Need pros*cons of used mazda rx8

[doritos]

Hello, I am buying a used rx8 just as a secondary vehicle so I don't have to drive my Audi. Could you guys give me a list of pros * cons for the vehicle?

how is fuel mileage?
burning oil?
maintenance issues?


If anyone knows a decent used vehicle with leather preferably for under 6500$ and decent or good on gas would be appreciated.

[68style]

Sweet Jesus... if fuel mileage, using oil and maintenance are your 3 primary concerns for a vehicle, I don’t think you could possibly pick a worse one than the RX-8. End of story.

[Jmac]

I'll let the RX-8 owners comment on maintenance issues, but fuel economy is pretty awful according to EPA estimates.

10.7 l/100 km highway
14.7 l/100 km city
13.1 l/100 km combined

[supafamous]

LOL. Wrong car bro. There's so much material on owning RX-8s that you should just Google it. Best case is get a 2009+ model but it's still like dating a Kardashian sister.

For that kind of budget get yourself a NB Miata instead or stretch for an NC Miata.

[fliptuner]

It has a good chassis and LS swaps are cheap.

[JDMDreams]

^^ I tried to do the math before, unless you are a pro fabber you're at least looking at $10k plus the cost of the car........

[fliptuner]

Tongue in cheek. Although that would be the only reason I'd ever buy one.

I've seen multiple, clean rx8's, for under $1k, needing a rebuild. They have a pretty rigid chassis and modern/unique styling. Good candidate for budget builds

[UnknownJinX]

Well with $6500 you can only buy an S1. S2(2009~2011) are usually asking for 10k+, unless you happen to stumble across an autotragic one. I keep seeing this 2009 Sport(lowest trim) autotragic on CL and it's been on there for a year now, LOL.

If you want one, make sure you do a rotary-specifc compression test. It can only be done at a Mazda dealer, a rotary shop, or if someone on RS happens to own a compression tester.

As for oil burning, it's not nearly as bad as people make it. It uses electronically controlled injectors, so the oil injection rate is dependent on your drive style. I rev the balls off mine and usually need to add about 225 mL per 600 km. If you drive a lot of highway, the injection rate will be lower. Buy an 8th Gen Corolla and you will really understand what oil burning is.

Some people(like me) will also add premix oil to the gas every time you fill up the car. No concrete evidence it will help, but in theory it should assist with the lubrication. Your call.

Gas mileage-wise, if you drive mostly highway, expect 20 MPG for a healthy 8. City gas mileage will vary depending on your driving style. I floor it a lot and get about 13~15 MPG.

As for maintenance, it's no Honda Civic, but as long as you don't let anything important slip, it also won't likely leave you stranded. Coils are a common problem(earlier OEM ones are shit), change oil per 5000 km(you can stick with 5W-20 if you live in BC), and you can find more info at rx8help.com Some info is a little outdated, but the general idea should be right.

Originally Posted by Jmac

I'll let the RX-8 owners comment on maintenance issues, but fuel economy is pretty awful according to EPA estimates.

10.7 l/100 km highway
14.7 l/100 km city
13.1 l/100 km combined

It is, and that's the main drawback of the car.

Also, the way they rate MT vehicles is that they follow the shift point indicated in the Owner's Manual, except no one with a MT RX-8 follows it. You want to keep your RPM at 3k and above when cruising. The rotary is not afraid of high revs at all as it only has 3 major moving parts, but low revs will carbon choke it to death. That's part of the reason early AT RX-8s die very quickly - the auto trans tends to keep the revs too low.

Originally Posted by fliptuner

It has a good chassis and LS swaps are cheap.

V8s belong in American muscles. Buy that if that's your thing.

[Mr.Money]

did anyone tell you it takes 94 octane gas also.

wouldn't be my first choice for a sporty car.

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by Mr.Money

did anyone tell you it takes 94 octane gas also.

wouldn't be my first choice for a sporty car.

Where did you read that?

91 is what you use. I tried Chevron 94 for shits and giggles and there wasn't any real difference.

Here is a screenshot of the Owner's Manual.

There is also a difference between sporty and sports car. A sporty car include something like an Accord Coupe, Altima Coupe or a hot hatch.

[UnknownJinX]

All that said, I agree with the NB Miata suggestion. Perfect 2nd car with less headache, and I'd imagine practicality isn't a big concern if you have something else.

Personally I like the NA more, though. Pop-up headlights...

[Traum]

Originally Posted by UnknownJinX

All that said, I agree with the NB Miata suggestion. Perfect 2nd car with less headache, and I'd imagine practicality isn't a big concern if you have something else.

Personally I like the NA more, though. Pop-up headlights...

I keep trying to tell people about this -- from a pure bang for the buck's point of view, the NB is usually a pretty terrible proposition at this point in time. For maybe $1 - 2k more, you can easily find a 06 - 08 NC Miata. Yes, it is a touch heavier and bigger, and it doesn't run on 15" wheels & tires. But in almost every other aspect, it is way more car and far more modern than an NB can ever hope to be.

Fun fact: the NC Miata shares the same platform and certain components with the RX8. So maybe the OP can deceive himself that an NC Miata is really an open top RX8?

[fliptuner]

Originally Posted by UnknownJinX

V8s belong in American muscles. Buy that if that's your thing.

Oh no, you're one of those rotary purists, aren't you?

Just accept that LS's and JZ's make cheap, reliable power and don't require a rebuild every 100k or premix every tank. They might be overdone but there's a perfectly good reason for it.

Any motor belongs in any car the guy wants to put it in. If no one did drivetrain swaps, the car scene would be so boring.

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by Traum

I keep trying to tell people about this -- from a pure bang for the buck's point of view, the NB is usually a pretty terrible proposition at this point in time. For maybe $1 - 2k more, you can easily find a 06 - 08 NC Miata. Yes, it is a touch heavier and bigger, and it doesn't run on 15" wheels & tires. But in almost every other aspect, it is way more car and far more modern than an NB can ever hope to be.

Fun fact: the NC Miata shares the same platform and certain components with the RX8. So maybe the OP can deceive himself that an NC Miata is really an open top RX8?

I think NCs are not that cheap. They are at least as expensive as S2 RX-8s from what I have seen.

Originally Posted by fliptuner

Oh no, you're one of those rotary purists, aren't you?

Just accept that LS's and JZ's make cheap, reliable power and don't require a rebuild every 100k or premix every tank. They might be overdone but there's a perfectly good reason for it.

Any motor belongs in any car the guy wants to put it in. If no one did drivetrain swaps, the car scene would be so boring.

I mean, if you LS swap an S2k, I'd look at you funny, too.

I'd just buy a muscle car if I want cheap, reliable power. A fox body Mustang GT isn't that expensive.

IMO there is a dissonance when you LS swap an RX-8. Cars like Miata and RX-8 are supposed be about handling, not about going fast in a straight line. When you put a V8 in there, you break the weight balance and sacrifice the handling. Also, RX-8's design has a lot of rotary elements in it.

Plus, CAN$10k won't be enough. From what I have read, US$10k is the turn-key price for a basic setup without A/C, not to mention the long downtime before you get to drive it.

[hud 91gt]

Exactly why I’d want a LS RX7 over a Camaro. They are meant to handle, not go in a straight line

[doritos]

what is the proper way to purchase a vehicle privately with no tax? Never bought used car before. Do I have to bring the seller to insurance office?

[GabAlmighty]

Put $10 as the selling price of the vehicle.

No, he just needs to fill out and sign the title transfer form.

[SupraTTturbo2jz]

Originally Posted by GabAlmighty

Put $10 as the selling price of the vehicle.

No, he just needs to fill out and sign the title transfer form.

Are those forms at insurance office?

[GabAlmighty]

Ya, any car insurance place should have the forms there. Unless things have changed, all that needs to be done is have the seller fill out his section and sign it. You can fill it out yourself and then pin him down and force him to sign it if you like.

Common sense? haha. Cash is king. If you're nervous about fake money meet at the bank and deposit it with him/her there. If it's a new'ish car make sure the car is paid off.

[Fafine]

Originally Posted by doritos

what is the proper way to purchase a vehicle privately with no tax? Never bought used car before. Do I have to bring the seller to insurance office?

Used car? No tax? Lol unless the person is immediate family.

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by GabAlmighty

Put $10 as the selling price of the vehicle.

No, he just needs to fill out and sign the title transfer form.

Nobody is gonna believe they sold the car for $10. Even an RX-8 roller is worth $1000.

No way around this. You can put down a lower price than actual selling price, but don't be stupid about it.

[fliptuner]

Rollers are $500 all the time.

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by fliptuner

Rollers are $500 all the time.

I see wrecked for-parts cars that are asking for more than $1000.

[GabAlmighty]

"I payed him $10 for the car and then bought this broom off him for $10k"

But realistically, $500-1000 you can get away with everyday of the week.

[vitaminG]

Originally Posted by doritos

what is the proper way to purchase a vehicle privately with no tax?

Lol there's no "proper" way to defraud the government