Wankel Wednesday - Second Time's a Charm Edition

"Captain_Overboost" (Captain_Overboost)
09/25/2013 at 09:50 • Filed to: Wankel Wednesday, Rotary, RX8, R3

My son's RX8 R3.

I made a deal with my son when he went into high school, being a budding "car guy" just like his dad, that I would get him anything he wanted (within reason) for his first car. The condition being High School was/is his "job". He had to be there early, stay late and put in all the effort it takes to stand out just like you would in the real world. He also had to pick a couple of extracurricular activities he was interested in and give them the same time and effort he gave his book work.

So, he has done great, takes dual credit courses that he's getting college credit for. He's in the NHS, and plays football, runs track and does power lifting. Anyway, yes, I'm a typical proud dad so I'll shut up about that.

So, he turned 16 and he held up his end of the bargain, I did too. Picked him up a 2009 RX8 R3. This was in 2010. It was used with 9,000 miles on the clock. Looked, smelled brand new. No "mods" so it wasn't abused (like that). The funny thing is my wife, the entire time she was pregnant with him, and I do mean the entire time drove a '93 RX7 R1. The twin turbo model. She loved that car and drove it till the day we took her to the hospital. I guess he heard that rotary revvin' in utero and it stuck. lol

He's a senior in HS now so it's been two years since he got it. He does all the maintenance (some with my help) in our shop. Details it every weekend. He worships that car. It's his pride and joy. He hasn't gotten a scratch on it nor has he received a speeding ticket (he knows a ticket will burn him down). We've added a nice stereo and a few of the typical bolt-on's but nothing crazy.

A car guy son. What every car guy dad hopes for. hahaha

DISCUSSION (6)

Takuro Spirit > Captain_Overboost
09/25/2013 at 09:58

Love the R3.

Keep an eye on that oil level!

Captain_Overboost > Takuro Spirit
09/25/2013 at 10:04

Thanks. Oh yeah. The oil level gets checked every weekend when we do "walk around" routine checks/maintenance AND everytime he fills it up with gas. I can tell when he's been doing any "spirited" hehehe driving from the amount of oil used. lol

coriolis > Captain_Overboost
09/25/2013 at 11:29

Lovely story and lovely car for sure!

I was in the market for a RX8 R3(In Blue or White) but couldn't find one that was in acceptable(to me anyways, I'm pretty anal about a few things) in time before my car hit the scrapyard. Ended up picking the Focus ST, but everytime I see a RX8, I always have a sinking feeling of what could of been.

When I finally get a place of my own and obtain usable garage space, I'll definitely hunt down a R3 as a second car. Love my ST, but the redline and the driving feel is just so fantastic.

magman007 > Captain_Overboost
09/25/2013 at 11:44

Love the r3. I would kill for those seats. You can buy them, but they're like 2k per seat from recaro.

Captain_Overboost > magman007
09/25/2013 at 11:59

No joke. The Recaro seats and those 19" BBS wheels are insanely expensive if they have to be replaced by OEM parts. Crazy.

But, more on topic of what you posted, I LOVE the seats. I sit down in them and drive that car ( hey, I pay for it... I get to drive it...lol ) and then get in my GT500 and I TOTALLY feel like I'm riding ON it... not " in " it. They're great seats.

Captain_Overboost > coriolis
09/25/2013 at 12:02

The Focus ST is nothing to sneer at for sure. There were several cars, the Focus among them, I tried showing him before we commited to buying but he had his heart set on the 8.