Mazda RX8 (231)

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Mazda RX8 (231)

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Feb 17, 2010
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Hertfordshire
Just after some peoples thoughts/driving experience of a Mazda RX8 231

Cheap to insure for the power and a lot of goodies/gadgets to be had for not a lot of money.
Test drove one on Saturday and I loved it. Handling was amazing and it was such a comfortable place to be.
Revving it up to 9,000rpm was very different

Just after peoples thoughts on them.

I know they use a decent amount of oil which is acceptable given the high rev range. I know they cant be started driving for 2 minutes then stopped because you risk flooding the block and they NEED a good blast over 6000rpm every time driven to avoid any carbon build up.

Thanks
 
When they go wrong, they go seriously wrong! So make sure you get a good one with FSH, I wouldnt settle for any less especially on one of them
 
a lot have cold or hot starting problems apparently.

i know some one selling a 192 for £1800

2004 Plate.
6 months tax and 12 months mot.
Low miles 52k backed up by full mazda service history.

Top spec car, full heated leather, 18 inch alloy wheels, full electrics, climate control/aircon, 6 disc bose audio, etc etc.
 
a lot have cold or hot starting problems apparently.

i know some one selling a 192 for £1800

2004 Plate.
6 months tax and 12 months mot.
Low miles 52k backed up by full mazda service history.

Top spec car, full heated leather, 18 inch alloy wheels, full electrics, climate control/aircon, 6 disc bose audio, etc etc.

Shame it's not the 232 otherwise I would have been interested. Looking at same spec 231s loads of there, just finding the right one.
 
I've come across four people who have owned one of these & all have had problems. The builders young mate that did our extension two years ago had one & he said he had major problems right from the start. Seemingly it's just a matter of time that they need attention & expensive to fix. Apart from the notorious starting problems,they have rust issues. The rotas can go as well, not good at all. Just to throw in for good measure the alloys corrode like hell.
 
:yeahthat: and that's oil consumption, not fuel! :p

Haha! A lot of people say that, I used to aswell when one of my mates was looking at buying one,but after speaking to drivers it's not as bad as a litre per 1000 miles.
No worse off than an s2000? With an engine that's designed to use oil in such a way and revs to 9000rpm its really not THAT bad.

I can't help but think with these rotary engines a lot of the horror stories have come from impropper use and maintenance. Things like the engine has to heat up before you can turn it off I.e cant just move it from driveway to road and turn it off, because you risk flooding the block. They say above 6000rpm a day keeps the carbon away. (I'm typing on phone so doing simple person terms) when at 9000rpm the engine is only actually doing 3000rpm because of the way rotary engine works (correct me if I'm wrong on terms/parts ) hence it needs a good boot everytime it's driven.
It runs very rich on start up to warm the cat quickly to meet emmision standards which leads to early cat death. A 250 replacement for a high flow cat solves this problem.
Coil pack replacements because these engines need a good spark (like most really)

A lot of people have suggested a hot compression test before buying aswell. A well maintained engine should come back fine providing correct oil top ups and engine usage.

Just conveying what I have found out so far (sorry for the rabble) it seems to me that if Jo bloggs gets an rx8 and treats it like an internal combustion engine its going to end early but well informed owners have clocked up the miles with minimal issues.

Must admit a year or two ago I was dead against them because of the horror stories I had heard but after a bit of reading...I'm swaying
 
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Just been to auctions - Just seen one of these cars in this spec go through for an absolute steal

Absolute mint condition, not a mark on it in a stunning metallic blue colour

04/54 plate 89K MOT May 2013 4 previous owners FSH last serviced at 77k

£1200!!
 
Personally life's too short for procrastination when any car that takes your fancy comes up. Just bear in mind that these cars are high maintenance & need keeping on top of things. If you're prepared to this, well......:chin:
 
Personally life's too short for procrastination when any car that takes your fancy comes up. Just bear in mind that these cars are high maintenance & need keeping on top of things. If you're prepared to this, well......:chin:

Amen brother!
Currently negotiating with a mate for his 05 plate RX8, full service, recently changed coil packs, leads and sparks.
Hes agreed to take it for a compression test before we make a deal. So fingers crossed!!
 
The oil isn't as bad as everyone says. I looked into getting one, and it was around 1 litre per 1,000 miles or something.

Some don't even have it as bad as that, I think mazda quote 0.25 litre per 1000 miles.

Well, awaiting compression test result and if come back good then handing over the cash for a red mazda rx8 231 :D
 
I had one of these about 5 yrs ago ... Couldn't wait to drive it then I did in the wet the back end met the front end spun out more than once , worse than an old Capri on ice, mpg forget it more like feet per gallon, then there was the engine flooding which kicked in every time you started the car and switched it off before driving off, only fix was upgraded ht leads and coil but twice towed back to main dealer to de-flood the car .. Tyres had to be Ponzas, expensive and didn't last long and the red and black interior looked like a scene from a quinten tarrenteno movie.... All that aside it went well and looked good ... but looks aren't everything... Personally I wouldn't have another one gifted to me but if your wanting one get one and Enjoy.. :):)
 
have you bought one yet?

its on 41k, fsh, 4months tax, 6 months mot £4200
http://s1138.beta.photobucket.com/user/Gary_Rae/library/RX8

not advertised any where else yet

Got one.

Shade over £2300 from a mate, 2 previous owners all from rx8 owners club - FSH, coils changed every 25,000 miles. All MOTs etc
65,000 miles
Compression test came back "one of the best i've seen" at a local rotary specialist (Cant remember the figures, will update when im back down south)

Full spec, heated leather seats, sat nav, bose sound system, AC/climate control. Great fun to drive.
 

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