Why are RX8s so cheap?

[MontyC]

Found a very clean example on an 04 plate for 2k, noticed they never seem to hold there money well why?

[liner33]

They can be troublesome , not all are but some and the reputation puts people off plus they are thirsty for the power they produce and everyone knows the wankel engine is witchcraft

Great cars for the money imo though , nice weekend toy

[Munter]

They like to drink. A lot. Otherwise I'd have one in a heartbeat.

[C350]

This has been done to death. They are a bargain at the moment but at £2K you need to check the SH, make sure the coils and plugs have been done and get a compression test.

I really miss mine. Yes they are not economic but for a fun / weekend car they are looking amazing value.

[Carfiend]

As has been said because people think they will all explode in minutes and drink lots of fuel.

I was toying with the idea of buying a clean one but with a known dodgy engine and dropping a crate LS3 in it or something.

[Podie]

1) Petrol thirst
2) Perceived oil thirst
3) Perceived ability to lunch themselves at will

[C350]

Podie said:

1) Petrol thirst
2) Perceived oil thirst
3) Perceived ability to lunch themselves at will

1) Yes its crap day to day, not bad on a long run
2) Total rubbish, used to check mine very two weeks. Its a performance car, they use oil
3) Only if the coils are not replaced at around 30K. Mone went the day I sold the car, it was serviced at a main dealer all its life yet owners are not told that they need doing. Its crazy on Mazdas part really. Failed coils can bugger the CAT.

[Podie]

C350 said:

Podie said:

1) Petrol thirst
2) Perceived oil thirst
3) Perceived ability to lunch themselves at will

1) Yes its crap day to day, not bad on a long run
2) Total rubbish, used to check mine very two weeks. Its a performance car, they use oil
3) Only if the coils are not replaced at around 30K. Mone went the day I sold the car, it was serviced at a main dealer all its life yet owners are not told that they need doing. Its crazy on Mazdas part really. Failed coils can bugger the CAT.

Er... my point was that people *think* the above is the case.

[C350]

Podie said:

Er... my point was that people *think* the above is the case.

LOL, sorry about that. Im fast becoming one of those who jumps to the defence of the RX8. I guess I just miss mine

[cheesesliceking]

You're all forgetting the interior that looks like Michael Jacksons leather jacket from the Thriller video...

[deeps]

Isn't it because the rotary engine has a life of around 70k miles before it needs a rebuild? The rebuild will cost around 3k, hence the price of the cars.

Out of curiosity, what's the highest mileage RX-8 anyone knows of with original engine?

Btw, I love rotaries, had several RX-7's but never an 8, I think the 7 is beautiful in comparison and of course sequential twin turbo's is essential

[sherman]

cheesesliceking said:

You're all forgetting the interior that looks like Michael Jacksons leather jacket from the Thriller video...

Mine is all black leather and so are most of the others I have seen. The red and black interior is in the minority from what I have seen.

[liner33]

Red and black seems very popular in sporty BMW's I don't see that as a negative , jap interiors are rarely a strongpoint

[cheesesliceking]

Ok so ignoring the hideous interior maybe it something to do with:
abysmal MPG
Rubbish driving position
Horrible depreciation
It could do with a bit more power ( especially considering the mpg)
Build quality ( rear lights filling with water much?)
Coil packs

I could go on but there's really no point, I'm sure the Rex fanbois will be back to let me know how wrong I am and how it's a perfect car in every possible way.

[sherman]

cheesesliceking said:

Ok so ignoring the hideous interior maybe it something to do with:
abysmal MPG
Rubbish driving position
Horrible depreciation
It could do with a bit more power ( especially considering the mpg)
Build quality ( rear lights filling with water much?)
Coil packs

I could go on but there's really no point, I'm sure the Rex fanbois will be back to let me know how wrong I am and how it's a perfect car in every possible way.

How do you come to the conclusion that the driving position is rubbish. You are literally the only person I have ever heard say this?

The other points I agree with.

[cheesesliceking]

Didn't matter where the seat moved to i couldn't get a comfortable driving position, maybe im a little on the tall size though and the rear visibility could be better.
Seeing as we're on seating, selling it as a 4 seater is a bit of a joke, anything other than a child is squashed in the back, get an adult behind the drivers seat and you'll have to be a midget to drive it.

Haven't Mazda now ceased

[sherman]

Pah Im 5ft 8 and a 6ft mate fitted easily in the seat behind me.

The drivers seat rises, reclines and adjusts bolster. The steering wheel adjusts for rake. If you couldnt find a comfy position you weren't trying hard enough.

Do you mean mazda have ceased production of the rx8. Then yes they have. It was down to the fact that the wankel engine scraped through the euro4 emissions tests and didnt have a hope in hell of passing the Euro5 tests. They didnt stop production because no one was buying them.

Edited by sherman on Wednesday 28th March 20:41

Edited by sherman on Wednesday 28th March 21:35

[cheesesliceking]

Awesome, thanks for the info.

[SMcP114]

cheesesliceking said:

Ok so ignoring the hideous interior maybe it something to do with:
abysmal MPG
Rubbish driving position
Horrible depreciation
It could do with a bit more power ( especially considering the mpg)
Build quality ( rear lights filling with water much?)
Coil packs

I could go on but there's really no point, I'm sure the Rex fanbois will be back to let me know how wrong I am and how it's a perfect car in every possible way.

I agree with all of the above, even the driving position. The rear seats are of absolutely no use, and should be done away with altogether. You could have a jerry can and 5 litres of oil in place of them.

[hygt2]

SMcP114 said:

I agree with all of the above, even the driving position. The rear seats are of absolutely no use, and should be done away with altogether. You could have a jerry can and 5 litres of oil in place of them.

Having owned the RX8 231, I find the driving position is better in the 192. Could it be that those who commented on rubbish driving position have all been driving the 231?

The seating position is actually fine. The problem with the 231 is the gearbox protrusion into the your left calves so when you are driving, your body is not in symmetry - your right leg is straight towards the throttle and the left leg is either pressed slightly right or up, or your left knee is actually slight bend, or your left foot is not resting at the same height level as your right foot.

Over long distance cruising with your right leg kept relatively still on the throttle and no much braking or gear change, you can feel a slight discomfort. What I did in mine when cruising is to move my body, knee, hip like I do on a long-haul flight just to keep the discomfort away. However, if you are constant moving like you are making progress on a country roads, it is not a problem.