Hi everybody, my first post, i usually just read but i feel this time i need to post to help me deal with the pain.

Anyway, my 8 ( 2004 MT, already on its second engine ) was acting funny and rough idling, stalling, etc. So i take it into the dealership already knowing i'm getting a new engine. Yeah the tech here in Las Vegas calls me many hours
later and tells me they need to order a new motor and to come down so i can pick up a rental.

Later that afternoon i go to get this so called rental car. The dealership has an Enterprise rental car built into it. I wait in line for about 10 minutes, get up to the counter and they ask me what kind of car i have so they can place me in something similar i guess. I tell the guy, " it's a Mazda RX-8 " with more pride than a body builder on cocaine. The worker then says, " Oooooo an RX... " and before he can finish he mutters, " the only thing we have is a KIA spectra to put you in. "
I of course was shocked ( expecting a mazda 3 at least ).

So we head outside and do a walk around, i sign some papers and im ready to go back home. I start the car up and heard the pistons and i already knew i would miss my 8 even more. I leave the lot and feel all 4 of the pistons firing at my feet so unsmoothly. i feel like im being piston (pissed on :icon_no2: ).

It's been a week already and im having harder withdrawls from it. No matter what i do i will never look cool in a KIA. Anyway i probably won't have my car back for a week and a half, Mazda dealership is really busy. I'm trying the best i can to deal with situation.

Wow that sucks man. We had a 2004 AT. Lost the first Engine but the second Engine was running strong. She got totaled by a wreckless driver :(
With the help of a good friend we went out that week and got a 2004 MT. Same car in and out just MT now :) Love this bad boy. Been pre mixing from the month I got her. Redline first and second every day on my way to work :smoker: no probs what so ever.
Join us Vegas peeps for more info;
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=99072&page=360
-Gilbert

Yeah, I don't know what happend with this engine, did everything possible i could to prevent this from happening. I used to have an FC so maintenance isn't an issue for me . I think its probably because the current reman came from Williams Tech. After all, it only lasted 10,000 miles.

It would cheer me up if i found out i am getting a reman from VA. I'm thinking about making a youtube video of me running this KIA spectra into the wall, not really but i like the thought of it.

Congrats btw in a small way, your getting one of the first mazda remanufactured engines from our plant, it wont be a Cat(williams tech) reman engine. The first 100 MT engines we built are brand new engines straight from japan also. They sent us 100 6spd. AT engines to turn into MT's, all we did to the motor was swap out the rear housing and add the needle bearing/seal to the eccentric shaft on those. You just got a brand new engine for a rebuild, I will probably ship it out today honestly, they are training me on that and if I see a Vegas order I will get you a pick of your motor as long as I am shipping today. Hell I might try to locate you motor when it shows up here if you want, I am finaly doing shipping/recieving for motors/parts here and occasionally helping out production when someone is out sick/vacation. Enjoy and I hope it goes well.

^Sweet man. Thats some good news. Dont run into any walls now lol

dang, brand new engines from japan... yum.

sleepy; send one my way. ;)

Sleepy-z, thanks for your enthusiasm and participation in this forum. I, for one, appreciate it.

Sleepy-z, thanks for your enthusiasm and participation in this forum. I, for one, appreciate it.

+1. Its really great having a specialist on our forums (actively posting as well!).

Dude KIA or not, the news just made my day. Im speechless. Thank you sleepy, that means a lot. On the downside im looking forward to get my 8 back even more.

Omg...I want to blow up my engine so I can have sleepy ship and track mine. (I know I'm not the only one...)

I feel like i won some sort of prize. Anyway when i get my car back i'll keep you guys posted on how the motor is.

I think yours shipped yesterday, no vegas motors today, or maybe they haven't ordered it yet...I dunno. Not to sure who it goes through to get to us, sorry. What sucks for us is the only thing we did was change out the rear housing so unless it leaks out of the rear we didn't build the first 100, just replaced the rear then ran some mazda gasket sealant through the oil while it ran on the dyno. Like I said those are brand new motors we modified into MT.

Thx a lot Sleepy-Z. ;)

it's cool though, new motor in place of a rebuild. There shouldn't be a power difference then right ? what year motors were converted. did they tell you ?

it's cool though, new motor in place of a rebuild. There shouldn't be a power difference then right ? what year motors were converted. did they tell you ?

There is no difference in the motors from year to year until 09, I would assume its a 08 though since it was ready to be installed. There will be no power difference, well technically it all comes down to compression so there may or may not be a power difference but it will be meager and not too noticeable. Just drive it easy for a while.

BTW no need to thank me, I get bored on the Z sites and I like my job enough to take it home. Like I said when I first posted, if someone came on the Z site with inside info and shared it I would be happy so why not do the same if I can share the info.

Omg...I want to blow up my engine so I can have sleepy ship and track mine. (I know I'm not the only one...)

lol, me too

so will we get 09+ Renesis or will Mazda continue to make the current one for replacements?

so will we get 09+ Renesis or will Mazda continue to make the current one for replacements?

That is the same thing I have been wondering.

At least twice I have had to get loaners (pre-Mazda days btw). Every time it was a Neon. Once was for a Dodge Ram pickup. 5+ years later I'm trying to figure out how a freaking Neon was a "similar substitute" for a full-sized pickup, other than both having a Dodge badge.

Okay enough bitching. Grats on the new motor, hope it works out for ya!

Hey Sleepy, i always picture Z's as the direct rival to the Rotary. I'm talking way back in the 70's as well. The way i see it is like 2 different gangs. Anyway you are like a liason between Z's and Rotary's.

^Sweet man. Thats some good news. Dont run into any walls now lol

Yeah, trust me, that's no fun.... :banghead:

I feel your pain with the Kia Spectra as a rental. A guy hit me in a parking lot last week and finally today I got to turn in my 8 into the local repair shop and pick up my rental (also from Enterprise coincidentally). They tried to give me a PT Cruiser:squint: . I managed to work my way up to a Mazda3 but it's an AT with no power options:banghead: . So, yeah, I feel your pain and can sympathize. If it ain't a rotor it ain't a motor...

I feel your pain with the Kia Spectra as a rental. A guy hit me in a parking lot last week and finally today I got to turn in my 8 into the local repair shop and pick up my rental (also from Enterprise coincidentally). They tried to give me a PT Cruiser:squint: . I managed to work my way up to a Mazda3 but it's an AT with no power options:banghead: . So, yeah, I feel your pain and can sympathize. If it ain't a rotor it ain't a motor...

Yeah speaking of PT cruiser i went back today to see if they have anything to upgrade me with and thats all they had, so i took it :icon_no2: . I have no idea why.

Dominion says>>>>>got wrecked by a WRECK LESS driver.

Talk about an oxymoron.

forgot to say

Dude, KIA is bad?

I got a FUXKING MUSTANG !!!! MUSTANG DUDE !

U KNOW HOW MUCH SHAME I HAD DRIVING THAT GARBAGE? OMFG !

I HAVE TO PUT IT INTO THE GARAGE SO NO ONE SEES IT ! AHHHHH !

damm i'm waiting on the approval of mazda after my last flash the engine started to tumbal down hill.hope i never go thru this again.a good freind gave me an old beemer z3 with 126,000 miles on it and it's cool but in no way like my baby!i am surprised it has so much punch to it with so many miles!hope to get her back soon it's like a wound that won't heal!!

forgot to say

Dude, KIA is bad?

I got a FUXKING MUSTANG !!!! MUSTANG DUDE !

U KNOW HOW MUCH SHAME I HAD DRIVING THAT GARBAGE? OMFG !

I HAVE TO PUT IT INTO THE GARAGE SO NO ONE SEES IT ! AHHHHH !

A mustang....Ooooo that hurts. But at least it isn't FF. The KIA was extremly light but couldn't handle at all for as light as it is. In the KIA's defense it isn't a sports car, but tell me why this PT cruiser feels like it handles better than the KIA and weighs 100 times more. I just don't get it. My meaning of life is shot.

If it makes you feel better I drive a Tercel to work every single day, not only that but its green and I am 6'5 so its like a giant in a midget car. Nothing beats the 1.5L with like 90hp tops and its got a freaking 3spd. AT so I cant go over 65 without blowing the motor up. But I still piss off the mazda boss's when they try to get me to get a mazda through the company, I just say can you beat 36mpg.....give me a nice raise or promote me and I will get a mazda but for now I will drive my toyota gaycel.

If it makes you feel better I drive a Tercel to work every single day, not only that but its green and I am 6'5 so its like a giant in a midget car. Nothing beats the 1.5L with like 90hp tops and its got a freaking 3spd. AT so I cant go over 65 without blowing the motor up. But I still piss off the mazda boss's when they try to get me to get a mazda through the company, I just say can you beat 36mpg.....give me a nice raise or promote me and I will get a mazda but for now I will drive my toyota gaycel.

If gas milage wasn't a so important, you should go FI on your tercel.

My wife had a Tercel. And about the only thing that air can do to it that is considered 'forced' is involuntary LANE CHANGES!

:)

My god that thing couldn't hold it's lane under a light summer breeze. I swear I went airborne over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge a few times.

1.replacing rotary engine number one = Free under warranty

2. replacing rotary engine number two = Free under warranty

3. complaining about the piston engine = PRICELESS!

1.) Getting rotary engine replaced = Free

2.) Getting a new car = Price of car

3.) Still visiting a rotary forum and complaining about it in every post = Priceless

You think THAT is a complaint? :lol:

Heh, nah, I've seen the last 25+ posts of yours, that last one was tame.

1.replacing rotary engine number one = Free under warranty

2. replacing rotary engine number two = Free under warranty

3. complaining about the piston engine = PRICELESS!

Well yeah, they are unsmooth engines after all. I'm just a smooth kind of guy.

I got a Spectra once when my 8 was in the shop, and I've never been more terrified of a car in my life. It's cars like this thing that make people think you can't take a corner over 20 mph.

I had people blowing past me off red lights, even with the pedal to the floor. I had to brake twice as early because the brakes seemed more of a game of chance than anything. Cornering was terrifyingly vague...and if all this wasn't bad enough, the whole car felt like it was ready to crumple in on itself, so the (very likely considering its performance) idea of an accident was just that much more scary.

So yeah, you know where i am coming from with the spectra ! isn't KIA owned by hyundai ? The only thing worse than a hyundai is a lower quality hyundai.

Well yeah, they are unsmooth engines after all. I'm just a smooth kind of guy.


Yea, but it's a bit unfair to say a piston engine is the problem... more so a Kia piston engine may not be that smooth.... but at it's price point it is not meant to be.

your talking 30k car rotary vs ... what is the retail on a kia?

Yea, but it's a bit unfair to say a piston engine is the problem... more so a Kia piston engine may not be that smooth.... but at it's price point it is not meant to be.

your talking 30k car rotary vs ... what is the retail on a kia?

Should be $5, if even that. Yeah i know i don't have a problem with PE, im just a rotray fanboy, and thats how i will remain.

If you think you can get away with it again, go ask for a RWD vehicle. I was also offered a PT Cruiser, and I told them I couldnt drive a FWD Vehicle very well. ;) I drove it from the Car rental place at the body shop to another branch of the rental place and picked up an HHR. Not too shabby even in the corners for a 4 banger, and it had a lot of hp for its weight as well.

Oh course being a woman they bought it hook line and sinker. :rollingla

If you think you can get away with it again, go ask for a RWD vehicle. I was also offered a PT Cruiser, and I told them I couldnt drive a FWD Vehicle very well. ;) I drove it from the Car rental place at the body shop to another branch of the rental place and picked up an HHR. Not too shabby even in the corners for a 4 banger, and it had a lot of hp for its weight as well.

Oh course being a woman they bought it hook line and sinker. :rollingla

I don't know if thats a good idea because when i went to take the spectra back, the lady working got all butt hurt when i told her that i didn't like it. She goes " You'll be asking for it back, just watch you'll see !" She was really serious about it. I think maybe she owned one and i pretty much told her she owned a crappy car.

Should be $5, if even that. Yeah i know i don't have a problem with PE, im just a rotray fanboy, and thats how i will remain.

They really should treat you better then putting you in a Kia.

It would be great if Mazda had loaner 8's out there for when an engine does need to be replaced. It' kinda adding insult to injury to have your car in the shop and have to drive a Kia!

They rent based on car size anyways, you had a 4 seater so they gave you a 4 seater similar in size. kinda why if you wreck a van you get a van, wreck a crown vic you get a tauras. I was hit once in my corolla gt-s, my dad was given a small similar size car, only problem was he is 6'3 300lbs so he looked at the car and said there isnt a chance I will comute in that car so they gave him a tauras.

So i guess my dealership got my engine in. They said they will have it dropped in on tue. or wed. I asked them if they knew where it come from just to make sure, and they said they still don't know. Damn dealership.

yeah that sucks dude We all know how that feels to b without ur 8

yeah that sucks dude We all know how that feels to b without ur 8

Yeah your telling me! I'm browsing every video review i can find on the rx8. watching every single one. I probably watched the top gear review 50 times.
God bless The Stig

Lol dude I feel for you... I had a PT Cruiser rental and it was such a load of SHIT. It has got to be the most embarrassing car to drive around, and the interior was garbage. PLASTIC everything, the shitty seats, the shitty radio, the shitty shifter thing that was 20 feet tall...

The car would NOT go up a hill in Malibu (Pepperdine).. the max speed was 7mph and I was flooring it! Id rather drive a Kia Rio or something...

Then they gave me a Mercedez Benz C class :) Brand new!

It's Chrysler engineering that makes the rest of the world think americans are dumb. It's Chryslers fault americans are overweight. It's Chryslers fault there is a war going on right now, hell it's even Chryslers fault my girl won't go make me some pancakes.

Well there are 2 ways to check if its mazda reman.
1. The alternator bolt(14mm) that hold it to the front housing cover, basically to the bottom right of the alternator, there would be a stamp on the front cover to the right of the alternator bolt that either says cat reman and there number or mazda remanufacturing on it.

2. The parts department should know where it came from. Just go the parts department and tell them you had a reman engine put in your car and you want to know where they recieved the motor from, the VA plant or the SC plant. They recieve the motors, service department has no idea because all they do is write up the orders and parts handles getting the parts/eniges.

Thanks again Sleepy. I will for sure check when i get it. I can't tomorrow though because of the holiday.

Ok, so i go to pick up my car today from the dealership. It was indeed a brand new engine. I was all hyped up. So I start up the car ( took a few more cranks than my old engine because of course it's a new engine ) and drive off. About 15 miles down the freeway i hear a clank noise. The car was riding fine so I ignore it hoping it wasn't anything serious until i get off. As I approch the exit I stepped on the brakes and they weren't responding, I drove off the road into the dirt with the car bouncing up and down soft on the driver side, very rough on the passenger side.

The car finally managed to stop and i get out and inspect it. My passenger side brake caliper fell off, my tire was flat, and the fender lining had all come off. It felt like there were no springs on the left side. I called Mazda and they sent a tow truck ASAP. When i got back down to the dealership they were super sorry. I kept a cool head about it and didn't want any " Service Technician " to get fired over a human mistake. Now my car is back in for service. This time I turned down the shitty rental. I'm done with those toy ass cars, i'll have my girl drive me around in her Versa. After all, The day could have been a lot worse, if I were put in a position on the freeway where i had to brake quickly, the car wouldn't have done it's job.

I would be fairly upset..... haha

Bad luck. I'd see about getting something out of the dealership. I would have demanded a better rental car right off the bat.

Keep us posted.

: Yeah i tried a better rental. All they had were small pick up trucks. I should go in tomorrow and try for the mazdaspeed kit and if they say no I will say my lawyer knows how to get it for free :lol2:. A caliper falling off is pretty serious if you ask me though. It seemed like I lost all braking because of one caliper.

Damn that sucks, I would be pissed also, at least your safe. Someone should get fired over that but chances are he is master tech and will just get yelled at a little. You should find out the techs name and request someone else in the future.