Ive been pondering the idea of getting an rx7 or an rx8. I have 2 kids and don't and want a play toy of my own as some of you know dads wants are usually last. I want something that I can drive to work in the summer and it look sharp but also something I can start autocross with without too much trouble. The only knowledge I have about these cars is what i have read on these forums the past year. Just want some advice. As far as money goes I'll be able to have about 5 thousand to put towards the car each year. Let me know what you think.

 

3rd gen looks really sharp. But too much$$$ rx8 aren't too expensive and they have potential. If you want to dig around with it and customize your ride get a 1st or 2nd gen. Thats my 2 cents.

 

Get an RX8, it will be a much more affordable and reliable car for doing some street duty and autocross. Especially if this car is NOT a spare car that will not cause you pain if it is out of commission for awhile. RX8s are competitive at autocross and you can have a lot of fun with them. I haven't raced an RX8, but I would guess that it would also be an easier car to learn on. You can also fit your kids in the RX8 if you need to. Get an FD if you want something fast and if you enjoy fixing little things on your car once in awhile (or frequently), or if you enjoy doing bolt on mods that actually make the car faster.

 

Another vote for the RX8.

The RX7s are all a bit old and needy at this point in their life cycles. The RX8 gets you a reliable, newer car so you can spend more time driving and hanging out with your kids.

 

I've had both of these cars and they're both great cars. I even boosted my RX8 and didnt really have any major problems with it. With two kids I'd say go with the 8 and with 5 grand a year to spend on it you'll end up with a pretty quick/fast car. Like Kari said if its not your toy car or cant afford the down time (not necessarily money related) the 8 might be a better choice. Plus you'll actually be able to cruise with the kidos. Good luck

 

8, in your situation, this should be a no brainer

 

heres one more vote for the rx8, and it should keep your insurance cost low too as it counts as a 4 door sedan for most insurance companies

 

Although I do love the 7 much more, I would have to agree that the 8 sounds like a better choice in your situation. Mostly because the 3rd gen is still so pricey and all 7's do require work and attention from time to time. Not to mention the additional seating for your kids. Good luck. I'm sure you'll be happy either way.

 

I'm contemplating picking up an 8 as a daily. I just spoke with my insurance company and the cost to insure an 06 rx8 is less than my FD. Plus there are some great deals floating around on them right now with the cost of gas up, the economy down, and the new body style out. I wish I could afford an r3 though.

 

I have an 8. That things a mini van. fc is way better. And for a quarter of the price you can get one and rebuild the engine. 8 sucks rx8 club bunch of dutches

 

dutches? do you mean douches?
and they've always been nice when I've been over there.

 

I would say it would depend on a couple of things.

Do you have other transportation for the kids?
An 8 would come with car payments and full coverage insurance.
A 1st gen would be paid for, so choose your own insurance coverage.
8s do okay at autocross.
1st gens can do great at autocross with some changes (which are cheap by comparison with aftermarket parts for an 8).
Your level of mechanical abilities.

As long as you have another car for when you have to haul the kids, I'd say grab a cheap 1st gen for about 2 grand. Put another 2 grand into it for suspension, exhaust, tires, tuneup. Now you are fully paid for (for under your 1st year's 5 grand budget), and a very fun car that will kick butt at autocrosses. Cheap to maintain, and very dependable when properly cared for.

I have an Audi Allroad for hauling the family around, a 328i for winter driving, and my 7 for daily driving during the non-snow seasons. Race on the weekends. Everybody is happy.




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The chassis on the rx8 is awesome. They are pretty reliable and they handle well. The top end for power doesnt seem to be there with the renesis. It would make a comfortable car that has sporty capability.

FD's are awesome but expensive. Can find some for the right price, i would spring for that as long as you don't mind doing a little bit of work to keep it happy.

FC's would need the most "love" of these 3 but it could be something you get nutty with. Comfort and ability are inversly proportional. They can all be money pits so it is what you make it.

If you can afford the FD, i would get one. If you want something bigger/newer the rx8 is your go to.

 

Stay away from an FD.

I say stay away from an FB as well, they are too old and parts are getting harder and harder to find for them, and they are just very dated in terms of being a decent daily driver. Sure they can do great on the track but ALL Rx7s and the Rx8 can do just as well if not better. Heck I never seen a 1st gen lap tsukuba quicker than 58 seconds like an FC or FD has.

Comes down to an FC or an Rx8 IMO. With that said, an FC will be cheaper to hit a performance milestone than an Rx8 would be hands down. However, the Rx8 just has things about it like being roomy and comfy, having amenities like climate control, power everything, 6 speed transmission, etc. etc.. all the perks of a new car. Not that you couldn't get an FC to be "perky". Really the Rx8 and FC say with similar performance mods, wheels, tires, suspension, handle very similarly AND acceleration wise a modded NA FC is just about as fast as an Rx8 (Rx8s are slow for their time).

Now a Turbo FC is nice but you start dealing with the same headaches as an FD. Possibly start with an NA FC and get acclimated and then turbo later on if you do decide to get an FC.

Soooo.... I think the only deciding factor is your family at this point. Will your wife and kids be ok with occasionally having to ride in a car that is 25 years old and ugly to some? To me it sounds like a nice Rx8 is right up your ally.

 

Two kids and a FD... been there done that!
Get the RX-8! It's a fun car with a decent back seat for the kids.
For my situation thats similar to yours....I don't regret it!

 

Yeah, I would say get the RX 8 since you have kids. Just think.. when you drop them off at school, the girls at school will think your boys are hot shiz (if they're boys. If they're girls, watch out for the boys!) lol.

Just get an rx7 down the road when you can afford the time ^.^

 

What I did was get a rx7, I have 2 kids and when it comes time to do something with them I use my expedition or my old f150 truck. I am pretty sure when your kids/spouse see you working on your car and you have a big smile on your face could care less what you pick them up or drop them off in. So you have actually have a few options, get the rx7 you want and get a nice family delivery car (what I did), get a rx7 with back seats and have the smallest ride in the back behind the other child (I thought about doing but rememberd sitting in back of my bro's geostorm when I was 13...) or get a rx8 (not a bad car at all) but when you start modding it its going to void certain warranties depending if you buy it new/used. So in the end make yourself happy, cause the way i see it in the end its your hobby and a family supports eachothers hobbies.

 

A bit of a different approach here...

The only con I can think of would be the consumption of space. But you could pick up a cheap daily driver, and get an FC as well. As previously stated, their performance ain't that far off. There are quite a bit of FC's around, so it'll be easier to find a nice one, and then you can always afford to have it down for a bit of time.

If you do want to have the kids in the backseat though, your cruel if you do anything but the rx8 in my opinion.

also, don't forget that the rx8 has a 8 year/160 000km warranty, well 100 000miles

 

Do some research on people trying to get warranty work done after they modded a new car then parts failed, you might not like what you find.

 

Yeah this is true that warranty sucks on the Rx8. I knew a guy who kept his car stock just put on suspension. When it blew up and he took it in for warranty they told him to honor the warranty they would have to tear the engine apart first, and if they found that failed due to abuse they would charge him the labor they performed to inspect the engine and they quoted him $3000 just for that AND they would not honor the warranty at that point.

So he got scared and said never mind and just put in a used engine.

 

Anytime you modify a product, it voids the warranty. I think that should be obvious. A lot of money is spent by the manufacturer of any product, and they should warranty that product. In Canada, by law, any electronic manufacturer is required to provide a one year warranty with their product, with minor exclusions.

How would they be able to tell that a motor failed due to neglect over wear and tear? That would be my first question to that dealer service representative. Furthermore, as a sports car, the vehicle is meant to receive some abuse, so the only argument that they could make would be lack of oil changes, or not changing your plugs and wires at the right interval. I've heard of people getting 2 motors through that warranty.

Sorry not trying to thread jack

 

My vote is for the 8. I have had the priviledge of owning all of them (1st, 2nd, 3rd gen and rx8)and for what you want, I think the 8 is your best bet. You will need some mods for the autocross, yes I agree but if you are really looking into doing it, you will need mods on anything you buy. Had mine since oct 03, no complaints whatsoever.

 

I've been a smog technician for 6 years now and I agree %100 and that is exactly what I told my friend.... unfortunately this happened before I met him so it was too late.

So yeah I'm just gonna point out that Mazda is shady with their warranties on the Rx8 engine replacement. Just an FYI for the OP.

 

I wouldn't go with the RX-8. I was thinking that you should, at first... but from what they say about the warranty and everything. Autocross abuse and autocross driving can most likely VOID that warranty. Find a reliable FC with the 2+2 seats. Pay cash, purchase a good suspension set-up, tires, and you've got yourself a daily kid-hauling autocrossing Daddy toy!

There's PLENTY of information on this forum. Get your hands dirty... Do some of the reliability mods that won't have your car off the street for even a day. The knowledge you'll gain, will be well worth it. In the long run, you won't regret the FC3S...

 

Go with an FC, the 2 + 2 seats are perfect for little kids. I had a GXL and the guy I bought it from used the seats to haul his kids around when he drove the car in summer back when the car was new. It was still fast, the seats can come out and be replaced unlike the Rx-8. The Rx-8 is a nice car Ive been in one plenty of times but it doesn't feel like much of a sports car it just has the looks of one. The Renesis 13b in the Rx-8 in my opinion will be harder to learn on then the 13b in the FC because of how they updated the engine there is not as much known about the Renesis as the FC 13b engines. An FC looks nicer, can/is just as fast as an Rx-8 and about 10 thousand dollars cheaper. There is a HUGE variety of performance parts available for the FC.