Djpac

ok, i been looking into buying a RX-8 for a while. they look really cool, and seem to have good performance. But there has been some things that are starting to convince me not to buy one and go buy a Mustang GT or a Skyline.... so my questions are

1.) Can the Rotary Engine be easily upgraded/modded?
2.) Is the Rotary Engine reliable?
3.) Do most mechanics know how to trouble-shoot/repair Rotary Engines?
4.) Do Rotary Engines break more often then "normal" engines? (although they have fewer parts)

I have seen many RX-8s on the internet, and they look amazing, but havent seen many, if any, in races or drifting competitions...

Thanks for the help!!

CTrx8

iTrader: (2)

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/hyundai-tiburon-owner-thinking-about-8-a-107311/

this is where your thread is headed. this question has been asked a thousand times before so please search around for all of the rx-8 vs. ....

prescriptionmazda

Searching can help answer these in depth.

If you are interested in this car for "street racing" or to pwn you'r friends evo 8, don't get it, do us all a favor.

1.) depends on how much money you are willing to sink into it. FI is the only way to get real hp out of it, it has already been tuned to damn near the max by mazda.

2.) experiences will differ, but mine has always been reliable.

3.) this depends on where you live, there are several rotary- specific mechanics out there, but where I live, you have to take care of your own problems.

4.) Define "break down" They have a tendency to flood more than other cars, but this is EASILY prevented.

That's my 2 cents.

Djpac

well i do plan on racing... but not street racing. legal racing, at a few circuits and strips. but thats not what i ment by that...

the reason i asked those questions, is because i have been searching, and i seen a lot of people saying they have had problems with their RX-8, most of the threads i opened and that are started have RX-8 problems, and it seems to be because of the Rotary Engine. and i dont see any one saying why the problem happened. But havent seen anyone complain about the 2007 RX-8, which is the one i plan on buying. and i do plan on dumping a lot of money into modifying it.

so overall, they are a good, reliable car that can be easily upgraded... and just
fun?

Thanks for the help, and sorry about the repetitiveness of the question, just wanted a straight forward answer.

DaveCM203

You cannot compare the 8 to either of the cars you mentioned. Mustang won't hang with an 8 around a tight road course but can kill it in the 1/4. Where do you live? No Skyline in US unless you are going to wait for the GTR and that will be expensive.

TheKDog

Sounds like you want to mod the car for lots of power. In that case don't get the RX8. If you want superb handling though, then you should get it.

Djpac

i live in Rhode Island, and i would be importing one, the skyline itself is about $5k, shipping is about another $5k, and about another $6k to get it legal in the US...

and yea i think i will get it, after watching it on TopGear... 350Z vs RX8

what ever i do buy, i will be buying it in June....

Djpac

Is there a Speed Limiter in the RX8?

DaveCM203

Some on here say there is. I don't think there is. At least on the man. I had mine up to 148 indicated on a track a couple of times. Ran out of room, but don't think it had much more in it.

Feras

iTrader: (1)

a friend of mine <wink> took his 8 on the highway in the wee hours one day. this 'friend' <wink> found that the rx8 seems to be drag limited at around 150-153 mph. If it had more power "he" <wink> thinks it could get higher...there are rumors that turbo'd guys have taken their 8s to 167-168mph.

oh and if you are able to find R33 or R34 skylines in japan for 5-6k before importing let me know coz damn is that an amazing deal, i'll take 3.

prescriptionmazda

as long as you are not street racing I have no problem.

But if you are into track racing, the 8 will be a good bet.

SlipNslide1.3

Djpak, RX8's are a different automobile. If your looking for high output HP out of the box, the 8 may not be what your looking for since you plan on racing it. Like everyone said above it depends on what your looking for. I drove a 2003 Cobra that was pushing 492hp and 525lbs or torque. It was a beast and a fun car. Not very many people would rev on me in the streets but all you need to do is test drive an 8 and you will see for your self if its what your looking for. I drove the 8 and didn't even want to buy the 8. I was at the dealer looking at the STI's and fount that the 8 is so much fun to drive. Most people don't buy an 8 to save on gas, and most don't even pay thousands to add more horse power but out of the box its a very fun car to drive. I didn't buy my car to race at the track so you may be different. It seems that people get offended when others bad mouth the car they drive but don't take those guys to seriouse. Go test drive one and see for your self why us RX8 owners love our cars. Best of luck with your decision.


PS. If you plan on modifying the RX8, its best to see if there is anyone in your area that can custom tune one. Not very many people out there that can tune these little joys of fun.


-SlipNslide1.3

DaveCM203

I lived in Japan for a year. Cars over there can go very cheap used. They will usualy be in realy good shape also. The expence comes getting it over here and made legal in the US. I had a couple of buddies that brought cars over from Japan. The shipping did not cost them anything. It was a pain for them to get them legal.

delhi

If you don;t like to be spanked by an accord v6 driven by a middle age lady on a cellphone at the merging lane, then please don't buy this car. The 8 is like a funner miata really. Not about brute power.

Djpac

well the whole reason i was looking at these, is because they look like they have really good handling and would be able to get out of corners pretty quick.... not much more then that....

and that Skyline:
http://www.best-trade-car.com/carvie...e%5B%5D=Nissan

Razz1

Actually the Mustang does very well in GT racing. You just have to set it up correctly.

Winfree

If you want to be loved and admired get an 8
If you want to make noise and be noticed get a mustang - add pipes for more noise
If you want to drive and say wow - this is quiet, this is smooth, this is a Zen thing - get an 8.
If you want to fight the wheel at every turn, if you love the heavy vibration of a big engine, if you want to feel that every ride around a twisty mountain road is going to be your last, get a Mustang
If you plan to keep a car until it becomes a classic get an 8
If you plan to rip it up and junk it anyway get a Mustang

8's seem very modular, so you can move stuff in an out - if you are doing mods you can add turbos and stuff - search some of the racing threads, and go to a couple of rallys, but they are enough different from an old flat head engine to make you scratch your head....You will need to watch heat build up, and if you can ever think of ways to get more out of the transmission, I think that is the rate limiting point in getting out even more speed.