RX8 replacement?

[teddosan]

GTdrive said:

So I have had a RX8 as a daily, which I bought after basically not having another option. I was concerned but I took the risk. Now it seems it is in its last legs. Sad because in many ways it is the perfect daily. It's a RWD manual sports car which not only has real back seats but even rear doors. But it's not a big 4 door saloon or a hot hatch, which is a good thing.

When I bought it I bought exactly because of that. There is basically no equal and no real competition. The only similar thing would be a Ferrari FF if it was RWD and had a manual. Or a GTC4Lusso if it had a manual. And of course cost considerably less.

Now the RX8 is in its last legs and I always knew this day could come. My thought was, if or when it comes I will just buy another one. They are affordable. But honestly, after everything, I'm not sure I want to do that any longer. I investigated the engine swap kits available but that would put the price of the car at around 10-15k and who knows what Pandora's box I would be opening with that.

So here I am again, where I was. No option that will do what the RX8 did. Yes, it lacks torque, even if the hp is more than fine for a daily. Yes it can get tiresome sometimes to have to rev the nuts out of it for any and everything when driving in traffic or overtaking. But despite all this, it is a lot of fun to drive, handles fantastically, and again, it's probably the only sports car which is as practical as a saloon for all effects and purpose.

I don't want a FWD hot hatch. I don't want a 4 door saloon. I can't use a 2 seats sports car. Any 2 door car that I can think of, even with a back seat, will just make me miss the RX8. But I also don't want to put up with the rotary annoyances anymore. I would gladly do it again if it at least had the torque and power to make it worth the high costs and maintenance and make it easier to swallow the V8 levels of fuel drinking. Or if it wouldn't drink like a maniac.

I'm in a dead end alley here. I guess this is more of a rant than a request really hoping for any suggestions of cars that could replace it. But who knows. Maybe I will see something I couldn't before. Desperation will do that sometimes.

Edited by GTdrive on Wednesday 17th February 21:50

Older 911? Depends how big you need the rear seats to be. I've a colleague with one who does the school run in it every day with his two kids.

[Lincsls1]

Having owned an RX8 (192) and now the owner of a Monaro...
The RX8 is a proper sports car, fantastic feel and handling.
The Monaro is not, its a muscle car, handling totally different, but still competent, power obviously in a different league, laugh out loud ownership.
The RX8 is more practical with its four doors.
If its your engine that's knackered, assuming the bodywork is excellent, get it rebuilt or shove a LS V8 in. This would be a unique experience, and it would be very fast.
If the body is failing, buy another, the best you can find. They really are cheap.

[americancrx]

I think you've got the best of this kind of car, and there's really no substitute. Get the Chevy coils if you don't already have them, and just set aside the money for a rebuild if you're worried about it. You could spend ten times the money and not get something as good. Maybe a 911 would work, if you don't have adult-sized passengers. Maybe.

If you can't get away from your nervousness, you'd be better off chasing a different sensation altogether. How about a 106 GTi? How about a Tesla Model 3?

You may sell it, but you'll keep a picture of that car.

[hiccy18]

GTdrive said:

hiccy18 said:

M135i.

Pros: faster, more torque, much more economical, more space, much more practical boot. Six cylinder snarl.
Cons: handling isn't a patch on an RX8, steering isn't as communicative, not as fun.

15k would get you a decent second hand model.

I'm glad I owned an RX8 but I consider it the worst car I have ever owned, flawed in so many stupid ways it infuriated me. Steering was great and I enjoyed the handling, which was what I was looking for when I purchased it.

Thanks for your input. But this is what I mean. The M135i is just a normal common car. A 4 doors hatchback. It is an alternative to a Golf. Not to a car like the Rx8. Your list of cons is exactly what disqualifies it in my opinion. Otherwise really any car could be a replacement for the RX8.

This is what makes the RX8 such a hard act to follow. it is a true sports car in the sense of the word and looks exotic too. But it has rear seats and rear doors.

M2 then: same space (so usable rear seats), sharper handling, LSD, more power.

[ZX10R NIN]

hiccy18 said:

M2 then: same space (so usable rear seats), sharper handling, LSD, more power.

For 15k I don't think you can buy a Cat M2 for that money.

[Lincsls1]

What is your budget OP?
Some of the suggestions are well above RX8 money.

[Latters]

GTdrive said:

Not the only reason. It's also more enjoyable to drive RWD. Nothing to do with drifting.

There are also some great B roads around me and I can take B roads instead of motorway all the way through in my daily commute. RWD is a must as is manual.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a RWD car. I’ve got an M140i at the moment, had a (proper) M135i two cars ago and had a couple of e36 3 serieses when I was in my early 20s. I just think to dismiss FWD cars outright because they’re meant to be less fun is limiting your options more than you need to. I’d fancy myself to have more fun on a B road in my 2018 Mini JCW (my previous car) or the 2013 Suzuki Swift Sport that I had back when it was new than in the M140i. Granted, my RWD experience is limited to beemers only. Obviously you want what you want and that’s fair enough. I just don’t think FWD deserves some of the derision it gets from the “driving purists” and the Integra I suggested is much vaunted for its fun and handling prowess.

Each to their own though.

[derek.j]

200sx?

[hiccy18]

ZX10R NIN said:

For 15k I don't think you can buy a Cat M2 for that money.

No obviously, would need at least another 10k. Only other thoughts I've had would be Maserati or AM, I was surprised how low the Rapide has fallen, would be quite the RX8 replacement. Granturismo or Ghibli? None of them are "sports" cars but all would feel special to drive.

200SX does an awful lot better than an RX8 but the back seats are cramped in comparison and you'd need to spend on sorting out the suspension and brakes and there's no getting away from the fact it's an older car.

911? Evora?

[griffter]

What about a manual Maserati 3200/4200? Admittedly the only two within budget on Autotrader are needing clutch and Cat D respectively but they are both under ten grand!

Brave for a daily but would it fit the bill?

[300bhp/ton]

derek.j said:

200sx?

I had an S13, awesome car. Esp for the money back then. But I would say the Camaro z28 is better on every single level. And more fun.

[Lincsls1]

What am I missing? I've read all of GTdrive's posts on this thread and nowhere does he state a budget.
There are all sorts of opinions being thrown at him, but the price range of the suggestions are all over the place.

[300bhp/ton]

Lincsls1 said:

What am I missing? I've read all of GTdrive's posts on this thread and nowhere does he state a budget.
There are all sorts of opinions being thrown at him, but the price range of the suggestions are all over the place.

They are all over the place, because there is no budget. The op clearly says it is more of a rant than anything. So I assumed it was just about a discussion of cars that could fulfil a similar brief. As there really isn't a direct replacement, which the op knows full well.

[untakenname]

OP, have you had a compression test to see how healthy your engine is? Could just be that the ignition is on the way out or that the CATs clogged which are both easy fixes.

I had the same dilemma, bought an RX8 years ago and could never find a car that ticked all the boxes after, I've ended up spending thousands on my WRX to improve the handling but it's still not a patch on the RX8 is out of the box, especially on the Bilstein factory fitted editions like your R3 .

I've been tempted by the V8 conversions as the engines are relatively light (though a lot heavier than the Rotary which is 120kg dressed afaik) and moving the heavy 18kg battery from the front of the engine to the boot would help offset some of the weight.

Depending on budget I'd look at getting a rebuild that modifies quite a bit of the fundamentals, Ryan Rotary have some interesting developments in the pipeline:
-Low Mount Turbo kit.
-PP Renesis Intake.
-PnP REW/Renesis hybrid engine swap
-3 Rotor Rx8.

https://www.facebook.com/ryanrotaryperformance/pos...

[ChrisH72]

In the very first post he mentions that engine swap options would put the price of the car at 10-15k so I assumed the discussion was about alternatives up to around 15k.

But there aren’t any alternatives, well nothing the OP would consider anyway.

I wouldn’t bother with an engine swap at that changes the handling characteristics of the car that he’s not willing to compromise on. The only option as far as I can see is just get the engine rebuilt. No idea what that costs but it’s probably the most economical thing to do.

[sawman]

3 pages and only one cerbera mention....

Back in the early days of the century, when it was all fields in these parts, the standard answer for “i need a car with rear seats for the kids” questions was always the missile from blackpool

[CanoeSniffer]

sawman said:

3 pages and only one cerbera mention....

Back in the early days of the century, when it was all fields in these parts, the standard answer for “i need a car with rear seats for the kids” questions was always the missile from blackpool

Depends how much the rear seats will be used. My 5’10 mate was happy-ish in the back for a short run, but not much more than that. I’d suggest that if it’s going to be regular kiddie transport, leg amputations might be in order. My best mate has an RX-8, and they’re not really in the same league as far as rear seat room.

A Cerbie would certainly be about the most exciting four seater in your budget though

[GTdrive]

griffter said:

What about a manual Maserati 3200/4200? Admittedly the only two within budget on Autotrader are needing clutch and Cat D respectively but they are both under ten grand!

Brave for a daily but would it fit the bill?

I want out of the RX8 which is basically the perfect car type for me with great handling, because of reliability issues, and you want to throw me in an old Maserati bought for cheap? You don't like me, or what?

And it handles like a bus, the Maserati.

[GTdrive]

ChrisH72 said:

In the very first post he mentions that engine swap options would put the price of the car at 10-15k so I assumed the discussion was about alternatives up to around 15k.

But there aren’t any alternatives, well nothing the OP would consider anyway.

I wouldn’t bother with an engine swap at that changes the handling characteristics of the car that he’s not willing to compromise on. The only option as far as I can see is just get the engine rebuilt. No idea what that costs but it’s probably the most economical thing to do.

Yes. Indeed. I didn't give a set budget because I though RX8 + the mention of the price of the swap, which I find too much, would be a good reference. Sorry.

But definitely under 15K. Although it is still interesting considering all options despite price, because it just cements even more that, even at any price the RX8 is not easy to replace.

[Phil Dicky]

GTdrive said:

griffter said:

What about a manual Maserati 3200/4200? Admittedly the only two within budget on Autotrader are needing clutch and Cat D respectively but they are both under ten grand!

Brave for a daily but would it fit the bill?

I want out of the RX8 which is basically the perfect car type for me with great handling, because of reliability issues, and you want to throw me in an old Maserati bought for cheap? You don't like me, or what?

And it handles like a bus, the Maserati.

Yeah but V8.