Topic: Any Mazda rotary owner here?

[UnknownJinX]

Hi everyone.

Just joined this forum to see if anyone here has a Mazda Wankel rotary car.

I bought a 09 RX-8 GT w/ 6-speed a while ago, and I really enjoy driving it. Totally worth the time and effort I spent to learn stick shift, especially when it hits 9k RPM.

[ChaosphereIX]

welcome to the forum

very nice Wankel you have there, lots of respect for a guy who drives an apparently very unreliable car and makes it work 

[UnknownJinX]

welcome to the forum

very nice Wankel you have there, lots of respect for a guy who drives an apparently very unreliable car and makes it work 

Thanks!

As for reliability, I did my homework before buying the car and looked through a few RX-8s before buying this one. The main thing is the compression, which needs to be checked with a special tool designed to work with rotaries, and checking oil level every time I fill up.

I did lose power twice on the road, but they were both due to my carelessness. The first time, a part of the engine hanger rubbed through the ignition wires and caused a short(I changed the ignition coils), and the second time, I forgot to strap down the battery terminals tightly and one of them popped loose when I was driving.

Otherwise I have no problem with the car.

[rrocket]

Railton had one when I met him....

[UnknownJinX]

I don't see a lot of other RX-8s around, that's for sure.

All the other Series 2 RX-8s I have seen running around are R3(with Recaro seats, 19" rims and Bilstein shocks, but no sunroof or heated leather seats). The one I see the most often locally is a blue R3 with smoked taillights.

[Firm]

Welcome to the forum!

While I've never owned a Mazda, I have owned a Mazda rotary engine (13B)....but it was installed in a 69 Lotus Europa!



Sold a few years back to someone in the Silicon valley.

[rrocket]

Wing had one.

So did TopGun.

[tenpenny]

I’d like to have a REPU or an RX3, myself. Brother had a first year RX7, loved it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Railton]

welcome to the forum

very nice Wankel you have there, lots of respect for a guy who drives an apparently very unreliable car and makes it work 

Thanks!

As for reliability, I did my homework before buying the car and looked through a few RX-8s before buying this one. The main thing is the compression, which needs to be checked with a special tool designed to work with rotaries, and checking oil level every time I fill up.

I did lose power twice on the road, but they were both due to my carelessness. The first time, a part of the engine hanger rubbed through the ignition wires and caused a short(I changed the ignition coils), and the second time, I forgot to strap down the battery terminals tightly and one of them popped loose when I was driving.

Otherwise I have no problem with the car.

How long have you owned the RX-8?
This is a forum you should frequest.
https://www.rx8club.com/
Railton

[UnknownJinX]

Welcome to the forum!

While I've never owned a Mazda, I have owned a Mazda rotary engine (13B)....but it was installed in a 69 Lotus Europa!



Sold a few years back to someone in the Silicon valley.

Nice to see a rotary swapped car! Very cool.

welcome to the forum

very nice Wankel you have there, lots of respect for a guy who drives an apparently very unreliable car and makes it work 

Thanks!

As for reliability, I did my homework before buying the car and looked through a few RX-8s before buying this one. The main thing is the compression, which needs to be checked with a special tool designed to work with rotaries, and checking oil level every time I fill up.

I did lose power twice on the road, but they were both due to my carelessness. The first time, a part of the engine hanger rubbed through the ignition wires and caused a short(I changed the ignition coils), and the second time, I forgot to strap down the battery terminals tightly and one of them popped loose when I was driving.

Otherwise I have no problem with the car.

How long have you owned the RX-8?
This is a forum you should frequest.
Railton

For about 10 months now.

Yeah, I go to RX8Club a lot.

[Arthur Dent]

I had two first generation RX-7s that I loved (ok - maybe only the '81). Love the rotary engine.

[johngenx]

I'd love an old Gen 1 RX-7, but I have my Miata.

There's an LS3 FD RX-7 around Edmonton somewhere that is insane.  Thing makes something like 600hp in that crazy light chassis.  RX-8s are becoming rare as people give up on them.

[ltruong]

I remember at my college in Ottawa they had a RX7 donated to the college. Mechanic class would
Take it apart and reassemble and I think they would also bring it to the track I’m not sure.  Very cool
Cars

[UnknownJinX]

Actually, my favorite RX-7 is FC(second gen). Thanks, Initial D.

I actually saw a Spirit R RX-7 at the local Mazda dealer. I then went to Dentex, where it showed up again!

[KD]

The original RX7 is the car that made me change my opinion of Japanese cars.  Before that I was V8 Murcan iron, or bust.  In fact, now that i think of it, back then most people I knew had the same opinion to a 4-banger car that most people have now toward the current trend of low-displacement blown engines.

[rrocket]

I have a set of FD wheels in my garage.

That's the extent of my rotary ownership.   

[johngenx]

My wife and I nearly bought an RX-7 when we bought our Acura, but we decided we wanted four seats.  We looked at a Miata (it was the first year!), RX-7 and Integra.  We loved the Miata, but we also traveled in the car and no way the Miata would work for us then.  The RX-7 was better, but the missus much preferred the Acura.  It was a nicer car for the same money.

[UnknownJinX]

The original RX7 is the car that made me change my opinion of Japanese cars.  Before that I was V8 Murcan iron, or bust.  In fact, now that i think of it, back then most people I knew had the same opinion to a 4-banger car that most people have now toward the current trend of low-displacement blown engines.

Ironically, Mazda actually said that they don't want to follow the turbo downsizing and CVT trend most other makes are following. Very curious to see how the Skyactiv-X turns out. If that works out, we may see a Skyactiv-R in the future.

I have a set of FD wheels in my garage.

That's the extent of my rotary ownership.   

I have almost never seen an FD with stock wheels...

My wife and I nearly bought an RX-7 when we bought our Acura, but we decided we wanted four seats.  We looked at a Miata (it was the first year!), RX-7 and Integra.  We loved the Miata, but we also traveled in the car and no way the Miata would work for us then.  The RX-7 was better, but the missus much preferred the Acura.  It was a nicer car for the same money.

Guess that's why they went with 4 seats on the RX-8.

The rear doors are actually surprisingly handy. I can fit 3~4 wheels/tires in the back seats thanks to the rear doors.

[rrocket]

I have almost never seen an FD with stock wheels...

A smidge under 14lbs per rim.  Pretty impressive.

[draghon]

Actually, my favorite RX-7 is FC(second gen). Thanks, Initial D.

After watching that show i had a brief fantasy of owning an Ae86