I'm contemplating a Mazda RX8 to replace my Datsun EnTrail company car (which is up for renewal) as my choices of affordable company car
replacements is abysmal! (Vauxhall Insignia anyone? No? Thought not..... 
)
Anyhoo, has anyone owned an RX8 and what are they like to live with? I've read several forums and have found out what to look for and am aware of
the possible thirst for oil and definitely for petrol, and the fact that you MUST use the correct oil but has anyone got any constructive comments?
Cheers,
Coose
The wheels off an RX8 will fit your Bongo......
hello
I had one of the first ones, yes it drinks oil like a good un.
loved the car to drive and handling, but to me the let down was the interior build quality which to me was just appalling, and the main reason i got
shot of mine, maybe should have just scrapped it and used it a donor 
i quite like the insignia actually... ok, so bits of it are a bit funny looking, but overall i like it
quote:
Originally posted by Hector.Brocklebank
hello
I had one of the first ones, yes it drinks oil like a good un.
loved the car to drive and handling, but to me the let down was the interior build quality which to me was just appalling, and the main reason i got shot of mine, maybe should have just scrapped it and used it a donor
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
i quite like the insignia actually... ok, so bits of it are a bit funny looking, but overall i like it
Ditto on the Insignia (although it has some poor lines around the boot on the hatch which are best hid with black paint) and the new Avensis too for
that matter. I bet Ford are non too happy with the conservative styling of their new Mundano now!
Back to the RX8 and two of my friends have had them, one had a new engine at 45k and the other at 60k - both were sold on and sadly missed as soon as
they were fixed.
quote:
Originally posted by John.Taylor
Back to the RX8 and two of my friends have had them, one had a new engine at 45k and the other at 60k - both were sold on and sadly missed as soon as they were fixed.
If you find one with a 5 speed manual knob can you knick it for me?
cash waiting
I very nearly bought one, still partly wish I did. I went with a BMW 320d instead - bit of an opposite! I loved the way it drove, felt really
balanced and well sorted. Loved the sound of the engine, the almost turbine-like whir to it too, though I know a lot of folk hate that.
Top tip - if buying new, get the leather done by a third party. Mazda in Cardiff had a couple that they'd bought with cloth seat and used an
auto-leather guy in Swansea to leather clad them. It was cheaper than the factory stuff and way, way better quality leather and stitching - plus the
tunnel and seat backs were leather too whch they're not in the factory option. The other plus with going third party is it does away with the
electric seat option that comes with the factory leather - for some amazingly dull reason the electric seats don't have a release catch to allow
someone to get into the back. You have to move the seat with the electric switches and then move it back and try to find your driving position again.
Mad!!
i bought a brand new 04 in red. loved the car.i owned mine my self so the running cost killed me.if your company are paying the fuel and oil BILLS THEN TAKE A TAKE A TEST DRIVE.i sold mine bought the wife a pug 107 and me an mnr vortx r1 ,,,money well spent.....
early ones used more oil than the newer ones, the latest interior should be a bit better now also.
They have very little torque so be prepared to use all 6 gears and rev it . Also, dont get the lower power one.
Just dont use fully synthetic oil.
I'll get an allowance which should be more than enough to pay for a nice, low mileage '04 or '05. Plus I will get mileage, but not
enough to cover the fuel which is why I'd be looking at a much-cheaper older car.
If it does turn out to be too costly to run I could always sell it and by a horrible diesel slug...... 
quote:
Originally posted by Antnicuk
They have very little torque so be prepared to use all 6 gears and rev it .
quote:
Also, dont get the lower power one.
i was also thinking of an rx8 engine in my mnr but i am told there would be an ecu problem..
I had to sell mine due to me changing jobs and having to do a 90 mile min round trip each day - however i loved that car and it got everybody going in the strata blue! Didnt use much oil really however average 19 miles to the gallon which was a pain! you can get em cheap at the mo - i found out the hard way as lost £5700 in depreciation over one year when the credit crunch kicked in!!!
Just be weary about rotor tips. I know they have overcome this since the RX-7, however its something to bear in mind. Also looking at 19MPG, you can get Monaro's under 10k which do the same if not more MPG. Solid Chevy engine aswell, but im biast by displacement LOL....
i love rotaries but if i had to choose between a monaro and an rx8 as a daily i would have the Monaro! LPG it if need be.
The rx8 engine will go into any car but you have to throw away mazda's ecu as its too difficult to get the stock ecu to work out of the car with
all the other sensors it uses. You can get a programmable ecu which will run it, get you better fuel economy, a little more power and can be tuned
when you stick a turbo on it!
The main difference between a £10k Monaro and a £6k RX8 is £4k, which would pay towards an awful lot of juice! As I said, I do get a mileage
allowance, though at 20mpg I would be paying 6p/mile towards it, but that's my reasoning for looking at a £6k car to start with that has
character and not a £15k diesel family boring saloon! 
Any more comments keep 'em coming!
Hi, i had a 04reg 230bhp model a few years back.
it was a good car, yes it was quite thursty but as long as you prepare yourself for that then it shouldnt be a problem. The oil useage never really
bothered me; you get a little pouch to keep the oil in the boot & i used to check mine every other fill up.
At the time, i paid 18500 for mine, i wouldnt have said it was worth that really but for the money you can get them for now they are fantastic value
for money.
Quick, stylish and "funky" but also practical; you can get 4 adults in without much complaints!
regards
Mark
[Edited on 26/3/09 by Meeerrrk]
quote:
Originally posted by Meeerrrk
Hi, i had a 04reg 230bhp model a few years back.
it was a good car, yes it was quite thursty but as long as you prepare yourself for that then it shouldnt be a problem. The oil useage never really bothered me; you get a little pouch to keep the oil in the boot & i used to check mine every other fill up.
At the time, i paid 18500 for mine, i wouldnt have said it was worth that really but for the money you can get them for now they are fantastic value for money.
Quick, stylish and "funky" but also practical; you can get 4 adults in without much complaints!
regards
Mark
[Edited on 26/3/09 by Meeerrrk]
your right. if i hadnt have already owned one then i would probably get one once i sell my locost.
Go for it im sure you wont regret it
I might when I'm spending a squillion quid a week on juice (25-30000 miles per year), but I can always sell it if it gets too bad!
Evenin' Mr Coose!
I have a mate with an RX8 - I'm sure he'd take you out for a blast if you want. He's done a fair bit of mileage in it (including a
trip round the nurburgring too) and loves it (though it might be due for replacement quite soon). Bit thirsty though!
A bit of an interesting update on this ord thread - I went to look at an RX8 (231bhp) at lunchtime. It had done 39k and was at a dealers not far from
StevieB. I saw it in their workshop the other week and it was up on the lift with the gearbox, prop-shaft, all four wheels and the exhaust back box
off. *Apparently*, it was getting a new set of tyres (which it has) and they were changing a crank seal. Today I was told that it has had a new
clutch, which I suppose could be because of the crank seal (though I would've checked the engine number against that on the logbook to see if it
had been changed recently).
Anyway, it had the usual rust blisters on the sills where the two doors meet, though I think that Mazda were sorting this on a recall, respraying the
area and covering with a clear film not dissimilar to that found on the front of the rear wheelarches to stop stone chips. Also, there was a fair bit
of mayo on the dipstick, but they're prone to this if not given a good regular thrashing!
Anyway, I blagged a test drive and I must say that I was sadly disappointed. I know that they're not meant to be particularly torquey, but it
felt decidedly flat! I at least expected an explosive top-end (not literally!), but it just revved and went faster - it wasn't slow as such, just
uninspiring! I could understand if it was really heavy, but it isn't particularly (1380kg) - even my R1 Striker felt significantly more torquey
than this!
The handling felt quite remote, which also surprised me. There appeared to be very little feedback and it felt like it had too much castor as it
didn't turn-in as well as I expected, and when driving slowly it felt like the front of the car would rise and dip excessively as you turned the
wheel.
About 30 minutes into my drive I managed to stall it at a junction. I'm not really a numpty - I think that the clutch needed bleeding.... 
Now, I'm aware that they're not unheard of for flooding when cold, but (and you just knew there was going to be a "but" ) guess
what - it wouldn't start! It would turn over on the starter but would it 'eckers like fire! After sitting for about 20 minutes I did manage
to get it going again, to be greeted on my return by a rather-embarrassed salesman. He did make a good point that there was a known issue with the
starter motor turning too slowly which can then cause it to flood, where an upgraded one can resolve this and that they would fit one before it is
sold. But, needless to say it has put me off a bit and I can't see me buying one!