Mazda rx8 - advise?

CountingCrows

Any RX8 owners out there? Originally was looking for a GTI/VRS but finding a good spec one hard to come by.

I know petrol/oil consumption are fairly harsh but would they be much worse than a GTI?

Is it worth going for the 1.8 over the 1.3?

KerranJast

The 231bhp model is supposed to be the best. I'd advise you to research the engine flooding issue that can occur with the Wankel engine just so you are fully informed. I was half tempted by one but thought it'd be more hassle than its worth. Purchased LexLuthor's swish Alfa GT instead

jimbling

CountingCrows wrote: »

Any RX8 owners out there? Originally was looking for a GTI/VRS but finding a good spec one hard to come by.

I know petrol/oil consumption are fairly harsh but would they be much worse than a GTI?

Is it worth going for the 1.8 over the 1.3?

I don't own one but a friend does. I've driven it a few times as well.

They're a brilliant car. Without a shadow of a doubt the best performance car you can get for your money.
I swear... the sound of the engine when you hit 7.5 - 8.5 thousand revs is just sublime. This coming from an M3 driver.


MPG is obviously pretty bad. I would say around the 18-20mpg. A GTI or a vRS (another brilliant value for money car, I used to own one) do about 30mpg.

And as another poster said, the 231bhp is the one to go for.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

They are all 1.3's. There is a 192 BHp version (comfort model) and a 231BHp version. The difference is that there a two more ports and agressive mapping on the faster one. You want the 231Bhp model.

Oil consumption is not a major issue, up check it ever few weeks and top up as needed. Fuel bills are a nightmare...you think they wont be but they are.

Handeling is great. Power is good,, but the lack of torque means you got to be in the correct gear all the time.

Because they are rotary, they are taxed as a 1.8 and insured as a 1.8-2.3 liter. (yes unfair, but the displacement is irrelevant in a rotary)

The flooding issue hit me twice, if you make a short trip that does not warm the car up, the engine wont start and you need to be towed to a garage.

Look for leather interior, 6 speed manual. The standard spec is very good and the bose hifi is excellent with a 6 cd changer build into the dash. Check the starter motor has been upgraded (this is a TSB) this will help with the flooding. Beware a long cank when starting this shows the old starter is still there. Check tyres to wear.

This car can be skittish in the cold, but RWD FTW.

slickmcvic

...asked an instructor on a car maintanaince course about them but he warned me off saying the engine needs an expensive overhaul after about 60k.....I think theyr'e a class machine but the wankel engine is completely differernt to a 4 stroke and i'd say servicing them's a specialist operation as well!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

slickmcvic wrote: »

...asked an instructor on a car maintanaince course about them but he warned me off saying the engine needs an expensive overhaul after about 60k.....I think theyr'e a class machine but the wankel engine is completely differernt to a 4 stroke and i'd say servicing them's a specialist operation as well!

True of the Rx-7 but not the Rx-8, the triangular shaft tips are much more durable in the Rx-8.

Drummerboy08

The engine itself is a 1.3, but its taxed as a 1.8, so just be aware of that.

ITs a great car to drive, I had a 07 192bhp recently, and it was a great drive. The ride is very harsh - you feel every bump in it. The steering is razor sharp. The only issue i had was when driving it "enthusiastically" she cut out, and I had to the AA on the case. Turns out, when the fuel goes below a certain level, the pump starts sucking up air, causing the car to cut out.

CountingCrows

Thanks for the advise lads. Bit of research I've done and posts here suggest its bit more of an enthusiasts car than I'm looking for. Back to my GTI/vRS search!

Atomic Pineapple

CountingCrows wrote: »

Thanks for the advise lads. Bit of research I've done and posts here suggest its bit more of an enthusiasts car than I'm looking for. Back to my GTI/vRS search!

I wouldn't be put off by it, its a very popular car driven by lots of people who wouldn't have a clue about cars.

There is a lot of misconceptions about the rotary engine carried over from the rx7 and the one in the rx8 is much better and is normally aspirated instead of the twin turbos on an rx7.

sign up to http://www.irishrotary.com and ask about it in the rx8 section, CJ over there is a great source of rx8 info and being part of an owners club you may feel more at ease about getting one

stesaurus

CountingCrows wrote: »

Thanks for the advise lads. Bit of research I've done and posts here suggest its bit more of an enthusiasts car than I'm looking for. Back to my GTI/vRS search!

A GTi vRS is boring and doesn't come close to a 231 RX8. RX8 is in a different league with the likes of an S2000.

Don't let it's foibles put you off.

It drinks fuel and likes a bit of oil every now and then but that's hardly anything major. The flooding issue has mostly been resolved and is easy to avoid anyhow.

You need to 'rev the balls out of it' as this is the way it needs to be driven. It's a high revving car and all the power is beyond the 5k-6K mark.

Also it's good to red line the revs every so often. It clears out some of the built up carbon deposits. And believe me it's fun red lining in 3rd and upwards!

galwaytt

slickmcvic wrote: »

...asked an instructor on a car maintanaince course about them but he warned me off saying the engine needs an expensive overhaul after about 60k.....I think theyr'e a class machine but the wankel engine is completely differernt to a 4 stroke and i'd say servicing them's a specialist operation as well!

....ahem, nit-picking here, but the Wankel is a four stroke. What it isn't ......is a reciprocating engine.....;)

slickmcvic

galwaytt wrote: »

....ahem, nit-picking here, but the Wankel is a four stroke. What it isn't ......is a reciprocating engine.....;)

...well i was goin to refer to it as the four-stroke Otto Engine but i didnt wanna come accross as a complete know it all like some people round here !!!

RMM555

The best thing you can do is buy a GTI, my friend had a RX8 and it broke his heart, and the interior in the thing gets very warm, like you' be worried about it going on fire, well i was anyway. Go for a GTI

Biro

RMM555 wrote: »

The best thing you can do is buy a GTI, my friend had a RX8 and it broke his heart, and the interior in the thing gets very warm, like you' be worried about it going on fire, well i was anyway. Go for a GTI

Don't be silly.

galwaytt

slickmcvic wrote: »

...well i was goin to refer to it as the four-stroke Otto Engine but i didnt wanna come accross as a complete know it all like some people round here !!!

knowing the facts - as in Otto, correctly as you say, - doesn't make you a know-all. It just makes you informed......;)