Auction find

[jaybrez]

Hi guys,

Just by chance I managed to pick up an RX8 at the local auctions: 2008 231 in silver/grey, 51k miles for just £950.

I was expecting it to be a total wreck but it looks like it was kept by an enthusiast judging by the rotary engine stickers all over it. It was a repo so I hope not one of you lads, dont want to be making enemies already - If its any constellation i'll look after it

First impressions: I'll probably get some hate for this, but it's not very fast and it sounds like a foodmixer. Though it does make up for it by being exciting to drive and easy to control.

I'll be working on fixing a few issues with it then giving it a full detailing. Will put some pics up when thats done

Cheers

[brix79]

Hi, and welcome to the forum jaybrez.

I'd go as far as to say it shouldn't sound like that!
As for not very fast, I guess that depends what you're used to, and where you've been driving.

[ChrisHolmes]

Try your favourite twisty A or B road in 2nd and 3rd only using 5k plus revs and you will discover the true character of the car. Welcome to the forum and hopefully the club too.

[GreySilver Beast]

Hi Jay & to the RX-8OC

Please put your Location here in the Profile Section

Please check out the EVENTS SECTION's - Events Team

[Honkytonk]

Ha, welcome! My thoughts about the engine sound when I drove one for the first time was 'Highly aggressive washing machine', but you start to appreciate it quickly. I love that you can pootle about, whisper to your passenger in the cabin and they can still hear you, yet drop a gear and it changes character to be much shoutier.

And of course there are decats and exhausts to make it sound a bit more 'conveniental'. I'd just enjoy the uniqueness of it, and like the others said, chuck it on some good A/B roads and let it surprise you. A high revving engine, 50/50 weight distribution, RWD with limited slip diff and wheels in the right places are an excellent combination.

If you haven't already, definitely make sure you're read up on how to get the best out of the engine with preventative maintenance - especially with auction buys you never know!

Congrats for the brave buy (I'm wayyy too cautious to buy a rotary at auction, but that's just me), and good luck with it!

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[acegeezer]

May be an idea to put a video up for the noise you say it makes.. the 0-60 mph is about 6.2 secs.. not too bad .. but it's the high revving engine and smooth delivery, plus throwing her round corners that make it impossible for other cars to keep up.. just do it and then check your rear view mirror for the huge distance created

[acegeezer]

May be an idea to put a video up for the noise you say it makes.. the 0-60 mph is about 6.2 secs.. not too bad .. but it's the high revving engine and smooth delivery, plus throwing her round corners that make it impossible for other cars to keep up.. just do it and then check your rear view mirror for the huge distance created

I definitely haven't got tired of smoking white vans or boy racers driving up my arse coming out of 30mph zones in villages.

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[acegeezer]

[Dr. FrankenRex]

Awesome! We hear a lot of stories about people who've bought one on the cheap only to find it's a shed, so it's wonderful to hear it the other way around!

They do, in my opinion, sound a bit 'different' with the stock exhaust system - but if you open up the pipes somewhat they take on a completely different persona!

As for pace, they are not a point and squirt kinda car - that said, get it on a nice twisty road course or B road and you'd be surprised.

Car Throttle took theirs around Curborough sprint course and it actually went round faster than their IS200 track car, their 320D Touring (that's faster than an M3...) and a couple of other cars they tested - and that was on stock suspension, ARBs, new tyres and a street ported engine. You'd be surprised once you find the flow.

Good to see you here though - don't be shy with the pics either, we want to see the auction find!

EDIT: This was the video:

[Shagrington]

Hi and jaybrez. "Not very fast" is all relative and does depend on what you're used to, it definitely isn't a drag racer ... you may also need to adjust your driving style to get the best from an RX-8 (the power is all high up in the rev range, keep it up there and drive a gear or two lower than you might in other cars). Also it can be deceptive, you won't get the kick in the back you might from a turbo so with it being so smooth and easy it may just feel slower so you may be surprised when you look at the speedo.

Have a good read through whatever in the FAQ section you didn't already read and then (and just ignore me if you know all this already) here are my best tips for keeping it all running sweetly:

1. To start up turn the key to position 2, wait for most of the lights on the dash to go out (I watch the airbag light by the glove box), press the clutch to the floor (optional, but reduces drag), turn the key to start and do not touch the throttle until it has started. You can drive off straight away, just keep the revs down for a bit (see #4 below).

2. Never turn off the engine before it has reached at least somewhere towards normal operating temperature (should only take a minute or two, but best to go for a short drive if just swapping cars round on the drive etc). Switching off cold risks flooding, which is a real with a rotary engine. Mazda recommend rev to 4k and hold it for 8-10 seconds switching off while still revving if you have no option but to switch off cold (it is not necessary to do this in any other circumstance).

3. Check the oil level regularly (use the dipstick - the oil gauge tells you nothing other than that you have or don't have pressure) and top up if necessary with semi synthetic 5w30 (most people and specialists are advising to use 10w40 now though) ... small amounts at a time, no more than ½ a litre then check the level again before adding more as you don't want to overfill it.

4. Use all the revs once the engine is nice and warm (don't sit idling to warm up, start up and drive but keep it below about 4k until the needle on the water temperature gauge is pointing straight up, then give it another 10 minutes for the oil to warm up too before really thrashing it ) and hit the beep often. Best acceleration is from 4k revs up - to pull away you really need to rev to 2k - you can let the revs drop after lifting the clutch if you are in traffic, cruising steadily at 3½k revs and changing down to go up hills or accelerate gets you the best mpg ... which still won't be great.

5. Join the club for discounts on all sorts of things (you will very quickly get the cost of membership back - and then some), loads more info in the members only sections, local meets (or if you can't find one exactly local it is a good excuse for a drive if you come to one a bit further away), a sexy keyring just for joining and more.

[jaybrez]

Thanks for the warm welcome and tips guys! I wont leave you hanging, heres a few snaps of it as of now - Haven't given it a detail yet. Will do a clearcoat cutting, glaze and wax when I have 12 hours to spare

Check out the friendly note that was attached to the dash. Not something youd expect from an auction car!

https://icedrive.net/1/19A9aVko35

[casey]

Seems to be in pretty good state, judging by those pictures - looks like you may have found a bargain!

Nice note left by previous owner, but ignore 4, just drive off straight away, and ignore 5 too, unless you are forced to turn the engine off when cold (try to avoid that at all costs, to avoid the possibility of flooding the engine!) in which case, follow the advice in Shagrington's note above, point 2

[Shagrington]