RX8 - What to look for?

[k-ink]

300bhp/ton said:

That could happen with almost any car.

Only a badly engineered car not fit for purpose. Admittedly there are many more examples other than the RX8. Most of them German.

[Ozzie Osmond]

^^^ Somebody by the fool a new atlas. The one he's got is from the school library and someone's torn out the pages for Italy, France and the UK.

Available on Amazon from £2.23,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-World-Atlas-Paper...

[delta0]

You know with the early S1 models that is necessary and so it is priced in to the purchase price. The majority of people buying an early RX8 go into it with this in mind. What people actually don't want is to buy a car and have a shock bill for fixing it. It is not a shock for the RX8 because you know it is there. In reality rebuilt, later models and well looked after ones will easily go through 100k which is more than reasonable for a piston car. As mentioned before it is a quick and reasonably priced process to fix and get another 100k miles out of it. They are simple engines with very little to go wrong so you can be confident when in good condition and looked after they will last a long time.

Edited by delta0 on Monday 23 May 11:54

[HelterSkelter]

I'm in a position to buy a lovely 06 example for £600 that requires a rebuild. After spending 2k on that I can't think of much else for under 3 grand that would be as unique and as fun to drive, be able to get both kids in the back and have the warranty on the engine for peace of mind.

[KarlMac]

I want to tick 'rotary' off my bucket list, decided to go RX7 rather than 8 as it has the same drawbacks but the benefits (power / looks / tuning etc...) are much bigger.

[TheJimi]

Ozzie Osmond said:

^^^ Somebody by the fool a new atlas. The one he's got is from the school library and someone's torn out the pages for Italy, France and the UK.

I really wish a mod would just ban the guy tbh.

Just *constant* arguments in *every* thread he's in.

Edited by TheJimi on Monday 23 May 18:04

[culpz]

I've always liked these and you can grab some bargains for under a grand. The problem for me is they just seem like way too much hard work. I can forgive alot of their downsides like MPG and such but not being able to jump in and out of the car for a quick journey would do my head in. I feel like i'd have to plan simple trips well ahead of time.

Also, in reference to engine re-builds, are you still stuck with the same issues but starting from a fresh basically? What am saying is that i presume that after spending the money getting the engine sorted you're still gonna have to put up with all the engines weaknesses and potentially experience all the same problems again?

It's just not worth it for me. This is in reference as a daily car so as something track focused or weekend blasts i'm sure it's a pretty decent motor all things considered.

[otolith]

culpz said:

not being able to jump in and out of the car for a quick journey would do my head in. I feel like i'd have to plan simple trips well ahead of time.

There is a cold shutdown procedure to prevent flooding, however the issue with flooding is not related to short journeys, it's related to things like moving the car on and off the driveway to let someone else out.

[culpz]

otolith said:

There is a cold shutdown procedure to prevent flooding, however the issue with flooding is not related to short journeys, it's related to things like moving the car on and off the driveway to let someone else out.

I just meant having to go through the motions just for a quick trip out somewhere. Having to faff about before setting off and then equally when getting to your destination before turning the engine off. Then repeat for going back home. Just seems a complete ballache.

How did you find it during your ownership?

[otolith]

The cold shutdown is just a matter of raising the revs to (IIRC, it was a long time ago) 4000rpm, hold for ten seconds, then while still holding the revs, turn the ignition off. Basically cutting the fuel while the rotors are still spinning so that any excess is cleared out of the combustion chambers. I never really gave a second thought to short journeys, and it wasn't as if it would flood if you stalled it pulling off the drive. Of the things that put people off, fuel consumption and engine longevity are reasonable concerns, oil consumption and flooding really aren't a big deal. The thing that would put me off using one for predominantly short journeys is that they run very rich when cold, so they are *very* thirsty when used like that - maybe as low as mid teens. I think this was more of an issue with EU spec cars than other markets because of the requirement for fast catalytic converter warm-up.

[culpz]

otolith said:

The cold shutdown is just a matter of raising the revs to (IIRC, it was a long time ago) 4000rpm, hold for ten seconds, then while still holding the revs, turn the ignition off. Basically cutting the fuel while the rotors are still spinning so that any excess is cleared out of the combustion chambers. I never really gave a second thought to short journeys, and it wasn't as if it would flood if you stalled it pulling off the drive. Of the things that put people off, fuel consumption and engine longevity are reasonable concerns, oil consumption and flooding really aren't a big deal. The thing that would put me off using one for predominantly short journeys is that they run very rich when cold, so they are *very* thirsty when used like that - maybe as low as mid teens. I think this was more of an issue with EU spec cars than other markets because of the requirement for fast catalytic converter warm-up.

Yeah i did read up about the procedure about starting up from cold and obviously turning the engine off too. It doesn't sound that bad when you explain it. I do see a few about so clearly it's not the end of the world; just something to get used to.

I think the car in itself doesn't really do enough for me to justify it all. I'm not arsed about RWD particularly so i'd end up buying something else like an EP3 Type R or Clio 172/182. But if your criteria differs from mine and as a driver's car they could be a good punt.

[otolith]

That's fair - I replaced an EP3 with one largely because my wife had bought an MX-5 and I found her (slow) sports car more fun to drive than my hot hatch. What I really wanted was an S2000, but one of us had to have a practical car, and the RX-8 ticked all the boxes for me - similar performance to the Civic, smooth, interesting, high revving engine, comfortable, well equipped, refined, rear drive. I actually went to look at one to see if the rear seats folded so I could get my fishing gear in it. They don't, but there's a big enough ski hatch to get rods through. The salesman just chucked me the keys to the demonstrator and that was that.

I kept it until we moved house and had room to park more than two cars - then I replaced it with an estate car and an Elise.

[delta0]

culpz said:

I just meant having to go through the motions just for a quick trip out somewhere. Having to faff about before setting off and then equally when getting to your destination before turning the engine off. Then repeat for going back home. Just seems a complete ballache.

How did you find it during your ownership?

Unless your journey is 20 seconds to the end of the road then you will not have issues. This engine warms up quicker than a piston engine and within 2 minutes of you turning the ignition it is definitely fine to turn off.

[Salesy]

Ive had one for a couple of years now (PZ) version and can honestly say its ticked every box for me.
I use mine for sprinting and B road blasts.

Fuel consumption is pretty bad, averaging 18mpg and 7mpg on track. Its not a daily driver so i don't care, as for rebuilding the engine Mazda say the engine is due for a rebuild once the compression gets below 6.8bar, mines perfectly fine and its on low 5's. It starts hot or cold straight away and still has the power.

On track you will struggle to find a standard 2000cc normally aspirated car that will go past it and at the sprint meetings i attend i would say 95% of the time it wins its class.

£2.5k for a full history 50,000 mile car in great condition is a steal.