01-22-2009, 01:32 PM
i have been highly interested in these cars as well, since their introduction. from reading everything i can, here is what i gather:
- go for an '05 or up. the '04's suffered most from a poor factory tune that could have shortened engine life
- poor gas milage at best
- they NEED to be driven like your hair on on fire. the multi-stage butterflied intake system will gum up if the engine isn't run through the RPM's alot which opens the butterflies. also the exhaust ports will clog really fast with soot if you granny drive it.
- people have run less than 93 octane in them without serious consequence, but i don't know if i'd do it
- don't use synth oil. regular dino is recommended since the engine is designed to combust the oil with gas as part of operation. synth does weird things to the seals/cat when it burns up.
- you don't actually have the check the oil. the RX8 has a low-oil light (not to be confused with a low pressure light) that will alert you to when you need to top off oil.
- its recommended you pre-mix your gas with an additional lube as if it's a 2-stroke. idemitsu sells a specific premix and there are others.
- the '09+ engines use a 3rd oil injector which should boost reliability higher still.
- they will flood if you crank it up cold, run it for 10 seconds like you need to re-park, then shut it off. there is a simple revving procedure to negate this.
- handling is fantastic. my short test drive left me ruined. i want to feel it again!
- brakes are similarly good
- great back seats, and good access with the suicide doors
- hard to beat the 8 yr./100k mile warranty on the engine. this is retroactive as well
- stock batteries tend to go out fast and are undersized for the engine. many retrofit larger batteries.
- they do very well on track. the oiling system is dry sump, all the power is up high, the handling is communicative and the brakes are solid. its also very light for a modern "sedan."
- no timing belts, chains, or sticky lifters to worry about
- again, you have to rev it hard or you'll miss the point.
- safety is supposedly very good in these cars, even in side impacts with the weird doors
i have seen reports of engines being replaced every 30k and similarly people passing 100k with big smiles on their faces. i think you have to be really into the engine and no how to care for its nuances, otherwise you're going to regret it. its definitely not a car for everyone.
also, here's a great thread showing a 117k mile renesis teardown. should give you some idea of the life expectancy of the engine given certain criteria. there is some good info posted throughout the thread, not just the pictures.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=161105&highlight=100k">http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t ... light=100k</a><!-- m -->
- go for an '05 or up. the '04's suffered most from a poor factory tune that could have shortened engine life
- poor gas milage at best
- they NEED to be driven like your hair on on fire. the multi-stage butterflied intake system will gum up if the engine isn't run through the RPM's alot which opens the butterflies. also the exhaust ports will clog really fast with soot if you granny drive it.
- people have run less than 93 octane in them without serious consequence, but i don't know if i'd do it
- don't use synth oil. regular dino is recommended since the engine is designed to combust the oil with gas as part of operation. synth does weird things to the seals/cat when it burns up.
- you don't actually have the check the oil. the RX8 has a low-oil light (not to be confused with a low pressure light) that will alert you to when you need to top off oil.
- its recommended you pre-mix your gas with an additional lube as if it's a 2-stroke. idemitsu sells a specific premix and there are others.
- the '09+ engines use a 3rd oil injector which should boost reliability higher still.
- they will flood if you crank it up cold, run it for 10 seconds like you need to re-park, then shut it off. there is a simple revving procedure to negate this.
- handling is fantastic. my short test drive left me ruined. i want to feel it again!
- brakes are similarly good
- great back seats, and good access with the suicide doors
- hard to beat the 8 yr./100k mile warranty on the engine. this is retroactive as well
- stock batteries tend to go out fast and are undersized for the engine. many retrofit larger batteries.
- they do very well on track. the oiling system is dry sump, all the power is up high, the handling is communicative and the brakes are solid. its also very light for a modern "sedan."
- no timing belts, chains, or sticky lifters to worry about
- again, you have to rev it hard or you'll miss the point.
- safety is supposedly very good in these cars, even in side impacts with the weird doors
i have seen reports of engines being replaced every 30k and similarly people passing 100k with big smiles on their faces. i think you have to be really into the engine and no how to care for its nuances, otherwise you're going to regret it. its definitely not a car for everyone.
also, here's a great thread showing a 117k mile renesis teardown. should give you some idea of the life expectancy of the engine given certain criteria. there is some good info posted throughout the thread, not just the pictures.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=161105&highlight=100k">http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t ... light=100k</a><!-- m -->
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past: 03 Xterra SE 4x4 | 05 Impreza 2.5RS | 99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T | 01 Accord EX | 90 Maxima GXE | 96 Explorer XLT