Mazda RX-8 for my first car: Yay or Nay?

[mmntech]

not worth it...get a mustang...Hal9000 is probably not using US gallons.

The RX-8 gets 16 city and 22 hwy. No significant difference between manual and auto.

The 2011 Mustang V6 gets 19 city, 29 hwy for the manual. The 2001 Camero V6 gets 19 city, 28 hwy.

For the Mustang Vs RX-8, Ford's V6 gets 305hp and 280ft-lb torque. The RX-8 is 232hp and 159ft-lb. The Mustang is heavier but gets much better fuel economy. Same applies for the Camero. I'd go with American muscle.

 

[zerocool84]

The RX-8 gets 16 city and 22 hwy. No significant difference between manual and auto.

The 2011 Mustang V6 gets 19 city, 29 hwy for the manual. The 2001 Camero V6 gets 19 city, 28 hwy.

For the Mustang Vs RX-8, Ford's V6 gets 305hp and 280ft-lb torque. The RX-8 is 232hp and 159ft-lb. The Mustang is heavier but gets much better fuel economy. Same applies for the Camero. I'd go with American muscle.

Doesn't the auto RX-8 have less much less power than the manual or was that only on older models?

 

[Doppel]

Let's see...

I am averaging less than 9MPG.
The car has no torque (especially when compared to my old 2.0T GLi.)
Drinks oil - you really need to check oil every other fillup.
Useless in rain (twitchy) and especially snow, but having 19" Summer tires aren't helping.
Useless trunk (spare tire takes all the room.)
I've found some plastic pieces from I don't know where in the interior...lol
Smells like someone farted when you start the car in the morning. (Yay Sulfur.)
Marbles in the glovebox sound after a carwash or heavy rain...(annoying sound.)
There's always someone in a Honda w/fartcan annoying you.

...but after owning it for 1 year, 2 days, I still smile when I sit in it and start it up. My 2 favorite things during the week is the drive to work and the drive home. It's a fantastic car, not the strongest, but it catches people's eyes and is a blast to drive. Shit, making this post makes me want to take a longer ride to get home today.

Yeah it could be stronger, but when you are shifting it at 8700 - 9000 rpms, you won't give a shit. You'll be too busy smiling.

Gas prices are high, yeah - just get a buddy to chip in once in a while. Even if you don't have a buddy. Fuck it.

What. 9 mpg, are you serious? Is this on premium and do you have it floored all the time? fueleconomy.gov rates it much higher, how are they so off? Are a couple of the people here just really unlucky or really enjoying their cars or are the epa numbers garbage?

This thread reminds me of when I was 16, had no money, and dreamed of the car I'd "surely own pretty soon". Pure fantasy. This thread's only relevance now is one about RX8's in general, not whether the OP should own one, which he cannot afford to do now or next year.

Why do British people say "brilliant"? It makes them sound like snotty effeminate prep school students, especially with the upper class accents.

I agree with this, but HAL9000 is in good company. It's a national imperative, so he definitely doesn't stick out for saying it. I'm not aware of an American equivalent but there probably is one.

Doesn't the auto RX-8 have less much less power than the manual or was that only on older models?

Still the case: 212 auto, 232 manual

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/rx-8/2011/features-specs.html?style=101364624

The honest truth is that the wankel has no business being in a production automobile. It's been around for decades, so it's not for lack of research money into it. It has one or two benefits and everything else is a con. It is not robust and is inefficient. The mileage numbers here, its guzzling fuel, the poor lifespan of the engines this is not something a 21st century car should suffer. The RX8 has it for marketing reasons primarily, even if its weight and position in the engine bay does offer some handling benefits. The Miata is an incredibly polished roadster and doesn't have one. I've driven an RX8 and it is a nice drive but the wankel is holding this car back, not making it better.

 

[amdhunter]

What. 9 mpg, are you serious? Is this on premium and do you have it floored all the time? fueleconomy.gov rates it much higher, how are they so off? Are a couple of the people here just really unlucky or really enjoying their cars or are the epa numbers garbage?

Yeah, Premium. Most of the time, I am driving in the city. Stop and go [fast.] 🙂 I've taken 2 longish trips (over 100 miles) and the mileage was MUCH better, but unfortunately, my driving consists of cruising Manhattan, or Queens most of the time.

Still the case: 212 auto, 232 manual

The auto had less HP, but more torque, I forget the numbers, but I think it was almost 10-20lbs more than the manual.

 

[Howard]

I'd bet that all of the kinks that Wankel engines have could be ironed-out through engineering

Probably not.

 

[zerocool84]

Probably not.

If after over 40 years they're still having the same problems as when it began, it's pretty much a lost cause. For some reason they didn't put a turbo in the RX-8. That's the only reason why the 7 had any decent power.

 

[Zivic]

my mechanic is a big rotary fan... they are simple motors that are easily rebuilt. I have seen him pull, replace seals, and reinstall them in an evening.

that said, for an everyday car, I would look elsewhere. if it's a weekend warrior or just a fun car, then by all means a rotary can give you a driving experience not found in any other application

 

[Fenixgoon]

pontiac GTO?

bulletproof engine. just gotta watch out for brakes and suspension/bushings.

 

[jlee]

pontiac GTO?

bulletproof engine. just gotta watch out for brakes and suspension/bushings.

He's 16... 😛

 

[Kirby]

pontiac GTO?

bulletproof engine. just gotta watch out for IMMINENT DEATH.

fixed for a 16 year old. 😛

 

[Arkaign]

fixed for a 16 year old. 😛

Good catch.

Better choice when faced with limited budget is to simply look at everything in the area within the price range, then eliminate vehicles with more than XX,XXX miles, then eliminate things that are grossly impractical, etc, etc, leaving a list of possible contenders. Also it is good to have a little patience. With such limited funds, it is probably unwise to purchase something with terrible fuel economy, terrible insurance costs, or terrible reliability. Unfortunately, this means the resulting logical choices will not be that 'fun', but hey, nothing is perfect. Perhaps a Cherokee 5spd with the 4.0L, driven lightly it will give somewhat adequate fuel economy, and it's practical and reliable enough. Best of all, it can give good fun for camping/trailing while not breaking the bank on insurance costs.

There are a few choices out there for cheapish fast cars, but most of them will be beaten to hell by the time they reach that price range, or will be a deathtrap in the hands of an inexperienced driver. I saw a ~300rwhp fox body mustang 5.0 for sale the other day fairly cheap, but something like that is just asking to be wrapped around the tree, handling wasn't exactly a priority with that design.

 

[jlee]

My first car was a 1998 Corolla that I bought when I was 18. It's now owned by a high school kid in Maine. If you don't lug rocks around in them, they'll last a while. :awe: