I'm about to get one...

[tim the pool man]

Well finally I will soon have the $ available to get the car I started asking about 18 months ago. During that time I have changed my mind several times, for many months I was sure about getting a Z series HSV Clubsport R8. Recently I had second thoughts (I want something more "sporty" looking, a bit more unusual than a Commodore...)
I found myself leaning back to my first choice, a Mazda RX8. I have had several RX7s as well as racing Mazdas for many years. I drove one last week, lovely car, but came away again disppointed with the lack of torque. (WHY don't they do a factory turbo???)

As I said on my "What car?" thread (in 06!) this will be a weekend car, for going out and taking my daughters out when I have them. Really want something comfy, cruisy, dare I say "lazy"? but still sporty.

The answer is now obvious, I'm looking for a VZ (05/06) CV8 manual (that makes it hard in Perth ) in devil yellow...

Wish me luck so far I have found one in Sydney, exactly what I want and only 25,000km on it. About to arrange an inspection.
ETA: In terms of distance from me, think: You're in London, the car is in Lebanon...

Edited by tim the pool man on Tuesday 19th February 08:51

[ads_green]

I was quite surprised just how good the handling is of the rx8.

However, agree that the engine just really isn't up to it. Also, I've heard horror stories on oil and fuel consumption.

[tim the pool man]

ads_green said:

I was quite surprised just how good the handling is of the rx8.

However, agree that the engine just really isn't up to it. Also, I've heard horror stories on oil and fuel consumption.

Oil & fuel were a non issue for me. I've had plenty of rotaries, and TBH it's nowhere near as bad as people make out. IMO you should check your oil in ANY car... doesn't take much effort really.
I suppose I got used to it early in life, having bought the RX3 that became my race car when I was 19ish.

The RX8 is a fantastic car, it just needs more power (or more specfically, more low to mid range torque) The RX7 turbo had it in spades, I seriously considered buying a high milage RX8 and doing an engine swap... Maybe when I get bored with the Munro

[tim the pool man]

Oh, and without looking it up, guess what I will pay for a standard CV8 here, where these cars are made?

[Monnington]

tim the pool man said:

Oh, and without looking it up, guess what I will pay for a standard CV8 here, where these cars are made?

Could be wrong but I seem to remember reading somewhere that they're quite expensive over there??

Happy to ship mine over if the price is right ;-) (think of the exclusivity of that Vauxhall badge).....

[tim the pool man]

Between $40-$50K (around £19-23K)...

[tim the pool man]

I have arranged for the car in Sydney to be inspected tomorrow. Speaking to the vendor he seems a top chap, regional manager for a German IT company so in SE Asia most weeks, car only used on weekends.

In other news, got a quote for insurance, fully comp for $45K, no restrictions, multi (ie no need to name) other drivers, $900. (just over £400)

Edited by tim the pool man on Wednesday 20th February 07:44

[ads_green]

tim the pool man said:

ads_green said:

I was quite surprised just how good the handling is of the rx8.

However, agree that the engine just really isn't up to it. Also, I've heard horror stories on oil and fuel consumption.

Oil & fuel were a non issue for me. I've had plenty of rotaries, and TBH it's nowhere near as bad as people make out. IMO you should check your oil in ANY car... doesn't take much effort really.
I suppose I got used to it early in life, having bought the RX3 that became my race car when I was 19ish.

The RX8 is a fantastic car, it just needs more power (or more specfically, more low to mid range torque) The RX7 turbo had it in spades, I seriously considered buying a high milage RX8 and doing an engine swap... Maybe when I get bored with the Munro

Dont get me wrong - I really like rotary engines and the rx7 although unrefined in places was a storming car. The ceramic tip rotors available now pretty much kill off the wear and chamber leakage issues
Checking the oil is a no brainer but have you seen where the dip stick is on the rx8? It's in a nightmare place and to make things worse is "L" shaped. The problem alot of people (ok, 3) I know who bought (and all sold) the rx8 said that great car but the oil consunption was about 1 ltr/1000 miles and fuel mpg was nowhere near claimed figures.

One thing that impressed me isthat I'm used to looking at the urban mpg as the real world combined - but on the vxr8 I pretty much exceed all VX's figures

Edited by ads_green on Wednesday 20th February 11:18

[SS HSV]

ads_green said:

I was quite surprised just how good the handling is of the rx8.

However, agree that the engine just really isn't up to it. Also, I've heard horror stories on oil and fuel consumption.

So true. The RX7 was a favourite for which engine conversion? Yep, The LSx. Won't be long before it starts to happen with the RX8. I love the way the rotary's spin up to ridiculous speeds and they make that fantastic noise, but like a Rari, they make little torque. Mazda Rotary's can be stacked up just like bolting on another 2/4 cylinders.

[ads_green]

SS HSV said:

ads_green said:

I was quite surprised just how good the handling is of the rx8.

However, agree that the engine just really isn't up to it. Also, I've heard horror stories on oil and fuel consumption.

So true. The RX7 was a favourite for which engine conversion? Yep, The LSx. Won't be long before it starts to happen with the RX8. I love the way the rotary's spin up to ridiculous speeds and they make that fantastic noise, but like a Rari, they make little torque. Mazda Rotary's can be stacked up just like bolting on another 2/4 cylinders.

The rx7s felt like the engines were built out of iron but the new ones are obviously something else - what makes me wonder is the constant number of special editions (turning into another elise game) which amount to paint jobs and tat bolted to the car with no power increase. I'm surprised as customers have been on at Mazda for years to get a hot R version of the rx8 but no joy. It would suggest that the engine is considerably harder to tune that the rx7 lump

[tim the pool man]

tim the pool man said:

I have arranged for the car in Sydney to be inspected tomorrow. Speaking to the vendor he seems a top chap, regional manager for a German IT company so in SE Asia most weeks, car only used on weekends.

In other news, got a quote for insurance, fully comp for $45K, no restrictions, multi (ie no need to name) other drivers, $900. (just over £400)

Edited by tim the pool man on Wednesday 20th February 07:44

A mix of good and bad news...

The car checked out really well, if anyone needs a car inspected in Sydney I can recommend "Trakonline". Service was superb, the girl I spoke to on the phone was so professional, courteous, knowledgable etc that I sent an email to the company, makes a nice change. The inspector spent over 2 hours on the car and I got a detailed report online including photos.

I made an offer on the car expecting to be negotiated half way, the vendor accepted my first offer

I've been getting quotes for transporting it to Perth, a bit more than I expected...

I've been trying to deal with NSW RTA to transfer ownership in NSW, but they tell me I have to go in person. I explained I am in Perth but was met with the public servant's war cry "It's policy". So you expect me to fly to Sydney to fill in a form? "Yes, it's policy"

So now I either have to waste 2 days and $800 (yes that's $800 for an internal flight ) going to Sydney to fill in a form, or transfer ownership in WA, which will cost me $3000 in stamp duty... (compared to around $1400 in NSW). In midwinter I would take a short holiday in NSW, but this time of year time is money...

To be continued.

[tim the pool man]

Quick update, car gets picked up in Sydney tomorrow, the 10 days (!) to get to Perth.

[Irish_Stu]

I know a fair few backpackers would be only too happy to drive the car across for ya :-D

How much do they charge to transport the car across? Does it go on the train or on a road-train or what?

Man I love WA, Coral Bay is probably my favourite place on the whole planet...

[Fluffsri/cv8]

very nice mate!

[anonymous-user]

Very nice. I like those wheels, what size are they?

[tim the pool man]

wormus said:

Very nice. I like those wheels, what size are they?

Not sure, I think they are 18". I'm not sure if I like them, will wait to see them in the flesh. Has near new PZero Rossos on them.

Edited by tim the pool man on Wednesday 5th March 14:22

[Twin Turbo]

Nice one Tim....she's a beaut

[chrispaull]

I'll fly over and drive it back for you, give me an excuse to watch some supercar racing! worked on a farm east of Geraldton, and a sheep station east of shark bay a few years back,( I'll never forget those holden kingswood utes), thats enough of me bleating, drive and enjoy. (chap i worked for had an rx7, nutter!!!)

[Fluffsri/cv8]

Just had a look on multimap as one of my colleagus said its a bloody long way. Its Perth WA we presume from sydney................thats a 2460 mile road trip!!

[tim the pool man]

Fluffsri/cv8 said:

Just had a look on multimap as one of my colleagus said its a bloody long way. Its Perth WA we presume from sydney................thats a 2460 mile road trip!!

Yep. I've driven East twice, never again. Driving it home would add 20% to the car's low milage. As I said in another thread, like buying a car in Lebanon when you're in London.