waleed786

I've always admired the rx8 ever since I first saw it, but my brother started to convince me against it with the all the disadvantages (he's an s2k guy), but now I've been reading up on it and I have my mind set on it, just have a few questions to work out first..hopefully I can get some straight answers without getting the "noob flame" I've seen around this forum

#1 - Is it a good time to buy right now considering it's probably it's last year? I mean, if the "rx-9" is rumored to have a 1.8L twin turbo, I'm sure it'll be priced well above the rx8 which is already just over my budget..so I'm thinking I should pull the trigger now

#2 - How much are the 2011 models going for these days? I know they depreciate quickly but I plan on keeping mine for at least 4 or 5 years (if the engine lasts that long). MSRP on the R3 is 33k and I got offered 28k..good deal or can I bring it down to around 25k? And anyone know how many RX8's have been sold this year? I read that it was under 1000 in 2010 so I'm thinking it's even less now..?

#3 - What exactly is the difference between S1 and S2? There seems to be major updates. Why doesn't this site have a sub-forum for S2 considering it's so different..would make things a lot easier for me (and for others, I'm sure).
Are there any major differences between 09, 10, and 11? Body kits, intakes etc. will work the same on all?
The thing that confuses me the most, how do I know which S1 parts will work with S2? I'm thinking body kits, coil-overs, performance upgrades etc., which ones are inter-changeable?
Why does mazdaspeed only have upgrades for 04-08 (according to the site), are they not supporting S2?
With so many mod options for S1, hardly anything for S2, is it even worth getting an S2?
I also see a lot of parts that say they work with 04-10, but isn't the 11 same as the 10? This is very confusing..

#4 - I know you can't get accessPORT on S2 so I'll need a stand-alone ECU, but which ones exactly will work? Can I just get any stand-alone ECU? will they be any less reliable than having an S1 with access PORT?

#5 - I see a lot of people getting flamed for asking this, but it's a perfectly legitimate question. About how long with the RX8 engine last for? Some people say that they will never last as long as a piston engine and will likely die after about 120k miles...other people say they last longer because of their simplicity..and others say (this one makes most sense to me) that although it's very simple with only 4 moving parts, the APEX seals have a finite life span and will die out, requiring an engine rebuild.
In a well maintained environment following all the rules, is it realistic to expect the renesis to last me past 250k miles? Does anyone here have more than 200k on the original engine?

#6 - Why is the greddy turbo kit listed as "compatible with 04-10" when everyone is saying that it won't work past 08? And do they list 10 but not 11 when they're essentially the same?

Thanks in advance, I look to forward to joining the RX-8 community!

yiksing

RX-8 = S2K with less aftermarket support, higher fuel consumption, less reliable plus an extra 2 seats.

rx8r3mike

there is less after market parts for the 2009-2011, because they made some changes for the better .same amount of power, but other changes. the rx8 r3 is honestly the best thing to come out of mazda since the rx7. the looks of the older ones are a bit out dated to be honest. in 4 years you will want the newer look trust me.

on another note the 2009+ are more reliable. and yes the 2009-2011 are the same.

jasonrxeight

#1 - Is it a good time to buy right now considering it's probably it's last year? I mean, if the "rx-9" is rumored to have a 1.8L twin turbo, I'm sure it'll be priced well above the rx8 which is already just over my budget..so I'm thinking I should pull the trigger now
there will AWAYS be newer and better cars. the so called RX9 has not even been designed yet. they may never make it you never know.

#2 - How much are the 2011 models going for these days? I know they depreciate quickly but I plan on keeping mine for at least 4 or 5 years (if the engine lasts that long). MSRP on the R3 is 33k and I got offered 28k..good deal or can I bring it down to around 25k? And anyone know how many RX8's have been sold this year? I read that it was under 1000 in 2010 so I'm thinking it's even less now..?
around 26k-28k brand new probably.

#3 - What exactly is the difference between S1 and S2? There seems to be major updates. Why doesn't this site have a sub-forum for S2 considering it's so different..would make things a lot easier for me (and for others, I'm sure).
Are there any major differences between 09, 10, and 11? Body kits, intakes etc. will work the same on all?
The thing that confuses me the most, how do I know which S1 parts will work with S2? I'm thinking body kits, coil-overs, performance upgrades etc., which ones are inter-changeable?
Why does mazdaspeed only have upgrades for 04-08 (according to the site), are they not supporting S2?
With so many mod options for S1, hardly anything for S2, is it even worth getting an S2?
I also see a lot of parts that say they work with 04-10, but isn't the 11 same as the 10? This is very confusing..
read this: https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-technical-trouble-shooting-160/series-ii-mazda-oe-parts-number-listings-complete-188306/
and this: https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-technical-trouble-shooting-160/mechanical-changes-rx-8-series-i-ii-161665/

#4 - I know you can't get accessPORT on S2 so I'll need a stand-alone ECU, but which ones exactly will work? Can I just get any stand-alone ECU? will they be any less reliable than having an S1 with access PORT?
why you need a stand-alone? you gonna turbo it?

#5 - I see a lot of people getting flamed for asking this, but it's a perfectly legitimate question. About how long with the RX8 engine last for? Some people say that they will never last as long as a piston engine and will likely die after about 120k miles...other people say they last longer because of their simplicity..and others say (this one makes most sense to me) that although it's very simple with only 4 moving parts, the APEX seals have a finite life span and will die out, requiring an engine rebuild.
In a well maintained environment following all the rules, is it realistic to expect the renesis to last me past 250k miles? Does anyone here have more than 200k on the original engine?
it all depends on LUCK.

#6 - Why is the greddy turbo kit listed as "compatible with 04-10" when everyone is saying that it won't work past 08? And do they list 10 but not 11 when they're essentially the same?
because they dont have the mapping for the new S2 I guess.

Thanks in advance, I look to forward to joining the RX-8 community!

waleed786

Thanks, yea I might turbo it down the road, probably in a year or so. So which stand-alone do you guys recommended? And I want gain as much power without making it overly unreliable, so I should limit it to about 6psi right? I heard it's possible to decrease the compression in the renesis allowing to increase the psi in the turbo...how difficult and expensive is it to accomplish this?

so the mapping in the 10 and 11 ECU is different? And how will the Greddy work in the 10 models if they don't work with accessPORT?

Do you guys know exactly what differences there are between the S1 and S2? AFAIK body kits are not cross-compatible, exhausts are cross-compatible with some modification, intakes should work, and what about suspension? Coil-overs etc.? And hoods and trunks?

I'm looking at this body kit
http://www.bodykits.com/VIS-Racing/B...AZ_099/768076/

Will it be possible to keep the fog-lights with this bumper? And is that an inter-cooler in the center vent? Does it not come with a mesh to cover this?

What are some online places to order parts from?

I know the rx8 has low torque for a sports car, but is it low in general? I mean, it won't feel like a minivan when leaving a stoplight will it? I'm coming from an 02 rsx (not the type S) which I think has 141lb-ft of torque at 4000rpm...how will the rx8 compare?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Friend has S2K so I know the car inside out. Tell your brother that he never had an Rx-8 so he can keep those bs to himself.

No Twin turbo. Mazda will not release another Turbo Rotary.

Next Engine is making 350 hp NA. but Mazda backing it down to around 300. Now they're just making sure the emission will be consistence.

1-2K off invoice.

there is one, you should look again.

Nope. all the same.

None of the body kits will work, unless you modify it.

coil overs mostly will work.

don't know what other performance upgrade you're talkingabout.

Nope, because think of S2's body style has been completely wind-tunnel redesign, just like the original Mazdaspeed kit. They added quite a lot of modifcation to improve aerodynamics.

get S2, it has a lot of modifcation that is not found in S1.

if it works with 04-10/ then it will work with 11 . because companies gotta be "100%" sure, even tho the car is 100% the same.

Most of them will work. but you have to figure the wiring and programming restrictions yourself.

Piggyback vs Stand alone, then there is "good" standalone and "garbage" standalone.

Piggyback usually less painful, but it does not control as much(for example,fuel map value) and might have problem with Stock ECU's closed loop operation. but you will keep all stock ECU basic functions.

Stand alone, obviously u will lose most if not all stock ECU basic operation, and you have to solve every single thing yourself (or hire someone to do the work for you), but it usually gives you complete control of whatever you want the engine to do. but price can go from couple hundred to over 10 grand. yep.

People love to talk **** over stuff that they don't know anything about.

there are people with Renesis with over 200K miles.

since these engines are all hand build + Mazda used very "loose" seal clearance on the 13B-MSP(Renesis, might have something to do with decreasing manufacture time) so your engine's life depends heavily on your "luck"(various of factor)

but whoever said "Rotary engines don't last" you can just tell them to go suck it and stfu. FC Engine that's 2 times its original power can go over 150K miles. ask anybody to try that on their piston engines.

it will work with some modification.

I usually don't answer this much, but yea, good mood today

monchie

Whoa... i got tired of reading all of those. I can't type anymore

MS Addict

iTrader: (1)

https://www.rx8club.com/purchasing-financing-insurance-56/year-year-changes-143280/

Year by year changes are found there, actually in the stickies at the top of this section you posted in, haha. Welcome to the forum though, and good luck on getting an Rx8, if you really want one, I'm sure you can get one.

I was looking into some slightly used R3's, that I've found between $22,000-$26,000, with under 10k mi, but I just wouldn't have been able to get one without a cosigner, so I went with what I got, at half the price, personally, giving me more room to do other things. But you can get R3's a good bit cheaper if you don't mind being the second owner.

But again, welcome to the forum, just take some time reading over the threads like that, the New and Potential owners thread, and such.