Mazda RX8 - Are They Any Good?
Discussion
My son had one & it was great to drive but needed the revs there is no torque in them.
They are very prone to flooding, I believe it is ill advised to start just to move a little, they have to be taken for a drive.
They drink petrol & more importantly oil, the oil must be checked weekly or you could cook the engine.
Having said all that my son is considering buying another one so not all bad.
They are very prone to flooding, I believe it is ill advised to start just to move a little, they have to be taken for a drive.
They drink petrol & more importantly oil, the oil must be checked weekly or you could cook the engine.
Having said all that my son is considering buying another one so not all bad.
I've read a lot about them but never driven one. They do seem good value but I think that's due to the poor fuel economy, especially urban.
I'd Also like one at some point , but would be wary about a high mileage one, without doing further investigation.
It wouldn't be a red one though!
I'd Also like one at some point , but would be wary about a high mileage one, without doing further investigation.
It wouldn't be a red one though!
I've never driven them, but I've read plenty and love the looks. The performance is very, very good for the money you pay, with an entertaining engine that is revvy and sounds great when extended.
They have a reputation for unreliability, but that is down to owners not looking after them. As mentioned, they consume more oil than a conventional piston engine, so when you visit a car question the owner about the oil usage, brand etc etc.
For more information, there is an excellent buyers guide on the RX8 owners club.
They have a reputation for unreliability, but that is down to owners not looking after them. As mentioned, they consume more oil than a conventional piston engine, so when you visit a car question the owner about the oil usage, brand etc etc.
For more information, there is an excellent buyers guide on the RX8 owners club.
Well, the big issue is fuel consumption (18 - 20mpg), closely followed by oil consumption and actual / perceived unreliability (not sure which as I don't know that much about them).
However, there's no doubt that these issue are accounted for in used values. If they did 35mpg and were bullet proof, you would pay a damn sight more than £4k for a clean 6 year old 231.
I reckon a lot must come down to the mileage you do. If you only do, say, 4/5k a year, then it might be worth a shot, however if you do 20k a year, they're far from ideal.
However, there's no doubt that these issue are accounted for in used values. If they did 35mpg and were bullet proof, you would pay a damn sight more than £4k for a clean 6 year old 231.
I reckon a lot must come down to the mileage you do. If you only do, say, 4/5k a year, then it might be worth a shot, however if you do 20k a year, they're far from ideal.
I ran a 231 for 35k miles over 3 years before getting the MX5.
Oil usage was a myth, a litre every 1500 miles on an engine designed to burn oil isnt bad. Ive had bikes that used more.
They dont lack torque in the big scheme of things its just spread broadly with no big hit to make it feel fast. You have to rev it, but they love being thrashed. Mine never let me down, mostly averaged 17-19mpg getting 25mpg once and single figures on track days.
In my view they are better handling than an MX5, but not so much fun, as have more grip.
The rear seats are a bonus if you have passengers.
I would have another tomorrow if fuel was cheaper.
Oil usage was a myth, a litre every 1500 miles on an engine designed to burn oil isnt bad. Ive had bikes that used more.
They dont lack torque in the big scheme of things its just spread broadly with no big hit to make it feel fast. You have to rev it, but they love being thrashed. Mine never let me down, mostly averaged 17-19mpg getting 25mpg once and single figures on track days.
In my view they are better handling than an MX5, but not so much fun, as have more grip.
The rear seats are a bonus if you have passengers.
I would have another tomorrow if fuel was cheaper.
Gizmo! said:
Roof doesn't fold
Lights don't pop up.
Lights don't pop up.
Spot on!Sorry, nothing constructive to add, but a couple of friends had them and didn't encounter any problems in the year or two they were running them. There is an Owners club somewhere on the interweb that might have some buying guide type thread.
I'm watching these with interest at the moment too. The mpg issues and rising price of fuel has seen their value drop dramatically recently.
The best news is that many simpletons won't realise that spending £1k more on fuel but paying £3k less for a car is a good financial move providing you're not hanging on to it for ages. So you can get an extraordinary amount of car for the money
The best news is that many simpletons won't realise that spending £1k more on fuel but paying £3k less for a car is a good financial move providing you're not hanging on to it for ages. So you can get an extraordinary amount of car for the money
What really annoys me is how whenever the RX-8 is mentioned, immediately a whole load of people who've never driven, owned, or know anything about the car, spout off a whole load of received opinions.
The car doesn't use as much petrol as people say (we got 23-25 including urban and we weren't being gentle with it)
The car doesn't use as much oil as people say (it used as much as a BMW 325i we ran previously)
They only lack torque for numpties who drive them like diesels and don't rev them - which they bloody love.
And the car was totally reliable and doesn't suffer the same rotor-tip issues as the RX-7.
In my opinion, and the opinion of a couple of other people I've spoken to, the RX-8 is a more feelsome car to drive than the MX-5. Albeit a fair bit bigger.
The car was flooded once by my Dad, who started it, moved it a foot and killed the engine cold. I told him not to do it! It was a sod to get started again. Most modern cars will behave like this. I flooded our old Micra similarly. If you start a car, run it 'til the block has a little heat it in before shutting off the engine. Same for the RX-8.
They're cheap because people are scared off by fuel economy. Oh, and road tax for them is a f***ing scandal.
The car doesn't use as much petrol as people say (we got 23-25 including urban and we weren't being gentle with it)
The car doesn't use as much oil as people say (it used as much as a BMW 325i we ran previously)
They only lack torque for numpties who drive them like diesels and don't rev them - which they bloody love.
And the car was totally reliable and doesn't suffer the same rotor-tip issues as the RX-7.
In my opinion, and the opinion of a couple of other people I've spoken to, the RX-8 is a more feelsome car to drive than the MX-5. Albeit a fair bit bigger.
The car was flooded once by my Dad, who started it, moved it a foot and killed the engine cold. I told him not to do it! It was a sod to get started again. Most modern cars will behave like this. I flooded our old Micra similarly. If you start a car, run it 'til the block has a little heat it in before shutting off the engine. Same for the RX-8.
They're cheap because people are scared off by fuel economy. Oh, and road tax for them is a f***ing scandal.
I've never flooded a modern car - not since my 1.2 Nova which had a choke.
I was a member of the RX-8 forum for a while but was put off buying one due to the tales of woe on there, not least the starting problems but rust, failing oil cooler pipes and wheels that needed a refurb every 12 months.
That said, they are becoming very cheap now.... As long as I can find one with all the bits that fail replaced - oil cooler pipes, starter motors, wheels, sills where the door seals rub etc.
Steve
I was a member of the RX-8 forum for a while but was put off buying one due to the tales of woe on there, not least the starting problems but rust, failing oil cooler pipes and wheels that needed a refurb every 12 months.
That said, they are becoming very cheap now.... As long as I can find one with all the bits that fail replaced - oil cooler pipes, starter motors, wheels, sills where the door seals rub etc.
Steve
Well, if you go on almost any car forum you'll get scared away by tales of woe! If you look on the 'problems' section of MX5nutz you'd think the MX-5 was a malfunctioning heap of junk!
Here's a simple cure to engine flooding:
http://www.rx8blog.com/rx8-starting-problems-rx-8-...
Seems fully depressing the throttle (as on the MX-5) cuts off fuel supply to aid starting when flooded. And if you start any car, move it a short distance and shut it off cold, you'll risk flooding it. Suddenly a manual choke looks kinda appealing...!
Here's a simple cure to engine flooding:
http://www.rx8blog.com/rx8-starting-problems-rx-8-...
Seems fully depressing the throttle (as on the MX-5) cuts off fuel supply to aid starting when flooded. And if you start any car, move it a short distance and shut it off cold, you'll risk flooding it. Suddenly a manual choke looks kinda appealing...!
If you can afford to run one, the handling is a couple of rungs higher than an MX5. The Mx5 (mk1 - mk2.5 as standard) is set neutral to understeery handling wise, has a crap engine that doesnt like to rev and flexes when pushed above 75% driving. MX5's can be made very good but the RX8 is a far better base for performance driving and has a lovely interior with a stonkingly sweet engine note. - However if you want a great top down 'sportyish' driving experience you may prefer a 5. But if you have petrol in your veins the RX8 in either engine power is the way to go.
The RX-8 is a great car, but it's not like any other car on the road which is great, but ultimately also its downfall. People who don't know anything about cars treat them like they would a Focus and end up slowly killing the engine. This car needs to beeped (taken to 9000RPM) as much as possible, it helps to clear carbon and keeps the engine happy.
Sounds great, very practical, amazing grip (in the dry), well equipped and cheap to buy. It does use oil, but not a massive amount, but fuel consumption is dire no matter how you try to spin it. Find one that starts when properly when the engine is warm, and you should be okay.
Sounds great, very practical, amazing grip (in the dry), well equipped and cheap to buy. It does use oil, but not a massive amount, but fuel consumption is dire no matter how you try to spin it. Find one that starts when properly when the engine is warm, and you should be okay.
The owners club is a good place to go,although most people only go there when somthing is wrong so it tends to appear that they are nothing but trouble.My girlfriend has one,the chances i get a go on my own on the open road are rare but when i do ,my god it is fun,a real drivers car,you have to rev it well but its fine with it.I think it looks superb inside and out,fuel consumption is low,but we dont do a lot of miles anyway,oil consumption is fine at 1l per 1500 miles usually.the main thing to look for are poor hot starting issues.which usually mean a low compression engine.
hughcam said:
If you can afford to run one, the handling is a couple of rungs higher than an MX5. The Mx5 (mk1 - mk2.5 as standard) is set neutral to understeery handling wise, has a crap engine that doesnt like to rev and flexes when pushed above 75% driving. MX5's can be made very good but the RX8 is a far better base for performance driving and has a lovely interior with a stonkingly sweet engine note. - However if you want a great top down 'sportyish' driving experience you may prefer a 5. But if you have petrol in your veins the RX8 in either engine power is the way to go.
Have you driven a '5???This is me in my mostly stock Eunos...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vmazzKXrDY
With a little skill, an MX-5 can oversteer quite happily...
I assure you, there's plenty of petrol in my veins!
Oh, and the lower engine power is, apparently, to be avoided. I'll admit I haven't driven one, but apparently the five-speed gearbox makes the car quite buzzy on the motorway and the gappier ratios probably make it less keen to rev. It also comes with a mere 7.5k redline. What's the point? Buy the proper one instead!
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