I love the RX-8. The beltline's a little higher than I prefer, but everything since the advent of dual airbags is like that. The weight stays under the magic 3000 lbs mark which is definitely important. Power-weight ratio is about the same as the Z, and I figure the RX-8 will have more finesse dancing around a road course what with 300 or so pounds less to tow around and a 50/50 weight distribution. Combine that with the reasonable amount of practicality, cool gadgets/gimmicks, and the general trend as of late of Japanese companies to spend way too much time in the wind tunnel with their sports cars (the Z, for example) and I'm sold.

Oh and before someone says something to the tune of "rotaries blow up a lot" I'll comment. The n/a motors are fine. The only thing that can really go bad and make it grenade are the apex seals. The factory seals were the same on everything from the first 140 hp 13b 6-port to the last version of the 13b-REW in the '02 RX-7 which is rated at the maximum 280 ps. I think people tend to associate the words rotary and unreliable because the turbos like to blow up and an n/a model was last made for the '91 model year.

So whatever, I'm buying one when I graduate. Unless I really like the WRX STi or EVO IX or who knows what else there'll be floating around in a couple years.