yahoo autos. RX-8 worst car for the money?
12-11-2009, 06:20 AM
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yahoo autos. RX-8 worst car for the money?
From yahoo autos "The Mazda MX-5 won the award for the best car in the class, while Mazda's RX-8, due to its high maintenance costs, was the Worst Affordable Sports Car for the Money."
Link: http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...he-money-2010/
Was it the $100 spark plugs or the $250 runflats? Oh wait its the wapping quart of oil a month!
Link: http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...he-money-2010/
Was it the $100 spark plugs or the $250 runflats? Oh wait its the wapping quart of oil a month!
12-11-2009, 07:39 AM
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I'd say it's probably accurate. I don't know what else was in the category, but you would have a hard time saying that the RX-8 is cheap to maintain. One of the warnings we give prospective buyers in here is that repairs are generally not cheap, and to avoid dealer work because of what they charge.
I am willing to bet that the comparisons for evaluation are pricing repairs and maintenance at the dealer, in which case I'm not sure there is an 'affordable sports car' (as per the category name) with more than $300 spark plug change, $600 coil change, etc...
Do the stuff yourself and it quickly drops in price, probably below alot of other sports cars, but I am sure they aren't pricing everything out as self maintenance, especially on the 'quirky niche car'.
I am willing to bet that the comparisons for evaluation are pricing repairs and maintenance at the dealer, in which case I'm not sure there is an 'affordable sports car' (as per the category name) with more than $300 spark plug change, $600 coil change, etc...
Do the stuff yourself and it quickly drops in price, probably below alot of other sports cars, but I am sure they aren't pricing everything out as self maintenance, especially on the 'quirky niche car'.
12-11-2009, 08:34 AM
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I'd say it's probably accurate. I don't know what else was in the category, but you would have a hard time saying that the RX-8 is cheap to maintain. One of the warnings we give prospective buyers in here is that repairs are generally not cheap, and to avoid dealer work because of what they charge.
I am willing to bet that the comparisons for evaluation are pricing repairs and maintenance at the dealer, in which case I'm not sure there is an 'affordable sports car' (as per the category name) with more than $300 spark plug change, $600 coil change, etc...
Do the stuff yourself and it quickly drops in price, probably below alot of other sports cars, but I am sure they aren't pricing everything out as self maintenance, especially on the 'quirky niche car'.
I am willing to bet that the comparisons for evaluation are pricing repairs and maintenance at the dealer, in which case I'm not sure there is an 'affordable sports car' (as per the category name) with more than $300 spark plug change, $600 coil change, etc...
Do the stuff yourself and it quickly drops in price, probably below alot of other sports cars, but I am sure they aren't pricing everything out as self maintenance, especially on the 'quirky niche car'.
Last time I flooded it, I called the dealer for ***** and giggles just to see what they would charge, and they wanted $500 to deflood and change the plugs. I laughed and hung up the phone.
12-11-2009, 08:39 AM
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Someone recently got a $2,700 quote to change the upper intake manifold rather than just cleaning it...
100% agree there are dealers that charge ridiculous prices, although there are dealers that don't, and those prices are still generally very high.
Just saying that the dealer's prices are probably used for the News Week rankings of cost of ownership, and our dealers have a 'no one overcuts us!' policy
12-11-2009, 10:24 AM
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"Worst" here means "most expensive", since it is a value / cost of ownership rating, the MX-5 being "lease expensive".
Solidifies my choice of an MX-5 for a cheaper track car / beater
Solidifies my choice of an MX-5 for a cheaper track car / beater
12-11-2009, 03:35 PM
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My 8 is a money pit...sitting at home now in need of a new engine. 125,000 miles so I gotta pay. Any car that can't get at least 150,000 miles relatively easily these days isn't worth spit imo. Still love her though.
12-11-2009, 03:56 PM
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Yeah I love her dearly but in 100k (quickly from memory) four tail lights, three or four visors, two starters, two alternators, three batteries, three engines, fuel tank, heater control, heater ****, drivers side windows switch, ABS module, and...................... now my AC is acting up and my drivers side visor is breaking
But I was smart enough to buy a 100k extended warranty so it took care of everything after my 50k B2B expired. Now I am past 100k so my current drivers side visor and the AC issue will come out of pocket which sucks but I did get a new engine at 96,000 so I am okay with everything since she is paid off.
Oh, and not to mention the many coils, plugs, premix, oils, and two floods that I have dealt with.
But man this car puts a smile on my face. I equate it to having a hot as hell, gold digging wife who is constantly spending money, burning the food, and nagging your *** everyday. You hate her guts most of the time but you forget about all of that when she is cupping your *****.
But I was smart enough to buy a 100k extended warranty so it took care of everything after my 50k B2B expired. Now I am past 100k so my current drivers side visor and the AC issue will come out of pocket which sucks but I did get a new engine at 96,000 so I am okay with everything since she is paid off.
Oh, and not to mention the many coils, plugs, premix, oils, and two floods that I have dealt with.
But man this car puts a smile on my face. I equate it to having a hot as hell, gold digging wife who is constantly spending money, burning the food, and nagging your *** everyday. You hate her guts most of the time but you forget about all of that when she is cupping your *****.
Last edited by 9krpmrx8; 12-11-2009 at 04:04 PM.
12-11-2009, 06:18 PM
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But man this car puts a smile on my face. I equate it to having a hot as hell, gold digging wife who is constantly spending money, burning the food, and nagging your *** everyday. You hate her guts most of the time but you forget about all of that when she is cupping your *****.
12-12-2009, 03:58 AM
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I was told that you can't reuse your plugs after a carbon lock/flood and not after using seafoam... I'll tell you though... I wrote to NGK and asked them about that, they said to clean the laser iridium plugs just as you would any other plug, sand blast or light sandpaper (I found a small wire brush and brake parts cleaner worked wonders) and reinstall, said they are actually more durable than regular or platinum plugs...
12-12-2009, 05:03 AM
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Well look at it this way, Mazda took first place, and last place. Which is the 2 most significant places in any race. So there! lol. I think I heard something like this on Top Gear once?
12-12-2009, 05:08 AM
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Gas ain't no joke!!
I need to check plugs, wires, and coils; mileage has taken a sudden drop for the worst, but honestly... at 17.7K miles should I be dealing with this already?
We also don't have the most bulletproof transmission, but then 9000rpm aren't friendly to things with more than three moving parts, and I have a warranty to get that mess sorted. ACT clutch install in the wings???
12-12-2009, 11:19 PM
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What yahoo should also evaluate is what car models have the best web site help forums and which car group owners are the most knowledgeable about their car model.
My opinion we probably have more RX8 women that are more knowledgeable about how their car works compared to the men of some other model cars.
My opinion we probably have more RX8 women that are more knowledgeable about how their car works compared to the men of some other model cars.
12-14-2009, 12:39 PM
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What yahoo should also evaluate is what car models have the best web site help forums and which car group owners are the most knowledgeable about their car model.
My opinion we probably have more RX8 women that are more knowledgeable about how their car works compared to the men of some other model cars.
My opinion we probably have more RX8 women that are more knowledgeable about how their car works compared to the men of some other model cars.
You have to know something about DIY for this car... it needs a lot of it.
12-14-2009, 02:33 PM
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What maintenance costs?
4+ years, 60k miles: one set of spark plugs $80 at 59k miles (3 still looked good could have left them in), one set of coils and a battery at 59K miles and Mazda install/diagnose labor $533 (3 were toast), K&N filter cleaner $10, still have original wires (considering replacement) what else...? There must be something...
$3 thing of oil once ever couple of months (I look at this the same way as fuel - doesn't count), $30 oil change every 7000 miles and tires which are a given...
Is that significantly more than any other car on the road?
Maybe I had good luck w/ 8 so far.
4+ years, 60k miles: one set of spark plugs $80 at 59k miles (3 still looked good could have left them in), one set of coils and a battery at 59K miles and Mazda install/diagnose labor $533 (3 were toast), K&N filter cleaner $10, still have original wires (considering replacement) what else...? There must be something...
$3 thing of oil once ever couple of months (I look at this the same way as fuel - doesn't count), $30 oil change every 7000 miles and tires which are a given...
Is that significantly more than any other car on the road?
Maybe I had good luck w/ 8 so far.
Last edited by JRichter; 12-14-2009 at 02:36 PM.