Replace Rx8 with....

I'm thinking about replacing my Rx8. I love the car, and it would be almost perfect with 100 more hp. I could shell out some cash on forced induction, but feel that I should consider other options first. So, what cars would you guys suggest? I've been thinking about picking up a used 911. Thanks.

Pull out Renesis and sell to RX-7 owner. Install LS1. Fin.

Sell Rx8 to Rx7 owner. Buy Corvette with LSx already installed. Fin?

I'm not really interested in swapping engines and such when it's easier, cheaper, and usually better performing to just go for the real thing.

Having driven an LS1 C5 Corvette and an LS1 FC, the swap is better.

Then again, C5 Z06 is down to used RX8 prices...

Which model 911? There are substantial differences...

You can get a C5 Z06 for $10K or less? Cause that's what used RX8's cost. I haven't seen a C5 Z06 for less than $17-18k...

Buy a GTO for $13k

Old, used 911s aren't much faster than the RX8. If power is the issue, perhaps a C5 Vette would be in order.

Add a couple of Jato units?

I think more information would be good; budget, storage space requirements, age allowable, performance benchmarking like a comparison to another vehicle.

carguy123 wrote: Add a couple of Jato units?

I had to quote just because this is an incredible pic of a B-47.

docwyte wrote: You can get a C5 Z06 for $10K or less? Cause that's what used RX8's cost. I haven't seen a C5 Z06 for less than $17-18k...

Used RX-8's that haven't been wrapped around a tree or tuned by APC are $10K?

An 04 Rx8 with 75k miles will go for $10-11k. I'm trying to keep my purchase under $30k. I was thinking 993. Something about a 911 is awesome, which is why I'd go for it. The Elise also sounds nice, but I've heard that they get old very fast when used as a DD. I guess I'm trying to find a vehicle that is like the Rx8, just more.

FD!

rotard wrote: An 04 Rx8 with 75k miles will go for $10-11k. I'm trying to keep my purchase under $30k. I was thinking 993. Something about a 911 is awesome, which is why I'd go for it. The Elise also sounds nice, but I've heard that they get old very fast when used as a DD. I guess I'm trying to find a vehicle that is like the Rx8, just more.

Under $30K? Sounds like a pretty decent range. Lots of choices a good bit more expensive than your RX8 (assuming it's in the $10-13K range now).

I'll never knock anybody for going with a 993, but I can only imagine cost of ownership is much higher, due to age and parts costs. They carry a price premium over the early 996's as well. Just be aware you might use up most of your budget.

Ingress/egress is so difficult on the Elise that I would imagine it being a bit of a PITA on a daily basis. I'm a fairly thin, average-build guy and I was a bit surprised the first time I tried to climb out of one. Can't say I'd kick that one out the garage either though.

edit - The Elise isn't hard to get into because it's low and small (I drive a mk1 mr2 as a dd). It's the super-duper wide-n-tall sills that make it necessary to have excellent strength, balance, and steadiness to do it gracefully. I on the other hand, was not so graceful. I can imagine that your skirt-wearing date would not be amused.

I think that a BMW M3 CSL is about the only thing that will seem like an RX8 on steroids, and we don't get them here and they are more than $30K.

S2000

bravenrace wrote: S2000

So trade one torque-less engine for another? I don't think that comes anywhere close to what he is looking for.

What's the price of non-Z06 C6s at?

z31maniac wrote:

bravenrace wrote: S2000

So trade one torque-less engine for another? I don't think that comes anywhere close to what he is looking for. What's the price of non-Z06 C6s at?

Torque-by-gearing, though. They don't feel THAT torque-less while driving.

non- z06 c6 cars can be had into the 20's- z06's start about mid 30's right now.

rotard wrote: An 04 Rx8 with 75k miles will go for $10-11k. I'm trying to keep my purchase under $30k. I was thinking 993. Something about a 911 is awesome, which is why I'd go for it. The Elise also sounds nice, but I've heard that they get old very fast when used as a DD. I guess I'm trying to find a vehicle that is like the Rx8, just more.

993s are still pretty much on the downward slope of the deprecation curve and I'm not sure how DIY-able they are compared to the older ones if that's a factor. Definitely get a PPI on one, they can clean out your bank account quicker than a meth addict with a hooker problem if you buy the wrong one (which goes for all 911s, btw). I'd also look at 964s as they seem to be a good deal at the moment.

I've briefly owned an S1 Elise - that one was OK to DD for shorter distances, for longer distances the noise got too much for me with the hardtop on. That said, I believe later cars are a little quieter and there isn't much this side of a Caterfield that will give you the sort of feedback an Elise will.

I haven't driven an RX8 (yet) but I did own an FD for a while and they're supposed to be fairly similar feedback/handling wise. An Elise is a sports car with the sensory knobs turned up to at least 11, so if that's what you want all the time it might not be a bad choice. Older 911s (which are the only ones I've got experience with) are also very communicative but not to the extent that they wear you out in a couple of hundred miles.

Dang. Now I want to go look for another 911...

I like the 993's much better than the 964's, and there are even some of the early 996's that fall into your price range. However, I really would like to have one of the 3.2 Carrera's from the late 80's. You still get some of the early 911 feel with the later reliability.

Used CTS-V or Maserati Coupe.

Yeah, the Rx8 on 11 would be perfect. A Cayman S would be cool, but is far more than I want to spend. A late 80's Carrera might be the answer, as a second car.

I can hear the howls already, but, here goes, why do you need 100 more hp? (I know, you can never have too much....) I'm assuming, from the comments, this is not going to be a daily driver? That being the case, why not a NOS kit, with some upgrading of the engine mgmt chips, and adding a large tubo to what you already have.

Or is this simply a way of saying your tired of driving the Mazda and want something different?