Mazda RX8...any good?
Discussion
I have noticed that RX8's drop on vale very quickly in the UK. Why? They seem to be a massive bargain on the used market. The 231 pz by prodrive have suspension and exhaust too. These are around £7-8000!
Is it because of high fuel cost and low mpg?
Because the rotary is too fragileand the seals could blow?
Or that they have almost no torque in normal daily driving? I drove one about 3 blocks once and felt sluggish at normal speed compared to my 350Z. Not a fair test though to be honest.
Clarkson said it was brilliant too. Best he drove all year and that wasn't the 231 model.
Hear from you all soon! Owners too please!
Is it because of high fuel cost and low mpg?
Because the rotary is too fragileand the seals could blow?
Or that they have almost no torque in normal daily driving? I drove one about 3 blocks once and felt sluggish at normal speed compared to my 350Z. Not a fair test though to be honest.
Clarkson said it was brilliant too. Best he drove all year and that wasn't the 231 model.
Hear from you all soon! Owners too please!
Reason they are so cheap is that being rotary engined, they drink fuel, tend to use a lot of oil and reliability does seem to be a concern if it has run low on oil previously etc.
I personally wouldn't have one for those exact reasons despite being able to pick up a low miler for £5k.
I personally wouldn't have one for those exact reasons despite being able to pick up a low miler for £5k.
This is one of those threads that will get a range of responses, many of which will offer the usual uninformed 'my mate down the pub' opinion. Will be worth doing a search too; this is an oft-discussed car.
They are very cheap second-hand, but they were pretty cheap to buy new. The fuel economy is poor - about 20-22 mpg seems normal - but it stays about the same whether you drive like a granny or enthusiastically. Oil consumption is not poor - yes it needs to be checked frequently, but use is low for most owners. What it does use is the cheap stuff. Servicing is cheap.
It has certain characteristics; some like them, some don't. What that powerplant gives you is a small, low engine, which allows a well-balanced car with more interior space than many of its competitors; you get a sports car with 4 proper seats. As always, it depends what you want.
It is a sports car, and it does shift, but you do need to get the revs high to utilise the power. Those that complain of poor torque tend to be in the wrong gear for what they are trying to do, often because they drive it in the same manner they would a conventional car.
Try a few. There are some horror stories, as there are from any car, especially on the forums, but I suspect they are very much in the minority. For the figures you've mentioned, you'll get a really nice one. I've had mine nearly 2 years, and it's now 6 years old; nothing has gone wrong and it's still sufficiently 'different' to be interesting even now.
I'm not an engineer or especially tech-savvy, but I love the fact that a mainstream manufacturer produced this thing.
They are very cheap second-hand, but they were pretty cheap to buy new. The fuel economy is poor - about 20-22 mpg seems normal - but it stays about the same whether you drive like a granny or enthusiastically. Oil consumption is not poor - yes it needs to be checked frequently, but use is low for most owners. What it does use is the cheap stuff. Servicing is cheap.
It has certain characteristics; some like them, some don't. What that powerplant gives you is a small, low engine, which allows a well-balanced car with more interior space than many of its competitors; you get a sports car with 4 proper seats. As always, it depends what you want.
It is a sports car, and it does shift, but you do need to get the revs high to utilise the power. Those that complain of poor torque tend to be in the wrong gear for what they are trying to do, often because they drive it in the same manner they would a conventional car.
Try a few. There are some horror stories, as there are from any car, especially on the forums, but I suspect they are very much in the minority. For the figures you've mentioned, you'll get a really nice one. I've had mine nearly 2 years, and it's now 6 years old; nothing has gone wrong and it's still sufficiently 'different' to be interesting even now.
I'm not an engineer or especially tech-savvy, but I love the fact that a mainstream manufacturer produced this thing.
Big Tav said:
Is it because of high fuel cost and low mpg?
Because the rotary is too fragileand the seals could blow?
Or that they have almost no torque in normal daily driving? I drove one about 3 blocks once and felt sluggish at normal speed compared to my 350Z. Not a fair test though to be honest.
You are (presumably, as you're on here) an enthusiast and these things put you off, the average man on the street wouldn't touch one with yours.Because the rotary is too fragileand the seals could blow?
Or that they have almost no torque in normal daily driving? I drove one about 3 blocks once and felt sluggish at normal speed compared to my 350Z. Not a fair test though to be honest.
They're thirstier than most and the linear power delivery means they don't feel particularly quick but they're cracking cars and an utter bargain IMO.
Can't add anything other than to comment on how good 10 or so RX8's looked all stickered up on route to Le Mans in 2009.
(Bear in mind that is still more technical information than you would receive from either Fifth Gear or the Top Gear magazine.)
(Bear in mind that is still more technical information than you would receive from either Fifth Gear or the Top Gear magazine.)
Edited by Moley RUFC on Saturday 8th January 07:33
CharlesdeGaulle said:
This is one of those threads that will get a range of responses, many of which will offer the usual uninformed 'my mate down the pub' opinion. Will be worth doing a search too; this is an oft-discussed car.
They are very cheap second-hand, but they were pretty cheap to buy new. The fuel economy is poor - about 20-22 mpg seems normal - but it stays about the same whether you drive like a granny or enthusiastically. Oil consumption is not poor - yes it needs to be checked frequently, but use is low for most owners. What it does use is the cheap stuff. Servicing is cheap.
It has certain characteristics; some like them, some don't. What that powerplant gives you is a small, low engine, which allows a well-balanced car with more interior space than many of its competitors; you get a sports car with 4 proper seats. As always, it depends what you want.
It is a sports car, and it does shift, but you do need to get the revs high to utilise the power. Those that complain of poor torque tend to be in the wrong gear for what they are trying to do, often because they drive it in the same manner they would a conventional car.
Try a few. There are some horror stories, as there are from any car, especially on the forums, but I suspect they are very much in the minority. For the figures you've mentioned, you'll get a really nice one. I've had mine nearly 2 years, and it's now 6 years old; nothing has gone wrong and it's still sufficiently 'different' to be interesting even now.
I'm not an engineer or especially tech-savvy, but I love the fact that a mainstream manufacturer produced this thing.
What he said.They are very cheap second-hand, but they were pretty cheap to buy new. The fuel economy is poor - about 20-22 mpg seems normal - but it stays about the same whether you drive like a granny or enthusiastically. Oil consumption is not poor - yes it needs to be checked frequently, but use is low for most owners. What it does use is the cheap stuff. Servicing is cheap.
It has certain characteristics; some like them, some don't. What that powerplant gives you is a small, low engine, which allows a well-balanced car with more interior space than many of its competitors; you get a sports car with 4 proper seats. As always, it depends what you want.
It is a sports car, and it does shift, but you do need to get the revs high to utilise the power. Those that complain of poor torque tend to be in the wrong gear for what they are trying to do, often because they drive it in the same manner they would a conventional car.
Try a few. There are some horror stories, as there are from any car, especially on the forums, but I suspect they are very much in the minority. For the figures you've mentioned, you'll get a really nice one. I've had mine nearly 2 years, and it's now 6 years old; nothing has gone wrong and it's still sufficiently 'different' to be interesting even now.
I'm not an engineer or especially tech-savvy, but I love the fact that a mainstream manufacturer produced this thing.
Had mine 2.5 years (was 3 years old then) and it's great.
M.
PS pretty sure the RX8 Clarkson tested WAS a 231.
Edited by marcosgt on Saturday 8th January 10:37
Busa_Rush said:
Pints said:
If only it were available with a 6-cyl. engine (or even 4-cyl. boxer engine), I'd have thought it would be much more popular... and reliable.
The rotary engine is part of its character, without that it wouldn't be as nice to drive. But it's also its downfall.I don't disagree that the WR is a part of its charm, but I'd be interested to see how well it would sell with a more "user friendly" engine.
Pints said:
Busa_Rush said:
Pints said:
If only it were available with a 6-cyl. engine (or even 4-cyl. boxer engine), I'd have thought it would be much more popular... and reliable.
The rotary engine is part of its character, without that it wouldn't be as nice to drive. But it's also its downfall.I don't disagree that the WR is a part of its charm, but I'd be interested to see how well it would sell with a more "user friendly" engine.
)The oil usage is a bit of a myth too. Its been hyped up by mates down the pub who know f
k all about the cars just hearsay.Its similar to a 2 stroke and designed to use some oil, although its not as bad as some make out.
Watch out for poor starting, early cars suffered from this and a modification was brought out of a bigger starter moter on later cars.
Another problem is coils, which are expensive from main dealer but are available for 1/3 cost online.
These cars need to be driven, and by popping to the shops and not booting the car can result in a build up of fuel in the cat resulting in a fire. You should rev it before stopping to rid any unburnt fuel. If you understand how the engine works it will make more sense, but a lot of owners know nothing mechanically, dont check oil levels and drive them like a "normal" 4 stroke. They most certainly are not.
k all about the cars just hearsay.Its similar to a 2 stroke and designed to use some oil, although its not as bad as some make out.Watch out for poor starting, early cars suffered from this and a modification was brought out of a bigger starter moter on later cars.
Another problem is coils, which are expensive from main dealer but are available for 1/3 cost online.
These cars need to be driven, and by popping to the shops and not booting the car can result in a build up of fuel in the cat resulting in a fire. You should rev it before stopping to rid any unburnt fuel. If you understand how the engine works it will make more sense, but a lot of owners know nothing mechanically, dont check oil levels and drive them like a "normal" 4 stroke. They most certainly are not.
Ive always wondered why if its designed to use some oil did Mazda fit a suitably sensitive oil warning sensor to the car avoiding less fastidious owners running too low on oil?
I would love to get one for my wife as she loves the look but know she would forget to regularly check the oil and we may had problems as a result as we live on a hill we have to consciously take the car somewhere to check it which invariably means I do it.
I would love to get one for my wife as she loves the look but know she would forget to regularly check the oil and we may had problems as a result as we live on a hill we have to consciously take the car somewhere to check it which invariably means I do it.
mad4amanda said:
Ive always wondered why if its designed to use some oil did Mazda fit a suitably sensitive oil warning sensor to the car avoiding less fastidious owners running too low on oil?
I would love to get one for my wife as she loves the look but know she would forget to regularly check the oil and we may had problems as a result as we live on a hill we have to consciously take the car somewhere to check it which invariably means I do it.
It has a gauge... I would love to get one for my wife as she loves the look but know she would forget to regularly check the oil and we may had problems as a result as we live on a hill we have to consciously take the car somewhere to check it which invariably means I do it.
To put it in perspective, talking to a colleague with a 4 cylinder Alfa GTV it seems it uses less oil than that does!
Although I tend to check mine every couple of weeks, I've often gone 4 or 5 weeks without needing to add any oil.
M.
On the oil issue; from a recent topic on SELOC discussing Audi RS4s:
On the "would have been better with a piston engine" angle, just buy a Lexus IS if that's what you want - the world does not need another japanese 3-series wannabe.
SELOC said:
Originally posted by ads_green
It will drink oil - Audi consider anything over 1l/650 miles to be normal consumption. I'm doing about 1L every 2000 miles or so.
My RX-8 also drank about a litre per 2000 miles, but even buying from the Mazda main dealer it cost £6/litre - wonder what oil for an RS4 costs? So why do people always make such a big deal of the oil consumption, as if it is the only car that does it?It will drink oil - Audi consider anything over 1l/650 miles to be normal consumption. I'm doing about 1L every 2000 miles or so.
On the "would have been better with a piston engine" angle, just buy a Lexus IS if that's what you want - the world does not need another japanese 3-series wannabe.
A much mis-understood car IMO. The engines operate on a total loss oil system, as someone said, just like a two stroke, due to the nature of the car, so just make it a regular check point and keep the level up, no big deal. Fuel consumption in around 23 mpg when the 230 bhp engine is "used" as intended. Any other car of that power level, Impreza, R32, Alfa V6, Hyundai V6, will all return about that mpg under similar use, it is a sports car after all, rear wheel drive and handles like a dream, not to mention those clever rear doors, that really do make sense in a coupe. As mentioned, alot of bargains out there, just do a bit of research first.
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