i've been thinking about this for a while, and i've already started doing this... i think it's a good idea but it may have been posted b4:

the rx8 signifies the return of the rotary engine, but if it doesn't sell well mazda will be in serious trouble (with all the millions of dollars invested in the rx8)... and they won't be able to come out with the uncompromised fe3s. most people agree that the rx8 is mazda's gamble in order to make enough money to stay in the performance game: competing with the GTRs, the Supras, NSXs, the upcoming 5000GTs, etc etc... most of the other japanese manufacturers are really stepping up their game, and truth be told the rx8 would be trounced by the cars coming up in the next few years. it would suck for the rotary engine to be out of the picture. so, to the point: i've been telling every one i know that is interested in buying a car about the rx8 and have been trying to convince them to buy it. so far i've been successful with one person, but i'm sure i can get a couple more. if every one of us gets at least one other person to become interested in the rx8, the it would help mazda out a great deal, leading to a fe3s that would kick ass. oh btw some unofficial statement from a rather reliable source in japan just told me that the next gen rx7 would probably come with a 3 rotor engine if everything works out at mazda... and i think we can contribute to the cause by getting as many people as we can to buy the rx8. the north american market is crucial to any car company as many of you know, so let's help out mazda as a forum!

ps: i've gotten one person to buy a mazda6 too, and that helps too i suppose

Originally posted by Rotary Soul
oh btw some unofficial statement from a rather reliable source in japan just told me

Beware of statements like that! Credibility problems are written all over it.

Real-world reports coming in are that the Renesis isn't all that fuel efficient. Besides, it looks like some trickery with the A/C compressor was used to improve fuel economy as it is.
What's a three-rotor going to get? 12 MPG?

We have official sources from Mazda who have gone on record as saying the next RX-7 would have wider rotors to increase displacement.

I'd LOVE to see a 3-rotor... but it just ain't gonna happen. We may love our rotaries, but a 3-rotor would have the thirst of an exoticar, without the panache or cachet. Besides the manufacturing expense, etc.

Everyone at work knows about the highly anticipated car that I want to get b/c I spend so much time reading this forum and hyping about it...even a buddy of mine at work who's thinking about getting a new car in a year or so is really interested in the RX-8. He went with me to go look at one of the first ones in Houston, and now he's' even more excited about it. Im definitely spreading the word around here and Im sure the streets of Houston will know all about the car when I finally get one. Im definitely doing my part down here :cool:

Believe it or not, my interest in the rotary engine started with a japanese anime....:D

Originally posted by takahashi j
Believe it or not, my interest in the rotary engine started with a japanese anime....:D


OOHHH! What's it called? I want to see it!

Initial D

Initial D

Isn't that a Toyota Corolla here in the states?

Originally posted by GTA3VC
Initial D

Isn't that a Toyota Corolla here in the states? No, the Corolla is Grade D ;)

Originally posted by GTA3VC
Initial D

Isn't that a Toyota Corolla here in the states?

hahaha... no, the main character in the anime drives an old Corolla GTS special edition thingy, but it's all about racing of all sorts of different Japanese sports cars...

The feature car of the show is toyota trueno AE86 1600GT Apex (RWD). However the show also features two Rotary "brothers" (FC & FD)that are the opponents.

Originally posted by takahashi j
The feature car of the show is toyota trueno AE86 1600GT Apex (RWD). However the show also features two Rotary "brothers" (FC & FD)that are the opponents.

HUZZAH for the antagonists!! ...how the hell does a mediocre 1.6L all motor toyota Corolla keep up with an ahead-of-its-time twin turbo 1.3L wankel motored FD?? just insane ;)

Acceleration isnt as important in downhill mountain races as handling and holding topspeed. Its emphasized in Initial D.

Originally posted by wakeech


HUZZAH for the antagonists!! ...how the hell does a mediocre 1.6L all motor toyota Corolla keep up with an ahead-of-its-time twin turbo 1.3L wankel motored FD?? just insane ;)

HP isnt as important in those tight turns on the downhill of the mountain....the turbo doesnt have enough time to max out the pressure anyways....;)

Originally posted by takahashi j


HP isnt as important in those tight turns on the downhill of the mountain....the turbo doesnt have enough time to max out the pressure anyways....;)

hahaha... don't feed me that BS... hahaha... it's just a stupid nostalgic romance the creator obviously has for the Trueno

btw: compare the multi-link independant suspention of the FD to the live-axle setup of the Corolla... ;) THEN talk to me about handling down a mountain :p

Originally posted by wakeech


btw: compare the multi-link independant suspention of the FD to the live-axle setup of the Corolla... ;) THEN

well...it is about drifting after all. i'll just take your word for it that it's a live axle.

i like how a highly tuned r32 loses to a trueno. gee that made a lot of sense... as much as i love drifting it's just not the best choice for speed, even professional drifters say that. anyhow about the 3 rotor comment, i know it sounds rather sketchy but the guy i talked to in japan is pretty high up in the food chain, so it's a possibility. the fuel economy i agree may be a problem, but i'm sure the engine will be fine tuned and refined in the years to come.

don't 3 rotors run a little lumpier too? like v8's do? by lumpy i don't mean like an over cammed v8, i mean like the torque pattern since it's impossible to perfectly balance a v8/3rotor.

and about Initial D it is...after all, just a cartoon :)

OK, I've got a prospective Prius buyer (and his wife) thinking hard about the RX-8 after giving them a test drive this morning. What does that tell ya?!!

Originally posted by lefuton
it's impossible to perfectly balance a v8/3rotor.
Is that true? I thought is would be easier to balance it because of the triangle shape. Won't it allow straightening of the eccentric shaft too (leading to even greater stability)?

Originally posted by Cylo

Is that true? I thought is would be easier to balance it because of the triangle shape. Won't it allow straightening of the eccentric shaft too (leading to even greater stability)?

umm... what??

Originally posted by Cylo

Is that true? I thought is would be easier to balance it because of the triangle shape. Won't it allow straightening of the eccentric shaft too (leading to even greater stability)?

well i'm not 100% sure, im no mechanical engineer or anything but i that's what i've gathered from the literature i've read. that and i can't imagine how you could do it close to perfectly especially when the distance between the rotors aren't the same, ie, 2 are closer together on one side. well, that's how the 20b looked anyhow. someone correct me and slap me silly if i'm totally wrong here please.

Originally posted by wakeech
btw: compare the multi-link independant suspention of the FD to the live-axle setup of the Corolla... ;) THEN talk to me about handling down a mountain :p

it's not just any trueno...it's highly tuned :D

What in the world are you guys talking about? Anime, Corolla, Trueno. This relates to the RX-8 how?

As rotary enthusiasts, we're gonna make an anime featuring an RX-8 beating a Corolla and a Trueno to increase interest in the RX-8. The plan will backfire though and people will be asking us "WTF is a Trueno?"

then can we move something instead of tofu like...nitroglycerine? :P

Originally posted by Master Phu
we're gonna make an anime featuring an RX-8 beating a Corolla and a Trueno ...

The plan will backfire though and people will be asking us "WTF is a Trueno?"

dude, really, even a "highly tuned" Tueno is still a sh*tbox!! :D it won't be that hard to beat one with even drivers!!

for everyone's edification: Trueno = Corolla, plain and simple. why the different names?? who the hell knows, japanese people are weird ;)
(fyi, i've had a great deal of native-japanese friends)

the Corolla in question here is a special tuned version of Toyota's last RWD small car, the Corolla GT-S, which i know many of you can still see driving around today... yes, yes, i do mean that boxy, ugly, noisey, rattley, rusty, slow car. that's the one. yup, with the big hatch.

:D

What is anime? Or is that a misspelling of something?

haha... no KB, anime is the widely used term for Japanese animation, which has a very specific look to it... "mangas" or "animes" are how they're referred to instead of "comics"... it's just a japanese thing. ;)

Originally posted by lefuton
then can we move something instead of tofu like...nitroglycerine? :P

:p oh yeah, great idea... drift racing whilst transporting highly dangerous materials in some old beater car :p

Originally posted by lefuton
don't 3 rotors run a little lumpier too? like v8's do?

No, the 20b Is increadibly smoother than the 13b. Afterall, it does come from a luxury car.

Yes, I've ridden in a 20b powered car.

All hail the three rotor! Seriously though I'd like to cover a few topics here. The balancing of a three rotor is a little more involved than it is on a 13b(Rotaries carry 2 counterweights- 1front 1rear)
However they can be extremely smooth.The rotors are phased at 120degree intervals and of course have greater firing frequency.
Kind of like a six cyl compared to a four cyl.
Again I'm gonna ask where people are getting the supposedly on record official word that Mazda is planning on making wider rotors.
I've asked this question several times now and no one has provided a proper response. For those who haven't noticed the three rotor already exists. In production it has never been normally aspirated and I'm convinced that they can make it reasonably fuel efficient.

Bwob, the "father of the Miata", auto journalist in Australia (?), and RX-8 owner said it here (http://www.miataforum.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=012619). Bwob still has numerous connections in Mazda, so I take his comments with a high level of confidence. Not as official as a real press release, but it's the next best thing. It was also reported in the July issue of "Wheels", a car mag that's not available in the U.S.