MSN: The Worst Cars EVER - Mazda RX-2
04-13-2010, 05:28 PM
#1
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MSN: The Worst Cars EVER - Mazda RX-2
Mazda RX-2
entire list can be found here: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slide...1260>1=22010
The technology behind rotary engines, primarily the domain of airplanes, was becoming obsolete by the 1920s. Still, Mazda decided to use the rotary engine (it runs in circles versus the up-and-down of pistons) in its RX-2, which debuted in the 1970s. The RX-2 had some major liabilities — things such as high carbon emissions, poor fuel economy, leaky rotary seals, catching on fire. To solve a problem with the O-ring seals (which allowed coolant to leak into the combustion chamber and eventually made the car undrivable), Mazda tried to get drivers to buy new seals for $1,000 — a third of the vehicle's $3,000 sticker price. Many opted to walk away from the RX-2 instead.
entire list can be found here: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slide...1260>1=22010
04-13-2010, 05:43 PM
#2
SARX Legend
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Haha, My family has had three of those (Fiero, Yugo, and Corvair). My grandmother bought a Caddy back in 90-91 and they gave her a Yugo for free (no ****) and that Yugo was driven by various members of the family (I learned to drive stick on it) until 100,000 miles. It only died when my cousin lost the oil cap and tried to put a rag where the cap went so oil would leak out 
. needless to say, the rag was sucked into the engine and ended the poor Yugo's life 
It was a POS but it was basic transportation and I don't think anyone ever expected more out of it.
My dad has always had great things to say about his Corvair. The Fiero however did almost kill my mother when the brakes failed on the "Pali Lookout" road in Hawaii and then eventually caught on fire in the parking lot.
. needless to say, the rag was sucked into the engine and ended the poor Yugo's life It was a POS but it was basic transportation and I don't think anyone ever expected more out of it.My dad has always had great things to say about his Corvair. The Fiero however did almost kill my mother when the brakes failed on the "Pali Lookout" road in Hawaii and then eventually caught on fire in the parking lot.
04-13-2010, 06:14 PM
#4
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I had an '86 Fiero and LOVED that car.
I find it funny that they're blaming the car for catching on fire after it runs out of oil. Uhhh, how about the owner not let it run out of oil?!
I find it funny that they're blaming the car for catching on fire after it runs out of oil. Uhhh, how about the owner not let it run out of oil?!
04-13-2010, 06:38 PM
#5
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the VEga? man that was a nice car
a teacher in high school had a yugo. people ued to get together every once in a while and carry the car somewhere else in the parking lot. or sidewalk ... or loading area by the garbage dumpsters....
and might I point out the complete ignorance of the author(s?) o fthis MSN article in thinking that the rotary piston engine used in airplanes up to the 30s
has anything to do with the wankel in a Mazda.
speaking of rotaries .... have you seen this rotary motorcycle?
http://www.bikernet.com/news/PageViewer.asp?PageID=912
a teacher in high school had a yugo. people ued to get together every once in a while and carry the car somewhere else in the parking lot. or sidewalk ... or loading area by the garbage dumpsters....
and might I point out the complete ignorance of the author(s?) o fthis MSN article in thinking that the rotary piston engine used in airplanes up to the 30s
has anything to do with the wankel in a Mazda.
speaking of rotaries .... have you seen this rotary motorcycle?
http://www.bikernet.com/news/PageViewer.asp?PageID=912
but i never thought it looked bad....
04-13-2010, 07:07 PM
#7
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yeah, I too found myself questioning the intelligence of the author.
04-13-2010, 08:28 PM
#10
Momentum Keeps Me Going
That's bullshit. Mazda didn't try to get anyone to pay for repairs. My RX-2 was an rocket...well at least in 2nd gear anyway. Boy was it fun to drive and surprising some muscle car off the line at a stoplight was always entertaining! It may have looked like a frumpy 4-door foreign car, but it could move. The engine got rebuilt twice...but Mazda stood behind it and it didn't cost me anything to get it rebuilt (just like now-a-days). It got 17mpg which was a bit hard during the gas crisis of the time.
Mine was racing orange with the racing stripe just like shown in the picture. The worst thing that happened to it was the dash cracked (about a inch wide) due to lousy plastics and sunlight I guess. Regardless, it's the car that made me fall in love with the rotary (aughhh...) and the primary reason I got my 8 some 30+ yrs later.
Mine was racing orange with the racing stripe just like shown in the picture. The worst thing that happened to it was the dash cracked (about a inch wide) due to lousy plastics and sunlight I guess. Regardless, it's the car that made me fall in love with the rotary (aughhh...) and the primary reason I got my 8 some 30+ yrs later.
Last edited by Spin9k; 04-13-2010 at 08:30 PM.
04-13-2010, 09:02 PM
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My experience with a REPU started my love of Things Rotary. Surprised lots of the alleged muscle cars of the day. Nothing wrong with the muscles, I really wish I would have kept the '65 Chevelle SS ragtop. Still have the '83 7 though! And the daily driver 8...
04-13-2010, 09:14 PM
#13
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04-13-2010, 10:23 PM
#15
I knew a lot of people that owned and had problems with the Vega. The problem was that they had an iron block and aluminum head. As the engine warmed up, the two different metals would expand at different rates. The auto manufactures were just starting to use lighter metals in cars and didn't quite have it right yet.
The best story I hear was from a guy I worked with. He didn't worry about gas mileage, he worried about oil mileage. He finally put a tank in the backseat and with an electric pump would run used oil into the engine when ever the oil light would come on. He would go to quick lube places to get free oil for that tank.
The best story I hear was from a guy I worked with. He didn't worry about gas mileage, he worried about oil mileage. He finally put a tank in the backseat and with an electric pump would run used oil into the engine when ever the oil light would come on. He would go to quick lube places to get free oil for that tank.
04-14-2010, 01:46 AM
#16
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the VEga? man that was a nice car
a teacher in high school had a yugo. people ued to get together every once in a while and carry the car somewhere else in the parking lot. or sidewalk ... or loading area by the garbage dumpsters....
and might I point out the complete ignorance of the author(s?) o fthis MSN article in thinking that the rotary piston engine used in airplanes up to the 30s
has anything to do with the wankel in a Mazda.
speaking of rotaries .... have you seen this rotary motorcycle?
http://www.bikernet.com/news/PageViewer.asp?PageID=912
a teacher in high school had a yugo. people ued to get together every once in a while and carry the car somewhere else in the parking lot. or sidewalk ... or loading area by the garbage dumpsters....
and might I point out the complete ignorance of the author(s?) o fthis MSN article in thinking that the rotary piston engine used in airplanes up to the 30s
has anything to do with the wankel in a Mazda.
speaking of rotaries .... have you seen this rotary motorcycle?
http://www.bikernet.com/news/PageViewer.asp?PageID=912
That's a radial engine
.
04-14-2010, 09:04 AM
#18
hey guys, yugos are gangster. SOOO many of them are still running with basically no maintanence in Serbia its ridiculous haha. My uncle has one with like 450000 Kms on it, and hes never put money into that things...basically because he doesn;t have the money. They fix every major and minor problem with tape and rags lmao
GO YUGO!
GO YUGO!
04-14-2010, 09:36 AM
#21
Administrator
We (well my Dad and Uncle- I met him and talked to him many times at the track and he lived not far from us ) knew a guy who had a Vega or two. He didnt have a problem with oil but he did have a problem keeping in tires
(not my photos but my Dad has some)
and Grumpy and his crew used to be over at my Grandparents at Christmas- one of his drivers dated my aunt and my uncle ran one of grumpy's engines in his car
) knew a guy who had a Vega or two. He didnt have a problem with oil but he did have a problem keeping in tires(not my photos but my Dad has some)
and Grumpy and his crew used to be over at my Grandparents at Christmas- one of his drivers dated my aunt and my uncle ran one of grumpy's engines in his car
04-14-2010, 10:18 AM
#23
I've owned at least 4 RX2s and I look foward to having another. I have absolutely loved them. Mazda was backward on suspension technology compared to Datsun so they aren't known for great handling. It's funny that Mazda has achieved so much in handling in modern times.
This was the primary car that introduced the rotary to people in relatively large numbers prior to the RX7 in 78.
Paul.
This was the primary car that introduced the rotary to people in relatively large numbers prior to the RX7 in 78.
Paul.
04-15-2010, 02:00 PM
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Funny, My 8 is sitting at home now and has been sitting all winter waiting for me to put a new engine in her at 135,000 miles, why? because a seal is leaking coolant into the engine. 30 years later and Mazda still can't get it right? They never will.
