RE: PH Fleet Intro: Mazda RX-8

[otolith]

I fitted mine with a Racing Beat catback - I think that would have been just about right for an OEM sports exhaust option.

[Amateurish]

When buying one of these, is a compression test all you need to do to ensure that the engine is not on its way out? Does that guarantee that the engine is a good one? If the car you are buying gets a good result, might you still get low compression 10k miles or so later on?

[Fastdruid]

A compression test will tell you the state of any engine, piston or rotary. Generally the higher the better.

Part of the trouble with rotary engines is they are remarkably resilient and it takes a lot before they get to the point they won't run (this is why they are liked in aircraft). A lot of things that would 'blow up' a piston engine would just reduce the power of a rotary. This means that you could sell on a very nearly totally fked rotary to someone unsuspecting where a piston engine in the same state wouldn't run or would have a rod through the block, sound like a bag of spanners in a washing machine etc. Unsuspecting owner runs said rotary for a short while before it finally dies totally and then (rightfully) grumbles that its blown up on them and rotaries are st.

You don't *need* a compression test (although it is really advised) but you *must* try a hot start before you buy one. I'd also walk if the owner won't let you have a compression test done. Personally with selling ours we'll let any tests be done and offer to refund the compression test fee if it fails.

[RAClNG SNAKE]

Fastdruid said:

I'd also walk if the owner won't let you have a compression test done.

Exactly. I offered to pay the cost of a test to several sellers if the results were good. So far all have declined and I walked.

[y2blade]

wolves_wanderer said:

y2blade said:

CarbonBlackM5 said:

y2blade said:

I experienced one of these for the first time last night....It was infront of me on the run home last night...A blue one that had been lowered and had a after-market Exhaust fitted.


braaaaaaaaaaaaa pop pop braaaaaaaaaaaa pop bang braaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...the sound was truly spine-tingling although it wasn't as quick as I thought it wild be (I matched it in the S60)...perhaps it was the lower BHP one, or perhaps it was shagged....I'll never know but it did sound fantastic

I have a new found fondness for these now

Good work. I had a Borla fitted to mine and it used to pop on the over run. Not the quickest in a straight line but a great A-B car which makes up for the lack of grunt.

he was popping on the revlimiter (by the sounds of it) between gear-changes I had goosebumps listening to it.

Flames is where its at boys

I saw "Mr Noisy Blue RX8" again last night,....This time he was going to opposite way to me, still sounded bloody amazing

looking on Autotrader (just looking mind you!) ...bugger me! these things have lost some money haven't they!!!! A very good friend of mine had a deposit on one before they first came out, it was over £20k iirc..the waiting list got silly so he cancelled his order and bought an M3 instead.

[Fastdruid]

RAClNG SNAKE said:

Fastdruid said:

I'd also walk if the owner won't let you have a compression test done.

Exactly. I offered to pay the cost of a test to several sellers if the results were good. So far all have declined and I walked.

In a lot of regards its a test of the owners even more than the car. I can't see any genuine seller who believes their car is good refusing. Its the same as any type of inspection on a car, if the seller won't let it be done then you question why and is probably best to walk away.

[Amateurish]

Fastdruid said:

RAClNG SNAKE said:

Fastdruid said:

I'd also walk if the owner won't let you have a compression test done.

Exactly. I offered to pay the cost of a test to several sellers if the results were good. So far all have declined and I walked.

In a lot of regards its a test of the owners even more than the car. I can't see any genuine seller who believes their car is good refusing. Its the same as any type of inspection on a car, if the seller won't let it be done then you question why and is probably best to walk away.

I'm not sure how this would work practically on, say, an ebay purchase. Would you win the car, then turn up and say let's take this to your nearest speciliast for a test? And who pays?

[wolves_wanderer]

Amateurish said:

Fastdruid said:

RAClNG SNAKE said:

Fastdruid said:

I'd also walk if the owner won't let you have a compression test done.

Exactly. I offered to pay the cost of a test to several sellers if the results were good. So far all have declined and I walked.

In a lot of regards its a test of the owners even more than the car. I can't see any genuine seller who believes their car is good refusing. Its the same as any type of inspection on a car, if the seller won't let it be done then you question why and is probably best to walk away.

I'm not sure how this would work practically on, say, an ebay purchase. Would you win the car, then turn up and say let's take this to your nearest speciliast for a test? And who pays?

Personally I would be happy to negotiate a price for the car subject to a compression test and go halves on the cost with the purchaser. There is a graph on the owners club site that details acceptable readings and if the car came within that then the sale would proceed.

I would run a mile from a car that the vendor was not happy to have compression tested prior to purchase. If a car has good compression and the preventative maintenance is done then there is no reason it wouldn't stay good.

[Fastdruid]

Amateurish said:

Fastdruid said:

RAClNG SNAKE said:

Fastdruid said:

I'd also walk if the owner won't let you have a compression test done.

Exactly. I offered to pay the cost of a test to several sellers if the results were good. So far all have declined and I walked.

In a lot of regards its a test of the owners even more than the car. I can't see any genuine seller who believes their car is good refusing. Its the same as any type of inspection on a car, if the seller won't let it be done then you question why and is probably best to walk away.

I'm not sure how this would work practically on, say, an ebay purchase. Would you win the car, then turn up and say let's take this to your nearest speciliast for a test? And who pays?

I'd only accept it (as a seller) if previously asked for prior to auction end. The winning of an ebay auction is not winning the right to turn up, kick the tyres and say "actually, no thanks" unless its not as described. If you are serious about an ebay car you turn up, test drive it, check it out and either offer cash or bid. If you just bid and its as described then you've already bought it!

Personally I think buyer pays, same as buyer pays for a HPI check or an independent engineers report.

[y2blade]

My bro has just bought one, can't wait to get a run out in it.

[RAClNG SNAKE]

Would the advertiser of this car please PM me if it is still available. Thanks

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=3527...

[RAClNG SNAKE]

I have worked out why these cars cause such a debate, the RX8 is a p0rn star.

Some people find it attractive, some don't.
Those that are interested only want a short relationship, definitely not marriage.
Thrills and excitement are guaranteed but it will cost you.
Sensible people wouldn't go near one without seeing a clean bill of health (compression test).
Most of those that admit to having the experience are on a mission to correct the general views of Joe Public.

[otolith]

RAClNG SNAKE said:

Those that are interested only want a short relationship, definitely not marriage.

Not so sure about that one, there are some people in the owners club who've had them since 2003 - I think one of them has owned three or four, all bought new. So you might add that some that are interested are obsessed with them...

[RAClNG SNAKE]

otolith said:

Not so sure about that one, there are some people in the owners club who've had them since 2003 - I think one of them has owned three or four, all bought new. So you might add that some that are interested are obsessed with them...

Excellent!

[marcosgt]

You might be right, you can't be a screamer!

M.

[theboyfold]

My neighbour has one of these up for sale at the moment, well I say the moment, I mean the last 12 months. His is a 54 plate I think, low mileage and the higher output. He was originally asking £5k for it and has dropped it to around £4k now. As soon as it hits £2.5k I might just have it off it him...

[RAClNG SNAKE]

theboyfold said:

My neighbour has one of these up for sale at the moment, well I say the moment, I mean the last 12 months. His is a 54 plate I think, low mileage and the higher output. He was originally asking £5k for it and has dropped it to around £4k now. As soon as it hits £2.5k I might just have it off it him...

Colour? Location? Compression tested?

I have cash waiting for the right car if you are willing to pass on some details.

[theboyfold]

RAClNG SNAKE said:

theboyfold said:

My neighbour has one of these up for sale at the moment, well I say the moment, I mean the last 12 months. His is a 54 plate I think, low mileage and the higher output. He was originally asking £5k for it and has dropped it to around £4k now. As soon as it hits £2.5k I might just have it off it him...

Colour? Location? Compression tested?

I have cash waiting for the right car if you are willing to pass on some details.

Silver, Berkshire and not sure.

Drop me a line if you want his number.

[Kaizer]

I had a 04 231BHP RX8 from new, had it for 3.5 years and done about 50k miles. Sold it to a dealer for 10k. Not a single problem with mine.

I love that car, still do. I had an HKS exhaust fitted just after a couple of months from new, and the noise it made it was fantastic, espeacially when it homing in 9.5k redline it to a scream (think 787B). I can still hear it now!

The ride and handling balance is once of the best IMO, way better than BM's. Also the steering feel, gear change, brake feel are truly great, even a Porsche's won't better it by much. It's a great drivers car.

The ownership experience wasn't a hardship at all, in fact I feel it gave me an opportunity to interact with the car a bit more, brought in an extra level closeness. I always make sure I rev pass 6k rpm when warm, as that is when the second ports open, otherwise it could be stuck.

With the price being this low, I'm very tempted to move back into one.

[robwilk]

We have just sold my wifes 231 for a pittance, I bout her a new motor and the dealer did not want the rex 06 with FSH and 32k, so I gave it to my 25 year old son who could not get it insured as his insurance company would not cover him for a RWD car ( WTF). Ended up being part ex'd to a dealer agaist a TT.
The RX8 was fantastic and it seems that every one who has had one loves them but every one who has never had one has a opinion that they are rubbish and its realy affected the resale value of them.
Great cars wifey loved it ( to be honest more than her new one! )

Rob