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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Mx5 with a hard top, BMW Z3 early ones are cheap enough or an early Honda s2000

Ideal......for girlies.....and hairdressers.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

They're great cars if you're willing to live with the risk of compression problems and remember never to flood the thing.. throw on a set of slight lowering springs and the handling is like a big gokart, keep the engine on song and they're extremely rapid (in 231 guise, anyway) and they're pretty handy around a track, too.

But, you have to watch for:

Compression problems - this means trouble starting when hot, flood very easily etc
Coil pack problems - if the tops of the coils are turning white they're toast, LS1 coils are a popular upgrade for ~£250 and help with potential flooding issues
Expensive spark plugs - seriously, seriously expensive spark plugs
Regular oil changes - sump oil is injected into the combustion chamber so you need to run the right type and clean oil, alternatively fit a 2-stroke oil kit which replaces the sump injection system with a reservoir of neat, clean 2 stroke oil up where the washer bottle was (and replaces it with a tiny washer bottle)


Mine needs a rebuild, but I knew that when I bought it for ~£800. A decent car should come in about £3k or buy a known bad car like mine for peanuts and then pay another ~£1200-2000 for a rebuild (less if you can do it yourself) from somewhere like Apex Rotary.  Personally I'd do that as at least then you know it's not going to cork it in a short space of time!


Oh yeah, they're quite small inside so if you're particularly tall or have a fat arse like me you might find it a bit of a squeeze.

According to the RX8 forums some naughty owners mask the hot starting problem with an uprated starter motor.

I broadly agree with what Aaron says.

Great to drive even though they are bereft of decent torque.

13 MPG.....

Handbrake in a strange position.

'On rails' cornering.

Six speed box on the 231 version.

Mazda MX5 image problem.

[aaronjb]

Ah yes I forgot the woeful economy I quite like the handbrake position, though, for me it falls quite naturally at the end of my hand unlike some cars where I feel like I'm reaching behind me..

The suicide rear doors make it very practical for carrying people & loads, too. I've fitted an entire MR2 bonnet in the back of one..


As for alternatives - MX5 as said, Z3, Z4, S2000 (probably in increasing order of running cost), but none of those are really coupes.. so it depends if you're happy to look at something without a root

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

The person would bought ours (well, Mrs Opti's really) insisted on a hot compression test which cost him the thick end of £100 at an approved Mazda dealer.

The car passed......but the results were borderline. Less than 10,000 miles on the clock at point of sale.

Some Rexers' seem to last forever........as for others.

[ronnyd]

Guy across the road from me has one with a knackered engine. Rebuilds start at approx £3000+ and then there is fitting (if you need it). Seems a common problem as the rotor tips burn away. You pays ya money and takes ya choice on that one. But
as said, they do look quite good.

[aaronjb]

£3k for a rebuild? They saw him coming!

http://www.apexrotary.com

£800 if you take them the engine and reuse the side seals (which they don't recommend, to be fair), £1200 if you take a full new seal set as the side seals are £300 on their own plus labour.  Obviously more if you take them the car (£1250 upward) but £3700 gets you a brand new Mazda unit fitted with a 3 year warranty so a £3k rebuild seems a little excessive!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

For all it's faults I have to say that I had great fun driving the RX8.

I suggest the OP does as Aaron did, and buy a 'limper' for a few hundred quid.

I mean....what's the worst that can happen?

[aaronjb]

Yes, and if the OP wants to buy a 60k mile limper in VGC that already has the LS1 coil kit fitted, he can have mine for £700.. bit of a trek from Omagh, mind.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Yes, and if the OP wants to buy a 60k mile limper in VGC that already has the LS1 coil kit fitted, he can have mine for £700.. bit of a trek from Omagh, mind.

No further plans, Aaron?

[aaronjb]

Nah, it was going to be Amy's daily and my toy but now she's moved on it's just cluttering up the driveway really.. so it can go.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Nah, it was going to be Amy's daily and my toy but now she's moved on it's just cluttering up the driveway really.. so it can go.

plenty more fish and all that......

[Marks DTM Calib]

Been tempted to buy one with a goosed engine myself and then rebuild the power plant.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Been tempted to buy one with a goosed engine myself and then rebuild the power plant.

I'm sure Aaron will give you a good deal.

[horsecow]

Hmmmmmmmm, decisions decisions!  All the advice has been fairly off putting tbh guys but I'm not totally against the idea yet! I had planned to spend around 3 or 4k and move the omega on but after all the great advice I'm gonna stick with the omega and possibly keep an eye out for a much cheaper 'limper'. I do love the look of them and they sound like great fun so maybe something cheap will do and if it does mess up then it gives me something to while away the evenings? Aaronjb if you'd care to drop me a Pm and let me know what's wrong with yours pls, I might be interested. The distance isn't a problem as all the cars I'd looked at where on mainland anyway.

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated and by the sounds of it you may have saved me a few quid so that's always good!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Hmmmmmmmm, decisions decisions!  All the advice has been fairly off putting tbh guys but I'm not totally against the idea yet! I had planned to spend around 3 or 4k and move the omega on but after all the great advice I'm gonna stick with the omega and possibly keep an eye out for a much cheaper 'limper'. I do love the look of them and they sound like great fun so maybe something cheap will do and if it does mess up then it gives me something to while away the evenings? Aaronjb if you'd care to drop me a Pm and let me know what's wrong with yours pls, I might be interested. The distance isn't a problem as all the cars I'd looked at where on mainland anyway.

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated and by the sounds of it you may have saved me a few quid so that's always good!

Don't be......they are a great little car that will put a smile on your face.

Just don't pay too much for one.


A 'limper' at a low price is a good idea.