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Feb 18, 2013 17:56:56 GMT
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I am of course referring to the engines ;D I know this is a bit modern to be talking about but I'm just after a bit of general advice as there are some very knowledgeable peeps on here. A mate at work has a 2004 Mazda RX8 with about 70k miles on it. He mentioned today that he was planning to chop it in for a new Fiesta and they had only offered about a grand for his car. That sounds very cheap for a nice looking car which seems to go like stink (never been in it but followed him a few times). I'm toying with offering him a similar amount of cash for it and running it as a daily. A good deal or a disaster waiting to happen?My only experience with Wankel engines was that another mate had an RX7 years ago and that seemed to spend most of it's time having one engine rebuild after another  |
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Currently driving a '68 Karmann Ghia as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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mattyj
Part of things
Posts: 133
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Feb 18, 2013 18:01:46 GMT
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Make changing oil your new religion and you should be fine, but in all seriousness I have no idea. A mate had one and it didn't half shift, he kept it serviced regularly and he's had no problem's, he's runs it as a daily, mpg isn't anything to shout about though!
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Free Focus - soon to be roadworthy Corsa B 1.4 Sport - x16'd Cable tie edition - Dead Ford Ka - Sold BMW 318is - sump scraper - Sold  Citroen Relay lwb - gone like the rest |
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olduns
Part of things
Posts: 326
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Feb 18, 2013 18:21:52 GMT
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only the usual 2nd-3rd hand stories i'm afraid but the general concensus appears to be Money Pit potential.
Hot start problems usually point to major engine problem, low compression?
something to do with regular Plug changes as well.
they don't like short journeys to the local shop & back, need to be properly warmed up.
Small 'top-up' tank needs refilling -a la 2 stroke stylee - with oil, for lubing the Rotor Tips.
Handle well, great engine noise when used properly.
/\ all this may be b******s, we all know that what 's on the 'Net is true, right?
still wouldn't though if it was me.
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randywanger_
Part of things
Nissan Bluebird P510 SSS Coupe
Posts: 946
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Feb 18, 2013 18:59:58 GMT
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I love a wankle me! Had 5 (could be more) rotary powered cars. Only ever had 1 blow up on me and that was because of a bad map.
Being in Surrey you're not far from a lot of knowledgeable people. Only advice would be not to join (or even look at) RX8OC as they are a bunch of fat middle aged men who still live with their mothers ;-)
Buy it, you'll love it and then want more noise and power!
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Feb 18, 2013 19:16:37 GMT
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If you service them, and don't slap a monster turbo on it, it'll last a LONG time! Drive it regularly, and let it get fully warmed up - otherwise that can cause problems too (seized apex seals, etc) I recall reading that the ARB bushes tend to die fairly often on the FC's, but they're dirt-cheap, and easy to swap. Just a minor irritation than anything else Buy it, enjoy it for a year or so, and either sell on for the same price, or keep it..... and lose all your cash on petrol  Have my old FB   |
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You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Feb 18, 2013 19:20:07 GMT
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RX8s aren't Wankel, or at least the ones I know of aren't!
My friend's just bought an '06 plate one, full spec, £2.5k and it's ace!
Watch out for coolant issues and as said above, regular oil changes. They aren't amazing on fuel either. I'd have one though!
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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Feb 18, 2013 19:46:22 GMT
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very poor rustproofing and I'm seeing sills rotted out at the rear on 04 cars . power steering issues with the rack are quite common as well . at 70k it should be on or very close to its second set of coil packs . if it starts well hot and cold happy days but its worth checking the condition of the coils and cat if you want to keep it .
great car to drive but the motor is a bit limp and very thirsty considering the power they make
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,883
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Feb 18, 2013 20:02:22 GMT
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RX8s aren't Wankel, or at least the ones I know of aren't! I'll think you'll find they are.... Being a rotary was kinda the point of the Rx series of cars As others have touched on, make sure it starts right hot and cold, and keep on top of servicing and it'll be a hell of a lot of car for the money. Rx8s suffer from low compression for various reasons, but they don't tend to 'blow up' like the turboed late model Rx7s. It's the extra stress of forced induction that tends to result in broken apex seals that chew up the rest of the inside of the engine on their way out. The rx8s engine just tends to 'wear out'. Regular oil changes, pre mixing two stroke oil in the tank, keeping on top of plugs and coil packs and finally being kind to it when its cold and thrashing it to the red line regularly when warm will all help preserve the engines life. Rotary engines have a character like no other, the closest thing I can compare it to is a two stroke. And you'll either love that or hate it, so if you've never driven one I suggest you try to get a decent long drive in your mates before making a decision. Personally I love thats two stoke character and now I've sold my rotary I'm missing that feeling and craving another 2 stroke bike! |
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,538
Member is Online
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Feb 18, 2013 20:05:11 GMT
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Buy it and swap in a Ford V4! ;D
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Feb 18, 2013 20:21:15 GMT
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Contrary to what your mum said they will not send you blind but they will send you deaf
That is so cheap compared to here I would almost get it to drive the rego out, at least you can forever more say you had one
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Contrary to popular opinion, I do have mechanical sympathy, I always feel sorry for the cars I drive.
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Wankel - is it bad for you?luckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Feb 18, 2013 20:27:23 GMT
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Rotaries are the law. Message ends. Never mind all that Top Gear borrocks about "you're not a petrolhead until you own an Alfa blah blah", you're not a truly righteous petrolhead until you own a rotary ;D. I've had four. One of them has been the most unreliable bag of bumgravy ever to have wheels. The other three almost never went wrong and when they did it was bushes or bearings and that sorta thing, the kind of stuff any car wears out. With that said, RX-8s are compromised by poor build quality and an engine built to satisfy stifling EU emissions legislation rather than any other consideration. But there's no reason why they should prove unreliable if treated considerately and with knowledge. Unfortunately they're often let down by owner ignorance... hence the RX8OC being a good place to log on if you want to be put off RX8s |
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Last Edit: Feb 18, 2013 20:28:08 GMT by luckyseven
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Ryannn
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,421
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Feb 18, 2013 21:26:33 GMT
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RX8s aren't Wankel, or at least the ones I know of aren't! I'll think you'll find they are.... Being a rotary was kinda the point of the Rx series of cars RX8's are a Renesis engine, that's what I was getting at. I know they're rotary. |
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Feb 18, 2013 21:30:40 GMT
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A Wankel rotary engine is a thing; 'Renesis' is a marketing name applied to said thing. Or so I understand it...
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Feb 18, 2013 21:36:41 GMT
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WHS. Wankel rotary to distinguish from the other sort of rotary engine, as used in early aircraft, which consisted of radial cylinders to which the propellor was attached, rotating around a fixed crank shaft.
Like a radial engine, but the less logical way around...
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1989 Peugeot 205. You know, the one that was parked in a ditch on the campsite at RRG'17... the glass is always full. but the ratio of air to water may vary. |
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Wankel - is it bad for you?luckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Feb 18, 2013 22:04:18 GMT
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An RX-8 engine is a Renesis Wankel. The main difference between it and earlier iterations is that the exhaust ports are in the side plates like the intake ports, rather than peripheral in the housings. Becos emissions engine, innit.
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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A friend has had an RX8 for a little less than a year now, it's done about 40 000 miles since new and is pretty damn good. As said above they don't like running cold so you have to let it warm up nicely and then enjoy the broad rev range a rotary offers (understatement for 'thrash it to the redline and beyond')! We've done a 750-mile road-trip in the Alps with it over a three-day weekend, it was fantastic. Don't cut the ignition when the car is cold, because unburnt fuel stays in the rotor on top of the plugs, preveting them to make any sparks! All in all I'd absolutely love one, they're awesome cars. But I'd go for a lightly tuned SA22C instead, more retro |
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Feb 19, 2013 10:06:10 GMT
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Speak to Era, he owns this setup, and has built engines up to 725 bhp, www.oldones.co.uk/He is building this for a customer right now, after throwing out a V8 Tell him I sent you if you want.  |
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xrmike
Part of things
Posts: 165
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Feb 19, 2013 10:57:18 GMT
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very poor rustproofing and I'm seeing sills rotted out at the rear on 04 cars This causes the most concern. Whilst people are worried about reliability with the rotary engine, they need to realise that the car's build quality is not as high as you would expect. Wheels corrode, rust appears in a few spots and alloys trims discolour. I have an RX7 myself and its already had welding done in the past. |
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Last Edit: Feb 19, 2013 10:58:51 GMT by xrmike
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Feb 19, 2013 11:47:02 GMT
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* Mazda Rotary Engine *
£1g seems to be about the going rate these days. Id' tap it for that. When the engine dies revert back to a more reliable 13B with 1970s technology ;D
Also 04 should mean cheaper tax?
I'd +3 on avoiding the RX-8 owners club forums at all costs.
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Feb 19, 2013 15:15:04 GMT
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For a grand it's a no brainer - assuming the previous owner has driven it properly (not nannyied it about) and given it regular care and attention.
A pup is easy to spot... there are enough Rx8's out there that finding a good one shouldn't be a problem.
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FlickR: FC3MRC
Youtube: BrettMRC
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