New Guy looking for a RX8

[ZuluMat]

Hello everyone my name is Mat and I hope you are all well, I have been a lover of Japanese cars since I was 17 with a rather nice Japanese car history.

Although I’ve owned several Japanese sports cars I’ve never had a rotary engine before so my knowledge is sketchy, I have read a few things on here and online but would like to ask you guys what I should be looking out for when I’m looking at buying a RX8.

I have found a nice PZ with 60k on the clock and going to test drive it on Thursday, what should I be looking for? Any issues that my be hard to spot if I’m not looking for them?

Any support and advice will be very much appreciated.

Mat.

[kopite72]

Have a look..

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=24047&p=1235639&hi ... e#p1235639

[Lucky 8 Racing]

You’ve come to the right place!
A compression test prior to sale would be important unless you want to get a fresh build put on in the near future.
Other than that, sills, bodywork and suspension are the main things I’d be looking at on a pz as they will set you back the most to fix or replace

[ChrisHolmes]

When test driving, or being driven, the car does not really “come alive” until you get above 3500rpm. Once rolling then from those Revs it should accelerate smoothly and quickly up to the beep which is up at the 9000rpm Rev band. The engine will not have the big increase in noise or harshness that a piston engine can.
Also it’s very easy to stall when new to the car as there is little torque when setting off and the engine is so smooth.
Is it a private sale or trade?

[350matt]

if the compression is good, then rust, oh my days the rust.....

rear arches is where it starts and then it can run down between the inner and outer skins to then rot out the back and bottom of the sills, plus the bottom of the sills and the around the bootlid centre brake light

[ZuluMat]

Hello Chris, the one I have found is at a garage and looks to be in good condition and have claimed that the compression is between 6.1 to 7.1 across both rota’s.

Thursday I’ll know more when I drive the car, thank you all for your words of advice and I’ll go on the test drive better informed.

[ZuluMat]

if the compression is good, then rust, oh my days the rust.....

rear arches is where it starts and then it can run down between the inner and outer skins to then rot out the back and bottom of the sills, plus the bottom of the sills and the around the bootlid centre brake light

looking at the photos it looks very clean and a good example of a PZ

[ZuluMat]

You’ve come to the right place!
A compression test prior to sale would be important unless you want to get a fresh build put on in the near future.
Other than that, sills, bodywork and suspension are the main things I’d be looking at on a pz as they will set you back the most to fix or replace

I think for my own peace of mind I’ll have a rebuild in the near future then I can reset the clock on the engine, at the moment it’s all speculation as to when a service and parts have been replaced.

[Scotty PZ]

Like yourself I have had a fair few jap performance cars, I jumped into RX8 ownership with a PZ also, they are great once you get to know them. If you have had a torquey turbo car before they can feel lackluster, but once you get your head around the way they perform, especially on a back road they are epic performance for the money. I have a list of all of the PZ manufactured with their PZ number, if you purchase it let me know and I can find out which one it is.

[ChrisHolmes]

My understanding is that the PZs were not “numbered” as the 40ths and Kuros were, but then every day is a school day after all.

[v-rex]

Like yourself I have had a fair few jap performance cars, I jumped into RX8 ownership with a PZ also, they are great once you get to know them. If you have had a torquey turbo car before they can feel lackluster, but once you get your head around the way they perform, especially on a back road they are epic performance for the money. I have a list of all of the PZ manufactured with their PZ number, if you purchase it let me know and I can find out which one it is.

Reversing on any kind of hill fills me with dread. Still can't get it right after all these years. Either I roll forward or I have a smelly car for a while....

Going forward, yes off the lights it's not amazing, but it's great once you are going imo!

[Scotty PZ]

Like yourself I have had a fair few jap performance cars, I jumped into RX8 ownership with a PZ also, they are great once you get to know them. If you have had a torquey turbo car before they can feel lackluster, but once you get your head around the way they perform, especially on a back road they are epic performance for the money. I have a list of all of the PZ manufactured with their PZ number, if you purchase it let me know and I can find out which one it is.

Reversing on any kind of hill fills me with dread. Still can't get it right after all these years. Either I roll forward or I have a smelly car for a while....

Going forward, yes off the lights it's not amazing, but it's great once you are going imo!

They challenge you a bit, you have to keep the momentum up to stay in the power band, it's bloody rewarding and always makes me smile like a grinning prat.

[GreySilver Beast]

Hi Mat & to the RX-8OC


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

Events Team

[ZuluMat]

Like yourself I have had a fair few jap performance cars, I jumped into RX8 ownership with a PZ also, they are great once you get to know them. If you have had a torquey turbo car before they can feel lackluster, but once you get your head around the way they perform, especially on a back road they are epic performance for the money. I have a list of all of the PZ manufactured with their PZ number, if you purchase it let me know and I can find out which one it is.

well I currently drive a 2004 Honda Accord Sport with 150ish BHP but the motors I have had over the years have ranged from Toyota MR2 Turbo, Supra twin turbos, Skyline R32 Turbo, S13 200sx Turbo and other cars such as civic’s and MR2 and Supra NA’s. I’ve always wanted to have a rotary engine motor at some point and I feel the RX8 PZ is the way to go, having had my accord for a while now I’m sure the RX8 performance will far exceed it.

[ZuluMat]

Hi Mat & to the RX-8OC


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

Events Team

Thank you, I shall check out the events once I’ve got myself the car.

[Ollie]

No car required to join in for meetups. Head along anyway. Its a great opportunity to meet new people and see some of the cars for yourself! Always a fun time had by all.

[Shagrington]

Hi and ZuluMat and about any meet ups. Happy hunting and good luck finding the right car if you didn't already.

[Dom-PZ]

Welcome and good luck! I wanted an RX-8 once... just to try, see what all the fuss was about. I was well rewarded and so still have it

[Scotty PZ]

Like yourself I have had a fair few jap performance cars, I jumped into RX8 ownership with a PZ also, they are great once you get to know them. If you have had a torquey turbo car before they can feel lackluster, but once you get your head around the way they perform, especially on a back road they are epic performance for the money. I have a list of all of the PZ manufactured with their PZ number, if you purchase it let me know and I can find out which one it is.

well I currently drive a 2004 Honda Accord Sport with 150ish BHP but the motors I have had over the years have ranged from Toyota MR2 Turbo, Supra twin turbos, Skyline R32 Turbo, S13 200sx Turbo and other cars such as civic’s and MR2 and Supra NA’s. I’ve always wanted to have a rotary engine motor at some point and I feel the RX8 PZ is the way to go, having had my accord for a while now I’m sure the RX8 performance will far exceed it.

Good man, I have had 2 Jza80 tt's, one a UK tt6 and the other a auto tt, I loved them but the time was right to move on.
The RX8 is great pal, just invest in a compression test, check for rust, if all is well then make the jump. Do the basics and they are reliable, mine has never let me down (but then again, I plowed about 5k into it).

[ZuluMat]

No car required to join in for meetups. Head along anyway. Its a great opportunity to meet new people and see some of the cars for yourself! Always a fun time had by all.

Thank you this is kind of you all, I should hopefully all going well have a PZ by next weekend (fingers crossed) if not I’ll pop out in the accord :-)

[ZuluMat]

Hi and ZuluMat and about any meet ups. Happy hunting and good luck finding the right car if you didn't already.

Thanks you

[ZuluMat]

Welcome and good luck! I wanted an RX-8 once... just to try, see what all the fuss was about. I was well rewarded and so still have it

Thank you, I have a feeling I’ll be very happy once I find the car for me.

[ZuluMat]

Like yourself I have had a fair few jap performance cars, I jumped into RX8 ownership with a PZ also, they are great once you get to know them. If you have had a torquey turbo car before they can feel lackluster, but once you get your head around the way they perform, especially on a back road they are epic performance for the money. I have a list of all of the PZ manufactured with their PZ number, if you purchase it let me know and I can find out which one it is.

well I currently drive a 2004 Honda Accord Sport with 150ish BHP but the motors I have had over the years have ranged from Toyota MR2 Turbo, Supra twin turbos, Skyline R32 Turbo, S13 200sx Turbo and other cars such as civic’s and MR2 and Supra NA’s. I’ve always wanted to have a rotary engine motor at some point and I feel the RX8 PZ is the way to go, having had my accord for a while now I’m sure the RX8 performance will far exceed it.

Good man, I have had 2 Jza80 tt's, one a UK tt6 and the other a auto tt, I loved them but the time was right to move on.
The RX8 is great pal, just invest in a compression test, check for rust, if all is well then make the jump. Do the basics and they are reliable, mine has never let me down (but then again, I plowed about 5k into it).

I think over time I’ll put a fair amount of cash into the PZ but I want to try keep it as stock as possible with some subtle mods, as times goes on the PZ will become a lot more rare.

[Scotty PZ]

well I currently drive a 2004 Honda Accord Sport with 150ish BHP but the motors I have had over the years have ranged from Toyota MR2 Turbo, Supra twin turbos, Skyline R32 Turbo, S13 200sx Turbo and other cars such as civic’s and MR2 and Supra NA’s. I’ve always wanted to have a rotary engine motor at some point and I feel the RX8 PZ is the way to go, having had my accord for a while now I’m sure the RX8 performance will far exceed it.

Good man, I have had 2 Jza80 tt's, one a UK tt6 and the other a auto tt, I loved them but the time was right to move on.
The RX8 is great pal, just invest in a compression test, check for rust, if all is well then make the jump. Do the basics and they are reliable, mine has never let me down (but then again, I plowed about 5k into it).

I think over time I’ll put a fair amount of cash into the PZ but I want to try keep it as stock as possible with some subtle mods, as times goes on the PZ will become a lot more rare.

I agree, I am looking at buying a second one and storing it in my workshop.
Don't hesitate pal, they are a great bit of kit.

[ZuluMat]

Good man, I have had 2 Jza80 tt's, one a UK tt6 and the other a auto tt, I loved them but the time was right to move on.
The RX8 is great pal, just invest in a compression test, check for rust, if all is well then make the jump. Do the basics and they are reliable, mine has never let me down (but then again, I plowed about 5k into it).

I think over time I’ll put a fair amount of cash into the PZ but I want to try keep it as stock as possible with some subtle mods, as times goes on the PZ will become a lot more rare.

I agree, I am looking at buying a second one and storing it in my workshop.
Don't hesitate pal, they are a great bit of kit.

Will see how this one looks on Thursday, all going well I’m be coming home with it.