Maxda RX-8

pokerking · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:12

Currently looking at Maxda RX-8s preferably the 231, it seems you can get these for around 2-3.5k, which to seems like a very good price for a sporty quick car! I don't care for MPG as I work 4.8 Miles away, this leads me to the warm up process the engines seem to need for they to be kept healthy, would doing short trips daily like mine actually cause a problem? Plus it would be a fun weekend car to have a nice drive when the weather turns nice!!

I have not test driven any yet so what are they like to live daily with? Anybody with one I would be so gratefull if you could post about your experiences and costs that you have had to spend!

Thank you greatly

Sin_Chase · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:14

They are cheap for a reason. Not the sort of car you buy because it's an apparent bargain but the sort of car you buy because you WANT an RX-8 and nothing else.

Draeger · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:17

Don't know too much about them myself other than what I've read on here and elsewhere on t'internet. Poor mpg, drink lots of oil and can be money pits if not carefully purchased. However I suppose that could be said at least in part, for any prospective car purchase.

There must be some truth in the reliability and running costs issue though. Just look at the prices these can be had second hand, gotta tell you something. Personally I wouldn't consider using one as a daily driver.

gurusan · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:17

I've driven one on 2 occasions, and though it handled well the gas needle just dropped like a rock and it had zero power until you pegged it from 6-8kish

I think the car is a pile of crap TBH, they should have put the 2.3 turbo in there instead of the rotary.

pokerking · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:20

Sin_Chase said:
They are cheap for a reason. Not the sort of car you buy because it's an apparent bargain but the sort of car you buy because you WANT an RX-8 and nothing else.

Well I want an RX-8

They seem to tick all the right boxes for me, and the initial purchase price is the biggest seller. I have no problem spending money on fuel and oil, just need to know if they can and will throw up other big bills

PinkFloyd · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:22

gurusan said:
they should have put the 2.3 turbo in there instead of the rotary.

Which wouldn't have fitted without losing the suspension setup it has, affecting its weight balance and making it a worse car all around.

I'm also drawn to buying one, as Sin_Chase said, you don't buy these based just on the price you have to really want one. Which I do. Doesn't matter what alternatives I look at I keep wanting an RX8 despite all the niggles

Sin_Chase · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:22

pokerking said:
Well I want an RX-8 They seem to tick all the right boxes for me, and the initial purchase price is the biggest seller. I have no problem spending money on fuel and oil, just need to know if they can and will throw up other big bills

No, you do not want an RX-8.

You would not be ticking boxes if you WANTED an RX-8.
You would not be concerned about the initial outlay and it CERTAINLY would not be the biggest seller if you WANTED an RX-8.

Your OP said it all. You saw a low sticker price for a flashy looking car and decided it would be awesome.

How does engine rebuild sound for potential big bills?

Still want an RX-8?

gurusan · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:27

PinkFloyd said:
Which wouldn't have fitted without losing the suspension setup it has, affecting its weight balance and making it a worse car all around.

That's ridiculous, of course it would fit. People drop LS1 v8s in there all the time so fitting a tiny turbo 4 banger in there longitudinally wouldn't be an issue at all.

gigeorge · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:41

Actually, you want its father, the turbo charged rx7.

Sin_Chase · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:42

Yes, the RX7 is an excellent choice of daily driver for a 4.8 mile commute.

daveydave · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:45

We haven't had an RX-8 thread in a while.

Flooded engines, rotor tips, high fuel & oil consumption, the list goes on.

They are that cheap for a reason, one to ignore.

MikeHiow · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:47

The RX8 would be ruined by anything other than a rotary under the bonnet.

They are cars for people who love a car that truly handles, and who truly love ringing the **** off of their cars.

They are not a car for someone who just wants a flashy coupé.

That said, they are not nearly as unreliable as a lot of people here seem to suggest.

daveydave · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:51

MikeHiow said:
They are not a car for someone who just wants a flashy coupé.

That said, they are not nearly as unreliable as a lot of people here seem to suggest.

Hang on, it is exactly that, given its price point at launch.

Second, what are you basing your statement about reliability on?

Flibster · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:51

Look at what you've said. Buy something else.

I love my 8, but if you're looking at the price of the car as the primary factor, just don't bother.

PinkFloyd · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:54

gurusan said:
That's ridiculous, of course it would fit. People drop LS1 v8s in there all the time so fitting a tiny turbo 4 banger in there longitudinally wouldn't be an issue at all.

I stand corrected! Read elsewhere that you wouldn't fit a much bigger engine in. Think it's a lighter engine than even the 1.8 MX5 engines?

Doing a bit of googling the LS1 V8 is a lot lighter and more compact than I'd realised mind :eek:

Would bump the cost of the car up a bit though

Sin_Chase · 10 Mar 2012 at 19:56

PinkFloyd said:
Would bump the cost of the car up a bit though

Would be worth the cost though, at least it would not flood just by putting a drink in the cup holder

Clown · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:04

I want a Maxda!

MikeHiow · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:08

daveydave said:
Hang on, it is exactly that, given its price point at launch.

Second, what are you basing your statement about reliability on?

It isn't that at all - it's a pain to drive around daily with the fuel economy, lack of low down torque, the ridiculously stiff clutch and the fickle gearbox. It's redeeming feature is the balance it offers and how it drives when on the boil.

I'm basing my statement on the ~8 months I spent researching them after borrowing one for the weekend.

They do not suffer the same as the RX7 did, which I believe is where most of the stories you hear will come from.

They do suffer with lack of maintenance though. A well maintained one will usually be safe from the serious reliability issues, and the stuff it isn't safe from should have already been done!

crinkleshoes · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:29

RX8 is not the right car for you.

Those frequent short journeys will kill the engine.

gurusan · 10 Mar 2012 at 20:59

MikeHiow said:
The RX8 would be ruined by anything other than a rotary under the bonnet.

This is what the rotard crowd has be been spouting for decades and it's a bunch of BS.

PinkFloyd said:
I stand corrected! Read elsewhere that you wouldn't fit a much bigger engine in. Think it's a lighter engine than even the 1.8 MX5 engines?

Doing a bit of googling the LS1 V8 is a lot lighter and more compact than I'd realised mind
Would bump the cost of the car up a bit though

The LS1 is amazingly light, in fact its only around 100lb heavier than the renesis. The downside is that it needs to be mounted a bit higher in the engine bay, which is why a 4 banger would be better in my opinion and why the 2.3L turbo would be a perfect choice.