RX8 - Verdict

HBK

Hi Guys,

Just looking for some general opinions on the Mazda RX8. Been looking at a 2004 one up north for 6k. Its got 68000 miles on the clock, but also another one for sale for 6800, with 28000 on the clock. Big difference eh?

Also checked on Mazda website, and it states this car is no longer for sale in Ireland. Would this make it harder to get parts..etc?

Also Relatively new to getting my full license so this would be my first car.
I havent got a full insurance qoute but I imagine it might be fairly large on a 1.8?

P.S...I dont know much detail about cars TBH

ronanc15

To be honest I would be very very surprised if you find an insurance company that will insure you for a reasonable rate. (depending on age and sex of course)

Parts for Rx8's are generally expensive as are servicing costs.

They are a very nice car though and still not as common as a lot of cars in the same bracket. I would definitely be paying the extra 800 for the lower mileage one. Do a bit of bargaining on that price, remember cash is king these days

L-M

+1 Depending on the age of the OP etc.

I advise you do alot of research on the Rx8 before you purchase. There's alot to read about.

vinruane

Hi,

was think along the same road as yourself there for a while before my finances fell apart! There are a number of issues to be aware of, firstly it drinks petrol and oil. You'll be lucky to get around 24mpg and it requires regular top up of oil.

I'm not sure, someone else can verify it, but if its like the RX-7 wankle engine then the engine will require a rebuild. It is taxed in Ireland as a 1.8 but it is infact a 1.3.

If you import one of these from the north is it subject to the new form of car tax? If so its in one of the highest brackets, similar to Lambo which is ridiculous! Servicing these cars will be steep enough due to the type of engine.

Insurance will also be very high on for you, depending on age and sex obviuosly as ronanc15 said.

Don't want to seem like a downer on the car, I've been in one (not driving) and its an absolute hoot! Strange engine note but you get used to it. It punches well above its weight and looks the business! :cool:

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do. Keep us informed though!

Vic_Mackey

OP you seem a little half hearted about getting an RX8. My advice would be do a lot of research on them before takign the plunge. Did you know:

The engine uses oil as part of it's day to day running. About 1L per 1000 miles

You can't just move the car 10 feet, turn it off, they go to drive it hours later. When you start the car you must warm the engine to normal running temp

There are some known issues to look out for, including cat failure resulting from the aboe

They do

NOT require engine rebuilds after 60k miles. That's the RX7.

Insurance will be high. My last quote was 1200 with 4 year NCB, with 1 year NCB it was 2 or 2.5 (can't remember which)

They're a wonderful car to drive, but if you go into it without knowing the issues, it's likely you'll HATE it.

If you buy in the north two things I'd advise are an AA check (AA in the republic won't touch them) and a compression test (only way to tell if the engine is good)

vinruane

As I said in my post I wasn't sure about the engine rebuild, knew you had to for the RX7, thanks Vic_Mackey. Good point on the engine temp.

mick4_2000

vinruane wrote: »

Hi,

If you import one of these from the north is it subject to the new form of car tax? If so its in one of the highest brackets, similar to Lambo which is ridiculous! Servicing these cars will be steep enough due to the type of engine.

You are also wrong about the Tax on this or any imported car they are still taxed on the old system up until the new system came in last year.

But the VRT is on the new system so highest bracket

Insurance companies class this car as a 2.6 not 1.3 or 1.8

also look for a 231BHP version as they are more sought after version to the 192 with a few more qptions like Leather and some with built in Sat Nav.

Not much of a difference in MPG between 231 and 192 either.

HBK

Thanks for the responses guys, much appreciated.


I was aware that it drank petrol, unaware about the oil consumption though.
Thing is, I would'nt be using the car to go to and from work, rather purely for leisure purposes(weekends) etc...so I'm not sure if anyone has any better options?
Truth be told, I really do like the look of the car, and have been in one myself, and its pretty cool.

Relating to insurance, I probably should get a detailed estimate, I would be male, and 26yrs old...So I imagine it would be pretty hefty.

The car I referred to was u north, so I guess VAT have to be added ontop of that price, and also changing the plates?

mick4_2000

Here is your VRT quote

STATISTICAL CODE: 40387395
MAKE: MAZDA
MODEL: RX-8
VERSION: 231BHP 04DR / SPORTS COUPE (NON-CONVERTIBLE) / MANUAL / PETROL ONLY /
CO2 EMISSIONS: 284
MILEAGE: 28000 MILES
DATE OF FIRST REGISTRATION: JULY 2004

OPEN MARKET SELLING PRICE: €17403
RATE OF TAX: 36%
VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX:
(payable on enquiry date) €6265

Vic_Mackey

HBK wrote: »

I was aware that it drank petrol, unaware about the oil consumption though.
Thing is, I would'nt be using the car to go to and from work, rather purely for leisure purposes(weekends) etc...so I'm not sure if anyone has any better options?
Truth be told, I really do like the look of the car, and have been in one myself, and its pretty cool.

For what it's worth I did it would be ideally suited to being a lesuire car, but it's practical enough to use day to day (if you can swallow the petrol and oil costs) but like I said before, it requires TLC. If you're willing to do the research to find out what exactly that is, and do it, it'll be the perfect car for you. If not there's a ton of others that would fit the bill. Personally if I was looking for a weekend car, I'd be looking at a roadster. S2000, MX5, MR2....etc etc

HBK wrote: »

Relating to insurance, I probably should get a detailed estimate, I would be male, and 26yrs old...So I imagine it would be pretty hefty.

At your age XS direct is an option. ~1k for insurance, but 4k excess if you crash

HBK wrote: »

The car I referred to was u north, so I guess VAT have to be added ontop of that price, and also changing the plates?

you only pay VAT if the car is under 6 months and so many miles, so you'd only have to worry about VRT, which is quoted in the previous post.
(17k OMSP my hole)

HBK

mick4_2000 wrote: »

Here is your VRT quote

STATISTICAL CODE: 40387395
MAKE: MAZDA
MODEL: RX-8
VERSION: 231BHP 04DR / SPORTS COUPE (NON-CONVERTIBLE) / MANUAL / PETROL ONLY /
CO2 EMISSIONS: 284
MILEAGE: 28000 MILES
DATE OF FIRST REGISTRATION: JULY 2004

OPEN MARKET SELLING PRICE: €17403
RATE OF TAX: 36%
VEHICLE REGISTRATION TAX:
(payable on enquiry date) €6265

Apologies for the rather 'noobie' questions....

So that would be 6k car price plus 6k VRT ??

The open market selling price, is that by default or the actual price your buying the car? so in that case it would be 36% of 6k? = 2k so overall it would work out at 8k?

Alanstrainor

The price would come to 12/13K after vrt, as it's calculated on the msrp not the actual price you pay....savage car, but the VRT is a right pain.

Vic_Mackey

HBK wrote: »

Apologies for the rather 'noobie' questions....

So that would be 6k car price plus 6k VRT ??

The open market selling price, is that by default or the actual price your buying the car? so in that case it would be 36% of 6k? = 2k so overall it would work out at 8k?

The open market selling price (OMSP) is what they base their VRT figure on. In theory it's supposed to be the price of the car here in Ireland. In reality you would pay 10-12k MAX for an 04 Rx8 231 so you might be as well off looking down here. You'd have to pay 6k VRT no matter what price you get the car for.

Graham_B18C

HBK wrote: »

Apologies for the rather 'noobie' questions....

So that would be 6k car price plus 6k VRT ??

The open market selling price, is that by default or the actual price your buying the car? so in that case it would be 36% of 6k? = 2k so overall it would work out at 8k?

The price you pay aint the OMSP so it don't matter what you pay, I cant belive how much that costs to VRT though, know it'd be hefty but not that hefty!!!

You'd get one down here for the same price. And it'd be easier to shop around & test drive as many as you like

duploelabs

I loved my RX8, brilliant car. As for the fuel consumption, all you have to do it drive it like miss daisy (ie under 4,000 rpm) and she should keep her consumption in check, however if you do lash her out of it then she does drink.
Same goes with the oil.
Have had people flood the engine a couple of time (not me, never, i swear)by the switching her off whilst she's still cold. Just bring the engine up to 4,000rpm and then kill the ignition. That should burn off any residual fuel left.
They're not being sold any more in ireland new so they should reach a bottom off point in depreciation.
VRT is still high as well as motor taxation although it's taxed as a 1.8 and insured as a 2.6.
There is a slight difference in consumption between the 192 and 231, the former being a tad better. The main difference apart from the 6th gear, more BHP, etc is that there is actually more torque with the 192 which has proved better for in-traffic driving.
Servicing is a bit like servicing a Beemer or Merc, just add on about 20% to the cost everything but the benefit now is that most independent mechanics are familiar with them so you don't have to go to the dealer/authorised ones and pay the extra extra premium like you did in the aul days.

any other questions, just ask

stesaurus

Hey OP there's a really good RX-8 thread around here in this forum, have a search. Lots to read up on.

Main points of the car have already been picked up on but it's worth pointing out you need to give the car high revs often. It's actually good for the health of the engine so get it in to the red line once a day :cool:

Great car I love mine, yes expensive on petrol and oil but so much fun and so practical in other ways.

But yeah the insurance will likely be a killer for you. I have 5 years ncb and still paying 1100.

Good luck with the hunt, let us know how ye get on!

Vic_Mackey

duploelabs wrote: »

The main difference apart from the 6th gear, more BHP, etc is that there is actually more torque with the 192 which has proved better for in-traffic driving.

Without meaning to be pedantic, there's several differences. The 231 revs higher, has more ports on the engine, came with more toys as standard and, in fact, has more torque in any gear, at any speed then the 192. The following picture illustrates the difference (in the jap models, but the same thing applies to ours):
I can't seem to attach, anyway, here the image I wanted to use:

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/185276/69723.png

mick4_2000

I've driven both and can say that i did notice the difference between the 192 and 231. Now that they are both relatively the same price i know whick i would go for.

With regards to VRT you can appeal the price you pay on this and a lot of claims are successful but the process is now taking up to 6 months i hear and i would not count on it.

bazz26

It doesn't make sense to import a RX-8 anymore as the VRT is a killer on them since it moved to being based on Co2 emissions, making the savings on the purchase price evaperate. High VRT rating is one of the main reasons Mazda are no longer selling it here brand new.

Check out the price of Irish RX-8s as used prices have fallen through the floor, they are extremly difficult to shift in the current climate due to the associated high running costs.

furtzy

Friend of my brother bought one new on a whim and only kept in 8 months. Couldn't get over the fuel and oil consumption and indeed flooded it a few times. He traded it for a second hand RS4.....well for some. Point is he didn't do the research and ended up hating it. As for the OP's insurance I imagine it would be massive. Think the very low resale values reflect the difficulty in living with this model....fantastic looking car though

Atomic Pineapple

furtzy wrote: »

Friend of my brother bought one new on a whim and only kept in 8 months. Couldn't get over the fuel and oil consumption and indeed flooded it a few times. He traded it for a second hand RS4.....well for some. Point is he didn't do the research and ended up hating it. As for the OP's insurance I imagine it would be massive. Think the very low resale values reflect the difficulty in living with this model....fantastic looking car though

Think that sums it up pretty well its been a successful car with good sales to normal punters but it is in fact a bit of an enthusiasts car and you have to have done your research on it to know what to expect.

An alternative which would be more reliable would be the Honda S2000

To the Owners who have posted here, can I ask, is a waxy type build up on the oil dipstick normal or a warning sign?