liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 02:05 PM |
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Mazda RX8
We are all aware of the "issues" with the Renesis engine, but I still really like the RX8 package.
I would really like one as a daily driver. I've seen a bunch of quite nice low milleage cars at about £600-£700 with lunched engines. You can
get a 3 year waranteed engine rebuild for anywhere between £1700-£2400 fitted. Thats still a lot of car for the money.
What do you think? I'd be happy commuting for 2 or 3 years with a £2700 car.
Before anyone mentions it, yes it would be much more fun and reliable with an LSx, Audi, Duratec etc etc. But that is a lot of hassle for a cheapo
daily driver.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 02:22 PM |
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If you can accept the very poor fuel economy/performance ratio then I agree that you could get a great car for relatively little money.
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chrism
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 02:56 PM |
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Apparently if you stick some 2 stroke oil in with the petrol it helps preserve the apex seals in the engine.
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A little hard work never killed anyone, but why take the risk!
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pewe
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 03:28 PM |
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What MikeRJ says ^^.
A mate bought one for his 60 mile daily commute.
Sold it after 3 months at a thumping loss because he couldn't live with the fuel consumption.
It's all very well for owners to quote mileage figures but real world says you're going to use its power.....
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe10 
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scootz
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 03:34 PM |
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The more I read about the engine, the more I like it!
Pre-mix does seem to be the way to go. You also have to thrash it regularly to clean the seals (many failures have been put down to the engine not
being rev'd hard enough to clean the build-up).
The MPG is an issue. 19-21 sems to be the norm and will hit your pocket. That said, it spits out 230hp and revs like a bike engine! Ask a S2000
driver ( similarly powered - albeit bombproof engine) how many MPG he or she gets (truthfully!) and they won't be all that far apart!
It's Evolution Baby!
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Canada EH!
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 04:51 PM |
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My son has one, driven hard, first motor went 170,000 km, on a 500 mile round trip to a Canadian Championship R/C race he and his friend driving a
2008 Corvette ZO6 got the same fuel mileage.
He loves the car, will not part with it, His daily driver is a Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Mazda has a roommate in the garage, the 960th built Austin
Healey Sprite MK 1.
With these two he can enjoy both ends of the performance envelope.
The use of a little 2 stroke oil once in awhile is recommended by the engine modifiers on this side of the Atlantic.
One other thing do not start it from cold, let it run for a few moments, like moving it in the garage then shut it off, it will not restart. It has
happened twice, once me, once him.
Had to tow the vehicle about 50m to clear the engine and restart, there is a tow hook with the spare tire.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 05:18 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scootz
The more I read about the engine, the more I like it!
Pre-mix does seem to be the way to go. You also have to thrash it regularly to clean the seals (many failures have been put down to the engine not
being rev'd hard enough to clean the build-up).
The MPG is an issue. 19-21 sems to be the norm and will hit your pocket. That said, it spits out 230hp and revs like a bike engine! Ask a S2000
driver ( similarly powered - albeit bombproof engine) how many MPG he or she gets (truthfully!) and they won't be all that far apart!
My Civic Type R 'only' makes about 200bhp, but I almost never get less than 30mpg and my running average for my daily (60mile) commute is
33-34mpg and I regularly explore the far end of the tachometer. If I take it really steady on a long run it will hit 40mpg, though that gets very
boring.
If I could even vaguely approach those numbers I'd have an RX8 like a shot.
[Edited on 24/2/14 by MikeRJ]
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rash12
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 06:07 PM |
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rx8
father in law has one of these runs on lpg just a thought for your economy at around 78p a litre
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morcus
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 08:51 PM |
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My vectra used to average 12 and my searches online showed high 20's was the most you could hope for and that only made 170 bhp so the economy
doesn't seem like something to worry about especially since it will handle which the vectra was never good at.
If the engine rebuild costs £2K and gives you three years garanteed use then it's not as bad price to pay, could you get another engine in there
for the same money?
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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S2kPower
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 09:56 PM |
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It's very easy to get 25mpg + in an s2000. That was as a daily driver from tadworth surrey to Putney london, so all sorts of roads.
The RX8 is terrible on fuel, my mate had one. But they're so comfy, handle great and generally a lot of fun
I considered one, but got an s2000 instead.
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
The more I read about the engine, the more I like it!
Pre-mix does seem to be the way to go. You also have to thrash it regularly to clean the seals (many failures have been put down to the engine not
being rev'd hard enough to clean the build-up).
The MPG is an issue. 19-21 sems to be the norm and will hit your pocket. That said, it spits out 230hp and revs like a bike engine! Ask a S2000
driver ( similarly powered - albeit bombproof engine) how many MPG he or she gets (truthfully!) and they won't be all that far apart!
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balidey
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 10:23 PM |
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There are a couple of conversions to put VAG turbo engines in.
I know that kind of takes away one of the reasons for having an RX8, but it gives you quite a few bonuses.
Dutch bears have terrible skin due to their clogged paws
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boosted
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| posted on 24/2/14 at 11:52 PM |
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i love rotaries there great just need a little more maintenance than piston engines.
1. warm up before driving hard.
2. Run 40 - 1 2 stroke oil in the fuel. Lubricates the apex seal and minimal wear.
3. Hit the red line at least 1 on every drive. Theres a buzzer to tell you. To burn carbon build up.
4. Coils on 8s are prone to failure, check for white marks on sealing compound circa 30 k is norm. a rotary fires every combustion cycle!
5. get into habit of 4k shutdown. cold or hot . raise revs to 4000 rpm and shut off ignition. Fuel is immediately turned off but engine spins from
4000 to 0 clearing the chambers.
6. regular oil changes as oil metering pump injects this oil into chambers.
7. cats are prone to failure if coils have not been changed.
8. turbo'd rotaries do not like detonation, will blow a tip off and destroy that chamber on low octane fuel or bad map.
cracking motors if you know what your dealing with and all from a 1300. At 9000 rpm( the eccentric shaft same as crank) the rotors are turning at 3000
rpm.
Ive had 3 rotaries Rx7 fd , rx8 and my Westy rx8.
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boosted
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| posted on 17/6/14 at 06:00 AM |
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edit premix ratio 140 -1
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ceebmoj
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| posted on 17/6/14 at 04:21 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scootz
The more I read about the engine, the more I like it!
Pre-mix does seem to be the way to go. You also have to thrash it regularly to clean the seals (many failures have been put down to the engine not
being rev'd hard enough to clean the build-up).
The MPG is an issue. 19-21 sems to be the norm and will hit your pocket. That said, it spits out 230hp and revs like a bike engine! Ask a S2000
driver ( similarly powered - albeit bombproof engine) how many MPG he or she gets (truthfully!) and they won't be all that far apart!
How are you geting on with the one you bourght?
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coyoteboy
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| posted on 17/6/14 at 06:55 PM |
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quote:
a rotary fires every combustion cycle!
So do all engines, otherwise its a misfire 
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