Mouse

Hi, I am new here. Would like to know if any owners experience any problem with this car... eg. recall, mechanical or electrical problem. Any problems with owning a PI RX-8?

Currently, i'm actively looking for a used Type E or Type S, is there anything I should watch out for? Anyone come across any good ones for sale?

Thanks... :D

Fab 8

Hi Mouse, welcome to the board.

Ownership experience has been good, no problems whatsoever, one recall for mine which was done smoothly and swiftly by GR, and thats it. Very happy with it.

Buying a used RX-8 - I think the usual things to look out for apply - odometer reading, condition, undercarriage inspection, etc.

sgrenesis

wonder what my odo will read when it arrives.

sgrenesis

i feel that the most important is to find a good and reliable workshop. not trying to pour cold water but one PI has already sent 3 cars' computer boards back to japan because dont know how to troubleshoot.

Genesis

No cold water there sgrenesis. Heck, even the rotary engine service offered by MM techs is suspect, how long have they serviced rotary's? Did they graduate from some MM sponsored rotary "University" before allowed to service the 8? I can only hope so.....read some real horror stories from the Discussion thread about servicing.

Mouse

May I ask which recall is it? For the engine check light coming on at high speed, is that solved. Hope that all major problems are ironed out after more than a year of release liao...

Fab 8

The recall was to replace an insulator on the transmission, not for CEL.

Mouse

The link below is the service bulletin i found for rx-8

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/

anything major in them?

Jammer

amongst the PI, Huayang is selling the cheapest...
U can check them out...

Mouse

But more important, how is the ownership experience. Fab 8 seems very happy with his. Any other owners that is using the 8 as his/her daily drive want to share?

I'm only worried about failure and parts, have heard horror stories about cars staying at workshop jus because no parts. Even insurance agent advise me to reconsider... but I jus love the looks of the 8...

sgrenesis

HEY JAMMER, you getting yours already?

M-ster

I believe most of the owners commute with their 8 daily (correct me if I'm worng).

Frankly, if you're one of those who think that reliablity is the most important factor when purchasing a car, I'm even surprise you're lookin at the 8. You've got to understand a couple of things; the 8 is a new car, totally new breed of engine and parts! Unlike said a Toyota, their cars share alot of parts between models. And those are mass moving products unlike the 8. So, one don't normally have to wait for parts on these mass production cars, as the dealers can afford to stock up parts for the demands.

The 8 is still considered as a niche market product. Probably only less than 200 are on the road today. And since it's a performance car, usually, owner starts to replace alot of its parts with aftermaket goodies. Thus doesn't make too much sense to stock up parts for it. Technically, MM should stock up parts for the cars they bring in. Hopefully they do the same with the 8.
As for PIs, they usually sells different make of cars, thus doesn't make sense for them to stock up parts for any of the cars they brought in. Reason why most people have to wait to get their replacement parts also have got to do with $$$. Why? Well, since the cars are under warranty, any parts the dealer have to bring in, the $$ is coming out from their own pocket. So in order to save $$$ they will usually use the cheapest means of transport to get their parts ship in to our shore. Maybe even sometimes they'll wait for some overseas contact who happen to be coming to Singapore to bring the parts in.

But all these waiting can be solved! You pay la! If you tell them you want it like now, and you'll pay for all the cost, trust me, you'll get yours in no time mate!

I don't think anyone here can make up your mind to or not to buy, I believe, you probably already have an answer in the back of your mind.

Manwe

M-ster,

don't bet on mm. They do not stock up parts apparently. Hahah...you still have to wait and wait for them. I asked for accessories and was told to wait 3 months. The SE revealed that they do not stock any parts of the 8.

RedRocket

I personally feel that PI's are often a dodgy issue as these guys have mechs who really DO NOT poseess the requisite skills. As for MM, I really do hope that their mechs are well trained - after all, they represent the car maker!

watoke

Yup, MM dun really stock the accessories and worst, some of the item is not even available in SGP, only applicable to other countries. Geez...

But I do know they stocks some spare parts (like wear and tear items) spark plugs, etc...

M-ster

I am actually referring to service parts rather then accessories.

Dealer hardly stock accessories, as the sales of these items are normally unpredictable.

Neon

U are right, but it does not hold water across the board. PIs usually refer you to workshops outside. U r also right that MM probably has 1 or 2 qualified mechs for Renesis. There r no qualified mechs outside of MM as far as i am concerned!

All local workshops hire mostly other nationality workers due to costs and the head mechanic - usually a singaporean will slowly impart wadever skills to them. It is very obvious in most renowned shops. These workers work on cars based solely in experience and they do not surf the net or self-improve like us, thus with the advancement of technology, they fall behind the freakin power curve big time. Especially for Renesis and later cars that introduce CANII type ECUs etc etc.

Dats y i am going to Japan for 10 years to master the ROTARY and will be coming back to Open a shop called "WAit Long Long!" to better service u guys....

Genesis

10 years? ! The internal combustion engine, rotary or otherwise, might be history by then... Ok, I jest, big oil co would never let that happen, but speaking of which....what IS on the horizon? Jez curious....

Manwe

10 years later rotary will be running on hydrogen. Read the report from mazda that says that the rotary is more efficient on hydrogen due to it's characteristic?

So the future belongs to the rotary.

Mouse

What i meant by reliability is that everytime i walk to the car and crank it... I'm confident that it starts... read about flooding in the discussion thread, a little worried. And yes, i do have the answer in the back of my mind

Manwe

I guess the flooding issue is more or less over. Have you realise that nobody have that complain so far here? Most of the people who experienced the problem got their car long ago b4 mazda sorted out the reliability issue. I guess now it is much better.

sqflyer

I think the flooding is mostly due to colder climate and the older flashes on the ECU. However, I noticed that the 8's starting sounds different from normal piston engines. It sounds like it's on the verge of dying and may attract the right foot to step the accelerator. My dad had a hard time learning how to start the car and I had to teach him to resist stepping on the gas. Anyone had the same experience? Or is it just me?? :P

Ringer

I agree with you about the sound of the starter. Having said that, Hondas also have similar "like choking or want to die off" type of starter motor sound and behaviour. Must resist stepping on the accelerator since the electronics will take care of it in modern cars. Some old folks (not me) or those not used to modern electronically controlled (read US?) cars may be tempted to step on the pedal and flood the engine. Just my 2 cents.

PS : Once flooded I think even in electronically controlled cars you need to floor it to crank and clear the chamber. This trick still applies. Trick is, don't abuse the sequence. Do every step deliberately, knowing what you are doing. Hope I am not too ah pek sounding.

-Ringer-

Manwe

Once flooded, the chamber is 'wet' with excess petrol and the spark may not light. Could need a replacement. Think the recent electronic is smart enough to cut off fuel supply during cranking even if you step on pedal(after all this is a electronic controlled accelerator rather than traditional throttle and pump system in old cars). If flooded, stepping the accelerator slowly(not pumping action) would cause the throttle to open without activating the pump for petrol(old cars but modern electronic would mimic the action) and you might just be able to crank start it before your spark plugs die off. This is what Ringer would probably be saying about flooring it and cranking.

Have not encounter flooding on electronic controlled cars yet to experiment(touch wood!) but if you do unfortunately encounter this problem....might give it a try and post here to tell us if it works.

sqflyer

Basically, just crank without stepping on the gas and it should never flood unless there is something wrong with the electronics. It's advisable to inform older generation drivers who may be unfamiliar with modern cars, especially since the 8 starting sounds different. At least my Dad doesn't drive my car liao since I'm already back in SG. :p