To ALL Mazda RX8 owners
Discussion
Hi all, have just joined this great site, have visited a few times so thought I would post a discussion...... I'm considering buying an RX8, I would basically like to know the plus and minus sides of this type of sportscar, has anyone experenced major problems, niggling inadequacies, best tyres to use etc etc?
Mate, check out this thread from September:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Should give you a few answers.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Should give you a few answers.
I'm quite a fan of the RX-8 although I don't own one. And if you have the need for 4 seats and want something more interesting than a fwd hatch. There really isn't a lot of choice.
The oil thing is mostly total BS IMO. The engine is designed to burn a bit of oil. But in mnay cases no worse than many other performance cars. And it's cheap oil. So what does it matter if you have to put a pint or two in each month. Big deal....
The biggest downers I see are, it's a specialist and unique engine. So not just anyone can work on one. For this reason I'd personally only look at a well maintained exams with a proper service history.
Fuel. While the oil consumption isn't an issue. They do drink fuel. More so than a bigger more powerful V8 in a heavier car. So be warned, if 18-22mpg isn't within your budget, look elswhere. The only plus side, is I believe they are happy on 95 RON whereas many other Jap cars need super unleaded. This some what closes the cost per mile cap.
However, my biggest complaint is performance. While they aren't exactly slow, they also aren't exactly fast either. For the same money you can buy faster, more powerful and better fuel economy.
So I see it as a straight choice. If you need 4 proper seats and a boot and would otherwise consider a Focus ST or Impreza WRX. Then for me the RX-8 wins hands down. It'll be a better drive with at least comparable perfoance and running costs. Is rarer and looks better.
But if you could live with a 2 seater or a 2+2 instead and lose abit of practicality. Then I think there are better, faster cars for the money.
It really is the perfoance trade off vs the mpg that grates me more than anything with them.
The oil thing is mostly total BS IMO. The engine is designed to burn a bit of oil. But in mnay cases no worse than many other performance cars. And it's cheap oil. So what does it matter if you have to put a pint or two in each month. Big deal....
The biggest downers I see are, it's a specialist and unique engine. So not just anyone can work on one. For this reason I'd personally only look at a well maintained exams with a proper service history.
Fuel. While the oil consumption isn't an issue. They do drink fuel. More so than a bigger more powerful V8 in a heavier car. So be warned, if 18-22mpg isn't within your budget, look elswhere. The only plus side, is I believe they are happy on 95 RON whereas many other Jap cars need super unleaded. This some what closes the cost per mile cap.
However, my biggest complaint is performance. While they aren't exactly slow, they also aren't exactly fast either. For the same money you can buy faster, more powerful and better fuel economy.
So I see it as a straight choice. If you need 4 proper seats and a boot and would otherwise consider a Focus ST or Impreza WRX. Then for me the RX-8 wins hands down. It'll be a better drive with at least comparable perfoance and running costs. Is rarer and looks better.
But if you could live with a 2 seater or a 2+2 instead and lose abit of practicality. Then I think there are better, faster cars for the money.
It really is the perfoance trade off vs the mpg that grates me more than anything with them.
My wife has one and she loves it, fuel consumption is circa 18mpg but given it's a 2.6 (don't believe the 1.3 lie) petrol driven mostly round town it is no surprise. Car has little low torque low in the rev range but get it up into the power band and it's reasonably quick. Kid's love the car and fit in the back no problem, boot is big enough for us all to have the (very) occasional weekend away. Oil consumption not too much of an issue for us, never had the flooding on restarting problem. Just service at the Mazda dealer and drive as normal really.
My brothers got one, he's flooded the engine a few times and it had been tucked away during the winter months, but he still loves it! Its like one of these cars that once you get you'll love nomatter what! although his O/H has been forcing him to sell up!
They are really comfy, really good handling, and doesn't need extraordinary skills to be driven. Probably go for the 230 options where you get more extras, 6 gears and more power... not much point in the 190's IMO as they use roughly the same fuel as the 190s only got 5 gears ect...
The engine really needs to be worked to get the power out, but the scream of the rotary is very satisfying.
really good for long distances and a good cruiser, but still a bag full of fun on weekend driving.
Insurance group 15/16 i think (dont hold me on that) so if your still quite young not that hard to get insured on.
Mazdaspeed to a very nice bodykit if its your thing, or there are many other aftermarket bodykits.
A bit of a downer is nowadays due to the price of the car and the popularity of it, you will not be Unique in any way.
If your sensible your engine shouldnt flood much if you treat it right.
If you buy from a garage many mazda dealers also do a bodywork warranty, eg if there's been any rust or paint flake anywhere which isnt your fault but a design fault they'll get it sorted for you. but this usually entails sticking to tehre yearly bodywork service checks (which i think is free)
Very true statements from people saying there are faster things you can buy or there are other things just as fun, but what you should remember is that Rotary engines are very unique and nowadays are only mass produced through the RX-8.
Hope this helps!!!
They are really comfy, really good handling, and doesn't need extraordinary skills to be driven. Probably go for the 230 options where you get more extras, 6 gears and more power... not much point in the 190's IMO as they use roughly the same fuel as the 190s only got 5 gears ect...
The engine really needs to be worked to get the power out, but the scream of the rotary is very satisfying.
really good for long distances and a good cruiser, but still a bag full of fun on weekend driving.
Insurance group 15/16 i think (dont hold me on that) so if your still quite young not that hard to get insured on.
Mazdaspeed to a very nice bodykit if its your thing, or there are many other aftermarket bodykits.
A bit of a downer is nowadays due to the price of the car and the popularity of it, you will not be Unique in any way.
If your sensible your engine shouldnt flood much if you treat it right.
If you buy from a garage many mazda dealers also do a bodywork warranty, eg if there's been any rust or paint flake anywhere which isnt your fault but a design fault they'll get it sorted for you. but this usually entails sticking to tehre yearly bodywork service checks (which i think is free)
Very true statements from people saying there are faster things you can buy or there are other things just as fun, but what you should remember is that Rotary engines are very unique and nowadays are only mass produced through the RX-8.
Hope this helps!!!
I had one but sold it last month due to the fuel, tax and insurance costs all going up 
On a full tank of fuel, I would get about 230 miles on mixed driving, 320miles maximum on a motorway run and 180 on city driving. With fuel prices and taxes heading skywards again it might be best to reconsider unless you only want it for a fun car or you do low miles.
As for the car, it's fantastic
The only problem I ever had with it was when Mazda "forgot" and then denied all knowledge of replacing a caliper bolt, leaving a control arm bolt loose and snapping my front droplink, besides that it ran like a dream and was the best handling car I've driven.
It's not the most powerful car on the road, but if you drive it correctly it'll keep up with most cars in its class.
The oil usage is a bit of a myth, I did 24k miles in mine and used only half of a 5litre bottle of oil for topping it up (Besides the oil changes I carried out), my dads Audi A3 TDi uses more oil!
If I could afford it, I would buy one again, however never assume that Full Mazda Service History means it has been cared for, most of the RX8s I've seen had no work done on them at all despite the service stamp.
On a full tank of fuel, I would get about 230 miles on mixed driving, 320miles maximum on a motorway run and 180 on city driving. With fuel prices and taxes heading skywards again it might be best to reconsider unless you only want it for a fun car or you do low miles.
As for the car, it's fantastic
The only problem I ever had with it was when Mazda "forgot" and then denied all knowledge of replacing a caliper bolt, leaving a control arm bolt loose and snapping my front droplink, besides that it ran like a dream and was the best handling car I've driven. It's not the most powerful car on the road, but if you drive it correctly it'll keep up with most cars in its class.
The oil usage is a bit of a myth, I did 24k miles in mine and used only half of a 5litre bottle of oil for topping it up (Besides the oil changes I carried out), my dads Audi A3 TDi uses more oil!
If I could afford it, I would buy one again, however never assume that Full Mazda Service History means it has been cared for, most of the RX8s I've seen had no work done on them at all despite the service stamp.
Have a read through this site it is really informative and well put together
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/
300bhp/ton said:
So I see it as a straight choice. If you need 4 proper seats and a boot and would otherwise consider a Focus ST or Impreza WRX. Then for me the RX-8 wins hands down. It'll be a better drive with at least comparable perfoance and running costs. Is rarer and looks better.
But if you could live with a 2 seater or a 2+2 instead and lose abit of practicality. Then I think there are better, faster cars for the money.
It really is the perfoance trade off vs the mpg that grates me more than anything with them.
Can't really disagree with any of that. For a good to drive, good looking (although looks are subjective) I don't think there is any competition. If you enjoy thrashing an engine and don't mind using the gears when you want to go for it then so much the better.But if you could live with a 2 seater or a 2+2 instead and lose abit of practicality. Then I think there are better, faster cars for the money.
It really is the perfoance trade off vs the mpg that grates me more than anything with them.
I use about 1 litre of oil (the cheapest semi-synth going) per 1500 miles and get around 20-22 mpg. I also do most of the servicing myself and find it very easy, the engine is so small that there is a ton of space to work around it.
The mpg/power argument is one that a lot of people struggle to get past but I see the trade off as giving you 4 usable seats in a car that with a conventional power plant would at best be a 2+2 with compromised handling. Besides which if the power isn't enough then there is always the option to supercharge for about 6k
Edit to say I've never flooded mine either, follow the instruction manual and you won't have a problem
Edited by wolves_wanderer on Saturday 27th March 00:13
SmoothRB said:
I don't like the looks. It looks cheap and nasty IMHO...something PT Cruiser-esque about the design.
Plus get a dodgy batch of fuel and engine is f
ked.
To be fair, looks are subjective - not meaning to be rude, but I think they look nicer than your car - obviously you don't, and that's all that really matters.Plus get a dodgy batch of fuel and engine is f
ked.
What's the fuel issue? Not something I've heard of, they aren't generally fussy about fuel and are quite happy with 95RON.
SmoothRB said:
otolith said:
To be fair, looks are subjective - not meaning to be rude, but I think they look nicer than your car - obviously you don't, and that's all that really matters.
The 33 looks ordinary. You own one for the RB under the bonnet.300bhp/ton said:
SmoothRB said:
otolith said:
To be fair, looks are subjective - not meaning to be rude, but I think they look nicer than your car - obviously you don't, and that's all that really matters.
The 33 looks ordinary. You own one for the RB under the bonnet.They are just tough street cars.
SmoothRB said:
300bhp/ton said:
SmoothRB said:
otolith said:
To be fair, looks are subjective - not meaning to be rude, but I think they look nicer than your car - obviously you don't, and that's all that really matters.
The 33 looks ordinary. You own one for the RB under the bonnet.They are just tough street cars.
300bhp/ton said:
SmoothRB said:
300bhp/ton said:
SmoothRB said:
otolith said:
To be fair, looks are subjective - not meaning to be rude, but I think they look nicer than your car - obviously you don't, and that's all that really matters.
The 33 looks ordinary. You own one for the RB under the bonnet.They are just tough street cars.
as for the RB in the R33, it's actually a bit slower than the rx8 in standard form, and the rx8 handles hell of a lot better so I know which I'd rather own again (having owned both
)Monki said:
as for the RB in the R33, it's actually a bit slower than the rx8 in standard form, and the rx8 handles hell of a lot better so I know which I'd rather own again (having owned both )
The 33 is a 10 year older design, plus it was made when the Japs had the horsepower agreements...hence why the GTST only runs 5/7 psi boost. )How much quicker is a stock RX8 anyway? No much at all.
Besides if you are running around in a bog stock GTST you are a f
king 'tard anyway. They are very strong and made to be modified. The 33 GTR was the first mass production car to brak 8 mins at the 'ring. Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff