New Guy looking for a RX8

[ZuluMat]

It's not the car's fault that, depending on your mileage, it may cost you more for the (later model) road tax and insurance than to feed it's fuel habit.

What’s not the cars fault? I’m a little confused.

[Ollie]

The higher running cost. Cars after April 06 have road tax of £570 a year. Ontop of your insurance cost of likely 400-700 a year depending on your age/ncb area and whatever else.

[New Duke]

Or £200 a year for insurance in my case

[ZuluMat]

The higher running cost. Cars after April 06 have road tax of £570 a year. Ontop of your insurance cost of likely 400-700 a year depending on your age/ncb area and whatever else.

Oh!!!!! Well I’m prepared for higher costs that come with it.

[nightfire10]

The higher running cost. Cars after April 06 have road tax of £570 a year. Ontop of your insurance cost of likely 400-700 a year depending on your age/ncb area and whatever else.

Oh!!!!! Well I’m prepared for higher costs that come with it.

From a 40th owner be prepared for approx 180 per tank around town lol but great fun

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[New Duke]

Or £200 a year for insurance in my case

Your grey hairs are showing Haydn.

[ZuluMat]

Well folks thank you for your advice and support of the last week or so, I am now the proud owner of a white 40th Anniversary edition RX8! I collect it next weekend as the garage is now servicing, valeting and MOT the car before my collect.

Looking forward to getting out there and enjoy the car.

[Ainmhidh]

Congratulations on the new purchase Mat. You'll love almost everything about it (just don't look at the price of fuel).
If he didn't already post it somewhere upthread I'm sure Shaggy will be along shortly with the new-buyers guide. If you don't know it already, check the service records for various bits of the ignition system to make sure they're up to scratch, amongst other bits.
I'm also contractually obliged to suggest joining the Owners Club https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/members ... Select.php where you can get discounts from various companies that will see you save your membership fee in short order, as well as the exclusive club goodies in the welcome pack and access to the workshop manuals etc. Plus you can then post pictures of your new acquisition directly to the forum for everyone to Oooh at.
Have you seen the social meets page? I don't know whereabouts you are in the East Mids but one of them might be reasonably close, or at least a fun drive out!

[ZuluMat]

Congratulations on the new purchase Mat. You'll love almost everything about it (just don't look at the price of fuel).
If he didn't already post it somewhere upthread I'm sure Shaggy will be along shortly with the new-buyers guide. If you don't know it already, check the service records for various bits of the ignition system to make sure they're up to scratch, amongst other bits.
I'm also contractually obliged to suggest joining the Owners Club https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/members ... Select.php where you can get discounts from various companies that will see you save your membership fee in short order, as well as the exclusive club goodies in the welcome pack and access to the workshop manuals etc. Plus you can then post pictures of your new acquisition directly to the forum for everyone to Oooh at.
Have you seen the social meets page? I don't know whereabouts you are in the East Mids but one of them might be reasonably close, or at least a fun drive out!

I have paid the £31 for membership as soon as I got home so it’s all done haha, thanks I’ll take a look at that link.

[Ainmhidh]

So you did indeed - Full member privileges now activated! and thanks for joining!
We've got the AGM event happening in a month a couple of hours from you, if you want to meet a bunch of the members and even have some track day fun?
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=80801

[ZuluMat]

So you did indeed - Full member privileges now activated! and thanks for joining!
We've got the AGM event happening in a month a couple of hours from you, if you want to meet a bunch of the members and even have some track day fun?
viewtopic.php?f=38&t=80801

Thank you I shall check I’m not work and make best efforts to come.

[ZuluMat]

Congratulations

If he didn't already post it somewhere upthread I'm sure Shaggy will be along shortly with the new-buyers guide.

I'd better do that right now I guess
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.

Thanks for joining the club (it is usually tip #5 and the most useful of my tips).

[ZuluMat]

Congratulations

If he didn't already post it somewhere upthread I'm sure Shaggy will be along shortly with the new-buyers guide.

I'd better do that right now I guess
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.

Thanks for joining the club (it is usually tip #5 and the most useful of my tips).

Fantastic! It’s like starting up a plane with preflight checks I’ll endeavour to use your tips every day I’m out in the lovely RX8.

[warpc0il]

It's easy if you have a routine...
Get in car
Put key in ignition and switch on
Put seatbelt on and get comfortable
Turn key to start engine
Drive off

[Shagrington]

That gives pretty much the right amount of time for the ECU to do it's pre-flight checks and for the airbag light to go out.

[Honkytonk]

I also find it stops you from being one of those people who start driving before putting their seatbelt on. You know the ones. They're fumbling with it as they're pulling out of the car park or along the street. "I grew up without seatbelts, I just forget" - you've had nearly 50 years now to get used to it...

Bit left field, but I also generally make sure all my electrics are turned off when I start the car (heated seats in particular!) as starting is the worst time for the battery and I feel better knowing it's only drawing power for that as opposed to all the auxiliaries. But that's just me and I don't know if anyone else does it or if it even helps. Just makes me feel better

[ChrisHolmes]

Based on 30000 miles this is the Autotrader valuation which drops to £3.3k / £3.6k at 50000 miles

77D19134-08E2-4908-AA00-978F8BCF991F.png

[ZuluMat]

Bit left field, but I also generally make sure all my electrics are turned off when I start the car (heated seats in particular!) as starting is the worst time for the battery and I feel better knowing it's only drawing power for that as opposed to all the auxiliaries. But that's just me and I don't know if anyone else does it or if it even helps. Just makes me feel better

This is something I’m already in the habit of doing and I’m desperately trying to get the other half to do.

[ZuluMat]

How do I know which number out of 400 my new 40th edition is? I don’t remember seeing anything when I was last with the car? Could a VRM search bring up any details?

[Ollie]

How do I know which number out of 400 my new 40th edition is? I don’t remember seeing anything when I was last with the car? Could a VRM search bring up any details?

Should be on the plates at the bottom of the door. Theres a few places in the car that its displayed if memory serves right.

[ZuluMat]

I don’t remember seeing them haha, I’ll ask the garage tomorrow. I thought I could do a search somewhere with the reg.

[Ollie]

If memory serves rightly, theres no real linking VINs to special edition #'s. There is a collection of VINs of member cars for special editions on the forums however.

[ZuluMat]

If memory serves rightly, theres no real linking VINs to special edition #'s. There is a collection of VINs of member cars for special editions on the forums however.

Not to worry, I don’t remember seeing any numbers on the sill when I last seen the car, I’ll just wait till Saturday ask the Garage to let me know.

[warpc0il]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=54929&hilit=special+edition

[ZuluMat]

Okay so with Saturday only two days away and the excitement building I have been reading up on pre-mixing, I have read all the benefits of this but unsure on a couple of things if anyone can help.

1,What two stroke oil is best and 2,how much do I put into a full tank of fuel?