If you're gonna break down, break down in Germany!
 

So, last week was the grand tour of Europe in my RX-8. I drove from here in the UK to the Nürburgring (a race track) in Germany for a bash round that, then to the south of France to visit relatives, then back home.

We finally get to the 'ring, and I'm super excited about driving the track in my new 8. We set off, and about halfway round (it's 10 miles long) the power starts to fade. I thought it was the engine overheating and cutting power so I let it cool off and went out again. The second time, the power cuts halfway round again, but this time we're down to a top speed of 30mph. Not right. No CEL or anything, just no power.

The next morning, we took it to the local Mazda dealer. At this point, the car decided that something was actually wrong and decided to show the CEL, finally.

The dealer connected the magic computer and told us that the catalytic convertor was causing the problem. Uh-oh.

Here comes the good bit:

The cat needed replacing. No parts in stock. Eeek! What about the rest of our trip to the South of France? "No problem", he said, "we'll swap it off our showroom model."

So they pushed their showroom 8 into the workshop:

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=60244

... and swapped the cat from their only showroom model on to mine!:

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=60245

I was amazed. Some random English guy comes into this German dealership, and in two hours they'd replaced parts on my car, under warranty, from one of their own showroom cars! You'd never get that service here in the UK...

And my cat? When they'd done, the guy came up to me and said "This was the problem" and tipped the exhaust section they'd removed onto the table:

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=60246

I think that might've been the problem.

And... we finally got to take it out onto the track again. Wow. I swear the car was more powerful than it'd ever been - I reckon that cat was knackered from the start.

Driving the Nürburgring in the 8 is an amazing experience. The 8's handling is great fun round the twisty track. Got it up to 132mph! Before I get flamed by those people who get up in arms when someone goes 85mph on a motorway, let me reiterate: I was on a racing track.

I actually have an in-car video of one of my laps in the 8 when it was working properly, and a clip of me driving it from someone stood at the side of the track. Anyone want me to post them?

Pics:

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=60247

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=60248

good show. gotta love the germans. anyway, i had a similar problem in my 8. here's a link to the pic of the inside of my cat.

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...04&postcount=5

I like the stripe! Good story but I don't think I can drive to Germany from Florida. That is impressive too someone should forward this to all the dealers in the states!

Wow, great service.

Just curious, did you run the leaded race gas when you were at the track?

I had the same experience with my cat except I had to wait a week and half for parts to come in.

They have replaced 2 cats in my car so far. It was ready the next day.

I hope you passed that Porsche behind you. :) Is that a 924 or a 944?

awesome! great service indeed.

post the in-car vid! (and the other vid as well, if you have space)

it's actually a 944 S2 or 944 Turbo (both have the same body style).

nice pics, i bet it was a blast driving around there and Europe in the RX8. if only it was as easy for us Americans to go do that... :cool:

Great report made even better by great photos!

:D

Wow! I hope you understand and appreciate that you have just done something that most of us dream about! Drive the Nurburgring! I love that track on videogames. In real life in a car like the 8, it really must be something.

Ohyespleasepostthevid!!!

I drove 2 laps on the Ring a few years ago in a rental BMW 320 :rolleyes: - fun fun fun!

Cheers, Niclas

I still like your stripe(s)!

Cheers.

i had the same problem, my car wouldn't boost, and it would take 60 senconds to reach 60 mph. It was soooo damnn slow, i took it to the mechanic and he said your cat is all blocked. So i had cat taken out and put straight pipe, Dude go with the straight pipe, it sounds good with it.

How many times has your car flooded?

Mine? Zero. Well, I bought it with 30 miles on the clock, might've been flooded before I got it.

For this, you'll need the latest version of QuickTime.

First video is a quick drive-by clip of my car coming through Wippermann. Right-click + download here (1.8Mb).

In-car lap coming soon!

I've posted my in-car lap! It's in a new thread, over here.

hello iKenndac :) ,

best wishes from germany.
I saw your slowly rolling car at the ring, when i drove with my black RX8 beside you.

by the way .... A very nice clip





here i'm on the track

I haven't seen the inside of a cat before. What are those chunks that came out of the cat. :confused:

that's illegal, and you aren't going to pass emissions like that...at least not legitimately ;)

Not every jurisdiction requires emissions testing.

That *is* the cat, but in pieces. Imagine a rock smashed into chunks.

I remember you! When you drove past, I said to my friend: "See, my car should be going *that* fast!"

Mine does!

Thats normal thing in rest of Europe ;) , Anyway big grets for Deutsch Freunde :D

whelp, not much to say here except- Awesome friggin story!

You should send some pics and video to the dudes at that mazda dealership that helped you out. It's definitely cool to find a dealer like that.

One day I'll head out to the 'ring in real life, until then... I'll just rely on Gran Turismo to bring me there. :)

michael

We need to import more Germans to make things run smoothly.
Glad it worked out for you. Nice 8.