Cooper S Vs RX8...?

GreenMint

GreenMint

GreenMint

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Heyas all, just a quickie, looking around still for what to go for next and have narrowed it down in my mind to more than likely 1 of these 2, but which...!

Looking around have been seeing most 04-55 Cooper S's going for about 8.5K+, RX8's about 6k+ for a nice example, I know the Mini is sometimes looked upon as girly, and the RX8 has a real marmite edge to it that some people just hate, not to mention all the "oh noes..rotary" people :)

Obviously looking at actual figures, a Cooper S is likely to hit around 30ish MPG, and the RX8 closer to what? 22 in the real world?

I commute 10 miles each way a day, so 100 miles a week, plus maybe 40-50 miles every other weekend, so only averaging about 8-9k miles a year.

What are your thoughts on the 2 cars? Right now the RX8's are looking cheaper to buy, but much more liable to be expensive to maintain, then factoring in BMWish service costs if I were to go for a Cooper S (Would love A JCW, but sadly is out of the affordable price range)

I know they are both very different cars, from a smaller 2 door FF hatch, to an FR "4 door coupe :eek:" The RX8 shone out due to a friend recently buying one, loving it, not finding it bad for 4 people + luggage and still good fun to drive/own. I know there are lots of other things out there (ie; Clio 182) but after looking around these are the 2 that it would really come down to for me, got a Mini Test Drive on Weds, and need to call Mazda or a local dealership tomorrow to see what I can do about an RX8 test, but what would you generally go for out of the 2? I know one is cheaper to buy, yet more espensive to run, but anything that would really sway you?
 
Honda Integra DC5 might be worth considering. It'll be older though if you're limited to £8500 (51/02), and more expensive to insure as it's import only.

30MPG should be doable though.
 
Out of those two i would probably get the Cooper, and I think Minis are not a car for guys :P But the RX8 just has too many nit picking issues to sit well with me, also 20mpg (on a good day) is pretty dire.

Get an s2000, theres some great examples for around 8500 now on the s2ki forums :P
 
DC5 was something I was thinking of a while back, but for some reason keeps slipping from my mind, but maybe I should just go check one out anyways! Maybe its cause the current Civic I have has such NO low down power due to the vtec engine, that its becoming a bit of an annoyance, specially in stop start traffic, but I can't judge an entire range due to one thing like that really, silly of me I know!

Jaffa, i would have gone for an MX5/S2000/Z3 like a shot really, but with my gf having a 2 seater ragtop, we could really use one of us having something with more than 2 seats, just trying to make it as fun as possible :)
 
Lord-Jaffa said:
Out of those two i would probably get the Cooper, and I think Minis are not a car for guys :P But the RX8 just has too many nit picking issues to sit well with me, also 20mpg (on a good day) is pretty dire.

Get an s2000, theres some great examples for around 8500 now on the s2ki forums :P
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Yeah but it's got 2 seats less than both of his suggestions.

Test drive a DC5 Tim, before buying anything. The Honda K20 is not torqueless.

edit: are the rear seats in the RX-8 actually usable? they aren't for midgets only are they?
 
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TimBrad said:
DC5 was something I was thinking of a while back, but for some reason keeps slipping from my mind, but maybe I should just go check one out anyways! Maybe its cause the current Civic I have has such NO low down power due to the vtec engine, that its becoming a bit of an annoyance, specially in stop start traffic, but I can't judge an entire range due to one thing like that really, silly of me I know!

Jaffa, i would have gone for an MX5/S2000/Z3 like a shot really, but with my gf having a 2 seater ragtop, we could really use one of us having something with more than 2 seats, just trying to make it as fun as possible :)
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In that case I would probably go for the Mini, imo its not really a guys car, but its definatly the best of the two for what you require while still being a bit of fun!
 
Seats in the back of the RX8 are useableish. Not massively comfortable, but you can fit in them for short journey's. Its a 2+2 coupe at the end of the day.
 
im not a fan of the RX8

they drink oil and fuel, and have no torque. To really get the best out of them, you really need to wring their kneck like a honda VTEC. Except it doesnt have that VTEC kick so whats the point ?

as a technical exercise its excellent, but to drive its rubbish.
 
Why not try a premier Edition EP3?

Out of those two (RX-8 and MINI), if someone held a gun to my head and made me choose I'd pick the RX-8 every time. I think it's a lovely looking car - just a shame about the awful economy.

How about a 350Z?

My EP3 insurance renewal was £425 from direct line, the quote for a 350Z was 10 quid a year LESS. O_o
 
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Depends on what you're after, and what sort of driving / day to day uses you intend to have for the car. I see the Mini and the RX8 as completely different classes of car.

For me, the Mini is ruled out simply because its too tiny and I wouldn't be able to use it for the sort of long distance travel, moving stuff around or weekends away that I tend to do. The RX8 is a better all round proposition but as others have already pointed out, fuel economy is a bit of a killer. The one thing I wasn't too keen on with the RX8 though was the gearshift quality. It comes from that generation of Mazdas which require quite a bit of effort from you just to shift the gearstick. If you do a lot of town driving it does eventually get a bit tiresome.
 
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Right, thanks for all the input guys :) The K20 engine from DC5 is the same as the EP3 isn't it? As they're easier to find I might try and fiind an EP3 to book for a test this week, too.

Danza, I know where you're coming from on the EP3 suggestion, the only thing that puts me off an EP3 is that I already have an EP2 right now, I have no complaints, people in the back are comfy, boot space is fine etc..just dunno if I wanna make a change to just the same car with a different engine, even though you can pick up nice CTR's at very reasonable prices...

So now it down/up to 4!

Mini - Worryingly small
RX8 - Worryingly pocket endangering
CTR/ITR - Better economy, great reliability, very highly rated cars.

DOH!
 
They don't have that much of an oil problem, the way people talk about them you'd think they went through 5 litres a month, you just have to check the oil every other fill up or every 500 miles, I don't find that to excessive it only takes a minute.
 
TimBrad said:
Right, thanks for all the input guys :) The K20 engine from DC5 is the same as the EP3 isn't it? As they're easier to find I might try and fiind an EP3 to book for a test this week, too.

Danza, I know where you're coming from on the EP3 suggestion, the only thing that puts me off an EP3 is that I already have an EP2 right now, I have no complaints, people in the back are comfy, boot space is fine etc..just dunno if I wanna make a change to just the same car with a different engine, even though you can pick up nice CTR's at very reasonable prices...

So now it down/up to 4!

Mini - Worryingly small
RX8 - Worryingly pocket endangering
CTR/ITR - Better economy, great reliability, very highly rated cars.

DOH!
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No it's about 15bhp up (+ LSD) on an EP3.
 
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