A Grand Monday: Mazda RX-8

Under normal circumstances, we'd suggest that a cheap Mazda RX-8 is something you should steer well clear of. After all, tales of rotor tip wear, oil starvation and complete engine failure in badly maintained examples are rife, and at this price point you're hardly likely to find one that's been properly loved.

Or are you? We reviewed the RX-8 in a Future Classic Friday feature earlier this year, and our suggestion was that if you wanted an RX-8 to love and cherish, then you should be prepared to spend decent money on finding a really good example.

But there's always an exception that proves the rule, and this example, offered for sale at an extremely affordable £950, could well be just that.

It's clear from the description that the vendor knows his way around an RX-8, while the car was fitted with a new engine courtesy of a renowned rotary engine specialist only three years ago at a cost of £1850. It was compression tested recently, and the seller is happy to share the (extremely positive) results of the compression test - keep it topped up with oil (RX-8s use it naturally, and the vast majority of failures are down to poor maintenance rather than poor build quality) and it should have plenty of life left in it.

A recent service, new brakes discs and pads and an expensive exhaust system also imply that the car has been enthusiast owned, as, indeed, do the photographs - good pictures are an essential part of any used car advert, and it's amazing how many sellers don't realise this. 

It does need some work - chiefly a few minor cosmetic bits and pieces and an air con re-gas, but it also comes with over six months' MoT and a chunky service history. 

Being the 192PS model, it's not the 'quick' one, but these were plenty lively enough, and even at the full asking price, this car sounds like a veritable bargain. In most circumstances, we wouldn't go near a cheap RX-8 with even the longest of barge poles. But in the case of this one, we'd happily go and have a closer look. 

• Read our Mazda RX-8 review and buyer's guide
• How many Mazda RX-8s survived? Find out