So when it came time for me to look at buyin a new car, I first thought about what I could spend and what I was looking for. Somewhere in the $30k range and a little bit of everything, respectively.

Now....the contenders:
Ford Mach 1
Acura TL
Mazda RX-8
Infiniti G35c
and just for fun.......a Honda CBR600-F4i

Before I even went to any dealerships I counted out the Mach 1, TL, and the bike cuz I knew I'd probably kill myself in the bike and as far as the Mustang, well I own one now and just felt like a change. Plus I didn't feel like I got enough car for the money.

I actually considered the TL for a little while but I knew I wouldn't be happy with it.....I'm 22 so still personally too young for a sedan, and I never did really like Honda anyways.

On to the real competition!
One day after work I decided wtf and went to the Infiniti dealership and afterwards, Mazda. Fortunately for me (as you'll find out later) Ray Catena Infiniti didn't have a 6MT for me to take for a test drive since the G35s were selling like crazy. So after talking to the salesperson for a while, on to Open Road Mazda.

After talking to the salesperson for a few minutes we were on our way (did I mention he had a lot FILLED with RX-8s?). While I must say that I loved the car and was very impressed with what it had to offer, on paper and off, I wasn't exactly sure if it was for me. But I knew it was worth considering. Ten more minutes of sales talk and on homeward.

On the way home I thought about taking a 5AT for a ride just to get a feel for the car, so back to Ray Catena.

The G35s are so hot right now, the only automatic available for a ride was the GMs car....not bad.

So we take the laser red coupe for a ride and from the moment I pulled it onto the road I knew it was for me. I litteraly felt like the car was built around me....it just fit. We pull back into the lot and park right in front of the dealership (you know, the one with the ALL glass front , and I catch a glimpse of my reflection driving the car....that was the clincher! After all that I had to drive a half hour home and it wasn't until I got home that I thought about the RX-8 again. I had forgot I even took it for a ride!

So two days later I was back in the very same Ray Catena dealership putting my deposit down for the Diamond Graphite, Graphite Leather G35 6MT equipped with Aero Kit and Premium Package that I still have to wait 11 days to arrive. Man, July 29th cannot get here fast enough, it's like Christmas.

So that's my story and I'm stickin to it, I dunno if anyone cared but I'm bored tonight and had nothing else to do. If I'm the only one to read this then so be it...at least it'll help me remember my ride in the Mazda, cuz driving the Infiniti sure makes me forget it

Why yes.... I AM a rocket scientist!

 

cool beans

 

I went to a local car club meet today and talked with an RX-8 owner and checked out his car. Even though I haven't driven one before, it is indeed a very nice car! Very stylish and great fit and finish.

I too had to test drive a 5AT Coupe before buying, as no 6MT's were available. But when it arrives and you get to drive it home, I'm sure you'll figure out a really long way to get home. Congrats on your purchase! Enjoy! (By the way, 11 days is nothing compared to an average wait time of 3 to 4 months)

G35C 6MT BS/G - Z Tube/Popcharger/AL Pedals/Clear Corners/Skyline 350GT badging
A chick who can drive stick is OK in my books!

 

Hey, I was wondering what kind of deal you got on the car? How much off MSRP did they offer? I hear Ray Catena's a pretty tough dealership to negotiate with...

 

Yeah they are, I also went to Park Ave Infiniti in Engelwood and they both told me that I would be very lucky to get $500 off the cost of the car

Why yes.... I AM a rocket scientist!

 

Your story is like so many of ours. The car just seems to have screamed "buy me now" to us. My '03 coupe is identical to yours + nav. I've had it for over a year now, and driving it home last night was still just as much of a kick as ever. No car has ever given me as much enjoyment as this one. You're going to love yours...

 

I know what you mean about looking good in the car. Its a really great looking car from every angle, but especially from the side. When I first saw the G35 Coupe in a picture in Motor Trend, I knew I had to have one.

The RX-8 looks nice too, but not nearly as classy, sophisticated, and muscular looking as the G35C.

You chose well [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

2003 G35C, 6MT, DG/G, Aero/Nav/Premium
2002 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue/Black, headers, intake, exhaust, 380 rwhp

 

the RX-8 is disgusting, especially with those bulging wheel wells...it looks like a praying mantis is coming to eat me - but then i realize it's only a mazda.

Jeff - Look for me in the black G
2004.5 G35 Coupe
5AT / Black on Black / Premium / Splash / ClearCorners

 

I wouldn't say it's disgusting, but it looks too 'cute' to me. Aggressive and trendy, but that front air dam looks like Pikachu's mouth along with its bulbous body. Still, it's a Mazda, which means you will enjoy infamous quality, reliability, resale and service issues.

 

Sucks that you had a Mustang before. At least you see the light now, and went import. Although the RX-8 is pretty cool since its light, the interior is ugly, the outside is decent at best, and the engine... While being an ultra-cool, high revving rotary and what not.. burns gas like a ****. That would be the turn off for me. You know what's worse? To get the car moving (fast anyways) you gotta WOT until high rpms to get some torque and hp going anyway. Averaging like 14 mpg (my friend has a nice modded RX-8) without revving high all the time has to be a bust especially with our skillful and ridiculously poignant President George W. Bush's "victory"(failure) in Iraq over "terrorism" (oil). After achieving the highest gas prices in U.S. history, I feel bad already when I have to shift at 5-6k because I see ricers in my mirrors. Imagine having do to that in an RX-8 and getting like 8 mpg. That would be almost as bad as the gas bills that those soccer mom's with 2 kids driving massive SUV's on 23" chromes. Finally I must admit that I was lured into the G35 coupe as much as any of these other older guys. After test driving the G35 coupe 6MT, almost immediately following the test drive of a Track version 350Z, I fell in love (literally). In a week , I had searched around and found the exact car and options I wanted without having to order one (miracle). All that useless sh*t being said and done. ENJOY because we all do!

Black / Black 2004 GcoupeMT. Premium. Splash Guardz.

 

It was like night and day driving the RX-8 and the G35. I got in the Mazda and it was a little weird, I felt kind of akward. But I slid right into the G and it was like magic. From the way the seats supported me to the controls, the steering wheel, shifter. I just felt at home in the car and haven't felt this passionate about many things before.

Why yes.... I AM a rocket scientist!

 

[sarcasm] Hmmm, an import-loving liberal democrat. I can tell we'll get along really well [/sarcasm] [img]/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Hey, if you're so worried about fuel economy, you should have bought a new Vette. My modded Z06 with bolt-ons gets 34 MPG on the highway and cranks out 450hp.

2003 G35C, 6MT, DG/G, Aero/Nav/Premium
2002 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue/Black, headers, intake, exhaust, 380 rwhp

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

Still, it's a Mazda, which means you will enjoy infamous quality, reliability, resale and service issues.

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Maybe Mazda isn't what it used to be, but I had two Rx7s, an '84 and an '86, and they were both outstanding in terms of quality and reliability, seemingly similar to our Infiniti (Nissan) Gs. Has Mazda's quality really tanked that badly or is this just glib message-board bashing of a competing brand?

 

Hahahaha Z06ified.

I do love imports, both German and Japanese, and I am a liberal. However, have you seen the democratic party lately? If I was 18 and could vote on this election, the only reason I would vote for Kerry is so I can oust Bush. Other than that, it's like voting for bad or worse.

I would not consider a domestic car at gun point, much less get in one. I mean what other sports car can displace 4.6L and only put out 260hp? The hp / L output of our VQ's is pretty ugly itself... isn't it around 86bhp / L or something but we can put on some mods and break 300bhp pretty easily. That's a whole different topic. BUT the Z06 would be the only exception to my negativity against domestic market. It's really the one American car I have respect for. =)

By the way, I'm sure we can have solid mpg when we're cruising at 80mph for a while right?

Black / Black 2004 GcoupeMT. Premium. Splash Guardz.

 

other satisfied Ray Catena customer.......................

I wheelie my R1 for blocks!!!!!!!