Mazda RX-8... what do I need to know?

[AdamW]

I'm thinking of buying an RX-8 and hoping that £2500 will be enough for a 231bhp 60,000-mile/2003 example. What do I need to look out for, and is there any work that ought to have been done by that mileage?

[edition]

How to use the search facility.


:-)

[SMcP114]

Just search in jap chat. There must be at least 10 of these threads every day.

[fathomfive]

Surely at that price, it'll be fked beyond belief?

[PumpkinSteve]

Just join the RX-8 forum instead, most people on here will have you believe every single RX-8 ever made has needed 14 engine rebuilds.


On a more helpful note: Ask for a hot compression test before you buy one.

[RZ1]

Get a compression test done

[Kam B]

Know that the oil consumption will be more than the fuel consumption

[Harbuzi]

I looked seriosuly into getting one of these a couple of years back. If you like to work for your performance then you may enjoy it because I found the example I drove (which was a 231) to be gutless up until the upper end of the rev band.

Don't think the oil consumption is as bad as some would have you believe but it is definitely thirsty for petrol especially when you consider the performance is quick rather than mega fast.

But at that price, a good looking coupe that seats 4 adults and has a pretty nice interior is a bargain!

[bqf]

1. That there is an interior colourway on some cars of black and red 'leatherette' that bears an uncanny resemblance to Michael Jacksons jacket in 'Thriller'.

2. That it won't move an inch until it has 999,000 revs on the counter, and it's redlined at 1,000,000

3. That everyone thinks it drinks oil (doesn't) and all engines need a rebuild after 50,000 (almost true)

[wolves_wanderer]

Kam B said:

Know that the oil consumption will be more than the fuel consumption

[SD1992]

I posted a very similar thread not that long ago, have a look

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[SMcP114]

bqf said:

1. That there is an interior colourway on some cars of black and red 'leatherette' that bears an uncanny resemblance to Michael Jacksons jacket in 'Thriller'.

2. That it won't move an inch until it has 999,000 revs on the counter, and it's redlined at 1,000,000

3. That everyone thinks it drinks oil (doesn't) and all engines need a rebuild after 50,000 (almost true)

They drink oil compared to cars of a similar style. That's a fact.

I've two here at the minute, one needing an engine.

[SMcP114]

bqf said:

1. That there is an interior colourway on some cars of black and red 'leatherette' that bears an uncanny resemblance to Michael Jacksons jacket in 'Thriller'.

2. That it won't move an inch until it has 999,000 revs on the counter, and it's redlined at 1,000,000

3. That everyone thinks it drinks oil (doesn't) and all engines need a rebuild after 50,000 (almost true)

They drink oil compared to cars of a similar style. That's a fact.

I've two here at the minute, one needing an engine.

[wolves_wanderer]

AdamW said:

I'm thinking of buying an RX-8 and hoping that £2500 will be enough for a 231bhp 60,000-mile/2003 example. What do I need to look out for, and is there any work that ought to have been done by that mileage?

There are a million threads but seeing as the search on here is probably knackered (not checked)

I would personally want to see some evidence that the owner is an enthusiast as they appreciate preventative maintenance more than most cars in the same category.

Things like the coil packs aren't on the service schedule but benefit from being done every 30k or so. Ideally you want to have a hot compression test before you buy it, if this isn't possible, get the engine good and hot after a hard drive, turn it off and leave for 5-10 minutes before re-starting it. Any significant hesitation and sluggishness is a good sign of a borked engine (there are videos on youtube so you know what you are looking for).

Know that you will be doing somewhere between 18-24 mpg depending on use, pretty much no matter how you drive it.

Check that the headlights self-level

Get underneath after the test drive, if the cat is red hot or rattly you will be looking at about £500 for a replacement (or £1200 if you want a Mazda one)

Tyres are pricey (unusual profile seemingly) but don't skimp with cheap ones

Check wheel arches and inside the bootlid for rust

Ask the owner how much oil it uses, if he needs to think too much or isn't sure then you can reasonably assume he's run it short at least once

Good luck, they aren't massively quick (by modern standards, but 0-60 in 6 seconds and 145mph is still rapid) and certainly don't feel it as the torque curve (such as it is ) is so linear but are superb handling and the throttle response is extra-ordinary. I've got all the costs of mine on my profile.

Edited by wolves_wanderer on Thursday 10th November 16:14

[sparkos]

I have had both versions of the RX8, S1 and the latest R3. They DO NOT use a lot of oil, typicaly 1 ltr every 3-4000 mls depending on how one drives it. Other points
Registered after 2005 ? that'll be £250 road tax
R3 version ? that'll be £460
Fuel consumption - 19 mpg round the doors, 13-15 thrashing it, decent run 80 mph motorway - most ive had was 22-23 mpg.
Good points
fun to drive
handle very well
RWD
231 version - 6 speed box, xenon headlights, leather.
GET A HOT COMPRESSION TEST DONE BEFORE YOU BUY IT. Rebuild upwards of £3K
On a sidenote i am totaly bored with mine (09 plate R3 aurora mica blue ) and will be changing it soon for an FQ330 SST.

[galvatronscannon]

Grenades, avoid. Fuelling issues, cat issues, engine flooding issies if you only move it a few feet, crap (read godawful) fuel consumption, there's a reason they're cheap. Get something more reliable, like a no service history Cerbera from a guy in a dark lay by. In the rain.

[wolves_wanderer]

SMcP114 said:

They drink oil compared to cars of a similar style. That's a fact.

S2000s seem to use about a litre of [expensive] oil every 1000-1500 miles and nobody seems to crucify them for it.

[galvatronscannon]

wolves_wanderer said:

S2000s seem to use about a litre of [expensive] oil every 1000-1500 miles and nobody seems to crucify them for it.

they tend not to go on fire though.

[EDLT]

wolves_wanderer said:

SMcP114 said:

They drink oil compared to cars of a similar style. That's a fact.

S2000s seem to use about a litre of [expensive] oil every 1000-1500 miles and nobody seems to crucify them for it.

So do some Toyotas (the 1.8 engine, specifically).

The Audi RS4/R8 V8 has to consume one litre per 600 miles before Audi will accept a warranty claim (according to evo).

[bqf]

The higher a car revs, the more oil it will use, this is definitely true. The comparison with an S2000 (another high-revver) is a good one