With the onset of recent events, (ie. survey issue and engine recalls) it looks like that the RX-8 is suffering the same fate as the RX-7s, as in the service department is taking it up the ***. Its kind of ironic seeing how the NA RX-8 was suppose to not go down this path. As its life continues, more rumors will fuel the negative image of the rotary. Sliding RX-8 sales aren't helping either. With all of these events added to the capsized freighter, engine rebuilds, increasing fuel costs and even the plant fire last year, it just doesn't make sense for Mazda to continue developing the costly rotary, contrary to some earlier posts about Mazda putting more effort into it. Does anyone know if Mazda is even profitting from the RX-8s? Just wanted to see what people think about this.

 

WHen you say RX7 you mean FD right? because only the FD failed in sales... the FB anf FC made record sale numbers in its class. but Even if mazda stops producing them. there will be plenty of parts/buyers left, thats for sure lol.

 

I just ordered a new one this week, all new models have problems. nothing new there

 

Yeah, I meant the FD.
Boris, I don't consider the RX-8 a new model anymore. Its been out since 2003. It might be new to you though!

 

I hope they do stop selling it. Hopefully the value will stop depreciating so damn fast. The value has dropped about 10-15k in its 2 years on the market.

 

I don't think the problem is as bad as it is made out to be. This is not the same thing as puking apex / side seals every 30k (Rx2/3/4) or Terminus Overheatus (FD). In the Rx2/3/4 days there's a joke that mazda rotary drivers would pass another one on the street, and hold up fingers.. number of fingers denoted how many sets of seals the motor had been through. We're *nowhere* near being like that with the 8.

This is just a little bug. It happens. Sucks, but happens. Could be worse.. google for "DeHavilland Comet" and enjoy a real engineering disaster. That one killed a ton of people.

You want taking it up the tailpipe? Google for "gm piston slap" and enjoy a car company who flatly refuses they machined parts wrong, and sold engines built on those parts to customers. That one continues to stick it to the owners to this day.

I don't think (imo, my two cents) that this is the end of the mazda wankel. Even BMW has had little screwups (little, like M3 engines grenading themselves, and the nikasil fiasco). As long as the company who screwed up stands behind its product, all will be good in the long run.

I'm keeping mine till a) Mazda makes a proper two-seater rotary rocket again, or b) the wheels fall off. Which based on prior experience, could happen well after I've blown my head gasket or something.

I may even keep it after a). Who knows when things will change, and I find myself with a legit need for 4 seats and 4 doors.

 

Good question. The Wankel engine is vastly superior to the traditional piston engine in many ways, but Mazda has had some bad luck to date with gaining large scale acceptance for it. I read somewhere about the debut of a Hydrogen rotary in Norway soon. This could present some interesting possibilities, although I have no idea how far they are from an actual production vehicle.

 

Yeah, the recall deals with replacing all RX8 engines and putting in the 2.3 4cyl. They completly called it quits on the Rotary forever, for...ev...er, for.........ev.......errrrr.

 

How do you get vastly superior? If that were really the case I can guarantee you Mazda wouldn't be the only car maker currently using the rotary. There are plenty of negatives with the rotary and IMO they outweigh the positives, especially with gas prices nowadays.

 

Is the rotary on its way out?

It was never in to start with.

 

knew you couldn't pass up a chance to dis the rotary Ike .

 

Wouldn't call it a dis, I think the rotary is great but there's a reason why they aren't everywhere. I mean hell, they're not even in every Mazda built vehicle.

 

The rotary engine is an engineering marvel. I will always love it! Have'nt you ever watched Barret Jackson.I dont care if Mazda recalls the car because that will make it that much more rare rare. Rare cars are worth big bucks!

 

Mazda service generally sucks. It's never been their strong suite. Add an exotic like a rotory or even a turbo pumper and the service suffers.

Mazda makes a healthy profit on the 8 don't let the deep discounts fool you. Whats better is it brings people in for other models. I bought an 8 in April. In June I bought a CX7. In August my wife bought a 5. My 14 year old daughter has her eyes on a Mazda 3 in a couple years (Must be yellow!!!). OK I'll buy that one used.

As far as the boat losses that won't have a long term effect on the 8.

Personally I'd like to see the 2.3 Turbo in the 8. The CX7 power is so sweet I would rather the 8 have one - along with moving the transmission to the rear to balance the weight.

 

Words cannot describe how happy I am that the M.B.A. who ultimately will decide whether to continue production of the RX-8 isn't you. Fortunately, I don't believe there's ever been any talk of Mazda pulling the plug on the 8. (Well… except here, of course.)

 

Every engine has it's advantages and disadvantages. Even the rotary. It does some things better than piston engines and some things worse. Of course the same comparison can be made between any engine, even piston engine to piston engine so even that comparison is a generalization. I for one will always be a rotary fan as for me the positives outweigh the negatives but everyone is different. To some it just isn't worth it. One thing I will never complain about like many people is a lack of torque. I actually understand that this is an inherent problem in all small naturally aspirated engines. There are only 2 ways to get more low end. Forced induction or a larger engine. We have neither so for what it is, it's pretty good. I'm happy. I do like my Honda's gas mileage better but that is the only advantage that car has over the RX-7 in terms of engine. To each their own though.

 

SethSpeed didn't claim that it was superior in every way: he wrote "The Wankel engine is vastly superior to the traditional piston engine in many ways", which is true. Its poor fuel economy prevents it from being used in anything but sports cars and race cars.

 

Its not on its way out.. jesh!
Most might be thinking this just because of the timing of this recall (that hasnt "officaly" happened). First we have "Mulligan Gate" and now this which I've decided to dub "Rotary Gate". Many have stated its most likely ONLY to effect 1% of all rx-8's in the usa (not sure of canada havent read anything on the main thread).

Overall its just classic knee jerk reaction, for me I'm just annoyed my dealer said this recall is being made up by this forum and aint happening at all. Just relax calm down. Could be worse Mazda could say "screw you all" and give us engine replacements of the v4 kind.. Ima go out and drink now I think.

 

I dont think that mazda will Permanantly quit making the wankel. Its just what makes mazda... well... mazda. It would be like a guy chopping off his "special parts".

 

Dude........ that's just wrong.

 

2.3L 4 cylinder replacement?? This is a joke, right??

 

I would agree whole-heartedly if Ford wasn't controlling the purse strings. It took some serious "political" effort/sway to even produce the 8.

I would agree that this recall issue is being completely blown out of proportion, but then again, Ford didn't want it to start with...........Even if the engine replacement issue is somewhat minor in the greater scheme of things, perceptions are everthing............

 

Wankel or not I still love this car. I bought this car based more on looks than anything else. I love the design of this car in every way. It is my first rotary experience, but I would have still bought this car even if it had a piston engine in it. If there was a way to put the MS3 engine in the 8 and figure out a way to still get the 50:50 weight distribution (or close to it), I'd be all for it. I'm interested to see how this recall thing comes out. I'm hoping it's just something that has been blown way out of proportion.

 

Since Mazda recently said that the rotary was the heart of Mazda and that they intend to keep developing it, I'm going to say that it'll be around for a while. They are still experimenting with hydrogen and are using the rotary for this purpose. They have also been installing it in other cars as well as a rotary hydrogen/ electric hybrid. I don't think it's going anywhere. It will remain in a sports car in it's current form. If it makes in into any other car in the future, it will be as an alternative fuel/hybrid engine setup.

 

You always hear more about negatives online than you do positives. From that perspective, almost any car can have a scary number of issues.