rx8's, like all rotaries need to be babied. im not saying to keep the revs under 4k, im saying rev the **** out of it, then after all the fun tell her im sorry i won't do it again, change the oil and stuff when needed, she'll come running back.
also i've heard that when the car is cold, never shut it off. that's one way the engine can flood. leave the car on until it warms up a little then shut it off, if you had to move your car in the winter. im guessing the excess heat left over will burn what remaining fuel is in the chambers.
i love rotaries because they are race engines but i agree they are too much work for people like us, meaning with jobs, bills, girlfriends......or boyfriends?, and life basically. people who race rotaries can rebuild them after every race.
if you want less problems and a good DD, buy a wrx. there 02-03 for maybe 8-9k with 80-90k miles on them. or if you want to raise your budget a little search for 04-05 STi's. those can be around 16k-17k more or less.