Is the RX8 a gamble? Alternative suggestions welcomed
Discussion
I'm looking at changing the Merc 500 for something slightly cheaper (reapirs rather than mpg) to run and newer. I love the big V8 but it's getting on a bit and I fancy a change.
My budget keeps going up and down depending on the direction of the wind but I think I'd like to keep it sub £6k. E46 M3s are tempting as are R32s etc. but I want to be semi sensible and try and keep my man math under some form of control. Budget creep is a weakness of mine.
I'm currently going round in circles. Insurance, MPG not massively important as my commute <5 miles a day.
Convertible, hard top etc doesn't really matter.
I've had a GTV V6 which I loved and I'm tempted to go back to a Cup just for the engine.
An S2000 is another option but mileage seems high and they are getting on a bit for my budget, plus I had access to one for a couple of years and so have already scratched the VTEC itch.
Then I chanced across the RX8 and hadn't realised quite how cheap they are now. 2004/5 cars with 60kish miles can be had for circa £3k.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3581440.htm
That seems like an awful lot of car for the money and makes the £5k S2000s look quite pricey. However, is there a reason for this? I've heard about possible engine issues but take a lot of what I hear with a pinch of salt. Any real experiences?
Would it be a massive gamble to jump into a 55K mile RX8?
Any other suggestions?
My budget keeps going up and down depending on the direction of the wind but I think I'd like to keep it sub £6k. E46 M3s are tempting as are R32s etc. but I want to be semi sensible and try and keep my man math under some form of control. Budget creep is a weakness of mine.
I'm currently going round in circles. Insurance, MPG not massively important as my commute <5 miles a day.
Convertible, hard top etc doesn't really matter.
I've had a GTV V6 which I loved and I'm tempted to go back to a Cup just for the engine.
An S2000 is another option but mileage seems high and they are getting on a bit for my budget, plus I had access to one for a couple of years and so have already scratched the VTEC itch.
Then I chanced across the RX8 and hadn't realised quite how cheap they are now. 2004/5 cars with 60kish miles can be had for circa £3k.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3581440.htm
That seems like an awful lot of car for the money and makes the £5k S2000s look quite pricey. However, is there a reason for this? I've heard about possible engine issues but take a lot of what I hear with a pinch of salt. Any real experiences?
Would it be a massive gamble to jump into a 55K mile RX8?
Any other suggestions?
This topic I think has been done to death on here. Everytime someone is trying to sell one there is a whole host of reasons not to buy one but everyone who has one will say, its thirsty, watch the oil but still a good buy and they don't (really) regret it except for the depreciation.
I have a slightly different take than the standard responses:
Go with your gut - 3/4k is not a lot of money for what is a lot of car. You've already accepted the mpg right? So just buy it.
Try and buy a good one, if you can get some sort of warranty that would be good peace of mind. And just enjoy it! Go on a mazda/ RX8 forum for do's/don'ts/what to look for etc(and slightly more positive feedback). Worst case you lose 3/4k and it sounds like you can afford it.
If you read the comments/threads you will end up not buying it.
I had a similarish issue when I first looked at 996's - on the internet it was all stories of IMS and RMS. Which is better to know (than not know) - but I did buy one and didn't regret it for the reasons people mentioned (I just regretted getting a tiptronic).
I have a slightly different take than the standard responses:
Go with your gut - 3/4k is not a lot of money for what is a lot of car. You've already accepted the mpg right? So just buy it.
Try and buy a good one, if you can get some sort of warranty that would be good peace of mind. And just enjoy it! Go on a mazda/ RX8 forum for do's/don'ts/what to look for etc(and slightly more positive feedback). Worst case you lose 3/4k and it sounds like you can afford it.
If you read the comments/threads you will end up not buying it.
I had a similarish issue when I first looked at 996's - on the internet it was all stories of IMS and RMS. Which is better to know (than not know) - but I did buy one and didn't regret it for the reasons people mentioned (I just regretted getting a tiptronic).
Get a compression test done (not the usual thing, costs about £120 at a dealer, I believe) and then you'll know what state the engine's in.
If it's sound, it's no more of a risk than anything else with a known good engine. If not, it's likely to cost you about £3k for an engine rebuild sometime in the not too distant future, but that could be next week or in 2 or 3 years time.
One final point, check the headlight levelling warning light doesn't stay on. This probably means the sensor's gone and will cost a few hundred to put right at a dealer.
Otherwise, great cars. Had mine nearly 4 years and about 50k miles and it's my every day car. I'm hard pressed to think of anything so refined, practical and fun to drive at such an affordable price, personally.
Cue bar-stool experts telling you they use more oil than petrol and regularly self-combust
M.
If it's sound, it's no more of a risk than anything else with a known good engine. If not, it's likely to cost you about £3k for an engine rebuild sometime in the not too distant future, but that could be next week or in 2 or 3 years time.
One final point, check the headlight levelling warning light doesn't stay on. This probably means the sensor's gone and will cost a few hundred to put right at a dealer.
Otherwise, great cars. Had mine nearly 4 years and about 50k miles and it's my every day car. I'm hard pressed to think of anything so refined, practical and fun to drive at such an affordable price, personally.
Cue bar-stool experts telling you they use more oil than petrol and regularly self-combust
M.
Thanks for the input guys. I think a test drive is in order and as long as the compression test is ok then I guess not much more of a risk than a lot of other cars out there.
However, I have just seen that one of my childhood hero cars is getting close to the budget and I do have a rally rep itch that needs addressing...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3610519.htm
I really am struggling with where to go with my next car. A sccoby will be owned at some point and I do like the P1's exclusivity, plus I'd hope that they won't drop much more in price with only about 1000 initially built.
Hmmm, tricky
However, I have just seen that one of my childhood hero cars is getting close to the budget and I do have a rally rep itch that needs addressing...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3610519.htm
I really am struggling with where to go with my next car. A sccoby will be owned at some point and I do like the P1's exclusivity, plus I'd hope that they won't drop much more in price with only about 1000 initially built.
Hmmm, tricky
I've bought a RX8 recently, 2005 '54' reg with 58,000 miles on it. As long as you get a compression test done you should be fine. There a lot of them for the money you are looking to spend so make sure you buy a good one, full service history etc. Head over to the RX8 owners club as there is a lot of useful information on there. The MPG is the reason they are so cheap, mine does around 17-18MPG!
Very very different cars, personally if I could afford it I'd have both! 
The RX-8 is *all* about handling, if you don't 'get' handling then don't bother, its got plenty of power but very linear, there is no 'kick' and you have to make use off all the revs (but its very satisfying and is good for the car to rev). If you're used to a turbo car or don't like revving an engine it will/might feel slow even if its faster IYSWIM (plus if you don't rev it you really *will* kill it).
Not driven that model of scooby but I have driven one and they're not a patch on the RX-8 for 'feel' (which is very subjective). Felt just a sensible car (until it got going, at which point it was a very good handling, very fast sensible car
) the RX-8 feels like a sports car while still being sensible enough to hold 4 (average) adults and reasonably fully loaded with kit.
The RX-8 is *all* about handling, if you don't 'get' handling then don't bother, its got plenty of power but very linear, there is no 'kick' and you have to make use off all the revs (but its very satisfying and is good for the car to rev). If you're used to a turbo car or don't like revving an engine it will/might feel slow even if its faster IYSWIM (plus if you don't rev it you really *will* kill it).
Not driven that model of scooby but I have driven one and they're not a patch on the RX-8 for 'feel' (which is very subjective). Felt just a sensible car (until it got going, at which point it was a very good handling, very fast sensible car
) the RX-8 feels like a sports car while still being sensible enough to hold 4 (average) adults and reasonably fully loaded with kit.Coming from the 500 and being a big V8 fan I would expect you to find the RX8 particularly gutless TBH. Needs a load of rev's to get the job done which can be rather tiresome and drinks fuel + oil like it's going out of fashion. Nice chassis though, very nimble and light on it's feet.
Always been a big fan of the P1 and TBH it's the only Impreza I would still consider owning. The handling is a different proposition to the RX8, masses of grip and supremely secure but not as adjustable due to the 4WD.
Personally I'd go for the P1. If you keep it original, lavish some attention on it and do minimal mileage (as you appear to do) I can't see it losing any money TBH and on UK roads it will absolutely muller the RX8 in all conditions performance wise.
Always been a big fan of the P1 and TBH it's the only Impreza I would still consider owning. The handling is a different proposition to the RX8, masses of grip and supremely secure but not as adjustable due to the 4WD.
Personally I'd go for the P1. If you keep it original, lavish some attention on it and do minimal mileage (as you appear to do) I can't see it losing any money TBH and on UK roads it will absolutely muller the RX8 in all conditions performance wise.
SWoll said:
drinks fuel + oil like it's going out of fashion.
Petrol yes, oil, not half as much as people make out.In other news managed to get the 6 MPS, the more family orientated replacement we bought for our RX-8 up to...
(wait for it)
19mpg!!!! Big woo, 2mpg better than out of the RX-8 on more expensive fuel (needs 98 rather than 95
)Fastdruid said:
SWoll said:
drinks fuel + oil like it's going out of fashion.
Petrol yes, oil, not half as much as people make out.SWoll said:
Fastdruid said:
SWoll said:
drinks fuel + oil like it's going out of fashion.
Petrol yes, oil, not half as much as people make out.Roughly depending on usage it'll use between 1/3 to 1 litre every 1000 miles (maybe more on track).
As a counter example Porsche spec is 2.75 litres per 1000 miles (for the 997 M96 motor)!
For the first while of ownership check it every fill up until you get an idea of *your* consumption then adjust your fills to suit so that ideally it never drops below 1/2. In our case it meant about 1/2-3/4 litres once a month (about 2 litres from low to full), hardly onerous.
Oh and I'm lead to believe that for the first 5-10k it does use more oil.
Edited by Fastdruid on Thursday 22 March 12:23
That Subaru is gorgeous. Look after it and keep it completely standard and you won't lose money on it. Like many other cars of it's ilk there are so few unmolested ones around now.
I have a lot of time for the RX8 and for the money they are virtually unbeatable, but the engine is a risk. The only thing I'd think is that the engines do not like short journeys particularly which could be a negative factor.
I have a lot of time for the RX8 and for the money they are virtually unbeatable, but the engine is a risk. The only thing I'd think is that the engines do not like short journeys particularly which could be a negative factor.
wackojacko said:
Cheap for a reason....
Horrid engines ....
Hadn't seen this post. The engines are far from horrible, they are an integral part of the character of the car. Light, Smooth, revvy and great for pushing on. Whilst there isn't a lot of torque, provided you keep the revs up they fly. Even on a 192 like I had.Horrid engines ....
A "Beep" at the redline to tell you when to change gear. What's not to like?
Edited by carreauchompeur on Thursday 22 March 12:40
Thanks for all the replies.
I'm leaning slightly towards the P1 at the moment. Insurance wise there's only £100 in it and the P1 has always been a favourite of mine and it shouldn't lose too much in depreciation if I buy carefully.
As much as the RX8 looks like a bargain the P1 is winning the heart over at the moment...just need to find and unmolested version.
I'm leaning slightly towards the P1 at the moment. Insurance wise there's only £100 in it and the P1 has always been a favourite of mine and it shouldn't lose too much in depreciation if I buy carefully.
As much as the RX8 looks like a bargain the P1 is winning the heart over at the moment...just need to find and unmolested version.
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