so I have come to realize that one major draw back of owning an 8 is all the random idiots you encounter that want to fix your random problem they have diagnosed by hearing you roll into a parking space...

today was the 5th time I have had an argument in a parking lot about my car....

we all know the rotary makes a very distinct whirring sound while poking around at low RPM's... apparently some jackass today tried to tell me my timing belt pullies were loose and he would be glad to fix that for me for 30 bucks.... so I start in (being a little bit of a smartass) "Really, That is very interesting... hey one thing though, I dont have a timing belt..." to which the idiot replies, "Surely you dont have a timing chain?!" , I reply "Nope sure dont...."

this is where the fun starts... at this point he thinks I am a retard...

idiot: Look you have to have one or the other!
Daffy: No I dont... I dont have either...

idiot: well how does your engine keep time then?
Daffy:keep in time with what?

idiot: your valves?!
Daffy: oh, I dont have any of those either...

idiot: (blank stare, slight eye twitch)
Daffy: (stupid grin)


idiot: ok, you have a piston connected to a crank shaft that is connected to a timing mechenisum that lifts and lowers valves that lets fuel into the combustion chamber... etc etc etc...

Daffy: pistons?.... nope none of those either...

idiot: you are an idiot!
Daffy: Go home and google rotary engines... It might do you a little good to learn about them if you are going to offer to fix them....

lol

last time it was a "valve rattle"

the time before that it was a rod slightly knocking.....

cannot remember what the others were....

all kinds of entertainment :D


anyone else have this problem?

 

Cool story, bro.

 

nice

 

Hahahha You should him it had rockers, and the cam was connected to the crank directly.... LoL Either that, or make up something just plain stupid. Like that it has completely electronic valves, or alien technology.... Hahahaha


I sure do love that little whirr. It's pretty cool.

 

haha, I had something similar. I was leaving walmart, a mid-aged guy said nice car and asked how many cylinders it had got. I said its got a twin rotary, he just like ohh.

also, something similar to OP also happened to one of the Mazda dealers. the dealer changed my oil and overfilled it. I told the service guy to drain it out, he said it would be fine because when the engine running the excess oil would go up to the valves. I was like what valves. he was like ohhh. so I ended up driving the car for a week and oil inside the intake. never been there ever since. got a new Mazda dealer where they have a special mechanic that only works on rotaries. nice...

 

Hahahaa love it... I hope he felt like a dumbass

 

This is truely the niche car of all niche cars. 95% of the general population likely has no idea what a rotary engine is or has never even heard of it.

 

I find using 3-D doritos explains it best to people. Although I can't remember the last time I saw a bag....

 

Never had this problem with people like those. With your story so amusing, it's ridiculous.

 

everything ends quicker if you ask them when was the last track day they attended, or when was the last time they rebuilt a wankel...

 

We are soon expecting our first child, and as such have been tossing around the idea of trading the RX8 for something with a bit more space, and better mileage.

At the local Ford dealership today I had this conversation with the salesman when we got to the point of evaluating our trade in....

Me: It's a 2005 Mazda RX8, 74k miles, still has factory engine warranty available, and I have all the service records.
Sales: So thats a 4cyl right?
Me: Nope, no cylinders, it's a rotary. Most list it as a 1.3L
Sales: So, it doesn't have cylinders?
Me: Thats correct. 3 moving parts, it's a great little motor
Sales: Well, I have to put something for Cylinders.
Me: Put Zero
Sales: Thats not possible
Me: Nevermind, we'll keep it
Sales: Well, lets at least let the used car manager look at it.
Me: OK, but you're not starting it unless we're taking it for a test drive
Sales: We don't need a test drive we just need to hear it run
Me: These cars tend to flood if started and turned right back off, so if we start it, it's going to run for a minute
Sales: Well thats going to hurt your trade value you know right. Flooding is a big problem.
Me: Let me talk to the used car manager

So he went off and got the used car manager. I proceeded to have a good conversation with him. He used to sell Mazda's I suppose, and knew enough about the rotary to understand I was just protecting my car from unwanted abuse. Valued it at $9k trade in as well, so I was happy with that. Still didn't buy the new Fusion we looked at. Couldn't come to terms with the overall deal structuring!


And to whomever said this is the Niche care of all Niche cars, you should try driving around a GMC Syclone. I think you would quickly get a run for your money on the misinformation floating around on those trucks as compared to our cars. It's great fun to listen to the remarks coming out of peoples mouths regarding both vehicles!!!!

 

random peopel say " hey i think you have problem x" and they offer to fix it if you pay them? I have never had that happen ever.

I have on the otehr hand seen problems with peoples cars and told them about it so they woudl know. I saw a person with a taillight out the other day and when they pulled in to the grocery store where we were headed i made sure to park near so I could tell them.

also saw a newer bimmer in front of us the last Friday and he had a low right rear tire. I made sure I was next to him at the light and let him know.

would never think to say "i can fix that for ya for x dollars" if anything id offer to help(tire change esp) for free.

 

I'm yet to experience this. Lol.
Makes for a good story though.

 

I've had that happen when driving a car with body damage. Gypsy body guys would try to sell me a repair job, or offer to buy it.

Never an offer to do something for a mechanical issue. But I did get some attention once. I had an old Ford with a knocking rod bearing. I was stopped at a light one afternoon. There was a bar on the corner. Some guy came out of the bar and looked around. He finally localized on my clattering Ford. Laughed, then went back into the bar.

Didn't offer any advice, though.

Ken

 

Doesn't happen to me either... only time was when my tail light had condensation in it and some guy said.. you should get that fixed.. Thanks for the advice buddy, to think I planned on throwing some goldfish in there when there was enough water.

 

I just bought this car... and all I have to say is I can't wait to have some fun with stupid people

 

As a mechanic - seeing what comes in/what people drive on/with/etc. - I never bothered to tell people whats wrong with their car...it's not my car...I don't care until it's my job at work.

I did however flag down a guy that was hauling something(exactly what escapes me at the moment) - and the straps holding it down had come loose.

People always seem baffled when I tell them it's a 1.3L that puts down comparable power to a V6.

Kids asked if my car was twin turbo one time. Um, haha no.

 

LOL! I'm remembering that one - I'm sitting here trying to figure out how THAT would even be practical.

 

Practical? No. But imagine your torque table!

 

one time I was Filling up my 8 at a local BP station. I had some minor crack paint (stupid on my part) on the corner of the front bumper.

Then these dude just came up to me like hey we can fix that for you for 30 bucks
How?
Well we have tools in the trunk we just gonna do it right here (at the station)
No thanks, I can do it myself at home.

"engine" fix ? not yet.

pretty cool story bro.

 

 

I was at the chicago auto show looking at the speed source rx8, and they had a little plaque posting all the info on it. some other guy was next to me and was like

guy: wow 420 BHP out of a 2.0l, thats impressive
me: yea these cars put out amazing power for the size
guy: i wonder how big the turbo is on that
me: there is no turbo
guy: there has to be, there is no way a 4 cylinder can get 420 bhp running on just air
me: its not a four cylinder
Guy (chuckles) what its a 2.0l v8?!
me:no.... its called a rotary engine (points to description)
guy: oh i heard of those, they come with a turbo right?
me: ugh, no, its a 3 rotor most likely running a large monster port, in a way its like a 9 cylinder
guy: (dumb founded face) pauses: well i know those stock rx8's have pretty nice turbo's
me: once again, no rx8 is running a FI application unless done after market
guy: but those have like 240 hp and its only a 1.3l
me: yes, because they are a rotary engine!!
guy: well i will look them up when i get home, im pretty sure they have turbo's
me: (starting to get mad) no, they do not have turbo's, i would know. I HAVE AN RX8!
guy: well i dont think its possible for them to not have a turbo
me: you're joking right? i own one, i think i would know!
guy (another dumb founded face)

i then proceeded to call him an idiot and i left. but some people are just so stupid, i dont understand!!

 

i love that story

 

seriously eh, I pull up to a full serve station and the guy says regular (87) ummm no premium duh... some people eh