Going from hating to loving my RX-8 R3
Discussion
Long post, read at your own risk!
After 4 months and several small posts about my RX-8, I think that the time has now come to do a proper Reader’s Car post!
I had an L Reg Corsa B to commute, with an RX-7 as my weekend toy, however, the Corsa really was falling to pieces and was in all honesty, a complete and utter death trap. Not being prepared to use the RX-7 for work, I wanted to replace the Vauxhall with a cheap daily runner that wasn’t too old and would just last me for a long time, so that I could spend all my spare money on my beloved JDM coupé.
Somehow, my thoughts of a cheap diesel vanished in my head when I saw a great deal on an RX-8... I’d always liked RX-8’s up until I purchased my RX-7, but since then I’d disliked them and in my opinion, thought they all looked dreadful, aside from the R3 version.
Now, lucky for me, this great deal I saw just so happened to be on the R3 version, so happy me. It was a 2 owner, low mileage example with an enthusiast owner and it was ‘like new’, I actually had connections with the seller and knew 100% that I wouldn’t find a better example, let alone one so cheap. The tax had just been renewed (£490) which was a massive plus point for me and I managed to snag the car for around £1,000 less than they go for privately – and around £2,000 less than they go for at dealerships. It needed a service, which cost me a bottle of whiskey as my contact is very good friends with my dad and whilst it didn’t need new tires, the rears were about 50% through their life, so I bought some new ones to prepare (they’re not fitted yet though!).
So, there we have it, an RX-7 FD Twin Turbo and an RX-8 R3.
Problem was, I hated the 8. From day one I regretted every single pound I spent on it, for a start it was red – to me, very few cars suit red and it doesn’t help a car like the RX-8 with an uncomfortable mixture of straight lines, curves, budges and dips. I thought the colour was dreadful and I thought the car was ugly. The looks weren’t too much of an issue, as at the end of the day I only see it when I’m about to get into it, but that red pissed me off. Additionally, I found the car to be painfully slow, I was used to a 330bhp Twin Turbo animal and this 231bhp 1429KG lump was struggling to get past 100mph – just when the 7 wakes up! The interior annoyed me too, I like things simple, I like bare bones interior for my cars, no luxuries whatsoever, but the R3 was loaded with Automatic Lights + Wipers, Cruise Control, BOSE Sound System + much more. Somehow this annoyed me. I found every reason I could to dislike my RX-8, after spending so much money which I’d set aside for a house deposit for so long (bear in mind, being 21, this was a lot of money, I legitimately saved for my RX-7 from scratch, whereas I bought the ‘8 with money I had set aside specifically for a house deposit!) I felt gutted that I'd bought such a terrible car, all I liked about it were the 19” BBS forged alloy rims and the half leather Recaro bucket seats, both exclusive to the R3 version.
But, after all of this initial hate over the last 4 months of ownership, I am delighted to say that EVERYTHING has changed...
Whilst I do still think the car is ugly and poorly designed, I am growing to like the looks of my R3. The bodykit really sets the car off and makes it stand out from the rest of the RX-8 crowd, the wheel arches are flared and the car sits lower, it has stance and road presence and it looks mean. The side profile is fantastic too, sitting squat on the ground, it looks like it is ready to pounce and the 19” rims compliment this perfectly. The front bumper has also been revised in the R3 too, looking a lot more sporty and aggressive than the previous generations flappy, open mouth that looked a little bit 'special'. There is also a spoiler on the R3, which makes the rear look a little bit more exciting and it certainly takes attention away from the ghastly lexus-esque rear lights. Mine also has aftermarket daytime running lights fitted and they actually look pretty tidy – most aftermarket DRL's look dreadful. The 8 still looks a little bit awkward though, it is just a clash of ideas rolled into one package and makes me wonder did the person who designed the front meet the person who designed the back?
The side profile looks awesome and really shows off the R3's features!
The rear lights are still a bit nasty, but PH smiley and spoiler take attention away!
DRL's are quite subtle amongst the R3's more aggressive front end!
When it comes to performance, depending on the roads, the car can still be disappointing, when I am at the lights with nothing in front but clear open road I don't feel the urge to floor it up to 3 digit speeds like I did in the RX-7, I sort of think to myself 'it hasn't got much poke in a straight line, why waste the fuel?'. Even at high speeds I tend to drop off fairly early - in the RX-7 I will regularly do silly speeds on M-Ways on the rare occasion that they are completely empty and it is completely safe to do so but I tend to make 120mph my absolute limit because it just takes so long to progress any further. You really do feel that you're lacking the serious grunt of the 7's Twin Turbo setup.
Whilst outright speed is lacking, how it shows off what it has is quite truly very special indeed. The R3 has a much later rev limiter than the older RX-8, it redlines at a whopping 9,000 RPM and finally bounces at 9,500 RPM which is truly staggering, if what I've read online is to be believed, this engine will happily go to 13,000 unrestricted which is utterly mind boggling. Admittedly, due to that lack of any torque whatsoever, nothing really happens below 4,000 RPM, however, once you enter the power band, the sensation of the screaming engine as it bursts into life is indescribable, the way the revs shoot up and the way the engine roars just encourages you to keep that foot planted, it loves the thrashing and enjoys being worked hard, once you hit around 7,000 RPM it just enters into suicide mode, going absolutely bats
t, giving you one final kick before its time to change gear and do it all over again. I must say I am truly impressed with how well it delivers what little power it has, particularly in 2nd gear, you feel like you're the fastest car on the road until you see the speedometer and remember how slow you actually are going! Taking it up to the redline always feels like an occasion, which is something I love.
What aids in all of this excitement is the MazdaSpeed exhaust which was fitted by the previous owner, it isn't some chav-tastic drainpipe that you'd see on an Impreza or some 17 year olds Saxo, nor does it ruin the cars natural sound, it just makes the unique rotary whine a little louder and beefier and it in a tunnel it sounds jaw droppingly awesome! Dare I say that I think that the rotary engine is the best sounding engine after a V8? Don't shoot me for saying that!
The corners are where the RX-8 R3 really starts to shine but before I get on to the positives, I just need to get something off my chest - the traction control system is absolutely abysmal - all it does is cause catastrophic understeer, no matter what you try and do to go quick through a corner you're just going to be greeted with understeer. Now, in the dry weather, this doesn't really cause a problem, just turn the TC system off, concentrate a little bit more and have some fun, after all, the RX-7 has no TC and a locking diff and I've not had a sticky situation yet, well, aside from applying too much counter steer to an attempted drift but that's another story for another post! In the wet the Traction Control might as well not be there - I know its a rear wheel drive car and everything, but 15mph, 2,000 RPM on a roundabout and I'm oversteering as if I'm Chris Harris! Really?! Turning the TC off somehow reduces this which is a little odd, but I don't find it very encouraging having to drive around in dangerous conditions without my cars safety aids being tuned on.
On the aforementioned dry, sunny days with traction control unable to intervene with my fun, the RX-8 fights through every corner without trouble, the amount of mechanical grip the car has is phenomenal, its rare that I breach the limits of adhesion on public roads but when I have correcting the slip is effortless thanks to the sheer amount of feedback you get through the steering wheel, you see any mishap coming a mile off and it makes for a really satisfying cornering experience. The 8 makes you feel like a pro racing driver, the cars ability to tackle a corner so quickly and yet still communicate everything to you so clearly and effectively is brilliant and the warm feeling you get accelerating out of a long swooping bend is amazing. The Bilstein suspension exclusive to the R3 model plays a big part in this, though when you're driving normally it is a bit too stiff for my liking! Shifting is an absolute pleasure too, I've heard the gearbox get some stick before (terrible pun not intended) but personally I think its brilliant, my RX-8 has a short throw fitted and the mechanical feel to it is lovely, 1st gear is a bit of a pain to get to but once your working your way through the gears it is simply joyful to use! The brakes are good too - they don't feel particularly amazing, but by all means they do stop the car bloody quick. I've not experienced any brake fade on a hoon yet (touch wood) but I've heard this can happen on the track fairly quickly.
With all of that performance talk in mind, the running costs are a bit of an issue, as fun as the car is, it doesn't warrant 16mpg, which is what I was averaging until recently. This consisted of a mixture of all types of driving from my commute, everything from B-Roads to M-Ways to City driving and whilst the odd redline is seen in my commute, most of the time I'm at 30, 50 or 70mph or stuck in traffic. After a lot of serious testing over the last month, I've come to the conclusion that using Tesco's Momentum Super Unleaded actually increases my MPG by 25%, up to 20 MPG which is well worth the 5% increase in price per litre. But still, 20 MPG for a car that has no better performance than a hot hatch. Even my dad has averaged 23mpg in his DB9 - and he doesn't exactly drive slow! Tax is absurd as well, as said earlier, £490 per year - the plus side is it sort of makes me proud in a sense, something to rub into every Prius owners face! It does have quite a thirst for oil too, though not as much as other people make out!
I love the suicide doors, though they are a bit of a novelty, and I have to say you can fit 4 fully grown men in the car without discomfort, which is pretty impressive for a coupé. I like the boot size as well, its massive, well, compared to the RX-7, though unfortunately the size is sort of ruined my the tiny opening meaning you can't fit anything big in, just lots of little things if that makes sense.
Suicide doors have the cool factor - but the RX-7's pop up headlights are still cooler!
It's the little things I love the most though. Like all the things that remind you that you're driving a wankel Rotary. The cockpit has a circular theme which clearly hints at the rotary engine, the 'dial' used to adjust your seat forward or backward is shaped in a triangular rotar shape, likewise is the rear fog light and also the spokes in the BBS forged alloys. The buldge on the bonnet is also a nudge to what is hiding underneath and the entire dash has an array of hints and nods towards the heart of the car, its these things which make the car feel a little more special, its the attention to detail that make me think Mazda care about the car and care about what it represents. Even the gear knob is rotar shaped, though is a little uncomfortable as a result.
Now that I'm 4 months and 4000 miles into my ownership, the car has grown on me and surprisingly I do quite like it now. I bought it to replace the Corsa as a commuting tool and it is competent enough to be used as such, however, its ability to still excite me whilst being practical enough day to day has actually driven me to make the shocking choice to sell my RX-7 and keep the RX-8, I'm on minimum wage and can't really justify having both and the 8 can handle day to day stuff as well as hoons.
I can't say the cars a keeper - I've already debated whether I should swap it for a Monaro or Chimera, but I think I'll be driving around in my wankel for at least another 12-18 months. Its a very flawed car and its biggest issue is its predecessor. If you compare it to the RX-7 it is pure disappointment but the second you judge it on its own merits it starts to make a bit more sense - to me, it is the same sort of thing as the GT86 and BRZ, though the infamous engine issues makes most people forget that. Another issue is Mazda pumped too many of them out, imagine if only enthusiasts owned them! There would be a hell of a lot less engine issues and the car would have a lot more exclusivity and maybe now it would be remembered much more fondly?
Like or loathe the RX-8, you can't deny it is a special car from a certain point of view. I like mine and it was a worthy purchase.
Here are some more photo's if you're interested:
Sorry for the long post. If you've read this far come see me at the next Sunday Service and I'll give you a medal!
- - - - - Disclaimer, no medals will be given at PHSS - - - - -
After 4 months and several small posts about my RX-8, I think that the time has now come to do a proper Reader’s Car post!
I had an L Reg Corsa B to commute, with an RX-7 as my weekend toy, however, the Corsa really was falling to pieces and was in all honesty, a complete and utter death trap. Not being prepared to use the RX-7 for work, I wanted to replace the Vauxhall with a cheap daily runner that wasn’t too old and would just last me for a long time, so that I could spend all my spare money on my beloved JDM coupé.
Somehow, my thoughts of a cheap diesel vanished in my head when I saw a great deal on an RX-8... I’d always liked RX-8’s up until I purchased my RX-7, but since then I’d disliked them and in my opinion, thought they all looked dreadful, aside from the R3 version.
Now, lucky for me, this great deal I saw just so happened to be on the R3 version, so happy me. It was a 2 owner, low mileage example with an enthusiast owner and it was ‘like new’, I actually had connections with the seller and knew 100% that I wouldn’t find a better example, let alone one so cheap. The tax had just been renewed (£490) which was a massive plus point for me and I managed to snag the car for around £1,000 less than they go for privately – and around £2,000 less than they go for at dealerships. It needed a service, which cost me a bottle of whiskey as my contact is very good friends with my dad and whilst it didn’t need new tires, the rears were about 50% through their life, so I bought some new ones to prepare (they’re not fitted yet though!).
So, there we have it, an RX-7 FD Twin Turbo and an RX-8 R3.
Problem was, I hated the 8. From day one I regretted every single pound I spent on it, for a start it was red – to me, very few cars suit red and it doesn’t help a car like the RX-8 with an uncomfortable mixture of straight lines, curves, budges and dips. I thought the colour was dreadful and I thought the car was ugly. The looks weren’t too much of an issue, as at the end of the day I only see it when I’m about to get into it, but that red pissed me off. Additionally, I found the car to be painfully slow, I was used to a 330bhp Twin Turbo animal and this 231bhp 1429KG lump was struggling to get past 100mph – just when the 7 wakes up! The interior annoyed me too, I like things simple, I like bare bones interior for my cars, no luxuries whatsoever, but the R3 was loaded with Automatic Lights + Wipers, Cruise Control, BOSE Sound System + much more. Somehow this annoyed me. I found every reason I could to dislike my RX-8, after spending so much money which I’d set aside for a house deposit for so long (bear in mind, being 21, this was a lot of money, I legitimately saved for my RX-7 from scratch, whereas I bought the ‘8 with money I had set aside specifically for a house deposit!) I felt gutted that I'd bought such a terrible car, all I liked about it were the 19” BBS forged alloy rims and the half leather Recaro bucket seats, both exclusive to the R3 version.
But, after all of this initial hate over the last 4 months of ownership, I am delighted to say that EVERYTHING has changed...
Whilst I do still think the car is ugly and poorly designed, I am growing to like the looks of my R3. The bodykit really sets the car off and makes it stand out from the rest of the RX-8 crowd, the wheel arches are flared and the car sits lower, it has stance and road presence and it looks mean. The side profile is fantastic too, sitting squat on the ground, it looks like it is ready to pounce and the 19” rims compliment this perfectly. The front bumper has also been revised in the R3 too, looking a lot more sporty and aggressive than the previous generations flappy, open mouth that looked a little bit 'special'. There is also a spoiler on the R3, which makes the rear look a little bit more exciting and it certainly takes attention away from the ghastly lexus-esque rear lights. Mine also has aftermarket daytime running lights fitted and they actually look pretty tidy – most aftermarket DRL's look dreadful. The 8 still looks a little bit awkward though, it is just a clash of ideas rolled into one package and makes me wonder did the person who designed the front meet the person who designed the back?
The side profile looks awesome and really shows off the R3's features!
The rear lights are still a bit nasty, but PH smiley and spoiler take attention away!
DRL's are quite subtle amongst the R3's more aggressive front end!
When it comes to performance, depending on the roads, the car can still be disappointing, when I am at the lights with nothing in front but clear open road I don't feel the urge to floor it up to 3 digit speeds like I did in the RX-7, I sort of think to myself 'it hasn't got much poke in a straight line, why waste the fuel?'. Even at high speeds I tend to drop off fairly early - in the RX-7 I will regularly do silly speeds on M-Ways on the rare occasion that they are completely empty and it is completely safe to do so but I tend to make 120mph my absolute limit because it just takes so long to progress any further. You really do feel that you're lacking the serious grunt of the 7's Twin Turbo setup.
Whilst outright speed is lacking, how it shows off what it has is quite truly very special indeed. The R3 has a much later rev limiter than the older RX-8, it redlines at a whopping 9,000 RPM and finally bounces at 9,500 RPM which is truly staggering, if what I've read online is to be believed, this engine will happily go to 13,000 unrestricted which is utterly mind boggling. Admittedly, due to that lack of any torque whatsoever, nothing really happens below 4,000 RPM, however, once you enter the power band, the sensation of the screaming engine as it bursts into life is indescribable, the way the revs shoot up and the way the engine roars just encourages you to keep that foot planted, it loves the thrashing and enjoys being worked hard, once you hit around 7,000 RPM it just enters into suicide mode, going absolutely bats
t, giving you one final kick before its time to change gear and do it all over again. I must say I am truly impressed with how well it delivers what little power it has, particularly in 2nd gear, you feel like you're the fastest car on the road until you see the speedometer and remember how slow you actually are going! Taking it up to the redline always feels like an occasion, which is something I love.What aids in all of this excitement is the MazdaSpeed exhaust which was fitted by the previous owner, it isn't some chav-tastic drainpipe that you'd see on an Impreza or some 17 year olds Saxo, nor does it ruin the cars natural sound, it just makes the unique rotary whine a little louder and beefier and it in a tunnel it sounds jaw droppingly awesome! Dare I say that I think that the rotary engine is the best sounding engine after a V8? Don't shoot me for saying that!
The corners are where the RX-8 R3 really starts to shine but before I get on to the positives, I just need to get something off my chest - the traction control system is absolutely abysmal - all it does is cause catastrophic understeer, no matter what you try and do to go quick through a corner you're just going to be greeted with understeer. Now, in the dry weather, this doesn't really cause a problem, just turn the TC system off, concentrate a little bit more and have some fun, after all, the RX-7 has no TC and a locking diff and I've not had a sticky situation yet, well, aside from applying too much counter steer to an attempted drift but that's another story for another post! In the wet the Traction Control might as well not be there - I know its a rear wheel drive car and everything, but 15mph, 2,000 RPM on a roundabout and I'm oversteering as if I'm Chris Harris! Really?! Turning the TC off somehow reduces this which is a little odd, but I don't find it very encouraging having to drive around in dangerous conditions without my cars safety aids being tuned on.
On the aforementioned dry, sunny days with traction control unable to intervene with my fun, the RX-8 fights through every corner without trouble, the amount of mechanical grip the car has is phenomenal, its rare that I breach the limits of adhesion on public roads but when I have correcting the slip is effortless thanks to the sheer amount of feedback you get through the steering wheel, you see any mishap coming a mile off and it makes for a really satisfying cornering experience. The 8 makes you feel like a pro racing driver, the cars ability to tackle a corner so quickly and yet still communicate everything to you so clearly and effectively is brilliant and the warm feeling you get accelerating out of a long swooping bend is amazing. The Bilstein suspension exclusive to the R3 model plays a big part in this, though when you're driving normally it is a bit too stiff for my liking! Shifting is an absolute pleasure too, I've heard the gearbox get some stick before (terrible pun not intended) but personally I think its brilliant, my RX-8 has a short throw fitted and the mechanical feel to it is lovely, 1st gear is a bit of a pain to get to but once your working your way through the gears it is simply joyful to use! The brakes are good too - they don't feel particularly amazing, but by all means they do stop the car bloody quick. I've not experienced any brake fade on a hoon yet (touch wood) but I've heard this can happen on the track fairly quickly.
With all of that performance talk in mind, the running costs are a bit of an issue, as fun as the car is, it doesn't warrant 16mpg, which is what I was averaging until recently. This consisted of a mixture of all types of driving from my commute, everything from B-Roads to M-Ways to City driving and whilst the odd redline is seen in my commute, most of the time I'm at 30, 50 or 70mph or stuck in traffic. After a lot of serious testing over the last month, I've come to the conclusion that using Tesco's Momentum Super Unleaded actually increases my MPG by 25%, up to 20 MPG which is well worth the 5% increase in price per litre. But still, 20 MPG for a car that has no better performance than a hot hatch. Even my dad has averaged 23mpg in his DB9 - and he doesn't exactly drive slow! Tax is absurd as well, as said earlier, £490 per year - the plus side is it sort of makes me proud in a sense, something to rub into every Prius owners face! It does have quite a thirst for oil too, though not as much as other people make out!
I love the suicide doors, though they are a bit of a novelty, and I have to say you can fit 4 fully grown men in the car without discomfort, which is pretty impressive for a coupé. I like the boot size as well, its massive, well, compared to the RX-7, though unfortunately the size is sort of ruined my the tiny opening meaning you can't fit anything big in, just lots of little things if that makes sense.
Suicide doors have the cool factor - but the RX-7's pop up headlights are still cooler!
It's the little things I love the most though. Like all the things that remind you that you're driving a wankel Rotary. The cockpit has a circular theme which clearly hints at the rotary engine, the 'dial' used to adjust your seat forward or backward is shaped in a triangular rotar shape, likewise is the rear fog light and also the spokes in the BBS forged alloys. The buldge on the bonnet is also a nudge to what is hiding underneath and the entire dash has an array of hints and nods towards the heart of the car, its these things which make the car feel a little more special, its the attention to detail that make me think Mazda care about the car and care about what it represents. Even the gear knob is rotar shaped, though is a little uncomfortable as a result.
Now that I'm 4 months and 4000 miles into my ownership, the car has grown on me and surprisingly I do quite like it now. I bought it to replace the Corsa as a commuting tool and it is competent enough to be used as such, however, its ability to still excite me whilst being practical enough day to day has actually driven me to make the shocking choice to sell my RX-7 and keep the RX-8, I'm on minimum wage and can't really justify having both and the 8 can handle day to day stuff as well as hoons.
I can't say the cars a keeper - I've already debated whether I should swap it for a Monaro or Chimera, but I think I'll be driving around in my wankel for at least another 12-18 months. Its a very flawed car and its biggest issue is its predecessor. If you compare it to the RX-7 it is pure disappointment but the second you judge it on its own merits it starts to make a bit more sense - to me, it is the same sort of thing as the GT86 and BRZ, though the infamous engine issues makes most people forget that. Another issue is Mazda pumped too many of them out, imagine if only enthusiasts owned them! There would be a hell of a lot less engine issues and the car would have a lot more exclusivity and maybe now it would be remembered much more fondly?
Like or loathe the RX-8, you can't deny it is a special car from a certain point of view. I like mine and it was a worthy purchase.
Here are some more photo's if you're interested:
Sorry for the long post. If you've read this far come see me at the next Sunday Service and I'll give you a medal!
- - - - - Disclaimer, no medals will be given at PHSS - - - - -
Id definitely have the R3 model and swallow the big tax for the fact the engine is less likely to fail, those seats and just revisions which make it Mich more attractive than an older one.
P.s never seen a red R3, I love it. I've always thought red as the default colour for these.
Mind you where I like a chap has a white R3....looks lovely.
P.s never seen a red R3, I love it. I've always thought red as the default colour for these.
Mind you where I like a chap has a white R3....looks lovely.
Yazza54 said:
Yeah, but, do you have any RX7 pics?
RX8 looks mint though
Why are there so many of them for so little money, do they have major problems? I've heard they flood very easily for one..
Engine probs on most before 80kRX8 looks mint though
Why are there so many of them for so little money, do they have major problems? I've heard they flood very easily for one.. Does look very smart though - the modifications really do suit the car.
Thank you all for your positive comments, they'll spur me on to make another ridiculously long post one day!
To combat these issues, the R3 has a system in place to prevent these issues, there are 3 illuminating redlines that appear underneath the rev counter, the first one of which starts at 5,000 RPM, whilst this is illuminated, you're strongly advised NOT to shut off the engine, additionally you are physically unable to rev past that, once this light goes out, there are 2 remaining, the second one is at 7,000 RPM, at this stage, you can turn the engine off (still not recommended, but deemed safe) and again, you cannot exceed 7,000 RPM. Lastly, once this light goes out, you're left with one more glowing redline at 9,000 - this allows you to take it to the bounce and indicates the engine is at the right temperature.
If the first gen RX-8's had these lights, there would have been a hell of a lot less engine failures! It can be annoying having to sit at the petrol station for 2 minutes before you can shut off and fill up though!
Yazza54 said:
Yeah, but, do you have any RX7 pics?
See below:Yazza54 said:
Why are there so many of them for so little money, do they have major problems? I've heard they flood very easily for one..
The thing is, they're not actually that unreliable, it is mainly due to lack of care from the owners. 1 big problem was people starting the car up and then shutting it down before letting the car warm up - this was responsible for a lot of flooding issues, additionally, people thrash them before they're at prime operating temperature. To combat these issues, the R3 has a system in place to prevent these issues, there are 3 illuminating redlines that appear underneath the rev counter, the first one of which starts at 5,000 RPM, whilst this is illuminated, you're strongly advised NOT to shut off the engine, additionally you are physically unable to rev past that, once this light goes out, there are 2 remaining, the second one is at 7,000 RPM, at this stage, you can turn the engine off (still not recommended, but deemed safe) and again, you cannot exceed 7,000 RPM. Lastly, once this light goes out, you're left with one more glowing redline at 9,000 - this allows you to take it to the bounce and indicates the engine is at the right temperature.
If the first gen RX-8's had these lights, there would have been a hell of a lot less engine failures! It can be annoying having to sit at the petrol station for 2 minutes before you can shut off and fill up though!
RemyMartin said:
P.s never seen a red R3, I love it. I've always thought red as the default colour for these.
Thanks you, the colour has grown on me a lot, I find that when the car is clean and the sun is out, the colour looks fantastic - but the second the sun goes away or the car is dirty the shade of red looks a bit horrible in my opinion. C.A.R. said:
Does your RX7 still have that god-awful Dodge Viper lookalike bumper on it?!
Ouch, kicking me right in the balls there! Yes, my FD does still have the Viper bumper, I accept that it is a million times worse than stock, however, in the cars defence, it is different, and it does give it stance. Having said that, I'd rather have stock!Edited by TREMAiNE on Tuesday 29th October 16:22
I wish folks would stop posting threads like this ...
I have always had a hankering for an RX8, I keep talking myself out of it for a daily driver, but I'm not sure how much longer I can resist.
Are there any decent rotary fettlers in the North East? I'm wondering about picking up a cheap one and running it as a daily, with a view to keeping some cash aside to overhaul if it goes bang
I have always had a hankering for an RX8, I keep talking myself out of it for a daily driver, but I'm not sure how much longer I can resist.
Are there any decent rotary fettlers in the North East? I'm wondering about picking up a cheap one and running it as a daily, with a view to keeping some cash aside to overhaul if it goes bang
TREMAiNE said:
Yazza54 said:
Why are there so many of them for so little money, do they have major problems? I've heard they flood very easily for one..
The thing is, they're not actually that unreliable, it is mainly due to lack of care from the owners. 1 big problem was people starting the car up and then shutting it down before letting the car warm up - this was responsible for a lot of flooding issues, additionally, people thrash them before they're at prime operating temperature. To combat these issues, the R3 has a system in place to prevent these issues, there are 3 illuminating redlines that appear underneath the rev counter, the first one of which starts at 5,000 RPM, whilst this is illuminated, you're strongly advised NOT to shut off the engine, additionally you are physically unable to rev past that, once this light goes out, there are 2 remaining, the second one is at 7,000 RPM, at this stage, you can turn the engine off (still not recommended, but deemed safe) and again, you cannot exceed 7,000 RPM. Lastly, once this light goes out, you're left with one more glowing redline at 9,000 - this allows you to take it to the bounce and indicates the engine is at the right temperature.
If the first gen RX-8's had these lights, there would have been a hell of a lot less engine failures! It can be annoying having to sit at the petrol station for 2 minutes before you can shut off and fill up though!
The cause of issues AFAIR are:
First cars (04-05) had weak starter setups and could fail to start (and then flood), ECU reprogramed from 06+ to let it spin more before injection and faster starters.
Then the coils would die (slowly) at about 30k, this would then cause loss of power, poor running, making it harder to start and the excess petrol washing the chamber causing wear (plus ruining the cat) and then failure.
Then either poor oil or lack of revving it would allow carbon to build up and again low compression and failure.
Finally there is no oil injector on the pre-R3 cars in the centre of the rotor so it wears there and finally fails. 09+ has an extra centre injector.
They're still not going to run to 500k before a rebuild but a rebuild isn't that pricey. Not sure if a new set of coils is recommended every 30k on the R3 but it should be more reliable than previous versions.
Fastdruid said:
Mazda recommended with ours (an 06 231) to rev to IIRC 5k for 10s before turning off if it was cold. Didn't have a single failure to start. Do they still recommend that for the R3?
The handbook for the R3 advises that you wait for at least 1 of the rev lights to go out before shutting down and does not mention holding the revs.Once you startup from cold, the engine automatically revs itself to 3,000 RPM for 10 seconds though.
DanielSan said:
Can I ask why you don't find it comfortable to drive in the wet with the driver aids turned off?
I think I came across as a massive pussy there! 
Whilst not being a PH driving God, I do still floor it in the wet if it is safe and obviously I am more cautious but its psychologically knowing TC is off - after all, my RX-7 doesn't have TC and it has a locking differential and this doesn't bother me at all, its weird.
The Crack Fox said:
A great write up, thanks, I think the car will be a cult classic in time too
Thanks, yeah I'd agree too. Definitely a car that's gained a bad reputation for over supply and poor reliability but I think the time will come where it is hailed for what it offers!Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff