Just bought an RX8, hope I don't regret it!
10 January 2014, 04:57 PM
#32
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I got to drive one at Thruxton a few years back and thought they were pretty well balanced car. I have to say I'd probably go with an S2000 if that style of car takes my fan e further down the line, purely on reliability more than anything else.
10 January 2014, 07:49 PM
#34
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Well made the journey home safe and sound with no issues, car is starting on the button hot and cold, so far so good. Thought I had a problem as I couldn't open the boot, but a quick google search and there is an isolation switch in the glove box 
so that's all ok.
The xenons are very bright and seem to light up a long way ahead, not sure if the self levelling is working so will have a look tomorrow, although no one flashed me so maybe they are ok.
Dipstick is really hard to read, surely in a car that you have to check so regularly they could have designed it a bit better
Handles superbly, although after a long time in four wheel drive cars a twitching back end is interesting to say the least
Surprisingly practical, had two child seats in the back tonight, easy access and plenty of room. Good size boot but access not so great.
Spent quite a while looking for the CD changer till I realised it was in the dash
As said, time will tell if any issues develop but so far so good, and it's a lot of car for the money.
Will post some pics up tomorrow.
so that's all ok.The xenons are very bright and seem to light up a long way ahead, not sure if the self levelling is working so will have a look tomorrow, although no one flashed me so maybe they are ok.
Dipstick is really hard to read, surely in a car that you have to check so regularly they could have designed it a bit better
Handles superbly, although after a long time in four wheel drive cars a twitching back end is interesting to say the least
Surprisingly practical, had two child seats in the back tonight, easy access and plenty of room. Good size boot but access not so great.
Spent quite a while looking for the CD changer till I realised it was in the dash
As said, time will tell if any issues develop but so far so good, and it's a lot of car for the money.
Will post some pics up tomorrow.
Last edited by pflowers; 10 January 2014 at 07:51 PM.
10 January 2014, 09:30 PM
#36
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Even if it is broken as long as it isnt stuck in the air then it shouldnt be a problem. My Hawkeye self leveller broke but as its only use was if I was to tow, which I never did, then it was a non issue.
10 January 2014, 09:31 PM
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My friend had one as did a work colleague. Neither had any major problems. Fuel consumption for the performance is poor, I couldn't believe the figure of about 20 mpg they were quoting.
Great looking car IMO and you can pick them up for a song.
Great looking car IMO and you can pick them up for a song.
11 January 2014, 12:18 AM
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11 January 2014, 07:40 AM
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Sorry yes, I was referring to the fact that the car had been designed and built to take the rotary engine. If would have been impossible to then change to a conventional engine on later models / face lifts without a complete redesign of the car from the floor pan up.
11 January 2014, 10:11 AM
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Well made the journey home safe and sound with no issues, car is starting on the button hot and cold, so far so good. Thought I had a problem as I couldn't open the boot, but a quick google search and there is an isolation switch in the glove box so that's all ok.
The xenons are very bright and seem to light up a long way ahead, not sure if the self levelling is working so will have a look tomorrow, although no one flashed me so maybe they are ok.
Dipstick is really hard to read, surely in a car that you have to check so regularly they could have designed it a bit better
Handles superbly, although after a long time in four wheel drive cars a twitching back end is interesting to say the least
Surprisingly practical, had two child seats in the back tonight, easy access and plenty of room. Good size boot but access not so great.
Spent quite a while looking for the CD changer till I realised it was in the dash
As said, time will tell if any issues develop but so far so good, and it's a lot of car for the money.
Will post some pics up tomorrow.
so that's all ok.The xenons are very bright and seem to light up a long way ahead, not sure if the self levelling is working so will have a look tomorrow, although no one flashed me so maybe they are ok.
Dipstick is really hard to read, surely in a car that you have to check so regularly they could have designed it a bit better
Handles superbly, although after a long time in four wheel drive cars a twitching back end is interesting to say the least
Surprisingly practical, had two child seats in the back tonight, easy access and plenty of room. Good size boot but access not so great.
Spent quite a while looking for the CD changer till I realised it was in the dash
As said, time will tell if any issues develop but so far so good, and it's a lot of car for the money.
Will post some pics up tomorrow.
- I was actually going for one of these before I realised I was in the budget for the impreza, maybe one day I will pick one up
11 January 2014, 09:37 PM
#43
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Had one paid £760 for a 231 version lovely to look at handles like a dream, however you need an oil refinery in your back garden or shares with BP.
Gave mine the beans overtaking a clio and it pooped itself at 9k it spat the oil through the air box and threw the oil pressure light on, thought it was dead but later found out its a safety feature from the ecu which dumps loads of oil in the engine at high revs to stop it destroying your bank balance!! if you keep it get new coils and the faster starter motor with an agm battery or you will get stranded (not if but when) swapped mine for an impreza and it feels like im running a 1.3 consumption wise.
Gave mine the beans overtaking a clio and it pooped itself at 9k it spat the oil through the air box and threw the oil pressure light on, thought it was dead but later found out its a safety feature from the ecu which dumps loads of oil in the engine at high revs to stop it destroying your bank balance!! if you keep it get new coils and the faster starter motor with an agm battery or you will get stranded (not if but when) swapped mine for an impreza and it feels like im running a 1.3 consumption wise.
11 January 2014, 10:08 PM
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i had one before my subaru and i loved it, but it needed more power. crap fuel consumption but wasnt an issue for me. just let it warm up before turning it off if the engine is cold. in terms of reliability i think its down to how they are maintained. when you do an oil change, it doesnt change all of the oil due to the 2 oil coolers at the front of the car holding some of the oil. its best to do an oil change, drive it a 100 miles then do it again. not the best solution but vital to look after the engine. some seem to drink oil like fuel but mine used about a litre every 1000 miles and i checked it weekly. excellent handling but slightly lacking in power like i said before.
12 January 2014, 06:25 PM
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12 January 2014, 06:40 PM
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I had a couple of these, the first one I got at two years old/25k and it wouldn't start when hot so got rid sharpish for a blob PPP, then got another RX8 in 2008 when you could get a pre reg for 14K. They handle brilliantly and the power delivery is addictive, I only got rid of mine because I fancied a change.
The B7 Audi S4 that replaced it was much better on fuel but my RX8s used about 1l per 1500 miles, any that are drinking much more than that have a problem.
Now getting an Audi TTS, it's the closest thing I have managed to find to the RX8 in terms of power and handling but it costs 10 times more.
The B7 Audi S4 that replaced it was much better on fuel but my RX8s used about 1l per 1500 miles, any that are drinking much more than that have a problem.
Now getting an Audi TTS, it's the closest thing I have managed to find to the RX8 in terms of power and handling but it costs 10 times more.
Last edited by mikejenkins; 12 January 2014 at 06:48 PM.
12 January 2014, 06:50 PM
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Couple of niggles so far, one rear light is steaming up, common problem apparently, needs seal changing or siliconing up.
There is a small rust spot on the rear arch that I hadn't noticed, it's right on the edge and looks like a chip / scratch that's been left. Will sort that out before it gets worse.
There is a small rust spot on the rear arch that I hadn't noticed, it's right on the edge and looks like a chip / scratch that's been left. Will sort that out before it gets worse.
12 January 2014, 06:51 PM
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change the ignition coils and leads if they have not been changed,DONT buy cheap crap off ebay get them from mrp. they should be replaced every 30k but its not done as part of any service. join the rx8 owner club can't recommend it enough,only just sold my 57 plate 231 as the tax was 490 pa and could not justify it as only used it at the weekends.
12 January 2014, 06:53 PM
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change the ignition coils and leads if they have not been changed,DONT buy cheap crap off ebay get them from mrp. they should be replaced every 30k but its not done as part of any service. join the rx8 owner club can't recommend it enough,only just sold my 57 plate 231 as the tax was 490 pa and could not justify it as only used it at the weekends.
12 January 2014, 07:33 PM
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one good thing to do if not done already is to change all the internal lights and boot light especially to led's, its very easy to open to boot by mistake and this will drain the battery overnight, you then try to start it in the morning and it will not start but might then flood the engine.
12 January 2014, 07:51 PM
#56
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change the ignition coils and leads if they have not been changed,DONT buy cheap crap off ebay get them from mrp. they should be replaced every 30k but its not done as part of any service. join the rx8 owner club can't recommend it enough,only just sold my 57 plate 231 as the tax was 490 pa and could not justify it as only used it at the weekends.
Car looks great. Ever need help, just say. RX8OC is a great place for information!
12 January 2014, 08:51 PM
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