Mazda RX8

[CelicaDetective]

So what do ya'll think? Mazda RX8 = rotary. 1.3 liter, 250HP, 50/50 weight dist., 6 speed, 0-60 in 6.0, RWD ..... under 30K :)

Hmmm.... for 5K less I get a loaded Toyota Celica GTS .... or something much faster ... hrm hrm ...

[HilfigerCelica]

I'd rather take the 350Z.

[djm221]

I'd rather have the RX8.
More room, much better looking, 9,000RPM redline, <3,000lbs., power numbers that may actually be accurate.

[HilfigerCelica]

The RX8 is a cool car, has a lot of power, plus it's got more room than a 350Z. But I still rather have a 350Z because it shares engines with the Maxima, Altima, I30, and Pathfinder meaning that parts will be more readily available and cheaper. Plus I like how the 350Z looks. Also Nismo is suppose to be backing up the 350Z with a bunch of aftermarket stuff.

Don't quote me on this but I think that the 350Z has more low end power too so it's better for me since it's more useable in everyday driving.

[djm221]

The 350Z will have alot more low end power. The peak torque on the Renesis rotary engine is like 163lb-ft at a high RPM like 7,000. It is suppose to have pretty good low end, but nothing special.

That is the one problem with the RX8, the rotary engine. It's new and won't be used across the board like the VQ35 nissan engine. That's the only thing I like about the Z; Nissan builds some of the best V6s in the world.

[Da Kine Guy]

RX-8 man, rotaries are coooooool! They just keep pulling, and pulling, and pulling, and pul.......

[oo_snoopy]

a 1.3 liter putting out that much power? Is it N/A?

[MarkyMark]

heh, I'd rather have the RX7

[jotan82]

i'd rather have a mitsu :wiggle:

[m0rgue]

Just get me a Supra, please.

[6SPDGTS]

Yes its N/A Almost 200hp/litre this will be nuts.

[swift 21]

i would rather have the 350z

[MeGaXmAn27]

rx-7... the possbilities...rotary... *drool*

[LoCore]

Denver Auto Show is this week; I'm hoping they have one or both of the the RX-8 and 350Z there!

[ishido]

I don't think the sticker price will be that low unless it's bare-bones. Since the RX8 isn't a cookie-cutter car I don't think the price is going to go down much at all either at the bargaining table.

[dragonfrog]

imo, the dealerships are going to have to allow some leeway because with the history of the rotary engines, people are not going to flock to the rx-8 until perhaps a year later when they haven't heard an rx-8's engine blow up yet. those who don't know about its history will probably flock to it, but since the engine mechanics are different from a valve engine, then the mechanical costs will be incredibly high after the warranty, unless you learn how to do you own engine troubleshooting.

[coOOlcelica]

Originally posted by jotan82
i'd rather have a mitsu :wiggle:

yep i second that

[LordZelica]

Supra Pliz!!!

[The Wok]

Originally posted by djm221
power numbers that may actually be accurate.

Ouch, djm221 - 1, Nissan's overrating of power figures - 0.

Despite that being said, I'd take a Supra Turbo, WRX STi, EVO VII, RX7 and the 350Z before the RX8 in that order.

[djm221]

I'd bet a high pressure turbo 2.0l (espescially the Mistu) would be as reliable as the rotary. Only time will tell though. Hopefully Mazda dun good with this one.
Eh, I don't care, if Toyota would just put the 2ZZ in the MR2, I would have no second doubts about which car I'd want.

[atehrani]

I believe that the RX-8 will be very popular. Despite what people think, a rotary engine is much more reliable than a piston equivalent. Due to the fact that it only has 3 moving parts (2 rotors + the crank).

The reason why the RX-7 had so many problems were two fold.

1. You can't treat a rotary the same as a piston motor (obviously)
2. The motor wasn't NA but FI

I hope that one day the RX-7 would live again. That is an unbelivable car.

[SlasherX]

Originally posted by atehrani
I believe that the RX-8 will be very popular. Despite what people think, a rotary engine is much more reliable than a piston equivalent. Due to the fact that it only has 3 moving parts (2 rotors + the crank).

The reason why the RX-7 had so many problems were two fold.

1. You can't treat a rotary the same as a piston motor (obviously)
2. The motor wasn't NA but FI

I hope that one day the RX-7 would live again. That is an unbelivable car.

in theory yes, but in the real world, rotary motors need to be replaced just a smuch as their piston counterparts, if not more.

its a radically different appraoch to teh same problem and solution-car performance..but the damned thing doesnt make it any easier, fuel efficent, or put out any torque doing so, so why bother? THATS the problem with the rotary, its a finicky unneeded "gadget" motor that while cool and an engineering marvel that can make good hp numbers..it is as special in prcticality as a solar powered flashlight.

why bother..go for pistons and save yourself the trouble..350z baby.

[CL MaNTis 21]

want pix of the Rx-8?

click here (http://www.rotarynews.com/gallery/)

[atehrani]

SlasherX I really don't want to flame you, but ignorant comments like the post above force people, like myself, to do so.

Just because it is not an all iron v8 block with a carburator, pushrods and revs to only 3k, doesn't mean it isn't a viable motor.

FYI, the rotary has (and still is) used in many aircraft. So if you think reliability is an issue, for aircrafts it is paramount.

Since when does owning a sports car equate to good gas milage?

Lastly Mazda still is the only Japanese car manufacturer to ever win the Le Mans (they did it in 1991). They won with the 787B, a four rotor. It produced 700bhp at 9000rpm and 448lb-ft at 6500rpm.

A lot of land speed records were also broken with rotary powered vehicles.

Remember rotaries have been around only since 1957, pistons have been around since the 1800's (if not earlier). Piston engines have a 100 year head start.

[SlasherX]

there are several rotaries in the club down here. dismissing the 3rd gen twin turbo's that my friends are having to replace the engines in every 70k, my other friend has a turbo 2, which is having problems itself as well.

dont paint me out to be an iron block loving, carb tuning, good old boy, that is not the case. but from everythign i have read and i have seen the rotary- while an engineering marvel- is a finicky and unnecessary motor. you can point out all the victories you want, we both know that none of thsoe would have been possible if the motor pinged ONCE. we also both know that if the coolant reached over 97 degrees celcius the motor would grenade as well. on top of all thsoe real concerns, you also would be hard pressed to get 20 miles per gallon on the high way in one(thats big block v8 territory 1970's era).

what are the advantages to this? my personal motto for sports cars is if you want good fuel economy buy a metro, but at the same time, why should i sacrifice durability and fuel economy that much between a 13 second rx-7(if a 3rd gen), and a 13 second piston motor?

and thats not even getting into the whole finding a mechanic who can actually work on the thing.


engineering marvel yes, if you're into hp/liter then a rotary cant be beat, but by no means is it any better than a piston engined setup.

[DeadOn]

If the new 350Z was available at the time I bought my Celica, I would get that. I also prefer the 350Z over the RX8 because many components are shared with other cars - better servicability later, and the 350Z engine has variable valve timing giving it a flatter torque curve than the RX8 - I bet the new 350Z posts sub 6 second 0-60 times. BTW - I do love my Celica. If the new 2004 model comes out and it looks cool and has say 220 HP, I'm trading in my Celica for the new one - I'd pass on the 350Z.