The Passing of My 8
 

Last Wednesday was a sad day for me and my 8. But a lesson I would like to share with the forum.

The cardboard I use to lay on to change my oil caught on fire from the catalytic converter. Here is what happened. My wife and I are in the process of selling our home. We usually leave the house when people come to look at our listing and use her car. I have cardboard under her car and mine. Because the cardboard looks ugly when showing the house in the empty garage side (2 car garage). I slid the cardboard normally under her car, under my 8. Everything was fine for a week.

Well, last Wednesday, I pulled in like normal. Popped open my hood to cool the engine off (I do this during summer months) and went inside. A few moments later, I heard a loud pop in the garage. I ran and open the door to the garage and wasn't able to see a thing. The garage was filled with smoke! I opened the garage doors and begin to use my fire extinguisher on the flames under my 8. I was able to put the cardboard out, but the car was still burning. I was able to put out the rest of flames with my garden hose.

There was fire damage to the engine bay, undercarriage, console, and transmission tunnel. The insurance adjuster just came in today to total the car (verbal). She has to go back to the office to confirm the cost.

So....Warning. The cat gets hot! Please, do not place anything combustible near or under the cat.

Although I don't know if the cardboard was touching the cat. I'm thinking that, yes, it was touching. Because it didn't burn the week before. I also, don't believe it's a bad or defective cat. I know I made a mistake. I did read RENE's thread, but I don't think that applies to me. Strictly user error.

BTW, I will be posting OEM wheels/snow tires/TPMS on classified soon.

Al

Wow, crap!

Aren't you gonna get another one?!?

That sux...hope u get another one

Yeeouch! I'm glad you and your home are fine. Sorry about the 8 though. I hope you get another one to replace it quickly. Good luck! p/m me about what you want for the tps and what kind of snow tires are they for what size wheels?

Holy shit that blows !



got any pics ?

Sorry to hear that, the pics would be interesting to see.

There were all kinds of stories of 3rd gens lighting grass on fire and warnings to park on dirt (not grass) if you couldn't find asphalt.

These engines run hot and with turbos, much hotter.

Take care, people.

Yeah cats do get hot. Their optimum operating temp is 900 - 1600 degrees.

Thanks for the sympathy. I will try to post some pics. As for another 8. That will be a long shot. My sports car days maybe over. Yes I will get a check (unconfirmed) from my insurance co., but I sitll owe 15K. Looking into three cars:

1. Mazda 3 (5 door)
2. VW GTI 1.8T (or VR6)
3. Civic Si

Don't buy an MK4 GTI. The MK5 is due out before long, and the MK4 will probably take a resale value dive, at least for a bit. I traded my 2002 VW GTI 1.8t for my 8. Loved the VW, especially with the modifications I made, suspension, rear sway, chip, some other stuff. I wanted something that handled better, and was more fun to drive. The 8 is both, it handles way better!

Man, sorry about that! Hope you get a good replacement, like another 8! :D

I'd look into the R32. The demand is dropping, and you'll get a super deal. If you are looking at the vr6, why not go AWD with some extra hp if you can afford it. I'm sofrry about your rx8. I'll be sure to play it safe on my oil changes. I can feel the heat coming out of this car when I pull it in garage. Best of luck in your new car purchase.

8 looking bleak
 

SMD3,

Yes, those are the same reasons why I purchased the 8. Sold my 98' Passat and 85' Supra for the 8. The MKV won't be out in time for me to get it. I can no longer drive the Chevy Cavalier rental any longer. No no no, I should not complain.

I'm even looking at a used 95-00 BMW 740i.

The 8 is a long shot. Would like to stay under 20K even 18K. And always liked the versatility of a hatch.

I will miss the 8 very much. Affordable rear wheel drive is what should be more of in the market. Sub 20K rear wheel drive that is.

Al

Thanks all.

Another thing I will miss is the people of this fourm. You guys and gals have been informative, entertaining and most of all friendly (well most of you - ha).

DJ,

R32. I like it alot. I do hope the demand and price go down. I've also been a fan of the VR6. Unique engine, just like the rotor in our 8, or your 8.

Al

I don't understand how this could be user error? So you have a piece of cardboard under the car... that means it's your fault the car caught on FIRE?? Common sense does not dictate to me that I shouldn't put a piece of cardboard under the car.

I just feel bad that you lost your 8. I don't see why you shouldn't be able to get another one.

But anyway, you know your situation best. In that case, the Mazda 3 is GREAT! Definitely wouldn't consider the Civic with a Mazda 3 in mind.

Wow thank you so much for the warning my car gets special treatment and parks on a rug it never occurred to me that it could catch fire.

Hm, yes, I read that in a previous' car manual not to park it over leaves because of fire danger but I never took that serious.

Thanks for your warning. It's good to learn from others' mistakes even though I tend to learn best from my own :-(

The VR6 sounds so good! Especially the R32, I have a buddy with one. I picked my GTI 1.8 up for 19,500 brand new. If you're in the right area, and work with them you can get something like that. i didn't really get too many options. Leather/sport package. sunroof, monsoon.

Wow, sorry to hear of your misfortune. I am glad to hear the warning as I sometimes park off the roadway on base and the grass could cause a problem. I'll be more careful now for certain.

Man oh man! that is unnerving! I just came back from my garage and took out the two pieces of cardboard I use, and man that car really sits low.
I'm sorry about your loss and thanks for the heads up!

They get extremely hot. We had a 3rd Gen RX-7 come in one day at work that was burned to the ground. Apparently the owner had backed it up over a pile of leaves and it started a fire.

Sorry about your car, 8CuIn and thanks for bringing up an important issue.

The cat gets really hot, which is not only dangerous in a garage but also outside. You may cause a fire if you park your car over combustible things like dry wood or gras, more than one forest fire has been caused by a cat in the past.

As for the new car, you may want to take a look at the new BMW 1 series if you're into RWD. I don't know when it will arrive in the States, but it's a nice compact car with RWD and enough (though not too much, but they'll release it with bigger engines later) power. The official release date in Germany is September, but since BMW already sells it to employees and I live near Munich, I've seen some of them driving around. It's a fastback and the design doesn't suffer from BMW's awful new trunk lid ideas like the 5, 6 and 7 series do.

Again, thanks to all.

Rumble, I piled too much cardboard under to car. Three folded Dell boxes. I take blame. But thanks.

Once, my insurance check comes in (unconfirmed on the 8 being totaled), I need to get a new car. I would love to wait the the BMW 1 or 2 series or the VW MKV GTI but I can't take this Cavalier any longer.

Polak, its a good think I didn't install Huper Optik tint.

The only thing that worries me about the Mazda 3 is that it uses Ford parts. How much and what parts, I don't know. Sorry, but just don't like the domestics.

Al

I think it's the Ford engine and the overall body which is not just domestic, but also being used by foreign cars as well. It's some standard being deployed.

Polak, thanks. I don't know why I didn't think of the carpet under my 8! :eek:

My son's FC made a brown patch in the grass where he usually parks it. My MX-6 which parks right next to that spot (and is in & out a whole lot more) hasn't even wilted the grass. There's an old thread from back in the pre-order days (pre-July '03) that covered this topic. Lemme see if I can dig it up...

edit: Ok, I found what I remembered. Check out my 07-01-03 post on page 2. Looks to me that nobody answered though... https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...hlight=hot+cat