RE: Mazda RX-8: PH buying guide
Discussion
I thought they were a lot quicker that 0-60 in 6.4?
I think for all the hassle and the mediocre looks, there are a lot of better options out there.
My 350z has not skipped a beat in 2 years and is fantastic to drive. I think if you want the full rotary experience you may as well go the whole hog and find a nice RX7 and plow your cash into that...
I think for all the hassle and the mediocre looks, there are a lot of better options out there.
My 350z has not skipped a beat in 2 years and is fantastic to drive. I think if you want the full rotary experience you may as well go the whole hog and find a nice RX7 and plow your cash into that...
LotusAlfaV6bloke said:
I had an RX7 (reliable but thirty) and bought a 330i as a replacement which I still own now.
The 330i will not be a "Lexus like" proposition of reliability that many may imagine, with cheap running costs. It will need new suspension every third month to rid it of knocks/bangs just to make it drive correctly (no patent parts for the M-Tech stuff sadly), and will have endless niggles and reliability issues. Plus, it will rust before your very eyes.
My 330i does about 24mpg, and can do 30mpg on the motorway. It is safe, fun, good-ish on fuel - but not reliable or cheap to run overall.
I understand the comments made about road tax only being a few hundred quid more, but that additional "extra" cost for say three years of ownership is quite a lot for a £3k car which may be worth £1500k at the end.
This, bought a 330ci too as a 'reliable' solid method of trasport and had all the above issues and more (cost me around £3.5k in repairs over 2 years for countless issues and expensive parts). It was slow too with little rear wheel-drive fun to be had. Never again.The 330i will not be a "Lexus like" proposition of reliability that many may imagine, with cheap running costs. It will need new suspension every third month to rid it of knocks/bangs just to make it drive correctly (no patent parts for the M-Tech stuff sadly), and will have endless niggles and reliability issues. Plus, it will rust before your very eyes.
My 330i does about 24mpg, and can do 30mpg on the motorway. It is safe, fun, good-ish on fuel - but not reliable or cheap to run overall.
I understand the comments made about road tax only being a few hundred quid more, but that additional "extra" cost for say three years of ownership is quite a lot for a £3k car which may be worth £1500k at the end.
Edited by LotusAlfaV6bloke on Saturday 30th March 13:05
Interesting, the 350z does require a lot of small things to be perfect for it to drive just right- good tyres all matching, a good hunter geo done regularly and suspension bushes/ links replaced as soon as they start to go. It's a heavy car and small niggles show themselves in a big way handling-wise. Sadly as they age most cars aren't very close to their original spec but there are some gems out there.
Mine's set up spot on and I love it- a lot more than the Lotus Exige I used to own which had a weight distribution far off the 49/51 of the 350z (37/63). The RX8 and the Nissan were always closely compared and i've always had a soft spot for them but sadly they seem like a chocolate teapot to me.
Mine's set up spot on and I love it- a lot more than the Lotus Exige I used to own which had a weight distribution far off the 49/51 of the 350z (37/63). The RX8 and the Nissan were always closely compared and i've always had a soft spot for them but sadly they seem like a chocolate teapot to me.
Mr Sparkle said:
When discussing these engines I have heard people say the engine is designed to inject/burn some oil to lubricate. Some say their car burns no oil, does this mean the injector has failed?
Often yes, especially if run on cheap nasty oil or if it's been run low on oil for a while, seen a couple like that.To be fair, there wouldn't have been much point in Mazda doing what it did if the car ended up feeling like it had a honking great V6 up front! And I'm sure that there is an element of personal taste there. It just feels like a big heavy car to me in a way that the Mazda never did. And the ride quality is awful.
True, it does feel solid as a rock and very planted on the road which I do like- I feel it inspires confidence although haven't upgraded dampers/ springs etc for fear of making it too hard.
No real comparison here about RX8 vs S2000? Anyone had any experience with both? I loved the S2000 but in the end didn't seem as great for an everyday car.
No real comparison here about RX8 vs S2000? Anyone had any experience with both? I loved the S2000 but in the end didn't seem as great for an everyday car.
Si_man306 said:
No real comparison here about RX8 vs S2000? Anyone had any experience with both? I loved the S2000 but in the end didn't seem as great for an everyday car.
I don't think there's much of a comparison really. If you want a 2 seater open top sportscar, would you really buy an RX8?For exactly the reverse reason (a need for 4 seats and a liking for coupes) I never considered the S2000 when I bought my RX8.
Someone described the RX8 as having 'mediocre looks' and then praising his 350Z. I have to say, looks are very subjective. Aside from having only 2 seats, the 350Z's always looked a bit crap (other than in profile) to me and, I think, looks worse with the passing of time, whereas the RX8 seems to get better IMHO.
Sure the 350Z's gruntier, but the RX8's more practical, more refined and more 'precise' a drive.
Obviously different people value different things, but anyone thinking a 2 grand RX8 is going to be trouble free is deluding themselves.
In many ways the RX8's original popularity weighs against it. People see it as a 'mainstream' car with issues rather than as a specialist car. They have no problem with the hard to sell when new RX7 turbo which is faster (only a bit in standard form), but was effectively twice the price when new and requires much more upkeep.
The 330 vs RX8 comparison always comes up, but I've driven both (obviously the Mazda much more) and the comparison works much better on paper than in reality. The RX8 is a very different car to the 330, no matter how good the BMW is as a saloon.
My advice to people looking to get a bargain RX8 is look for something else.
I've had mine for 6 years in June as my only car. It had an engine rebuild in December last year (rear bearing failed, probably due to an engine mount breaking - not uncommon) and does about 21 MPG on average. I'm not blind to the faults, but I've not driven anything as practical that I've enjoyed half as much.
M.
PS
V8RX7 said:
I've never tried homosexuality but most of those who have, prefer it - strangely I'm still not tempted.
and from your profile - "Everything I write is a lie..."Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 4th April 10:12
RX8- V S2000
I've got lots of experience of both having got both on the drive way right now.
As earlier poster says - obviously they are different cars for different types of uses but putting aside the obvious convertible v coupe comparison to me they have a lot of similarities in the experience of ownership. I feel that to get most out of either you need to be an enthusiast and look past the flaws in both.
The rx8 has the sweeter chassis and handling and I agree is “precise” which gives driving confidence. The s2000 less so (which is its major flaw) and it is less involving to drive as a result.
Gearboxes feel very similar (six speed)
Both have unique engines that put a smile on the face every time you drive them. Both obviously come alive at higher revs.
We live in Northumberland and have the roads to enjoy them to their full.
We have had the rx8 (231) from new in 2009 – the reason we bought it was its great value - £14.5k new (8 miles on the clock) (pre - registered) that meant it delivered tremendous value for money. So what if its worth diddly now – in terms for £/smile and £/mile its been great when compared with what we would have either got for our £14.5K or what we would have needed to pay then for a new 330 or 350Z. My wife drives the RX8 as her main car and it has done 35k miles with the only thing that has broken being the water temperature sender/coolant expansion bottle which was done under warranty, no need to buy oil wholesale either. Fuel consumption has been about 21 mpg.
The s2000 is my every day car (25k mile in two years – with 3/4 of that with the roof down) and performs that task admirably – lots of motorway miles and then great blasts whenever the opportunity arises – but I don't use it during the winter.
If only Mazda had made a sports car convertible, rotary big brother for the MX5 .............
I've got lots of experience of both having got both on the drive way right now.
As earlier poster says - obviously they are different cars for different types of uses but putting aside the obvious convertible v coupe comparison to me they have a lot of similarities in the experience of ownership. I feel that to get most out of either you need to be an enthusiast and look past the flaws in both.
The rx8 has the sweeter chassis and handling and I agree is “precise” which gives driving confidence. The s2000 less so (which is its major flaw) and it is less involving to drive as a result.
Gearboxes feel very similar (six speed)
Both have unique engines that put a smile on the face every time you drive them. Both obviously come alive at higher revs.
We live in Northumberland and have the roads to enjoy them to their full.
We have had the rx8 (231) from new in 2009 – the reason we bought it was its great value - £14.5k new (8 miles on the clock) (pre - registered) that meant it delivered tremendous value for money. So what if its worth diddly now – in terms for £/smile and £/mile its been great when compared with what we would have either got for our £14.5K or what we would have needed to pay then for a new 330 or 350Z. My wife drives the RX8 as her main car and it has done 35k miles with the only thing that has broken being the water temperature sender/coolant expansion bottle which was done under warranty, no need to buy oil wholesale either. Fuel consumption has been about 21 mpg.
The s2000 is my every day car (25k mile in two years – with 3/4 of that with the roof down) and performs that task admirably – lots of motorway miles and then great blasts whenever the opportunity arises – but I don't use it during the winter.
If only Mazda had made a sports car convertible, rotary big brother for the MX5 .............
Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread but been reading this and wonder if we've just been rather lucky with the 3 rotary cars we've owned, or if its down the low miles I do. Mrs had an RX8 231, agree the power isn't that impressive, and compared to the RX7s a bit sterile. Reliability wise though she had no probs - but it had only 20K on the clock when bought at 6 year old. We put 10K trouble free miles on it.
This cold starting thing, never managed to flood it, even when once accidentally shutting down after only a couple of minutes. Same goes my for other two FD3 RX7s. So apart from backing it out of the drive and turning it off, is it really that much of an issue?
How do I take care of them? Nothing special - cheap dino oil, allow a gentle warm up (I never let the 7s run any boost till warm), rev to limiter every journey (that's not exactly a chore), and you're good to go.
The first RX7 is an auto (I know, the horror, but it was a cheap intro the the FD3 at the time), and is completely stock, it has the dreaded rats nest and runs hot under the bonnet, had that rubbish tiny intercooler too. When I first got it, I took it for a play in Wales and on the way back got suck in a massive jam on the hottest day of the year. Was terrified she might overheat and counted exactly 7 cars with their bonnets up side of road, steam etc - usual case of old cars, first hot day of the year meets a traffic jam. Well the rex didn't miss a beat.
Second RX7 is heavily modified (by previous owner), and due to mods actually runs really cool under bonnet, and better MPG than stock. Both cars have been left standing with very little love by me for the last couple of years due to all kinds of excuses, and when they've been fired up they go on the button. The modded one has a turbo timer for those times when you want people to look at you like a loon locking up a running car.
OK, they're never going to be idiot proof, but if that's what you're after by an old Nissan or something.
This cold starting thing, never managed to flood it, even when once accidentally shutting down after only a couple of minutes. Same goes my for other two FD3 RX7s. So apart from backing it out of the drive and turning it off, is it really that much of an issue?
How do I take care of them? Nothing special - cheap dino oil, allow a gentle warm up (I never let the 7s run any boost till warm), rev to limiter every journey (that's not exactly a chore), and you're good to go.
The first RX7 is an auto (I know, the horror, but it was a cheap intro the the FD3 at the time), and is completely stock, it has the dreaded rats nest and runs hot under the bonnet, had that rubbish tiny intercooler too. When I first got it, I took it for a play in Wales and on the way back got suck in a massive jam on the hottest day of the year. Was terrified she might overheat and counted exactly 7 cars with their bonnets up side of road, steam etc - usual case of old cars, first hot day of the year meets a traffic jam. Well the rex didn't miss a beat.
Second RX7 is heavily modified (by previous owner), and due to mods actually runs really cool under bonnet, and better MPG than stock. Both cars have been left standing with very little love by me for the last couple of years due to all kinds of excuses, and when they've been fired up they go on the button. The modded one has a turbo timer for those times when you want people to look at you like a loon locking up a running car.
OK, they're never going to be idiot proof, but if that's what you're after by an old Nissan or something.
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