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Established in 2002 it brings together people from all over the world to discuss their one love of Type R's.

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User avatar
By Superman001
#3665688
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.
User avatar
By karl
#3665696
v8 mpg for < 4 pot performance, dnw
User avatar
By Jph00
#3674214
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. :wink: 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. :smile:

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.
User avatar
By lucifuge
#3688743
Can't believe the rubbish posted about the Rx8 in this thread, it's laughable.

It uses oil by design and the amount of money we're talking is nickel n dime sh*t. The "extra" cost in fuel over a Civic is realistically at most in the order of the cost of a cup of coffee per day, I've done the math. Finally, depreciation on cars "generally" greatly outweighs fuel and oil costs so the arguments within this thread are a massive false economy. It's well known the Rx8 will outhandle many a $150k+ elite sports car and yet people want to whine over fuel usage when the car costs less than 1/4 of those babies? Fools.
User avatar
By karl
#3688799
you've clearly got a problem with people having their own opinions, when those opinions aged not the same as your own. RX-8s are woefully underpowered for the oil, fuel and engine rebuild costs, not to mention the fact they're pretty slow with a wafer thin torque output, plus they sound shite and look stupid :salut:
User avatar
By Jph00
#3689540
karl wrote:you've clearly got a problem with people having their own opinions, when those opinions aged not the same as your own. RX-8s are woefully underpowered for the oil, fuel and engine rebuild costs, not to mention the fact they're pretty slow with a wafer thin torque output, plus they sound shite and look stupid :salut:
Underpowered for the fuel consumption maybe. But in return you have a lightweight engine - ~80kg alll in - with a linear power delivery and more torque than a CTR... (Cant see what you're complaing about there? :roll: ) A superb chassis that loves to just be thrown into corners. There are not many cars that handle better and in recent surveys and ratings I've seen it placed 2nd behind the MX5 but ahead of Porsches, the GTRs etc, stuff that costs 4-5x the amount.

As for engine rebuilds, if you look after it, it'll look after you, its a highly strung sports car so needs appropriate maintenance. However if it all does go wrong and you need a rebuild please tell me where you can get a complete similar highly strung 4pot rebuild including parts & labour for £2-2.5k all in. The fact that it is so simple to work on too actually encouraged a number of members in the OC to rebuild the engines themselves!

However everyone is entitled to their own opinion but anyone that has owned one or driven one properly on twisty roads will see what the car is about and most are willing to put up with the couple of cons in order to fully enjoy the pros. Pretty much the same as any other car. I loved mine and would definitely get another in the future if my circumstances allowed :)
User avatar
By MattRST
#3689548
Had mine for a year , great balance, addictive engine and good quality interior but everything else was woeful

The biggest problem they have is the fuel costs and reliability , on my journey to work I was getting around 15mpg so roughly 165 miles to a tank ( about £75 or 11/12gl) after 6 years of new type r ownership the constant is it going to start wore thin
User avatar
By Rab W
#3689561
My advice buy one with a blown engine then drop a LS1 6.0 v8 in there and go drifting!!!
User avatar
By karl
#3689584
Jph00 wrote:more torque than a CTR... (Cant see what you're complaing about there? :roll: )
CTR has got fuck all torque, and is hardly a benchmark for comparisons, if this is your yardstick, then I can see why you think the RX-8 isn't sorely lacking in that dept; if you said it had more torque than a 535d then it would have worked, if it was true, which it's not, but hopefully you know what I mean :salut:
User avatar
By lucifuge
#3690197
karl wrote:you've clearly got a problem with people having their own opinions, when those opinions aged not the same as your own. RX-8s are woefully underpowered for the oil, fuel and engine rebuild costs, not to mention the fact they're pretty slow with a wafer thin torque output, plus they sound shite and look stupid :salut:
Every person in this thread is giving their opinions, so why do you think I've "clearly got a problem"? because I'm disagreeing? The majority of negative comments made are guesstimates from non-owners. FWIW I have no problem with people having their opinions, what would be the point? this is the internet after all. I'm simply putting some arguments forward which paint the car a little more accurately.

The Renesis is "effectively" a 2.6L and has won awards around that category. It's closer to a V6 in terms of engine capacity which goes some way in explaining the fuel consumption. As for power being on the low side, I agree with you.

As for torque, torque in itself is meaningless until you consider gearing. It's the wheel-torque that counts and Mazda uses very aggressive ratios to generate it.
User avatar
By Zeldoz
#3690209
In regards to my comment.

My dad made a HUGE error in buying one. He has never regretted it more. Engine went pop, and "maintanence" didn't stop it. He had it done at every interval and changed the oil with me when i done my CTR.

He now has a 1.3diesel astra company car, that he enjoys more!

Says it all.
User avatar
By brucelee11271940
#3690210
The ones with that Aero Kit look cool. However 3 of my mates had them, 2 packed them in when engine issues occured, and the other had to change because of his long haul journeys and the fact he said it was taking about the same, if not more oil/petrol than his previous Evo.
User avatar
By karl
#3690313
lucifuge wrote:
karl wrote:you've clearly got a problem with people having their own opinions, when those opinions aged not the same as your own. RX-8s are woefully underpowered for the oil, fuel and engine rebuild costs, not to mention the fact they're pretty slow with a wafer thin torque output, plus they sound shite and look stupid :salut:
Every person in this thread is giving their opinions, (1) so why do you think I've "clearly got a problem"? because I'm disagreeing? The majority of negative comments made are guesstimates from non-owners. FWIW I have no problem with people having their opinions, what would be the point? this is the internet after all. I'm simply putting some arguments forward which paint the car a little more accurately.

The Renesis is (2) "effectively" a 2.6L and has won awards around that category. It's closer to a V6 in terms of engine capacity which goes some way in explaining the fuel consumption. As for power being on the low side, I agree with you.

As for torque, torque in itself is meaningless until you consider gearing. It's the wheel-torque that counts and Mazda uses very aggressive ratios to generate it.
(1). because I was replying to you, not the rest of the thread, that's why it was directed at you

(2). "effectively" means fuck all when in "actuality" it's a 1.3 and performs like one; a 2 litre EP3 with less power and torque wastes them with ease, a 2.6 V6 with 230bhp would piss all over a 1.3 wankel :salut:
User avatar
By integraleo
#3690344
Put it this way...if this car was sold with a normal engine I would have bought one.
All its faults are engine based, I love the way it looks,I love the suicide doors,I love the look of the interior,I love the fact it's a well balanced rear wheel drive.
If this was sold with a k20 engine or something similar I'm positive it would have sold more. It doesn't NEED more power it just needs better mpg and not so much tlc on a daily basis.
User avatar
By MattRST
#3690556
Agree with the above, anyone on the rx8oc will tell you the rx8 doesn't make the quoted BHP either,, more like 190/200bhp on the 231 models , if it had been fitted with a f20c or similar it would have been an iconic car
User avatar
By Shappers
#3690689
If you want decent handling just get the Mx5. Benefit of being able to drop the roof too ;)

The Mk3 has come down massively in price too. Got myself a well specc'd 2008 car for just over £6K...

Its got a ford focus engine in too, so no worries about it guzzling 100's of litres of oil and going pop :lol:

inb4 hairdresser car
User avatar
By lucifuge
#3691050
Yeah I had 2007 NC1 PRHT. Was a hell of a lot of fun. I miss it. For us, just a little hard to live with in the end, but amazing little car.
Shappers wrote:If you want decent handling just get the Mx5. Benefit of being able to drop the roof too ;)

The Mk3 has come down massively in price too. Got myself a well specc'd 2008 car for just over £6K...

Its got a ford focus engine in too, so no worries about it guzzling 100's of litres of oil and going pop :lol:

inb4 hairdresser car
User avatar
By jonezy
#3691439
I drove one twice and loved it, was only the 190bhp model too.

How ever the troubles my mate had with same said car. Mainly backing up stuff already said, more than normal oil, more than normal fuel and subsequent failure. He kept up with servicing schedules and oil top ups but ended up with having to wait 20 minutes at petrol stations or after stalling to cool it down so it would start again.

One with ls engine or 1jz....... FTW! Still in the lookout for a rx7 with one

Long time ago I had and Ep3 for 220k kilometers in[…]