im highly considering purchasing an rx8, but i am a little concerned as to how long the car will be able to last me. im mostly gonna use the car to drive to school and back and i only live around 3 miles from school. obviously, i will also use the car to do other things, but driving to and from school is where it will get the most use. would driving such short distances twice a day be harmful for the engine?

 

It wouldn't be great. You might have to lengthen your trip so the engine gets warm. And to make sure to drive it farther on a regular basis to burn out the carbon with operating temp engine high RPMs.

The gas mileage would be HORRIBLE. Get a cheap bike or scooter.

 

It will be fine as long as you let it fully warm up before you shut it back off and keep up with regular maintenance.

I use to work 3 miles away from home and I drove the 8 back and fro every day.

 

i read this saying somewhere on the forum but it applies.. "a redline a day keeps the carbon away"

 

Indeed, that saying art true.

 

It will be good because you'll keep the miles down on your 8.

 

^yeah...but I think that you will find yourself taking the LONG way home...I live about 10 Miles from school now and still find myselft driving like 30 somehow! this car is too fun to drive to only drive it like 6 miles a day!

 

oh i dont think the car not seeing redline enough will be a problem
anyways, thanks for the help, very helpful forum community you guys have here
i'll get back to you guys soon when i do get my rx8

 

I work about 3 miles away from my house, temp gauge is slightly before half way like its supposed to when I get there. I usually rev to 3k for 10 seconds before I turn it off. I take the long way home from work to ensure its fully warmed up.

 

The problem with short trips is a build up of water and gas in your engines oil. The one thing you can do to help your engine is to change your oil often. When I was working I drove 3-4K miles a month, so I would change oil(filter too) once a month. Now it's that much in a year so I change oil every four months. I have yet to add oil between changes on this RX.

 

My commute has been 0.9 miles for 2 years now. I drive the rx8 most days. Electric skateboard the others, but that thing is a deathtrap. It warms up by the time i arrive at work or back home. And every other time i drive it, i drive the crap out of it. I dont think i shift until i hear a beep. But I dont ever redline during the commute, or ever until its warmed up.

 

3.5 mile one way is not good for any car. It rusts from the inside out. Car doesn't get up to temperture. mositure getsinto exhaust oil .

 

just warm it up before you drive it and drive it like you stole it ... thats my .02

 

^what he said.

 

As cited in the other current short commute thread (how many do we need?) it's more about fully warm by virtue of oil temp, which is longer than water temp. All internal combustion engines run more efficiently when fully warmed (oil temp). But as others have said, be sure to at least hit the redline often to avoid excess carbon buildup.

 

it will be fine.
I got mine when I was a senior, and my high school is a block away from my house =p

It's been running for 5 years now good as new =]

you will love the car

Now, I'm driving more than 40+ miles commuting in LA traffics!
yikes! =D but still getting about 19-20 mpg

 

lucky you, i avg about 13-15

 

If it's 3 miles why not just ride a bike..?

 

As mentioned already tons of times it's too short for any car. Why not extend the after-work drive to 30 minutes somehow (e.g. jump on the highway and cruise at 70 for 20 minutes or so)? The car is a joy to drive, and it literally begs for it... do it, sir!