Mazda RX8

DarkJager

Hi lads,

Looking at buying a new car and have an opportunity to get an RX8 for about 9k. I'm just wondering if anyone has experience of these, particularly in regards to winter driving as i have been reading some horror stories online?

Cheers

TestTransmission

Do a search,there's plenty of threads on them.It's RWD so it's gonna be "fun" during the cold spells.

DarkJager

TestTransmission wrote: »

Do a search,there's plenty of threads on them.It's RWD so it's gonna be "fun" during the cold spells.

That's exactly what I keep seeing!

exador

what year have you in mind ?

DarkJager

exador wrote: »

what year have you in mind ?

It's a 05 man.

exador

DarkJager wrote: »

It's a 05 man.

Just asked as my next door neighbour has 04 onr for sale at the moment and it looks like a nice one.. if there is such a thing...

TestTransmission

Have you drove one OP?

DarkJager

TestTransmission wrote: »

Have you drove one OP?

Takin it for a test drive in the morning, can't wait

Nonoperational

Be very careful. Wouldn't buy one without a compression test and a drive with a few hot starts.

MetzgerMeister

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73748118

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=71102708

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70651593

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=68393149

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=68045451

And there's a lot more. Use the search function

Also, if you do end up buying one, check out my DIY in my sig!

jenizzle

Hot starts would be the main thing - make sure it'll start back up easily after you take it for a good run.

Here's a previous post with loads of info: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=71102708

And sign up to Irish Rotary.

DarkJager

So I got to take it out for a test drive this morning, although the dealer was completely clueless about the questions I had for him. Very nice car to drive though (though found it very hard to stick to the 50kph speed limit )

The dealer suggested that this model of RX8 would do approx 35mpg (and I was weary of this after reading online about some of them doing only 15-20mpg), which brings me to my next point. The car itself only has a 5 gear transmission so I'm not even sure what model it is (I had read that they were between a 6 or 7 gear transmission depending on model?)

He's never heard of a compression test but I told him I would be very hesitant to buy it if he couldn't get this done first. Right move?

cabrwab

You'll never get anywhere near that mpg with petrol, maybe on the oil!!

The 5speed gearbox is the 190bhp version, you want the 231, 6speed version. The compression test in very important to check up on the car. Like you would any car!

I was very close to buying one in jan wish i had! Lovely car to drive. Its on the list as soon as i can.

Master and commander

I'd steer clear of the RX8 thb. Now they say its engine is a great performer and all but thinking a bit more long term you have the following to deal with;
- whoeful fuel economy, about 26 mpg so its expensive to run
- engine not durable: its a good performer but it's anything but long lived. often requires a rebuild/reconditioning after as little as 80kkm. In my book thats an utterly rubbish engine.

i'd consider a good engine to be one that is economical, reliable and long lived rather than powerful, thirsty and unreliable. Its just a matter of opinion i guess.

Ok thats fine if you don't mind big running and maintenance bills and thats what you're in for with a rotary engine. but i'd rather stick with the likes of a car with a bullet proof piston engine such as a renault or a toyota.

DarkJager

cabrwab wrote: »

You'll never get anywhere near that mpg with petrol, maybe on the oil!!

The 5speed gearbox is the 190bhp version, you want the 231, 6speed version. The compression test in very important to check up on the car. Like you would any car!

I was very close to buying one in jan wish i had! Lovely car to drive. Its on the list as soon as i can.

The 190bhp is the one with the most problems isn't it? I'd love to buy it but I'm quite unsure at this stage.

Master and commander wrote: »

I'd steer clear of the RX8 thb. Now they say its engine is a great performer and all but thinking a bit more long term you have the following to deal with;
- whoeful fuel economy, about 26 mpg so its expensive to run
- engine not durable: its a good performer but it's anything but long lived. often requires a rebuild/reconditioning after as little as 80kkm. In my book thats an utterly rubbish engine.

i'd consider a good engine to be one that is economical, reliable and long lived rather than powerful, thirsty and unreliable. Its just a matter of opinion i guess.

Ok thats fine if you don't mind big running and maintenance bills and thats what you're in for with a rotary engine. but i'd rather stick with the likes of a car with a bullet proof piston engine such as a renault or a toyota.

I thought the rebuild thing was just a myth carried over from the RX7's?

I really would like to know the exact mileage to a full tank as I mainly only drive about 20 mins into work and back out, all motorway. I fear however that I'll need to get advice from someone who really knows about these as I might as well have been asking the dealer about quantum physics for all he knew about it.

jenizzle

DarkJager wrote: »

So I got to take it out for a test drive this morning, although the dealer was completely clueless about the questions I had for him. Very nice car to drive though (though found it very hard to stick to the 50kph speed limit )

The dealer suggested that this model of RX8 would do approx 35mpg (and I was weary of this after reading online about some of them doing only 15-20mpg), which brings me to my next point. The car itself only has a 5 gear transmission so I'm not even sure what model it is (I had read that they were between a 6 or 7 gear transmission depending on model?)

He's never heard of a compression test but I told him I would be very hesitant to buy it if he couldn't get this done first. Right move?

The 5 speed is the lower powered model - 190bhp. The 231 has the 6-speed. I doubt you will get 35mpg out of it, dunno where he got that figure from - at very best you'd get 23-25. I'm getting lower than that in mine but I have a heavy foot

Did it start ok when you got back from your test drive? Does it accelerate ok in the higher rev range? I test drove some RX8's from dealers a few months ago and most were in a shockin' state. As far as I'm aware, there are only 2 or 3 places that do compression tests in Dublin.

Jimmy Bottlehead

Master and commander wrote: »

- engine not durable: its a good performer but it's anything but long lived. often requires a rebuild/reconditioning after as little as 80kkm. In my book thats an utterly rubbish engine.

Shame you're talking complete nonsense. Stick to talking about what you know about, not just re-hashing popular lies and misconceptions.

I'll stick up the post I made in a recent RX-8 thread -

I seriously considered an RX8 for ages last year and this year.

Beautiful car inside and out. Practical and well spec'd. Absolute dream to drive and engine sounds terrific. Also dead cheap to buy.

However the petrol consumption is horrendous and the rotary engine is weird - a good one is fine but they're a lot more prone to abuse and misunderstanding than a normal engine. You can't go on short drives without warming her up properly as this can flood the engine.

Sadly i couldn't live with all its eccentricities and decided against it. Currently saving for a Honda S2000, with the second option being a Lotus Elise.

- From http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73762487

cabrwab

It is a myth. They do have a problem with bad/improper maintenence.
No the 190 just isn't as good to drive.

The poster who posted above with all the links owned one and knows how to run it!

DarkJager

jenizzle wrote: »

The 5 speed is the lower powered model - 190bhp. The 231 has the 6-speed. I doubt you will get 35mpg out of it, dunno where he got that figure from - at very best you'd get 23-25. I'm getting lower than that in mine but I have a heavy foot

Did it start ok when you got back from your test drive? Does it accelerate ok in the higher rev range? I test drove some RX8's from dealers a few months ago and most were in a shockin' state. As far as I'm aware, there are only 2 or 3 places that do compression tests in Dublin.

Seemed to work ok, didn't notice any issues with it when I got back (although the battery had to be charged before I could even take it out! ) I didn't really get a chance to belt it up any further than about 50/60kph as it was a ring road just around the area of the garage that I went with it. I might ask for another drive in it and try to get a stretch of road of 100kph to try it out on.

I'm in Limerick, so not even sure where that test could be done.

Paulmee

I have had mine for 3 years(2004 231bhp)
For starters its a great car, great fun to drive but it has its flaws.

It won't do 35mpg, 15-25 depending on the way you drive etc.
You drove the 192bhp model, 9k sounds steep for a 2005.
The dealer sounds like he doesnt know what he is talking about.
It does drink petrol, when I got the car I used to drive from Athlone-Cork every second week. I would fill it in Athlone on the way down, and would need to fill it again on the way back.(in Athlone) A tank costs about 80 euro these days :-(

My advice is go for the 231 model, second hand they are the same price.
I have flooded mine once, started it and turned it off after a minute, my mistake. I was able to sort it out myself though, had it running again after less than an hour.

In the three years I have had the car I have replaced the plugs, leads, CAT, coolant bottle, battery and like many 2003-05 models, I need to get a compression test done on mine, because I think the engine will need replacing soon..there is nearly 100k on the clock.
A sign of poor compression is if the car doesnt start well after stopping/starting it after a drive, i.e a hot start

As the other poster said get a compression test done! And research it..

TestTransmission

DarkJager wrote: »

I'm in Limerick, so not even sure where that test could be done.

Please tell me it's not that horrible blue one with the dodgy bodykit on the dock road

Master and commander

well i just would never buy a car that is prone to flooding. I mean its 2011 not 1960, i haven't heard of a car engine flooding in yonk.

I guess i'm biased agianst a rotary petrol engine as the reason somone would have for buying one is for performance, not reliablity long life or economy. you see i'm the other way - i'd be more of a diesel freak and see a good motor as one that is reliable and cheap to run. For me reilability and long life trumps all,. Seriously how often will you need to do 0-60 in 8 secs when your going into town for shopping?

i don't belong here, bye bye

DarkJager

TestTransmission wrote: »

DarkJager wrote: »

I'm in Limerick, so not even sure where that test could be done.

Please tell me it's not that horrible blue one with the dodgy bodykit on the dock road

Ha ha no It's a metallic red one out in ennis road motors.

TestTransmission

DarkJager wrote: »

Ha ha no It's a metallic red one out in ennis road motors.

hmmm, i only live 2 minutes away from there.Will go have a sneaky look for ya,might see if I can get a test drive while I'm at it

Gary ITR

To be honest I think the Integra DC5 is a superior car, it has awesome looks and a better performance than the RX8. I know the rotary is quirky and the car looks fantastic but they are too prone to silly problems. We have one with us on a regular basis due to flooding. It also came in for something else pretty serious a while back but I forget what it was

DarkJager

TestTransmission wrote: »

DarkJager wrote: »

Ha ha no It's a metallic red one out in ennis road motors.

hmmm, i only live 2 minutes away from there.Will go have a sneaky look for ya,might see if I can get a test drive while I'm at it

Ha ha thanks man. Might help to have someone with a bit of experience with them to check it out

galwaytt

Potato Man wrote: »

I have had mine for 3 years(2004 231bhp)
For starters its a great car, great fun to drive but it has its flaws.


In the three years I have had the car I have replaced the plugs, leads, CAT, coolant bottle, battery and like many 2003-05 models, I need to get a compression test done on mine, because I think the engine will need replacing soon..there is nearly 100k on the clock.

Well, forget your old Nissan Patrol-into-S Class Mercs - if ever there was a market for a diesel-conversion, an RX-8 with a fubar'd engine would be ripe.

Or indeed, to fit an MPS engine into it.........

Master and commander wrote: »

Seriously how often will you need to do 0-60 in 8 secs when your going into town for shopping?

....you'd be surprised: they can legislate against Vmax all they want.........acceleration is all we'll be left with !!

TestTransmission

DarkJager wrote: »

TestTransmission wrote: »

DarkJager wrote: »

Ha ha no It's a metallic red one out in ennis road motors.

hmmm, i only live 2 minutes away from there.Will go have a sneaky look for ya,might see if I can get a test drive while I'm at it

Ha ha thanks man. Might help to have someone with a bit of experience with them to check it out

I don't!! I'm just bored

smtdos

9K is alot IMO.

If you're spending that get an 06 231bhp model, it'll have the upgraded starter motor.

I drove 3 before buying mine and none of the dealers had a clue about the car. Fella tried to sell me a 190bhp model as a 231bhp so do your research!

Check for FS section of Irishrotary.com for some well looked after 8's.

DarkJager

smtdos wrote: »

9K is alot IMO.

If you're spending that get an 06 231bhp model, it'll have the upgraded starter motor.

I drove 3 before buying mine and none of the dealers had a clue about the car. Fella tried to sell me a 190bhp model as a 231bhp so do your research!

Check for FS section of Irishrotary.com for some well looked after 8's.

Tradin up a corsa against it so the price quoted was 6k. The price on the car is 9950

Henry Ford III

I would steer clear OP. The running costs are massive on RX8's. They are quirky, and frequently troublesome too.

That said they look good, & drive great. That twin rotary engine is soooo smoooooooooooth.

muckwarrior

Unless it has incredibly low mileage or a very good warranty then 10k for a 05 190 RX8 is laughable in the current market. Just have a look on donedeal to see what they're really making.

As long as you do your research, and you're sure the car is for you you'll love it! Looks fantastic, superb handling, and with a nice interior and good stereo it'd be perfect for your motorway commute. Just be aware that even on the motorway there's no way you'll get 35mpg, in fact you'd struggle to even hit 30. However the low price and low tax compared to other cars in it's class could go a long way to offsetting the fuel costs.

Whatever you do don't settle on a 5 min around the block test drive. You need to get it hot and take it right through the rev range to make sure everything is as it should be. Then when you're finished, let it sit for 5-10 min and try to start it again. If it struggles to start then it either has compression or ignition/starter problems.

Another common problem is ignition coil failure. This can lead to both compression problems and Cat failure, so make sure they've been replaced on whatever car you buy.

jenizzle

Gary ITR wrote: »

To be honest I think the Integra DC5 is a superior car, it has awesome looks and a better performance than the RX8.

The only time my rex bet the dc5 is when their limiter kicked in :mad:

DarkJager

muckwarrior wrote: »

Unless it has incredibly low mileage or a very good warranty then 10k for a 05 190 RX8 is laughable in the current market. Just have a look on donedeal to see what they're really making.

As long as you do your research, and you're sure the car is for you you'll love it! Looks fantastic, superb handling, and with a nice interior and good stereo it'd be perfect for your motorway commute. Just be aware that even on the motorway there's no way you'll get 35mpg, in fact you'd struggle to even hit 30. However the low price and low tax compared to other cars in it's class could go a long way to offsetting the fuel costs.

Whatever you do don't settle on a 5 min around the block test drive. You need to get it hot and take it right through the rev range to make sure everything is as it should be. Then when you're finished, let it sit for 5-10 min and try to start it again. If it struggles to start then it either has compression or ignition/starter problems.

Another common problem is ignition coil failure. This can lead to both compression problems and Cat failure, so make sure they've been replaced on whatever car you buy.

Great advice, thanks man. Mileage isn't too bad on it to be fair, about 71000 km on the clock.

muckwarrior

DarkJager wrote: »

Mileage isn't too bad on it to be fair, about 71000 km on the clock.

Same as my 04 231 when I bought it. Still cost less then 9k well over 18 months ago.

If I was gonna give 9k for an RX8 of that age it'd be for this one. For sale by Eddie Doyle (one of the top rotary mechanics in the country) with a 2 year warranty.

Gary ITR

jenizzle wrote: »

The only time my rex bet the dc5 is when their limiter kicked in :mad:

And that's easily fixed lol