1st 100k Mile RX8 in the north

[Storm]

FINALLY... but it is good to see a little less stigma attached, now everyone go buy one! They're easily good for 100k plus, always have been

Speaking personally, if anything all this thread has done is INCREASE the stigma because until now, I had no idea there was any question of them reaching 100k. And the fact that someone felt the need to celebrate reaching 100k by starting an internet thread kinda makes me wonder lol

I just ate some toast.

LIES..!

pics or gtfo

 

[AIRFORCE1]

Or any Ford for that matter

I'd rather have that old mk3 escort

 

[marcusplowman]

Should I be worried or something?

Might be time to sell!

Its gotta be worth at least £50...theres 3/4 tank of fuel in it

 

[rotor_dude]

would ya look at dat there

 

[spoddysrx8]

Hello Everyone

Bit of a late response lol, but yes I did reach and have passed the 100000 mile mark in my Mazda rx8 on the original factory engine.

Currently on 104600 odd miles and climbing.

The engine has not been opened or removed from the car. Really only oil changes, the sump tray replaced (due to rust on the old one), engine mounts and ignition coils have been replaced. Also a new clutch and diff and gearbox oil changes. NGK spark plugs, the hotter plugs (7's/9's) leading and trailing and have the faster starter fitted.

And that's really it guys, no magic to it, except just simply looking after the engine/transmission with castrol magnatec 5w30, (now 10w40) oil and using K&N or oem Mazda oil filters.

Like any car's engine just use good quality oil and filters and ensure the oil level is at the full mark each week and properly warm the car up before driving.

Also a red line once or twice a week to burn off carbon build up, any excuse for some fun.

I fill up with Texaco petrol or BP ultimate the odd time, but use good petrol.

Any help I can give anyone interested in an rx8 then let me know. Only other thing to mention is to go to a specialist for any compression checking if you are looking to buy an rx8 as it's all really down to how well the owner looked after the car, re oil top ups and changes and what parts they used.
One such specialist I'd recommend is rotor_dude, as this fella knows his stuff and is very, very good and genuinely wants to help you enjoy your rotary engine rx7/8 etc.

Cheers
Ronnie

 

[spoddysrx8]

Oh and I also have a Mazda mx3, jap import called the Autozam az3 which passed 300000km a few weeks ago on it's original factory engine the B5 1.5L twin cam.

I wish the bodies on Mazda's would last as long lol.

 

[Terry]

Good to hear and have to agree @rotor_dude knows his stuff with these.

Still to this day they are one of the best driving cars I've ever owned (and I had more than one). Not the quickest thing on earth but I would imagine any true car enthusiast would really enjoy a blast in a 230 version. The balance, power delivery and handling is a very unique experience.

 

[Gaz]

Fair play. They do seem a bit of a bargain these days, have spotted a few early ones for well under a grand with v reasonable mileage (sub 70k). With the leather interior, rwd, unique looks and so on, seems a lot of car for little money. Had a track session in a PZ few years back and it was a tremendous handling thing.

 

[spoddysrx8]

They are alot of car for a few thousand, it's the 2004-2006 before tax hike which are affordable. The 2005 models had the faster starter fitted, plus really go for the 231ps 6 speed, which I have.
I have noticed a lot of 4 port engine 5 speed rx8's for sale and they only red line at 7k rpm and are not as good as the 6 port 6 speed model.
Yes they are not the torque'st car, but what you lack in torque, you make up for in the bends and being able to stay in 2nd and rev to 7-9k rpm is pretty awesome. they are also a nice car to cruise on a long journey and you get out not feeling sore with the leather heated seats.

I am waiting for the next rotary engine to come out, possibly the rx9 in a few years to coincide with Mazda's 100th anniversary as they are giving the green light to build this sky activ-r sports car, but it will be on a par with the likes of the Porsche Cayman, so it's going to be expensive! They have been working on the issues such as low fuel economy and low torque and newer materials for apex seals and corner seals and have turned the engine on its side. It will have a turbo and there is talk of HCCI ignition, rather than spark plugs to reduce emissions. It's going to be interesting to see and if it's as nice as the rx- vision concept, then they'll be queuing up to buy them.

Better start saving lol.

 

[BobSpounge]

I reckon you've clocked it and there's really only 40k on it

My daily beater Golf TDI has probably hit 100k with each owner. So 4 previous owners and I clocked it too just for the sake of it so I'd be pretty confident it's hit 100k five times!

 

[spoddysrx8]

Nope all original.

 

[jimcupra]

100k I have a diesel Ford with over 3 times that and still on original engine, gear bag and turbo.

 

[spoddysrx8]

Good for you.

 

[jimcupra]

Touchy sweet cheeks

Good for you.

 

[spoddysrx8]

Think you are missing the point of the thread to be honest. Not talking about diesels, it's very good that you have 300k or more on your ford.

 

[Jaystar77]

If he had said a 300k Volkswagen Golf I'd have been impressed tbh lol..

My mums RX8 has ticked over 113k there last week, original engine and clutch. Pity the rear arches are falling out of it but still, least the engine is good.

 

[spoddysrx8]

That's great jay and they'll do 150k no bother if looked after correctly. My clutch would have done more, but it was very stiff, so thought I'd replace it as didn't want to damage any syncros. My rear arches are bubbling a bit, like the Mazda 6 they can go in this area. That and the rear boot lid brake light.

I think you can get new quarter panels ok, so your mum could get them replaced if keeping the car. Your mum is now the leader in highest mileage rx8 over here lol.

 

[Jaystar77]

Think there's a few others with more dotted about the countryside, certainly hasn't been the nightmare that I expected maintenance-wise. Might look into quarter panels and sills but that could be a job for the next owner. Pretty sure she's looking to replace it with a jeep in the near future.

 

[spoddysrx8]

Be interesting to see the compression it has after 113k.

 

[BobSpounge]

I know of a Passat TDI with over 500k and a petrol corolla getting close to 400k. They're both near scrapyard time due to rot/bodywork though.

 

[rotor_dude]

Not the quickest thing on earth but I would imagine any true car enthusiast would really enjoy a blast in a 230 version. The balance, power delivery and handling is a very unique experience.

There not exactly slow like
A lot quicker than any other 1.3L though

You driving with handbrake on

Yeah 6-Port (231PS) is a lot better than the 4-Port (192PS)

You need to drive next to something to see how well they go
Also look at speedo

Also turbo rotary are far better for power speed etc

 

[spoddysrx8]

At last someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

[Terry]

There not exactly slow like
A lot quicker than any other 1.3L though

You driving with handbrake on

Yeah 6-Port (231PS) is a lot better than the 4-Port (192PS)

You need to drive next to something to see how well they go
Also look at speedo

Also turbo rotary are far better for power speed etc

lol nope no handbrake on when driving - and I did only say not the quickest thing on earth and of course alot quicker than other '1.3' cars.

I'm one of the few that have defended them on here over the years and I wouldn't have owned more than one and daily drove them if I didn't really like them. But it was frustrating at times to be overtaken by a remapped diesel family saloon on a straight carriageway / motorway. Albeit the RX8 was alot of fun on B roads & would've been alot quicker than some higher power cars in that environment. I do wish I had had the opportunity to go to a trackskills day with one.

I enjoyed 99% of their 'performance' though, the revvy engine, balance and probably above all the sound. It's just that in more recent years alot of standard / family run of the mill cars are delivered with 200bhp+ and then add a map to that and it's no wonder why they might have been quicker. I'd still have rather had the RX8 over them - which is why I did.

At last someone who knows what they are talking about.

There are more than a few on here who are a fan of these cars, speak highly of them and are quite knowledgeable about them.

I'll always give my opinion on a car I've owned objectively, so it will be without rose tinted glasses, pointing out the odd 'I wish it was slightly better in this respect / category' is only being honest.

No car ever made is 5 stars out of 5 stars in all areas - unless it's being reviewed by autoexpress! There's always room for improvement.

 

[spoddysrx8]

No one is saying you don't mate. I was just referring to rotor_dude appearing lol.

You give a good balanced view and they aren't the most torqued car we know. If you'd have had a turbo you'd have smoked that diesel. Or been lost in a cloud of his as he tried to keep up lol.

Some people just run them down for needing rebuilt after 50k miles, but in actual fact if properly looked after they'll do another 100k before that and they are a performance engine too.

This next rotary engine should be very interesting as its now sitting on its side so exhaust port up near the top where the turbo will go. Together with other advancements in seals and corner seal design/materials and ignition and fuel delivery and aluminium plates etc it'll be even better.

 

[Terry]

No one is saying you don't mate. I was just referring to rotor_dude appearing lol.

You give a good balanced view and they aren't the most torqued car we know. If you'd have had a turbo you'd have smoked that diesel. Or been lost in a cloud of his as he tried to keep up lol.

Some people just run them down for needing rebuilt after 50k miles, but in actual fact if properly looked after they'll do another 100k before that and they are a performance engine too.

This next rotary engine should be very interesting as its now sitting on its side so exhaust port up near the top where the turbo will go. Together with other advancements in seals and corner seal design/materials and ignition and fuel delivery and aluminium plates etc it'll be even better.

I know don't worry some people can take things a bit to heart if they think you're knocking 'their' car sometimes so it was a post just to make sure folk knew I wasn't a hater

I had always wondered how they would've faired with an aftermarket turbo or supercharger but then it may have taken away from the Revvy n/a nature of them too, kind of a double edged sword!

I'm looking forward to the next evolution from them in terms of rotary too, I hadn't read about the change in engine position but had seen some things about design / component improvements, can only be a good thing