RX-8 Memories

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 06/29/2016 at 20:26 • Filed to: None

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I daily drove an RX-8 for 5 years. As a driving experience, it was the best car I’ve ever driven. Mine was a repo recovery GT with every option that I bought for the price of a base model - with a warranty. 50-50 weight distribution, best handling car I’ve ever driven by far. Once I got used to it, I loved the rotary driving experience. (The key is to know you have no torque, but have limitless RPM). Once you stop fearing the redline, that 6 speed short throw manual was fucking orgasmic. I remember driving highway 198 east from King City (one of California’s greatest twisty roads, and a guy on a bike (a big BMW GS) could not figure out how a car could stay with him through the curves. Pushing that car to its limits in the canyons was the best performance driving experience I ever had. I’ve never had a car that embraced being pushed to its limits like that one.

But it comes with a cost. Abuse combined with hot, dry climates is death to these cars. I gave it both as hard as you can. At 130,000 miles I put in a new engine. At 145,000, I got rid of it for the safety of my bank account. My wife cannot mention the word “Mazda” without an explosion of hate, so I don’t admit that a part of me wishes I had kept it in storage. I got shit for it.

I could have stuck it in storage with its rebuilt engine. It could not serve as a daily driver, but I’m convinced those things are going to be worth a lot of money. The styling is what would happen if a old school Ferrari mated with 2000GT

I’m at peace. At that point in my life I had no choice but to sell it for a daily driver that did not cost me so much. Today, I could have kept it, but the extra cars were not an option. I hope it is loved, and I am at peace

Pour one our for the RX-8 bright red - so many tickets

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > ImmoralMinority 06/29/2016 at 20:34

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I got to drive one once. I loved it more than any V8 powered car I’ve experienced. I don’t care about the lack of torque, it’s amazing. But the reliability kicked it off my DD replacement list. I’m happy with my FiST.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > ImmoralMinority 06/29/2016 at 20:40

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You’re my favorite new author’d Oppo. All of your posts are great! When I was younger I yearned for an RX-8...but with age comes change of taste.

Boxer_4 > ImmoralMinority 06/29/2016 at 20:45

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After working on/seeing an ‘80 RX-7 project car in high school, I’m convinced that I need to experience/own a rotary at some point. The RX-8 seems like a reasonable option price wise (and overall seems like an awesome car), as long as you know what you’re getting into.