Wednesday 3rd September 2003
Mazda RX8
Affordable sports car fun for the family man? Nauman Farooq finds out.
Discussion
not a bad review thanks. Although I'm not sure that the auto gearboxes will be available in the UK cars.
For a comprehensive look at the car have a browse around here:
www.rx8forum.com/
Oh, and mine should be delivered in November!
For a comprehensive look at the car have a browse around here:
www.rx8forum.com/
Oh, and mine should be delivered in November!
Lol... that's a pretty old view of rotaries. I have a couple of friends with 3rd gen RX-7s and they've had virtually no problems at all (and none with the engines at least).
Personally I think the car's a gem. It's getting rave reviews, and there's nothing that will touch it for looks and equipment levels at the price. In my opinion of course. But then I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't think it was a good buy!
-andy-
Personally I think the car's a gem. It's getting rave reviews, and there's nothing that will touch it for looks and equipment levels at the price. In my opinion of course. But then I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't think it was a good buy!
-andy-
"I'm planning a locost build this spring. Anyone know where I can get a renesis and tranny? hehe."
Your in luck. Mazda sell the Renasis as a crated engine for racing, rated ar 240bhp. Not sure how available it is, or what the price is, but it IS available.
As for the cars weight:
"Couple that with a car that weights 1384 kg"
That includes a 75kg driver and full tank of fuel + some options, so a real kerb weight will be below 1300kg. Still not as light as it was supposed to be though.
Your in luck. Mazda sell the Renasis as a crated engine for racing, rated ar 240bhp. Not sure how available it is, or what the price is, but it IS available.
As for the cars weight:
"Couple that with a car that weights 1384 kg"
That includes a 75kg driver and full tank of fuel + some options, so a real kerb weight will be below 1300kg. Still not as light as it was supposed to be though.
Two questions:
1) Are the lower door side anchor points for the front seat belts fixed to the floor (as in most cheap cars), or to the seat (like the Lotus Elise and most high end cars)?
This is a pet peeve of mine, I prefer the belt to be anchored to the seat so no matter where you slide the seat the lap portion of the belt doesn't ride up over your abdomen. Fixing the anchor to the floor results in a suboptimal placement of the belt.
From what I could tell from other photos of the RX-8 the lower anchor seems to be a bar that the belt slides along?
2) Why are rotary engines so thirsty? With lower mechanical losses in the engine (eg no valve train to power) I would assume they would be more fuel efficient. I have read they operate at a higher temperature than reciprocating engines - alluded to in this article - which would also imply a higher thermodynamic efficiency.
My best guess is that the compression ratio of a rotary is limited to around 7:1 for some reason, perhaps geometry as the rotor can't be shaped to give a higher ratio? A lower compression ratio would lead to a lower combustion temperature and therefore worse thermodynamic efficiency - but this contradicts what I have read about rotaries.
I really like the RX-8, hopefully it will be my next car.
By the way, if Mazda is indeed offering the Renesis as a crate engine, why doesn't Lotus use it longitudinally mounted in front of the rear axle in the M250 successor? This would save weight over the 3 ltr V6 engines they were considering and be the perfect light weight and compact partner to an extruded aluminum chassis.
1) Are the lower door side anchor points for the front seat belts fixed to the floor (as in most cheap cars), or to the seat (like the Lotus Elise and most high end cars)?
This is a pet peeve of mine, I prefer the belt to be anchored to the seat so no matter where you slide the seat the lap portion of the belt doesn't ride up over your abdomen. Fixing the anchor to the floor results in a suboptimal placement of the belt.
From what I could tell from other photos of the RX-8 the lower anchor seems to be a bar that the belt slides along?
2) Why are rotary engines so thirsty? With lower mechanical losses in the engine (eg no valve train to power) I would assume they would be more fuel efficient. I have read they operate at a higher temperature than reciprocating engines - alluded to in this article - which would also imply a higher thermodynamic efficiency.
My best guess is that the compression ratio of a rotary is limited to around 7:1 for some reason, perhaps geometry as the rotor can't be shaped to give a higher ratio? A lower compression ratio would lead to a lower combustion temperature and therefore worse thermodynamic efficiency - but this contradicts what I have read about rotaries.
I really like the RX-8, hopefully it will be my next car.
By the way, if Mazda is indeed offering the Renesis as a crate engine, why doesn't Lotus use it longitudinally mounted in front of the rear axle in the M250 successor? This would save weight over the 3 ltr V6 engines they were considering and be the perfect light weight and compact partner to an extruded aluminum chassis.
1).
There anchored to a bar on the bottom of the rear door, so it swings out of the way when the rear door is opened.
I think it'd have been better to have it fixed to the seat too. It may cause problems also if the rear passenger wants to exit the car whilst front seat passenger is still in - prolly have to unbelt.
Sorry I didnt try the seatbelt when I sat in one, so dont know how it'll be.
2) No idea why lotus wont use them, maybe there to expensive, to thirsty, to new.rare?
Crate ones are available for a particular race series in US, so may only be avialable for that.
Oh and they are thirsty, dunno why.
There anchored to a bar on the bottom of the rear door, so it swings out of the way when the rear door is opened.
I think it'd have been better to have it fixed to the seat too. It may cause problems also if the rear passenger wants to exit the car whilst front seat passenger is still in - prolly have to unbelt.
Sorry I didnt try the seatbelt when I sat in one, so dont know how it'll be.
2) No idea why lotus wont use them, maybe there to expensive, to thirsty, to new.rare?
Crate ones are available for a particular race series in US, so may only be avialable for that.
Oh and they are thirsty, dunno why.
LOTS of technical info about the RX-8 here:
www.autoweb.com.au/start_/showall_/id_MAZ/doc_maz0306251/cms/news/newsarticle.html
www.autoweb.com.au/start_/showall_/id_MAZ/doc_maz0306251/cms/news/newsarticle.html
I really liked this car until I saw it in the flesh. For me personally, when you look at the car from the front it looks "sat on". I saw it at the Docklands motorshow and just went "eeeerrrrrrr!" - I really didn't like it.
The first photo in the article sort of shows it, but in the flesh for me it looks a lot worse.
I think it's the way the front wings are so curved over the wheels and they dissapear - you almost expect to find running boards around the side when you first see it from the front.
Styling is such a subjective and personal thing, but it really put me off!
Nice car otherwise - although I personally like the 350Z better - and great to see the rotary engine still being developed.
J
The first photo in the article sort of shows it, but in the flesh for me it looks a lot worse.
I think it's the way the front wings are so curved over the wheels and they dissapear - you almost expect to find running boards around the side when you first see it from the front.
Styling is such a subjective and personal thing, but it really put me off!
Nice car otherwise - although I personally like the 350Z better - and great to see the rotary engine still being developed.
J
I hate it, the suicide doors look wrong and have in turn made the side profile look like a mishmash of shut lines 
IMHO it is just slight better than the Megane rear end wise.
Mazda should have either made it as an out an out sports car or a Family car, don't try and make a compromise.
The last of the line RX7's are a far nicer looking car.
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 7th September 18:45
IMHO it is just slight better than the Megane rear end wise.
Mazda should have either made it as an out an out sports car or a Family car, don't try and make a compromise.
The last of the line RX7's are a far nicer looking car.
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 7th September 18:45
I've been waiting for a couple of years now to replace my VTEC Prelude with the RX-8. Read every review, waited patiently... But now I note that, contrary to all other markets, the European version of the car won't have a cruise control. WHY?? I've grown so used to having that facility on long motorway and autobahn trips and the steering wheel mounted version available as standard on the RX-8 in all other areas was exactly what I wanted.
So, sorry Mazda, but until you offer factory-fitted cruise control as an option, I won't be buying your car, you cheapskates! You've only deleted it to keep the price down - and not for any other reason.
So, sorry Mazda, but until you offer factory-fitted cruise control as an option, I won't be buying your car, you cheapskates! You've only deleted it to keep the price down - and not for any other reason.
I'm surprised so many people think it looks good. It's just wrong from so many angles... The cabin seems too upright, the side view is just ugly, and the fenders look like they were just stuck on as an afterthought. It's engine is impressive though... Pictures I've seen of the next RX-7 look much nicer.
Dan
Dan
Worth noting is the torsional rigidity of the RX-8 - 30,000 NM/degree, 50% greater than the Ferrari 360 Modena and equal to a Porsche 911.
Or, if you like, two and a half times that of a Lotus Elise.
This combined with a polar moment of inertia lower than any of these cars - thank the compact rotary for that - and a lower center of gravity - again the rotary - are the reasons I want to get this car.
In fact, I see this car as a latter day Citroen DS19 or (original) Lotus Elan - by virtue of that fact that each in its day was years ahead of the rest of the industry in terms of advancement of automotive design.
The only improvements I would ask for are Tucker headlights (they move as you turn a corner) and HUD (head up display) that includes thermal infrared nightvision - all this stuff is available on other production cars so its not science fiction.
All in all, a remarkable car best suited for those who understand automotive design - not those who merely use styling when determining their next car.
Or, if you like, two and a half times that of a Lotus Elise.
This combined with a polar moment of inertia lower than any of these cars - thank the compact rotary for that - and a lower center of gravity - again the rotary - are the reasons I want to get this car.
In fact, I see this car as a latter day Citroen DS19 or (original) Lotus Elan - by virtue of that fact that each in its day was years ahead of the rest of the industry in terms of advancement of automotive design.
The only improvements I would ask for are Tucker headlights (they move as you turn a corner) and HUD (head up display) that includes thermal infrared nightvision - all this stuff is available on other production cars so its not science fiction.
All in all, a remarkable car best suited for those who understand automotive design - not those who merely use styling when determining their next car.
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