Hi guys! RX8 Query

[Matt Shepherd]

Hi guys, stumbled across your awesome forum while doing a google search. (of course ) Im 24 years old and i think for the first time in my life have fallen head over heels for a car.

Ive been driving for 5 years this autumn, will have 4 years no claims (token 1st year driving write off ><) and i really just wondered if i can afford this beautifull car.

I dont really want to spend more than 7k (paying cash) on the car, ive got a 52 plate fiat punto with 60k miles to sell or part exchange but before i can really consider the feesability of the rx8, i was wondering if you guys could maybe answer a few questions

I know from a bit of research the tax is now £300 a year and im looking at about 750 a year insurance on the 192 version. But what kinda life span do these awesome beasts have? Ive heard mixed things ranging from 20k miles (:S) to 100k, people mentioning rebuilds and such.

I know the mpg on them isnt great, but hey it is a sports car and apprantly they drink oil? Im a security officer on about 21k a year and even if i can only afford the car for a few years, i really would love to say i have owned such an awesome peice of engineering.

Any advice welcome pls

[Will66]

Mpg is 24-25 mpg most of the time.  Oil consumption is about 1/2 a litre every 800 to 1000 miles.  Engines last well although there are several instances of premature failure.  Mine died due to a manufacturing problem at 70k.  Replaced by Mazda under extended warranty.  Lots go on for longer.  Over 100k is not unheard of.  Less 192s seem to have problems as well.  There\'s plenty of advice on here about them, also worth checking out //www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk for their take on things!  Other than that they\'re tough enough.  Anti-roll bar drop links can fail but they\'re cheap enough to replace.

[seanp]

Hi Matt - can\'t add much more than Will; except I think his MPG is a bit optimistic (then again he has a rather large \'commute\'). I average 18MPG - not wishing to put you off.

[Will66]

Mpg wise, short trips hurt it quite badly as does exploring the upper limits of the Rev Range!  Track days result in single figures.  But most of the time I do get 24-25 mpg.  Last three tanks have been 24.2, 24.5 and 25.1 not counting track days which were 9, 7 and 8.5!

[Test Drives Unlimited]

Hi Matt & Welcome to the MRC
 
Can\'t add anything more to the above.

[clive]

Hi Matt and Welcome to MRC

Yep, they have done a good job helping you above however its worth knowing that we operate a "no such thing as a stupid question" policy here.

BTW don\'t be put off buying a 192 instead of a 230 as there is very little to choose between them when they run down the road together,

Hope you find the car your looking for and have as much fun as many of us have had with Rotary Power  :3gears-rh

[Will66]

The main difference between the 231 and the 192 is that the noise goes on for longer in the 231 as it revs higher!  Fuel consumption is about the same and there is little difference in real pace.

[seanp]

Hence more miles per gallon

[seanp]

Removed content - wrong topic, sorry!

[Matt Shepherd]

Thank a lot guys

im really itching to get one, im just slightly worried with the upkeep and / or the likelyhood of something going wrong with it. but i suppose the risk is there with any car. the £300 tax is a bit of an ouchy, i was considering (am i allowed to mention other cars on here ? ) well its not a sports car, or even close but its a heck of a lot nicer than my little punto lol. That said, i have my heart set on an rx8, they are so so beautifull, im amazed how much i liked it.

theres 1 sitting in 1 of the car parks at work 2night, i keep walking past it and thinking arghhh i want you

but i still have a few months of saving to do before i make up my mind either way .

could anybody give insight on to the upkeep of them btw? i mean how often should i be getting the cambelt and such serviced?

[Will66]

Cambelt?

Erm, do you know what a rotary engine is and why it doesn\'t have a cambelt?

This is a rotary engine http://www.animatedengines.com/....el.shtml as you\'d find in an RX8, RX7 or any other ....el Rotary engined car.

It doesn\'t have cams therefore doesn\'t require a cambelt to drive it.  Therefore you\'ll never need to change a cambelt.

[Will66]

That\'s just wrong, the word filter takes the .... out of ....el, unfortunate for a forum dedicated to Rotary Engined cars with an engine created by a certain Dr Felix Masturbatel! :-)

[AMH]

That\'s just wrong, the word filter takes the .... out of ....el, unfortunate for a forum dedicated to Rotary Engined cars with an engine created by a certain Dr Felix Masturbatel! :-)

I know - it\'s come up before. Problem is the swear filter is pretty basic.

You can put ....le but we know what you mean anyway

I nearly replyed to this with my expert knowledge of rotary engines!

Edit: just tried it with an \'@\' instead of \'a\' and that got picked up too - we were obviously very though.

[Matt Shepherd]

Well this is embaressing! I had read about rotary engines, i knew they had no cylinders and no vales so i should really have put 2+2 together and realised they donth ave cambelts, anyway

I was doing a bit of reading on the various parts and noticed a pretty heated debate reguarding adding a 2 stroke mixture before you fill up with fuel, to help lubricate seals, i guess its imposible to know for sure how much of what is said and claimed are true but is engine failure really such a common thing in the rx8? and how much are you talking about, to replace it?

if i do end up buying one, im so glad i discovered this place. i had no idea red lining was a neccesity thats like being told you must have intercourse with this beautifull woman to save her life! lol

[Matt Shepherd]