RE: Shed Of The Week: Mazda RX-8

[otolith]

Escy said:

otolith said:

I like the fuel economy of diesels, if only you could have them with petrol engines they would be perfect.

If you want a four pot RX-8, buy a GT86. Yeah, I know, no space in the back. If only it was built around a tiny engine to give it better packaging...

Are you trying to make out the reason the RX-8 has more space in the back and the extra doors when compared to a GT86 is because of the small physical size of the rotary engine allowing for superior packaging?

It's certainly part of the reason, yes. The alternative would be to push the engine forwards, but then you screw up the handling.

[ensignia]

otolith, you've been banging this drum for years now!

[Escy]

I'd rather have a 4 banger and have it handle slightly worse.

[J4CKO]

Escy said:

I'd rather have a 4 banger and have it handle slightly worse.

I would rather have anything than a car that won't go once it's warm, I am done with putting up with crap from cars.

[MadDog1962]

An interesting one. And good that the seller is honest enough to disclose that the engine is shagged.

One thing I recall about the RX-8 is that is has a rather low mass flywheel which means it's far to easy to stall if you're clumsy with the clutch. That combined with tricky hot starting seems to be a disastrous combination.

Pity really. You'd have thought that Mazda would have sorted the rotor tip wear issue years ago. Rotaries are actually pretty nice when they're running well. I have a friend in Australia who has an original, and beautifully maintained, RX-7 as a daily driver. It's a cool car. My dad ran a late model NSU Ro80 which was also great - when it was running!

I wonder how much you'd get breaking it for spares?

[e21Mark]

My usual fun car is an E30 M3 but, whilst having new brakes fitted, I was loaned an RX8 for the weekend. I used to run RX7 FB's in the 90's but the handling was never great. I really enjoyed the RX8 though and was really impressed at it feeling so good, being a totally standard car.

[405dogvan]

I've driven a few of these - we did work for a Mazda dealer and they'd always be in need of some touch-up etc. - but they always made a nuisance of themselves in that

a - their battery is tiny and dies if left just a day-or-2
b - they're nigh-on fking impossible to jump-start with a jumppack for reasons we never fathomed (OK from other cars usually)

The day I was left with one parked on a steep (facing up)hill - dead battery - clutch set to 'knife-edge and no st' was not a good day. Took me 4 attempts to get the thing moving (solution was max revs and pray) - it then died at idle on the trip back to the dealer (we bumped it but it was HARD work)

They also always stank of stale water - there's a common leak somewhere in the rear (windows?) and it pools under the rear seats - otherwise interior is roomy (upfront at least) and pleasant enough.

I'd tell you how they drove if I wasn't always scared the thing would cut-out so I drove like an old lady ;0

[velocgee]

Not sure a rex with a suspect engine warrants a shed article.

Car is something of an unsung great and has some depth of engineering to it. defo a machine designed for racers.; the suspension is the most adjustable I have come across - fully camber and caster (s2000 similar?); Very non-instrusive abs and dsc/tc; simple to reset steering angle yourself; and a carbon fibre propshaft!

Had the car aligned to fast road spec and handling went from very good to sublime. Hawk hps pads created awesome brakes with std discs.

Ran mine for nr 6yrs and up to 55k from 14k and only issues were a semi - seized rear damper, diff (wasnt convinced there was an issue). Never flooded it (shutdown procedure) and never hot starting problem (had my fill of those from the old pug 205gti days haha..)

[otolith]

ensignia said:

otolith, you've been banging this drum for years now!

I will stop when people stop coming out with the same old crap.

[PhillipM]

MadDog1962 said:

Pity really. You'd have thought that Mazda would have sorted the rotor tip wear issue years ago.

They have, rotor tip wear isn't generally an issue, they die from poor ignition components/maintenance neglect long before that.

[underdosed]

405dogvan said:

I've driven a few of these - we did work for a Mazda dealer and they'd always be in need of some touch-up etc. - but they always made a nuisance of themselves in that

a - their battery is tiny and dies if left just a day-or-2

Really? Owned mine for 2 years as a weekend car and never had a problem starting, regularly sat for a week or more without being used.

[Paul O]

Love the look of these, fantastic.

Great value, such a shame they aren't reliable. Definitely a car for those who can tinker and enjoy a level of active maintenance.

[peter450]

Escy said:

I'd rather have a 4 banger and have it handle slightly worse.

Not everyone wants a lowest common denominator engine.

I've not driven a rotary so can't comment on if I'd like it, but the difference of an extra 2, 4 or 6 cylinders is well worth the extra expense over a 4 pot, if the rotary is smooth, makes a nice noise and goes well, it will be worth the extra over your typical 4 banger

[Escy]

The market says otherwise, hence there are so many available for peanuts. People don't want them. Even cars with a rebuilt engine can be had for sub 2k.

I respect Mazda for continuing with the wankel but it's flogging a dead horse.

[anonymous-user]

Escy said:

The market says otherwise, hence there are so many available for peanuts. People don't want them. Even cars with a rebuilt engine can be had for sub 2k.

I respect Mazda for continuing with the wankel but it's flogging a dead horse.

This, you can't argue with facts. Was the 350z a similar price when new?

[bigaoi]

Escy said:

Mazda are a mainstream car company, the majority of their cars are toss

One of the most interesting mainstream(-ish) car companies. They make a little two seat roadster that's not got bigger and bigger and bigger over the years, well not much, and now it's actually got smaller and lost weight. They're persevering with normally aspirated engines, and the SkyActiv philosophy is interesting. Their cars almost all have a reputation for handling well. They're nuts enough to persevere with the wankel.

Edited by bigaoi on Saturday 1st November 15:27

[skyrover]

Perfect LS V8 candidate

[TREMAiNE]

St John Smythe said:

Escy said:

The market says otherwise, hence there are so many available for peanuts. People don't want them. Even cars with a rebuilt engine can be had for sub 2k.

I respect Mazda for continuing with the wankel but it's flogging a dead horse.

This, you can't argue with facts. Was the 350z a similar price when new?

I believe they were around the same price (give or take £1,000). RX-8 sold better.

[foxhounduk]

Captainawesome said:

+1

Makes me smile every week without fail.

I look forward to it every week! Really does impress me every single time

[J4CKO]

TREMAiNE said:

St John Smythe said:

Escy said:

The market says otherwise, hence there are so many available for peanuts. People don't want them. Even cars with a rebuilt engine can be had for sub 2k.

I respect Mazda for continuing with the wankel but it's flogging a dead horse.

This, you can't argue with facts. Was the 350z a similar price when new?

I believe they were around the same price (give or take £1,000). RX-8 sold better.

The 350Z only has 2 seats, the RX8 has 4, at the time the RX8 didnt have the reputation for poor fuel economy and poor reliability it does now, so of course it sold better.

Entry level now for a 350Z is five grand, they arent totally immune from engine problems like any car, but it is a rare exception rather than par for the course.

I think an RX8 like this would be a good buy only for someone with the skills /space to DIY an engine rebuild, I suspect that with the number like this for sale, may be even able to get one cheaper.