Introducing myself and hope to be a long time member
05-09-2019, 03:03 AM
#1
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Introducing myself and hope to be a long time member
Not sure if I will ever get to 10 posts in this subforum but hopefully the admins will understand that I will be worthwhile member. For starters I'm actually in Italy but for us mechanically inclined and experienced, the internet makes us a global community well beyond any borders. Do I own an RX-8? No, but it's more like not yet. In my extended family, and outside of Italy, we have a 3rd gen RX-7 and a 1st gen RX-8. I'm a long time owner of a 1986 Alfa GTV6 2.5 and I've just completed the sale of a low mileage BMW 1993 M3. The proceeds will pay for a partial Alfa engine overhaul and hopefully an RX-8.
I've done my research for the past 6 months on a multitude of details and I've concluded that whether I find an RX-8 that needs an engine rebuild or an RX-8 that already has a new engine, really doesn't matter much as I want to have fun mechanically. I've done my bit going fast with the M3 on the German autobahn. I'm now more fascinated with the Mazda wankel technology and what an engine rebuild poses as a personal pet project challenge. Italy has a very small market and those who specialize in rebuilds are virtually non existent. I just have to figure out how to put things together so that I can do the work myself. Time is not an issue. Experience - mechanically adept and obviously willing to learn (and make mistakes). Money is not a major issue although I'm not going throw it away foolishly. This will be a choice of the heart as well as hands and mind.
Some might ask why not just work on the Alfa? Many reasons. Service documentation is a little tricky because Alfas are notorious for many small variations in the production cycle. 1986 makes parts a major challenge and while you would think it's easier in Italy it just isn't the case - for tax reasons Italians couldn't afford the 2.5 6 cylinder so it ended up mostly on the export market. A V6 is infinitely more complex than the 2 rotor and Alfas require a load of specialized tool to do things properly. It is possible to make your own tools and forums do help, but it's like having to do 1000 things before you can actually tackle what you started out with.
RX-8 it shall be, just a question of when. There alas is the other challenge. For tax reasons I'd have to stick to the already small Italian market. For me, for the heart, velocity red with red/black leather interior is the only choice. In Italy only 231HP and 6 speed trans was offered, and for Europe only 1st gen due to emission homologation.
I've done my research for the past 6 months on a multitude of details and I've concluded that whether I find an RX-8 that needs an engine rebuild or an RX-8 that already has a new engine, really doesn't matter much as I want to have fun mechanically. I've done my bit going fast with the M3 on the German autobahn. I'm now more fascinated with the Mazda wankel technology and what an engine rebuild poses as a personal pet project challenge. Italy has a very small market and those who specialize in rebuilds are virtually non existent. I just have to figure out how to put things together so that I can do the work myself. Time is not an issue. Experience - mechanically adept and obviously willing to learn (and make mistakes). Money is not a major issue although I'm not going throw it away foolishly. This will be a choice of the heart as well as hands and mind.
Some might ask why not just work on the Alfa? Many reasons. Service documentation is a little tricky because Alfas are notorious for many small variations in the production cycle. 1986 makes parts a major challenge and while you would think it's easier in Italy it just isn't the case - for tax reasons Italians couldn't afford the 2.5 6 cylinder so it ended up mostly on the export market. A V6 is infinitely more complex than the 2 rotor and Alfas require a load of specialized tool to do things properly. It is possible to make your own tools and forums do help, but it's like having to do 1000 things before you can actually tackle what you started out with.
RX-8 it shall be, just a question of when. There alas is the other challenge. For tax reasons I'd have to stick to the already small Italian market. For me, for the heart, velocity red with red/black leather interior is the only choice. In Italy only 231HP and 6 speed trans was offered, and for Europe only 1st gen due to emission homologation.
05-10-2019, 11:10 AM
#3
Smoking turbo yay
I thought the S2 had 2009 and 2010 model year before it got pulled out of Europe. Only lasted a year more in North America and two more in Japan.
S2 is pretty rare, though, and if you want to mod, S1 is the better choice. Good luck on your search!
S2 is pretty rare, though, and if you want to mod, S1 is the better choice. Good luck on your search!
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