Maxda RX-8

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2012 at 23:10

It's very common but mostly affects the 3.0 and 2.2 litre variants.

Matt82 · 19 Mar 2012 at 23:11

Ot, just to brag really. My 1.8t on 185k drank one litre over 7k and it leaks from somewhere.

MikeHiow · 19 Mar 2012 at 23:12

[TW]Fox;21509468 said:
A high proportion of the M54 engined BMW's will happily guzzle a litre of Castrol Edge every 1500 miles and they don't seem to get half as much stick as the RX8 does for it.

I said this when people slated the oil consumption of the RX8 when I was looking at them.

I was mocked for making such a claim.

IvanDobskey · 19 Mar 2012 at 23:13

[TW]Fox;21509553 said:
It's very common but mostly affects the 3.0 and 2.2 litre variants.

Ah ok, mine is a 2.5 litre

It does have 77k on the clock now though.

Worst car i've ever known for oil consumption is the GF's 52 plate astra 1.6. I put a litre of oil in that every few weeks :eek:

MikeHiow · 19 Mar 2012 at 23:15

edit: read it wrong.

CraigN · 20 Mar 2012 at 00:35

I am quite keen on an RX8 and I will admit it is mainly due to the price.

After the OcUK kart meet I really miss having a fun car. The 1.6 focus does 350 miles to a tank almost but I use it for a 3 mile round trip to the gym every other day and once a month return trip from London to Bristol.

I would like another car that is fun.

I have owned an RX7 which in my 2 years of owning had no engine issues and being an import had no history. I am also a competent amateur mechanic. The main reason for choosing the RX8 over another RX7 is comfort and a few of the mod cons. The RX7 was great to drive but cramped. Japanese are somewhat slimmer and shorter. The RX8 seems like a good compromise of space,comfort and the RWD fun that im looking for.

I would love too spend more on a car but these days family and property comes first.

I have owned high power RWD cosworths and my RX7 as well as higher power Ford and VAG FWD cars. I do find RWD more fun. Anyone got any suggestions of an RX8 alternative for under £5k that is RWD (No MX5's).

gurusan · 20 Mar 2012 at 01:54

mr2 turbo?

Lashout_UK · 20 Mar 2012 at 06:25

*whistles innocently*

Anyway, er, what about an older E36 M3? Get a good one for around that. Mind you, even a well sorted 318iS can be quite entertaining.

Mint E30 325i Sport?

I feel I'm deviating here somewhat from the request...

Ah, might as well go for broke

Take a while to find a six-speed for under £5,000. Was a nice one for £5,500 recently though.

IvanDobskey · 20 Mar 2012 at 08:57

Get anything but an rx8, they are cheap for a reason

CraigN · 20 Mar 2012 at 10:16

I do not want an older Car, was not clear in my post. I want small things like being able to connect my iphone to the car stereo etc. My days with 15 year old plus cars are over. Nor do i want huge cars that only go in a straight line or handle like boats

MR2 Turbos i liked 15 years ago

IvanDobskey i understand you have been bitten by one but ongoing costs i can afford. Even if i have to spend £2k on parts and rebuild the engine myself. I had to do this regularly on my cosworth and practically rebuilt my RX7 apart from the engine.

I am looking at a 231 PZ model with arround 30k on the clock atm. So if its been looked after from what most have said i could expect another 30k miles before engine failure and expect to replace the coil pack.

This will be a car i would use at most once a week and then just for a bit of a hoon. It would still be more practical to use my focus for long journeys.

I would love and could afford (if financed) a more expensive car. I was looking at Caymans and older 996 Turbos and even a few Dax Rush or Catherams. I do not want to have to borrow money to buy a car right now.

I will ponder it a bit more.

crinkleshoes · 20 Mar 2012 at 10:21

Go for a dax or caterham then keep a boring car for main road use... It's the way forward

IvanDobskey · 20 Mar 2012 at 10:46

Its a great car to drive no doubt. Just dont think of it as a cheap car. Factor in the fuel costs and an engine rebuild and youll be ok.

I just think there are far better buys around than an rx8. They may be nice to drive but they arent worth all the hassle.

Lashout_UK · 20 Mar 2012 at 11:05

CraigN said:
Nor do i want huge cars that only go in a straight line or handle like boats
.

Ah, no older cars, fair enough. A Corvette's the same size as an RX-8 though, which might surprise you... and typically have nice touches such as keyless entry and the like. Anyhoo

Pulls a higher G figure on the skidpan as well, but obviously that's not a particularly useful statement.

Absolutely walk an RX-8 in a straight line though, and a decent one with a good driver will probably pull away on twisty stuff too. Even more so if it's a higher-spec models. Always way ahead of the RX-8s in Autocross events in the States

Better on fuel too

*runs*

Both very differents cars, though.

CraigN · 20 Mar 2012 at 11:22

Lol i have no experience of them other than the fact i dont like the way they look.

I have driven LHD cars but only expensive ones with flappy paddle shifters. Never driven a LHD manual but then being American im guessing they are auto.

The reason for an RX8 (or similar newer car) over a kit style car is the mod cons. I do like a bit of comfort stereo etc. The kit cars are awesome to drive no electronic assistance in sight but they are terribly uncomfortable which is why i skipped over them.

This purchase has to be wife friendly also which is another thing i did not mention. She has to like the color and the car. The RX8 has passed the initial test of shape and she likes the gunmetal grey color. She also approves of the price tag.

Not ideal but its the compromise i have to make.

pokerking · 20 Mar 2012 at 17:25

You are exactly like me CraigN. But after reading all the stories on here about the engine will go bang, not it might but will has somewhat put a downer on the RX8 for me over the past few days. I want to get one and the 231 seems an perfect car for me.

What other cars of similar spec and power can be had for around £3.5k?

MikeHiow · 20 Mar 2012 at 17:47

Ignore the scare mongering.

Pick a good one and maintain it properly and it's unlikely to be an issue.

That said - you still need to be prepared for such an outcome - if a blown engine is going to ruin you then you should consider something cheaper.

There are plenty of cars that can and will throw bills just as large, though.

If, however, you have a decent disposable income but still want a cheap car that handles beautifully when on the boil, then go for it.

dilated · 20 Mar 2012 at 18:55

pokerking said:
What other cars of similar spec and power can be had for around £3.5k?

Very few, an S2000 would be a nail at that cost, so your looking at MX5s or older (and arguably unreliable) metal.

MikeHiow said:
Ignore the scare mongering.

Pick a good one and maintain it properly and it's unlikely to be an issue.

That said - you still need to be prepared for such an outcome - if a blown engine is going to ruin you then you should consider something cheaper.

There are plenty of cars that can and will throw bills just as large, though.

If, however, you have a decent disposable income but still want a cheap car that handles beautifully when on the boil, then go for it.

What ballpark costs are we talking about, I have seen cambelt changes and turbo fails that can be very costly, how does the rex compare?

crinkleshoes · 20 Mar 2012 at 19:50

pokerking said:
You are exactly like me CraigN. But after reading all the stories on here about the engine will go bang, not it might but will has somewhat put a downer on the RX8 for me over the past few days. I want to get one and the 231 seems an perfect car for me.

What other cars of similar spec and power can be had for around £3.5k?

Spec and power, V8 BMWs and Jags.

They don't have the handling but they do have more power & torque.

Certainly nothing as new as an RX8 in that price bracket.

crinkleshoes · 20 Mar 2012 at 19:53

dilated said:
Very few, an S2000 would be a nail at that cost, so your looking at MX5s or older (and arguably unreliable) metal.

Yeah - you'd get a terrible S2000 for the money... need minimum £6k for something semi-reasonable.

What ballpark costs are we talking about, I have seen cambelt changes and turbo fails that can be very costly, how does the rex compare?

You can pick up a rebuilt engine for about £2k or have it rebuilt yourself for about £3k.

If spending £3.5k on the car and the engine goes pop... personally I would just strip the car for parts and scrap what's left... or even just scrap it.

Common faults are the HID self leveling sensor failing and alternator trouble. Not particularly expensive to fix.

pokerking · 20 Mar 2012 at 20:05

My friend has told me to buy a cheap RX8 quite a few on Auto Trader around the 2k mark, one with FSH they are about 3 a couple 231 they seem in fairly decent condition then if and when the engine goes I will not have to fork out much more than my 1.5k saved on the motor if I was to spend my top budget. I don't know what do do, so much doubt I may start looking for another car.