There a reason why RX8s are so cheap?

 

Theres one in a garage I pass on the way to work on a '55 plate for £1995

eBay has 10 listed at under the £2000 mark with anything down to 56,000 miles

 

I know that the engine lacks torque, fuel economy is pretty shoddy, and that tax is almost £500 a year but they still seems like an awful lot of car for not a lot of money!

Think you hit the nail on the head Pasty - poor fuel economy, high road tax, the ability for it to drink oil and the potential for damage if you don't look after it.

 

We looked at one because they are pretty nice looking, nice motors, lots of kit, 4 seats (well 2+2 and the rears are for the kids anyway) but the above put us off.

There a reason why RX8s are so cheap?

 

Theres one in a garage I pass on the way to work on a '55 plate for £1995

eBay has 10 listed at under the £2000 mark with anything down to 56,000 miles

 

I know that the engine lacks torque, fuel economy is pretty shoddy, and that tax is almost £500 a year but they still seems like an awful lot of car for not a lot of money!

Think you've answered your question here tbh ^^^

 

Wouldn't touch one with a barge pole personally, as I've seen so many (and still do) in workshops with MAJOR starting problems, and mechanics threatening to set them on fire with their total frustration.

 

Major money pit and many appearing in a scrap yard near you soon I suspect.

 

Such a shame, as they are a really nice looking car.

Should have shoved a real engine under the bonnet in the first place, no matter just how great they claim the rotary engine is.

It is until it all goes tits up, which they do.

Edited 4 December, 201312 yr by Mr Ree

Yeah as i hit post i realised i'd kind of solved the mystery myself

Still if you could buy a decent one for that kind of money with a years tax and a tank of fuel it'd be a good 12 months (assume the w@nkel it didnt eat itself!)

Someone at work is trying to flog hers but can't shift it for anything, has gone really low on price too.

Yeah as i hit post i realised i'd kind of solved the mystery myself

Still if you could buy a decent one for that kind of money with a years tax and a tank of fuel it'd be a good 12 months (assume the w@nkel it didnt eat itself!)

All above plus a totally comprehensive bullet and rotary proof comprehensive warranty that will cover you for loss of use whilst off the road too, IF such a thing actually exists.

Simply, do not do it is my humble opinion, no matter how much of a bargain they look...that's why they are!

I think as off next year they wont conform to new emission laws either so mots may become a problem

Now i love the sound of a bridgeported rx7 but the rx8 aint quite the same :(

There now well into drift car budget but i dont know how well the rotary would stand up against banging of the limiter all day

Reminded me. I was down the road having my lunch on the promenade just last week, when an RX 8 came stuttering past me.

I recognised the driver as one of the mechanics from the main Mazda dealer just half a mile away.

He turned around and it promptly spluttered to a halt.

 

The wheezing starter motor wouldn't fire it up after 3 attempts, so he got on his mobby.

10 minutes later the works LCV van came and towed him back to base. :think:

Edited 4 December, 201312 yr by Mr Ree

rebuilds needed usually every 60k, later ones aren't so bad, I averaged 21mpg on a run, plugs need to be changed if you start it and it doesn't warm up properly allegedly, mine didn't fail me once in 10000 miles but I could have just been lucky

Nice to drive though. If they re-designed it round a small Turbo Engine like the VAG 1.4 TSi then they could have a winner.

 

My Mrs has had 4 Maza sports cars (currently on her 2nd MX-5) and we test drove the 230 version when they first come out, dealer just threw us the keys  :sun:

 

At the time I had a Mark IV Golf GTi chipped to a verified 204BHP and the RX-8 just didn't seem that quick compared to my Golf until I realised that I was doing 3 figures - the acceleration was so linear.

 

Sadly though as stated you need to say well clear, I wouldn't have one, even it was given to me for free, the stories I've heard.

buy cheap one, swap engine, sorted.

There are companies doing VAG1.8T conversions on these.

Taken from teh Reyland Motorsport website

 

Our second current conversion is the fitment of an Audi 20V engine into a Mazda RX8. With the standard normally aspirated rotary engine in RX8s proving to be somewhat of a time-bomb, we'll be giving owners a fantastic alternative that not only provides an RX8 with much-needed reliability, but also provides a power increase at the same time!

 

The RX8 build story will have its own page soon.

 

Yummy

Holy poo-poo

 

Twin turbo'd V8 from across the pond

 

 

http://www.rx8club.com/rx-8s-sale-wanted-43/383-stroker-rx8-500hp-tq-price-dropped-sale-200609/

I think as off next year they wont conform to new emission laws either so mots may become a problem

They can't just change the rules retrospectively and force 1000's of people to scrap their cars

I didnt realise they were so cheap, even with the fuel and iffy motors, find a decent one and smash about in it for a year or two then flog it or whatever, cheap fun motoring. There is a lad on here that had one, triggerfish maybe .....

I didnt realise they were so cheap, even with the fuel and iffy motors, find a decent one and smash about in it for a year or two then flog it or whatever, cheap fun motoring.

 

That's was i was thinking.

I mean £2000 is mk2 MX5 track day car money and an RX8 would be more favourable to one of them......

Wanna split one Matt?

 

Leave it with Ali see if he accidentlly drops a nissan big turbo lump in the front

 

There is a lad on here that had one, triggerfish maybe .....

 

Indeed he did

Polo Gti 6n, RX8, now a 330d a man after my own heart

They can't just change the rules retrospectively and force 1000's of people to scrap their cars

I didnt realise they were so cheap, even with the fuel and iffy motors, find a decent one and smash about in it for a year or two then flog it or whatever, cheap fun motoring. There is a lad on here that had one, triggerfish maybe .....

That was my thoughts aswell but iv had a few folk mention it to me now so who knows

Ohh and they pop flames like nothing on earth with a decat sound kinda like an f1 with an intake (wont let me post a link:( just search for rx8 induction sound on youtube an youl get the idea)

There are companies doing VAG1.8T conversions on these.

 

Noooo! How could you take such a characterful engine and replace it with something as bland?! :(

 

They're cheap because they're expensive to run and have a bad reputation. Mine was fine, but not all will be. Go in with your eyes open and look for coil pack health. Lack of torque often got irritating too, and the fuel bill wasn't justifiable to sit in a traffic jam/string of cars all day.

MX5 all day long.Simple, sorted.

Won't be £500 road tax for a pre March 06 model.

I lived in NZ for a few years and the rotor engines are very popular with petrolheads. I love the high reving buzzers but wouldnt have one as a daily driver due to crazy mpg and silly servicing costs. But as a weekend car.....hmmmm.. They are just soooo cheap for a cracking little car!

Not an rx8 i know but im sure you can all appreciate the beauty of my mates rx7(s) the blue one sadly died after a smash while brining it back up here after a massive hks single turbo converstion

Holy poo-poo

 

Twin turbo'd V8 from across the pond

 

 

http://www.rx8club.com/rx-8s-sale-wanted-43/383-stroker-rx8-500hp-tq-price-dropped-sale-200609/

 

I was just about to post something similar. Now that is an engine transplant! Sod the 1.8T 20v VAG motor 

I've been looking at rx8's recently as a potential next vehicle if my mileage reduces. Apparently the biggest problem with the rotary is the seals start to give way due to being an awkward shape

As for oil consumption, if a rotary didn't burn oil, it's a reason to worry. If its not burning oil then there's no lubrication of the moving parts.

If you're gonna buy one though, ensure it doesn't have the "hot start" issue, keep oil topped up and never shy the engine off if it hasn't gotten up to temperature

my mate worked for Mazda said most of the starting issues are down to flooding, apparently you have to hold the revs for a bit to burn all the fuel and then switch off. What put me off was the bad fuel economy for the performance. Could be tempted to get one short term inn future though.