Discussion
Also posted in GG but might be a bit specialised so here goes!
Following the Civic purchase for the wife, I have got a new job starting in April and thinking of trading up from the Mazda in the next 6-12 months.
Essentially, I have a craving for more power and noise, but without servicing costs that will break the bank.
The MX5 is a great little car but the novelty of the power gains over my old Fiesta has now worn off.
I could stick a supercharger on the MX5 but to be honest I am getting fed-up with the leaky roof, condensation, dinks in the bodywork, broken badges etc. I have lost the passion to bring this car back to standard.
BIL has a 350Z and the more time I spend in it the more I like it. It's not practical and pretty beefy but it goes like stink and sounds fantastic.
But I have also have a hankering for the RX8 (have the Mazda bug). Sounds fruity, quick enough for UK roads, but above all that, they seem remarkable value at the moment.
I know they drink petrol and the road tax is the worst, but what else should I look out for?
What about the 350Z?
Any other suggestions?
Not too fussed about 2/4 seater, just reasonable running costs (excluding petrol as my daily commute is just 10 mile round trip), some shunt and a nice noise!
Oh, and needs to be reliable and comfortably useable for everyday - this sadly rules out a TVR for me (although if I was at all handy with a spanner or had a scooter for the commute I would have one in a heartbeat!).
Cheers!
Following the Civic purchase for the wife, I have got a new job starting in April and thinking of trading up from the Mazda in the next 6-12 months.
Essentially, I have a craving for more power and noise, but without servicing costs that will break the bank.
The MX5 is a great little car but the novelty of the power gains over my old Fiesta has now worn off.
I could stick a supercharger on the MX5 but to be honest I am getting fed-up with the leaky roof, condensation, dinks in the bodywork, broken badges etc. I have lost the passion to bring this car back to standard.
BIL has a 350Z and the more time I spend in it the more I like it. It's not practical and pretty beefy but it goes like stink and sounds fantastic.
But I have also have a hankering for the RX8 (have the Mazda bug). Sounds fruity, quick enough for UK roads, but above all that, they seem remarkable value at the moment.
I know they drink petrol and the road tax is the worst, but what else should I look out for?
What about the 350Z?
Any other suggestions?
Not too fussed about 2/4 seater, just reasonable running costs (excluding petrol as my daily commute is just 10 mile round trip), some shunt and a nice noise!
Oh, and needs to be reliable and comfortably useable for everyday - this sadly rules out a TVR for me (although if I was at all handy with a spanner or had a scooter for the commute I would have one in a heartbeat!).
Cheers!
Never driven a 350z, would have been my first choice but needed 4 seats.
The RX8 needs to be well maintained with a full SH and all the recalls carried out. Some can experience CAT failures and engine issues but if the car is well looked after it shouldnt be an issue. Is best to get out there and drive some. They should pull cleanly all the way to the beep though. Oil use isnt as bad as people say either.
Mine is for sale with some Mazda warranty till Jan2011, its not the cheapest out there (room for movement) but its in excellent condition. PM me for more information or with any questions.
The RX8 needs to be well maintained with a full SH and all the recalls carried out. Some can experience CAT failures and engine issues but if the car is well looked after it shouldnt be an issue. Is best to get out there and drive some. They should pull cleanly all the way to the beep though. Oil use isnt as bad as people say either.
Mine is for sale with some Mazda warranty till Jan2011, its not the cheapest out there (room for movement) but its in excellent condition. PM me for more information or with any questions.
968CSReading said:
Never driven a 350z, would have been my first choice but needed 4 seats.
The RX8 needs to be well maintained with a full SH and all the recalls carried out. Some can experience CAT failures and engine issues but if the car is well looked after it shouldnt be an issue. Is best to get out there and drive some. They should pull cleanly all the way to the beep though. Oil use isnt as bad as people say either.
Mine is for sale with some Mazda warranty till Jan2011, its not the cheapest out there (room for movement) but its in excellent condition. PM me for more information or with any questions.
Thanks for the info.The RX8 needs to be well maintained with a full SH and all the recalls carried out. Some can experience CAT failures and engine issues but if the car is well looked after it shouldnt be an issue. Is best to get out there and drive some. They should pull cleanly all the way to the beep though. Oil use isnt as bad as people say either.
Mine is for sale with some Mazda warranty till Jan2011, its not the cheapest out there (room for movement) but its in excellent condition. PM me for more information or with any questions.
Given my commute will be 10 mile round trip I would hope the MPG would not be too much of an issue for me - I barely get 28 out of my old MX5.
Offset by the wife's Civic Diesel too!
We had an RX-8 for three years, before replacing it with an Elise last May. We had an MX-5 for four years before replacing it with a 350Z in November.
The RX-8 handles and rides better, and engine is more fun to ring out to the redline than the Z's.
The 350Z is a chunk quicker in a straight line, and much quicker in the wrong gear.
The 350Z's engine is nicer for pootling and makes a nicer noise as standard. The RX-8 can be made to sound nicer with a good quality stainless steel system (without making it too loud).
The 350Z is noticeably better on fuel on a run.
The RX-8 is much more practical.
Drive 'em both, make up your mind, don't put a great deal of weight on oil consumption or flooding.
RX-8 tips:
On the test drive, get the car good and hot, turn it off, leave it for a few seconds and then try to restart it. If it doesn't catch immediately, treat with great suspicion.
Don't worry about mayo on the dipstick, it's normal.
Have a look for broken antiroll bar links - common fault, cheap to fix, won't handle properly if they are broken.
The RX-8 handles and rides better, and engine is more fun to ring out to the redline than the Z's.
The 350Z is a chunk quicker in a straight line, and much quicker in the wrong gear.
The 350Z's engine is nicer for pootling and makes a nicer noise as standard. The RX-8 can be made to sound nicer with a good quality stainless steel system (without making it too loud).
The 350Z is noticeably better on fuel on a run.
The RX-8 is much more practical.
Drive 'em both, make up your mind, don't put a great deal of weight on oil consumption or flooding.
RX-8 tips:
On the test drive, get the car good and hot, turn it off, leave it for a few seconds and then try to restart it. If it doesn't catch immediately, treat with great suspicion.
Don't worry about mayo on the dipstick, it's normal.
Have a look for broken antiroll bar links - common fault, cheap to fix, won't handle properly if they are broken.
Syndrome said:
otolith said:
don't put a great deal of weight on oil consumption or flooding.
otolith said:
RX-8 tips:
Don't worry about mayo on the dipstick, it's normal.
Note to self, don't buy a car from otolith, it'll have a blown head gasket, a knackered catalyst and worn out oily bits. Don't worry about mayo on the dipstick, it's normal.
otolith said:
SmoothRB said:
You won't see any on the 'street car' scene hardly. It's verging into hairdresser territory.
Sadly not so - they are now cheap enough that kids are buying them and sticking awful tat on them. This sort of crap:
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