Superman001 wrote:Zeldoz wrote:Engine needs rebuilding at 50k
Even if you regularly check the oil. (Everytime you stop at lights)
So not really a big improvement over the old RX7 which needed a rebuild at 35k and new rotor tips.
I hate it when people in general start dismissing a car when they have not owned it or got the knowledge to back up the claims... Happens far too much with the RX8 unfortunately. :/
The engine does not need rebuilding every 50k like the RX7, they are totally different as the RX8 has side ports which dont wear the apex seals down unlike the RX7. Yes the seals can let go and it can lose compression over time, but its like any other high performance car, maintenance is key, a poorly maintained car wont get you very far before you have issues with it.
It was a small enthusiasts car that was wrongly sold to the masses.
I've had mine for 3.5 years and only just trading it in for a Civic due to the running costs which, yes are a bit steep for me as I'm now doing 16k+ a year and averaging 21-22mpg isnt good enough at the moment. Its done 94,000 miles and never missed a beat, not even been flooded. Yes i've had to put new oil cooler pipes on but that was down to corrosion which happens with every car at some point. I'm just going to hate to see it drive off when it goes.
A compression test on the engine will tell you all you need to know - Factory is like 8.5 and the Mazda minimum spec is 6.9 which is when it gets classed as a fail. Many engines run on down into the 5s before they start having hot starting problems. Mine on the other hand, with that mileage is still above 8.0, so there are many, many more miles to come from that yet.
As for oil use, I use 0.5L every 2-2.5k miles. Its really not bad, 5L for 20,000 miles and that costs what... about £20-30 these days. Its hardly a deal breaker. It just requires you to get under the bonnet and check your oil more often - I top up every 1.5k normally - which for us that love cars is not really a chore right?
At the OP:
If you can afford to run it, go for it. Expect 16-18mpg around town or 22-24mpg on motorway cruises, you can even get 27-28mpg if you drive it really steadily as I've done a few times. 200-280 miles to a (60L) tank is the average though.
Just make sure you take it on twisty backroads as that is where the car shines, not in a straight line. The chassis is awesome and you can really throw it into the corners and carry far more speed than most other cars, its RWD too and the TC will allow a little bit of fun before it feels it needs to step in. The engine is what makes the car... 50/50 balance due to the 80kg weight, anything else in there just doesnt work as well
Just make sure it has decent rubber on it as the budget tyres affect handling quite badly. If you are really serious about getting one, take a test drive and you'll see why most owners rave about them. Loads of info on the rx8oc.co.uk forums including a buyers guide.
And like someone mentioned, prices are only low now due to the increase in fuel prices. 3 years ago it was still 105p/L
Tax may be a consideration as pre March 06 cars are £280 with the later ones around £480.
You can even pick a car with a low compression engine for sub £1000 and get it rebuilt by a specialist for £2-3k with a 2 year warranty. Car + new engine for £3-4k isnt bad going really!
My 2 cents as a current owner moving off to a CTR.