The RX-8 arrived in January , in and bhp forms badged and respectively. There was just one trim, although some optional extras could be specified. The first special, the Evolve based on the bhp car , hit showrooms in February It was followed in September by the Nemesis limited edition, which used the lower-powered engine.
A facelift in July brought a fresh nose and tail, stronger refinement and more equipment. The car was now badged RX-8 R3, and came in bhp form only. The RX-8 is unique in its door layout and its use of a rotary engine. For a more conventional coupe, you could try the Nissan Z. It looks great and the rear-wheel-drive chassis delivers strong performance.
The RX-8 was the last rotary-engined car sold in the UK and, now that Mazda is considering a revival of its famous Wankel concept for a new hybrid powertrain, it seems pertinent to consider its virtues. Click here to buy your next used car from Autocar. When the RX-8 was launched in , buyers could choose from a bhp entry-level model or the bhp range-topper. Although an automatic gearbox was offered in other markets, only the row-your-own version was available in the UK.
An update in brought revamped styling, stiffer suspension and shorter gear ratios for improved acceleration, while the less potent variant was done away with. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the RX-8 eventually succumbed to the ruthless onslaught of European emissions legislation in , before production in Hiroshima finished once and for all in For better or worse, the RX-8 has yet to attain the same cult-classic status as the Nissan Z or Mk4 Toyota Supra , so you can pick up a usable example for less than it would cost to spend a fortnight in Majorca.
It goes without saying that the cheaper the car, the more careful you should be, and this is no truer of any car than the RX Mazda reckons the RX-8 will get through ml of the black stuff every miles.
The general consensus is that the engine will manage 60, miles before it needs some serious attention, so check the odometer reading tallies with past MOT receipts and really give it the beans on your test drive. Much rather have a V8 if I'm going to be doing 20mpg. Davie 3, posts months. I've seen countless RX8's come through the salvage side of things recently. Bit of a bargain if you could buy one, throw the engine in a duck pond and shoe horn something a little more reliable under there instead.
Aside from the awful chrome paint on the wheels that's flaking, the flaking red brake calipers, the dent that's on it and the knackered thrust bearing, the engines are not the most reliable if they're not looked after properly. The rotor tips wear if not lubricated properly, resulting in poor compression, and they're an engine out and strip down job to change. J4CKO 34, posts months. Would these not make good track day cars now?
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