Talk to me about RX-8s
Discussion
I know this gets asked a lot, but please humour me for a second...
I'm thinking about swapping my MX-5 for an RX-8. It would be my main car, but I work from home and I live in a town where I can walk to most stuff, so it could sit outside for a week at a time in between use, which will include a lot of long-ish motorway trips. The upside is, I don't do a particularly big overall mileage (so mpg is not a massive issue) and I very rarely do short trips. Do you think that sort of usage would suit an RX-8?
How serious is the flooding issue? If I got the car warmed up on a long trip, then stopped at the petrol station half a mile from home on the way back would that cause problems?
If I was to take the plunge, would I be better off getting the newest, lowest mileage one I could afford or would the money be better spent on an older one with a reconditioned engine?
Are the special editions (PZs and so on) worth holding out for?
I'm thinking about swapping my MX-5 for an RX-8. It would be my main car, but I work from home and I live in a town where I can walk to most stuff, so it could sit outside for a week at a time in between use, which will include a lot of long-ish motorway trips. The upside is, I don't do a particularly big overall mileage (so mpg is not a massive issue) and I very rarely do short trips. Do you think that sort of usage would suit an RX-8?
How serious is the flooding issue? If I got the car warmed up on a long trip, then stopped at the petrol station half a mile from home on the way back would that cause problems?
If I was to take the plunge, would I be better off getting the newest, lowest mileage one I could afford or would the money be better spent on an older one with a reconditioned engine?
Are the special editions (PZs and so on) worth holding out for?
Your best bet is researching/asking on the www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Flooding issue is only on cold start, no issue once warmed up.
Personally, old one with a reconditioned engine from a reputable company. Check the sills for corrosion too
I personally I like the special editions, but wouldnt pay much of a premium for one over a normal 231.
Flooding issue is only on cold start, no issue once warmed up.
Personally, old one with a reconditioned engine from a reputable company. Check the sills for corrosion too
I personally I like the special editions, but wouldnt pay much of a premium for one over a normal 231.
Edited by StreetDragster on Friday 4th November 13:55
StreetDragster said:
Your best bet is researching/asking on the www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
Flooding issue is only on cold start, no issue once warmed up.
Personally, old one with a reconditioned engine from a reputable company. Check the sills for corrosion too
I personally I like the special editions, but wouldnt pay much of a premium for one over a normal 231.
What he said, good adviceFlooding issue is only on cold start, no issue once warmed up.
Personally, old one with a reconditioned engine from a reputable company. Check the sills for corrosion too
I personally I like the special editions, but wouldnt pay much of a premium for one over a normal 231.
Edited by StreetDragster on Friday 4th November 13:55
Did enjoy mine for a while, but glad to be back in an MR2
Loved mine and would recommend one but range aniexty got to me in the end. I was lucky to get 220 miles to a full tank and then there was worry about running out of fuel. RX8 owners site is excellent.
IMO flooding isn't an issue as there is a shutdown routine for when the engine is cold. There's a startup routine as well. Both are covered in the owners manual.
Look into pre-mixing as well and I recommend buying from a member of the owners club.
I fitted a Japspeed exhaust to mine and it sounded great but was boomy. Engine and handling wer e high points plus surprisingly practical.
IMO flooding isn't an issue as there is a shutdown routine for when the engine is cold. There's a startup routine as well. Both are covered in the owners manual.
Look into pre-mixing as well and I recommend buying from a member of the owners club.
I fitted a Japspeed exhaust to mine and it sounded great but was boomy. Engine and handling wer e high points plus surprisingly practical.
Has anyone on here owned an RX-8 and a 350Z? If so, which would you pick?
I've owned a string of TVRs, kit cars and other things that make the RX-8's reputation seem like a walk in the park, so I'm sort of hoping I'd have the right mindset if I tried one. That said, it would be my work car, so I'd need to be fairly sure it was going to start if I dash out the house late for an early morning flight or something.
I've owned a string of TVRs, kit cars and other things that make the RX-8's reputation seem like a walk in the park, so I'm sort of hoping I'd have the right mindset if I tried one. That said, it would be my work car, so I'd need to be fairly sure it was going to start if I dash out the house late for an early morning flight or something.
HI Chris,
I "accidentally" bought a rx8. A mate was emigrating, I had no car, and he wanted shot of it, I took it off him at the " we buy any car" price!
I wasn't expecting much. I thought it was a hairdressers car and I didn't care much for the looks.
Re reliability,
In fairness first MOT was a pain, I fitted new coils, plugs, leads, catalyst and oil change, which took a weekend or two and about 800 quid. Since then it's been rock solid. My engine hasn't been rebuilt, is around 50k miles, and starts on the button.
Economy is awful. Worse than my cerbera/ maybe the same.
The big thing about the car though is how fun it is. It's epic. I just love chucking it around, the balance, turn in, gearbox, revs etc...etc... It's a fantastic drivers car IMO. For pennies it's just so much fun.
As I say, I didn't expect much with it, but I really rate rx8s now as an awesome car for a couple grand. Smiles per mile are huge!
I "accidentally" bought a rx8. A mate was emigrating, I had no car, and he wanted shot of it, I took it off him at the " we buy any car" price!
I wasn't expecting much. I thought it was a hairdressers car and I didn't care much for the looks.
Re reliability,
In fairness first MOT was a pain, I fitted new coils, plugs, leads, catalyst and oil change, which took a weekend or two and about 800 quid. Since then it's been rock solid. My engine hasn't been rebuilt, is around 50k miles, and starts on the button.
Economy is awful. Worse than my cerbera/ maybe the same.
The big thing about the car though is how fun it is. It's epic. I just love chucking it around, the balance, turn in, gearbox, revs etc...etc... It's a fantastic drivers car IMO. For pennies it's just so much fun.
As I say, I didn't expect much with it, but I really rate rx8s now as an awesome car for a couple grand. Smiles per mile are huge!
Edited by stuthemong on Saturday 5th November 09:59
I've had 3 RX-8s and 2 313 350Zs. The RX-8 is a much better drive, and much more practical, but the 350Z (post facelift) has a better interior and feels much faster in a straight line. The 350Z feels very heavy and the clutch/gearbox are horrible.
Fuel consumption was about the same between the two with the 350Z being slightly better in the winter. The range on the 350Z is greater as it has a big fuel tank (80L vs 60L IIRC).
Fuel consumption was about the same between the two with the 350Z being slightly better in the winter. The range on the 350Z is greater as it has a big fuel tank (80L vs 60L IIRC).
I did exactly what you want to do.
Run a Mk1 Eunos as a sprint car/ 2nd weekend toy. Whilst the MX5 is a great car, it just didn't feel fast enough.
The RX8 is a great car, I have run the PZ version for 3 years now without issue. It gets used for sprinting and general running around.
I return around 18mpg so don't worry about consumption. Flooding is only an issue if you switch it off before reaching temperature. Don't be scared off by rumours of high oil consumption, it uses as much as any other car.
Things to check.
Compression test (aim for anything over 6.5)
Rust (RX's are known for it)
Service history (Plug and coil changes are a must)
Pre mix (have the previous owners done it?)
I got mine from eBay and purchased blind. The car had compression results of 6.4 when i got it, so i run cataclean though the fuel system and continued to sprint for the year.
Tested one year later and results of low 5's were my worst fear. Car still pulled well and felt as quick as before. This year the test results indicated 6.3 so i was over the moon, The specialist that does some work for me said he had never seen one like it and it has become a bit of a legend.
L.C. Rotary in Orpington, Kent are the absolute nuts where these cars are concerned.
Run a Mk1 Eunos as a sprint car/ 2nd weekend toy. Whilst the MX5 is a great car, it just didn't feel fast enough.
The RX8 is a great car, I have run the PZ version for 3 years now without issue. It gets used for sprinting and general running around.
I return around 18mpg so don't worry about consumption. Flooding is only an issue if you switch it off before reaching temperature. Don't be scared off by rumours of high oil consumption, it uses as much as any other car.
Things to check.
Compression test (aim for anything over 6.5)
Rust (RX's are known for it)
Service history (Plug and coil changes are a must)
Pre mix (have the previous owners done it?)
I got mine from eBay and purchased blind. The car had compression results of 6.4 when i got it, so i run cataclean though the fuel system and continued to sprint for the year.
Tested one year later and results of low 5's were my worst fear. Car still pulled well and felt as quick as before. This year the test results indicated 6.3 so i was over the moon, The specialist that does some work for me said he had never seen one like it and it has become a bit of a legend.
L.C. Rotary in Orpington, Kent are the absolute nuts where these cars are concerned.
I have an R3 RX8 and it is incredible. I will get the flooding thing out the way first. On the R3 you have three lights on the rev counter. These show where the limiter is and it is dependent on temperature. When the first light goes out you are also able to turn off the engine without flooding it. The first light is off in less than 2 mins. Normally within 400 m of setting off it has gone off for me. It is a lot harder than you think to flood this engine.
The best thing about the car is the chassis. It is stiff and feels great. You feel like you can place the car where the you want and it responds very well. The engine is also a dream. You can drive in a sedate manner but when you want to have fun it is ready. This is by far the most eager rev happy engine I've ever driven. It really wants to go when you put your foot down. 9.5k rpm is mind boggling but gives you a good kick of adrenaline when you do it. It is so much fun! Then of course it is rear wheel drive. That sets it apart from other cars and really compliments the chassis. The car feels light, nimble and quick to accelerate. Grip feels limitless.
You also have practicality. 4 seats that can fit adults and a boot. I'm very pleased I got the RX8. Like you I don't do huge miles. I use it for a few small 1 mile drives during the week and some longer fun drives at the weekend.
The best thing about the car is the chassis. It is stiff and feels great. You feel like you can place the car where the you want and it responds very well. The engine is also a dream. You can drive in a sedate manner but when you want to have fun it is ready. This is by far the most eager rev happy engine I've ever driven. It really wants to go when you put your foot down. 9.5k rpm is mind boggling but gives you a good kick of adrenaline when you do it. It is so much fun! Then of course it is rear wheel drive. That sets it apart from other cars and really compliments the chassis. The car feels light, nimble and quick to accelerate. Grip feels limitless.
You also have practicality. 4 seats that can fit adults and a boot. I'm very pleased I got the RX8. Like you I don't do huge miles. I use it for a few small 1 mile drives during the week and some longer fun drives at the weekend.
Edited by delta0 on Saturday 5th November 20:57
I'm really torn on this. It's probably not something I'd do until the new year either way (better price for the MX-5, tax bill out the way etc.) but it does seem quite tempting. Most of the high-risk cars I've owned in the past have turned out to be a lot easier to live with than I expected ... and some of the nice sensible saloons have been a nightmare.
So if you were planning to buy an RX-8 that was going to be kept on the street and driven in all weathers, what spec/era would you look to buy and how much would you plan to spend? I want something that's going to drive well and be reliable, but it's not going to live a pampered life in the garage.
So if you were planning to buy an RX-8 that was going to be kept on the street and driven in all weathers, what spec/era would you look to buy and how much would you plan to spend? I want something that's going to drive well and be reliable, but it's not going to live a pampered life in the garage.
My last one was a 2006 Evolve that I bought at the start of last year with 26K miles, in excellent condition, with a good compression test that had been over-serviced (very regular oil changes - most important). I paid £3000 for it and spent about £800 in maintenance (including brakes) in 18 months. It gave no problems at all used as a daily in that time, with numerous road trips along the way. The compression had improved by the time I sold it as I drove it properly.
2006 onwards cars get slightly better quality interiors and a few other fixes, but post March 06 cars cost twice as much to tax as earlier ones so can be harder to sell (they are worth the extra in my opinion).
I replaced it with a Mk4 MX-5.
2006 onwards cars get slightly better quality interiors and a few other fixes, but post March 06 cars cost twice as much to tax as earlier ones so can be harder to sell (they are worth the extra in my opinion).
I replaced it with a Mk4 MX-5.
I absolutely love my RX8 ( it is my second) and can only echo most of the comments above.
Your usage sounds pretty ideal for one as long as you are prepared for the fuel consumption (bearing in mind you will need to run it on premium also).
The special editions that are worth paying more for are the PZ and Anniversary as they have uprated dampers, exhaust etc the others (Evolve, Nemesis, Kuro) while nice to have are standard cars with specific colour/trim/accessory combos.
Your usage sounds pretty ideal for one as long as you are prepared for the fuel consumption (bearing in mind you will need to run it on premium also).
The special editions that are worth paying more for are the PZ and Anniversary as they have uprated dampers, exhaust etc the others (Evolve, Nemesis, Kuro) while nice to have are standard cars with specific colour/trim/accessory combos.
I'm not sure I agree with the comment about running on 98 fuel. I got mine from new in 2006 and did quite a lot of research at the time about the 'benefits' of running on high octane fuel and the conclusion was that it made no difference to the wankel engine.
I had a 190 and it was great. I put 60k miles on it in three years and it didn't miss a beat. The chassis and brakes were the stand out bits for me. The engine felt light and whizzy but you could feel the lack of torque at all times. I managed around 25mpg on my 20 mile commute which included a 5 mile high revving hoon around the Milton Keynes grid. I never achieved more than 30mpg even sitting at 70mph on the mottorway.
They use plenty of oil, but I'd buy mine when it was on offer in Halfords and I think I went through about 25 litres in the three years.
The flooding issue sounds worse than it actually is. As long as the car is run for around 5 minutes to clear it's throat, then It's ok.
I had a 350z (313ps) as my next car and they are quite different. The Zed is a bit of a beast by comparison and in normal use was similar on fuel consumption, but better MPG could be achieved on longer runs at sensible motorway speeds and with the bigger tank is quite good on range. The brakes on the Z were as good and the handling on a par although both cars feel quite different. The Z feels heavier and is a bit of a bruiser, whereas the RX8 always felt like is was up on it's toes. The added torque on the Zed means that you don't need to rev the nuts of it if you are not in the mood.
I think from memory the RX8 is around 1350kg v 1490kg for the Z, and that is evident.
The RX8 however is far more practical and rear passengers used to always comment on how comfortable the rear seats were and actually I thought the interior was a bit better than the Zed, although having one of the final Zeds, the interior on that car was better than the earlier cars.
Which one would I go for......If I needed the seats, then the RX8, otherwise I'd go for the Z, and I suspect it would be easier to move on a Z in three or four years time than an RX8.
I had a 190 and it was great. I put 60k miles on it in three years and it didn't miss a beat. The chassis and brakes were the stand out bits for me. The engine felt light and whizzy but you could feel the lack of torque at all times. I managed around 25mpg on my 20 mile commute which included a 5 mile high revving hoon around the Milton Keynes grid. I never achieved more than 30mpg even sitting at 70mph on the mottorway.
They use plenty of oil, but I'd buy mine when it was on offer in Halfords and I think I went through about 25 litres in the three years.
The flooding issue sounds worse than it actually is. As long as the car is run for around 5 minutes to clear it's throat, then It's ok.
I had a 350z (313ps) as my next car and they are quite different. The Zed is a bit of a beast by comparison and in normal use was similar on fuel consumption, but better MPG could be achieved on longer runs at sensible motorway speeds and with the bigger tank is quite good on range. The brakes on the Z were as good and the handling on a par although both cars feel quite different. The Z feels heavier and is a bit of a bruiser, whereas the RX8 always felt like is was up on it's toes. The added torque on the Zed means that you don't need to rev the nuts of it if you are not in the mood.
I think from memory the RX8 is around 1350kg v 1490kg for the Z, and that is evident.
The RX8 however is far more practical and rear passengers used to always comment on how comfortable the rear seats were and actually I thought the interior was a bit better than the Zed, although having one of the final Zeds, the interior on that car was better than the earlier cars.
Which one would I go for......If I needed the seats, then the RX8, otherwise I'd go for the Z, and I suspect it would be easier to move on a Z in three or four years time than an RX8.
vernz said:
I'm not sure I agree with the comment about running on 98 fuel. I got mine from new in 2006 and did quite a lot of research at the time about the 'benefits' of running on high octane fuel and the conclusion was that it made no difference to the wankel engine.
I had a 190 and it was great. I put 60k miles on it in three years and it didn't miss a beat. The chassis and brakes were the stand out bits for me. The engine felt light and whizzy but you could feel the lack of torque at all times. I managed around 25mpg on my 20 mile commute which included a 5 mile high revving hoon around the Milton Keynes grid. I never achieved more than 30mpg even sitting at 70mph on the mottorway.
They use plenty of oil, but I'd buy mine when it was on offer in Halfords and I think I went through about 25 litres in the three years.
The flooding issue sounds worse than it actually is. As long as the car is run for around 5 minutes to clear it's throat, then It's ok.
I had a 350z (313ps) as my next car and they are quite different. The Zed is a bit of a beast by comparison and in normal use was similar on fuel consumption, but better MPG could be achieved on longer runs at sensible motorway speeds and with the bigger tank is quite good on range. The brakes on the Z were as good and the handling on a par although both cars feel quite different. The Z feels heavier and is a bit of a bruiser, whereas the RX8 always felt like is was up on it's toes. The added torque on the Zed means that you don't need to rev the nuts of it if you are not in the mood.
I think from memory the RX8 is around 1350kg v 1490kg for the Z, and that is evident.
The RX8 however is far more practical and rear passengers used to always comment on how comfortable the rear seats were and actually I thought the interior was a bit better than the Zed, although having one of the final Zeds, the interior on that car was better than the earlier cars.
Which one would I go for......If I needed the seats, then the RX8, otherwise I'd go for the Z, and I suspect it would be easier to move on a Z in three or four years time than an RX8.
Thanks. That's exactly the sort of thing I was after.I had a 190 and it was great. I put 60k miles on it in three years and it didn't miss a beat. The chassis and brakes were the stand out bits for me. The engine felt light and whizzy but you could feel the lack of torque at all times. I managed around 25mpg on my 20 mile commute which included a 5 mile high revving hoon around the Milton Keynes grid. I never achieved more than 30mpg even sitting at 70mph on the mottorway.
They use plenty of oil, but I'd buy mine when it was on offer in Halfords and I think I went through about 25 litres in the three years.
The flooding issue sounds worse than it actually is. As long as the car is run for around 5 minutes to clear it's throat, then It's ok.
I had a 350z (313ps) as my next car and they are quite different. The Zed is a bit of a beast by comparison and in normal use was similar on fuel consumption, but better MPG could be achieved on longer runs at sensible motorway speeds and with the bigger tank is quite good on range. The brakes on the Z were as good and the handling on a par although both cars feel quite different. The Z feels heavier and is a bit of a bruiser, whereas the RX8 always felt like is was up on it's toes. The added torque on the Zed means that you don't need to rev the nuts of it if you are not in the mood.
I think from memory the RX8 is around 1350kg v 1490kg for the Z, and that is evident.
The RX8 however is far more practical and rear passengers used to always comment on how comfortable the rear seats were and actually I thought the interior was a bit better than the Zed, although having one of the final Zeds, the interior on that car was better than the earlier cars.
Which one would I go for......If I needed the seats, then the RX8, otherwise I'd go for the Z, and I suspect it would be easier to move on a Z in three or four years time than an RX8.
It's going to cover a high percentage of motorway miles. I want something that has a bit of character and something that will indulge to a certain extent when I do find myself on better roads (I'm not interested in big wafty barges like CLKs, XK8s etc.) but basically I'm looking for a GT rather than a sports car. We've also got a family car so it doesn't need to have four seats (although I'm sure my son would like the occasional family outing in something with rear seats!)
Tricky. If and when I take the plunge I guess it depends on budget and what's around locally. I've driven a couple of 370Zs, and while I wasn't a fan of the truck gearbox (presumably same as the 350Z?), they were great fun on a damp track. Briefly drove a colleague's RX-8 and even cruising round at low speeds there seemed to be an inherent rightness to the chassis and steering. Might save my calf muscles if I'm doing a lot of stop-start traffic on the M25 too. Hmm...
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 7th November 11:59
Chris71 said:
Has anyone on here owned an RX-8 and a 350Z? If so, which would you pick?
I preferred our RX-8 to drive. The 350Z always felt a bit of a blunt instrument. Heavy, literally, and also in how it felt to drive. The Nissan was a bit quicker in a straight line, a lot quicker in the wrong gear, and it made a nicer noise as standard - fixed the Mazda with a Racing Beat exhaust. It was a bit better on fuel, too, offset a bit by requiring super which the Mazda doesn't. And the Nissan was pretty much bulletproof mechanically. Mazda much more practical, and a nicer (but less hard wearing) interior.I'd pick the RX-8, because it's nicer to drive, but the Nissan is probably the better ownership proposition.
There are some very good deals out there for RX8's.
Prices are lower than the car should warrant, but this reflects the MPG and poor resale value.
Personally I think they are a good second hand buy if you can find one that has been looked after with a FSH.
If you do the man maths and assume they would be around 7 or 8 MPG less than something comparable in fun not just performance (not a hot hatch), so over a year of say 12k miles, it would cost another £500.00 a year in fuel and yet in reality the low second hand prices easily compensate for this.
My only concern would be at selling time. I would only get one as a bit of a keeper....at least 3/4 years plus. They may even start to go up in price once we all get fed up with the current crop of turbo charged cars!
Prices are lower than the car should warrant, but this reflects the MPG and poor resale value.
Personally I think they are a good second hand buy if you can find one that has been looked after with a FSH.
If you do the man maths and assume they would be around 7 or 8 MPG less than something comparable in fun not just performance (not a hot hatch), so over a year of say 12k miles, it would cost another £500.00 a year in fuel and yet in reality the low second hand prices easily compensate for this.
My only concern would be at selling time. I would only get one as a bit of a keeper....at least 3/4 years plus. They may even start to go up in price once we all get fed up with the current crop of turbo charged cars!
Nickp82 said:
Your usage sounds pretty ideal for one as long as you are prepared for the fuel consumption (bearing in mind you will need to run it on premium also).
You don't need to run it on super. There is a common mistake in that "premium" as per the label is actually our normal 95, we don't get the crap/basic unleaded. When we bought ours the salesman said that you'd get better throttle response on super. After driving it however its *so* responsive anyway I'm astounded that it even could be more responsive.
Anyway, to echo previous comments. Best is either post-2009 or post-2006 (ideally Jan to Mar 2006!). 2006+ cars had a number of fixes. 2009+ had even more.
Oil consumption is massively over egged by internet comentards. It's something to be aware of but not the issue it's made out to be, we checked ours about once a month. Kept a bottle of oil in the car "just in case" (there is a nice little cubby in the back of the ski-hatch which takes a litre bottle).
Ours (2006) never suffered from flooding. I stalled it once or twice when cold and it just restarted. There is a technique (in the manual) for both how to avoid flooding if you need to run it a short while then shutdown (basically rev it for 10s, [IIRC to 4k but it's been a while] then shutoff while it's still revving) and also how to clear it if it does flood (floor it!)
I've honestly had more issues with "normal" piston engines flooding.
It does like to drink fuel though. I found that part of the problem was I just couldn't drive it sensibly. I'd start off all "I'll keep it under 2k with no throttle" and then end up visiting the redline again. It was addictive and IMO made a nice noise that was just different to everything else.
Dammit I want another one now.
Me saying you 'need' to run premium unleaded is indeed incorrect, my car definitely feels a bit more lively on it though so personally I would recommend it.
I am biased being an rx8 owner but I very often see regretful comments like the above from owners who have sold theirs so I think that says a lot about why you should strongly consider going for one!
I am biased being an rx8 owner but I very often see regretful comments like the above from owners who have sold theirs so I think that says a lot about why you should strongly consider going for one!
I've got a 2004 rx8 231. Had it for a year now and my mate had it for 3 years before that. Never premixed fuel and oil, uses a wee bit of oil but check it monthly and keep on top that way. Had to replace coils and other consumables like pads and disc etc. Drinks like a fish though. It's at 49k with a full service history from a Specialist
I bought mine for £900 and will run it until the rust kills it (they all rust pretty quickly) or till the engine needs a rebuild.
If you can get them cheap then they are an absolute bargain. Amazing fun to drive and surprisingly practical.
I bought mine for £900 and will run it until the rust kills it (they all rust pretty quickly) or till the engine needs a rebuild.
If you can get them cheap then they are an absolute bargain. Amazing fun to drive and surprisingly practical.
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