Rx8

Author
Discussion

chasdad

Original Poster:

276 posts

150 months

Saturday 11th January 2014
quotequote all
Went to a Mazda dealership today to have a look to see what an rx8 is like. They didn't even have one .
The salesman told me there's not really any market for them so they tend not to bother.
Are they really that bad

wolves_wanderer

12,575 posts

243 months

Sunday 12th January 2014
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I'm surprised the salesman didn't know that Mazda stopped making them in 2011 to be honest.

chasdad

Original Poster:

276 posts

150 months

Sunday 12th January 2014
quotequote all
He prob did, but they also have late used stuff,

lexusboy

1,099 posts

149 months

Monday 13th January 2014
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The good ones are good and the bad ones are bad.

If you want one, research and the RX8 Owners Club is your friend.

A lot of car for the money as the market for them is slowly dying due to running costs and poorly maintained ones breaking earlier than they should

otolith

58,566 posts

210 months

Monday 13th January 2014
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They stopped making them, but volumes were already low. There just aren't many around new enough for main dealers.

TREMAiNE

3,992 posts

155 months

Monday 13th January 2014
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OP, can't really help you in test driving ones but if you're interested in buying an RX-8 check out my readers car post that I always direct people to! http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


otolith said:
They stopped making them, but volumes were already low.
They made too many of the things. That was part of the problem.

-Loads made, sold cheap.
-'Regular' people bought them who had no intention of properly maintaining the unique engine.
-As a result, there were many, many faults and engine failures.
-They depreciated ridiculously fast due to questionable reliability.


They should have sold it in smaller quantities and aimed it at car enthusiasts rather than as a budget sports car to everybody on the planet. It essentially ruined the cars imagine - in truth this car was the GT86 10 years early.


otolith

58,566 posts

210 months

Monday 13th January 2014
quotequote all
Yes, I absolutely agree, but look at the volumes for the last couple of years of production.

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/combined/RX-8#!newreg


That's why the main dealers don't have them, there aren't enough late model cars on the market.

stuno1

1,351 posts

201 months

Monday 13th January 2014
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Had one knowing of the potential issues and running cost. Loved the interior and suicide doors.

Gearbox in mine went and needed replacing.

Overall i dont think the running costs justify the power.

My ISF returns better MPG and has 200 (ish) more BHP! I know its a different type of engine etc, but not enough performance for running cost for me.

Stu

PassMark

14 posts

189 months

Monday 13th January 2014
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Well,some worthwile responses already. But to add my thoughts here goes.
Son ran one for a year 12 months ago and loved it like crazy. Misses selling it and has just sold a bmw to buy another one!
Looked after it, changed the oil, checked the oil every 500 miles-(If you are not sure why read all about it on the RX8 owners club forum) and had no problems.
Now his experiences helped me to decide what stop gap car to buy 6 months ago when I made the decision to sell my Lotus Esprit V8 after 6 years ownership. I now own a 2008 RX8. Love it to bits.
Not the fastest car I have owned-obviously-nor the most economical!!
But what a fabulous place to be.Lovely build quality too.
Lovely balance and handling and brakes.
Expensive to tax for sure.
But what value to buy!!
Now the other thing is if they go wrong-I think good preventative maintanence should help a lot- but in context,a friend told me the rebuild of his A series Mini was going to knock almost £3000. A rebuild of a rotary from a specialist will give me change from £2000!! Not cheap but worth the risk in the future.
Might end up keeping this stop gap!!
Try one - take it to 9500rpm -and decide!

RobM77

35,349 posts

240 months

Friday 17th January 2014
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I wouldn't say they're 'bad', but I would agree with precisely what the dealer said - most people are put off by the lack of mpg and they're not attracted by the handling and low CofG - most people these days just want a cheap to run SUV. A friend of mine has one and loves it - I guess you may just have to buy privately, go to an independent dealer or find a Mazda dealer that does deal with them.

robsa

2,322 posts

190 months

Friday 17th January 2014
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Tremaine hit the nail on the tbh. The late R3 is the one to go for if you can live with the fuel and tax situation. Superb cars, best handling car I have ever driven in my 25 years of driving. Miss mine like crazy.