in the same position myself, looked at a 2002 bmw 325ci m sport at the weekend, only 35k miles BMW 12 month warrenty and on for

 

There are certain things to be avoided, because they cause plug fouling.

Many company car abusers will be on their second engine anyway.

 

Brilliant cars. I've driven one and loved it, the cornering capabilities and the way it can change direction so quickly are excellent.

The only issues are how thirsty it is and the depreciation. The reliabilty is very good with just a few stories of worn tips to the rotors. I think its basically an issue that mileage will really impact on the engine, hence the depreciation.

Fun and more fun though with four seats! At least servicing will be cheap compared to the germans!

 

That's a tad optimistic!

Think more along the lines of high teens fuel consumption from what I have read.

 

Most insurance companies consider the car as a 2.6 and not a 1.3. I am told even the car tax is the same?

Early models had flooding issues (rectified on 04> models) if you run the engine for less than 3 minutes, most cars were recalled for this but we have had a couple break down on us.

Other than that they have similar looks to the S2000 (the amout of times I have gone flash and it turns out to be a RX8) the suicide rear doors are quite funky and I love the instruments and the way they light up.

Doesn't Clarkson give this car a cool rating?

 

I like the styling of the RX-8, it still looks good which is something you can't say about the 350Z. I wouldn't buy one though, not after hearing problems with engine flooding and reading that you should never shut off the engine until it is up to normal running temperature.

 

I have to disagree with that a little, I've always thought the RX-8 looks a little bulbous; kind of like an overweight girl wearing clothing thats too tight. That's only comparing it to the S2000 though, it looks OK but the styling is contemporary and too ambitous, its not a classic style.

 

Mazdas tend to be like that; Hondas more restrained.

Nothing wrong with a slightly overweight girl with clothing that's too tight!

Better than Anna Recksix's BMW with bones n' shit sticking out everywhere.