Mazda RX8 as company car

[dingocooke]

Do about 30,000 a year, currently in Golf TDi 140 mk5, would love a coupe, but need 4 seats occasionally.
My head says buy a petrol mk5 Golf GTi, but my heart says RX8.
I know it'll cost more to lease, and run, and th eemissions co car tax is way higher (top band) but what else can you tell me?

So, all you RX8 owners, especially the higher mileage guys, whats are your thoughts:

Tank range (typical)
Oil consumption
General use
good points
bad points
Mazda dealers, what are they like?
Service support (itll be a lease vehicle 3 years 30,000 a year full maintenance)
Ive been in two, and they seem, well a little under resourced if anything??

Thanks in advance

Steve

[trickywoo]

Have you driven one yet? Lack of midrange torque is a major short comming (if you are not one for reving the nuts off it).

mpg 20ish less if you do much town work.

[dingocooke]

hmm had a brief drive but Mazdas idea of a test drive is not mine (all of 5 miles...) maybe theyre scared Ill discover some shortcoming?? Most other dealerships will give you a proper test

Edited by dingocooke on Tuesday 31st October 14:17

[bigwithey]

Pop over to www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum there's quite a few guys using them for co cars, you should get mid 20's easily though it will drop if you have a little fun


J.

[Nismo'D]

Just make sure you carry plenty of oil, they burn ALOT of it apparently.

[dingocooke]

Around 1 litre per 1000 miles it seems, I think its all about rotor lip seal lubrication, which leaves a very thin residual film on the chamber surface which then gets burnt off.

I can live with that if the rest of the package is up to it!!

[skibum]

I'm in the same boat and just about to order one on a two year lease through my firm.

I'm coming from an S2000 so I should be used to the high rev, lower torque engine. I'm seeing it as a more practical S2000 equivalent although it wont be as quick.

If you're coming from a Diesel Golf you are going to find it very very different to drive and some people slate the high revving engines. Personally I love them and would rather have something screaming at 9000rpm than chugging along at 3500rpm.

My mate had one of the first ones in the country and absolutely loved it. His circumstances changed, forcing him to sell, but he had a great ownership experience. He didnt have too much of an oil issue if I recall and the only downside was the fuel economy (but I'm used to low 20's with the S2000 and my VTEC addiction). He rated it as a comfortable ride, excellent handling and well specced car.

Edited by skibum on Wednesday 1st November 08:39

[dingocooke]

Thanks for the answers so far folks.
Im not too fussed by the (lack of) economy, my weekend drive is a 351W engined Hawk 289, so Im a regular at the petrol pump...
Ive also driven an S2000, which feels torquey next to an RX8!! But the relative practicality of the RX8 is what also draws me to it, as being a nice compromise between fun and sensible.
To be fair, a petrol Golf GTi is the easy choice, but the RX8 is potentially much more interesting, if there are no real issues with the car and dealer network.
Keep it coming!!
Cheers
Steve

Edited by dingocooke on Wednesday 1st November 15:21

[iaint]

dingocooke said:

Thanks for the answers so far folks.
Im not too fussed by the (lack of) economy, my weekend drive is a 351W engined Hawk 289, so Im a regular at the petrol pump...
Ive also driven an S2000, which feels torquey next to an RX8!! But the relative practicality of the RX8 is what also draws me to it, as being a nice compromise between fun and sensible.
To be fair, a petrol Golf GTi is the easy choice, but the RX8 is potentially much more interesting, if there are no real issues with the car and dealer network.
Keep it coming!!
Cheers
Steve

Edited by dingocooke on Wednesday 1st November 15:21

Did you get the chance to take it to the red-line?

The RX-8 has very linear power delivery and just doesn't feel all that quick compared to some other cars. Compared to teh turbo shove from my RX-7 it feels very lack-lustre but it is getting on for 200bhp less

I was suprised just how quick they are both hammering one round rockingham and out on track against them at Brands.

there are a few bits of the 8's styling that I'm not sold on but it's not quite your boring usual stuff. the Golf is a pretty dull looi=king motor imo.

[dingocooke]

Yes the latest MK5 Golf is definately a bit bland, and VW have never recaptured the MK1's charisma somehow, with Mk2,3 4 all getting slightly more, well, dull I suppose.Up till now the performance has been a bit dull, but the MK5 GTi's peformance is how is should be, just a bit of a dull plasticy style IMO, although the RX8 is also awash with mediocre looking mouldings too. Agree though that the RX8 has some good daring styling touches from a mainstream maunufacturer, and that makes it stand out as a more interesting choice too.

[dingocooke]

Well I had a better test drive in a 230hp RX8 on Friday, and have to say came away disappointed, yes its a very linear power delivery, but almost boringly so; no rush when it gets into the powerband, just an even progression up to 9000rpm and the alarm bell, closest thing to an electric car Ive ever driven (after a fair ground dodgem and milk float).
Lovely looking car, really nicely balanced chassis, nice neutral handling and great brakes; but the engine was just soo uninspiring.
I can deal with the 20mpg, and litre of oil every 1000miles, but the lack of dynamism from the engine was so disappointing.
Funniest thing is, when I said all that to the dealer, the lease price (3 years, full maint, 20,000miles a year, 230 hp model with leather) suddenly came down from £370 to £315 per month(plus VAT)
Cross that one off the list then!

Edited by dingocooke on Monday 6th November 18:57

[scoobybloke]

Engine note is vastly improved with a decent exhaust They sound great when pushed and they pop and bang on the over run with the odd flame too . Done 30K miles in mine so far. Love the car. Handling is great and it is a surprisingly quick car. Straight line drag races was never its strong point, but point it down an 'interesting' road and it is in its element. Never found excessive oil consumption to be an issue either (although they do burn a little oil as part of the ignition process to lubricate the rotor tips). Ah well...

[vixpy1]

Needs a turbo

[dingocooke]

vixpy1 said:

Needs a turbo

I think youre right, it would give the car the extra oomph it needs, plus a powerband, to take away some of the 'bland' nature of the power delivery.
Shame it ticked all the other boxes for me, but not the most important one 'fun'

[randlemarcus]

dingocooke said:

vixpy1 said:

Needs a turbo

I think youre right, it would give the car the extra oomph it needs, plus a powerband, to take away some of the 'bland' nature of the power delivery.
Shame it ticked all the other boxes for me, but not the most important one 'fun'

Just so long as they've sorted out the roadholding. I found it wasnt terribly progressive, and led to scary movements when joining a dual carriageway.

[dingocooke]

Didnt notice that, handling felt really nice to me, and the brakes were really good.
I doubt it would be as much fun as a hot hatch down a twisty road.

[randlemarcus]

dingocooke said:

Didnt notice that, handling felt really nice to me, and the brakes were really good.
I doubt it would be as much fun as a hot hatch down a twisty road.

Its not.
My Dad bought one as he can fit four blokes going to Golf (although I suspect his mates dont appreciate sitting in the back for long), and he likes it, although he is getting rid partly because of the underperformance, and partly because its in no way special at anything, aside from looking quite nice. Actually he seems congenitally attracted to the vanilla, as he used to own a Probe - another car that could have done with some form of forced induction.

[dingocooke]

Intriguing that a few more people are now admitting its a bit, well, bland..
The Mazda dealers sudden discount kind of reinforces that they know it too..

[randlemarcus]

Depends on the comparisons that you make. When it was launched, its being compared by the magazines to cars in its size and price bracket - ie Ford, Renault etc. At this point, it astonishes and gains a reputation.
Personally, I'm comparing it to my 944 Turbo, which is viciously unfair. And a lot of people bought/tested one purely because of the wow! reviews, and are judging it against things it doesnt compare to.

[dingocooke]

To be fair, even comparing it to my MK5 140hp diesel Golf its still dull;
you know that feeling after a test drive, when you either get in your exisitng car and wish you were still in the test car, or you get back in your own car and drive down the road relieved to be back in your own car, well thats how I felt; relieved; oh and dissappointed too; as I really wanted to like it, had picked out my options and everything-thank god I had a test 1st!
Its not that I dont like high revving engines, being a bike fan, Im used to things that rev way beyond an RX8's 9,000, but to me an engine that revs high needs a power band to be fun, so you get that kick when you hit the power, the RX8's rotary was just too linear to stimulate my senses.
RX8 Engine of the year, more like asthmatic of the year
That one really confuses me; maybe the launch was so oppulent the journo's who voted were 'influenced'...must have been nice; Im only jealous

Edited by dingocooke on Wednesday 8th November 10:23