Dan 8

As you may know i am looking to purchase in the next few months but i have found bits of negative info on the RX8 regarding flooding , catalyctic coverter failures and others little niggly bits , should it concern me as a new buyer?

https://www.rx8club.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1106

Rotor Convert

Nope don't think they are really issues...mine has just clocked 6,000kms and have not had any issues....the only thing I would think about is the cost of fuel and how much driving you do....I get about 450kms city driving to a 60lt tank...with rising fuel costs this IMHO should be more of an issue....not for me though love the car....happy decision making...


Ps. I have turned mine off cold after starting and not had an issue...check the date of the posts as these may be dated issues...

timbo

The thread you linked is one posted by someone who fitted a piggy-back ECU. Don't know whether that was the cause or not. There have been a couple of others, but it's by no means common, and you will find similar stuff about most cars, if you look hard enough

Some similar discussions at https://www.rx8club.com/australia-new-zealand-forum-37/rx-8-design-flaws-86870/

Revolver

Buy something else.

It's a heap.

takahashi

There is always negative on a car when you look hard enough.

It is worthwhile to know the problem and sort it out b4 warranty expires

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

If you buy with your heart & not your head - you will take the 8
I've done over 30000 ks of hard driving & it still purrs

Dan 8

I am trying to make a decision based on knowledge , having never owned a high reving rotary engine i am being cautious .

Thanks for the link Timbo

Daniel

yiksing

The only thing you have to worry about is whether you will flood the car or not? Forget it if you are thinking of turning it on and off staright away.

Tim Tam

Flooding, haven't heard anything about that for ages. Anyone flooded lately?

rotarenvy

not mine. I never worry about all those so called 'special precautions' either.

Revolver

I've never flooded mine, despite plenty of small movements and an absence of the advised precautions.

They still talk about it some in the yank forums but I often wonder if it is by those with long memories of '03 cars before the plugs, starter motor and battery upgrade.

timbo

Well, on the flooding issue I definitely tried to do it, as an experiment, before the upgrades, with no result. Am not saying it hasn't happened, but I couldn't "make" it happen. Likewise on the cat. IMHO, these problems arise through insufficent visits to the rev doctor

jormatom

I too had never owned a rotary before the 8 and can say that I am not one bit dissappointed. I think if you looked at every new car on the market you will find something that someone doesn't like about it.

I too have tried to flood mine so that I could test how to restart it, but I couldn't do it.

The most annoying thing for me is remembering to check the oil every couple of thousand k's.

When you weigh up all the little things you don't like against the fun you have driving the thing, you end up forgetting about them.

As far as value for money is concerned, I don't think there is any comparison unless you want to spend thousands more on something European.

If you are still unsure, see if you can get a ride in one around a race track and that will make your decision a hell of a lot easier.

Go on Daniel, treat yourself and buy the 8.

Greg

labrat

The RX-8 uses different, but not exotic technology. It is a robust, reliable car. Just ask those forum members who take it to the track on weekends and use it as their normal ride during the week. Checking the oil isn't a biggie - I've always done that on a regular basis with any of my previous cars anyway.

Those of us who are original '03 purchasers will testify that the early problems were all fixed by Mazda, and we now have perfectly reliable, safe cars. Those mods are included in all the latest vehicles, so no problems there. I've only done 52,000km in mine, but it still runs like new.

The only downside that I can see is fuel consumption, and you have to see that in the context of the RX-8 being a performance car. The upside is virtually everything else, including that turbine-like feeling as the engine climbs through the revs. Frankly, there is nothing like it on the road for the money, and I'd venture to say for twice the price!

Tim Tam

That's a good idea, Mazda should give test drives around a track. They'd sell millions then!

timbo

They did

Hmm...maybe they should again

Gomez

This is not something anyone should try to repeat, IMO.

When an RX-8 floods, inevitably a lot of unburnt fuel finds its way into the exhaust. It then tends to collect in the catalytic converter. When the car is ultimately started, the fuel in the cat burns. Technicians have reported seeing RX-8 cats glow red hot just after a flooded 8 is started.

Sometime down the track the cat fails. Maybe three months later......maybe three years later. Inevitably, the cat substrate breaks up and clogs the exhaust resulting in power loss and increased fuel consumption. Sometimes, but not always, this results in a check engine light.

The US have had this happen quite a lot. We have been spared a lot of these problems as we have different flashes, different emissions regulations, different fuel and better weather......we have a lot less floods.

Cheers,

Gomez.

takahashi

Interested to hear more of your theory... since i am not familar with US environment? Thx

Gomez

Taka, read a bit about winter fuel in the US here....

http://www.chevron.com/products/prod...realwrld.shtml

Click on the other links on Chevrons site and see just how many weird fuel types they have over there.

auzoom

Dont US Winter fuels just contain MORE additives that help it to not freeze?

UPDATE: sorry, actually read the article :-/ For the guys in the US, Dont Dyno your car in the Winter