steverothery

Hi everyone.

I am currently driving a VW diseal (seat ibiza) around - a 2006 model. I have been looking at the Rx8 since it's launch wanting to buy one. The ONLY thing i am still worried about is it's reliability - ie is it going to start 99.9percent of the times i turn that key?
My job demands i drive to various hospitals so i just can't be left in the lurch - well very rarely!

I am looking at an 05/06 RX8 with around about 10-20,000 on the clock.
I am aware the fuel constumption sucks etc - it is a sports car afterall, but i've read on here if its driven well you can get anywhere from 20-30mpg which i consider not too bad. (not quite as good as my current 47MPG in my 1.9 TDI 110HP seat, but hey i will live!) I am also well aware on the oil usage and know quite a bit about the rotary design.

I take it problems with the engine etc are being ironed out by now - are there less chance of these happening if i buy a 05/06 rather than a very early model? Ideally I would like an 06.

To my eyes it is a beautiful looking car, practical, stylish and its fast. If anyone has anything to say please do let me know in this thread I would appreciate it, and your honesty too!

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Steve

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

Driven mine (built April '03) for five years now, often at sub-zero temperatures. Never flooded or stalled out.

Mine has the upgraded starter from 2005, but I'm still on the original battery!

S

Spin9k

Only one glaring thing 20-30mph isn't going to happen in your lifetime. Try 17-19 average...20-22 highway. That far more realistic. IOW keep the VW for long economical trips. Otherwise I think you have it about right.

Good luck

steverothery

Hm, i have not got the money for 2 cars so its one or the other. I read the thread on here about a few guys trying to get the best MPG they could. Driving it at 60 - under 4500 Rev etc and some where getting near 28 if they kept to it. Obviouisly im just trying to see if it increases when i take it easier, on business trips. Have a check for it if you can its on here - called something like MPG in the subject.
Thanx for replies so far


Stil its mainly reliability i need to have

chrism

if your looking for mileage buy another car....i have yet to get over 260 miles to the tank....you will never see 30mpg in this car......ever.....as for reliable that depends on exactly what you mean.....overall i havent been left stranded.....but she has been at the dealer allot

Spin9k

All I can say is "just 'cause you read it on the internet...even here" don't necessarily believe it! Even if what 'some say' they do and get 28mph COULD happen... don't bother if you want to own the car to enjoy it rather than own it to suffer with it.

Of courcse you'll now get 100 dif opinions and mileage claims...just remember some one was nice enough to tell you the truth up front.

ODDDOOD

iTrader: (3)

Hello, welcome to the site!

I've been driving mine everyday since Nov. 03 (2004 Model) and have had to come in just about every recall/TSB that has been offered, except a new/reman engine.

I recently had to get new spark plugs, wires, and coils due to poor performance and gas mileage. My 8 is now running the best of her life with just over 50,000 miles.

I don't know that the year is such a bad thing, as long as all of the maintenance, recalls, and tsb's are/have been taken care.

Good luck...

P.S. You can learn very much and answer questions that you didn't know you had if you take the time to read all of the stickies in each section. It can take a while but such a collection of priceless material for new people. I learn something everyday and I've had my 8 for over 4 years!

mkaresh

I conduct reliability research. With just about any car 2005 or newer your odds of actually being stuck without a car are small these days. Cars are averaging about 0.6 repair trips per year, and the great majority of those do not involve things that would prevent the car from being driving.

The RX-8 appears to have about an average repair rate.

I'll be updating results next Wednesday. Till then, the previous set is at the following link:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

P.S.: As the other guy said, you'll get at best high teens around town, low 20s on the highway. Maybe mid-20s if you keep the speed around 60. I don't see high 20s happening.

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...23&postcount=4

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

2005 and I've never flooded and it's always started right up.

I've had one tailight replaced (condensation TSB) and the console rail replaced under warranty as well. That's it.

I already had the new starter/battery (March '05 build) so no problems there. New plugs due to the voluntary emission recall. That's it.

I change the oil every 3k miles and rarely have had to add any.

I baby it as far as care, but drive it in a very spirited fashion, with fairly frequent redlines.

So, I would consider it a very reliable machine.

The gas mileage has already been covered and I don't get any better or worse than most.

The bottom line - it's like a motorcycle on four wheels. Just a ton of fun, especially on curvy back roads.

Go for it (and do get a 6-spd MT).

reaper1

If you use your car mainly for work , I would caution you to stay away unless your 100% sure you don't care about gas cost. I get from 16 to 19 mpg 50 / 50 highway / streets. A few people later complain , even after being warned .

In regards to your other question I have an 06 , no problems with it . I put mine away for the winter , so thats 3 month of no usage. If you can get the newer model you should be okay...........

Good Luck..............

04RX8man

Sounds pretty good....yeah gas mileage is def more like 15-19 and 20-23 on the highway....I have an 04 and have never flooded tranny had to be replaced that left me in the garage for 27 days till they finally fixed it other than that it has been a great car....and def go for the 6 speed MT

Razz1

Umm.. need to drive to the hospital on demand.

The MPG on this car and your demand from work overwelms your logic.

This car is not for you.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

On the plus side, he'd get there fast. :-)

steverothery

I didnt say "on demand" i said it demands i go to hospitals. Like if your a builder your job demands you go to a building site! Im a orthopaedic specialist. I just work in hospitals mate!

And if im ok with the crap mileage as im said - why is it not for me? Or is there something else i'm not being told here?

steverothery

See thats my problem - to me a car that visits the dealer ALOT is not a reliable car! Especially if its still visiting the dealer even when its been taken care of. Thanx for being honest though.

steverothery

I appreciate it. I'm not moaning either way of course - i am merely trying to get the truth of what is possible in this car.

chrism

this car is what i like to call an "owners" car....it requires a special care and you cant just gas and go like it is a civic or corolla....but once you get in the groove and train yourself to the cars needs it will reward you for sure

steverothery

Yes, i do understand that. I take very good care of my 4 in line diseal and my friend is a mechanic. But i still want to know how likely it is i buy an 06 and im at the dealer 10 times in one year ******* about changing coils changing the engine, changing brakelights.

get me lol?

steverothery

You see, what im getting at here is i could go out and buy a few years old audi TT - not as fast or as sexy but hell i'd know its going to start 99.999percent of the time, it's a bloody realiable, and powerful car. Same with a subaru, a porche. Problem is i dont like the tt looks wise and it handles not as well etc, and the fact id like an Rx8.

JRichter

I match all this criteria exactly so I second this...


You don't/won't wanna be doing this if you drive this car. For one it needs to be revved. For two it's like driving a neutered RX-8.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

There is no more maintenance required of my RX-8 than my Jeep Patriot, or my wife's is250. I well maintain all of my vehicles.

As cited, I have only been to the dealer for regular oil changes and two relatively minor items.

Keep doing your own research, but keep in mind that folks who have problems by necessity post far more frequently than those who are not.

btw: in another thread I advocated posting "I have no problems" on a frequent basis. But that's just a silly waste of bandwidth.

btw2: analogy; recently my wife commented that most all the news on TV was bad news. "Can't they have more good news on?"

steverothery

Obvioulsy i am aware that people with problems will be shouting much lower. But at this stage im still making a descision so i'd like to hear it from all angles.

Thanx huey

JRichter

Not in this forum...

BTW- check out the Satisfaction Survey at the top of this section.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/satisfaction-survey-your-rx-8-a-15032/

mkaresh

This is why I conduct the research I do, and why a response is needed even if there have been no repairs. Otherwise you don't know the denominator.

So far I only have a half-decent amount of data on the 2004. But here are the basic numbers:

18 people have been responding for a total of 96 months. They've had a total of four repair trips in those 96 months, including the small stuff. Put another way, 14 of these 18 people have had no repairs performed during the survey period, with the average person involved for five months at this point.

This is better than the average for a 2004 car. And that's the first model year that everyone thinks is the least reliable.