RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

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RichardK
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RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by RichardK »

Hello! Used to be a member - I had one of those low-cost leased RX-8s in 2006. That was 15 years after I started driving.

Image

15 years after that, I just bought another RX-8... there was an attempt in the middle but that was a £350 high-VED wreck and we shall never speak of it.

So basically I was in the middle of a nice fleet of cars - a Range Rover V8, a Peugeot 3008 from work, an MX-5 and a BMW 323i Cabriolet. I have surgery coming up, so I sell the BMW 323i and get a PT Cruiser convertible auto because it's easy to drive in a cast (really) and I'll enjoy it in summer. I'm considering selling the MX-5 too because it's also a manual.

Then someone offers me a car.
An RX-8.
One owner, full service history (and I mean full service history). 74,000 miles. i later find a compression test from 70,000 miles showing 7.2/6.9/7.1 7.5/7.5/7.5, But I didn't know that when I agreed to buy it.

No, all I knew was the colour. It's Nordic Green. I'd never seen one before.

Image

It has a few scars, the previous owner did drive it properly.

Image

First drive I felt like I'd lost 15 years. It feels so good to drive an RX-8 again. So now I have sold my Range Rover and the RX-8 will be getting some care and attention.

Big question I guess is how rare is Nordic Green now? I never saw one even back then, but now?

I am guessing many suppliers, like the stainless steel strakes and the good oil cooler screens I had, have all gone?

Currently enjoying a CEL and codes suggesting SSV issues - I moved the mechanism with a pick and the light cleared for the next drive, so I am suspecting switch or vacuum device. But first, getting the wheels refurbished. And then I need to reset the steering - it's underassisted going right, over-assisted going left. Feels very odd. Seems to track, tramline and steer just fne apart from the assistance.
Was: 121 cars in 15 years. Now 183 cars in 30 years - back to RX-8!

2022 - Cygnus - LY04 VAM. 2004 RX-8 231 Nordic Green, Stone (was black) leather. Strakes to follow...
Others: 2007 MX-5 2.0 Sport, 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio, 1995 ZAZ Tavria, 1968 Spitfire
2006-2008 era: FH55 OBW - 2006 RX-8 190 Galaxy Grey, Cloth, SSStrakes, RBScreens
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by Shagrington »

Hi and :welcome: back RichardK. :D I'd say nordic greens are almost certainly few and far between now - no idea how many there may be, but I don't recall the last time I saw one.

This may help with your steering issues viewtopic.php?f=25&t=47002
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Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired) :cry:
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by PaulAV »

You may still be able to get the grills new, from zunsport, the stakes you may get from eBay or a breaker and chances are your ssv issue is related to the solenoid behind the upper intake manifold(if the ssv moves freely then vacuum isn't getting to it to operate it)
Led side lights, purple Led interior & puddle lights, pz grills, Ryan rotary performance coils, sump, engine mounts & sohn, HME engine rebuild at 50k, RRP exhaust & high flow cat, racing beat revi intake including scoop, quick shifter, alloy filler cap, pz alloys, suspension, mazdaspeed spoiler, japspeed toe arms & hardrace camber arms, RRP custom remap
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by rx8hunter »

:whathesaid: the Forscan calibration sorted the steering on my PZ.
Shagrington wrote:
Sat May 14, 2022 3:40 am
Hi and :welcome: back RichardK. :D I'd say nordic greens are almost certainly few and far between now - no idea how many there may be, but I don't recall the last time I saw one.

This may help with your steering issues viewtopic.php?f=25&t=47002
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RX-8 PZ: viewtopic.php?f=104&t=85661
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RX-8 Evolve (Banger Rally project) gone ☹️: viewtopic.php?f=104&t=86460
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RichardK
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by RichardK »

Shagrington wrote:
Sat May 14, 2022 3:40 am
Hi and :welcome: back RichardK. :D I'd say nordic greens are almost certainly few and far between now - no idea how many there may be, but I don't recall the last time I saw one.

This may help with your steering issues viewtopic.php?f=25&t=47002
Excellent! The one advisory on the MOT was for 'rusty steering components' so that looks like an excellent shout. I no longer have a good workshop so I might have to skip the testing aspect and just jack one wheel up to get access and then coat it all in bike chain grease, sounds like it can't do any harm to do it whether the steering moves as it should for a test or not.
Was: 121 cars in 15 years. Now 183 cars in 30 years - back to RX-8!

2022 - Cygnus - LY04 VAM. 2004 RX-8 231 Nordic Green, Stone (was black) leather. Strakes to follow...
Others: 2007 MX-5 2.0 Sport, 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio, 1995 ZAZ Tavria, 1968 Spitfire
2006-2008 era: FH55 OBW - 2006 RX-8 190 Galaxy Grey, Cloth, SSStrakes, RBScreens
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RichardK
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by RichardK »

PaulAV wrote:
Sat May 14, 2022 6:13 am
You may still be able to get the grills new, from zunsport, the stakes you may get from eBay or a breaker and chances are your ssv issue is related to the solenoid behind the upper intake manifold(if the ssv moves freely then vacuum isn't getting to it to operate it)
I'm thinking the solenoids too - I managed to get a right-angle pick down to the valve actuator and move it about and the CEL was off afterwards, then it came back after a drive. Access to the little back of solenoids looks like plastic intake off anyway? I'm thinking either there's no vacuum (18 year old vacuum pipes - solenoids are cheap - seems easy to sort) or it not detecting that it's happening.

Either way, when the CEL wasn't on and I'd let the car warm through properly it was QUICK. And having only had a 190 before, that extra 1,500rpm before the beep.... wow. Sounds SO good.

The oil cooler grilles - I had Racing Beat ones I guess from my old signature, and I can see those are still offered - looks like £67 but hard to tell if that's for a pair or not (one part of the site says supplied singly, the other says 'price quoted is for a pair', so... eh). I liked the quality.

Looks like I can get Mazda accessory strakes and crest on eBay no worries, for a price, but the wonderful stainless steel ones I had are lost in time - found an old thread wondering where the person selling them had gone and that was back in 2007...
Was: 121 cars in 15 years. Now 183 cars in 30 years - back to RX-8!

2022 - Cygnus - LY04 VAM. 2004 RX-8 231 Nordic Green, Stone (was black) leather. Strakes to follow...
Others: 2007 MX-5 2.0 Sport, 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio, 1995 ZAZ Tavria, 1968 Spitfire
2006-2008 era: FH55 OBW - 2006 RX-8 190 Galaxy Grey, Cloth, SSStrakes, RBScreens
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qwakers
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by qwakers »

I have a nordic. Not my favourite colour but better than the silver i had before. :D
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by PaulAV »

RichardK wrote:
Sat May 14, 2022 8:09 am
PaulAV wrote:
Sat May 14, 2022 6:13 am
You may still be able to get the grills new, from zunsport, the stakes you may get from eBay or a breaker and chances are your ssv issue is related to the solenoid behind the upper intake manifold(if the ssv moves freely then vacuum isn't getting to it to operate it)
I'm thinking the solenoids too - I managed to get a right-angle pick down to the valve actuator and move it about and the CEL was off afterwards, then it came back after a drive. Access to the little back of solenoids looks like plastic intake off anyway? I'm thinking either there's no vacuum (18 year old vacuum pipes - solenoids are cheap - seems easy to sort) or it not detecting that it's happening.

After working on a fellow passengers car with solenoid issues I metered out s failed one, if the meter probe was pushed one side of the spade connection the solenoid metered out fine, if it was placed the other side it metered out as open circuit, so I diagnosed I broken connection within the solenoid.
Upper intake manifold isn't too difficult to remove 5x 10mm bolts and 2x10mm nuts, a 1/4 inch socket set with s few extensions and a uj make it easier, unclip the throttle body connector and the solenoid on top, then the fuel line(the clip can be a pain)
Led side lights, purple Led interior & puddle lights, pz grills, Ryan rotary performance coils, sump, engine mounts & sohn, HME engine rebuild at 50k, RRP exhaust & high flow cat, racing beat revi intake including scoop, quick shifter, alloy filler cap, pz alloys, suspension, mazdaspeed spoiler, japspeed toe arms & hardrace camber arms, RRP custom remap
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RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by GreySilver Beast »

Hi Richard & :welcome: back to the RX-8OC :thumleft:

Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's for anything coming up soon in your area :thumleft:

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RichardK
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by RichardK »

Had a day of normal cars yesterday - and then after buying it a roof cover the PT Cruiser decided to reward me with a sticky brake caliper. The RX-8's been giving it ideas.

Anyway, the Cruiser had been out to the shops for a can of chain lube, so I went to check out the RX-8's 'rusty steering components'

Image

Wait, what?

Image

Image

That is NOT what I was expecting. At all. I glanced at the sills and rear subframe when buying but it was a sale/price/situation where it was a case of 'take it or leave it'. I'm going to have to go back over that service history again...

It's great being back here - if nothing else I'm finding things I had like fitting height adjustment to the passenger side, and some sort of covered boot box accessory - NOW I remember it! I'd forgotten entirely!

I also found I wanted to upgrade my wheels to chrome. Since I'm getting these wheels refurbed, any opinions on silver, chrome, shadow chrome with Nordic Green?
Was: 121 cars in 15 years. Now 183 cars in 30 years - back to RX-8!

2022 - Cygnus - LY04 VAM. 2004 RX-8 231 Nordic Green, Stone (was black) leather. Strakes to follow...
Others: 2007 MX-5 2.0 Sport, 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio, 1995 ZAZ Tavria, 1968 Spitfire
2006-2008 era: FH55 OBW - 2006 RX-8 190 Galaxy Grey, Cloth, SSStrakes, RBScreens
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RichardK
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by RichardK »

GreySilver Beast wrote:
Sat May 14, 2022 3:24 pm
Hi Richard & :welcome: back to the RX-8OC :thumleft:

Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's for anything coming up soon in your area :thumleft:

Events Team
Nothing I can see for Lincolnshire - but I'll be up for travelling when everything settles down (and I know I can still drive a manual car).

After a little soul-searching over 'modifying' the car...

Image

Image

What I didn't realise was that I'd lose the plastic shells on the backs of the seats, not sure how I feel about that.
Was: 121 cars in 15 years. Now 183 cars in 30 years - back to RX-8!

2022 - Cygnus - LY04 VAM. 2004 RX-8 231 Nordic Green, Stone (was black) leather. Strakes to follow...
Others: 2007 MX-5 2.0 Sport, 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio, 1995 ZAZ Tavria, 1968 Spitfire
2006-2008 era: FH55 OBW - 2006 RX-8 190 Galaxy Grey, Cloth, SSStrakes, RBScreens
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by SteveBishopRx8 »

20220430_075756.jpg
Here's my nordic green Rx8 that I've owned for year & half now
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brix79 (Wed May 18, 2022 8:54 pm)
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by brix79 »

I do like some Nordic Green. Definitely amongst the rarest S1s along with the Lightning Yellow, surely!

Looks like you got a good base to work with there, rust avoidance is probably one of the top requirements when looking for an 8 now, and it appears to be very positive on that front. 8)
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by Shagrington »

RichardK wrote:
Tue May 17, 2022 11:16 pm
GreySilver Beast wrote:
Sat May 14, 2022 3:24 pm
Hi Richard & :welcome: back to the RX-8OC :thumleft:

Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's for anything coming up soon in your area :thumleft:

Events Team
Nothing I can see for Lincolnshire - but I'll be up for travelling when everything settles down (and I know I can still drive a manual car).
There is the annual meet in October ;) ... viewtopic.php?f=38&t=84992
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GreySilver Beast (Fri May 20, 2022 6:20 pm) • RichardK (Sat May 21, 2022 10:11 am)
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Re: RX-8 take two - Nordic Green

Post by RichardK »

Now THAT looks interesting!
Was: 121 cars in 15 years. Now 183 cars in 30 years - back to RX-8!

2022 - Cygnus - LY04 VAM. 2004 RX-8 231 Nordic Green, Stone (was black) leather. Strakes to follow...
Others: 2007 MX-5 2.0 Sport, 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio, 1995 ZAZ Tavria, 1968 Spitfire
2006-2008 era: FH55 OBW - 2006 RX-8 190 Galaxy Grey, Cloth, SSStrakes, RBScreens