RX8 Owners Advice

Always loved the fact that my old Corvette, with over 100bhp more and an extra 200lb ft, would do 10mpg more than an RX8 on a cruise. Hell, even around town it'd do 22-25.

Even my '86 would just about pull one in a straight line. The C4's are also the cars to have in the most competitive autocross classes in the US, from what I'm told, before we go down the 'cornering' route. The likes of the RX8 and E36 M3's get dominated by them.

There is an awful lot that's interesting about the RX8s though. I'd like to drive one for a bit but I know a lot of my colleagues have found them disappointing. Still, I'll wait until I can judge for myself :)
 
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leigh_boy said:
had 2 both the 231 engines they use oil because it injects it in to the engine to lubricate the seals. they are not that bad on fuel. about 22mpg a lot less if you gun it like 18 ish. then need coil packs and engine rebuilds every 40 / 50 k miles 2k for a rebuild.
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22MPG wouldn't be bad if they actually had the performance to back up such figures.
 
I believe a commen and fun change is to get with said buggered engine, and replace with a ls1 of some sort ;)

Epic JDM looks, with awesome american v8 rumble
 
Doesn't a Civic Type R only manage similar MPG on averge though? With similar HP & Torque figures? I know RJK managed 23MPG avergae in his 2 year ownership of his EP3.

So doesn't seem as bad as what people are saying. Just sounds like a bandwagon to jump on.
 
IvanDobskey said:
Do not touch an rx8 with a 20 foot barge pole! Take it from someone with experience, they are nothing but trouble!
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Only if you plan to keep them for a long time. Mine was fine during my 9 months of ownership.

What happened to yours?
 
NathWraith said:
Doesn't a Civic Type R only manage similar MPG on averge though? With similar HP & Torque figures? I know RJK managed 23MPG avergae in his 2 year ownership of his EP3.

So doesn't seem as bad as what people are saying. Just sounds like a bandwagon to jump on.
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I'm a bit better than that, probably in the region of 28mpg whereas I think the mazda hovers at low 20's - but I agree the economy, power and torque being "terrible" doesn't stack up for me.

However when you factor in oil usage, that bit of an economy drop vs others at similar power, servicing requirements and most importantly that rebuild every few years it starts to look like an expensive car to own. Wouldn't stop me, personally.
 
rodenal said:
I'm a bit better than that, probably in the region of 28mpg whereas I think the mazda hovers at low 20's - but I agree the economy, power and torque being "terrible" doesn't stack up for me.

However when you factor in oil usage, that bit of an economy drop vs others at similar power, servicing requirements and most importantly that rebuild every few years it starts to look like an expensive car to own. Wouldn't stop me, personally.
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i would like to add the rotary engine sounds amazing, the power band is smooth and it does pull like a train the 192 does have more torque but the 231 revs to 12k rpm and sounds amazing, it is a drivers car , not a pop to the shop car.
with the turbo or SC conversion they are animals!
if you buy 1 either 1 have a fresh build straight away or 2 stick £50 to 100 a month for the engine rebuild it will need in 40 / 50k they can last longer, people just dont understand it has to use oil.
when i ran mine i also put 2 stroke in with the petrol.

just like to add to help avoid the start issues, rev to 2k rpm for a few secs before start and if you do flood it, hold down the throttle to the floor, this actually cuts off the fuel supply :)

there is also a trick that reset the sensor in the engine to aid start up if flodded, turn the key to on, stomp on the brake peddle 30 times it then re calibrates ( all dials will sweep) and then your good to go. the ride is smooth as well i miss that so much
 
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Mates got one of these recently & had that starting issue, He had to take each plug out & put some oil down the bores to reseal then before it would start. :confused:

Didn't really get what he was on about if I'm honest but then I've never owned a Wankel engine.
 
Not rwd but can I suggest celica t sport? 4k should get a good one. Less insurance cost than civic type R. Coupe body, reliable easily gets high 30mpg on runs. Lower if wringing the revs out
 
if you really do floor the engine you get behind the passenger wheel and remover the £35 a piece spark plug and crank the engine over with foot on the floor to clear the engine, no need to oil it :S. or you some times have to tow the car to bump it and force it had to di it at 40mph once . but that was down to poor battery and being very flooded.
 
The Running Man said:
Not rwd but can I suggest celica t sport? 4k should get a good one. Less insurance cost than civic type R. Coupe body, reliable easily gets high 30mpg on runs. Lower if wringing the revs out
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hard ride, not many gadgets very low, crap brakes.. i should know i have had 4 gen 7s, 2 gen 6s
 
I really like these, but have heard they use an awful lot of fuel and oil for not much return in the old bhp department. Fantastic looking cars though.
 
DAIR said:
Only if you plan to keep them for a long time. Mine was fine during my 9 months of ownership.

What happened to yours?
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Bought it on 50k from Mazda with a full years warranty then got the dreaded hot start problem and failing compression. Mazda just changed the starter motor and fobbed me off, leaving me swinging in the wind.

Will never buy another Mazda out of principle.
 
I've had two both were brilliant. You just get a lot of people treating them like a traditional piston engine and they don't like it. They need to be red-lined often to keep the various intake valves operating.
I also ran 2 stroke in mine from memory it was 200ml per tank.

Coil packs were a weak point if these go they lead to inefficient running and the excess fuel washes away the oil on the seals.
I never flooded mine once in 4 years owning these cars, need to make sure you have a decent battery in good condition as a failed start can flood the engine.
I have helped a few people start a flooded one, fastest way i found was to remove the plugs and tow the car in gear. Then add 2 stroke to each chamber, plugs back in 9/10 times will start straight up with a lot of smoke.

The cars are fantastic to drive on track, and rubbish in traffic really really rubbish in traffic.
I'm not sure i would have one again as an everyday car but for a track car i would, you need to appreciate the rotary engine if you don't the cars performance will disappoint you.
 
robj20 said:
I've had two both were brilliant. You just get a lot of people treating them like a traditional piston engine and they don't like it. They need to be red-lined often to keep the various intake valves operating.
I also ran 2 stroke in mine from memory it was 200ml per tank.

Coil packs were a weak point if these go they lead to inefficient running and the excess fuel washes away the oil on the seals.
I never flooded mine once in 4 years owning these cars, need to make sure you have a decent battery in good condition as a failed start can flood the engine.
I have helped a few people start a flooded one, fastest way i found was to remove the plugs and tow the car in gear. Then add 2 stroke to each chamber, plugs back in 9/10 times will start straight up with a lot of smoke.

The cars are fantastic to drive on track, and rubbish in traffic really really rubbish in traffic.
I'm not sure i would have one again as an everyday car but for a track car i would, you need to appreciate the rotary engine if you don't the cars performance will disappoint you.
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well said... i did hate slow moving traffic in mine.
 
NathWraith said:
Doesn't a Civic Type R only manage similar MPG on averge though? With similar HP & Torque figures? I know RJK managed 23MPG avergae in his 2 year ownership of his EP3.

So doesn't seem as bad as what people are saying. Just sounds like a bandwagon to jump on.
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I do about 300 miles per week commuting in my EP3, and mileage rarely drops below 30mpg. That includes a mix of fast DCW (85-90), fast B roads and some driving in town with fairly heavy traffic. I'm not shy with VTEC either.

On a longer run on opens roads it will return 40mpg if driven carefully, though it's not much fun.

The problem with the RX8 is even if you drive like a granny the fuel consumption barely improves.
 
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