Mazda RX8 as company car

[dingocooke]

Do about 30,000 a year, currently in Golf TDi 140 mk5, would love a coupe, but need 4 seats occasionally.
My head says buy a petrol mk5 Golf GTi, but my heart says RX8.
I know it'll cost more to lease, and run, and th eemissions co car tax is way higher (top band) but what else can you tell me?

So, all you RX8 owners, especially the higher mileage guys, whats are your thoughts:

Tank range (typical)
Oil consumption
General use
good points
bad points
Mazda dealers, what are they like?
Service support (itll be a lease vehicle 3 years 30,000 a year full maintenance)
Ive been in two, and they seem, well a little under resourced if anything??

Thanks in advance

Steve

[dingocooke]

hmm had a brief drive but Mazdas idea of a test drive is not mine (all of 5 miles...) maybe theyre scared Ill discover some shortcoming?? Most other dealerships will give you a proper test

Edited by dingocooke on Tuesday 31st October 14:17

[dingocooke]

Around 1 litre per 1000 miles it seems, I think its all about rotor lip seal lubrication, which leaves a very thin residual film on the chamber surface which then gets burnt off.

I can live with that if the rest of the package is up to it!!

[dingocooke]

Thanks for the answers so far folks.
Im not too fussed by the (lack of) economy, my weekend drive is a 351W engined Hawk 289, so Im a regular at the petrol pump...
Ive also driven an S2000, which feels torquey next to an RX8!! But the relative practicality of the RX8 is what also draws me to it, as being a nice compromise between fun and sensible.
To be fair, a petrol Golf GTi is the easy choice, but the RX8 is potentially much more interesting, if there are no real issues with the car and dealer network.
Keep it coming!!
Cheers
Steve

Edited by dingocooke on Wednesday 1st November 15:21

[dingocooke]

Yes the latest MK5 Golf is definately a bit bland, and VW have never recaptured the MK1's charisma somehow, with Mk2,3 4 all getting slightly more, well, dull I suppose.Up till now the performance has been a bit dull, but the MK5 GTi's peformance is how is should be, just a bit of a dull plasticy style IMO, although the RX8 is also awash with mediocre looking mouldings too. Agree though that the RX8 has some good daring styling touches from a mainstream maunufacturer, and that makes it stand out as a more interesting choice too.

[dingocooke]

Well I had a better test drive in a 230hp RX8 on Friday, and have to say came away disappointed, yes its a very linear power delivery, but almost boringly so; no rush when it gets into the powerband, just an even progression up to 9000rpm and the alarm bell, closest thing to an electric car Ive ever driven (after a fair ground dodgem and milk float).
Lovely looking car, really nicely balanced chassis, nice neutral handling and great brakes; but the engine was just soo uninspiring.
I can deal with the 20mpg, and litre of oil every 1000miles, but the lack of dynamism from the engine was so disappointing.
Funniest thing is, when I said all that to the dealer, the lease price (3 years, full maint, 20,000miles a year, 230 hp model with leather) suddenly came down from £370 to £315 per month(plus VAT)
Cross that one off the list then!

Edited by dingocooke on Monday 6th November 18:57

[dingocooke]

vixpy1 said:

Needs a turbo

I think youre right, it would give the car the extra oomph it needs, plus a powerband, to take away some of the 'bland' nature of the power delivery.
Shame it ticked all the other boxes for me, but not the most important one 'fun'

[dingocooke]

Didnt notice that, handling felt really nice to me, and the brakes were really good.
I doubt it would be as much fun as a hot hatch down a twisty road.

[dingocooke]

Intriguing that a few more people are now admitting its a bit, well, bland..
The Mazda dealers sudden discount kind of reinforces that they know it too..

[dingocooke]

To be fair, even comparing it to my MK5 140hp diesel Golf its still dull;
you know that feeling after a test drive, when you either get in your exisitng car and wish you were still in the test car, or you get back in your own car and drive down the road relieved to be back in your own car, well thats how I felt; relieved; oh and dissappointed too; as I really wanted to like it, had picked out my options and everything-thank god I had a test 1st!
Its not that I dont like high revving engines, being a bike fan, Im used to things that rev way beyond an RX8's 9,000, but to me an engine that revs high needs a power band to be fun, so you get that kick when you hit the power, the RX8's rotary was just too linear to stimulate my senses.
RX8 Engine of the year, more like asthmatic of the year
That one really confuses me; maybe the launch was so oppulent the journo's who voted were 'influenced'...must have been nice; Im only jealous

Edited by dingocooke on Wednesday 8th November 10:23

[dingocooke]

Whats a greddy turbo then??

[dingocooke]

Oh OK, not really an option for a 30,000 mile a years lease car with full maintenance:-)

I think Golf Gti is looking favourite, nothing against the Golf but I fancy a change after a couple, and just wish I could find a fun 4 seater that doesnt look like kleenex box and has a bit of style, decent grunt, and I can get it under my £600pcm lease budget.

Pity the datsun (ok Nissan:-)) 350Z is a 2 seater.

[dingocooke]

Yep that's another possible and within budget too, theyre pretty hard to get a test drive in (its not easy to get a test in a bog std GTi even though Im a customer!!)
Don't know whats happened with test drives lately, a bit thin on the ground, last time I was looking (2 years ago) dealers were very pushy with test drives.
I took just one and bought the VW, Im hardly a spotty teenager looking for a free drive.
As an aside, the Mazda guy on Friday saw my old style licence with a few very old lapsed endorsements (just a couple of minor SP30 sepeeders, last was 2001) and proceeded to give me a little speeding lecture pre test drive; couldnt believe it, and nearly told him to feck his test drive, the hypocrit; hes trying to flog me what I thought was a 'performance' car and then starts banging on about an old lapsed endorsement!!
He didnt want to give me back my licence photocopy after the test drive either, had to take it off him, unbelievable; he's either never heard of indentity theft or he's doing it :-)
Probably just a crap dealer I suppose (Sunwin Mazda at Derby, well worth avoiding).

[dingocooke]

Monaro looks tempting; whats an HSV-sounds like a herpes diagnosis :-)