Maxda RX-8

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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

 

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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

 

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Ha seems they are not a popular choice of car then!

I have quite a big sum of money free every month, and a few pounds saved for a rainy day. I have owned a lot of cars that have cost me a fortune to maintain so am not too bothered about running costs, its just at the back of my mind some suffer from oil problems and the like and don't really want the hassle of the engine blowing up etc...

I just need to know if the short trips to work and back will cause any problems?

 

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Always seems to be a lot of hate for the rx8 here..


I own a 2004 rx8.

The frequent small 4.8 mile Journeys aren't good for this car. It needs time to be warmed up properly, it needs to be redlined at least once a trip to clear the crap out its system.

It uses oil to lube rotors, and if driven hard, it uses more oil. It will use on average 1000miles per litre of oil.

The tyres aren't cheap, £150+

If you do buy one try and get the owner to do a compression test to see how good the engine is.

Also see if it's just been serviced,
Spark plugs cost £100
Coil packs last around 30k and cost £200.

On the plus side, no cam belts to worry about.
The seats and interior I have found to be of good quality, no rattles and comfortable. The stereo is very very good!

You will get 15-20mpg. I managed a run of 330 mikes on a full tank, running on pretty much nothing when I got there. Average full tank of £80 will get you 200-260 miles.

It is a good handling car and is fine in the rain with good tyres.
The boot is reasonable but obviously rear seats do not collapse.
Rear seating space is good if your under 6ft and is very comfortable.


Don't buy this car if you want a cheap run about, it will cost you and you will need to look after it.

Oh and don't buy one newer then 2006, road tax goes upto 450 a year, otherwise it's 260.

Thank you Excellent post! So you reckon the short trips I do to work wont do the car any favours? I say most weekends I tend to do a few good miles visiting parents and the like so it will be the time it gets used most.

 

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Personally I work 4 on 4 off, I work 7 miles away. I go for longer trips on my days off to give it a good run, I have had zero engine problems touch wood !! So far!

Depends really what kind of traffic and route you have to work I guess, and if you prefer to go a slightly longer route to get there. This engine requires a lot more maintenance then a normal piston engine!

The flooding issue you will hear about only happens if the car is cold, and you move it a very short distance. When cold the engine idles around 2k rpm. Once warmed it will then idle at the usual rpm. If turned off when still cold you'll flood engine. Something to look out for that I forgot to put in above post! My mrs moved mine off the drive and left it at the bottom

No stop start traffic as I miss both rush hour traffic times, tends to be fast driving on dual carriage ways and 40MPH roads. I really want to try one, I don't keep cars often as I get quite fed up! But the RX-8 has me intrigued Just need test drive a few now I guess. How is the slower I think 190?? Compared to the 231?

 

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Thank you very much for the reply's and genuine experiences, decided to go look at a 231 within the next few days, so I can get a real feel and look at the car. I have not driven one in the flesh so I am interested in how the 1.3l Rotary engine feels. I have been told they handle good so time will tell !

I have noticed they come with satnav, well some. Is it any
good and can you put TomTom maps on it?

Thank you!

 

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Stop talking rubbish.

I have seen some cars advertised for £1800 or thereabouts! I wonder if they would be worth a punt??

 

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Yes.

Buy a £1800 RX8.

Best call ever.

I'm out.

Buy then !! Not for a second am I seriously going to buy one! But your out so you wont see this reply then

Just simply saying there are quite a few out there around this price! You can pick a bargain out of a heap, so maybe worth a punt to some!!

 

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I'm only posting for future reference to say he'd already planned on buying the car before he even started the thread regardless of what anyone said, and I'll post in the "My RX8 is broked" thread in 6 months time.

We will see, its only money at the end of the day. What's the worst that can happen? If it all works out and the car I buy turns out to last more than 6 months, do I get a prize?

 

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Cars like this for example

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-...ate-plate-fsh-50k-tt-until-sept-2012/98111204

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/mazda-rx8-bagain-bargain-reduced-by-900/96894934

Worth looking to see you reckon guys? Or shall I just try the higher end of my budget for one. 3.5k?

 

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I tell you what I reckon, get something else

I lost a fortune on mine in the space of a year. Worst thing I have ever bought in my life

Hmmmm really?? I don't know what to do!! I am so set on buying one but this thread has got me a little worried. My other half loves the look of one and she wants me to get one. I have owned a few hot hatches that have also cost me a lot to maintain and replace parts etc, just was hoping to be a bit more sensible and buy a more of a grown up car if that makes sense?

 

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Surely the car at that sort of price has alarm bells ringing all over the place?

The RX-8 was a relatively expensive car to begin with and its depreciation and current second hand value should be enough to make potential buyers very concerned. To then be shopping at the lower end of that already suspiciously cheap market is surely an accident waiting to happen?

Just see them quite a lot on the road been driven, not at the side of the road in flames or broken down! Quite a misguided view I'm sure but had no idea they were a death trap waiting to happen. I just presumed due to tax, MPG and insurance in the current times the value of the car went down as people are not willing to have a everyday car achieve no more than 19MPG, people are upping sticks and going diesel. I only work 9 miles away round trip so don't really care about fuel.

I duuno, I may try one and see how it goes for a few months.

 

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I will be selling one very shortly after it goes through mot. silver 231 under 20000 miles lovely condition. they are heavy on fuel but what a car to drive fast and fun.

What kind of money are you hoping to sell it for ?

 

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To the op. How mechanically competent are you? Can you lay your hands on an engine hoist and tools to remove an engine? Would you enjoy doing it? or would you risk doing it?

Reason i ask is because if you are confident in doing this sort of thing, then an RX-8 with a blown or low compression engine would be a very good buy. You can buy new rotor housings and all the seals/gaskets yourself for around the £1200 mark. Last time i checked, new rotor housing for the 13b twinturbo were around the £300 mark each, so i can't see the renesis ones being any more.

I did this with the twinturbo 13b engine found in the FD. That was buying parts from the states though.

It wouldn't be myself doing any repairs, rather than a friend who does mates rates so it wouldn't be too expensive to fix is something did go wrong. Just keep looking out for the right one none has taken my fancy yet!!

 

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It takes a very good friend to turn down work at his regular rate in order to spend several days helping his friend out. Treasure him and keep him for ever - not many mates will take a pay cut to help a friend

Is he an RX8 specialist too?

It sure does No doubt it wont be his main job, rather than a spare time kind of work, but he will get it done and it will be much cheaper for me if something like the engine goes. I will just have to catch lifts to work in the meantime if worse come to worse.


Nope he is not a specialist rather than a jack of all trades type of bloke, I am sure he could tackle it? They can't be much different to a normal engine change. Plus I have not asked him yet if he has done one before, he may have!

 

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I'm not going to rush into buying one but have my heart set on one now How good is the Bose sound system and the satnav?

 

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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?

 

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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.