Z06EATER

ok guys i kno this may sound kinda stupid, but, i'm a college student, i'm about to sell my E420 for 12,000 and to replace it i'm debating over a fully loaded 2004 RX-8 with navi, 8,000 on the clock, for 22,000 and it's got the touring package. test drove it, very nice car, and light, and fast. then i look at the 2003 C32 for 23,000and about 40K on the clock with i want something good with gas, they both seem to be around the same with gas tho, i love mercedes, but as a college student fixing one wouln't be cheap, the benz is a chick magnet, but so the is the RX-8, what do you guys think? the RX-8 has everything a c32 has excpet that supercharged v-6, plus also, it IS a benz, haha awesome engineering.

Hirnbeiss

Do they make a turbo RX8? I had a turbo RX7, and it was the best sportscar I ever drove (except that the CD player went to hell after two years). I wouldn't call the C32 a sportscar - it's got too much practicality. The rotary is great from a power to weight standpoint. If you like the styling of the 8, I'd recommend it. Of course, you could thing about an SLK 55.

lexrex

Why on earth would you replace an E420 with a C32?

Porsche 996s are getting awfully close to your price range. For example, see this.

ProV1

damn you're getting 12k for a 97 E420?? i sold mine for half of that

Quadcammer

the rx8 is a POS. its no where near fast, was brutally overrated powerwise, and the rotary chews oil on purpose. At least it doesn't have the apex seal issues that came from even a hint of detonation on the rx7.

I would absolutely take the benz over that crapwagon. However, i kind of wonder how you think a C Class is a chick magnet, or why you care?

With respect to the early 996. They have issues. 99s are the worst, and if you think fixing an MB is expensive, porsche stuff will make you cry.

I would consider a C5 corvette for that kinda money. More capable than an Rx8 and about 100x faster.

Hirnbeiss

[QUOTE=Oliverk;2249091]the rx8 is a POS. its no where near fast, was brutally overrated powerwise, and the rotary chews oil on purpose. At least it doesn't have the apex seal issues that came from even a hint of detonation on the rx7.
QUOTE]

Well my 87 RX-7 (2nd generation) was fantastic. I put 60K on it without any problems, and smoked many a Porsche in the process. The engine was fantastic, admittedly the turbo contributed a lot to that, and it never consumed oil excessively. I bought it after test driving it against the competitors in its day, and the Corvette was a stodgy, plasticy POS that wouldn't handle worth a damn. The others were too heavy to be sportscars. And Porsche was pretty dull in comparison. Granted, the cars have evolved into something different, but my guess is that you'd have fun in it. Test drive before you decide.
The Wankel is fantastic - like a two-stroke six-cylinder that revs and revs. Obviously two-strokes feed oil to the top end, but C&D's usage of a quart every 3600 miles sounds neglible compared to many 112 and 113's I've read about. Read C&D's review on the RX-8 last year. The apex seal issues were resolved in the 70's.