Looking to buy Mazda RX8 - opinions?

[RAClNG SNAKE]

Furyblade Lee sums up why I loved owning my RX8

Edited by RAClNG SNAKE on Friday 17th April 17:25

[Salesy]

Furyblade Lee wants to get his own bloody car and stop using mine. ;-)

As lee has said it is a secret weapon in our sprint class and very underrated, as we have demonstrated this year already by having the class win and at one point FTD against some seriously fast machinery.

[Rubin215]

There is one up for sale near me that I am tempted by.

It has just been resurrected after a couple of years being laid up and has just had a new clutch, new tyres and a new battery.
Bodywork and interior seem to be in fairly good condition, no major rust spots or scrapes, nice and clean inside with no cracks in the leather,
Under 50k, starts and runs without any issues (even when hot) and I could probably get it for under £1500.

Petrol costs don't really bother me for my "fun" car (I drive a Jag XJR normally...), I don't mind getting my hands dirty (I also have an aircooled beetle) and I accept the risk of a big-bang writing the car off economically (as I said, I drive a Jag XJR...).


What do you think folks?

[wjb]

Rubin215 said:

There is one up for sale near me that I am tempted by.

It has just been resurrected after a couple of years being laid up and has just had a new clutch, new tyres and a new battery.
Bodywork and interior seem to be in fairly good condition, no major rust spots or scrapes, nice and clean inside with no cracks in the leather,
Under 50k, starts and runs without any issues (even when hot) and I could probably get it for under £1500.

Petrol costs don't really bother me for my "fun" car (I drive a Jag XJR normally...), I don't mind getting my hands dirty (I also have an aircooled beetle) and I accept the risk of a big-bang writing the car off economically (as I said, I drive a Jag XJR...).


What do you think folks?

Is it a 231 or 192?
Special edition or standard?


Can you get a rotary compression check done before you buy? if it starts from hot, first turn of the key after being left for 5 minutes (think a quick petrol fill up) then you should be ok.

Consider that it will need a set of genuine mazda, or d585/r969 coils, plus leads and plugs at around £400 all in if you want to keep the engine/ignition sweet, the originals only last 25/30k miles which is one of the reasons there are so many dead engines.

[Rubin215]

wjb said:

Rubin215 said:

There is one up for sale near me that I am tempted by.

It has just been resurrected after a couple of years being laid up and has just had a new clutch, new tyres and a new battery.
Bodywork and interior seem to be in fairly good condition, no major rust spots or scrapes, nice and clean inside with no cracks in the leather,
Under 50k, starts and runs without any issues (even when hot) and I could probably get it for under £1500.

Petrol costs don't really bother me for my "fun" car (I drive a Jag XJR normally...), I don't mind getting my hands dirty (I also have an aircooled beetle) and I accept the risk of a big-bang writing the car off economically (as I said, I drive a Jag XJR...).


What do you think folks?

Is it a 231 or 192?
Special edition or standard?


Can you get a rotary compression check done before you buy? if it starts from hot, first turn of the key after being left for 5 minutes (think a quick petrol fill up) then you should be ok.

Consider that it will need a set of genuine mazda, or d585/r969 coils, plus leads and plugs at around £400 all in if you want to keep the engine/ignition sweet, the originals only last 25/30k miles which is one of the reasons there are so many dead engines.

I believe it is 192 and just a standard car, not a special edition.

Being new to rotary engines, is the method for compression testing different to a standard piston engine?

[wjb]

Rubin215 said:

I believe it is 192 and just a standard car, not a special edition.

Being new to rotary engines, is the method for compression testing different to a standard piston engine?

Quick way to tell if its 192 or 231 is the 231 has headlamp washers, rev counter up to 10k and 6 speed box. 192 no washers, 9k rev limit and 5 speed box.

Yes you'll need a rotary compression test rather than a piston tester. There are quite a few rx7/8 specialists up and down the country who can do it for around £50.

[micron750]

I own a 192 after having 5 Impreza's I fancied a change yes it ain't as quick but bloody hell does it stick to the road by far the best handling car i'very owned,it's thirsty as hell it's sounds bonkers with the toyosport decat and manifold looks fantastic in velocity red I love it.I took the gamble and havn't regretted it its so nice to drive and the bose sound system is just superb they do tend to suffer from low compression which takes a while to start when it's been thrashed buthe day to day it's fine.They are cheap as chips just because of the starting issues I love mine and being rear wheel drive it's such good fun especially in the wet lol take a chance drive one I think you'll find u will quickly get hooked ,many who have had one and sold regretTed doing it the choice is yours lol