I got a new engine installed yesterday.
refer to this thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/loss-power-pinging-174996/

I went on a trip cross country from NY to AZ a few weeks ago. I took it into a dealer out in Flagstaff, AZ and they did a compression test and it failed. After fighting with Mazda and dealers back in NYC they finally agreed to replace the engine under warranty based on what the dealer in AZ said. So now the saga is over and I have my car back working the way it should. I'm surprised that lack of compression would cause pinging (and that using octane booster would smooth over the problem) but it would certainly explain the lack of power issues. Man, that took way too long for someone to figure out.

BTW is the new (rebuilt engine) covered for another 100K?

 

hey just wondering, what dealers in NYC did you go to? It seems like ALL the ones in the NYC and long island area are.....well.......they like arguing. (heh that's how we roll around here I guess...)