2006 RX8 Prodrive PZ

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Discussion

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Sunday 8th May 2016
quotequote all
Thought I'd post up this Mazda RX8 PZ I bought last week (03/05/16). Been thinking of getting one for a few years, I've always liked the RX8, but was put off a bit by the usual internet/pub horror stories.

I've played it safe the past couple of years with a Bmw 320d, that's gone now (almost) so it was time for something a bit more exciting.

I know the RX8 has a bad rep on here, and I agree it's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me!

The PZ is my first rotary, but not my first Japanese performance car, I've had a quite few, my top 3 being Celica GT4 ST205, Impreza Prodrive RB5 & Evo 8 FQ300.

I'm really enjoying it so far, had a little clean and tidy yesterday, she wasn't that bad inside to be fair, could still do with a proper valet though and the bodywork is a bit rough around the edges too, but I'll sort that out later.

Some pics;

















Like I say she isn't perfect, but seems like a decent buy so far, one of only 800 made so quite rare on today's roads.

Getting booked in for a check up asap.

Edited by wjb on Monday 30th May 12:25

andyastrasri

166 posts

97 months

Sunday 8th May 2016
quotequote all
Nice looking RX8 you have there

I remember the first time I hit the "buzzer" in my 231, great car, you have to be really on your game to get the best out of one

I didnt think it was as lacking in torque as all the reviews said

Did you have recent compression test results ?

Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Sunday 8th May 2016
quotequote all
Lovely cars, I think you do need balls of steel to have one.

We've just taken one as part exchange that was rebuilt last year and it's fked again!

giveitfish

4,030 posts

213 months

Sunday 8th May 2016
quotequote all
Just like my old one! Lovely car to drive.

When you start it from cold, make sure you don't turn it off again for at least a few minutes. They're a bd to get going once they flood.

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Monday 9th May 2016
quotequote all
Cheers guys, it's a great car, handling is excellent, and more than enough power for a road car.

It starts hot/cold so no real obvious engine worries, but it's booked in for a service, comp test and health check at RX8 specialists rotary revs, I'll take it from there.



Edited by wjb on Monday 9th May 16:26

andyastrasri

166 posts

97 months

Monday 9th May 2016
quotequote all
Have you read up about adding some two stroke along with fuel ?

DMN

2,983 posts

138 months

Monday 9th May 2016
quotequote all
Looks very good.

As above make sure you pre-mix with some two stroke oil in the petrol tank. About 100-125ml per tank. Also I've read that cataclean is good for cleaning soot out of the engine. Do not use redex or anything else, apparantly only cataclean will do. Something about other cleaners damaging other components.

Have a read here for info about compression: http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php...

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Monday 9th May 2016
quotequote all
Cheers guys, and yes I'm a member over on rx8oc thumbup

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Monday 9th May 2016
quotequote all
DMN said:
Looks very good.

As above make sure you pre-mix with some two stroke oil in the petrol tank. About 100-125ml per tank. Also I've read that cataclean is good for cleaning soot out of the engine. Do not use redex or anything else, apparantly only cataclean will do. Something about other cleaners damaging other components.

Have a read here for info about compression: http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php...
Good thread that, certainly does dispel some of the myths.

wst

3,494 posts

160 months

Monday 9th May 2016
quotequote all
giveitfish said:
When you start it from cold, make sure you don't turn it off again for at least a few minutes. They're a bd to get going once they flood.
The other alternative is to hold the revs at about 4500 and turn the key. It seems a bit extreme but at least the car hasn't a turbo.

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Tuesday 10th May 2016
quotequote all
Yep, aware of the flooding issues, I've not had any probs so far with it though, my wife did ask me to move it off the drive so she could get the x5 out, imagine my horror!

I managed to squeeze the x5 past smile

Robbins

110 posts

136 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
Nice car and welcome to the Rotary fold!

I thought all Prodrive PZ RX8s were black? PZ is the Mazda paint code for black on RX-7s so assumed it was the same for RX8s?

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
Robbins said:
Nice car and welcome to the Rotary fold!

I thought all Prodrive PZ RX8s were black? PZ is the Mazda paint code for black on RX-7s so assumed it was the same for RX8s?
Cheers mate, didn't know about the paint code reference.

There were 800 prodrive pz's made, 480 in brilliant black, 320 in Galaxy Grey.

Only 516 taxed on the road according to "how many left"

Robbins

110 posts

136 months

Wednesday 11th May 2016
quotequote all
wjb said:
Robbins said:
Nice car and welcome to the Rotary fold!

I thought all Prodrive PZ RX8s were black? PZ is the Mazda paint code for black on RX-7s so assumed it was the same for RX8s?
Cheers mate, didn't know about the paint code reference.

There were 800 prodrive pz's made, 480 in brilliant black, 320 in Galaxy Grey.

Only 516 taxed on the road according to "how many left"
Ah ok. Interesting to know.

Stokemon

76 posts

194 months

Thursday 12th May 2016
quotequote all
I purchased my RX8 in December and I'm absolutely loving it! Took me 2 years to convince myself it was a good idea, and I wish I'd just got it then.

Horror stories just haven't happened, keep it maintained and like any car it will run like a dream. Avoid turning off cold at all costs, know where your nearest petrol station is at all times, and hit the beep at least once a day :-)

The reason for the pz name is pretty rubbish really. P for prodrive, z comes from the addition of the oz wheels.

Mine is a winning blue 192 (I'm only 23), I really wish they made the PZ in winning blue.

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Friday 13th May 2016
quotequote all
Stokemon said:
I purchased my RX8 in December and I'm absolutely loving it! Took me 2 years to convince myself it was a good idea, and I wish I'd just got it then.

Horror stories just haven't happened, keep it maintained and like any car it will run like a dream. Avoid turning off cold at all costs, know where your nearest petrol station is at all times, and hit the beep at least once a day :-)

The reason for the pz name is pretty rubbish really. P for prodrive, z comes from the addition of the oz wheels.

Mine is a winning blue 192 (I'm only 23), I really wish they made the PZ in winning blue.
Nice one, glad you haven't had any problems, me neither but it's only been a week and a bit!

Winning blue is a great colour, my neighbour has a vxr in a similar blue so that ruled that out!

I test drove a 192, they're a great car to be fair, hard pushed to tell the difference in normal driving with a 231.

Did a load of short trips in the PZ yesterday, about 10 hot and cold starts at shops & petrol stations (obviously) she didn't miss a beat.

Booked in for service on Tuesday.

Edited by wjb on Friday 13th May 10:01

andyastrasri

166 posts

97 months

Friday 13th May 2016
quotequote all
I really enjoyed my RX8 231, at the time I was covering 500miles a week to and from work, it was costing me a packet in fuel, on a not particularly enjoyable commute

I always felt a bit like I was sitting on a financial ticking time bomb, especially combined with my mileage (my car had covered 63K), so I moved my car on after 5 months of ownership

I really enjoyed the experience and am glad I have ticked the rotary box now

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Friday 13th May 2016
quotequote all
andyastrasri said:
I really enjoyed my RX8 231, at the time I was covering 500miles a week to and from work, it was costing me a packet in fuel, on a not particularly enjoyable commute

I always felt a bit like I was sitting on a financial ticking time bomb, especially combined with my mileage (my car had covered 63K), so I moved my car on after 5 months of ownership

I really enjoyed the experience and am glad I have ticked the rotary box now
500 miles a week is some going in a car like an RX8, I only do about 100 miles a week, and there's only a tiny bit of each journey that has some traffic, nice benefit of living in the rural north smile

Hopefully I can keep her for a long time, I actually look forward to driving again now, which just didn't happen in my old BMW.


Edited by wjb on Friday 13th May 17:45

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Monday 16th May 2016
quotequote all
andyastrasri said:
Have you read up about adding some two stroke along with fuel ?
DMN said:
Looks very good.

As above make sure you pre-mix with some two stroke oil in the petrol tank. About 100-125ml per tank. Also I've read that cataclean is good for cleaning soot out of the engine. Do not use redex or anything else, apparantly only cataclean will do. Something about other cleaners damaging other components.

Have a read here for info about compression: http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php...
I picked up some Castrol Power 1 Racing 2T to premix today. thumbup

wjb

Original Poster:

5,100 posts

130 months

Tuesday 17th May 2016
quotequote all
Clean bill of health at Rotary Revs! spin