SECOND-HAND SENSEThis week's column may be of limited interest to most car buyers, but it concerns one of the most fascinating cars around. Being a sports car, the Mazda RX-8 is, by definition, different from the mainstream but what really distinguishes it is the fact that it is the only production car around that uses a rotary engine that produces very impressive speeds from an engine relatively limited in capacity.
We don't want to get too technical - and fans will already be familiar with the rotary principle - but the engine uses a rotor instead of pistons. The rotor, which spins within its own housing, produces pressure to drive the car but without using conventional parts like the pistons, crankshaft, valves, rocker arms and so on. The result is an engine that can achieve extremely high revs, is much lighter and, in fairness, much more problematic when it goes wrong. Several companies toyed with the rotary engine (invented by a German engineer, Felix Wankel), but only Mazda stuck with it - to great effect in the performance car arena but not so much with production cars.
The RX-8 is a very attractive car with four doors, although it looks to have only two thanks to the cleverness of design, a smart interior and provides a really good driving experience. The engine will rev freely and far higher than other sports car engines and you do have a feeling of driving something unconventional but special.
Rear seat passengers enter through doors that are more like panels that open after the two main doors are opened and there is reasonably good space for four. Boot space is reasonably adequate but no more than a conventional super mini, but then we are dealing with a car that is likely to attract people who want something completely different.
The fact that the RX-8 engine, which produces 230 horse power and has a top speed of 146 mph, is only a 1.3 unit underscores the magic of the rotary system, but it is unlikely to lead to a major discount with an insurance company. The car is well-balanced and assured in its handling but you will find the ride a tad on the harsh side if you are not used to being close to the road.
There are, of course, other disadvantages. Rotary engines might have small cubic capacity but they are not economical. The most reliable figures I can find from the UK, where the car is very popular, suggest consumption of between 16 and 20 miles to the gallon. Rotary engines also need more oil than conventional ones, and regular top ups. I would not consider buying an RX-8 that did not have a full Mazda service history, as repairs due to even unintentional neglect, can be very expensive indeed.
There are no EuroNCAP crash test results, but there have been three recalls in the last three years (the RX-8 was launched only in 2003). A small number were brought back for possible cracking of a dynamic heat insulator, more than 4,000 for possible cracks in the lower suspension arm that could cause steering loss and more than 15,000 were recalled because of possible heat damage to the fuel tank if the car is left parked at high speeds. Quite why it would be is not immediately clear to me.
The RX-8 was always well equipped, and a 2003 car with 17,000 miles on the clock and equipped with alloys, metallic paint, climate control, sports suspension, traction control, multiple airbags, eletrics, satellite navigation, a six-CD Bose system and Xenon headlights is for sale privately for an asking price of €34,950.
FOR: Innovative technology, great design and interior
AGAINST: Lousy fuel consumption and hard to trust without a complete service history