Why do I see so many Mazda RX8s?

[CoolHands]

I would never buy one considering their propensity to distruct, burn oil etc

Yet I see loads on a daily basis on my commute to be honest. So, a) how come they're still going and not knackered and b) how come they sold so many in the first place? It must have been quite a high number for them still to exist in the daily number that I see?

Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 16th June 19:45

[kambites]

I think the main reason is that the problems are blown out of all proportions. I know a few owners and their cars have all been absolutely fine, which is certainly more than I can say for most German cars.

[scrubchub]

Maybe because most of the internet scare mongering is massively exaggerated? Like all the nonsense you hear about Alfa's, normally from people talking from 2nd, 3rd or 4th hand experience.

Get on the RX8 forum and most of the owners on there (the ones who know how to look after the car, to be fair) have only good things to say.

[Happy82]

kambites said:

I think the main reason is that the problems are blown out of all proportions. I know a few owners and their cars have all been absolutely fine, which is certainly more than I can say for most German cars.

Bob the pub mechanic has a lot to answer for

[supersingle]

'Cos they're dead good.

[Rickyy]

They do seem to be the car for my requirements. RWD, fast, four seats and not too lardy. The whole engine thing scares me though. What is the going rate to have the engine refurbished in these?

[Si_steve]

I've always quite liked them, There are a good few for sale with 'engine problems' probably not been looked after ect. I did see one for well below £1k a while back with a totally dead engine and fancied buying and dropping in a Saab engine I have kicking about.

[mike9009]

I always remember that when they were new, they seemed very good value for money. So I would imagine they sold in quite high numbers to begin with....

Mike

[carreauchompeur]

Rickyy said:

They do seem to be the car for my requirements. RWD, fast, four seats and not too lardy. The whole engine thing scares me though. What is the going rate to have the engine refurbished in these?

I think you're looking about 3k for a proper, decently warrantied job from a specialist.

Personally, I'd love another one. The handling was so beautifully composed.

[sherman]

From a quick look round the internet. There were between 20,000-25,000 sold in the UK.

[Rickyy]

carreauchompeur said:

Rickyy said:

They do seem to be the car for my requirements. RWD, fast, four seats and not too lardy. The whole engine thing scares me though. What is the going rate to have the engine refurbished in these?

I think you're looking about 3k for a proper, decently warrantied job from a specialist.

Personally, I'd love another one. The handling was so beautifully composed.

Not too bad, there are plenty around with low mileage for £2.5k. So in reality if the worse were to happen they are still pretty good value for money.

Did you have any issues with yours? Is it the poorly maintained ones that die or is it a case of not if, but when it will die?

[kambites]

Rickyy said:

Did you have any issues with yours? Is it the poorly maintained ones that die or is it a case of not if, but when it will die?

I don't think many of them "die" at all unless you run them with no oil.

[98elise]

scrubchub said:

Maybe because most of the internet scare mongering is massively exaggerated? Like all the nonsense you hear about Alfa's, normally from people talking from 2nd, 3rd or 4th hand experience.

Get on the RX8 forum and most of the owners on there (the ones who know how to look after the car, to be fair) have only good things to say.

Of the 4 people I know of who have run modern Alfa's only one of them didn't have bills in the thousands. 2 of those people owned the same car (ie one sold to the other) and it had nearly 10k worth of bills in 3 years. the first owner didn't even use his that much, and only then it was for long journeys. He worked out it would have been cheaper to hire a TVR for every journey.

There are normally facts behind issues as well. As another example people will tell you that its a myth that K series engines eat head gaskets, yet the only car I've ever owned that had a failed head gasket had a K Series.

[Blakewater]

Some to die. http://www.metrosalvage.co.uk/cars-for-breaking/42...

I think, as with any car, it's largely down to how much care is taken of them though. Any car is going to let you down if you treat it harshly and don't maintain it and whatever kind of car you suggest buying there will always be a guy in the pub who sucks air in through his teeth and says he would never touch one of those.

[carreauchompeur]

Rickyy said:

Not too bad, there are plenty around with low mileage for £2.5k. So in reality if the worse were to happen they are still pretty good value for money.

Did you have any issues with yours? Is it the poorly maintained ones that die or is it a case of not if, but when it will die?

Mine was alright, although the hot starting issue was starting to creep in. Owned it for about 4months in 2011. It did have 104k on the clock though.

For £1900 from auction with FSH, 54 plate with absolutely every option, it was a good value steer!

[Meoricin]

98elise said:

Of the 4 people I know of who have run modern Alfa's only one of them didn't have bills in the thousands. 2 of those people owned the same car (ie one sold to the other) and it had nearly 10k worth of bills in 3 years. the first owner didn't even use his that much, and only then it was for long journeys. He worked out it would have been cheaper to hire a TVR for every journey.

There are normally facts behind issues as well. As another example people will tell you that its a myth that K series engines eat head gaskets, yet the only car I've ever owned that had a failed head gasket had a K Series.

Well, that settles it! A sample size of three on Alfas, and one on the K series - they must be falling apart all the time.

[gaz1234]

up north?
they are cheap and look nice.

[kambites]

98elise said:

There are normally facts behind issues as well. As another example people will tell you that its a myth that K series engines eat head gaskets, yet the only car I've ever owned that had a failed head gasket had a K Series.

Does anyone tell you that they don't eat head gaskets? Or do people just say that it doesn't actually matter because it costs peanuts to fix and the weakness can be hugely reduced in the process?

[scrubchub]

98elise said:

Of the 4 people I know of who have run modern Alfa's only one of them didn't have bills in the thousands. 2 of those people owned the same car (ie one sold to the other) and it had nearly 10k worth of bills in 3 years. the first owner didn't even use his that much, and only then it was for long journeys. He worked out it would have been cheaper to hire a TVR for every journey.

There are normally facts behind issues as well. As another example people will tell you that its a myth that K series engines eat head gaskets, yet the only car I've ever owned that had a failed head gasket had a K Series.

Ok, so that's three bad alfa's and one good one. Well, I had one and it was a great car. A neighour also had one from new for 7-8 years with no problems. So that's a draw then I guess. I was also active in the local owners club and no one there had any problems that were out of the ordinary. Small ,personal samples like this aren't really representative and perhaps therefore not very relevant.

To be honest, seems to me like the OP answered his own question by asking "If they are so bad then why do I see so many of them on the road that haven't died?" Maybe because they aren't actually as bad as some people may make out.

EDIT: Though I will add that when I was looking for one (didn't end up getting one, had a rush of blood and brought a CL500 instead. Very sensible), I joined the owners club forum. When posting up a couple of links to potential buys then other owners did mention certain examples were high mileage, when at about 70-80k on the clock. Ask a similair question on a 350z forum, for example, and those mileages would be referred to as "nicely worn in", or "better than new". So maybe there is something to it after all.

Edited by scrubchub on Sunday 16th June 23:00

[RedGen]

I would suggest that the kind of person who joins up to a car club is probably more likely to look after it properly. And yes, OP, you see so many (especially if you're around Surrey!) because they tick a lot of practicality boxes while being fun on backroads.

Keeping on top of oil, premix, letting it warm up etc is little different to making sure the cambelt is changed on time etc. A well maintained car is a well maintained car. Unless you're unlucky, in which case you're unlucky or you cash in your warranty!

Edited by RedGen on Thursday 20th June 14:44