New member looking for a RX8 - FOUND!

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twade76
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New member looking for a RX8 - FOUND!

Post by twade76 »

Hello all,

Just doing some general lurking as I start the process of finding and buying an RX8.

Hoping to pick up a 231 rather than 192, there have been a couple that I have liked the look of advertised on here but I keep missing out. I was hoping to get one from a club member in the hope that it has been properly maintained.

Tom.
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New member looking for a RX8

Post by GreySilver Beast »

Hi Tom & :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:

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twade76 (Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:31 am)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by Shagrington »

Hi and :welcome: twade76. :D Don't dismiss a decent 192, there really isn't much difference between the 192 and 231 on the road ... unless you'd always be wondering were you missing out of course. Good luck with your search.
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twade76 (Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:32 am)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by SmuttyHutty »

Morning Twade76. Enjoy the search and the research on your quest for an RX8. When I was looking my main criterion was body work. Next was a good service history. And finally was it had to be enthusiast owned. The 192 Vs 231 argument never entered my head.

And a perfect Nordic Green 192 came up at an unbelievable price.

But then I kept thinking about the 231. And it made me wonder. So now I have a PZ as well.

There are differences. There are similarities. Is one better than the other? No.

Put it this way - both cars will be doing over 90mph when the beep arrives in third gear. The 192 gear box feels better geared. The 231 revs and revs and revs and seems to go on forever until the beep arrives.

Both cars are fab.

I'd say rule nothing in and rule nothing out. There are definitely some excellent cars available from members. I'm sure they'll pop up with their cars very soon.
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twade76 (Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:32 am)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by warpc0il »

This car will be available again, after the 23rd March
viewtopic.php?f=145&t=83166#p1308423
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twade76 (Wed Mar 17, 2021 11:32 am)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by twade76 »

Thanks All, i'm in no particular rush so can wait for the 'right' one to arrive.

I have been thinking about the 192/231 decision, I'd definitely prefer a higher powered one, but I'm not entirely discounting a 192 if something came up locally. I'll be selling a t-sport celica which is 190ish bhp to make way for this, so a decent jump in power would be appreciated along with the refinement.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by warpc0il »

On the road, keeping within speed limits, there's a chance that a 192 could actually be quicker, and would be more refined.

On an open track there's a noticeable difference but actual laps times would be more dependant on driver skill and other factors.

There's many on here that could lap a 192 on good tyres, suspension & brakes, quite a bit quicker than an average Joe in a 231.

I've yet to find a track where I can get my 231 flat-out in 5th gear. let alone 6th.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by twade76 »

True, it'll be more of a weekend cruiser than a track weapon so I don't need the power, but it's nice to have it there for the occasional blast though.

Will see how the search goes.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by ChrisHolmes »

warpc0il wrote:
Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:37 pm
This car will be available again, after the 23rd March
viewtopic.php?f=145&t=83166#p1308423
Many thanks Dave for the referral. I have been surprised how well the 192 pulls, very much on a par with the 231 in feeling and sound. I am amazed this hasn’t sold but then viewing may be the issue.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by casey »

I vividly recall a car "fun" day, waaay back, at North Weald I think, when about a dozen of club members were timed through a coned slalom course, that the winner was driving a 192. The course was very tight with just 1st/2nd gear, but just showed the 192 was as capable in those circumstances. This was over several timed runs and the results were very consistent. I remember we all remarked on it at the time. All drivers were pretty experienced fast road/track drivers.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by ChrisHolmes »

On the NC500 run a couple of years ago Ben’s 192 was on pace with my previous 231 for a couple of miles at *** plus speeds!!
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twade76 (Mon Mar 22, 2021 5:34 pm)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by Elmotheewokking »

I'd be more concerned with the state of the chassis and compression figures over which version it is to be honest.
No experience in a 192 personally, but from what I keep hearing, performance wise, the difference is negligible.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by Koren »

For me the 231 decision was more about having the higher rev limit. Seemed a no brainer when buying a car that's famed for its high rev limit. The 6th gear seemed sensible too, coming for another 6 speed car. Also partly because of buying lesser spec models of previous cars and regretting it after.
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twade76 (Mon Mar 22, 2021 5:34 pm)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by HarSc »

Amusingly enough, in the 8 if you're wanting the 6th gear to cruise at a lower RPM, the gearing is set up such that generally the 5 speed runs at a lower RPM for X mph in 5th vs 6th.

I know personally that my R3 sits at 3.5k at 70, which matches up with the graph, and in a 5 speed, it's only 3k. :-k one thing for sure on the 231 is the higher redline, the revs do keep going, but for driveability, the 192 is definitely sensible ;) not that sensible and RX-8 should be together, but hey ho. Thought these graphs are amusing to look at :thumleft:
5 speed 192.JPG
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twade76 (Mon Mar 22, 2021 5:33 pm)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by Nanotrox »

bit on / off topic but I don't remember when I used 6th gear last in my 40th hahaha I usually just keep it in 5th even on the motorway I really need to remember I have a 6th gear for a reason
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twade76 (Mon Mar 22, 2021 5:33 pm)
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by SmuttyHutty »

Those graphs are pretty cool and I recall Dave posting them up at one point. Having both a 192 and a PZ I can tell you things in real life are quite similar between the cars.

At 74mph ish they both sit at pretty much the same rpm. It is about 3400-3600. Having started with the 192 I found it amazing to be able to rev up to 7500rpm before getting the beep. You just don't do that in a car! Then I had the rev limiter removed so I can freely rev to 9000rpm if I need to. If anything, the 231 revs just go on too long, which I know sounds a bit daft.

Both cars are in mega points or losing licence territory in third gear. Both top out at around 90-92mph in third so the fifth gear/sixth gear argument is purely academic. And, as has been pointed out many times in the past, if you're worried over fuel economy then you're in the wrong car.

All that said, after a year or so of owning the 192 I felt that I was missing out on not have the 231. If I can buy the biggest then I want the biggest! So it has been interesting scratching that itch and having the comparison.

If I had to sell one in order to get the engine rebuilt on the other, which way round would I rather it be? The 192 is the one I would keep. But I think the PZ will be worth more in the long run.

Sod it. I'll just raid more of the savings and keep both.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by twade76 »

Thanks all, the 192 is looking increasingly likely to be honest, my other car that I will be keeping is a Forester STI which has plenty of grunt but is a bit on the aggressive side.

On a topic at the other end of the spectrum, what are peoples experiences with fitting child seats in the back? I have a 5 year old and a 3ish week old, so will have baby and booster seats for the forseeable. Won't need them in all the time, but it would be nice to take the family out for a cruise into the countryside once (if!) the lockdown eases.

I reckon the booster seat for the older child will be fine, looks like it may be a bit of a squeeze to fit a rear-facing baby seat? It isn't a game changer for me as long as there is enough adjustability in the front passenger seat, but it would be good to set my expectations.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by Ollie »

This may help you out:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=80597#p1233677
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by twade76 »

Thanks, very comprehensive.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by twade76 »

So then, went to look at this today:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LIMITED-EDIT ... %7Ciid%3A1

Was planning on taking my time, looking at a few cars before settling on one and then doing some hard bargaining to get the best price possible.

Deposit paid 10 mins after test drive :roll:

I have a compression test booked for it before stumping up the cash, assuming the results are good I'll be picking it up next week.
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by SmuttyHutty »

Congratulations. Looks like you've bought a corker!
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by Shagrington »

That's pretty 8)
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New member looking for a RX8

Post by GreySilver Beast »

Am sure have seen this car around Mallory Area :roll: although it might of been another Copper Red one :thumright:
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by twade76 »

Thanks everyone, fingers crossed it'll pass the test!
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Re: New member looking for a RX8

Post by HarSc »

I would aim to get the actual numbers of the test if they're willing to give you them, rather than someone just saying pass/fail, as it varies to what people will call a good number, and if someone is selling it they're more likely to say a lower number is still strong compression. It'd be three numbers on each rotor, for a total of 6. They could come in either of these three kPa/kgf/cm2/psi, but all can be converted.
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