Buying my first RX8

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Octatonic
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Buying my first RX8

Post by Octatonic »

Hi everyone, I'm considering buying my first RX8 as a weekend car. The one I've viewed for c £2000 has a misfire when idle, no cold or hot start issues. Guess misfire is either sparks/coils or could be new engine scenario I've read so much about. Any advice?
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Buying my first RX8

Post by GreySilver Beast »

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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by acegeezer »

Well, I would leave it well alone.. you have to ask yourself why would anyone try to sell it with that fault condition apparent :(
If that's a serious question??
Its a no brainer, walk away it's not like they're scarce :lol:
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Nickp47 »

:whathesaid:

I don’t know if you are in UK or not but here £2000 should buy you a lovely example, £500 buys you one with a misfire.

Unless you perhaps don’t mean a misfire, it is not unusual for RX8s to hunt a little on revs when idling whilst also making a few small pops, this is usually down to ignition needing refreshing.
Last edited by Nickp47 on Thu Aug 01, 2019 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Buying my first RX8

Post by GreySilver Beast »

That could be a Dealer Price Nick :!:
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Honkytonk »

My advice? Look at more of them. I looked at close to a dozen of them before I settled on mine. Don't be too sad if one goes, there'll be another. And always walk away. If a stealer dealer has an 8 on their forecourt they probably want rid as they're more trouble than they're worth for your average 'Yes mate it's mint, only 1 careful lady owner, 120,000 miles is the sweet spot for these' type.

Also, to quote myself from a previous thread;
Here's the 4 tips I took away from looking for mine;

1. Hot starts - Cold starts are easier fixes (normally service items), but Hot Starts are where the money's at (in that you'll have to spend plenty of it to fix the issue...). Once it's nice and hot, turn it off and on again and see how ready it is to fire up.

2. Rust - I.... didn't follow this suggestion perhaps as well as I should have. But look out for rust. Edit: The sills and wheel arches are the places to look.

3. Cheap car does not equal bad car necessarily, as sometimes cheap ones can be saved with a couple of easy to source bits. But you have to know what you're looking for.

4. Talk to the owner about the service regimen/care the car's had. If they don't know about oil, coils,plugs etc., I'd walk away. Bought my PZ mostly based on the previous owners taking care of the engine properly.
Misfires could be similar to cold start issues in that they're a coil/plug/spark/MAF problem that can be solved 'cheap' and easy, but I'd avoid a £2k possible headache when there are ones for ~£500-£1000 less in similar condition.
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Octatonic »

Thanks for these thoughts. Yes I'm in the UK. It's a private seller. Nick it could be ignition, sounds as you describe. I'm assuming I'll be paying for an engine rebuild at some point by the way, John when you say £500 I assume that I'd be looking for good bodywork etc but knackered engine and replace immediately? What should £2000 get me?
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by qwakers »

2k should get you a good car from a trader on here...
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Ainmhidh »

I reckon £2k should get you pretty mint bodywork, an engine that starts quickly hot and cold, a recent compression test in the mid-sixes or better and evidence of good maintenance (quality coil and lead replacements, and plugs replaced at least within the last 25k miles, regular oil and filter changes etc), and possibly a special edition model (PZ / Anniversary etc). Or a rather shoddy R3 (series 2, 2009 onwards)

edit - or, as Qwakers says - a very good car from someone like Big Pete, or Rotary Revs. Not sure if Ryan Rotary Performance have any complete cars they sell, certainly down this end of the money scale.
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by New Duke »

Here to agree with the other wise cats. £2000 for a S1 RX8 will get you a near perfect example with no quirks or faults. Any that do have niggles: walk away. There's so much choice out there you don't need to risk it.

'Could just be ignition' still means paying out another £500 to sort it... assuming that's even the cause. So why bother. Expand your search radius and travel further, you'll thank yourself in the long run.

Another vote here to only buy a car from Bigpete, Rotary Revs, RRP or other rotary specialist. And don't buy from a private seller unless they're a very active member of this club... and then they'd be selling there car on here anyway. There's good reasons for all that, but I'll save you the essay!

Happy shopping. With £2k you can get a great RX8.
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Shagrington »

Hi and :welcome: Octatonic. :D All good advice above, but get a good one and you definitely won't regret it. :thumleft: Happy hunting.
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Davred »

Hi Octatronic, yes definitely follow all the good information and guides in the forum.
I did and do, but am at a point where due to wife's illness, am not using my 231VR enough and have been considering selling.
Mileage is at 64500 now and it had an RR gold rebuild plus street port in May 2016 at 57550, with their warranty continued.
Would be looking for £1800 or very near. Am only 90 miles from Bristol. Have a full detail list of upgrades carried out plus service history. If interested, can email.
It is a good one.
231 now gone, I'm likely to regret it.
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Dave2112 »

Hi Octatonic, whether you get the car in time or not, why don’t you come to our monthly meet on Thursday night at The George on the A38 at Cam, Dursley. (See cotswold meet thread for more details). We meet at 7pm go for a drive out and then back about 8 for food and a beer.would give you a chance to ask as many questions as you like and look around the cars. :thumright:
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Re: Buying my first RX8

Post by Octatonic »

Many thanks Davred but I have found a car now! Dave2112 that sounds interesting, sorry couldn't join you this time but hope to soon!