Hey guys, I've been a member here on the forums for quite awhile, and now I am fortunate enough to be able to finally get back in the rotary scene again. I am posting this in the 2nd gen section because I think I will get more relevant replies than the lounge, as you guys are 2nd gen owners just like I was.

I recently have saved enough money to buy a Turbo II Fc (ive owned an N/A, and only test driven a Turbo II.) However, being bored on craigslist, I searched for an Rx8, and they are just about the same price as what a Turbo II would go for, maybe a bit more.

I've always wanted an RX-8 sine highschool, but I've owned two FD's and one S4 GXL. Now here is my question.

Would you guys rather go for a S4 or S5 Turbo II, or an 04-05 RX8. Both of them have appealing factors to me, the RX8 being newer and having some modern conveniences. The FC having its heritage, 80's body style/interior, and performance, and just..feel about it.

I felt like i'd ask you guys what you would do in this position, or if you have any advice, feel free to chime in. Thanks guys

 

If you have always wanted an RX8, just get one or you will always regret it. One day I finally bought my dream car (S4 T2) in a spur of the moment frustrated with life thing. Car wasn't anything nice. But I'm glad I made the purchase and I love it even though I only driven it one day so far (project car).

Get your dream car. Have a different car for a daily driver.

 

I've done homework on what our asking.

If you want the fun and feel of BOOOSSTTT, then TII is your choice. S4 or S5 is personal choice, both have their advantages over the other. But either are 20+ year old cars, so be prepared for a lot of old worn out part replacement like dried out rubber bushings.

RX8 will handle better and obviously everything is relatively new. But 8's are more expensive to maintain as good used parts aren't near as available.

With good maintenance, either can be good daily drivers.

 

if daily and going to stay fairly stock- RX8
for fun car you know you will modify- FC

 

Having driven both an RX8 and owning my own TII S4, for over all comfort and fun factor... I'd go with the TII. The seats hug you in a TII, I found my self thinking I was in a RSX with large seats while driving the RX8. I like to be held by stock seats and not feel compelled to upgrade the seats right out of the gate.

 

haha I own all 3 turbo fc, fd, and rx8!

I suppose it depends if its a daily driver? if its a daily driver id go with the rx8, it has vastly better chassis and handling than a t2, better brakes and abs, and traction control, the wipers will work on all settings, the lsd in the rx8 wont be worn out, windows will work, ac, heated seats, even some have nav. you can even confortably transport people in the back. very practical,

if your really into moding,and want to be able to go faster in a straight line the t2 would be the choise, as the rx8 has very little room for power upgrades in n/a format, and boosting the 8 is still pretty expensive and unreliable. however as others have stated everything is old and worn out, but parts can easily be had.

if purchasing an 04-05 be weary of high mileage original engine cars, as there was an omp problem the first years which caused a lot of excessive wear on the engines. finding one with an engine replaced may be better or seeing when it had the omp fixing ecu flash done? also coil packs wearing out is a pretty common problem on them as well.

I suppose with a t2 you would never know if the engine would last either though even if its been rebuilt.
Also with boost reliabily further decreases and tuning becomes critical,(seeing you've owned fds you probably know what your getting into) tho

 

i've got both too. the Rx8 is way better in every way, except mods are pointless, and the FC looks better.

the FC is also made from brittle plastic, so the interior is broken, the Rx8 is made with much better stuff, and its made to come apart. you can remove the Rx8 interior in about 20 minutes, which is nice when you want to clean the previous owner off of it.

replacing the engine on the Rx8 is apparently not as easy as the FC, but everything else is WAY easier, there is hardly anything on the Rx8 that takes more than 18 minutes to replace*.

on the modding front, the engine is pretty maxed out from the factory, the suspension is just magic, stock. the suspension is also fully adjustable, stock, so you can have your alignment and not have to buy a bunch of parts, like you do for the FC, S13/14, Brz.

on the con side, its an 2004 car, which means that there are more warning lights, and getting these all off can be a PITA. also things like the keys need to be programmed, which is a dealer only thing. the engines are weak, have it compression tested before you buy

the FC's are great, but it seems like the average one just needs a complete restoration at this point, they all have either been in accidents, or had bizarre stuff done to them mechanically, and parts suck. sure the stuff that nobody needs is cheap, but when you're putting one together, you're ALWAYS looking for some part that is either $1000 new, hard to find used, and ONLY came on YOUR FC, and all the others are different…


*at the dealership they take a 60 minute hour, and divide by 10 to get "clicks", 6 minutes. just about everything on the Rx8 is a 2-3 click job. even things like a clutch are only about 2 hours, if you have a lift.

 

I have experience with all these cars as well.
The RX8 is in every measurable way a far superior car to the FC but I never warmed to its looks and found the rear seats to be less useful than the FC's commodious hatch.
The FC is a better fit for me (the greenhouse is much more expansive than either the RX8 or the FD7 and in NA form at least, is easier to maintain (all bets off with turbo).

The FD is the most glorious of the three, IMO.
Despite it's many flaws (and our V-8 swapped car had it's share), that car got more attention than any other car I've ever driven (and I've had some weird ****).
I'd run the FD- and put up with it's flaws- as DD just because it always made me grin to see it.

Exclude the FD from the discussion and I'd go with the FC.
The 8 is a better car but the extra registration and insurance fees aren't worth it to me.

 

I guess I should have clarified more in my original post, whichever one I go with, I will be modifying it. Not crazy race prepped track modified, but quick/fun daily driver modified.

I never approached the idea of buying an 8 and keeping it N/A. Boost is a requirement for owning one, as I know these motors are pretty limited from bolt on gains in N/A form.

The only thing that i've noticed that is really unfortunate right now, in my area, ALL of the FC's listed ong craigslist are verts. every. single. one.

I want a Turbo II (S4/S5, doesnt matter, as long as it isnt a hackjob and is mostly stock/original) But none just seem to be in my area.

8's on the other hand, quite a few.

So I guess from you rx8 and rx7 owners, if you were to boost an 8, and have a Turbo II, which one would you prefer? (since the cost of a turbo kit for the eight is up there, lets leave the cash for that out of the equation)