They look great, they sound cool, they're comfortable and their rear wheel drive
I test drove one when I was looking for a replacement to my WRX, I was underwhelmed with the power, though the rotary is a very high rev engine so I'd suspect part of that is due to the fact you have to rev the piss out of them to get into the power band.
Steering felt very "nervous" compared to my WRX as well. Maintenance on a rotary is
DIFFERENT than a normal piston engine too so that's something to keep in mind.
I also test drove a 350Z... FWIW the 8 had a stiffer feeling chassis than then the WRX and the 350 was stiffer than the 8, the 8 felt like it had more power than the 350 but the WRX decimated them both. overall steering response and "planted" feeling in the corners was the WRX then the 350 then the 8... even thought he WRX had more flex it felt "lighter" in the corners, it would react strong and appropriately.... by comparison the 8 felt like a go-kart, initial turn in was quick but the car felt very heavy and lumbering after that.
An FD chassis is superior in almost every aspect, though an 8 is obviously much easier to find, I know a few people who own 8s and love them.
I'd take a GD impreza over an 8 personally, but that's me.
no harm in test driving one
my bro has an FD and it is leaking oil and has a boost leak. haha. Those rotaries are bitches. you drive it hard it blows a vacuum hose. they are there for looks. man it's just too high maintenance. you gotta have money to own one. my bro had the engine rebuilt with new apex seals too. paid someone else to do it, and it still has problems. this car caught fre under the hood and burned all the sensors and harnesses. my bro fixed it over course of two and half years. fd parts are expensive as hell. yikes. luckily he bought the car for 4k only. good luck with rotaries. I hope the rx8 is different.