Slightly lower? If I got 21mpg on the highway (typical, I'm told), the RX8 would cost me $5248 in FUEL per year for my driving style. The Vette, at again a typical 28-29mpg would cost me $3798 while providing WAY more power.
Over 5 years (who knows, I might keep a car that long someday), driving the RX8 would cost me an extra $7250.
That's significant.
Pretty amazing that the RX8 gets such worse gas mileage compared to a corvette...
A GTO does sound like a much better deal, but some people look past being over 100 hp down and the 5-10 less mpg and the oil consumption and stuff... Not meant as a dig to the OP - people like what they like.
In reply to njansenv:
I think the people on this list would be more accepting of small quirks (like having to warm up a rotary engine before shutting it off) than your average consumer. I'd say the RX-8 is aimed squarely at them.
I work with tuna55 above, and we're on the same LeMons team with the fellow who DD's his RX-8. I've actually driven it. While there are arguments about more power, better mpg, and less $$, the RX-8 drives like nothing else. Its eminently tossable, it'll take offramps like nobody's business, and the precision work that it takes to keep the roary screaming (not to mention that cool whine) just puts it in a different class entirely. You can't bog it- shift into any gear you want at 40 mph, and have 4 or 5 completely different experiences. And I'm 5'10" 180lbs, and fit just fine in the back seat. Its surprising how much room there is- headroom, too. I've felt more cramped in the back of many modern 4 doors.
It all depends on your needs for the car. If you have short commute it might not matter. If you put 50,000 miles on a car in a year it does.
National average miles driven per year is around 15000. If gas is 3.00 per gallon and you drive 15000.
500 gallons in a 30mpg car - $1500 on gas per year
600 gallons in a 25mpg car - $1800 on gas per year
750 gallons in a 20mpg car - $2250 on gas per year
According to fueleconomy.gov
06 GTO M6 gets 23 hwy / 15 city
06 RX8 M6 gets 22 hwy/ 16 city
06 Vette M6 gets 26 hwy/ 16 city
02 M5 gets 19 hwy/ 12 city (for comparisons sake)
I undestand that there are other variables and observed MPG but just giving you third party facts. It seems the difference in fuel economy and cost per year is not as large as one might think.
Power difference on the other hand is obvious.
My buddy with his 06 M6 GTO says he can get 25mpg on the highway at 70 - 75 mph if he is careful. Drop it down to 60 and he can see 28mpg. I am sure a vette can do even better. But not regularly at highway speeds.
My wifes 00 Impreza Wagon is lucky to see 25mpg at 75 on the highway. GRMs WRX wagon got about 22mpg on long trips at 75-80mph.
Who really goes 55 mph any more? Hell my modified 1st gen RX-7 has seen 27mpg at 50 - 55mph. It drops to about 22mpg cruising at 80mph on the highway.
I love GTOs, Vettes, CTS-Vs and the like. I also love the RX-8 but it annoys me that people think that anything with an LSX gets 30mpg.
In reply to njansenv:
"As attractive as the prices on these cars are, the fuel economy-power ratio kills it for me. GTO, Corvette, M3, 911, M5 all offer better fuel mileage (in some cases dramatically better) and more power (in some cases dramatically more!)"
But what you may not be considering is the fact that at 3000 lbs, the RX8 will be far gentler on brakes and tires when used for track days than any of the above. Plus, Rx8s in Canada are much, much cheaper than M3s, M5s, and/or 911s. GTOs were never sold here (although they are easy to import) -- and I've got the V8 RWD goodness covered with the Corvette already.
I can buy a lot of fuel for the price difference between an M3/M5 and an Rx*.
Oh and again according to fueleconomy.gov
98 E36 M3 5 speed gets 26 hwy/ 18 city
06 E46 M3 6 speed gets 22 hwy/ 14 city
06 Carerra 2 Coupe 6 speed gets 24hwy/ 16 city
Im just saying. Not a huge difference.
I didn't mean to start anything. 
I know what you're saying, but I did say "fuel economy to power ratio". If I'm going to get 22mpg, it had better haul. (a mid 14 sec car isn't really hauling. 
)
My (somewhat limited) research suggests that it's EASY to beat fe.gov number in the Corvette, and not unreasonable to beat them in a GTO (though the GTO is certainly harder on fuel) and M5.
Hardtop C5 vette apparently weights 3173lbs, coupe is 3246: I believe the extra 100ish hp has much more to do with the cost of wear items than the weight difference. 
I'm in Canada too: I do see the RX8 prices falling, and am tempted occasionally...until I consider that I drive 100miles a day. It might be a great car for my wife (at 80miles/week), if the other stuff outweighed the fuel economy to power ratio. I DO love the interior...
Travelling to the US is cheap and easy, and bringing a car back over just "makes sense" in more than a few cases, though my M3 (purchased locally) was about half the price compared to an RX8. (and quite a bit older, obviously)
For reference: I've averaged just over 27mpg in my M3 since I purchased it just over a year ago, according to my spreadsheet. I know...I drive too slow. For my type of driving, as iterated above, going from 22 to 28mpg saves me ~$1400 annually. That buys a bunch of sticky tires.
I have been driving mine for 3 years and have a 05'. I get 21-22 in normal driving, right now i am getting about 18 because i am only driving very little and all in town.
I adore it and its usually fast enough for me if you shift fast enough.
I am not the greatest about warming up the car yet it has never flooded on me, however their is a de-flood feature on all rx8's. You turn the motor over with the petal on the floor and it cuts off the fuel. You then let the motor turn over for about 10 seconds. Besides i don't think flooding is really an issue on new 8's.
If i was going to buy one i would just make sure i didn't get an 04' that is the only year that had any problems.
It is not an attractive car. Everytime I see one on the road I am reminded of this. The rear 3/4 view is the worst. Lousy mileage, low power and its other quirks make it a choice I would never consider.
Sure it revs to 9000 but the other cars being discussed simply do not have to.
I'd certainly agree that it is not a pretty car. But I can't see it when I'm driving it.
I actually think it's a rather attractive car. Light colors (white, silver) seem to be better than darker colors (red, black).
billy3esq wrote: I actually think it's a rather attractive car. Light colors (white, silver) seem to be better than darker colors (red, black).
I think it looks like a deranged grasshopper from the front. Want one anyhow.
All jokes about giving the vette to me aside. The Rx8's I've driven are almost as much fun as my FB and they don't have choke cables and can hold 4 and when you buy it, I can drive when my FB won't start (November through March)
JohnGalt wrote: If i was going to buy one i would just make sure i didn't get an 04' that is the only year that had any problems.
THAT's not entirely true either. Had an 05, and an 06 that did the same thing here on the lot.
Personally, I do not like torqueless rev-monsters for a DD. Too taxing to me. Besides, if I was going to drive something that got me 20-22mpg daily, I'd drive the truck.
Bobzilla wrote:JohnGalt wrote: If i was going to buy one i would just make sure i didn't get an 04' that is the only year that had any problems.THAT's not entirely true either. Had an 05, and an 06 that did the same thing here on the lot.
Truth. Mazda extended the warranty/replacement down to 04 when the stink rose up about the later years and people found that the 04s were doing the same things. Pretty nice of them, but 04s are no more failure prone than the following couple years to the best of my knowledge.
All I know is I got to ride in managers' RX-8 the other day, just a few suspension mods (Racing beat springs/shocks maybe?) Seemed like quite the fun car and actually had me thinking about one for a bit.
Unfortunately I'm still weary of them.....
I looked at RX8's , the only issue for me was the mileage. Truth be told my SiR probably burns more oil then the RX-8 guys have said their cars do.
Why not look at an STi Rob? Yes Morrow has one , but you could delete the fugly spoiler , drive year round , it's faster out of the box by a long shot , it's a real 4 door...ect. Plus since we underwrite the warranty on Subaru's I can get you cost on an extended warranty.
My dad went through the same thing you did at one point.. he did what you should do , bought a car trailer and a real family hauler.
Step up , the Wagon is for sale!!!
I vote Cherokee 3.0CRD and a trailer.
You don't drive enough for mileage to be a concern, the frugal-ness of the Miata more then makes up for the gas the RX-8 would burn.. Somehow try to make it a joint purchase between you and beth , that way if it burns too much oil or gas, you can blame her
AutoXR wrote: Why not look at an STi Rob? Yes Morrow has one , but you could delete the fugly spoiler , drive year round , it's faster out of the box by a long shot , it's a real 4 door...ect. Plus since we underwrite the warranty on Subaru's I can get you cost on an extended warranty.
No STi will ever drive like an RX8 :)
Ugly, crappy gas mileage -- I can see why you think I'd be interested, though.
I found the comments about oil usage funny. Every Audi or VW I have ever owned has used more oil and required more regular checks and fill ups than any of my RX7s :)
ZOO wrote:AutoXR wrote: Why not look at an STi Rob? Yes Morrow has one , but you could delete the fugly spoiler , drive year round , it's faster out of the box by a long shot , it's a real 4 door...ect. Plus since we underwrite the warranty on Subaru's I can get you cost on an extended warranty.No STi will ever drive like an RX8 :) Ugly, crappy gas mileage -- I can see why you think I'd be interested, though.
Discussing the "crappy" gas mileage of the RX8, you guys realized its rated the same as the STi, right?
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm 2006 STI is rated at 16 City / 22 Highway 2006 RX8 is also rated at 16 City / 22 Highway
njansenv wrote: Slightly lower? If I got 21mpg on the highway (typical, I'm told), the RX8 would cost me $5248 in FUEL per year for my driving style. The Vette, at again a typical 28-29mpg would cost me $3798 while providing WAY more power. Over 5 years (who knows, I might keep a car that long someday), driving the RX8 would cost me an extra $7250. That's significant.
The problem with your argument is that you are assuming that ALL of your mileage is Highway. That is highly unlikely. A good 50% of driving is slower stop/go City driving at the lower MPG ratings.
2006 Vette is rated at 16 City and 26 Highway.
Realistically, its a wash on the MPG ratings.
amg_rx7 wrote:ZOO wrote:Discussing the "crappy" gas mileage of the RX8, you guys realized its rated the same as the STi, right? http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm 2006 STI is rated at 16 City / 22 Highway 2006 RX8 is also rated at 16 City / 22 HighwayAutoXR wrote: Why not look at an STi Rob? Yes Morrow has one , but you could delete the fugly spoiler , drive year round , it's faster out of the box by a long shot , it's a real 4 door...ect. Plus since we underwrite the warranty on Subaru's I can get you cost on an extended warranty.No STi will ever drive like an RX8 :) Ugly, crappy gas mileage -- I can see why you think I'd be interested, though.
My comment was tongue in cheek -- STis are ugly, and get crappy gas mileage, which summarizes all of the naysayers comments about the RX8 in this thread, too :)
FWIW, STis are much more expensive that RX8s in Canada, on the used market.
^Gotcha. Hard to figure that out on the internet.
P71.... ducks and runs
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