So - quick poll (1st of 2)

Have you owned a rotary before ? (please could only people who have ordered already answer this one )

What I really want to know is -

How many previous rotary owners do we have ?
How many of these people are 'non-believers' in the rotary ?

i.e. are all the doubters 'rotary-virgins' as it were....

Just thought it might be interesting.... ?

First time for me...My brother has a 3rd Gen 7, and my dad had a 1st Gen. They both swear by them. So, I figuered why not carry on the family tradition...

Looks like I'm first to vote for being a rotary virgin and wishing it was a piston engine! I'm prepared to be converted though!

At least you are honest ! (if a little misguided ;) )

:):)

Rotary virgin here, hopefully its pro's outweigh its cons.

Looking forward to it being smooth. Otherwise I'd rather have an inline 6 or something.

Here's a quick exercise - put a pound weight on a string and spin it round really fast.

Now, tie the string around your wrist and throw the weight away with the same hand as hard as you can about a thousand times.

which was more fun?

1st one for me but have never forgotten my one and only drive in a friends one!!

Cheers
Oilman

Originally posted by Kev
Here's a quick exercise - put a pound weight on a string and spin it round really fast.

Now, tie the string around your wrist and throw the weight away with the same hand as hard as you can about a thousand times.

which was more fun?

:D

I'm a rotary virgin, but the rotary was still one of the major factors in wanting this car.

If it was just another 4 pot turbo, or even big heavy V6 then I would not have been so interested.

I like the fact that it is different technology, and the advantages of its weight and size give you the ideal weight distribution, and also help the car be the shape it is. I also love the fact is is so smooth and high revving :D

Im hoping once ive owned it I will never want to go back!

Rotary virgin, not the aspect that attracted me to this car initially. I have concerns (mpg, torque) but am aware of the advantages (free reving, v smooth) so will see.

rael

Had 2ng generation RX 7 many moons ago.

Before got married & had kids..........

nuff said!!!


But now we get 4 seats, a rotary and the kids can wash the car!!

Current car RX-7 UK spec. (3rd generation).

It is an addiction, I wasn't even after a new car!!!

First rotary, and it's a major reason for buying.

I doubt the suicide doors and the looks alone would have tempted me and I would be getting a BMW or Scoob or even another 4x4.

I was heavily influenced by the promise of a different driving experience and the handling - all possible thanks to the lighter rotary engine.

And the 30 minute test drive suggested this car will more than live up to the expectation ...

Do Nortons count? Never had one, but I have lusted after a few - especially back in the early 90s when a guy I knew convinced his company to buy him a company Norton F1 rather than a car. Well the City was a silly place back then when we could still remember the 80s.

nope - really looking forward to it
it's not often you get to have something that is so different - it'll cheer up the winter

I'm quite sure that without a rotary engine this car would not exist. Or at least not be possible in its intended form. A V6, or a large 4 cyl would be too high and long to sit behind the front axle. If it was put there, we would not have 4 proper seats and 4 doors. I can testify this car has as much / more rear legroom than an Audi A4. It has a boot. It handles like a dream (so I am told). It looks the way it does because it has a tiny engine. The only way Mazda have achieved what they did is with use of the rotary, and with a piston engine I would be 100% certain the car would lose several of its major strengths, and would be another Calibra / Probe and would be destined for anonymity.
I am definitely a bit nervous about taking on a rotary, but feel it is definitely worth the risk for the reward of what this car will do.

JH

I too am a Rotary virgin and I have to say it was one of the factors that made me choose the RX-8.

As others have said it gives the car yet another unique factor, as well as the rear doors etc.

Having done my test drive earlier this week and heard the sound the engine makes there is no going back it is addictive.

Chris

Originally posted by Jon H
I'm quite sure that without a rotary engine this car would not exist. Or at least not be possible in its intended form. A V6, or a large 4 cyl would be too high and long to sit behind the front axle. If it was put there, we would not have 4 proper seats and 4 doors. I can testify this car has as much / more rear legroom than an Audi A4. It has a boot. It handles like a dream (so I am told). It looks the way it does because it has a tiny engine. The only way Mazda have achieved what they did is with use of the rotary, and with a piston engine I would be 100% certain the car would lose several of its major strengths, and would be another Calibra / Probe and would be destined for anonymity.
I am definitely a bit nervous about taking on a rotary, but feel it is definitely worth the risk for the reward of what this car will do.

JH


Sry , I know all the Mazda speil about the car not existing without the rotary but...

Theres already a 20b with a HUGE turbo installed, and if people can fit a V8 in a miata/mx5, the RX-8's engin bay will take one easy.

It'll probably screw up its weight distribution some, and affect handling but it'll be possible. (for info the V8 powered Ford focuses actualy have BETTER weight dist than the 4cly, dunno how it works tho).

Also , the suicide doors arnt a great engineering choice either, Body has had to have extensive bracing , which added weight.

The RX-8 may have been a better 'sports' car without the suicide doors, and just normal long 2 door config (lighter and stiffer).

But despite all that I'm looking forward to both the rotary and the wierd doors..

I think you missed the point. I am no sucker for anyone's spiel, I might not be an engineer but I understand the science involved. The MX5 and RX7 are both 2 seaters - anyone knows its far easier to play around with 2-seater cars because they dont have to worry about the size of the passenger cell.
And if a Focus with a large V8 in the front (and 2WD) does not understeer like a pig, then I will eat my RX-8 when it arrives. Show me a link or some data on this car (which I have never heard of) and I will gladly concede if it actually works as a road car.
JH

If it weren't for the weird doors (or at least the fact theres 4 of them) then I wouldn't be here, and I would be driving a scooby by now....

Originally posted by Jon H
And if a Focus with a large V8 in the front (and 2WD) does not understeer like a pig, then I will eat my RX-8 when it arrives. Show me a link or some data on this car (which I have never heard of) and I will gladly concede if it actually works as a road car.

Its still 2WD , but the 2 wheels are the rears. Its basicaly most of amustang droped into a focus.

Plenty of sites for it:

http://www.ford-v8-focus.com
http://www.kugelkomponents.com/focus/focus.html
http://www.tcf-v8-focus-conversions.com

Though I cant find any info about balance/weight distibution as it looks like the forums which held the answers was hacked recently.

The v8 focus isnt a new thing btw, been around 2 years or so.

And as for the RX-8 , the endin bay look shuge to me, bigger than the focus, although not quite as deep (deeper than an mx5)?

Have you seen this thread ?
http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11581

I'm sure you can fit a v8 into an RX-8, it may not be the best solution , but possible, its been done to an rx-7 I think.

Thanks for the links, Rob, took me this long to look at all of them! They seem serious about the Focus V8, amazed it fits but I'm sure its a US-style drag racer more than anything else, not sure what would happen when it sees a corner.
And the RX8 3-rotor link is well worth a look at, it looks an absolute masterpiece, want to see it in action.
The bay looks like it will hold a midi size V6, maybe a small V8 - but it would have to sit well forward of the front axle. The standard Renesis is almost hidden under the car. It would have to compromise the balance a fair bit, I guess they could make it 4WD but then it would weigh even more....
Time will tell, I think we need to keep browsing the US forum as I'm sure someone will try a piston conversion soon, if they havent already done so! Anyone seen one yet?
JH

I drove a Wankel for the first time during my test drive, I bought one!

Don't care if its rotary, piston or nuclear powered. - It looks good, drives well, has 4 seats and holds its value. - What goes on under the bonnet is for the mechanics and the 'home fiddlers'.