As some of you may be aware, I reluctantly sold the S earlier in the year, as I'm presently about 3 weeks away from becoming a dad. I would love to have kept it, and probably would have if either Mrs Integra's car was slightly bigger, or she could drive the S (as it happens none of the usual triumvirate would insure me for a reasonable price with her on the paperwork as they insist on performance car experience for all named drivers).

So for the last 3 months or so I've been driving my Dad's car around (don't ask) as he doesn't need it at the moment, which has given me time to think about what to buy next. I was reticent to pay big money again for a new motor as our income will diminish considerably in the near future, and the replacement would hardly be the pride the joy the S was due to practicality and the lack of time available to spend on it. So given the multitude of cheap and good examples about of both, I was probably (but reluctantly) going to spend around £5-7k on a decent 2nd hand Mazda 6 or Mondeo, as a clean 07 or 08 can quite easily be had for that sort of cash which I can quite easily afford to part with. Either should last well enough, and also wouldn't cause the same depreciation heartache a flasher, younger motor invariably would.

However, my older brother currently owns an MY05 RX-8 (231PS version) which he's had for about 3 years. Due to the mileage he now has to cover, however, he is now looking for a more economical car that he can drive more than one client around in without the second having to clamber in and out unceremoniously. Whilst he hasn't cherished it to quite the same degree as I did the S, it is in a good condition cosmetically and mechanically sound as a pound. It has been well and regularly serviced and I know for a fact not thrashed, and currently has 48k on the clock.

It has metallic paint and but not sure about the trim option. From what I recall when I last went in it, it needs two new rears shortly as there is only around 2mm left. Fronts are quite new.

Even though it's not a traditional 'family car' of sorts, it does tick the boxes in that we can easily get a child-seat in there and it is more than capable of accommodating two large suitcases (something neither the S or my wife's Suzuki Swift can boast). Whilst it probably won't be as cheap to run or as economical as the alternatives I originally had in mind, I don't cover too many miles with the office being fairly close by and most of my work travel being by air, and it also will be a slightly better parachute from the S than these alternatives.

I have been toying with so many options - even thought about going back to a DC2 or perhaps a DC5 which the wife never seemed too chuffed about - however she doesn't mind the RX-8 and I dare say would be pleased enough if I did buy it.

So my questions really are, will it be suitable, and if so what is the car worth?

 

A very good friend, did exactly this.
The car handled bloody well for a 4 door, not a bad turn of speed either

He sold it a year later, for a c4 vtr diesel - read into that what you will.

Go into rx8 ownership with you eyes wide open and your pockets nice and deep

 

My friend had one when she had her first born, had issues with only doing short journeys and the engine flooding, but reason for getting rid was she found the lowering and raising of child into and out of it caused her back pain ... So check the bend and twist action needed. Oh and aperture of boot prohibits some buggies from being used, it is a funny angle for bulky items

 

I believe Cider Boy bought an RX-8 when he started a family and sold his Elise.

Thought he was going to like it but I believe he soon tired of it and found it expensive to run. I have tried unsuccessfully to search for the thread. I am rubbish, sorry.

 

my friend Fiona has a limited edition Yellow 192 and has had nothing but problems with it in the 3 years she has had it and the Fuel consumption is abysmal compared to how slow they are, Another friend on my local car forum had a 231 and in 3 months of owning it had to change the plugs and coil packs then flogged it because of running costs.

Personally if i wanted a 4 door family car i would look at a 2.4 v-tec Accord Type S

 

Here https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/745...t__p__20649413

 

Its not a car you will live with.

You will immediately regret it and buy a proper family car.

 

Thanks anyway for trying, and thanks everyone else (particularly LG for finding said thread)

I'm surmising from the concensus it's just not the right option right now.

 

You might regret it because it's boring.

But not because its not a 'proper family car' - whatever that is

 

Had one. Short term interesting.
Longer term.. you can do better.

Try opening all the doors in a multi storey car park when cars are parked side by side.
Not practical.

It is a bit quirky and different, but the niggles will annoy you.

Temperature sensor is known to be a bit flakey can be an ever decreasing circles chase to get sorted.