Renault Clio, Vauxhall Corsa - regrettably, RX-7
The man has a taste for rotary Mazdas...
"With an RX-7 FD as a weekend car and a terrible Corsa B as a daily, I needed a cheap, economical and reliable car to get me to and from work to replace the Corsa which was falling to pieces. After a lot of man maths I somehow decided that I should buy an RX-8 instead. After yet more man maths, tripling my original budget, I decided to go for one of the later R3 models and after a week of searching found a lovely example owner by a fellow Rotorhead."
What I wish I'd known:
"Owning an FD, I already knew the good and bad points of the rotary engine and I did a lot of research before buying, so there's nothing really that took me by surprise after making the purchase - though I have to say fuel economy is slightly worse than I was expecting."
When this is the sensible daily you've got it bad
"I love the engine most of all; it's silky smooth and is a complete lunatic, revving as high as 9,500rpm before the bounce. The car wants to be thrashed and encourages you to do so. It also handles like it is on rails too - every corner is an absolute joy to tackle! The 19-inch alloys and other features exclusive to the R3 all make the car that little bit nicer too."
Things I hate:
"For a car that is no faster than a mid-range hot hatch, the running costs are ludicrous, I average 16mpg and tax is a whopping £490, it does have a thirst for oil too and checking the oil level so frequently is a bit of a pain. I don't like the looks much either, I find RX-8s to be quite ugly; though the R3 body kit mine has does improve the looks slightly."
Track day saw single digit mpg - and big grin
"For a 21-year-old, insurance is pretty cheap, I pay £1,400 for both the RX-7 and RX-8 on a multi-car policy. Servicing is very cheap too; I am lucky enough to have a friend who not only does the work for next to nothing but is also a great mechanic who knows a lot about the RX-8's unique engine. I also run Bridgestone Potenzas - they're great tyres but my wallet isn't too keen on them."
Where I've been:
"I've been to a few Sunday Services, done a lot of hooning around Essex and Hertfordshire and I did my first track day (where I averaged 6mpg!) in February. I'd love to do a 'ring trip but that is pending a Lotto win."
What next?
"After going on the PHN American Dream Tour I really want a convertible V8 - so a TVR Chimaera is definitely what I'm aiming for within the next 18 months, but for now I'll just enjoy the lovely '8!"
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