I test drove the Rx8 today. And I must say that it's a really nice car, with a very smooth transmission. During the test drive a guy wanted to race...lol.

When I test drove the Crossfire I drove the automatic, and was impressed with the car.

I'm trying to make up my mind about which one I want. This is gonna be a hard decision.

 

Get the crossfire. It happens every time.

Do you want the frog and hope it turns into the prince? (frog looking RX8)

Or

Do you make the right decision off the bat and get the car that is clearly the winnner! Crossfire. Hands down. You could consider it the prince, however it is an understatement.

Take the 6spd out for a test, but after having it for some time, and driven the auto after, I would have gone auto. Which is odd for me to say that. I'm not an auto kinda guy.

 

When I test drove the Rx8 I ran it up to 9000rpms then shifted. People were catering to me on the road ( I guess so they could look at the car). I just emailed my Chrysler dealer to see about test driving the 6speed version.

The Crossfire I test drove last was the automatic, which I enjoyed and could relax while driving. It'll be a least 2 months before I'll purchase...so that leaves a lot of time to contemplate

 

I also tested both vehicles last October. Actually three, because I also took a 350Z for a short ride. My wife and I both hated it.....

The RX-8 was really nice inside, except that I felt cramped in the driver's seat, and I also hit my head getting in and out, which was not something I was not happy about.

When we saw the Crossfire, we both looked at each other and said "That is the one...." and it is a decision I have not regretted since October 4, 2003!!

If you think you got looks in the RX-8, just wait till you see what it is like with a Crossfire.

And go for the auto......

8)

 

Everyone knows what the RX8 is, I always get looks and "What is that?" driving my xfire. Much better style and looks. You will definatley get more attention in the xfire!!!!

 

What I dislike about the Rx8 is having to check your oil every 2nd time you refule, that and the flooding issue. But it is 2gs less the the crossfire.

 

Took out the 350Z, RX8, S2000 and the Xfire, and ended up with the manual XFire

The japs are quick cars that will handle really well, but they look dull compared to the XFire.

Got told I had a nice Ferrari this morning waiting at traffic lights

 

How smooth is the manual tranny in the crossfire?

 

I never tried anything but the x-fire. The styling alone sold me. Nice thing about the drop top is people can scream adoration at you from all sides of the car
Old and young, men and women, they all love the car.

 

The shift from 1st to 2nd takes some getting used to--at least for me and I've owned other performance stick shifts--but overall it's good--not great --good.
Would people talk about why they would or did choose the auto over the stick? I just thought sports cars and manuals were an automatic (heh-heh) combo.
Also, on the RX8 vs Crossfire issue: I didn't drive the Mazda, but I don't like the looks, and I think the Crossfire is rolling art. Many, many comments from pedestrians and other drivers.

 

I tested both of them the same day. I tried an autostick crossifre and did NOT want the car at all. Then I tried the RX-8 manual with every option (grand touring). As soon as the test drive was over I inquired about aftermarket leather to replace the horrid interoir ($1200) and looked into a aftermarket front end ($1000 plus mounting and painting) because is looks really, really bad. Those two parts of the car where awful but could be replaced.

The mechincal issues I had with the RX-8 (note I am a former RX7 owner) was that there is no touque and the car drove like a granny mobile unless you where above 4000 RPM's. Then there is the part where you must make sure the car is fully warmed up before you take off so that the engine does not flood (a $100 mistake) and that you have to constantly check the oil level. Mine use to burn 1/10 of a quart every 3,000 miles and they told me it was more like 1/4 of a quart now. On top of that the oil pressure gauge is useless and told you nothing. The car really needs help in the low rpm range and the previous RX7 had a twin turbo where one helped in the low RPM's to help deal with this.

All in all the car is a pain to maintain and smells of oil bad after you have been pushing it. They did not even put in a limiter or beep at you at redline like they did in the past (yeah it is not a conventional engine and it is hard to tell how close to redline the gerbal wheel is getting). Hope you never get a coolent leak either, so check the hoses all the time or it may cost you a new rotary engine.

My RX-8 overall review summary:

The RX-8 looks like a frog, looks too long, need that horrible nose replace that make it look like a bucked tooth rabit when a licence plate is on it, has a horrible leather trimed interior (the rest of it is not much better), has nearly unsusalbe rear seats (you have to lock your feet under the front seats), runs like crap at low rpms, has no trouque, has to really warmed up before driving it or you will have to replace the spark plugs, constantly needs oil, smells of burned oil after driving the heck out of it, the options for the car are way too much money, gets horrible gas mileage and the exhaust sounds like a weedeater when you drive behind one.

----------------------

When it was said and done and the RX-8 with the aftermarket parts would be more than the crossfire or the 350z i decided to go back and try a manual crossfire in hopes that it would be different. The difference between the autostick crossfire and the manual version was like night and day for me. The rear end of the manual version is all over the road, I could not get the autostick to do this.

I picked my crossfire over the 350z and the RX-8. If I needed a sedan I would have picked the RX-8 over something like a Nissan Maxima and just modified it.


-marc

 

....I guess its all about taste, but If I pay 30k or more for a car then it better be smart enough to shift engine ratios for me. To me having manual transmission is like going to a fancy resturant and having to cook your own food instead of getting to relax and enjoy the atmosphere :wink:

 

Don't ever buy a lamborghini!!! :shock:

 

:roll: OK :wink:

 

I'll second that. I've done a manual (Thunderbird Turbo Coupe) in daily drive bumper-to-bumper 1.5 hour commuting each way, and it ain't no fun. If I could afford a 2nd vehicle for commuting, I'd have probably taken a manual Crossfire for weekend fun, but then I'd be sitting 5 days a week in traffic looking like just another cog in the wheel insome econobox, and where's the fun in that.

 

I love my Auto-Stick!!! If you take the time to learn how to drive it.... It's a blast.

 

Hi...


The RX8 was the 1st car I tried a few months ago and got me real interested in a new ride... from 2001 Miata LS 6-speed... :lol:

After considering/driving/researching ~20 different makes/models including BMW's... 350z... Infinity G30? coupe... Corvettes... Acura's... Saab's... Audi TT... etc...


...the Crossfire automatic grabbed my & my girlfriend's hearts...


My biggest issues with the RX8 are possible flooding requiring towing... oil use... little low-end torque...

Wouldn't buy any new car that potentially would leave me/her stranded due to flooding... just not acceptable to me...


We have absolutely no doubt the '04 Crossfire I bought is the most-excellent choice for us...


Dave...

 

One thing that is effecting my decision is the seating issues. My sister normally calls me to pick up her daughter (who's 5 years old, 30-35lbs) from school.

But she's not big enough to ride in the front seat. But if I had a 2 seater would Texas state laws allow me to put her in the front seat?

 

she is 5 so she does not need a child seat.

Here is the info that show you should be fine:

http://www.txdot.state.tx.us/traffic...ild_safety.htm

http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/saferiders/newlaw.htm

 

drunkiq,

Thank you for the links, this will better help my decision.