ManGaZeRo

I am wondering about how ex 7 owners feel about their 8. Because I am currently in the process of purchasing one or the other so I would apperciate some opinions.

khoney

I'm not exactly an ex-owner, since I kept my '87 TII, but having driven the 7 for 17 years, it started to show its age, and also the technology limitations of almost 2 decades ago.

I have always loved my RX-7 (actually it's been a love/hate relationship). I enjoyed driving it even 17 years after purchase. I thought I would have a hard time leaving it for another car. Then along came the 8, and I was smitten. I pre-ordered in January because I KNEW Mazda would make this car the perfect driving experience that the 7 always was to me. Well, let me just say that the 8 outshines my 7 in every category, and it has cupholders too! I still have to drive my 7 every couple of weeks to keep it running OK, and when I do, I say to myself "I can't believe I loved driving this car so much!". That's what the 8 has done to me. It has spoiled me so much that I no longer enjoy driving my 7 and hate driving my wife's Trooper. I look forward to going to work every day just so I can drive the 8. I'm hopelessly and shamelessly in love with an automobile...

sferrett

I currently own a '95 Rx-7 along with my Rx-8.

I'm at the moment considering selling my FD because I just don't drive it very much any more and after some comparison testing I find the 8 is as much fun to drive as the FD. It's not as fast but man it handles so well.

So they aren't really directly comparable; the rx7 (IMO) is more of a raw sportscar than the '8 is, and (in the case of the FD at least) the experience of driving a turbocharged car is pretty different - you can really feel the engine build power as the boost comes on. The '7 feels quite a bit faster than the '8 does. The 8, on the other hand, is a new car and it's really been engineered/designed well - it's comfortable to ride in, it handles superbely, the brakes are phenomenal and its appearance is very appealing.

If I actually bring myself around to selling the FD then I will indeed miss it, but when I carve up some mountain roads in the '8 I won't regret it.

Simon.

ManGaZeRo

Do you guys except the same problems from the 7 to some way evolve into the 8? Because even though Mazda has indeed try to counter ever problem of the rotary in the end it is, still a rotary. After reading about so much troubles about the FD's engine it kind of hard to believe that the 8 would be flawless.

sferrett

I think much of the issues with the engine in the FD (and the turbo-II FC) is the fact that it's turbocharged and owners make modifications to it, making it go faster at the expense of longevity. The FD was pretty close to the edge anyhow (with fuel delivery and whatnot) and could easily be made to run lean after a pretty mild amount of modifications with serious results.

I have a '90 rx-7 also (non-turbo) (yes, I'm a ceritified rotary-holic) with nearly 140k miles on the original engine - it still runs like a top. I think given normal use (and IMO normal use for a rotary is to drive the snot out of it) the engine is not inherently unreliable. I'd like to see any other 13 year old car on the original motor that I can blast up to 8k RPMs routinely without it flying apart in a hurry.

I'm sure the '8 isn't flawless, and any engine (rotary or not) has the potential to break - but I dont think it will exhibit the same kinds of issues seen by the FD crowd due to the fact that it's not forced-induction from the factory and probably won't induce as much tweaking by the owners - or the tweaks that will be made are less likely to have such dire consequences.

Simon.

canzoomer

Some problems still remain to a degree.

For example: Rotaries make heat. And the RX-8 much like the 3rd gen RX-7's tends to warm up the cabin a bit. Good news is the air conditioning works well.

The other legacy is poor fuel mileage.
In our case the ECU settings put in the ECU when it enters North America make this worse.

It is fixable with ECU recoding or fuel system controller.

In general, as it is naturally aspirated, the 8 is likely to be very reliable.

If uncertain buy it with extra warranty.
It does not cost much to do this.

MichRX7

On the reliability of the rotary engine. My 91 vert has 217,000 miles on the original N/A motor and is still daily driven. I test drove an 8 just the other day and am very excited about picking one up in the near future.

santino

i still have my 93 RX7. you cannot compare the 8 and the 7, because they serve different purposes. the 7 is more raw and a "dedicated sports car", while the 8 is a great GT.

i want to be able to say one is better than the other, but it all depends on how i am feeling. i will say that lately, i have been driving the 8 more because it rides better for everyday driving.

it is like having 2 siblings--i cannot say kids since i don't have any--and i love each one equally, but for different reasons.

santino

mikeb

wow
this is good stuff to hear from previous rotary owners

ManGaZeRo

Hmm some good interesting thoughts....

RX7 Guy

I bought my RX-7 new in 1987 & it's been in service as my sole daily driver (no back-up) ever since. I've got 268,000 miles on the original engine & I don't baby the car.

What the others have said about turbo charging is completely true. The rotary engine was originally designed as a pump. Like any pump, it has a service life that can be measured in volume. Would you like move a 1,000 gallons per hour for 100 hours or 2,000 gallons per hour for 50 hours; your choice. The turbo is nothing more than a means to get the work the rotary can perform in its life done in a shorter period of time. Add to this the additional heat which rotaries despise, the added complication that increases the likely hood that some parameter is out of its acceptable range & the human factor that people who choose turbo charged cars tend to drive more aggressively & you've got your explanation.

In the case of the Renesys...it's rated for 9,500 RPM rather than the 7,500 of my 13B rotary engine. In order to achieve this, Mazda either lightened the rotors or more precisely balanced the dynamic components or both...less engine stress. Also, the intake & exhaust area has been significantly increased while the displacement has been held constant...less pumping load. Finally, cooling flow has been given greater attention...lower operating temperatures.

The good news:…There's little question the Renesys with all the advantages referenced above will do more pumping in its life than my 13B rotary engine.

The bad new: The RX-8 weighs 19% more than my RX-7 (3,150 Vs. 2,650 respectively) & you RX-8 owners can make your engines work 63% harder than my RX-7 (238 Hp Vs. 146 respectively).

So it all comes down to your driving style...you need the first 19% just to break even with me in terms of acceleration & you have an additional 44% at your disposal should you choose to indulge yourselves.

Bottom line: If you beat on your RX-8, you'll probably get 150,000 miles or so. If you have fun but maintain basic discipline, you'll probably get 250,000. If you baby it, you'll be dead before the Renesys is; your choice.

RX22

I had a '93 RX7 and loved it, but my 1st child was 2 at the time and I felt really awkward w/ him in the front seat. I loved the power, but the chassis was less refined than other cars I have had. I can't wait to get the 8, because it has the same rotary sound, I believe it will handle better, and I have a special place in my heart for Mazdas (I had an '88 RX7, too). I know the 8 isn't as fast, but at least my 3 kids can ride with me now. I guess my oldest will be back in the front seat again, but he's older now. And yes I will get the airbag deactivated for when he's up there.

Senseny

I own both as well, a 93 R-1 and the new 8. The only real comparison is the rev happy rotary and handling. The 8 is a civilized, livable sports car, where the 7 is a ***** to the wall, no compromise sports car. I agree with the other 3rd gen owners here in regards to reliability and longevity, sans the turbos and turbo related issues we should have our vehicles a long time with relatively few issues. I also have a relatively heavily modded 7, the only place I haven't gone is to a single turbo (and I don't think I ever will). I like the kid/sibling analogy. They are different, but I love em both. Sorry to repeat what others are saying, I just want to show that my experience pretty much matches theirs.

Senseny

RX22, I have a question after rereading your post. In my opinion, the 8 doesn't handle nearly as well as the 7. Because of the tremendous surge of power, yes the 7 can get away from you a lot easier than the 8, but grip, lateral acceleration, slalom and the like aren't even close. Losing control is more about the driver and pushing idiotic limits. I haven't jammed on the 8's brakes, but I am hard pressed to believe it is a better stopping car than the 7. Where I will agree with you is ride quality, the 8 doesn't jar me when I drive over a marble. As far as a refined chassis, what exactly was your problem with the 7, was it too much a pure sports car, meaning just not comfortable enough. I am not trying to flame you or anything, just asking to elaborate on your opinion. Thanks.

RX22

Maybe I made a mistake in saying the 8's chassis is more refined than the 7's because since my 8's still 5 weeks away I haven't really gotten to drive it as hard as I did my 7. But just in my test drives, and there have been a bunch, it seems much more stable to me. The refinement comment of the 7's chassis was more in comparison with a couple of Porsches I've had. The RX7's handling couldn't compare to them. I've had a 968, which didn't have the power the RX7 had, but Porsche still considers it to be one of their best handling cars. I could push it as hard in the rain as I could in the dry. The thing was simply amazing in the turns. I also had a 385hp 944 turbo that DID have the power and again had fantastic handling. I could slide all 4 tires through a turn and catch it anytime I wanted. When it reached its limits in a turn it would break free in a very controllable manner. Then again, the suspension wasn't stock either. I'm not saying I didn't like the RX7, I loved it. It was a blast to drive, keeping me on my toes at all times. But I felt it lacked the refinement of the Porsches. When I've driven the 8, and I've driven it pretty hard, it just seems to feel closer to the Porsches than the 7 did. I'm not slamming the 7 by any means, but if I could have any of the 3 I've had again, I would take the 944 turbo (w/ the extra power and suspension), then the RX7, then the 968. I'm not saying Porsches are better than Mazdas, I'm just giving my views from what I've owned. Frankly, Porsches are a bit of a pain in the rear to own as a daily driver. Hope that gives you a good explanation of what I was talking about.

santino

RX22,

it is interesting to hear that you prefer the 944 over the 7...my dad's friend owns several Porshes, one being a 944 turbo and another being a 911Turbo(1992 model year, 993 designation i believe?). He drove my 7 and took it up the twisties, and came back saying that his 911 did not handle like the 7 did. he was pretty impressed with it. and that was before all the mods. what year was your 944 and 968?

oh well. i think the chassis of the 8 is more sophisticated than the 7 as well, but i would hope so, since the designs are over 10 years apart. but again, apples and oranges.

have fun with your 8 when you get it.

take care

santino

Senseny

RX22, Fair enough, I had a stock 88 944, and it was an exceptional car in the handling department. Obviously it wasn't 1/2 the car of your 951 or 968, but I get the idea. I drove the 944 around corners in ways I would be scared to even try the 7. I am not comparing actual speed through twisties, I am talking about forgiveness at the limits. I can certainly agree that a high powered front engined (I have driven 951s, not 968s) Porshes are a more refined driving experiences with performance to boot--hence a more sophisticated chassis. I will also say that the 8 is not as darty as the FD. The FD is kind of like a go cart. So in that sense, I can also agree the 8 has a more sophisticated chassis. But the engineering is different on purpose. Thanks for the response. Oh, until I drove Porsches I loved the 911 and thought the 944 line was okay, after driving them I have always liked the 944 line better. 928s are a different matter altogether.

RX22

I agree. Keep in mind my 944Turbo was FAR from stock. It was basically built for racing, although it was street legal. So it would be hard for my stock FD to compete. '86 944Turbo, '92 968. But believe me I loved my 7.

RX22

The 7 is like a go-kart!! That's what is so much fun. Yeah, the 944 Turbo is just about the best bang for the buck out there. You can get a really good one pretty cheap, and the upgrade potential is incredible, as long as you know what you're doing. The turbos are pretty much bulletproof.

You know Porsche built a 968 Turbo, but decided not to build it because it could eat a 911 Turbos lunch. Keep in mind this was 1993. They only made 13 of them. I agree, I prefer the 944 lineage to the 911, at least in those comparable years.

I've enjoyed the discussion.

Literatii

I've been driving an '83 5sp MT GSL during the summers for about the last 6 or 7 years. I just picked up an 8 yesterday.

So far (chuckle) I'm pretty happy with it. The first thing I noticed was that people literally drool over the 8. I got occasional looks in the FB, but the 8 actually stops people in their tracks or gives them whiplash.

The "cockpit" feel of the FB and 8 are very similar. I was pleasantly surprised with this aspect. The 8 does seem to ride a bit higher though. At first I found visibility a bit better in the FB, but after a day of driving both my cars I've changed my mind. They are both good in this respect, just a bit different. The 8 seems to have much better side-mirrors though.

The steering in the 8 is obviously much easier, but it doesn't feel overly assisted. I think this is great, because I found the armstrong steering on the FB kinda fun. On both cars I can notice some darting on rutty roads, but this is due to the wider tires. I have no problems with it.

Interior, well... what can you say. The FB is charming, and cool. The 8 is downright superb. A friend of mine is looking at buying a Porsche. And with that in mind he was quite impressed with the 8 interior for its price-tag.

Driving... clutching and shifting in the 8 feels much shorter than the FB. I'm still getting used to it. What I'm noticing so far is that the 8 feels like it "wants to go!". Especially between first and second, I've snapped my head back a few times. I seem to be leaving a large gap between me and the car in front, because when I hit 2nd the 8 just naturally wants to take off (and who am I to stop it? ).