Besides the fact that there's just not a whole lot to see on a rotary engine...and maybe its small size would disappoint...

I am helping a friend choose between a 2000 Accord V6 with 28k and a 2000 Maxima with 35k here in PA. The Accord was driven by some woman who really took care of it and the engine looks new with no residue to indicate detailing. The engine in the Max is all corroded, rusted and generally looks like I drove it, which means damn the snow and salt, I have to go on the road for 400 miles today. BTW, that Maxima is a nice car! The Accord, which shouldn't be compared to the Max, is an economy car with a nice engine and about the worst leather seats I've ever experienced. I hope the RX8 seats are as good as my 626 seats...

...not quite sure what the Accord and Maxima have to do with RX-8 engine covers...but I think the majority of newer cars have moved to this "buttoned down" look under the hood. Is it just for looks, or to discourage shade tree mechanics? I dunno...

The point is that the engine covers hide a lot of ugliness on used cars...

hey rotorhead i'm about 30 miles west of philly. where do you live in pa?

Originally posted by rotorhead
The point is that the engine covers hide a lot of ugliness on used cars...


Gotcha...thanks.

Originally posted by zoom44
hey rotorhead i'm about 30 miles west of philly. where do you live in pa?

I'm in Altoona. You'll recognize me as the driver of the Montego Blue Miata having as much fun as possible all the time.

oops just reread my post, that should of said "from there now living in portland oregon". altoona is a little far away now to expect to see you out and about.

I was wondering...

Originally posted by jbebernes
...but I think the majority of newer cars have moved to this "buttoned down" look under the hood. Is it just for looks, or to discourage shade tree mechanics? I dunno...

Take a look at what's under the hood of a new Lincoln Aviator:

I also think that the people who buy the higher priced cars will always pay someone else to work on their cars. They care less about how things look under the hood because they know less about what's under the hood except the numbers such as HP and 0-60 times.

Well, you have it right. The cover is there for pure asthetics and nothing else. A chunk of oddly shaped metal and lots of tubes running everywhere isn't exactly pretty--especially with the asymetrical rotary looking like it's placed upside down.

Personally, I'd just cover some of the stuff and leave the heart of the car open for all to see, even if it's stuck so low on the RX-8 that you can't see much.

However, for marketing reasons, I can see why they put a huge plastic cover over the rensis. But still, I think it would be a better marketing move to show that all the power comes from such a small engine. I think that's much cooler than a grey rotor shaped cover that says rensis.

actually, yes!! that may indeed be a reason!! not that people'd be more impressed by the engine uncovered, but that they'd NOT LIKE such a small engine!! SERIOUSLY!! oh, ya!!

sorry for my exuberance, but this has kinda just struck me like lightening...
think about all the times buddy-car-salesperson has taken you to look under the hood, so you can see the engine, right?? well, Joe American wants this car 'cause it's functional, cool lookin', and fast, right?? tell me, what says fast to Joe American??

ALL: a big engine, Andrew!!

that's right, everyone, a big, throaty, noisy, clanky, shakin' engine screams power to Mr. Joe American... (btw, i also enjoy big throaty, clanky, shaky, powerful engines: they feel as fast as they are)
if he looks under the hood to see something about 2/3 the external volume of the engine in his Camry (which he drove there in), he's not going to think for a second that it's really all that fast...
even if he drives it, and goes "holy smoke, martha!! this thingamajiggy engine is actually pretty peppy, alright!! but...", and the "but" means that he's dumb, and doesn't understand... which you can't expect Joe American to do, you see, havin' been born and raised a NASCAR man... in his mind, he thinks the engine is "too small" for this car to be quick...

to avoid all this mess entirely, Mazda doesn't give Joe a chance to think the engine is too small, and covers it up with a huge grey rotor-esque piece of plastic, to convey cubes to his psuedo car-guy self....

**please note, this is a slightly satirical post of the fictional "average" american enthusiast driver, who'd be willing to sell his four year old Camry/Accord/Taurus/Stratus thingy for something a bit faster... seriously though, i'm not a bigot, nor a pig-headed Joe Canadian moron ;)