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As for those who are seeking rotary reliability reports, I think I can provide some insight. While the RX8 is different in it's intake and exhaust port design, the engine itself is similar to earlier normally aspirated rotaries. I owned an 84 RX7 for 1 year with unknown miles and the car was flawless in its reliability. It was driven daily in city traffic and handled it just fine. It always started up the first try. Only on 1 occassion did it "flood", but it had a carbureator that was in dire need of rebuilding. Otherwise, I was able to move the car a short distance to wash it and it wouldn't flood as long as I let it run about a minute. Granted, I live in northern Florida so we don't encounter extreme cold. It never drank more then a quart of oil between oil changes (often the usage was closer to a 1/2 of a quart, much less then a number of high mileage piston engines) and that was with the engine being well worn, leaking a little, and using a less accurate mechanical oil metering pump. My "new" 90 RX7 is also an excellent running car. It has 109,500 miles. It fires right up and has been turned on and off without fully warming up and no flooding has occured. I try to run it about a minute or two and sometimes blip the throttle before turning it off just to make sure it doesn't happen though. I haven't owned the car long enough to determine oil usage but the previous owner said it uses about a 1/2 quart between changes. Not really a big deal at all. The one problem that older rotaries run into is idle stability. They tend to have funky idle problems as they age and are more sensitive to vaccuum leaks. Maybe Mazda has figured that out with the Renesis. All in all, I think prospective owners shouldn't be too concerned about the care required with the rotary. A non-turbocharged rotary is just as durable as a piston motor and though the oil needs to be checked periodically and a little extra caution should be used when moving the car extremely short distances, I think there is no reason a non-car guy couldn't handle owning this car. I think people who just don't understand rotaries have blown their quirks way out of proportion. The only thing you should prepare for is large V6 like fuel economy.
If you've ever driven and RX8, you'll notice the similarities between the RENESIS and older FDs.
More importantly, you'll notice the differences, too (which are fairly dramatic).
RX8s have relatively small gas tanks (15 gal or so). I think that's why quite a few notice more frequent fill-ups.
The RENESIS can run on 87. I don't do it because I want to get as much out of it as I can....so it's 93 for mine.
I'm getting 19 MPG in mixed driving. No flooding and mine doesn't burn enough oil between changes (5K miles) for me to get worried about.
Keep us posted on how your "new" RX is working out.
In my 8 I found if I drive it EZ keeping the tack below 4k I get the worst MGP on a full tank. Keeping the revs in the mid range 5 to 7k in gears 1,2,3 gets me the best MPG. I usually drive in 4th at 45mph in city.
The sound of the rotary was somewhat similar, and handling was vaguely close, but it's clear that the 8 was built from what the Hiroshima engineers learned over the years of development. The RX8 feels like a clean sheet design in comparison.
If I could get my hands on a convertible like yours, I'd probably jump on it, however.
IMHO, all the RXs are special cars.
p.s. If I talk too much about the RX7 in here, you can tell me to shut up, LOL. I needed somewhere to talk about the car and this is the only open rotary forum.
I remember those BBS wheels....very nice!
I've looked at used RX7s in the past as 2nd cars. All I was looking for was a clean one with reasonable miles. Most of what I found were highly modded ones (done by people who really didn't know what they were doing), TTs that were in good shape (but those rode like bricks and the owners wanted WAAAYYYY TOOOO MUCH money for), or ones that had 200,000 + miles on them.
It sounds like you've got a sweet one. Hold onto it.
RX8 is quite a sports car bargain, too. While mine is pretty well all loaded up (GT with NAV), you can easily get one with a sports package for well under $30K. I've yet to find another car in recent memory that offers the speed, handling, high quality, precise steering and shifting all in a comfortable package as the RX8 offers.
I'm only kidding of course, but you are taking graphic's place as the poster with an overflow of car pride.
Actually, graphic, you have already cheered me up! I can't help but chuckle thinking about the expression on your face when you saw that teen posing on the hood of your car. Must have been priceless! Anymore instances to share?
And for anyone who says that it's a pain to check your own oil. Every time I do the check, someone comes over to talk about my car. And last night two separate lovely women wanted to know what kind of car it is!! Ok, ok, one of them was about 14, but her mom was cute too! (and probably younger than me also...jeeze) But the oil check is just another way to meet some really nice folks! And that's what life is all about, right?
ok, time to go get some cotton pads and wash my die-cast model. :-)
As I've settled down about the female "teen butt" scratch on my hood, I have been able to view it with a bit of humor. I can't wait until it gets warm enough for me to "address" the "butt scratch".
cheeze...make sure you use 100% cotton "mini-towels" on your model....may as well throw a coat of Zaino on it while your at it.
and gguy - I can't clean the model too well though ....the redhead also tried to clean it and rubbed off the Mazda logo......arrrgh.....women... :-)
What is it with females and this car?
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Happy St. Patrick's Day to Edmunds and all here at the RX8 boards!....have a green beer on me!!
...and my car got an offer for a date...pretty girl said that she and my car would look good going to a new restaurant....I asked, "What about me?"...she said, "well, you get to drop your car off at my house and watch the cats!"......LOL.....
new personal record - Local posted offramp of 25mph. Tonight - 68mph.......yes, I keep track!..wheeee!
On the other hand, when it's scorching hot in FL, I'll be enjoying "moderate temps".
I love getting the DSC on mine to kick in when I'm hitting the on-ramp waaayyyy toooo fast. It always "snaps me back" onto the right "line".
Later on, when I shifted from 4th to 3rd, the same thing happened again - engine oil warning light came on, stayed on for a few seconds, and then went out.
Has anyone experienced the same? I looked it up in the owner's manual and the owner's manual does say that the Renesis engine consumes a small amount of oil and that the owner should check the oil level frequently. Do you guys check your oil level regularly?
Thanks.
Ray
There was also a problem with the oil sensor location/baffling and that is a TSB addressed fix (replace oil pan and change sensor mounting - the pan has to be replaced because it's likely to be bent when removed to get at the sensor, not because they changed it - they changed the sensor mounting/baffling). That may be your problem.
If your RX8 has been built in the last couple of months, you've probably already got the new oil level sensor already installed. But, as pathstar mentioned, you might want to ask your dealer if you definitely have the newer oil level sensor. They should be able to tell you based on your VIN#.
Long and short of it, check your oil....NOW!
BUT, and this is what made me irritated, why was Mazda a no-show? I go there to be able to brag about how cool the RX8 is and Mazda isn't even there. What a let down.....Mazda are you listening? Go to every show! Hello?.....
:-)
The guy I autox with has a new Mini-S. You're right. It's "cute". Still, for roughly the same money, I don't think it compares with the RX8.
The driving dynamics, while similar, are much more balanced with the RX8 than the Mini-S.
If you think the RX8 or G35c or 350Z have had some issues, they doesn't hold a candle to the problems he's had with the Mini.
That said, I do enjoy driving his Mini when I get the chance. I just don't know that I could live with it (kind of like your blonde).
yeah, I figured that the Mini was not as "dynamic" to drive as the RX8....but if there was no RX8, I would still swing the Mini way....just to say I had one to the grandkids.......of course, saying the same about the RX8 is so much cooler, IMHO....
I jump into his car and have a blast. Of course, I don't live with it day in and day out, either.
I am not up on Porsche - what is the "S" do that's better?....."Sport" version?...just curious.
has anyone here ever visited the Mazda plant in Japan?..
--2 "master" keys with 2 remotes
--1 valet key
It sounds like they owe you another master key and another remote.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/index.html
The Mini has had quality problems since inception, per CR. None that I know of regarding the RX8 (you guys would probably know more about this than me).
I know this is being brought up as an alternative, but personally, I do not think the Mini S(even with the John Cooper Works add-on) can hold a candle to the RX8's driving dynamics. RX8 is one of the few cars under $50K that balances neutral and communicative handling and a comfortable ride.
anyhoo, I will stick with my RX8 being the cutest!
As small as it is, with the SC engine, it isn't remotely as quick as the RX8 is, nor as comfortable.
On a closed track, There may be a slight difference.
His big beef has been mostly build quality issues, which is surprising to me considering it's built by BMW. Knobs and trim just fall off. It rattles like a snake. There isn't nearly the solid feel with the MINI as the RX8 imparts. It reminds me of the build of the 350Z/G35c in some ways.
Plus, he says the BMW techs are snobish about his issues....like they are to be expected.
Could be his dealer or just his car. I think it's both.
Fact is, he waited a long, long time for a new MINI and probably should have looked at other cars outside of the MINI before making his purchase.
well....I did my best to inform him that the trade mags have said nothing of the sort and that he doesn't need to worry about it - he has Mazda's best car - an RX8!.....
There may be a new RX-7. Current rumour is turbo charging the renesis is not practical, so Mazda may increase the displacement (for the first time in 25 years!) or go to three rotors. Not sure if they will call it an RX-7. Pro RX-7 is the history of that model, con is maybe they want to emphasize the renesis differences and may call it an RX-9.
Current sales of the RX-8 bode well for the sevens' return!
I can see the appeal of a rotary Miata, but I think Mazda is looking to hold the RENESIS to their top model, which today is the RX8.
RX7 would be great. I'd be more interested in seeing future RX8s (RX9s?). I'd prefer more rotors as opposed to force feeding via supercharging or turbos.