k more on it by the time I sold it.
 
About a quart of oil every 2-3 tanks of gas,
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I knew the burned oil, but had no clue it was the much... wowza.

RX8 would make a terrible DD given today's options.
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I'm sure that my current car (Acura RL) is a much better "normal" commuter vehicle... I guess it boils down to nothing more than potentially getting a great deal.

The 4 speed automatic was an absolute turd.
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Problem is it would most likely be an Auto we would be getting for the sake of my fiance' being able to drive it if she had to. She has never driven anything manual in her life, and seems to have no interest in learning.



... as far as gas, the RL only gets about 18-20 in the city and I always run premium, so there shouldn't be any stick shock there, and my new commute will go from 30 mile round trip to about 15, so maybe burning a gallon a day to/from work, which isn't too shabby.

.... does anyone know if the RX-8 prices out as a 4-door with insurance companies?
 
The insurance counted it as a hatch back or 2 door coupe for mine. I guess they don't count the little side doors. They were cool though.
 
seriously if you are going to get an automatic one don't bother. Either get a manual and accept that your wife will just have to drive her own car or don't get an rx8. The automatic one is seriously neutered.

"he version with a six-speed manual produced 232 horsepower at a stratospheric 9,000 rpm, propelling the RX-8 to 60 mph in about 7 seconds flat. The six-speed automatic made 212 hp and had a redline of 7,500 rpm. Either way, the RX-8's rotary delivered a paltry 152 pound-feet of torque, which meant you had to keep the rotary on the boil to keep the car lively."

I know we always push for the manual version of cars on this forum but the rx8 is one of those cars the manual really is the only option.
 
You won't get the same experience in an automatic. Once you drive manual you won't want anything else. Especially if you never drove a rotary engine before, it's a little different. The amount of control you get is pretty damn cool.
 
I would advise against buying a RX8 as a dayly driver. Too many other cars at those prices that will get you better MPGs and performance. Great car dont get me wrong but based on your listed needs its probably a bad fit.
 
Drove the RX8 (auto) and you guys were right... they nerf'd it pretty bad.

... found her a heck of a deal on a RX350, barring her hating it on the test drive, she'll get that and I'll keep the RL for a while more.
 
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