'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

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'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by RaaGeeEmm »

Hello all,

I'm a new owner of a lovely condition, low mileage Blue 2008 RX8.
Had my eye on one for a while, also was looking at an RX7 Cabriolet as an alternative but rather missed the boat on that one as availability seems to have dropped of a cliff (and they wouldn't pass the ULEZ restrictions anyway meaning I couldn't drive it anywhere close to my house).

I'm currently living in the leafy part of Birmingham, I'm an engineer and I'm originally from London. With a fair wind and a lottery win I might be able to afford to move back there one day(!)

I finally made the purchase a week ago and it's been a great decision so far. In my years of umming and aahing I did a lot of research and this place seems to have been the number one place to go for my research - and I'll find out whether that was a good idea or not in time, lol - so while I've got the basic ideas I think there's plenty of space for me to learn more and hopefully prevent the thing from going bang.

I'm mechanically minded, not a car expert though by any means, but I can follow a routine and a schedule and guides plenty well enough.

After letting a Kuro slip through my fingers a few months ago I saw one my one with everything I wanted (especially a sunroof) went down, drove the thing, loved it and bought it (and came home to face the music from my wife).
Hasn't come with a compression test but has a full history with everything else with Mazda's Watford dealership and some receipts for rev specialist parts and work. Fabulously well looked after in all respects as far as I can tell.

Are there any recomendations for places that can be trusted around the B'ham area with a Mazda, specifically their dealers, for the purposes of getting a compression test? In the test drive the car had plenty of power, she's definitely spry, but I do want to get an idea now of where its at.
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by Nickp47 »

Welcome and congrats on what sounds like a good purchase. Island Garage in Tamworth can’t be too far from you, no direct experience but pretty sure they know exactly what they’re doing with RX-8s.
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by DrewR3 »

Hello and welcome.

Following your statement of following guides etc, becoming a paid member gives you access to the technical manuals and workshop manuals on here to follow.

For work your nice and close to Ryan Rotary Performance, speak to them for all thing rotary and check out the shop for shiny bits.

If it is low mileage and well looked after with pulling hard i wouldnt personally bother with a compression test at the moment. Mines on 23k and do not intend on getting one. Until it starts misbehaving, then i think its a bit of a waste of time. As long as its starting well and pulling hard then just enjoy and put compression out if your mind. Check the oil, fill the tank and drive it.

Also i think i looked at that blue one if it is the 18k mile one?
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'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by GreySilver Beast »

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


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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by Shagrington »

Hi and :welcome: RaaGeeEmm. :D 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) 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 (they were all postponed but are beginning to happen again now) - 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:
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by Lucky 8 Racing »

Nickp47 wrote:
Sun Aug 08, 2021 9:34 pm
Welcome and congrats on what sounds like a good purchase. Island Garage in Tamworth can’t be too far from you, no direct experience but pretty sure they know exactly what they’re doing with RX-8s.
I do their comp tests :thumright:

I’m based in Rugeley but Birmingham isn’t very far. If you want one doing drop me a message I can come over to you or you can come over to me and I’ll see if I can’t tempt you with some other aftermarket parts ;)
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by casey »

:welcome: RaaGeeEmm
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by Dr. FrankenRex »

Heeeey! You're not far from me! :D

If you happen to be free next Saturday a load of us are all meeting up at my place (currently about 20 cars) near Evesham :)

There'll also be a couple of people with compression testers here too - much cheaper and more reliable than a dealer!

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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by osman »

Hopefully see you around :)
I'm also in bham near the city centre
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by RaaGeeEmm »

Thank you for the welcome!

I'm thinking I will join and become a full member soon enough, at the moment I'm still recovering from the tax and the insurance, cheap as the latter was. I think my wallet needs a break from the pummelling it's taken.

Plenty still to learn, like, how close to full do I need to keep the oil. I'm monitoring it very regularly but once it dips below the top line is that the point to bung in 200mm oil top-ups as quickly as or is it a little more tolerant than that and I just need to pour in before I'm planning to do some long-distance driving?

The oil was last changed 300 miles and eight months ago and it's golden enough to fry chips in and was brimmed to the line by the seller after the test-drive. I'm just not sure at which point I leap into action.
(I've got the dipstick with the two lines and the three bobbles on, I'm just above the top bobble which I interpret as being at between 4/5ths and 3/4rs and I'm wondering if the car needs more already).
DrewR3 wrote:
Sun Aug 08, 2021 9:35 pm
Also i think i looked at that blue one if it is the 18k mile one?
Ah, I think maybe you do know exactly the one. It hasn't reached 18k yet but will soon. As much as I want to keep it low this car just loves to be driven.
Velocity_Dan93 wrote:
Mon Aug 09, 2021 2:25 am
I’m based in Rugeley but Birmingham isn’t very far. If you want one doing drop me a message I can come over to you or you can come over to me and I’ll see if I can’t tempt you with some other aftermarket parts ;)
It is pretty tempting, all things in time~
osman wrote:
Mon Aug 09, 2021 6:25 pm
Hopefully see you around :)
I'm also in bham near the city centre
Then you'll likely pass me one of these days, I work in Jewellery Quarter, although I have my own space indoors. Keep an eye out for me on the commute through the tunnels (although they're accident black-spots so expect that I'll be hunched over the wheel with sweat pouring off me in paranoia).
Dr. FrankenRex wrote:
Mon Aug 09, 2021 1:11 pm
Heeeey! You're not far from me! :D
If you happen to be free next Saturday a load of us are all meeting up at my place (currently about 20 cars) near Evesham :)
here'll also be a couple of people with compression testers here too - much cheaper and more reliable than a dealer!
Actually that's really tempting, I am free on Saturday. If I'm not going to be a pest and last-minutes permitting I think I'll sign up - although from what I've heard so far it doesn't *seem* like I'll need a test but I'll see if I want the assurance - if only as a benchmark to check against in the future.
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by HarSc »

RaaGeeEmm wrote:
Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:11 pm
Plenty still to learn, like, how close to full do I need to keep the oil. I'm monitoring it very regularly but once it dips below the top line is that the point to bung in 200mm oil top-ups as quickly as or is it a little more tolerant than that and I just need to pour in before I'm planning to do some long-distance driving?
I mean, with oil you've gotta keep an eye on it, but not that much :p

(3 bobbles denoting 3/4, 1/2 and 1/4 in my explanation)

I personally tend to keep it between 3/4 and 1/2, as the gaps between dots on the stick is 500ml, so I just top up in 500ml chunks. Typically keep it away from full just to reduce chances of oil burps and the effort of cleaning those up :lol: to say I normally use about 1L of oil per 1000 miles, you get a feel for how often you will need to top up, but still check it frequently as it's no bad habit to have :D

RaaGeeEmm wrote:
Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:11 pm
Actually that's really tempting, I am free on Saturday. If I'm not going to be a pest and last-minutes permitting I think I'll sign up - although from what I've heard so far it doesn't *seem* like I'll need a test but I'll see if I want the assurance - if only as a benchmark to check against in the future.
No pest at all! You'll blend in :lol: I think there will be at least four chaps with testers there, me included so we'll all likely be comparing for the fun so no harm if you're wanting one I'm sure someone will be happy to oblige :D

Also, late to the party - but :welcome:
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by RaaGeeEmm »

Thought I might post an nine week update for those who might be interested. I can't believe it's been two months already since I bought my RX8.

She's been my daily driver since I bought her for just about everything except nipping down the shops. It's still always fun to drive her to work and back each day, although I'm only going in three/four times a week at the moment it's a nice little blast on my commute down the A-roads with a lovely little up-hill spot where I can redline her nicely most days.

I've lost count of my petrol budget so far, add to that three pre-measured bottlefulls of premix in the tank and just under a litre of castrol magnatec.

I haven't made the 300 club yet, my last attempt fell apart with the yellow light coming on having had about 270 miles out of the tank. I have however passed 18,300 miles - which for an '08 car must be pretty excellent.

Took the trip to Krown early this month, the guy couldn't stop gushing about how spotless she was. In all seriousness more through luck than judgement I've ended up with an RX8 with zero rust. Absolutely zero. Looked under every arch, around every crevice of the subframe and body - not even the slightest stain. Even the wiring and engine connectors are spotless and untarnished. With the krown in place I'm hoping it stays that way.

I know there's a certain white r3 on this forum with a claim to being the best preserved and while my paint might not be quite perfect (couple of small scratches on the rear wheel arch) and the exterior plastic isn't quite as black I think my one has a good competitive claim. I've got the complete mazda service history and stamp book which I'm going to keep up with (just for MOT and servicing/stamps, rotary specialists for everything else) and I've even still got the plastic wrap covers on the door sills and rear seating buttons.

I have seen an RX7 FC on the Hagley Road a few times but otherwise no sightings of other RX8s on my journeys in the wild.
I'm secretly thrilled though every time someone compliments me on the car in carparks or even at traffic lights. This was something I wasn't expecting and I usually feign bashful embarrassment - a total lie, I'm a whore for the attention and soak it up - and I'm glad that the petrolheads among my work colleagues are sick with jealousy... although they insist they'd never own one themselves.

The only negative story comes from one of my colleagues. She apparently owned an RX8 she bought new back in the late 2000s. In the nicest way an RX8 was the worst car for her to own (or put another way, she was the worst person to own one) and it was taken into protective custody by her brother after it developed major hot-start problems.

From the way she pointed at my pillars saying "It used to have little triangles, right here!" I believe she had a nemesis edition, in Red. I've got her going through her old facebook pics for the number plate to see if it's known to us and it's been adopted to a forever home and garage by one of the caring fellows here and we can add it to our special edition register if not.

All in all, a long post to say, two months haven't dampened my enthusiasm yet. Let's see if that enthusiasm survives my first CEL when it inevitably comes.
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Re: 'Allo! New RX8 owner - currently in B'ham, west mids

Post by PaulAV »

Next Wednesday is the Midlands meet at the Appleby inn if your interested, should be a few of us for chats and food if your interested