Is the Mazda RX8 that bad?
- Thread starter Buchanan0204
- Start date
Don
I don't get why there is so much argument about the actual displacement of Mazda's rotary engines. It's a 1.3L and that's that. I don't care what SCCA or any other blog or the government say. It's a 1.3L engine.
Saying it's a 2.6 because of the number of rotations required for a full thermodynamic cycle is kinda silly. Was my Yamaha RD350LC actually a 700cc bike because it's a 2-stroke? No. Are 16 year olds limited to 25cc 2-stroke engines but 50cc 4-stroke engines? No.
This "well it's actually a 2.6L and here's why" is just smoke because people don't know how to deal with the big power outputs from such a small engine. Much easier to say "Well, because of these technical differences that we don't care about with any other differing engine designs, it's actually double the stated displacement so is in fact crap".
Saying it's a 2.6 because of the number of rotations required for a full thermodynamic cycle is kinda silly. Was my Yamaha RD350LC actually a 700cc bike because it's a 2-stroke? No. Are 16 year olds limited to 25cc 2-stroke engines but 50cc 4-stroke engines? No.
This "well it's actually a 2.6L and here's why" is just smoke because people don't know how to deal with the big power outputs from such a small engine. Much easier to say "Well, because of these technical differences that we don't care about with any other differing engine designs, it's actually double the stated displacement so is in fact crap".
It shows a bit of an odd power delivery too- I'm guessing that's the way they all are mind you.
This thread has actually made me tempted to get another shot of one - I still have a real issue with 20mpg against the power on tap returns though.
With regards to the above, does anyone really care what its displacement is or is not? (That's not a dig, just a general comment) It's a different type of engine so comparisons will never be on level terms.
This thread has actually made me tempted to get another shot of one - I still have a real issue with 20mpg against the power on tap returns though.
With regards to the above, does anyone really care what its displacement is or is not? (That's not a dig, just a general comment) It's a different type of engine so comparisons will never be on level terms.
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Soldato
It's a 1.3l, end of, any one who says any difference is wrong. As for the power delivery yep, it's odd but don't forget it's a 6 port engine and opens up at points hence the little dips... however it's pull pull pull from 5k revs. All this talk about low power, it is what it is, you have the stats, if that's not enough power for you then don't buy it and stop winging. Annoys me when peopel say they're under powered? Underpowered for what? They're quick cars, anything 0-60 in 6.4s is quick in my book... now if people are saying they're under powered for the MPG, well, fine don't buy one again... you don't like the fuel economy, p*ss off and buy something else. To say these are slow compared to so called competition is stupid... 350Z's, 370Z's, Scoobies... get the RX8 on a track or twisties and we'll see how slow it is. You just have to push it to it's limits to get the best from it... that doesn't make it a poor car, just you drive it 100% different to any other car.
For me, here's the pro's and cons:
Pros:
Great looks but thats in the eye of the beholder,
It's a Wankel, and anything with **** in the title is good and makes people laugh. Seriously, to have one is having part of history...
Interior is very very comfortable with one of the best driving positions I've ever had,
Reliability structurally is up there with Mazda,
Engine makes a fantastic sound when pushed (some like it, some don't),
Handling in dry is superb (wet driving is twitchy and I don't rate it though)
No other car delivers such a new car with all the toys power and handling in one package for the money (I paid £3,300 for mine on 48k and it's mint),
£270 fully comp which to me is a bargain for this kind of car,
Sports car that feels like a sports car I can use with the family,
Cons:
Fuel economy I get anywhere from 16mpg - 20mpg. However you know that when you buy it,
They need TLC, they can't be just "jump in and drive cars"... if you want that, buy a Type R,
Oil checks every 500 miles (not really a con but needs to be done and don't let oil go below half way and don't over fill),
If you want more power only real way is forced induction and that's between £4-6k, not cheap to get more power,
I could think of others, but all I will say is, for the money it's basically one of the best cars to buy right now assuming compression and seals are fine, if so, and it's been looked after as expected like mine, it'll give you a lot of fun for very little outlay.
For me, here's the pro's and cons:
Pros:
Great looks but thats in the eye of the beholder,
It's a Wankel, and anything with **** in the title is good and makes people laugh. Seriously, to have one is having part of history...
Interior is very very comfortable with one of the best driving positions I've ever had,
Reliability structurally is up there with Mazda,
Engine makes a fantastic sound when pushed (some like it, some don't),
Handling in dry is superb (wet driving is twitchy and I don't rate it though)
No other car delivers such a new car with all the toys power and handling in one package for the money (I paid £3,300 for mine on 48k and it's mint),
£270 fully comp which to me is a bargain for this kind of car,
Sports car that feels like a sports car I can use with the family,
Cons:
Fuel economy I get anywhere from 16mpg - 20mpg. However you know that when you buy it,
They need TLC, they can't be just "jump in and drive cars"... if you want that, buy a Type R,
Oil checks every 500 miles (not really a con but needs to be done and don't let oil go below half way and don't over fill),
If you want more power only real way is forced induction and that's between £4-6k, not cheap to get more power,
I could think of others, but all I will say is, for the money it's basically one of the best cars to buy right now assuming compression and seals are fine, if so, and it's been looked after as expected like mine, it'll give you a lot of fun for very little outlay.
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RX8's arent one of the great misunderstood bargains of the motoring world, no matter how much people try and argue the point.
Enough of them have gone bang in an expensive fashion for the average car owner (which most of us are, no matter how much we like to think we know more than anyone else) to discount them as a viable proposition without a second thought.
If you are prepared to live with the ******* around required for them to even give you even the basic standard of "working" then good for you.
I'd rather just jump in a Type R, S2000, Cooper S, Impreza or whatever, turn the key and away we go.
Enough of them have gone bang in an expensive fashion for the average car owner (which most of us are, no matter how much we like to think we know more than anyone else) to discount them as a viable proposition without a second thought.
If you are prepared to live with the ******* around required for them to even give you even the basic standard of "working" then good for you.
I'd rather just jump in a Type R, S2000, Cooper S, Impreza or whatever, turn the key and away we go.
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Soldato
Agreed they aren't for the average car driver at all... they need proper enthusiasts looking after them and people who love them for being an RX and rotary as opposed to people who just want to get from A to B. You wouldn't buy a Veyron for traveling to work everyday would you...
They need to be purchased with a lot of car and attention, not just because they're cheap as they are expensive to run... however to just say they're rubbish they all blow up quite frankly is stupid... my mate down south has owned his since 2005, it's on 102k miles and is still going strong, nothing wrong with it, he drops the oil every 4-6k miles, has had two coil packs, 3 sets of sparks...
bare in mind the internet world only gets the bad reports, people wanting help, people tend to post when something goes wrong, NOT when something is working as expected.
If you want a sports car that's not going to cost you, go elsewhere, if you love the thought of an all round superb car, and have desposible income, you can do a lot worse than the RX8. Luckily I have a Type R as well, so I'm alright jack
and a motorbike when I really want some performance! The RX8 and Type R, two completely different beasts with similar performance... do Iprefer one over the other>? I think the handling of the RX8 is better as in you'd go around a track quicker BUT the Type R handles like a dream to. The Type R is the better daily driver without a doubt, no jumping or lumpiness in any low gears when in traffic, easier to manouvre (although turning circle is appalling with 19's on). The Type R is 100% the better daily driver but it's poor quality interior and tight seats and two doors when you have a family of four limit it's appeal sometimes. Swings and roundabouts... thing is a lot of people just jump on the bandwagon, I have two cars that in theory would be in direct competition with each other. Makes me laugh when people say the RX8 is in competition with S2000's, 350Z's blah blah... Mmm, convertibles, 2 seaters... err, not sure that's direct competition myself.
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Soldato
More power, revs higher, xenon lights, 6 speed box (essential if you do a lot of motorways obviously). Personally I'd never go the lower power output, harder to sell on and missing tricks... however it's all personal taste...
Caporegime
The trouble imo with what you quote is in the figures, 102k in this day & age is frankly barely run in, but, for an RX8, it's quite something! (Bear in mind I speak as somebody also with a mate, but one who's had the more usual experience of his RX8 at much lower mileage)
To my mind, you have to be very much an RX8 enthusiast to put up with one, the cost and faffing around involved in keeping one going just does not fit well with other similar vehicles, and those vehicles offer similar performance, without the worry of potential engine death and nothing out of the ordinary with regard to use & maintenance.
Granted, the RX8 can be had for a steal of a price, but, you get what you pay for, they are cheap used cars for a reason.
Your spot on re the "Internet world", certainly. Not all cars will develop the issues discussed in cyberspace, but when the car in question has an engine that's prone to issues by design, then it's easy to see why people take more notice of such things in the first place.
Whilst they are different and do offer good "bang for buck" performance, the cons of an RX8 will always - for me - outweigh the pro's.
Soldato
Agree on all your points mate, that's why i've stated, the RX8 is NOT for everyone at all, it's a superb car, but does have it's problems... and oddities... at the end of the day they'll always be pro and against RX8 owners... and it's not a car for everyone... but what annoys me is I wonder how many people on this thread who slate it have had one for any period of time. I'm all for opinions and forums are great, but when someone comes in slating something they've never driven or owned, then that annoys me. As usual, we're all experts in RWD cars and it's amazing how many have been on tracks here (yeah right) and can all handle cars better than the "normal" none internet people... experts left right and centre. I'm coming from a person who's owned a 197bhp 205, a Type R and now this RX8... so have experience of small fast cars (as in some of the best they have made)... does it make me an expert nope.
Soldato
I've had loads of fast cars and still manage to hit things lol
Soldato
The 230 spec also has less torque than the 190 spec.
Never had much trouble getting rid of mine.... Then again I sold it to webuyanycar
.
Soldato
ROFL. I've managed to duck out of that action, apart from when I was in REV's magzine in 2002 with the 205, was at Three Sisters Racetrack in Wigan and span the car going through a corner and floored it too early... span on the grass heading towards tyres and stopped about 15ft shy of wrecking the car... everyone cheered, I was covered in my own **** and **** lol.
Star your swearies!
Reminds me of a heroic primera driver at castle combe last year - lift off oversteer at quite a rate of knots, ended up looking inevitable that he was going off and into the tyrewall but somehow managed to power back out of it to rapturous applause
I too feel someone is trying to be all "big man" by posting in the Internet.
The 3 little dips are where the extra ports open, makes a surprising difference, for its price the car has a near perfect intake setup, its very hard to improve.
Soldato
So a friend has an RX8 and after my advice to avoid he went and bought it.
Now 6 months later his engine is misfiring and it's leaking oil.
I assume this is ****ed?
Does anyone know anyone in the North East who specialise in rotary engines where he can get it replaced/refurbed?
Now 6 months later his engine is misfiring and it's leaking oil.
I assume this is ****ed?
Does anyone know anyone in the North East who specialise in rotary engines where he can get it replaced/refurbed?
I dont really understand this comment. How can you say it has a perfect intake setup and what relevance does price have?
Not at all, I would be looking at Spark plugs or maybe a faulty coilpack both of which can and do go on any engine.
Oil leak doesnt exactly narrow it down? wheres it coming from? Again something that could happen to any car.
Agreed they aren't for the average car driver at all... they need proper enthusiasts looking after them and people who love them for being an RX and rotary as opposed to people who just want to get from A to B. You wouldn't buy a Veyron for traveling to work everyday would you...
They need to be purchased with a lot of car and attention, not just because they're cheap as they are expensive to run... however to just say they're rubbish they all blow up quite frankly is stupid... my mate down south has owned his since 2005, it's on 102k miles and is still going strong, nothing wrong with it, he drops the oil every 4-6k miles, has had two coil packs, 3 sets of sparks...
bare in mind the internet world only gets the bad reports, people wanting help, people tend to post when something goes wrong, NOT when something is working as expected.
If you want a sports car that's not going to cost you, go elsewhere, if you love the thought of an all round superb car, and have desposible income, you can do a lot worse than the RX8. Luckily I have a Type R as well, so I'm alright jack
Nice cars, do you add premix oil to fuel? if so which do you use and what ratio?
As i know this reduces the rotor tip wear a lot. Not sure why mazda got rid of it as the RX7 needed it.