Bugger Me, RX8s Are Cheap

[R500POP]

Just been looking again for a potential 500 replacement as it's going at some point in the next 12months & realise RX-8's are really cheap. A good, low ,mileage car, under 2 years old for under £10k.

[Rich n Em]

High tax and low MPG put most people off, driving used prices way down. I for one, loved mine but with 18 MPG I didn't love it for too long!

Fantastic car to drive, a lot of fun, the rotary engine is smooth and emits a lovely noise...

[R500POP]

Rich n Em said:

High tax and low MPG put most people off, driving used prices way down. I for one, loved mine but with 18 MPG I didn't love it for too long!

Fantastic car to drive, a lot of fun, the rotary engine is smooth and emits a lovely noise...

18mpg, very ouch.

[Gwagon111]

It's down to the cars getting a (largely undeserved) bad reputation for reliability and running costs. I've seen 3 year old 231 s for 6 or 7 grand. As long as you remember that a rotary engine needs some slightly treatment to a standard piston engine, are aware that the rfl on a newer one is over 400 quid a year, and that it will have the fuel economy of the space shuttle, then they are a stone cold bargain IMHO.

[Rich n Em]

R500POP said:

Rich n Em said:

High tax and low MPG put most people off, driving used prices way down. I for one, loved mine but with 18 MPG I didn't love it for too long!

Fantastic car to drive, a lot of fun, the rotary engine is smooth and emits a lovely noise...

18mpg, very ouch.

In it's defence, I only worked 3-4 miles away, the car never really warmed up so low MPG was expected... On a run, I'd see maybe 23-25, still not great!

There are a lot of low mileage early ones, a pre 54 (I think) will get you the nice low Tax bracket, mine was a late 53 plate, with only 20k on the clock! Cheap tax, cheap to buy and fun to run around in!

[sawman]

Rich n Em said:

R500POP said:

Rich n Em said:

High tax and low MPG put most people off, driving used prices way down. I for one, loved mine but with 18 MPG I didn't love it for too long!

Fantastic car to drive, a lot of fun, the rotary engine is smooth and emits a lovely noise...

18mpg, very ouch.

In it's defence, I only worked 3-4 miles away, the car never really warmed up so low MPG was expected... On a run, I'd see maybe 23-25, still not great!

There are a lot of low mileage early ones, a pre 54 (I think) will get you the nice low Tax bracket, mine was a late 53 plate, with only 20k on the clock! Cheap tax, cheap to buy and fun to run around in!

Ive been out of the country - why do some RX8's attract a lower band, was there a engine change?

[Steve H]

It's a year thing, they didn't do tax based on CO2 outputs until about 2004 (?).

[Gwagon111]

The engine didn't change. The ved rules changed such that the later cars, although emitting the same co2 get clobbered fir nearly double the ved of the pre 2006 cars. It's the same story with scoobies.

[Doofus]

R500POP said:

RX-8's are really cheap.

That's becasue they're plug ugly

[Rich n Em]

Doofus said:

R500POP said:

RX-8's are really cheap.

That's becasue they're plug ugly

Matter of opinion shirley? I think they're a great looking car - especially inside, the cabin is a fab place to be...

As yes, with tax, as others have said, it's a year thing. Changing around 04-05 to C02 rating rather than engine size (IIRC) - in any case, earlier ones are much more wallet friendly on tax.

[JohnnyJones]

Anything with a 2.6 two stroke in is going to be thirsty!

[bimsb6]

JohnnyJones said:

Anything with a 2.6 two stroke in is going to be thirsty!

my 944 is equally as thirsty !

[Doofus]

Rich n Em said:

Doofus said:

R500POP said:

RX-8's are really cheap.

That's becasue they're plug ugly

Matter of opinion shirley?

Nope. Statement of fact.

So there.

It's too tall for its length.

The rear side window and c pillar are particulary poorly resolved, and the shut lines shout 'compromise!' in a very loud voice.

The front end, with the exaggerated wings looks even more phallic than a BMW Z3 (no, that isn't a good thing), and the interior is over-designed and chintzy.

[kambites]

I think the RX8 is a rather nice looking car. Certainly better than most of its competition.

[varsas]

For those unsure about the tax thing...

IIRC it's pre 2001 cars which are charged by engine size, >1,550cc is one rate; <1,550cc the higher rate.

Pre 2006 cars are still charged by CO2 outputs, but there are fewer bands and a lower top limit.

See here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

Seems to back up what I have said. This is important because a while ago the goberment threatened to apply the post 2006 bands to the pre 2006 cars. I have no idea what the current situation is (I have no post 2001 cars) but you might want to check.

ETA: I wonder why that site doesn't show the zero rate tax for pre '73 vehicles? Wonder if it omits anything else important?

Edited by varsas on Tuesday 9th November 08:44

[sawman]

Gwagon111 said:

The engine didn't change. The ved rules changed such that the later cars, although emitting the same co2 get clobbered fir nearly double the ved of the pre 2006 cars. It's the same story with scoobies.

Neat, I didnt know that. Certainly worth bearing in mind. I am supposed to be on the lookout for a weatherproof runabout. Always been a fan of the RX8..... now wheres that autotrader

[Riff Raff]

varsas said:

Are you all sure about the tax thing?

IIRC it's pre 2001 cars which are charged by engine size, >1,550cc is one rate; <1,550cc the higher rate.

Pre 2006 cars are still charged by CO2 outputs, but there are fewer bands and a lower top limit.

See here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

Seems to back up what I have said.

There's a get out of jail card if your car emits more than 225 g/km and was registered before March 2006. The VED is capped at band K, so my SLK for example costs me £235 as opposed to £415.

[Gwagon111]

varsas said:

For those unsure about the tax thing...

IIRC it's pre 2001 cars which are charged by engine size, >1,550cc is one rate; <1,550cc the higher rate.

Pre 2006 cars are still charged by CO2 outputs, but there are fewer bands and a lower top limit.

See here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

Seems to back up what I have said. This is important because a while ago the goberment threatened to apply the post 2006 bands to the pre 2006 cars. I have no idea what the current situation is (I have no post 2001 cars) but you might want to check.

Edited by varsas on Tuesday 9th November 08:37

The rx8 only appeared in 2004 so the earlier ved rules don't apply. The only applicable bit is pre and post 2006.

[300bhp/ton]

R500POP said:

Just been looking again for a potential 500 replacement as it's going at some point in the next 12months & realise RX-8's are really cheap. A good, low ,mileage car, under 2 years old for under £10k.

Bugger me, reckon there is one of these threads ever other week!!!




As for the RX-8, I personally like them. But do consider what you are buying. For me they are the perfect alternative to something like a Focus ST. As in needing 4 seats and a boot, but with the RX-8 you get a good looking coupe body and rwd instead of a porky looking fwd bland looking hatch.

Downsides are mpg vs performance!!!!! It's not that the RX-8 is slow, but it isn't super quick either. I suspect lack of torque also contributes to the poorer 0-60mph times you see posted, 6.x to 7.0 sec 0-60mph is not uncommon and around 15.x-16 sec 0-100mph and 140mph+.

Respectable performance in today's market I admit, but when you consider it has near big block V8 thirst (I see 15-20mpg posted as claimed averages). It suddenly seems a little muted.


It's also worth considering what you want from it. As in do you need 4 seats and a boot? If you do, then consider the running costs and performance and what else you could get for £10k. As in if you really want to carry 4 people then a Jaguar XJR would be no worse on fuel.

Or if you don't need 4 seats look things like a VX220, Elise or even a last of the line RX-7's.


Oh, and don't believe all of the internet hysteria with reliability issues either. Do your research and form your own opinions.

[300bhp/ton]

Gwagon111 said:

varsas said:

For those unsure about the tax thing...

IIRC it's pre 2001 cars which are charged by engine size, >1,550cc is one rate; <1,550cc the higher rate.

Pre 2006 cars are still charged by CO2 outputs, but there are fewer bands and a lower top limit.

See here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

Seems to back up what I have said. This is important because a while ago the goberment threatened to apply the post 2006 bands to the pre 2006 cars. I have no idea what the current situation is (I have no post 2001 cars) but you might want to check.

Edited by varsas on Tuesday 9th November 08:37

The rx8 only appeared in 2004 so the earlier ved rules don't apply. The only applicable bit is pre and post 2006.

While that is true, I'm sure varsas posted the link to help people posting wrong info about the VED laws/regs