I'm aware they are very different cars. But which one?

I'm aware they are very different cars. But which one?

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Discussion

ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
As the title says, I'm aware they are very different cars. But they check basically the same boxes for me. They are basically the only ones which do as well. The boxes are RWD, manual, real backseats, rear doors, not a 3 series or 5 series, not a hatch/hothatch not a diesel.

The 2 cars in questions are the Jaguar S-type 3.0 manual and the RX8. I did mention they are very different. Yet, both check all the boxes and there is not anything else. So that kind of pitches them against one another creating a weird situation.

I was leaning heavily towards the S-type and had basically decided on it. But after a couple of disappointments when looking at the very small selection, I started considering the RX8 again. I then remember the RX8 will probably cost a lot more to run and give me a lot more headaches. But it is probably the better steer. Even though I love how the S-type Sport drives too.

This is to be a daily. I'm aware both are aging cars, but this is the point. We already have one of the newish computer with wheels at the house. wink

Reason for the practicability need is 2 kids under 10. But want something I will enjoy driving, which makes RWD and manual essential for me. To get something else, we already have the something else. smile

So what is the point of the thread? Maybe chat and access the pros and cons of each to do the job.

I doubt I will find somebody who has owned both, but who knows. That would be fantastic feedback. But just anybody who has owned either and maybe has experience with the other would already be great. Or any petrolhead willing to chat about the matter. I like both for different reasons. Jag is way harder to find the right one. But RX8 has a lot higher risk.

Edited by ZackM on Monday 21st June 19:10

Wagonwheel555

795 posts

55 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
M135i/M140i comes in manual, has rear seats and doors (assuming 5 door) and is RWD.

Be far more fun than a Jag

ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
Sorry. The no 3 series and no 5 series basically means no BMW. I just didn't think anybody would suggest a 1 or 2 given the demands. smile

Edited by ZackM on Monday 21st June 19:11

samoht

5,633 posts

145 months

Monday 21st June 2021
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What sort of mileage will it do, and what sort of roads will it do it on? I have a feeling that sitting in traffic in an RX-8 is a pointless waste of fuel, whereas driving one on a nice country road is a highly worthwhile and enjoyable waste of fuel, if you see what I mean.

On the RX-8 front I'd suggest
1) Check out the owners club and do plenty of research before buying www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
2) Find a well recommended specialist reasonably nearby
3) Budget the thick end of £5k to get a decent one and get it sorted

PS be aware of top rate road tax for cars registered after 23rd March 2006, although I wouldn't let that put you off a better condition car.

As long as you find a good one to start with, don't try and run it on an absolute shoestring, and have a good garage to look after it, then I think rotary ownership can work out very reasonable, and then you have the joys of driving a balanced sports car with a smooth high revving engine.


I believe the Jag 3.0 V6 is the same unit used to drop into MX-5s, so I think there's a few tuning options for it (perhaps +30hp) if you want.

syl

693 posts

74 months

Monday 21st June 2021
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There are probably some Merc C classes that fit the bill too.

ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
syl said:
There are probably some Merc C classes that fit the bill too.
Not really. Unless diesel. The V6 are definitely all auto. Maybe a dull 4 pot here or there can be found in manual. But I would guess its easier to find a V6 manual Jag in the right spec. wink

Wagonwheel555

795 posts

55 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
ZackM said:
Sorry. The no 3 series and no 5 series basically means no BMW. I just didn't think anybody would suggest a 1 or 2 given the demands. smile

Edited by ZackM on Monday 21st June 19:11
RX8 boot is about 70 litres smaller than a 1 series so as you mentioned kids, I assumed boot space was a factor but it seems not.

Why don’t you test drive both?

I would take an M140i over an RX8 every day of the week but each to their own.


ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
samoht said:
What sort of mileage will it do, and what sort of roads will it do it on? I have a feeling that sitting in traffic in an RX-8 is a pointless waste of fuel, whereas driving one on a nice country road is a highly worthwhile and enjoyable waste of fuel, if you see what I mean.

On the RX-8 front I'd suggest
1) Check out the owners club and do plenty of research before buying www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk
2) Find a well recommended specialist reasonably nearby
3) Budget the thick end of £5k to get a decent one and get it sorted

PS be aware of top rate road tax for cars registered after 23rd March 2006, although I wouldn't let that put you off a better condition car.

As long as you find a good one to start with, don't try and run it on an absolute shoestring, and have a good garage to look after it, then I think rotary ownership can work out very reasonable, and then you have the joys of driving a balanced sports car with a smooth high revving engine.


I believe the Jag 3.0 V6 is the same unit used to drop into MX-5s, so I think there's a few tuning options for it (perhaps +30hp) if you want.
Oh so Rocketeer sell the tuning parts separately? Do say more sir. smile

About miles, not a lot of city traffic. Definitely not bumper to bumper affair. Just normal traffic, with some long straight wide not vrry busy roads in my commute. But not a long commute. 20 minutes, about 10 miles

ZX10R NIN

27,494 posts

124 months

Monday 21st June 2021
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pb8g09

2,302 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
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Wagonwheel555 said:
RX8 boot is about 70 litres smaller than a 1 series so as you mentioned kids, I assumed boot space was a factor but it seems not.

Why don’t you test drive both?

I would take an M140i over an RX8 every day of the week but each to their own.
You’re comparing a £5k car with a £18k car though?

Nickp82

3,165 posts

92 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
If driving enjoyment is the priority, it has to be the RX-8. As samoht has indicated, if you buy a good example they’re not as breaky as the internet would have you believe.

Get one with a bona fide compression test, low levels of rust and correctly working power steering and there’s not too much that is likely to bite you too hard (allow some budget for ensuring ignition and exhaust system is working perfectly too).

The road tax and fuel consumption is of course hefty but you know that , right? smile

ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
Wagonwheel555 said:
RX8 boot is about 70 litres smaller than a 1 series so as you mentioned kids, I assumed boot space was a factor but it seems not.

Why don’t you test drive both?

I would take an M140i over an RX8 every day of the week but each to their own.
I guess it depends very much on what you are looking for. The M140i is a very conventional car. Could pass as a Golf for non petrolheads or at a distance. Both the Jag and the RX8 are very much not.

Boot is important, but the package as a whole is more important. Remember that this is not the only car in the family. wink

And I have driven both indeed, as I have a BMW 1. Not the M140i. And it was a 2 door. But I found nothing special about it. Not a particular nice place to be. Not specially fun like the RX8 and not specially comfy or luxurious as the Jag. Feels more like a Golf to be sitting in it. Felt very much like a RWD Golf actually. Maybe because this is essentially what it is.

If we are considering fan, the BMW has nothing on the RX8. Special engine, 9000 RPM! Coupe looks, 4-seater 4 door practicality, sports car dynamics. The Jag is the other end of the spectrum and can't really be compared to the RX8. Or the BMW. It has that Jag ride quality that none of the Germans have. It's larger, comfy but will still come out to play if you press it and the gear change is nice too.

What makes it hard is that they are such different propositions the Jag and RX8.

ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Where are the rear doors? smile

InitialDave

11,856 posts

118 months

Monday 21st June 2021
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Of the two, I'd buy the S Type.
My only experience of an RX8 did not involve it actually working.

ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Monday 21st June 2021
quotequote all
Nickp82 said:
If driving enjoyment is the priority, it has to be the RX-8. As samoht has indicated, if you buy a good example they’re not as breaky as the internet would have you believe.

Get one with a bona fide compression test, low levels of rust and correctly working power steering and there’s not too much that is likely to bite you too hard (allow some budget for ensuring ignition and exhaust system is working perfectly too).

The road tax and fuel consumption is of course hefty but you know that , right? smile
It just needs to be something I would enjoy driving and I would enjoy both. For different reasons. But driving dynamics alone is not the priority. The full package is. wink It's more of the best all-arounder if you will. That counts more. This is why I ended up settling on the Jag and RX8. There is nothing else really. Anything else will be too much of a compromise. I will have to either give up RWD, or the manual box, or rear doors or end up in something boring to seat in. None of that can happen. smile

The RX8 has the edge on the fun factor. But I feel this is about it.

The Jag will probably be cheaper to run, easier to maintain, most likely more reliable, has more space and comfort, has more presence, which for the RX8 you need at least a R3 for that, and this means CASH!!!! and the luck of finding one. I'm not sure but I guess the Jag could be better on fuel too, more practical and still fun to drive. It is soft and comfy. But if you press it it changes on you a bit and you can easily push it more towards that with a few mods.

To raise the RX8 to the Jag's levels of comfort, finesse, finish etc would be more expensive than to set the Jag up to more sporty if you can't find a Sport version.

So the RX8 advantages are fun factor plus I could buy one tomorrow. Unless I'm overlooking anything in particular.

Looks is subjective. But I think the Jag looks smarter and more the business. RX8, specially if not a R3 looks like a budget proposition next to the Jag. But this doesn't matter whatsoever. It's not being considered. Besides I like the looks of both really.


Edited by ZackM on Monday 21st June 23:11

Baldchap

7,507 posts

91 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2021
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I'd experience the RX8 whilst you still can.

There'll always be relatively mundane saloons available.

ZackM

Original Poster:

269 posts

68 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2021
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
I'd experience the RX8 whilst you still can.

There'll always be relatively mundane saloons available.
What's mundane about a RWD saloon with a manual and a V6, and a Jag at that, and with that unique styling, in 2021? smile

But what do you mean, while I still can?

Baldchap

7,507 posts

91 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2021
quotequote all
ZackM said:
What's mundane about a RWD saloon with a manual and a V6, and a Jag at that, and with that unique styling, in 2021? smile

But what do you mean, while I still can?
I own a 3.2 V8 XJ8, so no offense intended. smile

Look at RX7 pricing and availability. The RX8 will certainly go the same way. As they get to shed ages, less and less people will have the rotor tips done and simply scrap them, then they'll go to silly money, I suspect...

They're a car you need to know how to own, and whilst many nowadays do, the majority almost certainly don't.

stevekoz

525 posts

161 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2021
quotequote all
ZackM said:
What's mundane about a RWD saloon with a manual and a V6, and a Jag at that, and with that unique styling, in 2021? smile

But what do you mean, while I still can?
I think he means it a) Sports Car(ish) b) Rotary Engine c) petrol - cars like that aren't going to be made in the future. It's a car / engine / package that has seen its peak and not likely to return as the move towards EV etc. takes its hold over the coming decade.

You can buy things that are dynamic, petrol, fast, sports car but for how long? And most are not cheap, not really. They have an expiration date, they have to really, in the given time/period. Which makes me sad as petrolhead as nothing EV really excites me.

As for the comments on BMW, the M140i is a hot hatch, but its not a standout car. It sounds good i guess but most get ruined by awful modifications as they are relatively cheap and accessible. The rx8 is a very different thing. Everyone should experience a rotary in my opinion, even if by rotary standards the rx8 isn't the pinnacle. Its still a great piece of automotive engineering that is from a bygone era. You won't see another car like it ever again. It was the last of its kind.


GreatGranny

9,097 posts

225 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2021
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Only other car I can think of is the IS250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106113...