I love my rx-8. I love the fact that the rotory is...yes a little finicky...but still the most virsitile and forgiving engines ever made. And lets not forget that it's practically maintanance free. The only problem I really have is that because I have a family I only get to drive my 8 on weekends, and I would like a family car such as the 6 with the rotory. Heck, why doesn't mazda just make all their cars with the rotory. We all know it's a far more superior engine. I'd definately give up the accord for one.

 

What's the gas mileage on a 6 now?

That might be your answer.

 

In the mid 70's, for a short time, all Mazda cars were rotary powered. They realized very quickly that not every application was right for this engine. If every Mazda car was rotary powered, some would be underpowered and they would all get less gas mileage than the competition. That's why they don't do it.

 

Engines: dohc I4 dohc V6
EPA city / highway mpg
5-speed manual 23/31 19/26
4-speed automatic 23/28 --
6-speed automatic -- 20/27

 

People also don't like change, aside from horrible gas mileage...

FS

 

If they put a rotary in a high volume car, two things would happen:

Most people would neglect to take care of it properly

It wouldn't be special for us

 

1. 1 quart of oil every 2k miles is maintanance free?

2. Flooding if shut down cold is maintanance free?

3. Poor mpg is maintanance free?

What do you consider a high maintance engine then?

 

I'd consider only the first issue above a maintenance issue but some piston engines eat lots of oil as well.

This is my first rotary, but I think long-term maintenance is the key. Maybe if you compare maintenance schedules side by side with other cars, it might shed some light. I just changed a timing belt for my other car for $300 at 80k miles.

 

3. Poor mpg is maintanance free?

What the heck? How is gas mileage maintenance?

 

Needs gas to go? yes or no?

So to maintain the car working properly you need to add gas. This is the same with every engine though no matter the design. You just have to add more frequently... thus higher maintanance. Look at long term reviews of cars. Gas cost is added to the end of year cost.

I can't remember having to add oil between changes to any of my cars in the last 15 years.

 

SOME would be underpowered?

 

isn't the rotary also more expensive to produce? so then the price of the cars would be more expensive.

 

No, gas is not a maintenance item, and low mileage is not a "maintenance issue".

Many cars consume oil, not just the rotary. I've seen Honda S2000's, Subaru's, and other performance cars drink more than one quart between oil changes (which is what my RX8 does).

 

I traded in a 4-cylinder Mazda6 and it got 30 MPG/410 miles per tank, compared to my RX8 at 21 MPG/300 miles per tank. I take three kids to school every day on my way to work. I never miss the 6. In my opinion, the RX8 is a superior car in every way for the reasons I purchased it:

- Rear wheel drive
- Renesis engine
- More horsepower
- Six speed transmission
- Exclusivity
- More Zoom Zoom!!!! :D

 

Below was taken from Car and driver web site: long term test of Mazda 6

Notice gas is included in operating cost. That is how much it cost to operate or "maintain" the vehicle.


Price as tested: $25,445 (base price: $21,620)

Engine type: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 181 cu in, 2967cc
Power (SAE net): 220 bhp @ 6300 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 192 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Wheelbase: 105.3 in
Length/width/height: 186.8/70.1/56.7 in
Curb weight: 3327 lb
Performance: new 40,000
Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 sec 6.9 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 17.7 sec 18.2 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 7.3 sec 7.6 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 15.1 sec 15.4 sec
@ 93 mph @ 93 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 178 ft 190 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.84 g 0.83 g
Top speed (governor limited): 120 mph 120 mph
EPA fuel economy, city driving: 20 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 19 mpg
Unscheduled oil additions: 1 qt
Service and repair stops:
Scheduled: 5
Unscheduled: 0
Operating costs (for 40,000 miles):
Service: $443
Normal wear: $0
Repair: $0
Gasoline (@ $1.88 per gallon): $3008
Life expectancies (extrapolated from 40,000-mile test):
Tires: 47,000 miles
Front brake pads: 86,000 miles
Rear brake pads: more than 100,000 miles

 

From your own source "Unscheduled oil additions: 1 qt"

Anyway, I'd define maintenance in this situation as upkeep.

 

Yep, that's one quart over the course of 40,000 miles. That's what the general public expect out of their "low maintanance" car.

Had it been on pace with the 8 they would have added 20 or more qts. I'm sure that would have been mentioned in the long term report as well the costs for towing due to flooding of the engine.

 

So every 2 months or so, you have to open your hood and add $1.50 worth of oil *GASP* This car just takes so much maintenance to keep running

And I see as a non-owner you have great insight on how often the RX8 actually does flood.

 

Got me but I was just answering this^... even though you never owned a 6. But the point is it's not as uncommon as you think.

Adding 1q of oil every 3k miles is not that much maintenance, is it @ $1.75 and 5 minutes of my time?

 

shoafb just admit it and say that gas is not a maintenance issue :/ i do not see your logic -____- this car is VERY low maintenance and the whole gas issue.... with every car you love you should check your oil every 2 fillups of gas.

 

Actually the manual suggest every 2 fill ups to check the oil and @ anywhere from 15-18mpg that comes a lot quicker than 2 months.
It's not THAT big of a deal to me, but to a lot of other buyers it is. The thread is about why Mazda does not put the rotary in more cars than the just the 8.

what are you talking about? My wife has an rx8. Does that not count? If you bothered to check the profile you would know.... but that's ok. I take the car out around for a few minutes before and after washing, and go an extra 5 miles to get gas. (car does not warm up by the time I get to the closest station.) Like I said, this is why they don't put rotary engines in every car. Everday America does not want to put up with that, and they need Mr. or Mrs. every day American buying to turn a profit.

If nobody cares why do we keep seeing threads complaining about it? And no, I have not started any or posted to them. Like the comment above, not that big of a deal to ME.... but to alot of other car buyers in general it is, and so is yet another reason Mazda does not put rotary engines in all of their models.

 

There's a big difference between checking your oil level every two fill-ups (which just about every car I've owned has specified, btw) and actually having to add oil. For most people that's one quart every 2-3 months. I'm sure Mazda put a low oil warning light on the dash because the general public is lazy and won't check their oil that often.


My bad... I didn't know you had one. What I hate seeing is the flooding paranoia- it's not nearly as prevalent as some make it out to be. It sounds like you're being extra cautious, which is good, but probably not necessary... the car doesn't have to be fully warmed up, just warmed up enough to get the temp needle moving a bit to burn off the fuel thrown in on start up, which is mitigated further by the extra logic in the M-Flash.

But you're right - the rotary isn't for everyone, as the RX8 is still a 'specialty' car despite Mazda's mass marketing. It would make no sense to put the rotary in something like the 6, especially in the US.

 

OK, that's cool. I don't mean to sound down on the car. I like it a lot but I think mazda could have sold loads more of them with a FI 4c or small v-6 crammed in there. I know it might mess with the 50/50 weight a little but I think they could have done it. Take a look at the competition I think the 8 is ahead of competition in looks and build.... It's just the rotary throwing a wrench in the works for most people.

 

amen, brother, TESTIFY!!!!

After dealing with an Intrepid R/T for Family duty (wife, 2 kids) and a Miata for fun/commuting, I decided to combine them for the best of both.

As far as the oil issue, I don't think many of us were aware of the metered oil injection which causes the oil consumption. This is not the same as a tired, old piston engine, with bad rings, etc. Big deal. Live with it, enjoy it, REvel in the differences!

A friend of mine with a G35 and a Grand Am Cup driver, just to my 8 for a 40 min ride, AND LOVED IT. End of story.

 

Between the Mazda 6 and the Miata, I think they felt they had that territory covered. Enthusiasts had been screaming for years to bring the rotary back, and that really should be the target audience. Unlike the RX7, you've got a wider audience thanks to the back seats, safety and comfort features... and today's normal owner is lazier than ever when it comes to maintenance items unfortunately.