Any RX-8 owners/opinions?

[GQROB]

I am thinking of purchasing a used RX-8.
I realize they aren't the most powerful car, with torque being so low.
They can be had for a reasonable price used, and are unique in appearance.
Not sure about reliability?

It will likely only see street duty, but who knows, maybe I will get back on the track again someday.

[.RJ]

Rob, check this thread out - lots of good opinions (good, and bad)

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[ScottyB]

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.

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[Evan]

my ex-gf had one and I spent a good amount of time driving it.

in short, I really really liked the car. handled superbly, built solidly, looked good and 9k rpm is fun. the powerband is surprisingly linear and I didnt miss the lack of torque.
only real complaint for me was lack of headroom with the sunroof/power seats.
the back seat will actually fit humans if you want, but the trunk is small.
i would really like one as a daily driver, were it not for the poor gas mileage. the rotary goes through a little bit of oil, but there is an oil level indicator that tells you when to top it off.

[BLINGMW]

- 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.

This seems kind of sketchy, that 2nd thread really didn't convince me either. Unless I missed something, there's no data to back up this practice. :dunno: Kind of reminds me of some old, experienced mechanic swearing by adding Lucas oil to everything... doesn't exactly make me want to do it.

I like RX8s too. I did a short autocross type thing with one, fun times. To ME, the supposed lack of low end torque wasn't an issue, seemed to be very linear as Evan mentioned. I would greatly prefer an RX8 than the last gen RX7. Get one! :wink: Too bad the fuel economy is crap.

[ScottyB]

This seems kind of sketchy, that 2nd thread really didn't convince me either. Unless I missed something, there's no data to back up this practice. :dunno: Kind of reminds me of some old, experienced mechanic swearing by adding Lucas oil to everything... doesn't exactly make me want to do it.

its definitely been a rotary practice for a really long time. i'm taking the word of guys that have owned multiple rotary engine'd cars...so yeah, could be crazy talk but it makes sense to me...but then again i don't make alot of sense sometimes anyway.

the basic premise is simply that the oil metering pump in the engines doesn't do enough normally, because if it could pump the amount of oil the seals need to last a long, long time, then the amount of oil burning up would not allow emmissions passing. so the pump only adds a little and the premix is extra help. maybe Jacko could chime in, he had a rotardy for a while...

[balactm]

I haven't heard anything good about them. plus, it's a rotary. just count down to when it will blow an apex seal or something else. I give it a 5000 mile maximum driving time before something goes wrong.

[BLINGMW]

because if it could pump the amount of oil the seals need to last a long, long time, then the amount of oil burning up would not allow emmissions passing.

well now that does make some sense, I can believe that. But this still wasn't solved for the Renesis? I guess I ASSumed they did. That'd be kind of sad if they still weren't able to make some big strides toward longevity in this latest version. :? Is it hopeless? Will the rotary ever be a good street car engine?

[CaptainHenreh]

Is it hopeless? Will the rotary ever be a good street car engine?

Give it 50 years of the development attention that the piston engine has gotten and sure, why not?

[BLINGMW]

I guess I understand that burning oil is inherent in the design, that might never go away. But there's no excuse for oiling issues, this thing's been around long enough!

[ScottyB]

well now that does make some sense, I can believe that. But this still wasn't solved for the Renesis?

apparently there doesn't exist a seal material that can seal well and not need alot of oil to maintain longevity.

its not that they're the time bombs people make them out to be. there are a couple 150k mile RX8's on that same board on the original engine. and 150k is a long time, for most people. the sad thing is that most well built piston engines wil last 2x that, easily.

the oiling issues will always be a factor - and a worsening one at that - until emissions restrictions lighten up...which will never happen unless mazda invents a magic catalytic converter. the latest renesis for 2009 has an added oil injector, but it essentially only broadens the spread of oil, but doesn't inject more of it...so its not helping all that much but shows that mazda realizes there is improvement needed.

[HAULN-SS]

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[.RJ]

its not that they're the time bombs people make them out to be.

3 moving parts :dunno:

I'd drive an RX8, but my stupid hobbies mean I need something a little bigger

[ScottyB]

my stupid hobbies mean I need something a little bigger

put a bike rack on the back, or tow a motorcycle.

alternately, think of how many 16-18 year old chicks you can fit in there!

[Apoc]

I'd drive an RX8, but my stupid hobbies mean I need something a little bigger

That right there should be reason not to drive one. Your history dictates that everyone do the opposite of you.

I have nothing of any real value so I'll leave the OP with this.

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[.RJ]

No way, I rule.

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Rotaries can be cool

[Goodspeed]

Cool car, but needs more 2JZ.









:bootyshake:













http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=148145

[WRXtranceformed]

Too much of a gamble. The only way you'd catch me in one is if it was LS-swapped. I love the look of the cars, especially with a good lip kit and rims but what a shit-tastic engine.

[.RJ]

especially with a good lip kit and rims

Its not how you stand by your car.

[WRXtranceformed]

especially with a good lip kit and rims

Its not how you stand by your car.