£800 Mazda RX8
Discussion
Hi all, I think one of the most interesting cars of the modern era has to be the RX8 and I'll tell you as for why. The obvious starting point is the completely unconventional rotary engine, the highly praised chassis dynamics and a completely out there styling for what at the time was a very reasonable price (22k I believe brand new). I've heard its similar if not better handling wise to a s2000 (though I refuse to comment as I haven't driven one) and with quirky suicide doors and triangles everywhere it's a real well interesting car.
The only reason these aren't expensive cars I believe is because people didn't know how to maintain them properly and they blew up very regularly now as a second hand purchase even if you know how to maintain one when you're buying it with 70k miles on the clock and 6 previous owners who I suspect didn't have the best idea it's a really hard proposition to go into with any kind of confidence.
This particular example was bought of another forum (not a rx8 based forum or even mazda) and as I trusted the owner the only thing I really knew about the car was that it started hot and cold. That for me was enough to punt £800 on it.
You join me at the start of my journey and my aim is to fix, track and probably move on. After owning the car for less than 24 hours this is what I can report. The actual buying experience was quite amusing as I came from South Manchester to Edinburgh to collect the car. Met the owner in the city centre but he was running late and was hoping to catch the train at 2. By the time we met it was approx 1.45 and the owner essentially said "I HAVE to catch this train at 2 here's the keys, the log books in the glove box and I'll send you my details for payment". Luckily as I mentioned the forum I bought it from is full of very honest guys so I took the keys and drove back to my B&B. Seems every part of my RX8 experience is going to be a little unusual!
The car has been decatted and has a blow in the exhaust causing the eml light to be illuminated and I believe its running rich. This is most cars isn't a huge issue however on the rx8 it's potentially fatal due to bore wash and apex seals taking a HAMMERING from the unburnt fuel. As I need to drive the car 5 hours home I've chucked some 2 stroke oil into the fuel to give it a little extra protection and I think i will continue to add this throughout my ownership. The steering is light turning left and very heavy turning right. I see this a common issue and I believe only happened after the cars battery died so I think possibly a reset will fix this. Aircon doesn't blow cold (don't think I care). Other than that the car seems really quite nice. The coilpacks look newish, I will check tk make sure they're a decent quality and looks to have been serviced recently from the oil filter. It has oil in the boot which is handy and other than all that... I really quite like it. I'm a novice to rotarys so will be looking things up as I go and I hope I can thoroughly enjoy the rotary life.
The only reason these aren't expensive cars I believe is because people didn't know how to maintain them properly and they blew up very regularly now as a second hand purchase even if you know how to maintain one when you're buying it with 70k miles on the clock and 6 previous owners who I suspect didn't have the best idea it's a really hard proposition to go into with any kind of confidence.
This particular example was bought of another forum (not a rx8 based forum or even mazda) and as I trusted the owner the only thing I really knew about the car was that it started hot and cold. That for me was enough to punt £800 on it.
You join me at the start of my journey and my aim is to fix, track and probably move on. After owning the car for less than 24 hours this is what I can report. The actual buying experience was quite amusing as I came from South Manchester to Edinburgh to collect the car. Met the owner in the city centre but he was running late and was hoping to catch the train at 2. By the time we met it was approx 1.45 and the owner essentially said "I HAVE to catch this train at 2 here's the keys, the log books in the glove box and I'll send you my details for payment". Luckily as I mentioned the forum I bought it from is full of very honest guys so I took the keys and drove back to my B&B. Seems every part of my RX8 experience is going to be a little unusual!
The car has been decatted and has a blow in the exhaust causing the eml light to be illuminated and I believe its running rich. This is most cars isn't a huge issue however on the rx8 it's potentially fatal due to bore wash and apex seals taking a HAMMERING from the unburnt fuel. As I need to drive the car 5 hours home I've chucked some 2 stroke oil into the fuel to give it a little extra protection and I think i will continue to add this throughout my ownership. The steering is light turning left and very heavy turning right. I see this a common issue and I believe only happened after the cars battery died so I think possibly a reset will fix this. Aircon doesn't blow cold (don't think I care). Other than that the car seems really quite nice. The coilpacks look newish, I will check tk make sure they're a decent quality and looks to have been serviced recently from the oil filter. It has oil in the boot which is handy and other than all that... I really quite like it. I'm a novice to rotarys so will be looking things up as I go and I hope I can thoroughly enjoy the rotary life.
Absolutely brilliant!
I'm a big fan of the 7 the 8 and Mazda mentality in general.
They remind me of classic Citroen thinking: no one else is doing something so we'll do it.
I like the door set up on the 8 as well - that's about as close as I've got to ownership.
I wish you all the best.
I'm a big fan of the 7 the 8 and Mazda mentality in general.
They remind me of classic Citroen thinking: no one else is doing something so we'll do it.
I like the door set up on the 8 as well - that's about as close as I've got to ownership.
I wish you all the best.
MXRod said:
Just out of interest , has anyone ever changed the engine to a conventional one? , I guess a boxer type due to low bonnet , thats how a few NSU Ro80s were kept on the road .
LS swap seems fairly popularhttps://www.motorverso.com/rx8-ls-swap/
cologne2792 said:
MXRod said:
Just out of interest , has anyone ever changed the engine to a conventional one? , I guess a boxer type due to low bonnet , thats how a few NSU Ro80s were kept on the road .
LS swap seems fairly popularhttps://www.motorverso.com/rx8-ls-swap/
1UZ - dirt cheap compared to LS8
They are great cars and when the engine is running well can be good fun and quick on track.
Many have succumbed to rust by now.
Engine transplants are possible but by no means straightforward. Rotary rebuilds can be good but it seems more and more difficult to find the expertise to do it well. Maybe best just treat the engine as a commodity and replace it when it fails?
Have you been on the RX8 owners club site. Lots of great info but it is very coliquey with some slightly strange opinions.
There is one bloke on there who claims to an airline, drive super cars and build skyscrapers although no one has ever seen any evidence. Somehow he is believed and accepted though?
Many have succumbed to rust by now.
Engine transplants are possible but by no means straightforward. Rotary rebuilds can be good but it seems more and more difficult to find the expertise to do it well. Maybe best just treat the engine as a commodity and replace it when it fails?
Have you been on the RX8 owners club site. Lots of great info but it is very coliquey with some slightly strange opinions.
There is one bloke on there who claims to an airline, drive super cars and build skyscrapers although no one has ever seen any evidence. Somehow he is believed and accepted though?
Welcome to rotary ownership, there is nothing quite like that engine.
If you are wanting to look after the car then I'd advise the first few steps (which I am currently mid way through).
1. Check or replace spark plugs, coil packs and leads. If you have no history of replacing them. Get it done, a strong ignition system is key.
2. Exhaust wise, rotarys love a decat, it is a shame we aren't legally exempt but that should be why it stinks of fuel, a dying cat or decated system will obviously smell more. Personally I am going down a decent 200 cell option for those troublesome MOT's.
3. Premix every tank of fuel and check the oil level every 2/3 fill ups.
4. Regular oil changes 3/4k are recommended as the rotary cooks its oil.
5. Rust, it happens.
6. RX8 Owners Club is wealth of knowledge, suprisingly active and with passionate members so well worth signing up for.
If you are wanting to look after the car then I'd advise the first few steps (which I am currently mid way through).
1. Check or replace spark plugs, coil packs and leads. If you have no history of replacing them. Get it done, a strong ignition system is key.
2. Exhaust wise, rotarys love a decat, it is a shame we aren't legally exempt but that should be why it stinks of fuel, a dying cat or decated system will obviously smell more. Personally I am going down a decent 200 cell option for those troublesome MOT's.
3. Premix every tank of fuel and check the oil level every 2/3 fill ups.
4. Regular oil changes 3/4k are recommended as the rotary cooks its oil.
5. Rust, it happens.
6. RX8 Owners Club is wealth of knowledge, suprisingly active and with passionate members so well worth signing up for.
I had one while I was at uni, in retrospect not a clever decision!
I loved it though and I'd have another, not sure why I didn't buy one as my current budget car actually.
My favourite bit was the fact that mine did 18mpg regardless of whether you thrashed it or not. It'd be rude not to...
I loved it though and I'd have another, not sure why I didn't buy one as my current budget car actually.
My favourite bit was the fact that mine did 18mpg regardless of whether you thrashed it or not. It'd be rude not to...
I had a R3 several years ago. Bloody loved the thing, i feel that people that talk about engine swapping completely miss the point of this car. The engine is phenomenal, revs for days and is so buttery smooth.
It may not make the biggest power numbers ever but for a road car it's completely fine. The great chassis and (I assume) mx5 derived gearbox make it such a fun car.
Had to sell it as I couldn't afford £500 ved and 18mpg as a daily!
It may not make the biggest power numbers ever but for a road car it's completely fine. The great chassis and (I assume) mx5 derived gearbox make it such a fun car.
Had to sell it as I couldn't afford £500 ved and 18mpg as a daily!
Not had a good look underneath yet but the rear of the sills are a little crusty. Rest looked to be okay.
I have mixed in some 2stroke oil. I saw in the records there was an upgraded ignition system put in from a rotary specialist for £300 along with some spark plugs and leads which says guaranteed for life.
Car has been decatted but is blowing. I assume the lambda is on the same pipe as the cat and is causing the eml?
I'll be getting myself on the forums and the aim is to track it.
Got 280 mile from the tank on the way home too. Not too bad.
Parked it next to my volvo in an attempt for its stoutness to rub off on it.
I have mixed in some 2stroke oil. I saw in the records there was an upgraded ignition system put in from a rotary specialist for £300 along with some spark plugs and leads which says guaranteed for life.
Car has been decatted but is blowing. I assume the lambda is on the same pipe as the cat and is causing the eml?
I'll be getting myself on the forums and the aim is to track it.
Got 280 mile from the tank on the way home too. Not too bad.
Parked it next to my volvo in an attempt for its stoutness to rub off on it.
This could be good to watch. I test drove a 231bhp one when they were new and loved the chassis but hated the wankel engine. I suppose the light weight of the engine contributed to the very nice handling which reminded me a lot of an MX-5 but big enough to carry children too - I just couldn't get on with the angry wasp noise and blend of XKR fuel consumption with the performance of an XKR towing another XKR. Whilst the engine is obviously the attractive novelty for some, I reckon the car would have sold better with an aluminium V6 instead.
Still, for £800 it's a lot of car and you can wring its neck with plenty money for fuel still in your pocket
Still, for £800 it's a lot of car and you can wring its neck with plenty money for fuel still in your pocket
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