Just wondering as I’ve never been for a ride in any rotary engined car. The RX-8 engine is invariably described as "smooth", but what's it like compared to, say, a VW V5 or BMW 2.0 6-cylinder?

Not having driven cars with those engines, the best effort I can give you is Mazda's slogan from the '70s -

"The piston engine goes 'boing, boing, boing" but the Mazda goes 'hmmmmm'".

The engine just has a very smooth, jet-like feel to it. Go drive one and you'll understand :).

Dale

you know how most piston engines get more rackety and vibrates as you go up the rev?

rotary engines actually get SMOOTHER as you climb the rev

Originally posted by ZoomZoomH
you know how most piston engines get more rackety and vibrates as you go up the rev?

rotary engines actually get SMOOTHER as you climb the rev

On my test drive, which was the first time I've ever driven a rotary, it seemed next to impossible to "lug" the engine. Even sixth gear at low speeds didn't cause any shaking. Of course, it didn't cause any acceleration either, but that's why they put a nice shifter on the car too :)

-Dan

Originally posted by dcfc3s

"The piston engine goes 'boing, boing, boing" but the Mazda goes 'hmmmmm'".


Wow, I almost forgot about that commercial. It was a real catchy one. Thanks for the memories. Wish I could find a clip of that. (maybe "Mazda goes zoommmmm").

The thing I keep hearing about the RX8 that describes my experience is: "I pushed the gas, but I didn't feel much umph. Then I looked at the speedometer. Whoa!"

Thats what happens to me all the time. It doesnt sem to be hauling ass, but you glance down and are surprised very often.

Then again when you rev it up and go, it also goes very nicely for me.

So what are we saying here... "4-pot at low revs, 6-pot at high revs"?

(I hate to be negative, but no-one has said "its better than a ....")

comparing a rotary to a piston is like comparing largemouth to trout

neither is better, they are different

however, you can say that the rotary is better suited to a sports car, because its smaller and lighter, just like you can say a largemouth is better suited to heavy baitcasting equipment, where as the trout is much more fun on a delicate flyrod
________
UGGS (http://uggstoreshop.com/)

But which tastes better?

and which one's less filling!?

how smooth is smooth?

In my first gen, if I had the music up too loud to hear the warning buzzer at 7k rpm, the only indication that I was over-revving was the drop in power. It was too smooth to use drivetrain vibration to know when to upshift. Thats probably the reason they made the tach the biggest gauge on all following versions.