Discussion
Got this last week,
The reliability issues nearly put me off due to the rotary engine, but reading on the RX-8 forum, if you know how to drive it it will be work!
Loving it so far, It's much more fun than the insignia - for about 10% of the price.
Private plate came with it... I need to think of what it stands for

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The reliability issues nearly put me off due to the rotary engine, but reading on the RX-8 forum, if you know how to drive it it will be work!
Loving it so far, It's much more fun than the insignia - for about 10% of the price.
Private plate came with it... I need to think of what it stands for
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Get a compression check done , nice cars though my mate has a 192 and thought he knew it all .Did the driving procedures and thats been sat with a dead engine for months.
I lusted after one myself , its only because i just dont fit i dont own one(leg was up against the console ,im too long).One notable thing from my test drive of the 231 ,even beeping it ,just didnt seem that fast.Sounded good though
I lusted after one myself , its only because i just dont fit i dont own one(leg was up against the console ,im too long).One notable thing from my test drive of the 231 ,even beeping it ,just didnt seem that fast.Sounded good though
thanks for the advice guys,
The reliability problems nearly put me off but as a cheap weekend car I couldn't resist it.
I wouldn't call it 'fast' but it is 'fun' on the corners.
I'm getting it checked over by a mechanic on Monday (as I'm crap on the mechanical side) and having the brakes all copper greased as they are rather rusty.
The reliability problems nearly put me off but as a cheap weekend car I couldn't resist it.
I wouldn't call it 'fast' but it is 'fun' on the corners.
I'm getting it checked over by a mechanic on Monday (as I'm crap on the mechanical side) and having the brakes all copper greased as they are rather rusty.
tbc said:
i see a few of these local to me for £1500- 2000
which usually means they must be total stinkers
why are they so bloody unreliable
The rotor teeth wearing down is inherent to their design, much in the same way that a piston engine wears it's internal surfaces, except it happens much quicker in a rotary. They mist oil into the combustion chamber to lubricate the rotor tips, if it runs low the metal on metal contact wears the teeth down in no time, the engine loses compression and it's donald ducked.which usually means they must be total stinkers
why are they so bloody unreliable
I didn't think there would have been much disparity on insurance costs, so that surprises me.
Regardless, make sure that you enjoy it. The handling on those cars far outweighs any shortfall in straight-line speed.
Learn to service them yourself, change the oil every 5-6k miles and you will save yourself a lot of money running them. You appear to be lacking the strakes (little aluminium things which go on that vent in front of the front wheels)- I never had them, but always intended on buying them.
As has been said, knowing how to drive and look after them is no guarantee of them lasting, BUT it certainly helps. The rotor 'teeth' previously referred to are actually called 'apex seals'. These are seals which sit on springs on each corner of the rotors (so you have 6 of them- 2x trangular rotors). When the oil isn't doing its job (i.e. by now lubricating thoroughly- eiher by there not being enough, or the oil needs changing) then these springs can suffer, hence affecting the seals. This manifests itself by the car struggling to start from hot.
Enjoy driving it- they are designed to be driven hard, so make sure you make it beep every time to drive it!
Regardless, make sure that you enjoy it. The handling on those cars far outweighs any shortfall in straight-line speed.
Learn to service them yourself, change the oil every 5-6k miles and you will save yourself a lot of money running them. You appear to be lacking the strakes (little aluminium things which go on that vent in front of the front wheels)- I never had them, but always intended on buying them.
As has been said, knowing how to drive and look after them is no guarantee of them lasting, BUT it certainly helps. The rotor 'teeth' previously referred to are actually called 'apex seals'. These are seals which sit on springs on each corner of the rotors (so you have 6 of them- 2x trangular rotors). When the oil isn't doing its job (i.e. by now lubricating thoroughly- eiher by there not being enough, or the oil needs changing) then these springs can suffer, hence affecting the seals. This manifests itself by the car struggling to start from hot.
Enjoy driving it- they are designed to be driven hard, so make sure you make it beep every time to drive it!

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