I've fallen in love with the Mazda RX-8

[Deadpool]

I think they look uber cool

http://media3.motorcities.com/03ANB575464984A.jpeg

http://www.specr.com.sg/RX8%20Rear%20View.jpg

http://asmic.com/collect/rx-8tm/pics/rx8-pk13.jpg

[kboy75]

edmunds has a great article doing comparison with the 350Z.

[Hiroshi2]

I heard it still has the rotary engine that was on the very first RX-6s back in the late 1970s.

[yoMAMA]

I heard it still has the rotary engine that was on the very first RX-6s back in the late 1970s.

yes, the one and only wankel engine, only mazda uses them now. :biggrin:

[Chester]

I think they look stupid. The suicide door is a cool convenience feature, but it ruins the side profile.

The 350Z, on the other hand, is a beauty. It's just a shame that Nissan skimped on the interior parts.

[Sledge]

Holy cum-soaked teens, I want that.

[yoMAMA]

The 350Z, on the other hand, is a beauty. It's just a shame that Nissan skimped on the interior parts.

No kidding!

I've been inside the new altima....and i was like.............this is a Nissan Altima interior?

[cost cutting has gone too far]

[mrazntre]

****moved To Car Life****

[a_wong]

I think Mazada should make a 2dr version of the RX8, it would probably be really good looking.

[archspeed]

yeah, I hate that suicide door bullshit, totally killed the car's lines. And I just don't understand the oversize steering wheel on the Z (or the Infiniti Gcoupe either). Seriously they should have modernize the 300zx's interior for the 350z isntead of that retro crap.

[stunninglyAsian]

If you want to see a BBC Top Gear video review of the RX-8 and 350Z, go to www.flixvault.net

Don't know how long these videos will be up, but here are the links

Mazda RX-8
http://www.funpedia.net/clips/078.zip

Nissan 350Z (man they rip on this car)
http://www.funpedia.net/clips/064.zip

[amietron]

best friend was going to sell an s4 for an rx-8. i say s4 is better.

[BigLew]

Seen the RX-8 in person at the Chicago Auto show. I like it even better in person.

[yoMAMA]

best friend was going to sell an s4 for an rx-8. i say s4 is better.

S4 is more practical, but IMO the RX-8 is a way more special car.

[537]

S4 is more practical, but IMO the RX-8 is a way more special car.


I'd rather take the S4.

[Fireblade]

the rx-8 in 2008 will have a hydrogen powered rotary engine. I gonna look into that.

[BigLew]

Drive a rotary you will be converted. ;)

[537]

I've driven a rotary before. It was impressive only as far as it having so much potency for a 1.3L engine, but I would prefer a turbocharged combustion engine anyday.

[BigLew]

Rotories make great power underboost much lest boost creates more torque then on conventional piston engines...if it weren't for crappy apex seals. But those can be replaced with stronger alternatives in the aftermarket. Also rotaries ARE combustion engines.

[537]

Rotories make great power underboost much lest boost creates more torque then on conventional piston engines...if it weren't for crappy apex seals. But those can be replaced with stronger alternatives in the aftermarket. Also rotaries ARE combustion engines.

I meant a four stroke piston engine, if you want to get technical. Quit nitpicking, you know what I meant.

I'm not debating power. I used to race under rotary power, so you're preaching to the choir on its potency.

Right now I have more important things to focus on other than a rotary engine and its required preventative maintenance. Apex seals are crappy no matter what kind you buy -- a single overheat situation will require you to change them if you have any wish to prolong the life of the engine. Fluid levels need to be checked more often than in a conventional piston based engine. Now I might be basing my pros and cons on past experiences with older wankels, but in my eyes a rotary is a rotary. The candle that burns twice as bright burns out twice as fast.

[BigLew]

Quit nitpicking, you know what I meant.
I wasn't nitpicking I seriously thought you didn't know, so calm down. As far as having to check fluid levels more often, I don't know about you, but anyone I know who run high boost forced induction check fluids constantly anyway. Also aftermarket ceramic apex seals have been known to make the wankel very reliable.

I used to race under rotary power, so you're preaching to the choir on its potency.So now I'm supposed to be a mind reader and already know that some person I don't know but as a poster on YW used to race wankel powered cars? Why are you getting so defensive?

[537]

I wasn't nitpicking I seriously thought you didn't know, so calm down. As far as having to check fluid levels more often, I don't know about you, but anyone I know who run high boost forced induction check fluids constantly anyway. Also aftermarket ceramic apex seals have been known to make the wankel very reliable.

So now I'm supposed to be a mind reader and already know that some person I don't know but as a poster on YW used to race wankel powered cars? Why are you getting so defensive?


I'm calm and I'm not getting defensive. =)


Look, I love rotaries too. But quality apex seals must be purchased in the aftermarket, and I have an issue with having to replace those just to ensure the reliability I should have received straight from the factory. And no, you're not supposed to be a mind reader. I'm just trying to illustrate that I have experience with driving rotary style and that I am not trying to start a rotary vs. piston war. =)


Give me a choice between an Audi S4 and a Mazda RX-8, and my answer will almost always be the S4. But these two aren't very comparable. We're talking a pretty big price (+15k) difference.


Now if you gave me a choice between a Nissan 350Z and the RX-8, I'd choose the rotary.

[BigLew]

Look, I love rotaries too. But quality apex seals must be purchased in the aftermarket, and I have an issue with having to replace those just to ensure the reliability I should have received straight from the factory. I agree with you on that one, that with the renesis (rx-8 rotary) they should have gotten it right from the factory by now, especially since the apex seals are a very well known weakness.

Also I don't want to make it seem like I have only love for just rotories. My current project is an H-Honda engine.

[Beat180]

S4's are nuts. Handle's like a fat man's love handles and give the sucker gas and it'll run like you stole it. Wankels are hard to keep up. If you're bad with maintainence routines, you're looking at big repair bills down the way. The engine bay isn't really all that user-maintainence friendly. Also if you're looking to just start and go, you're better off looking elsewhere, that's an easy way to kill rotaries. You need to warm them up before you run it.

[deez nuts]

i heard at one point that mazda was giving full refunds to owners of RX8's cuz the car wasn't performing to specs? i heard it had something to do with the fuel economy being off.



Now if you gave me a choice between a Nissan 350Z and the RX-8, I'd choose the rotary.

can you guys go into details about this?

[537]

On edmunds.com, the RX-8 received poor ratings from J.D. Edwards. I'm not too sure what the issues were, but taking this into account, I would still get the RX-8 over the 350z. Of course, I'd wait a couple years for mazda's problems to smooth themselves out, but my reason behind choosing it is because I miss the feel of a rotary. I miss the sound of a rotary. I miss the potential of a rotary.

[Chester]

i heard at one point that mazda was giving full refunds to owners of RX8's cuz the car wasn't performing to specs? i heard it had something to do with the fuel economy being off. I think it had to do with them overstating horsepower.

Since they have come out, I'm totally come around on the new BMW 5-Series. I think they look great now. Instead of pretty nice, I now think the 350Z is magnificent. Once a shock, I really enjoy hte Caddy CTS. But the RX-8? Still ugly as fuck.