Mazda RX8 - Waddaya say??

[abhi101_2000]

Hi. I live in India and recently set my eyes on the Mazda RX8 during my trip to Europe. I like the car. Feels good rides good. Should I expect any problems with it on the long run? I currently own a Nissan 300ZX which is almost stock other than for the Borla Exhaust. I am not planning to carry out any modifications on the Mazda at least for the near future.

So is the RX8 a good choice? Or will I get a better car for that price?

:!: Most importantly the car should be a right hand drive. Which means my options of importing are limited to the cars available in the European countries and Japan.

[BADMIHAI]

The RX8 is a nice car. As for problems in the long run...it hasn't been around long enough for us to know that. I think it's a fairly reliable car and its Wankel engine was named "Engine of the Year". If buying from Europe I'd seriously consider the M3 instead. The RX8 seemed fucking cramped.

[FPVPSI]

^^ Yep im with BADMIHAI....but isn't the M3 quite abit more expensive? But if money isnt a problem, then gofor the M3...But other wise, the RX-8 seems like a great car...has recived world wide acclaim with jurno's and ppl in the know seems to love it....

Happy choosing... :lol:

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

RX8 are nice, my buddy almost considered getting one, and i'v never herd of any one haveing trouble with theres yet.

Why does every one alway say "Get An M3" ?? there are enuff of those on the road now, at least suggest an M5, some thing that not every one and there mother has. Yes it's a good car in all but geez! There not even in the same group, why not get a Skyline? those are rite hand drive, know for great handeling, and loads of power.

[abhi101_2000]

Thanks a ton for your reply guys. I am not a great fan of the M3. But now I am considering the Skyline GTR. Its available in Japan and is going to cost me more or less the same as a new RX8. I'm still a lil confused I must say.

[evoWalo]

IIRC they dont make new GTRs anymore. The RX-8 has too little torque for my tastes.

[666fast]

Thanks a ton for your reply guys. I am not a great fan of the M3. But now I am considering the Skyline GTR. Its available in Japan and is going to cost me more or less the same as a new RX8. I'm still a lil confused I must say.

Between the RX8 and the Skyline, I'd go with the Skyline simply because of it's handling. Looks a bit better as well.
Rotary engines can be tempermental, especially with high mileage. But, RX8's aren't old enough yet to know how the engine will handle it. My guess is it'll be fine. Especially if you take car of it.
The Skyline engine on the other hand, is known to be pretty much bullet proof.
There is nothing wrong with either car though, both are great. But, personally, it would be the Skyline GTR for me.

Which one is it you are looking at? R32, R33 or R34? The R32 is my favorite.

[adamk24]

First off, the Skyline is a great car to look for second hand. All models are abundant and its easy to find one that has been babied. The Price of used cars in japan is amazingly low because most people either buy cars new, or dont need one for transportation. This means that cars keep very little of their resale value in japan. You can find a good condition R33 Skyline GTR for around $11,000-$13,000 US, which is my personal suggestion.

The RX8 is a great car. Im most likely going to piss alot of people off by saying this, but the M3 is overpriced (at least in america) and is too slow to be competative with many of the other choices we get. Sure its a great drive and handles beautifully, its just too much to pay for mediocre performance. The RX8 is a great compromise between price, speed and drivability. It has good space, a nice ride, handles outstandingly well, and is fairly quick. Both Car and Driver, and Road and Track magazines have had nothing but possitive comments to say about the RX8 in the 8 or so months they have been testing it.

However, If I was looking for a Right hand drive car, the japanese Used car market is a veritable garden of choices. Subaru would be my first recommendation. They make great cars, and their build quality is top notch. Both the Standard Impreza WRX as well as the high performance Impreza WRX STi offer great bang for the buck. They handle great, have 4 doors, look quite nice, and go fast as hell, all while having a clean and spacious interior. Also everycar subaru makes is reliable and safe.

Other cars to think about are Mitusbishi Evolutions, as they are cheap fast and fun. Nissan Silvias, Toyota Soarers and Chasers, and Honda Integras. Also, if you havnt already considered it, a new 350z is also a good choice. They dont do it for me, but they are about the same price as an RX8 and are a bit faster. Although they are less of a compromise between practicality and Fun, they are a good car nonetheless.

Finally, think about possibly trying to find a used Supra. Although they are hard to find stock and cheap, they are great cars and at least worth a shot if your interested. Let me know what you think :mrgreen:

[lerex29]

You see, the problems with a rotary engine (or as some may call the "4 year motor"), is that the seals inside the combustion chamber get wear and tear and the result is a blown engine. Although, if your not looking to keep the car for more than that period then you'll have a very fuel efficient car with alot of power with the turbocharged version.

[jakaracman]

Go for Skyline. Has more torque, is easier tio drive/have fun with and has proven technology.

[Daggernite]

If you have driven a RX-8 and like it then theres no reason why you should'nt get one, ok theres cars faster or better to drive, but if you want a new car, a RX8 is one of the cheapest when you look at the power and drivablity.

Points to note are that the most power comes from the higher revs, and that rotary engines are thiry, also there known for getting paint chipping at the front spoiler at about 14k miles, meaning you will have to respray to make it look perfect again.

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

Skyline, EVO, or WRX, you can't go wrong with any any one of those. The Skylinbe have the bigger motor of the 3.

[ikon2003]

I like the RX8. big rotary fan personally. it's also practical - 4 doors, lots of legroom, trunk, and some decent performance too. also, i think it looks good, which still counts for something these days. just MO, but all of the aformentioned cars here have some nice perks to them.

[ESR_balla]

IF I were you, I would settle for a Skyline. Much more grut. Also, the RX8 isnt really good on gas. I remember reading people on RX8 forums of getting around 15mpg :shock:

[ikon2003]

yeah, "settling" for a skyline isn't bad at all.

[adamk24]

I'd just get a Camero so you can do burnouts.... :lol:

[Anonymous]

Currently, I think the RX-8 is one of the best looking cars on the road right now. It is also mechanically very sound, but the durability of the new Renesis engine has yet to be seen. I know that the old RX-7s, especially the turbo charged ones require a lot of maintainence especially down the road to keep them running at peak performance.

Another factor is consider is gas mileage. I heard that it is pretty horrible.

Other wise than that, I think it certainly looks great and has the performance to back it up.

I would definitely pick an RX-8 over it's competitor the 350Z.

[FoxFour]

The final decision still comes to what you want to drive. Do you think you could live with the car years later? If you like cars that have punch then the Skyline would be hard to beat, especially if the price is comparable to the RX-8. And I have heard that with Nissan's ATTESSA drivetrain system the car handles beautifully. One question. What is the quality of petrol in your area? Turbo cars usually need a higher grade octane-wise to avoid detonation under boost. If that isn't a problem then go for the Skyline. Test drive it and bet you would make your mind up on the spot.

[Vansquish]

I'll let you know what I think of it in a few weeks...in theory our RX8 should be in soon.

[gobs3z]

I've heard about the RX-8 getting 15 mpg, have fun with that.

[impreza22]

I hate BMW.... Buy a car from japan and stay happy.

[Anonymous]

^

Umm, okay, great post!!!

[Vansquish]

^

Umm, okay, great post!!!

LOL and yours is so much better :P

Unfortunately my dad got the word on our RX8, it's been delayed in transit and won't arrive until mid-March. Pics, full report and videos when it comes in :-D

[Fleischmann]

Screw the wanker and go for the GT34. A 2nd hand one won't probably cost you much more then the RX8. And bare in mind that the Skyline is a proper sedan, it's more practical than the Mazda and pretty easy to tune if you have the need later on.

[Vansquish]

Screw the wanker and go for the GT34. A 2nd hand one won't probably cost you much more then the RX8. And bare in mind that the Skyline is a proper sedan, it's more practical than the Mazda and pretty easy to tune if you have the need later on.

Hehe...true...but the Wankel....nothing sounds like it, and after the test drive I took I don't think I'd want the R34 just for that.

[Anonymous]

^

Umm, okay, great post!!!

LOL and yours is so much better :P

Unfortunately my dad got the word on our RX8, it's been delayed in transit and won't arrive until mid-March. Pics, full report and videos when it comes in :-D

Well, at least I posted my detailed opinion about the car on the first page. :) .

Damn, that is a long transit. . . did it get re-routed around the world or something?

[Vansquish]

^

Umm, okay, great post!!!

LOL and yours is so much better :P

Unfortunately my dad got the word on our RX8, it's been delayed in transit and won't arrive until mid-March. Pics, full report and videos when it comes in :-D

Well, at least I posted my detailed opinion about the car on the first page. :) .

Damn, that is a long transit. . . did it get re-routed around the world or something?

LOL...something like that...they're all built in Japan so even though the thing was built by November 7 (we got confirmation of that) there's a 3-6 month delivery wait. Apparently it's going to be right smack dab in the middle of it when we get the car (according to Ford, but they're usually a bit optimistic)

[Anonymous]

^ I remember years ago, Honda was experiencing problems with corrosion when the cars are transported on a container in the middle of the ocean of an extended amount of time.

Hope that they have rectified that problem by now. Yeah, that is a long wait.

Are you guys gonna get compensated?

[Vansquish]

I doubt we'll have too much trouble with corrosion, I haven't read anything about the cars arriving damaged. As for compensation, not gonna get anything. It's a Ford employee lease car, so any damage that might occur will be repaired free of charge (even if it's our fault hehe).

Anyway, I'm stuck driving the Mazda 6 for the moment...nice car, but not quite an RX8 hehe.

[nthfinity]

It's a Ford employee lease car, so any damage that might occur will be repaired free of charge (even if it's our fault hehe).

amen to ford leased cars... looks like my dad is getting his in a few months time.

as for my recomendation, if you get the RX8, definately get the stick shift... the autobox (aside from being like all auto's) is much slower, a few more ft lb.s of torque, and 2000 revs lower redline.

[SilviaEvo]

the Skyline is the way to go! btw to whoever said get an M5 it costs a lot more than the M3, Skyline, WRX, etc. and i know a 45 year old lady that drives one!

[Mezevenf]

How a car drives is an important issue, not just power and stats.

If a car is fun to drive but less powerful than another, I'd know which car I'd go for.

WRX handle horribly, they just have an insane amount of grip. 350Z has the most boring V6 I've ever heard and Skylines here are just too common (although I doubt thats a factor where you are) but I'm not sure how Skylines drive, I've never driven one. Apparently the RX8 drives very nicely and is highly enjoyable, but I've only ever ridden shotgun in an RX8, never driven.

Buy what you think drives the best in your hands.

[XfirstbloodX]

Rotaries are not really known for great gas mileage but the rx8 is definatley a killer car I mean 238 n/a horsepower and redline a 9k thats definatley awsome. Watch out though rotaries burn oil pretty bad too.

[Sir_GT]

The RX-8 has the worst running costs of any modern car. It has poor mileage, and the lack of torque means that once the car is actually filled up with either passengers, groceries, or both, the performance suffers. Plus, the 9k rev limit is practically useless for a daily drive, only time you'll ever get to enjoy that is on a track, which would cost you another hefty sum (tires, brakes, oil, petrol, the works).

If you fancy topping up the oil every other fuel stop, then by all means, burden yourself with the RX-8. But if you want to be sensible, and drive a car which is generally hassle-free (or at least, the hassle would only be equivalent to a regular car), and you want performance, go for either a Skyline, an M3, or a 350Z.

RX-8 = bad choice.

[Vansquish]

The RX-8 has the worst running costs of any modern car. It has poor mileage, and the lack of torque means that once the car is actually filled up with either passengers, groceries, or both, the performance suffers. Plus, the 9k rev limit is practically useless for a daily drive, only time you'll ever get to enjoy that is on a track, which would cost you another hefty sum (tires, brakes, oil, petrol, the works).

If you fancy topping up the oil every other fuel stop, then by all means, burden yourself with the RX-8. But if you want to be sensible, and drive a car which is generally hassle-free (or at least, the hassle would only be equivalent to a regular car), and you want performance, go for either a Skyline, an M3, or a 350Z.

RX-8 = bad choice.

I beg to differ. The RX8 sitting outside has been nothing but a joy as of yet. The gas mileage is definetely not terrific, but I wouldn't expect a car of this performance caliber to have particularly good economy. The 9k limit is not all that important, as during daily driving anything up to about 6k is plenty to dispatch any other slow-moving vehicle. 159 foot-pounds may not sound like much, but in a car as light as the RX8 it's quite tolerable. It doesn't have the big lusty V6 thrust of a 350Z or the Turbocharged torque of a WRX/STi/EVO, but again, in daily driving conditions it's never a worry.
I'm on the University of Michigan Fencing Team and when we travel to tournaments, I usually take 2-3 people with me in the RX8 along with all their swords, masks, and assorted other equipment (toolboxes included) and while the performance is definetely affected, again, it's not so bad as one might think. As far as oil consumption, yes, it does consume more oil than a standard reciprocating piston engine, but, I now have more than 1400 miles on the car and the dipstick is still reading full and the oil is clear and shows no signs of particles of any sort.

What you get with the RX8 is a unique vehicle with an engine unlike any other on the market today. It's generally hassle-free, reasonably (mind you I said reasonably) cheap to run, uniquely styled, fits 4 in comfort without being a true saloon, sounds good, goes well, corners really nicely, has a perfect 50:50 weight balance that actually shifts slightly rearward as more people occupy the car, AND it has a trunk that's large enough to swallow most anything one would need under normal circumstances (or abnormal - fencing for instance). The RX8 has been nothing but a joy and a boon so far. It looks great in black, has a pretty sweet interior and a decent sound system (granted it's not as good as the M3's Harmon Kardon, but it doesn't cost nearly as much either). On top of all that, the RX8's handling balance is nigh on to perfect. If the back end starts to step out you can easily countersteer or balance it with the throttle. Grip is never a problem (unless you're on summer tires in the snow...thaaat's fun), and since it's so light you can easily hit 75mph on a 25mph entrance ramp without the tires squealing, and without understeering into oblivion.

[Sir_GT]

^^^ Part of my reason stems from the fact that oil and petrol (hell, anything) costs more here than it does there in the US. Whether it is the same with where the chap's from, I have no idea. The RX-8 ends up becoming ridiculously expensive over time, and that little fact has been reflected in it's resale value. You will see a lot, and I mean a lot, of barely used RX-8's for sale in the second hand car parks over here, with a large chunk of their value knocked off, simply because owners found out what a pain it is to maintain.

Let's put it this way. I don't disagree with anything you've just said, but if you changed the RX-8's engine to something less "fussy" (i.e. conventional), you would have the perfect car, instead of a unique one.