Hi!
Im a 19 year old college student looking for a car, I live on campus though so im not gonna be driving it much! but im debating between the rx8 or the eclipse.
the eclipse is a 2007, with 34k miles on it
its around $14,000
the eclipse is cute, but its really small on space, which isnt a big deal to me, but this is just REALLY small. lol
the mazda rx8 is a 2004
it has 19k miles on it
and its $9,900
the rx8 has leather heated seats, and a sunroof
i love cars, i love the rx8..id prefer it over the eclipse
but i have read terrible things about the rotary engine and maintenance.
I would make sure i kept up on the maintenance, such as changing the oil, and burning the excess fuel when turning off the car to be sure not to flood the engine.This car is also rear wheel drive, which isnt good in rain or snow, but once again, its not going to be driven too much so im not worried about that alot.
I'm mainly worried about the maintenance of the rx8, im really worried something is going to break on it and i dont plan on getting the extended warranty.
im just looking for advice, advantages and disadvantages of both of the cars and advice on which one to pick.
any advice would be really helpful, thanks!! :)
I forgot to add that the rx8 was in 2 accidents, one minor, the other one moderate, but the damages were fixed. i guess thats why its so cheap, but its in perfect condition inside and out
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I think you'll find the RX8 is a much more entertaining car from a driving point-of-view. RWD is far better for a sports car than FWD, although it takes more driving skill to handle it.
If Mitsubishi had continued making the Eclipse as an All-Wheel-Drive car like its previous generations then it would be a good choice. But as it is it's an over-weight bloated FWD car pretending to be a sports car. Interior space for the front passengers is good, but the rear passengers better have a chiropractor on speed dial.
The RX8, OTOH, is much lighter and nimble, far more responsive, and can actually seat adults in the back.
The only reliability issues surrounding the RX8 has been, like all its predecessors, the Wankel rotary engine. And it's not usually the motors fault but that of the owner not knowing how to properly care for it. If you learn the proper care & feeding of a rotary engine then you shouldn't have to much to worry about. Learn more about the RX8 here:
http://www.rx8club.com/
Since the RX8 was in a "moderate" accident I would have a 3rd party mechanic give it a really good look-over to see how well the repairs were done. You have been quoted a excellent price. If the car is in good shape you'd have gotten a really good deal.
The Eclipse is brake down waiting to happen! At least the last time I looked up how reliable one was.
A RWD car is safe on snow, rain and in many other driving conditions. It is just that you have to learn more about how to drive a car then some one with a FWD car. Make sure you have tires rated more on traction then looks. Get real snow tires in the winter if need be.
That it was wrecked is not an issue to me, if it was fixed right.
Go with the RX-8!
Forget about the RX-8 for $9900... find another one with NO accidents.
Some notes on the RX-8:
-Mazda has extended the rotary engine coverage to 8yrs
-RX-8 USES oil as a lubricant so frequent check oil levels; (keep a spare quart of oil in your trunk)
To prevent flooding
-Do not shut down the RX-8 when the engine is cold
(ie moving short distances from garage to front yard to wash car... instead take the RX-8 around the block until you warm up the engine)
-Rev to 3k rpm and hold for at least 10 secs before you shut-down engine
-At least rev to redline once a week to prevent carbon-buildup
-If you plan to drive in the winter (snow and ice) get winter tires
RX-8 need to be driven (so plan for trips that take at least 10mins or at least until the engine temperature is one-quarter)
Based on that I am not sure if the RX-8 is for you.
But based on the RX-8 being in accidents, get the Eclipse instead.
well really... if it were me i would so get the RX8... its an amazing car for really cheap (as long as the accidents didnt do anything to the frame or anything major its a good price) but its a more sporty car that you dont really see a lot of. the other thing to realize tho is that it has a rotary engine and i dont know if it might be more expensive to fix. something to look at tho.
I know this doesn't answer your question, but check to see if the RX-8 has a clean title, if it has a slavaged/rebuilt title, find another one. If it still has a clear title, have it inspected by a neutral 3rd party as to ensure the damages were properly corrected.
Eclipse for sure. Rotaries are high maintenance and it is wrecked.
the rx8 sounded good til u said wrecked...maybe look some more