RX8 R3 - opinions?

Think I had this on my favourite list if it was the one on Gumtree?! Stunning looking and so much car for the money...cracking buy imo
 
The R3 is best in white IMHO. However I prefer the original's looks... although I do approve of the R3's 19" wheels, they're super cool! Anyone remember the old "TSW Venoms" hahaha...

mazda-rx-8-r3.jpg


I've had my RX8 (Roxy) for what, 3.5 years... never had flooding, doesn't use anymore oil than my wifes Type R... after remap I get around 21mpg in general driving which was well up on pre remap where the light would come on around 195 mile...

Faults? The major one I don't like is the fact the undersides rust, hence why mine is currently in now getting all the underneath rust removed and underside sealed for good. She's also having an 8 pot 356mm brake upgrade kit fitted this month because she's ace lmfao.

Obviously the engine, not only apex seals, but the main bearings (which went in mine, the rear bearing think it was)... these two are the main cause of engine failure. Bar that, handles incredible and to prove the point, didn't it go around the Top Gear test track as quickly as the E46 M3? It's actually been a very reliable car, nothing else has broke really causing much hassle at all. It's just that engine of the RX8, but that's rotary for you.

Infact considering how everyone slates it for being "slow"... I don't see anyone slating any of these other cars for being equally as slow give or take a second either way? The E46 gets reviewed as being one of the best handling cars of it's type... Look at the cars it beats and is in the mix with... it annoys me when people say it's slow, it's not slow at all, it is what it is. A 200bhp+ car, simple as that that takes some beating!!!

01:30.4 Volkswagen Golf R32 mk.V,
01:30.9 Audi S4 quattro 4.2,
01:31.3 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo,
01:31.4 Audi TT Mk.II 2.0T,
01:31.8 BMW M3 E46,
01:31.8 Nissan 350Z,
01:31.8 Mazda RX-8,
01:31.9 BMW 130i(E87),
01:32.0 Rnaultsport Clio 200T,
01:32.7 Ford Fiesta ST,
01:33.2 Peugeot 208 GTi,
01:32.2 Ford Focus RSMk I,
01:32.2 Mazda 6 MPS,
01:32.5 Renaultsport Mégane 225 Cup,
01:32.5 Lotus Esprit V8 (cold tyres),
01:32.7 Audi TT 3.2 Quattro,
01:32.8 Honda Civic Type-R (2004 Facelift),
01:32.9 SEAT León Cupra R,
01:32.9 Mercedes-Benz SLK350

One of the great cars and starting to get rare on the roads and plentiful in the scrap yards so great for 2nd hand parts. Is it flawed? God yes... you either get these cars and put up with the floors or you don't. I for one do. But can fully understand anyone who doesn't want the hassle or any worries. My wife has a Type R FN2 and it's unbelievable, NOTHING has gone wrong apart from the motor on the NS wing mirror, bar that, 50k miles of trouble free motoring now! For the money though, and the fun factor, not many cars come close to the RX8 for the cash... Infact I can't think of many at all. Just assume that at any point past 50k, bearings could go, it's a weakness so even if compression is good, this gives zero indication that the bearing could be going. I got ZERO warning, it just went at 80mph... just a mass of oil, a horrible sound of doom... now she's as good as new.

Here's my baby!

 
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pugheaven said:
God knows, but it does show that maybe, as good as the M3 is, are people looking through rose tinted spectacles? I mean, where is all that power going? What's it doing?
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No, the M3 would leave the TT for dead.

My guess is some of those times are in the Wet and others are not, The RX8 aint as quick as an M3.
 
M3 time was dry. The RX8 embarrasses a lot of cars on a track, especially with lots of corners. Also Top Gear ran the early RX8 which has the worst handling out of the range. PZ and R3 were much better.
 
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Buy a cheap one and it will probably explode. Buy an expensive one and there are better alternatives with half the running cost. The RX-8 is in a difficult position now really.
 
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Firestar_3x said:
No, the M3 would leave the TT for dead.

My guess is some of those times are in the Wet and others are not, The RX8 aint as quick as an M3.
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Well it was this day rofl. Both were in the dry... and both driven by a stig lol. What more evidence do you need ;)
:D You'd be surprised just how quick an RX8 is around a track, I myself have been holding onto cars with around 80bhp more on the two I've done.. one being an M3 actually... I just assumed at the time it was being driven by a retard now I'm not so sure. Just gonna work out the BHP per ton figure, see if that's closer. We do have to bear in mind, the RX8 was designed for this kind of thing with 50/50 weight dist and low engine, the M3 is at the end of the day a normal saloon suped up (and don't get me wrong, I've fancied an E46 for years and IMHO is the best BMW ever made)

EDIT:
E46 M3 : 218 bhp per ton (BMW 3 Series Acceleration: This 3 Series reaches 0 to 60 mph (96.6 kph) in 4.8 seconds and can cover a 1/4 mile in an estimated 13.51 seconds.)
RX8: 164bhp per ton (Mazda RX8 Acceleration: This RX8 reaches 0 to 60 mph (96.6 kph) in 6.2 seconds and can cover a 1/4 mile in an estimated 14.89 seconds.)

Well on paper it destroy's the RX8 don't it lol. Anyway, whatever the times, the RX8 isn't slow is what I was getting at lol.
 
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Its irrelevant really, the only benchmark is the Top Gear times, and by that metric your RX8 is beaten by a FWD Golf in a party frock.

I've been in enough and raced enough M3's to know my TT isn't even in the same ballpark for performance on the road.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Its irrelevant really, the only benchmark is the Top Gear times, and by that metric your RX8 is beaten by a FWD Golf in a party frock.

I've been in enough and raced enough M3's to know my TT isn't even in the same ballpark for performance on the road.
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It;s beaten by loads of FWD cars lmfao. Wish the Stig had got to drive my 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokke 4.0 around lmfao, now that would've looked great lmfao
 
Firestar_3x said:
Its irrelevant really, the only benchmark is the Top Gear times, and by that metric your RX8 is beaten by a FWD Golf in a party frock.

I've been in enough and raced enough M3's to know my TT isn't even in the same ballpark for performance on the road.
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That golf is awd.
 
@delta0 - Was it's literally better suspension in the later PZ and R3 models? Don't realy know much about them models tbh, my original is on BSR Coilover suspension anyway o setup beautifully at moment. I always felt the original as good as it was was every so slightly too rolly for me... hence the suspension upgrade, which was perfect antidote.
 
pugheaven said:
@Delta0 - Was it's literally better suspension in the later PZ and R3 models? Don't realy know much about them models tbh, my original is on BSR Coilover suspension anyway o setup beautifully at moment. I always felt the original as good as it was was every so slightly too rolly for me... hence the suspension upgrade, which was perfect antidote.
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PZ (Prodrive and OZ)
Bilstein dampers
Eibach springs
Oz 18" alloys
Lowered by 15mm
Rear spoiler
New exhaust
Urethane filled cross members

R3
Same as PZ
Plus:
Facelift
Recaro seats
19" alloys
25kg less mass
New gearbox with 7-8% shorter gear ratios
Extra oil injector in the engine
Oil at 50% higher pressure
New oil metering system
Oil capacity increased by 1l
 
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grudas said:
How much are you paying for underside sealing if you don't mind me asking? :)
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Under seal is about £150 for a basic coverage. For full cover around the engine and under all the covers etc. It is around £600. A bit more on top and you can get the subframe powder coated as well. I'm actually looking into doing this.
 
I can state it's massivly more than this, IF you decide to file all the crap down that's already on there, then rust treat then stone chip it then seal it on top. ;):D Depends whether it's simply sealent OR you have to do work before, I'm the latter :(
 
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