Tell me about RX8s (231BHP)

eidolon

eidolon

eidolon

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Just noticed how cheap these are so wondered if anyone here has one and what they're like in general. I'm not too worried about fuel economy as I probably do less than 10k per year anyway.

Are the engines like the old RX7 ones and need rebuilding or are they pretty strong now? I'm guessing that cos they're Mazda that they're pretty reliable anyway?

What sort of mods are essential? Are they pretty good as standard or are they crying out for breathing mods/turbo/lowering etc?
 
When you say that fuel economy doesn't bother you - I've been doing some of my own research into RX8s recently and some O/C forums report average fuel economy of 17mpg :eek:
 
Hmm, all my pics have gone. I don't think I have them any more.
I just re-read that write up and I stand by my comments.
 
My dad has the 190 odd bhp version, but more torque than the higher powered one.

Lovely car, had a drive a few times and it handles great. I also quite like the whine noise of the engine too. Fuel and oil wise they are stupidly expensive to run. My dad getgsa round 250miles to a tank. They also push out nearly 300g/km co2 and therefore are in the highest tax bracket, but then again what fast car isn't?

Should be able to get one fairly cheap with everyones attitude of 'must buy diesel'
 
celica t sport 190? great handling, 31-32mpg ~, doesnt drink oil etc. still has a nice high revving engine, look great in black, especially the GT kitted versions.
 
Nickg said:
...and handling....
Click to expand...

The Celica doesn't handle like the RX8. For a start the RX8 is RWD (not that there's anything wrong with a good FWD), and is renowned for being a fantastic handling car. The Celica is supposed to a little.........dull in the handling stakes is it not?

edit: I just read that EVO review, it would appear that I'm talking out of my arse and it has a great chassis.

In that case as far as handling goes it's choice between a great RWD chassis and a great FWD chassis when choosing between them.
 
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Rumours are that high mileage ones can be a pain to sell on, friend at work went to a Mazda dealer who told him to stay well clear of high mileage models. but then again he would, would'nt he!
 
Is that not down to the history of wankel engines of old not coping with high miles?

Does the RX8 engine suffer the same then? My wife likes them a lot.
 
EddScott said:
Is that not down to the history of wankel engines of old not coping with high miles?

Does the RX8 engine suffer the same then? My wife likes them a lot.
Click to expand...

What's high miles? 50k? 100k? 150k?

there's quite a few on 50k which are cheap, dunno if that's classed as high miles on a Wankel engine though.
 
I think 100k + they start to be troublesome. Only what i have been told as my mate was seriously looking at one for his wife.
 
I think the main issue is something to do with damage being caused when doing short journeys? So the higher the mileage, the more the history of the cars usage you dont know about
 
Well the RX7 needs a rebuild at around 60k. The RENESIS in the RX8 has more resiliant rotor tips so was supposed to last longer than the RX7, I have no idea if this is actually the case though.

It's true that Wankels don't like short trips, it tends to coke the rotor faces up. They benefit from a good thrashing on every journey too, again to keep the rotor faces from coking up.

They also tend to flood if you start them up and switch them off within a couple of minutes, especially as mileage goes up.
 
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Ceramic tips on the RX8 I think so wear is not so much an issue.

My old DC5 it obliterated an RX8 from 0 to 120mph out of the M6 Toll "traps" one day and the DC5 was only running around 235bhp at the time.

I'd rather take a Clio Sport over the Celica.
 
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