Maxda Rx-8 opinions please
Discussion
The last results I got in the search for rx-8 on here, related to topics from a long time ago.
I am considering an Rx-8 in the next couple of months (possibly for the new reg change after chrimbo), but I have to be honest and say that I am only nervous about one thing - the apparent fuel consumption.
Can anyone (owners) tell me if its as bad as they say?
How is the car after a few years of running?
Is it expensive to run (servicing, oil, tyres)?
Does anyone know what/if a replacement or facelift is due? I would hate to buy a car that was out of date 4 months after I bought it.
Cheers in advance.
P~
I am considering an Rx-8 in the next couple of months (possibly for the new reg change after chrimbo), but I have to be honest and say that I am only nervous about one thing - the apparent fuel consumption.
Can anyone (owners) tell me if its as bad as they say?
How is the car after a few years of running?
Is it expensive to run (servicing, oil, tyres)?
Does anyone know what/if a replacement or facelift is due? I would hate to buy a car that was out of date 4 months after I bought it.
Cheers in advance.
P~
I am seeing quotes of fuel consumption of 19mpg. I know I like to put my foot down as much as the next guy, but a lot of my miles are a commute along a stretch of 60mph A road. My opportunities to open it up will be reserved for overtaking and the occasional joyride.
Brief story goes like this - was considering a TVR for the LONGEST time, but I know that I could not afford the general running of the thing. I have also been convinced (read nagged to DEATH) by the missus, that I need to have the ability to fit the kids in the back should it be needed.
I have narrowed my choices to a 231 RX-8, or a 2004 BMW 325Ci M Sport Coupe (needs a longer name
).
I have never owned a 'sports' car, so I am leaning towards the mazda, as it ticks all the boxes.
I just really want to have my eyes wide open going into this, as the last thing I want is to suddenly find out that servicing is expensive and often or such like.
P~
Brief story goes like this - was considering a TVR for the LONGEST time, but I know that I could not afford the general running of the thing. I have also been convinced (read nagged to DEATH) by the missus, that I need to have the ability to fit the kids in the back should it be needed.
I have narrowed my choices to a 231 RX-8, or a 2004 BMW 325Ci M Sport Coupe (needs a longer name
). I have never owned a 'sports' car, so I am leaning towards the mazda, as it ticks all the boxes.
I just really want to have my eyes wide open going into this, as the last thing I want is to suddenly find out that servicing is expensive and often or such like.
P~
I test drove one and was generally impressed. Love the look and interior design, although a bit too flash for my tastes.
Great handling, only consider the hi-power version, but you do need to give it plenty of welly to really get the performance.
It all seemed very well screwed together and the rear doors really are clever - I can't hink it will be long before other manufacturers try this.
Great handling, only consider the hi-power version, but you do need to give it plenty of welly to really get the performance.
It all seemed very well screwed together and the rear doors really are clever - I can't hink it will be long before other manufacturers try this.
Cheers LA/Alex.
LA - you said that mpg does drop when idling in traffic - that implies it uses more fuel rolling along - is that because it requires a few more than 'usual' revs to get the thing moving?
I understand the oil use is a symptom of the way the rotary engine works - it 'sprays' oil onto the cog-things (technical or what) and that action in itself uses more. I may be VERY wrong with this, but thats what I have been told.
Its not the oil (or the fact that the dipstick and filler is apparently rather awkward), its realy just the unknown factors - fuel, servicing, possible facelift/replacement.
Is the Bimmer a really dull and middle-aged choice??
P~
LA - you said that mpg does drop when idling in traffic - that implies it uses more fuel rolling along - is that because it requires a few more than 'usual' revs to get the thing moving?
I understand the oil use is a symptom of the way the rotary engine works - it 'sprays' oil onto the cog-things (technical or what) and that action in itself uses more. I may be VERY wrong with this, but thats what I have been told.
Its not the oil (or the fact that the dipstick and filler is apparently rather awkward), its realy just the unknown factors - fuel, servicing, possible facelift/replacement.
Is the Bimmer a really dull and middle-aged choice??
P~
Phantomph said:
Is the Bimmer a really dull and middle-aged choice??
P~
Yes. But it's also got a reputation for a reason - they ARE very good cars. But not great VFM, which the RX8 is. Facelift unlikely for at least two years, beyond that...dunno, but shouldn't worry you. Reliability...it's a Mazda, it'll be good.
19mpg does seem to be the expected - and i suppose that has to be the only down side.
TONNES of equipment with the only 'option' being added is leather.
Reading the What Car owner's reviews at the minute and i can only hope that its that age old thing where the only people who 'shout' are those with a problem, as they are not the most positive about the fuel consumption and after-sales of Mazda.
All opinions still welcome - although I suspect this thread will be long gone from the front page by tomorrow morning!
P~
TONNES of equipment with the only 'option' being added is leather.
Reading the What Car owner's reviews at the minute and i can only hope that its that age old thing where the only people who 'shout' are those with a problem, as they are not the most positive about the fuel consumption and after-sales of Mazda.
All opinions still welcome - although I suspect this thread will be long gone from the front page by tomorrow morning!
P~
If only I could borrow one for a week and see how I like it 
LA, thanks for the post - makes for interesting reading.
I think what needs to be done is to test drive a 325Ci, then take a long tetst in the RX-8. You never know - I migh not like it!
I would not mind testing a few other cars, but nothing I can think of really ticks the boxes for the low 20k's.
P~
LA, thanks for the post - makes for interesting reading.
I think what needs to be done is to test drive a 325Ci, then take a long tetst in the RX-8. You never know - I migh not like it!
I would not mind testing a few other cars, but nothing I can think of really ticks the boxes for the low 20k's.
P~
Ha ha. Can't have everything I suppose! After a years ownership I still love my RX-8, always puts a smile on my face driving down the country lanes.
As for fuel consumption I’m usually getting around 18-19mpg, but most of my driving is in town or blasting along those country lanes; however in the summer we drove to Portugal and found that on a long run on the motorway we were getting 24-25mpg and we were making quite rapid progress.
You are quite right about the oil consumption being a ‘feature’ of the engine – don’t forget there are no pistons going up and down splashing into a sump full of oil so the cylinder (if you can call it that) has to be lubricated somehow. But it’s not too bad, 5 litres over 10,000 miles is no hardship. If you join the RX-8 owners club you can buy the oil at a discount. Checking the oil can be a pain on a dim forecourt though, the dipstick is hidden right at the back of the engine.
The need for four seats pushed me in the direction of the RX-8 and I’ve no regrets. Did you know that you get a day out with Prodrive if you buy one?, not a reason to buy a car I know, but it was great fun and really showed the cars capabilities, so much so that I’ve paid to do it all again.
Annual service costs are quite good, year 1 around £100, year 2 around £150.
>> Edited by wanstead on Thursday 13th October 08:48
As for fuel consumption I’m usually getting around 18-19mpg, but most of my driving is in town or blasting along those country lanes; however in the summer we drove to Portugal and found that on a long run on the motorway we were getting 24-25mpg and we were making quite rapid progress.
You are quite right about the oil consumption being a ‘feature’ of the engine – don’t forget there are no pistons going up and down splashing into a sump full of oil so the cylinder (if you can call it that) has to be lubricated somehow. But it’s not too bad, 5 litres over 10,000 miles is no hardship. If you join the RX-8 owners club you can buy the oil at a discount. Checking the oil can be a pain on a dim forecourt though, the dipstick is hidden right at the back of the engine.
The need for four seats pushed me in the direction of the RX-8 and I’ve no regrets. Did you know that you get a day out with Prodrive if you buy one?, not a reason to buy a car I know, but it was great fun and really showed the cars capabilities, so much so that I’ve paid to do it all again.
Annual service costs are quite good, year 1 around £100, year 2 around £150.
>> Edited by wanstead on Thursday 13th October 08:48
I've driven a low-power on the road and a track-prepped hi-hpower round rockingham (ex-formula woman car).
My own fun car is an RX-7 so I can't help comparing the two and I was really pleasantly suprised. The 8 is suprisingly fast (considering it's >100bhp less than my 7) but it doesn't feel fast - the power delivery is incredibly smooth and it revs nicely, with power, to the limit.
Handling was pretty good to, much easier to steer on the throttle than the 7 (such is turbo power I guess) and the switch from understeer to oversteer is really nice and manageable.
Found the clutch onthe road car a bit vague in comparison to the 7 but not so bad that I couldn't live with it. Serious lack of low-down torque meant higher revs to pull off than I was used to as well.
Not driven on the roads long enough to comment on fuel consumption and as for oil usage - the ECU manages the amount of oil injected into the rotor (it's used to lubricate the apec, corneer and side seals and tips) and adds more when the engine is under greater loads (i.e. the heavier your right foot is!!!)
If I didn't have the 7 I'd sersioulsy consider an 8 over the BMW which, as others have stated, is relatively expensive and a bit dull (looks).
Iain
My own fun car is an RX-7 so I can't help comparing the two and I was really pleasantly suprised. The 8 is suprisingly fast (considering it's >100bhp less than my 7) but it doesn't feel fast - the power delivery is incredibly smooth and it revs nicely, with power, to the limit.
Handling was pretty good to, much easier to steer on the throttle than the 7 (such is turbo power I guess) and the switch from understeer to oversteer is really nice and manageable.
Found the clutch onthe road car a bit vague in comparison to the 7 but not so bad that I couldn't live with it. Serious lack of low-down torque meant higher revs to pull off than I was used to as well.
Not driven on the roads long enough to comment on fuel consumption and as for oil usage - the ECU manages the amount of oil injected into the rotor (it's used to lubricate the apec, corneer and side seals and tips) and adds more when the engine is under greater loads (i.e. the heavier your right foot is!!!)
If I didn't have the 7 I'd sersioulsy consider an 8 over the BMW which, as others have stated, is relatively expensive and a bit dull (looks).
Iain
Hi I owned a lovely black RX8 231bhp for just over a year I slod it for a BMW 330 as I was doing more motorway miles as soon as I sold it I missed it! It was a lovely drive, and appart from making sure the oil is toped up it did not cost me a penny. Ok the fuel consumption is not good but its not dire either if I drove sensibly I could get 270 miles to a full tank. When I didnt it was about 220 roughly about 18mpg. However I had the optional sports exhust fitted and a remap done and it was a beauty. So many people used to stop and ask me about it. I loved it and would have one again (if i was not doing to 20k miles a year!). def consider it email me any other question you may have I was also a founder member of the owners club. 
Thanks guys - great to hear from a few owners!
5 litres in 10000 miles in oil, sounds fair enough...but forgive my ignorance - is it special/expensive oil?
Otherwise, its just really deciding if I can justify the petrol costs. The oil/accessibility of the filler/dipstick is not an issue (I can live with that!).
Thanks again - all owner's experiences welcome.
anyone in this forum heard of any impending changes to the car?
P~
5 litres in 10000 miles in oil, sounds fair enough...but forgive my ignorance - is it special/expensive oil?
Otherwise, its just really deciding if I can justify the petrol costs. The oil/accessibility of the filler/dipstick is not an issue (I can live with that!).
Thanks again - all owner's experiences welcome.
anyone in this forum heard of any impending changes to the car?
P~
PhantomPH said:
5 litres in 10000 miles in oil, sounds fair enough...but forgive my ignorance - is it special/expensive oil?
anyone in this forum heard of any impending changes to the car?
P~
The oil to use is 5w-30 Semi-synthetic. I payed about £65 for 12x1 litre pack.
Ive not heard of any changes to the model yet. There have been a couple of colour spec changes, but thats about all. Im sure it will be a while before there is a facelift, but there maybe additions to the range. Auto is available in Japan, that could become an option here and what about a turbo version. Both just guesses, but you never know.
£65 for 12 litres is not bad for oil - £27 for oil every 10,000 miles hardly seems worth mentioning! I wonder why people comment so often about it. Perhaps they are the people who used to run Mondeos where the only time oil was mentioned was as part of an annual service invoice. :shrug:
I have been doing more research and I understand that the MPG improves slilghtly once a few thousand miles are on the clock. How does that happen?!??
P~
I have been doing more research and I understand that the MPG improves slilghtly once a few thousand miles are on the clock. How does that happen?!??
P~
Phantomph said:
£65 for 12 litres is not bad for oil - £27 for oil every 10,000 miles hardly seems worth mentioning! I wonder why people comment so often about it. Perhaps they are the people who used to run Mondeos where the only time oil was mentioned was as part of an annual service invoice. :shrug:P~
Mazda recommend that you check the oil every 2 tanks full of petrol, some have interpreted this as needing to top up very two tanks full. Others think there should be no need to open the bonnet between services on a modern car. If that’s how they feel, then its best that they buy another car.
Phantomph said:
I have been doing more research and I understand that the MPG improves slilghtly once a few thousand miles are on the clock. How does that happen?!??
P~
There have been a couple of ECU updates since the car was launched, this improved the MPG and the ECU ‘learns’ your driving style, so maybe fuel consumption improves as it settles into your kind of driving.
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