RX8 - What to look for?

[Rawwr]

I have a bit of an RX8 itch that doesn't appear to be going away. Can any owners or previous owners highlight what I should be looking for and/or avoiding when it comes to buying?

[Slow]

Account for it needing a engine rebuild, or buy one with a toast engine and rebuild it.

[300bhp/ton]

You'll probably find more helpful info here tbh
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/

I believe early cars are cheaper to tax. A PZ or R3 handles different/better/more sporty.

Get a compression check.

Hot start issues.

Flooding.

Coil packs.

Starter motor.

And I think rust is becoming an issue on some.

Might be worth pricing up a rebuild and consider buying a car that needs an engine rebuild.

[bobbo89]

Warm starting issues seem to be the big area of concern but I've read a few things about them simply needing a new starter motor. I'm no expert but did a bit of reading after getting the itch myself and immediately lost the itch the more I read!

[daemon]

Rawwr said:

I have a bit of an RX8 itch that doesn't appear to be going away. Can any owners or previous owners highlight what I should be looking for and/or avoiding when it comes to buying?

I really cant see the appeal. They're cheap for a reason. Why put yourself through the stress and worry and potential big bills?

If you really must, Look for an R3 car.

[colonel c]

I can't help much. I've had one for 18 months and the only issue it has, is it dose not use any oil. My local rotary specialist reckons it's not worth attempting to sort it out unless it's going to have a rebuild. So I have to premix some oil into the tank very fill up. When I bought it I took the view that I might have to have an engine rebuild at some time. If you want some driving fun and engagement, they are a cracking car for the money.

[ambuletz]

I literally glanced over this video 10seconds ago. It's not in english but they have good english subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6c0rt9nbgc

[andyastrasri]

A recent compression test is a must, other than that, they are a good car, keep a regular check on the oil, dont switch off the engine when cold, let it warm up first

Decent set of coils and leads is advised

[300bhp/ton]

daemon said:

Rawwr said:

I have a bit of an RX8 itch that doesn't appear to be going away. Can any owners or previous owners highlight what I should be looking for and/or avoiding when it comes to buying?

I really cant see the appeal. They're cheap for a reason. Why put yourself through the stress and worry and potential big bills?

If you really must, Look for an R3 car.

I struggle to grasp why people can't see the appeal tbh.

Superb chassis.
Good handling and ride mix
Look interesting
Awesomely interesting engine
Practical 4 door saloon hidden in a coupe body style
Suicide doors
An engine that requires you to "drive" it to get the best from it
An engine that uses the same amount of fuel driven hard or gentle
Interesting engine/exhaust noise
Crazy high rpms
Rwd
LSD (I think???)
Generally well built
Fun and practical


I really don't think used prices have any real reflection on any mass market car. I'm sure most M5's probably lose more money by comparison.

[Jazoli]

300bhp/ton said:

I struggle to grasp why people can't see the appeal tbh.

15mpg might blunt the appeal for many, it does for me, a work colleague has one and that's his average and he's not heavy footed at all, I used to get 17mpg from my gen 1 RX7 and that was painful enough 20 years ago.

[Mastodon2]

300bhp/ton said:

I struggle to grasp why people can't see the appeal tbh.

Superb chassis.
Good handling and ride mix
Look interesting
Awesomely interesting engine
Practical 4 door saloon hidden in a coupe body style
Suicide doors
An engine that requires you to "drive" it to get the best from it
An engine that uses the same amount of fuel driven hard or gentle
Interesting engine/exhaust noise
Crazy high rpms
Rwd
LSD (I think???)
Generally well built
Fun and practical


I really don't think used prices have any real reflection on any mass market car. I'm sure most M5's probably lose more money by comparison.

Appalling fuel consumption (relative to power output)
Fragile engines that just don't last
Ultimately not that quick

[bobbo89]

300bhp/ton said:

I struggle to grasp why people can't see the appeal tbh.

Superb chassis.
Good handling and ride mix
Look interesting
Awesomely interesting engine
Practical 4 door saloon hidden in a coupe body style
Suicide doors
An engine that requires you to "drive" it to get the best from it
An engine that uses the same amount of fuel driven hard or gentle
Interesting engine/exhaust noise
Crazy high rpms
Rwd
LSD (I think???)
Generally well built
Fun and practical


I really don't think used prices have any real reflection on any mass market car. I'm sure most M5's probably lose more money by comparison.

If Mazda had made this a more focussed car I think its owners would have looked after them better and they wouldn't have gained the reputation that they have.

Had they been a 3 door 2 seater coupe, the people who bought them might have been a bit more sympathetic to their upkeep.

I remember a lass I used to work with who's fella bought one as a main car alongside his work van. He'd use the van and she used the RX8 as a daily. She wouldn't have a clue as to how to look after it properly and I bet this is the same story for most buyers. People buy a new car these days and just expect to fill the with fuel every day and that's it!

[Steve93]

Still quite fancy getting one of these and throwing one of my spare B2x4 turbo engines into it...seems like it'd be good for a laugh

[Ozzie Osmond]

300bhp/ton said:

Suicide doors.

Doors or engine?

[daemon]

300bhp/ton said:

daemon said:

Rawwr said:

I have a bit of an RX8 itch that doesn't appear to be going away. Can any owners or previous owners highlight what I should be looking for and/or avoiding when it comes to buying?

I really cant see the appeal. They're cheap for a reason. Why put yourself through the stress and worry and potential big bills?

If you really must, Look for an R3 car.

I struggle to grasp why people can't see the appeal tbh.

Superb chassis.
Good handling and ride mix
Look interesting
Awesomely interesting engine
Practical 4 door saloon hidden in a coupe body style
Suicide doors
An engine that requires you to "drive" it to get the best from it
An engine that uses the same amount of fuel driven hard or gentle
Interesting engine/exhaust noise
Crazy high rpms
Rwd
LSD (I think???)
Generally well built
Fun and practical


I really don't think used prices have any real reflection on any mass market car. I'm sure most M5's probably lose more money by comparison.

Its not a struggle at all for me - engines that WILL need a rebuild, dire fuel economy and you will most likely be the last name on the V5.

Just not worth the hassle

[Jazoli]

bobbo89 said:

. People buy a new car these days and just expect to fill the with fuel every day and that's it!

Thing is that's what you should be able to do between services, cars should be no more complicated to run than that given the development they have had over the last 100+ years.

[wjb]

I'd agree with some of what's said here, but not all. Mazda sold it as a "normal" car, which judging by all the £400 non-runners in the classifieds, it clearly isn't.

In short, you must give it a chance to warm up, you can't switch it off cold, you must keep an eye on the oil. Oh and get it to the redline regularly (beep)

I'd recommend buying one which has been looked after by a specialist. If not factor in a compression test and new uprated coils, plugs & leads.

Starting problems aren't always compression related and rebuilds aren't the end of the world starting at £1900.

Pound for pound I couldn't find an alternative modern, rwd, manual coupe.

Edited by wjb on Sunday 22 May 08:19

[k-ink]

It is a mystery why more people don't want a car with TVR running costs and warm hatch performance.

[wjb]

k-ink said:

It is a mystery why more people don't want a car with TVR running costs and warm hatch performance.

People like difference things, I suppose.

[300bhp/ton]

k-ink said:

It is a mystery why more people don't want a car with TVR running costs and warm hatch performance.

What TVR's can you really get for the same money? Let alone a TVR which is as practical.

And people fuss way too much over performance stats. Let's face it an S1 Elise really isn't all that with only 118bhp. Doesn't stop them being great cars.

As for running costs. Plenty of cars can have potential big bills. Impreza's, plenty of BMW's, Mercs and so on.