Quick Question RX8 or Civic EP3
Discussion
Do you want a hot hatch or a coupe?
The RX-8 is a sports coupe and as such requires care and attention. You need to remember to avoid short journeys, keep a check on the oil, and be prepared to keep on top of servicing and maintenance. If you don't it will break. In return you get better handling, a unique engine and rwd.
The civic will likely take much more abuse. Obviously it will still be best to look after it, but the result of neglect (by you or the previous owner) is much less severe. You'll get better mpg, go just as fast in a straight line, and be able to carry more stuff. But you'll look like you are delivering bread.
Only buy an RX-8 if you want an RX-8. It's too high maintenance to buy if you just want a fast family car. If, on consideration, it is what you want, then take your time, buy well with a proper rotary compression test and they are awesome cars. I don't know how much your Saab is worth, but you're looking at 2.5k for an RX-8 2004, or thereabouts.
The RX-8 is a sports coupe and as such requires care and attention. You need to remember to avoid short journeys, keep a check on the oil, and be prepared to keep on top of servicing and maintenance. If you don't it will break. In return you get better handling, a unique engine and rwd.
The civic will likely take much more abuse. Obviously it will still be best to look after it, but the result of neglect (by you or the previous owner) is much less severe. You'll get better mpg, go just as fast in a straight line, and be able to carry more stuff. But you'll look like you are delivering bread.
Only buy an RX-8 if you want an RX-8. It's too high maintenance to buy if you just want a fast family car. If, on consideration, it is what you want, then take your time, buy well with a proper rotary compression test and they are awesome cars. I don't know how much your Saab is worth, but you're looking at 2.5k for an RX-8 2004, or thereabouts.
Ephraim said:
...too high maintenance...
Seriously? Yes, they need a bit more attention than your average Focus, but 10 minutes every weekend checking the oil and coolant levels, and changing the oil, filter & plugs every 6 months (depending on how anal you are) is "too high maintenance"?jay140285 said:
Well I have got an RX8 coming,
2004 dark grey, black leather 50k, full mazda service history with proof of correct oil used all the time, just had new plugs and fliters.
Sounds like a good example, fingers crossed it pays off for you! I get sad reading about RX8s dying, I want them to be reliable, I am a big fan of RX7s, but could never afford to run one, or an 8.2004 dark grey, black leather 50k, full mazda service history with proof of correct oil used all the time, just had new plugs and fliters.
I see two chavved to f
k RX8s near me, driven by barry boys and abused as per their norm. One has lots of stuck on carbon fibre over the doors etc and looks stupid. I wonder how long it will take them to go pop. The Flying Ox said:
Seriously? Yes, they need a bit more attention than your average Focus, but 10 minutes every weekend checking the oil and coolant levels, and changing the oil, filter & plugs every 6 months (depending on how anal you are) is "too high maintenance"?
For the kind of people who just want a fast family car, it seems so. I love my RX8 and wouldn't switch it for anything comparable, but the risks of lax maintenance are high. It's evident that required maintenance is beyond the average person, one look at the number of borked engines shows that. The engine doesn't die on its own, if properly looked after.Not "too high maintenance" if you are an enthusiast, but for buyers that just want a fast family car, I'd say that evidence suggests so
Jay - just be sure that you get a rotary compression test done. Full Mazda service history is good, but is no guarantee of a healthy engine. You'll want to check when the ignition coils were changed, they need doing every 30k miles or so, and they aren't on Mazda's service schedule. If not budget a couple of hundred to do them ASAP.
The buyers guide on the UK owners club site is great.
Be sure to let it warm up, but once it's been at temperature for a few minutes, be sure to thrash the nuts off it. The rotary hates to not be used fully. And enjoy a hugely fun and unique car.
The buyers guide on the UK owners club site is great.
Be sure to let it warm up, but once it's been at temperature for a few minutes, be sure to thrash the nuts off it. The rotary hates to not be used fully. And enjoy a hugely fun and unique car.
Riknos said:
Sounds like a good example, fingers crossed it pays off for you! I get sad reading about RX8s dying, I want them to be reliable, I am a big fan of RX7s, but could never afford to run one, or an 8.
I love the RX7 but the RX8 always struck me as a bit half-baked compared to that masterpiece of a car. Especially in terms of engineering. The stories of even well-cared for examples falling to pieces are quite shocking.You have to bear in mind that if Mazda had positioned the RX-8 where it put the RX-7, they would have wanted Boxster S money for them. The '8 actually exploits the advantages of the motor more convincingly, but most of the motoring public just don't see it. Personally, I think if there's another rotary car, it should be a very tightly packaged mid engined car aimed at the same sort of role as the NSX and LFA.
It's massively better than the RX-7 at what it is designed to do. And unsurprisingly enough, not as good as the RX-7 at what that was designed to do. In some ways, a front mid engined two seat car like the FD RX-7 is too easy to do with a piston engine to justify using the rotary, but then the cleverness of what Mazda did in using it for the RX-8 passed most people by.
Mazda should build a really compact mid engined quad rotor supercar - and make damn sure there's no room to fit anything else in the engine bay.
Mazda should build a really compact mid engined quad rotor supercar - and make damn sure there's no room to fit anything else in the engine bay.
I owned an '01 EP3, one of the first on sale. It was awful. Engine sounded like a bag of spanners out of VTEC, mismatched suspension because they removed the LSD at the last minute and softened the front too much meaning a squidgy front end, bouncy rear, drastic lift off oversteer and steering feel that wouldn't be made worse by anaesthetising your arms. Hugely disappointing car after the DC2 Teg, and made worse by build quality that you'd find unacceptable on a Fiat Uno, never mind a Honda. Suspension failure, drastic oil consumption, interior rattles, terrible paint issues on the plastic bodykit requiring resprays, electric failures, headlight failures, the list just went on and on. All within 3 years and 30,000 miles. To be quite frank, one of the worst cars I've owned.
I followed that up with an '04 RX8 231 and then an '07 RX8 PZ. Despite owning an STI 330s and Evo X FQ330 since then, I still hold the PZ up as the best driver's car I've owned so far, regardless of fuel consumption. And nothing went wrong on it. The 231 only had a fault with the catalyst. Both put the Honda to shame. Would I buy another Civic Type R? God no. Would I buy another RX8? Absolutely.
I followed that up with an '04 RX8 231 and then an '07 RX8 PZ. Despite owning an STI 330s and Evo X FQ330 since then, I still hold the PZ up as the best driver's car I've owned so far, regardless of fuel consumption. And nothing went wrong on it. The 231 only had a fault with the catalyst. Both put the Honda to shame. Would I buy another Civic Type R? God no. Would I buy another RX8? Absolutely.
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