RX-8s ... what to watch for apart from engine issues?

[Chris71]

I'm contemplating a couple of options for my next daily driver, including the Mazda RX-8. I know the engine issues have been done to death, but how robust are they overall? Engine aside, could you be fairly sure of everything else being good to go?

[Nik da Greek]

Coil packs fail. Cats collapse. Either leads to poor starting and is a vicious circle where once they start to fail, the worse it gets and the more they fail.

If the owner doesn't know or care which oil to use and how often it needs topping up then walk away. They inject engine oil into the combustion chambers to lubricate the apex seals so all of them use oil and Mazda recommend a mineral oil as it burns cleaner.

[Nickp82]

Big fan of them myself, a few common issues (leaving aside engine as you say)

- rust on sills and bootlid brake light
- steering heavy to one side - normally universal joint needs greasing
- cd multi changer not working or whole stereo packing up
- coolant light on - this is very common but not a massive issue - just unplug the sensor
- cat rattling - sign that it has broken down internally and will eventually block and muller the engine.
- notchy gear change (particularly first to second when cold) can be cured or improved by changing gearbox oil
- auto levelling lights failing (can't remember what causes this)


If you know what you're doing they are very rewarding cars, for me learning the cars quirks and fixing some of them myself has been all part of the fun.

[Nickp82]

Oh and I assume you're not doing high (or even medium) miles as fuel economy is er, not great.....

[Chris71]

Nickp82 said:

Oh and I assume you're not doing high (or even medium) miles as fuel economy is er, not great.....

I'm doing relatively low total mileage, but usually in a few big trips - I might do 300 motorway miles in one hit and then nothing for a fortnight.

[Nickp82]

Chris71 said:

Nickp82 said:

Oh and I assume you're not doing high (or even medium) miles as fuel economy is er, not great.....

I'm doing relatively low total mileage, but usually in a few big trips - I might do 300 motorway miles in one hit and then nothing for a fortnight.

300 miles in one tank of fuel is regarded as an achievement by RX8 owners but find some B roads along the way and it is money well spent.

[Chris71]

Hmm, that's the thing. It's an outside option for me (really I should be getting a diesel not a 19 mpg rotary!) but I can expense most of the mileage I do, so might take a punt if I can find a good one locally. I do need a daily driver sharpish.

[Duke147]

My RX8 has been sound since I bought it 2 years ago. Only issue was the fuel pump, which gave up. In those 2 years I've added just over 25,000 miles. I've run it by the book, though - check oil every other fill-up, use Mazda own oil for the rotary engine, don't switch off the engine too soon without revving, take it to the beep on every journey, etc etc. It s the 231 bhp version and the average mpg has been 22.04mpg.

Sooo much fun to drive - find a twisty road, though!

[Chris71]

Economy-aside, how do you find it on the motorway? I'm quite tempted by one as a daily driver that could also do the occasional B-road blast or track day, but it would have to be reasonably quiet and comfortable for long distances.

It's an outside possibility, but handy to know if a nice 230 PS example comes up locally.

On which note: Would you rather buy a low mileage one that hasn't been done or one that has a recon engine?

[Nickp82]

Chris71 said:

Economy-aside, how do you find it on the motorway? I'm quite tempted by one as a daily driver that could also do the occasional B-road blast or track day, but it would have to be reasonably quiet and comfortable for long distances.

It's an outside possibility, but handy to know if a nice 230 PS example comes up locally.

On which note: Would you rather buy a low mileage one that hasn't been done or one that has a recon engine?

They are quite nice on the motorway, seats are very comfortable, suspension is not harsh and road-noise is perfectly fine. Not great for overtaking quickly though due to the absence of torque but just need to plan ahead a bit.

Problem with low mileage cars is knowing whether they have been properly driven - the rotary engine NEEDS thrashing every now and then to clear it up of carbon deposits, if you can find one that one has been rebuilt by one of the respected specialists such as Rotary Revs then you are likely on to a winner but either way a compression test is always the easiest way to assess the state of the engine.

[Nik da Greek]

Word from rotary experts I've talked to (I'm a serial RX-7 owner) is that the 192 hp versions actually make a better road car in many ways; they give more torque (relative!) and need less screaming to make progress. Maybe worth considering for those days you just want to commute and take your brain out rather than set lap records. I don't believe you get them with the six-speed gearbox and light-up gearknob though

[otolith]

I've never understood that - because the gearing is shorter on the 231 (because it can rev higher and has one more gear) it actually has more torque at the wheels in every gear at any speed.

[Nik da Greek]

I don't understand it either But then I've never driven both back to back. Maybe it's just a perception thing, the car feels more immediate and less revvy. Dunno

I couldn't have one because it looks like a fat Ford Puma from behind, but there you go. I'm shallow

....oh, and cos it's got a gutless fkawful compromised piece of st for an engine, built by Ford out of tinfoil under sufferance and designed purely to cheat through emissions tests by being a fking hand grenade with the pin out in terms of vital lubrication, or course

[wjb]

No "beep" in the 192 though

I drove a 192 and a 231, preferred the 231 in the end as it has extra toys, not just better performance. I went for. PZ in the end, I'd recommend that, or the 40th for anyone buying one.

As others have said look out for rattly cats or standard coils, regardless of mileage.

If I had my time again I probably wouldn't consider one that hasn't been rebuilt. At the very least go for a well looked after car fitted with d585 coils, it's a no brainer really.

Here's a review of an RX8 PZ, randomly it's actually MY old car in the video, I sold it last year. What are the chances? (Around 800/1 I suppose )

https://youtu.be/rFkSG1UBy20

[Salesy]

I run a PZ and have done for nearly 4 years now. Ive only had one issue which was the 2nd gear synchro was rubbish. I have replaced the gearbox and now its all sweet. I premix the fuel and run special engine oil developed specifically for the rotary.

Its a blast to drive and will stay with an M3 on the b roads. I have done a few track days and had some fun with more powerful cars where they pull away on the straights only to have me back on their bumpers mid corner.
I also run it as a sprint car and in over 50 sprints i have only been beaten twice, by the same guy in an Integra DC2. The first time i bottled it after a slight off at Lydden hill and the other was at Goodwood where he had loads of track time before hand. That has now been rectified and i have now taken a second out of his time.

Fantastic car if you find the right one if you can live with the fuel economy.

P.S. Mine is reluctantly up for sale now for the right price.

[Chris71]

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

This one's not far from me. Any thoughts?

It mentions bootlid rust. Also, isn't 50,000 miles or so the watershed point where things often need a refresh?

[otolith]

They don't wear out predictably like earlier Mazda wankels - the problems tend to come from failing coils leading to rapid wear and failure. So at 50k it could be fine or it could be knackered. Compression test is the only way to really be sure.

[Chris71]

Oh, there's another one in my neck of the woods!
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Now that sounds rather promising...

Advisory for sill rust in the past. Safe to assume that's been sorted?

Edited by Chris71 on Tuesday 26th September 11:07

[Nik da Greek]

I wouldn't bet on it. They rot like a bd

[Nickp82]

The Grey one is being sold by an RX8 OC club member so is a good bet, it's not cheap but has been looked after by the sound of it, there maybe a bit more info here

https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.ph...

It's been street-ported so a bit of extra go in it too. Definitely looks a good buy which shouldn't require any excessive spend.