New Rx8 owner

A chance to introduce yourself...
Yozhek
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:51 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Strato Blue
Location: Somerset
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 4 times

New Rx8 owner

Post by Yozhek »

Hi,

My friend had an Rx8, the engine went bang and he had some 'Rx8 expert' rebuild it, the rebuilt engine was a disaster leaking coolant from one of the main rotor housing seals and when the alternator supposedly failed we found the handful of swarf they left in the ECU box was causing a short, he sold it before anything else went failed. Anyway the way that car drove kinda stuck in my head, good handling, crazy revs and a power band bit like a 2 stroke, awesome :D

Fast forward 3 years and i managed to retire a little early and got to thinking about a fun toy to keep me occupied, somehow i remembered the Rx8, cheap to buy, lots of fun and having been in the motor trade for many years i'm not scared of the odd engine rebuild. So, off i went looking at Rx8's.

Now i was expecting some corrosion but the dented rust riddled rubbish i was driving hundreds of miles to look at (and that is just southern cars) was a bit of an eye opener :shock:

Long story short, i eventually found a good one and it was only 10 miles from where i live! Unmolested origional 06 plate with 41,000 miles with nearly perfect strato blue paint, lovely, drove like a new car :D the down side it is a 190hp but i guess i can live with that.

Of course there is rust in the usual places but mostly surface corrosion. After powerwashing the underside it looked pretty grim but a few hours with a needle gun revealed most of this was just staining on the stone chip and no swelling or weakness along the bottom of the sills or chassis. It did have holes starting at the front of the rear wheel arch/back of the sill which needed cutting out and plating and also the lower 3 inches of the wheel arch needed remaking, some seriously difficult shapes to make!

Image

The welding and paint is now done and i'm in the process of dosing every inch of it with Dinitrol :thumright: :|

Ade
These users thanked the author Yozhek for the post:
30405 (Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:11 pm)
User avatar
Shagrington
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Posts: 32772
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:54 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Sunlight Silver
Location: Kent (out in the sticks - nothing urban here)
Has thanked: 266 times
Been thanked: 320 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by Shagrington »

Hi and :welcome: Yozhek :D Well done on finding a good one - and only 41k miles too. There's nothing wrong with a good 190, there really isn't much difference between that and a 230 on the road and the 190 is actually a bit better to drive in town.

Have a good read through whatever in the FAQ section you didn't already read :study: and then (and just ignore me if you know all this already - I suspect you really won't need my tips) 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 [-X 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 :censored: 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 :twisted: ) 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 (including access to all the workshop and technical manuals), local meets (when we can start them again - 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. :thumright:
'Grington.
former Club Treasurer 2010-18 (now finally retired) \:D/
Silver 192 green interior LEDS, Nordic Green hoop spoiler, roof inserts and wheels Silver Stripes (now finally retired) :cry:
User avatar
casey
Events Team Member
Events Team Member
Posts: 12589
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:14 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Colchester
Has thanked: 507 times
Been thanked: 451 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by casey »

:welcome: Yozhek, a good story, and I'm pleased to hear you've found what sounds to be a good one.

As Shagrington said, don't worry about it being a 192. The gearing on that model does a lot to make it a pretty fair match for the 231 in the real world. We've done several timed circuit events and the 192 and 231 come in with very similar times. In a tight slalom course, a 192 actually did the fastest times at an event I attended many moons ago.

I'd miss the 9k buzzer though ;)
Essex Rotary Full Bridgeport
Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet, "Racing Brake" front calipers, Racing Beat (RB) ARB's F&R, RB REVI intake, full RB Stainless Steel Exhaust & Mani, 20mm Eibach spacers, KOYO Ali Rad, Lightened Fly, Tein MonoFlex coilovers & strut brace, Axial short-shifter, BHR Coils & Engine Mounts, Greddy Sump
Federal 595RS-R or Rainsport 3
User avatar
casey
Events Team Member
Events Team Member
Posts: 12589
Joined: Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:14 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Titanium Grey
Location: Colchester
Has thanked: 507 times
Been thanked: 451 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by casey »

Can't tell with the flash on that photo, but you mention the car is "Strato Blue", which is a very dark blue. Your photo suggests the much lighter "Winning Blue".

Oh, and your profile states "Titanium Grey", just to confuse :-k :D
Essex Rotary Full Bridgeport
Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet, "Racing Brake" front calipers, Racing Beat (RB) ARB's F&R, RB REVI intake, full RB Stainless Steel Exhaust & Mani, 20mm Eibach spacers, KOYO Ali Rad, Lightened Fly, Tein MonoFlex coilovers & strut brace, Axial short-shifter, BHR Coils & Engine Mounts, Greddy Sump
Federal 595RS-R or Rainsport 3
User avatar
HarSc
Committee Member
Committee Member
Posts: 5507
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 1:29 am
RX-8: R3
Colour: Crystal White
Location: Doncaster
Has thanked: 566 times
Been thanked: 520 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by HarSc »

:welcome: Awesome to see you've managed to find yourself a good one! At least rust-wise, and that's becoming a harder task these days! Top job. :thumleft:
casey wrote:
Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:03 pm
Can't tell with the flash on that photo, but you mention the car is "Strato Blue", which is a very dark blue. Your photo suggests the much lighter "Winning Blue".

Oh, and your profile states "Titanium Grey", just to confuse :-k :D
Hey, maybe it's just multicolour camouflage ;) :lol:
Some guy from oooop north ;) | Harry | Membership Secretary | Media Team

- My Main RX-8 R3 [MHZ 3800] thread here
- My Project Banana [GL04 MXU] thread here
- My Mazda 2 DE daily thread here
- My engine disassembly shenanigans here
User avatar
SmuttyHutty
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 3566
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:45 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Nordic Green
Location: Suffolk/Cambs border
Has thanked: 252 times
Been thanked: 206 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by SmuttyHutty »

I'll add to the 192 vs 231 debate. I felt for a long time that I had missed out by not having a 231 and then I bought a PZ. Having driven them both I can say that the ride on the 192 is far more comfortable. The gearing in the 192 seems more sensible for the real world. And waiting for the beep on the 231 takes forever!

I just wish I could get rid of the damn rattles in each of them.
User avatar
HarSc
Committee Member
Committee Member
Posts: 5507
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2020 1:29 am
RX-8: R3
Colour: Crystal White
Location: Doncaster
Has thanked: 566 times
Been thanked: 520 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by HarSc »

SmuttyHutty wrote:
Mon Jan 04, 2021 7:48 pm
And waiting for the beep on the 231 takes forever!
It just keeps going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going


...and I love it :lol: :shaking2: :xmasnuts:
Some guy from oooop north ;) | Harry | Membership Secretary | Media Team

- My Main RX-8 R3 [MHZ 3800] thread here
- My Project Banana [GL04 MXU] thread here
- My Mazda 2 DE daily thread here
- My engine disassembly shenanigans here
User avatar
Ollie
Committee Member
Committee Member
Posts: 5274
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:40 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Custom
Location: Cider Country
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 280 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by Ollie »

Doesn't take long at all in 2nd or 3rd. :p But you will suddenly be going about 80mph for some reason.
Club Treasurer

Kentaro The Red - Sadly fallen...
Star Platinum - Work in progress


For whats pending... See here: viewtopic.php?f=204&t=86071
User avatar
SmuttyHutty
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 3566
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:45 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Nordic Green
Location: Suffolk/Cambs border
Has thanked: 252 times
Been thanked: 206 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by SmuttyHutty »

1st......................beep.2nd.....................beep.3rd.........................beep.4th5th6th
30405
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 4443
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:40 pm
Has thanked: 750 times
Been thanked: 175 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by 30405 »

SmuttyHutty wrote:1st......................beep.2nd.....................beep.3rd.........................beep.4th5th6th
What are 4,5 & 6 used for??????
User avatar
nightfire10
Club Member
Club Member
Posts: 8004
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2014 9:11 pm
RX-8: 40th Anniversary
Colour: Crystal White
Location: poole dorset
Has thanked: 741 times
Been thanked: 282 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by nightfire10 »

Vj4sothername wrote:
SmuttyHutty wrote:1st......................beep.2nd.....................beep.3rd.........................beep.4th5th6th
What are 4,5 & 6 used for??????
Autobahn ImageImage

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

These users thanked the author nightfire10 for the post:
30405 (Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:27 pm)
Hayward's Street/bridgeported rebuild,595's,Tein coilovers edfc Racingbeat rear anti roll bar oil pres oil temp gauge pod's,lockwood front rear grills,Tinted wind ws folding tow hook's,595s,connect2 ,at long last sohn and ap50 tank instaled ,revi ram air duct already fitted ! calipers painted,diff oil changed .
just oil lines to fit at some stage ( had them a while too) :P

180 of 400
User avatar
SmuttyHutty
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 3566
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:45 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Nordic Green
Location: Suffolk/Cambs border
Has thanked: 252 times
Been thanked: 206 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by SmuttyHutty »

Vj4sothername wrote:
Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:26 pm
SmuttyHutty wrote:1st......................beep.2nd.....................beep.3rd.........................beep.4th5th6th
What are 4,5 & 6 used for??????
Make me feel like I am being economical
30405
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 4443
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:40 pm
Has thanked: 750 times
Been thanked: 175 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by 30405 »


SmuttyHutty wrote:
Make me feel like I am being economical
It's called an rx8 for a reason. Any mpg above that is wasted potential.
User avatar
SmuttyHutty
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 3566
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:45 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Nordic Green
Location: Suffolk/Cambs border
Has thanked: 252 times
Been thanked: 206 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by SmuttyHutty »

The words of a man who puts napalm on his cornflakes.
These users thanked the author SmuttyHutty for the post:
30405 (Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:47 pm)
30405
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 4443
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:40 pm
Has thanked: 750 times
Been thanked: 175 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by 30405 »

Yozhek wrote:Hi,

My friend had an Rx8, the engine went bang and he had some 'Rx8 expert' rebuild it, the rebuilt engine was a disaster leaking coolant from one of the main rotor housing seals and when the alternator supposedly failed we found the handful of swarf they left in the ECU box was causing a short, he sold it before anything else went failed. Anyway the way that car drove kinda stuck in my head, good handling, crazy revs and a power band bit like a 2 stroke, awesome :D

Fast forward 3 years and i managed to retire a little early and got to thinking about a fun toy to keep me occupied, somehow i remembered the Rx8, cheap to buy, lots of fun and having been in the motor trade for many years i'm not scared of the odd engine rebuild. So, off i went looking at Rx8's.

Now i was expecting some corrosion but the dented rust riddled rubbish i was driving hundreds of miles to look at (and that is just southern cars) was a bit of an eye opener :shock:

Long story short, i eventually found a good one and it was only 10 miles from where i live! Unmolested origional 06 plate with 41,000 miles with nearly perfect strato blue paint, lovely, drove like a new car :D the down side it is a 190hp but i guess i can live with that.

Of course there is rust in the usual places but mostly surface corrosion. After powerwashing the underside it looked pretty grim but a few hours with a needle gun revealed most of this was just staining on the stone chip and no swelling or weakness along the bottom of the sills or chassis. It did have holes starting at the front of the rear wheel arch/back of the sill which needed cutting out and plating and also the lower 3 inches of the wheel arch needed remaking, some seriously difficult shapes to make!

Image

The welding and paint is now done and i'm in the process of dosing every inch of it with Dinitrol :thumright: :|

Ade
Welcome to the club! Sounds like your diving straight in. Please consider putting a build thread so I can be nosey and steall ideas Image
User avatar
Ollie
Committee Member
Committee Member
Posts: 5274
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2019 6:40 pm
RX-8: 231
Colour: Custom
Location: Cider Country
Has thanked: 11 times
Been thanked: 280 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by Ollie »

SmuttyHutty wrote:
Mon Jan 04, 2021 9:08 pm
1st......................beep.2nd.....................beep.3rd.........................beep.4th5th6th
When I was driving my 8 to and from work it was down country lanes... Get stuck behind a tractor or a slow driver... Sat in 3rd gear forever anyway... Would barely need 4th. :p 6th is purely an economy gear in any car anyway.
Club Treasurer

Kentaro The Red - Sadly fallen...
Star Platinum - Work in progress


For whats pending... See here: viewtopic.php?f=204&t=86071
User avatar
GreySilver Beast
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 64961
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:57 pm
Location: Somewhere in the UK
Has thanked: 1581 times
Been thanked: 365 times

New Rx8 owner

Post by GreySilver Beast »

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

<<<<<< Please put your Location in your Profile Box, it will help us to know where you are, if required any help in the future :thumright:

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

Events Team
GreySilver Beast-Test Drives Unlimited (Nigel)
Club Member from 2006 - present
Events Team from 2015 - 2024
Events Coordinator from 2017 - 2023
Administrator from 2012 - present RX-8 Owners Club UK
Tesla M3LR AB 363 AWD " Blue Beast "
Yozhek
Former Member
Former Member
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:51 am
RX-8: 192
Colour: Strato Blue
Location: Somerset
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: New Rx8 owner

Post by Yozhek »

Thanks for the welcome and advice :D

My profile is corrected now, my first purchase was a Titanium Grey 231 that was pretty good underneath but had the roof and bonnet painted due to vandalism. I hate doing bodywork :( so this is up for sale now.

Repairs are done both sides now and the dirty job of Dinitroling the inside and out is in progress

Image


Image
These users thanked the author Yozhek for the post:
SmuttyHutty (Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:29 am)