Mazda RX-8 (R3) | Spotted

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Back when I needed to buy a car back at the start of 2023, a Mazda RX-8 was so nearly the answer – I still have the number of a private seller in my phone, and exchanged calls and texts with him about the example in question. But the more I read, the more I spooked myself; worried about flooding it on the nursery run, pre-mixing, which super-unleaded was the best, what to do about rust, etc etc. So I bottled it – sorry again, Dean. 

I bought a Mini Cooper S instead, which was great – right up until the head gasket let go. About two months after replacing the clutch and flywheel. Safe to say an awful lot more was spent on that than I got back. Then came a Mazda 3 in an attempt to be sensible, only to find it too dreary for a car that wasn’t in everyday use, so it was sold. At a loss. Now I have the 325ti, which is brilliant, but has also required spending some money on it, as well as boasting its own appetite for fuel, oil, and chunky VED. So it’s hard not to wonder just what RX-8 life – and costs – might have been.

I’ve liked them for a lot longer than I should admit to. The TG review kicked it off way back when, followed by all the rave magazine reviews, Tokyo Drift, passenger rides and enjoying Mazda’s own 40th Anniversary. I love revs, I love manuals, I love rear-wheel drive – and with a young family, those incredible doors would be a real boon. Of course, they aren’t perfect; we all know that. There’s a reason why RX-8s are so much cheaper than 350Zs, Monaros, Caymans and all its contemporaries – the engine. Now’s not the time to dwell on it, because if you want to know you’ll know, but suffice it to say a Mazda RX- requires careful maintenance. Plus an engine rebuild at some point, probably. And almost as much oil as it needs fuel throughout. 

Yet I remain undeterred, helped by living near a rotary specialist and being able to expense work miles (up until now, at least). This one is absolutely the kind of RX-8 I’d love; despite the formidable tax cost as a later car, the tweaked look, chassis changes and revisions to the oil supply make it the more desirable one. Any RX-8 is going to cost a lot to run (if not to buy), so may as well go for the best. 

This one benefits from significant recent expenditure, including new tyres, clutch and coilovers. With some spacers as well, it looks absolutely spot on. The Recaro seats have held up pretty well across two owners, the new head unit looks like it’ll pair with a phone, and red is one of my favourite colours for the RX-8. 

Oh yeah, and it’s half an hour away from home. And completely not the car to buy right now. But it’s hard not to think about all the reasons why an RX-8 is brilliant – the handling, the looks, the rarity these days – rather than the potential headaches of running one. Especially when one this good is £7k. So for heaven’s sake, someone please do the decent thing and buy it. For the good of my credit card bill, and a happy home life. But can I have a drive, please? 

Engine: 1,308cc twin-rotor rotary
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 231@8,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 156@5,500rpm
MPG: 24.9
CO2: 299g/km
Year registered: 2009
Recorded mileage: 70,000
Price new: £24,995
Yours for: £6,950