Just got a new rx-8. Fantastic car. I will write a review post later comparing it to other cars (primarily bmw 3-series I have owned in the past).

My question is about the sound of the engine at idle. It is a kind of a fluttery high pitched sound at around 1000 rpm; as the engine speed "settles in" at idle and the rpm's dip down as low as they are going to go, the high pitched sound diminishes a great deal. As the rpm's go up in speed, the high pitched sound more or less goes away around 1500-1800 rpm's. Is this what it is supposed to sound like or should I be concerned?

My friend thought it was normal, but niether of us have ever been in a rotary before, much less owned one. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

its normal

 

Isnt that engine sound beautiful?

So smooth I had to turn down the audio volume just to be able to hear the redline.

 

Himitsu

I love your avatar- man that's my favorite one here.

 

What's that spinny thing in his avatar

 

Camshaft lobe - DUH! :D :D :D

 

Are you sure it isn't a piston.... :D :D

 

I think it's a turbo... He must be one of the lucky people who ordered the turbo model.

 

Originally posted by guy321
What's that spinny thing in his avatar

Your kidding right? OMG

 

My vote is it's a new age piston thingy... saw it once on that garage show on the television.

 

I think it's a new ride at Disney World

 

My car is sounding perfectly normal. I went back to the dealer and did a test drive on their demo car and the sound is identical. So its just me being a rotary newbie. It does sound kind of like a high tech butterfly to me.

 

You're ALL WRONG. It's CLEARLY a spark plug. What is the problem with you kids these days? *rolls eyes condescendingly* Sheesh. I declare, ever since they changed the SATs it's just been a slooooow descent ;-)

Oh, on the thread topic . . . yeah, it should sound like that, fantastic huh?

 

Sounds like Zoooooom to me. lol.