I'm 43 years old and I'm looking for a sports car for weekends only for my wife and I. I do not want to go the Corvette route and found a 2010 RX-8 Automatic (my wife cannot drive a manual) Grand Touring edition with 8,900 miles. They are asking $22,500 for it.

I have two other vehicles for everyday driving, so I only plan to use the RX-8 to have fun. My concern is over the rotary engine. I've read some reviews about flooding, having to add oil, etc. and I don't want this to turn into a project because I simply do not have the time and money to do that.

If you were in my scenario (knowing you cannot afford to incur a major expense and not having time to work on the car), would you purchase the vehicle? I'd like to hear from someone my age who could help me make the decision.

I appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks!

 

rotaries can be reliable, mine is but its also a "toy" car for me. ive put about 23k on it in 3.5 yrs. they need to be kept up but nothing too bad. i would teach your wife to drive stick, trust me on this. where in pa are you? im in nepa

 

Dont buy an auto, teach her to drive stick.

Buying a sporty car like the 8 in auto is like eating a steak after shooting novocaine into your tongue...

 

Thanks for the advice. I really want the stick, but to justify the purchase, I have to get the manual.

I'm in Western PA.

 

What about paddle shifting? I know it's not the same (and the HP is lower in the auto), but I'm wondering if it will give me some control? I'd love to have the stick, but to sell my wife on this, it needs to have a manual.

 

so your getting the stick? im confused by your last post. make her learn or she doesnt get to drive it. its a win win

 

manual=stick paddle shifters=auto
you just said to sell the wife on this, it needs to have a manual. i dont get the problem

 

Sorry, meant to say it has to have an auto. I thought paddle shifters come with the auto?

 

Adoihci,

I put together a thread last year that answers your concerns: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/

It is also stickied in the RX-8 discussion subforum that this thread is in.

 

Okay, I'll directly answer the meat of your question for you:

Since you are looking at a 2010, they have redesigned a few things with the engine that decreases the chances of the car flooding compared to the original cars back in 2004.

There are three lights on the dash that come on when the car started up while it is ice cold. After a short period of time, the first light goes, and this is the point when you can safely turn the car off. In really cold weather, this might take a minute or two. In warm weather like we are having now, it might take 30 seconds, or might not be on at all if the car is above 100 degrees.

As for the adding oil, you are correct on this.

My car is a 2011 Sport, manual though, and I have to add about a quart every 900 miles. If you can't agree to check the oil level, and add oil, then you probably shouldn't own any vehicle at all, honestly.

The car also has a low oil level light, that if you really get low, which you never should get to in the first place, it will light up, and let you know things are bad. I think this comes on when you're somewhere between 2 and 3 quarts low.

As for the automatic, the one that I test drove wasn't bad, power wise. There's a slight delay after you click the paddle shifters before it actually shifts, but not as bad as other cars I've driven with paddle shifters. But, I still chose manual over the auto, because I just prefer manuals. I haven't bought a car with an auto in a long time, and I hope to keep that going, until I'm forced to buy a Ferrari California, that is.

So, if you can wait a couple minutes before shutting off the engine, and promise to check your oil level once every 900 miles or so, you won't have a problem with this car.

BC.

 

Great info, extremely helpful!!

The one I'm looking at is at a dealer. They are probably not going to know how well it was maintained. Since it's an automatic, I could assume the previous owner wasn't an RX-8 enthusiast, so it may not have been maintained.

In your opinion, a 2010 with less than 9k miles, how concerned should I be?

 

Not at all concerned.

There aren't many series 2 in existance (compared to series 1), so the data set is much smaller, and they aren't at the mileage levels, however I am only aware of a few Series 2 failures so far, both were not the same failure issues of the series 1 (each of these was a problem with the e-shaft).

This excludes the series 2 engines used in racing, which face the same failure points that the series 1 engines used in racing face, which is side seals. But those engines are basically always above 6k rpm their entire lives at power levels higher than you have stock, and the severe exhaust temps is what causes it. This is not a concern for street driving, especially as an occasional 'toy' car.

 

You've all been extremely helpful. I'm going to give it a good look-over before I commit. Thanks for all of the great advice. If I end up buying, I'll be back to talk.

 

If you are looking for a strict weekend only car, ever think about going with a lotus elise or an NSX as well?

I woulds stay away from an automatic rotary. I can't think of any good reason to make them worth it.

 

as much as I love my 8 and rotary powered cars in general, if you are only looking for a weekend car, and it has to be an auto, there are a number of cars that would probably be better, even including the miata (if you want a convertible).

also, do you prefer 0-60 times, curvy roads, or just looking good? the RX-8 is fine with curvy roads and looking good, but if you want something with some decent torque down low, the RX-8 is not a good fit, you would want to get something with more muscle (mustang, camaro, audi s4, etc.)

Let us know a bit more about what your wants/needs are, and we will be able to help you out...

 

Fixed it for ya...lol

 

I too am 43, and was in the market for a sports car. With two kids, it's been a long, long time since I've had a car I truly enjoyed. I did my homework and the more I read about RX-8's, the more interested I got.

I finally bought one last week, and I am absolutely ecstatic about the purchase! I look forward to each and every opportunity I get to drive it, sometimes making up excuses to do so.

The potential of flooding, and the maintenance of checking/adding oil occasionally is really no big deal. And I know some people are saying not to buy an automatic, but that's a personal decision.

So, here's my advice for you. Go for a nice lengthy test drive with the car you described. If you don't fall in love with it, then keep searching. But if my experience is any indication, I'm betting that you will love all the intangibles of this car, and the rotary engine.

 

Lengthy test drive is probably the best advice.

Make sure its somewhere where you can enjoy the handling of the car.

 

Isn't 22k kinda steep for what he is looking at?

 

Depends on where he is... Car values can vary quite a bit from location to location.

In my neck of the woods, that's a pretty good price.

 

Maybe it's different for 8s but from what I know, it's hard to properly beat on an auto. From what shop owners tell me, auto rotary cars are the ones that develop the most carbon.

 

That's a good price for a 2010 GT. That's 10K less than what the car cost last year. If the car is really going to be a weekend toy to enjoy with the wife, then I don't see why an automatic should be a problem. It fits the OP's goals just fine

 

+ 1 on that ^

 

Well, we bought it. The test drive went great. Car was very clean. Small ding on driver's door and a few scratches here and there but a used car is never perfect. There's a plastic thingy missing which covers the bolt for the front passenger seatbelt.

I'm extremely happy with it. Yes, it doesn't have the torque to take off like a muscle car, but once it gets moving, the power is just what I was hoping for. It's gray/silver (not sure if it's gray or silver, but it looks more silver to me). Leather is very nice and it still makes the car smell good.

My wife took it out with me last night (I drove it home from the dealer - about 2 hours in pouring rain) and she took it out on the highway. She was having a blast, so both of us are happy.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'll be back to discuss and I'll make sure I search for solutions before posting questions. Still need to take pics ...

 

That's what matters the most.

Congrats and keep enjoying your new ride!!!