MX-5 OC Forum

Went down the auctions yesterday for a new car (boring 3 year old diesel to replace the boring 3 year old Audi diesel I use), and a 53 plate blue RX8 caught my eye. I was startled at the cap price of £2k. It had only done 63k (low miles even for the rotary engine) and although it didn't have leather, everything else was spot on, and was even the more powerful model. I just couldn't believe how cheap it was, and sold for £1300 (plus £150 buyers premium). Looked through autotrader and even though this was a good price, it seems they are dirt cheap in general. Having never driven one I don't know how good they are, but people raved about them when they first came out, and although torque is obviously not great, mpg is horrendous and the rotary engine can be tempremental, I thought at £1500 what a cracking second car/track day tool this would make.

 Don't know how true this is but I was told it was because the road tax is something stupid like £450 p.a.

Plus the engine was probably toast. I recall visiting a Mazda dealership, where they had a RX8 in, receiving a new crate motor. The original looked like someone had tossed ball bearings inside it. It had only done 40k miles, but apparently the driver (it was a fleet car) had driven for a number of weeks, with the low oil light on, and the car in a limp mode, arguing it wasn't his job to check the oil. Mazda stumped up for the cost of the replacement engine.

Lots of high powered cars are going cheap now. The cheap ones though probably need a bunch of jobs doing, that the owners can't afford. For that reason, I will never touch an E46 M3; a future money pit if there ever was one.

 it could be something to do with the tax, I've been looking around for a daily and find it hard to believe that a 56 reg type r with 40k on the clock can be had for 6k! The tax is £400+ a year on them though so maybe that is why

If you're looking for fuel economy (I say that as you're going from a diesel) then you'd be bitterley dissapointed.

30mpg at best with these, though they do go like stink and rev freely!

 was that for me or the original poster peleton?

I've heard fuel economy can be on average 19mpg, and tax atm would indeed be £460 per year BUT, for a track day, if you knew the engine had been looked after, surely this would be worth a punt for someone?

That's the money they go for these days. They need to be driven hard. If you drive them hard the engines last longer! 

MPG. :-(  High teens is average...

They are a risky purchase, engine is expensive to fix, even by specialists.

Jimmyflo:

 was that for me or the original poster peleton?

Sorry mate, for the OP

It's a complicated thirsty car which needs to be serviced absolutely on the button, doesn't have a cult following, will be a pig to insure, a right so-and-so to do DIY repairs on and the engine sounds like a naughty word. Oh and I used to know someone who drove one and who was an absolute eejit. Not scientific, I know, but that sort of thing sticks in your mind.

Apart from that, yes, I've been mildly tempted too by how cheap they are. But then I think about the running costs. A lot of car for the money sometimes equates to a lot of money to keep the car running.

I own an RX as my daily car and have to say the running costs are high for fuel, the tax is £435 a year. Insuring it was no problem at all. It does not use as much oil as people say (at least mine does'nt), you can do some DIY bits on it, changed the coil packs on this myself without a problem. As MrChrome said they love to be driven hard, and the car will thank you for it. The drive you get is amazing and one you will never forget, and when properly set up hugs the corners like a dream, definatly a car that I will never forget. There is also an RX owners club out there that do pretty much the same this we do in this club, have meets go for drives, have trackdays etc. It would make great second car / trackday car.

Becky:

I own an RX as my daily car and have to say the running costs are high for fuel, the tax is £435 a year.

 

RX8 192 = 267g/km CO2 emissions = band M = £460 per year

RX8 231 = 284g/km CO2 emissions = band M = £460 per year

Seems your tax has gone up again. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

j90rdn:

Becky:

I own an RX as my daily car and have to say the running costs are high for fuel, the tax is £435 a year.

 

RX8 192 = 267g/km CO2 emissions = band M = £460 per year

RX8 231 = 284g/km CO2 emissions = band M = £460 per year

Seems your tax has gone up again. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Yep, your right was looking at an old V11 this years one was £460....

 Hi, No if the car is registered before March 23rd 2006 the tax is £260 per year not £460 per year!

 basically any car that has over 225kgm for emissions the tax will be £260 up to March 23rd 2006.

Rx8, price is low because, engine trouble and low fuel comsuption.

A E46 M3 a monet pit? why anymore than most fast cars, I know bm's are prone to shocks,springs and bushes but they have a cracking strong engine and drive train? except for the crap smg box!

Charles:

A E46 M3 a monet pit? why anymore than most fast cars, I know bm's are prone to shocks,springs and bushes but they have a cracking strong engine and drive train? except for the crap smg box!

..... and VANOS issues.

Good correction on the road tax.