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Waz's Mazda RX8 231


Waz
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  • 1 month later...

And I now have closure on various problems; a compression test that resulted in both rotors on low compression, way out on warranty on age. So I sold it to an RX8 specialist breaker.

Not very cheerful about it, but was nearly 5 years with me and wasn't that dreadful a cost to spread over that time.

I'm just not used to treating cars as disposable and expected to wave it onto another owner to enjoy when I'd had enough fun, rather than see it scrapped.

 

Next!

 

What sort of fun, but quiet looking hatch can I get to keep me mobile but interested?

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I was looking at Audi A3 3.2 v6 as a performance and price point, sub £3k ~+90,000 miles

Only wondering what the handling is like.

My benchmark is the FC20VT that I had a few years ago, but with a lift/hatchback.

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I would like to run it stock to start with, but I wouldn't be adverse to subtle improvements - like tuning the suspension without slamming it on the floor like the tykes seem to enjoy. I'm too old for that. I like the idea that a car that will be mostly ignored by most could be quite capable if pushed.

 

I also looked at a VW Golf 4 motion, because they seem fairly inexpensive, but the MkIV was seemingly unpopular by Golf enthusiasts and the more I see of them and the GTi's around, the less I like the image. 

 

Sod's law, there's plenty of the golf to look at near me, but the nearest Audis are miles away or very high mileage. 

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Interesting you mentioned H&R as I was wondering about a car that has these already, with bigger wheels off an A4, so if it was a good one, it might be a contingency to swap those off it asap. I'll save that one as a maybe for later.

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It is frightening. 18 mpg when it's running good. (22 on a run! yay!)

Parts are reasonable, but you try to pre-empt problems by doing the most you can for it to avoid a horrible problem.

The rust-proofing isn't very good, so finding a good one and keeping it that way is difficult.

 

Even a rebuilt engine can be an issue from a supposedly best in the business specialist, and if you find a bad one - the owners club absolutely ridicule Apex Rotary (now taken over by a bigger garage) who couldn't get their engines past 10k miles.

 

Rebuilds cost from £2k to £3k. (parts to DIY are £1100 assuming the big irons are still re-usable and no bearings are broken.)

 

Despite this, I had it for 4 1/2 years, only drove 11.5k miles and it cost me £5k in bills (not incl, insurance)

If I had done more miles per year, it might have lasted longer, perversely. 

The fuel bill - I think I cried a little - £3882. for 11.5k miles!! (3214L that's 16.2 mpg on average)

 

The biggest shock though is residual value. The Autotrader valuation (which is run by glass' guide) quotes a 2005 85k miles car as £1100 private...

 

....£150 trade. And I assume it should be running ok for that.

 

I sold it to a breaker for £300.

 

The only car I sold cheaper was an '89 2.0S Capri in 1996-ish. with Tax and MOT for £150 !! (I wish I had put it in a lock-up)

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The annoying thing is, that in the US they had a 100,000 mile warranty. between that and emissions regs getting ever harder, no wonder Mazda packed it in with the Rotary. Wankelers!

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It is frightening. 18 mpg when it's running good. (22 on a run! yay!)

Parts are reasonable, but you try to pre-empt problems by doing the most you can for it to avoid a horrible problem.

The rust-proofing isn't very good, so finding a good one and keeping it that way is difficult.

 

Even a rebuilt engine can be an issue from a supposedly best in the business specialist, and if you find a bad one - the owners club absolutely ridicule Apex Rotary (now taken over by a bigger garage) who couldn't get their engines past 10k miles.

 

Rebuilds cost from £2k to £3k. (parts to DIY are £1100 assuming the big irons are still re-usable and no bearings are broken.)

 

Despite this, I had it for 4 1/2 years, only drove 11.5k miles and it cost me £5k in bills (not incl, insurance)

If I had done more miles per year, it might have lasted longer, perversely. 

The fuel bill - I think I cried a little - £3882. for 11.5k miles!! (3214L that's 16.2 mpg on average)

 

The biggest shock though is residual value. The Autotrader valuation (which is run by glass' guide) quotes a 2005 85k miles car as £1100 private...

 

....£150 trade. And I assume it should be running ok for that.

 

I sold it to a breaker for £300.

 

The only car I sold cheaper was an '89 2.0S Capri in 1996-ish. with Tax and MOT for £150 !! (I wish I had put it in a lock-up)

 

Ouch! But at least you've owned one now.

 

I bet those owners who bought from new must kick themselves! :(

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It is frightening. 18 mpg when it's running good. (22 on a run! yay!)

Parts are reasonable, but you try to pre-empt problems by doing the most you can for it to avoid a horrible problem.

The rust-proofing isn't very good, so finding a good one and keeping it that way is difficult.

 

Even a rebuilt engine can be an issue from a supposedly best in the business specialist, and if you find a bad one - the owners club absolutely ridicule Apex Rotary (now taken over by a bigger garage) who couldn't get their engines past 10k miles.

 

Rebuilds cost from £2k to £3k. (parts to DIY are £1100 assuming the big irons are still re-usable and no bearings are broken.)

 

Despite this, I had it for 4 1/2 years, only drove 11.5k miles and it cost me £5k in bills (not incl, insurance)

If I had done more miles per year, it might have lasted longer, perversely. 

The fuel bill - I think I cried a little - £3882. for 11.5k miles!! (3214L that's 16.2 mpg on average)

 

The biggest shock though is residual value. The Autotrader valuation (which is run by glass' guide) quotes a 2005 85k miles car as £1100 private...

 

....£150 trade. And I assume it should be running ok for that.

 

I sold it to a breaker for £300.

 

The only car I sold cheaper was an '89 2.0S Capri in 1996-ish. with Tax and MOT for £150 !! (I wish I had put it in a lock-up)

 

Ouch! But at least you've owned one now.

 

I bet those owners who bought from new must kick themselves! :(

 

 

I don't regret owning one, it was lots of fun in corners and when howling like a supercharged sewing machine.

But I both Rue and Lament it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

2 weeks later and I think I have a self-punishment gene. I seem to pick cars that are like rocking horse s***e. My problem is that having decided that the performance should be good after the RX8, but I accept the handling might be less 50:50, need a hatchback or smallish estate, but I don't want a stereo-typed GTI. I reckon I fancied an Audi A3 3.2 V6 'quattro' 

 

It doesn't really need to be a 5 door, but that would be convenient. I don't know anything about the DSG gearboxes that are common on these, but the BMW sport autos I've been driving are ok, but manual is more engaging. I noticed that these cars have a tendency to wear out the timing chain after high miles, so maybe one that has been done, or miles low enough that maybe one day it will have to be done is a consideration.

 

I'm trying to stay in a ~£3k budget and a car at the late 2005 MY so that the tax is cheaper. I'm also not sure about the stock radios. there seems to be a BOSE standard radio and a Navigation package, which may or may not be updatable at humble pricing.

 

Annoyingly, after all of this, it's not a Unicorn, because there are quite a few around, Autotrader, Motors, eBay, shpock even Facebook. But there are none of these bloody things within 50 miles of Bognor Sodding Regis!!

(I grew up just west of Southampton and moved here to be near work in Chichester and feel that I live in the sticks.)

 

at this point I'm still trying to find a test-drive to see if I'm even barking up the right tree.

 

arrrrgh.

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I hope it's comfortable effortless power when required. I'm not going for Honda type R territory on purpose.

 

So far I've had a mini 998, 1275gt, Mitsubishi colt, Rover SD1 v8 and 6, Capri 2.0s, XR2, Celica 2.0gt, MR2 mk1, CRX, E30 320, 525x, Dutton Phaeton, FC20VT, MX5 mk1, RX8.

I'd go for an Alfa GTV, but I need a hatch.

Maybe a V8 moggy minor woody?

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Blimey that's quite a portfolio of cars there mate..... Personally i don't like German cars :o ....I hold great respect on their build quality and advanced technoligy but i still can't pallet the cars... I think they are very overpriced, they come in every colour providing you want silver, the cockpit is a plastic pig and unless you buy all the options the dash is barren.... If i could have my way it would be American muscle finessed in an Italian dress.

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I bought the wife a 318 purely because of the runflat tyres but she is disabled..... The 130i i've only seen a few of them simply because they don't have geometric issues but as a car they are ok, subject to price?

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