RX-8 as a Track day car
Discussion
Just been browsing the classifieds after spotting an RX-8 for sale yesterday at a garage for what appeared to be a good price. There seems to be a lot available at very affordable prices. I am now aware of the warm start/ compression issues but is this "a given"?
Has anyone tracked one? I'm just thinking about a cheap(ish) car that I could have a bit of fun with, including the very ocassional Track day, say 3-4 times a year. I was thinking of a 944/ 968 but an RX-8 could be a different (newer) alternative.
Has anyone tracked one? I'm just thinking about a cheap(ish) car that I could have a bit of fun with, including the very ocassional Track day, say 3-4 times a year. I was thinking of a 944/ 968 but an RX-8 could be a different (newer) alternative.
Thanks for the feedback so far, keep it coming. JontyR, I'll PM you.
I should say that I am a Porsche 944/968 fan & have owned 2 x 944s so they were my first choice until I saw the prices of some RX-8s like this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2675992.htm
It also helps that I have an indy Porsche specialist who I know well on my doorstep & there sems to be a lot of knowledge of 944/968 track & race cars.
I have done some googling around about RX-8s & I must admit that the compression issues worry me - is it something that is bound to happen (& that track daying will make more likely/ worse?). Are there any specialist or mods that can/ need to be done to the RX-8 to make it more relaible? Do all rotaries have compression issues eventually?
I had thought about alternatives such as a Boxster, but on the basis that I might go halves with someone to turn one into a race car for the BRSCC Porsche Boxster series and CSCC "Deutche Marques", & maybe I should think about that again. Although I'm not over keen on mid or rear engined cars (hence no Elise on my list and why I dismissed a Renault GTA idea I had briefly!).
Another possibility is an older 928! not a popular track car, I admit, but a pre 1981 car would be useful as, if it was stripped & fitted with a cage, it could get entries in to several pre1981 races but turning something into a true race car is a more expensive proposition than I want, and do want something that is useable on the road. Like the Boxster race car idea, that's a slightly different brief and building a race car always costs more than buying one already prepared!
I should say that I am a Porsche 944/968 fan & have owned 2 x 944s so they were my first choice until I saw the prices of some RX-8s like this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2675992.htm
It also helps that I have an indy Porsche specialist who I know well on my doorstep & there sems to be a lot of knowledge of 944/968 track & race cars.
I have done some googling around about RX-8s & I must admit that the compression issues worry me - is it something that is bound to happen (& that track daying will make more likely/ worse?). Are there any specialist or mods that can/ need to be done to the RX-8 to make it more relaible? Do all rotaries have compression issues eventually?
I had thought about alternatives such as a Boxster, but on the basis that I might go halves with someone to turn one into a race car for the BRSCC Porsche Boxster series and CSCC "Deutche Marques", & maybe I should think about that again. Although I'm not over keen on mid or rear engined cars (hence no Elise on my list and why I dismissed a Renault GTA idea I had briefly!).
Another possibility is an older 928! not a popular track car, I admit, but a pre 1981 car would be useful as, if it was stripped & fitted with a cage, it could get entries in to several pre1981 races but turning something into a true race car is a more expensive proposition than I want, and do want something that is useable on the road. Like the Boxster race car idea, that's a slightly different brief and building a race car always costs more than buying one already prepared!
That Rx does seem a very good bargain....and Im sure there is potential for dropping off a little more!
Coil packs, plugs and leads arent too expensive so dont worry about those. And to be honest I would junk the standard exhaust system and fit something a little more free flowing! The supercharger is another option
Coil packs, plugs and leads arent too expensive so dont worry about those. And to be honest I would junk the standard exhaust system and fit something a little more free flowing! The supercharger is another option
Just been pointed at this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Any comments? Opinions are a bit mixed. I quite like the idea of doing something different to the BMW route that was suggested!
Anyone know what happened to the Formual Women & Britcar cars? They don't seem to have been too highly modded and yet would already have a cage & other simple upgrades that would make them good track cars.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Any comments? Opinions are a bit mixed. I quite like the idea of doing something different to the BMW route that was suggested!
Anyone know what happened to the Formual Women & Britcar cars? They don't seem to have been too highly modded and yet would already have a cage & other simple upgrades that would make them good track cars.
Previous rotaries lost compression over time due to rotor tip wear, but the compression issues with RX-8s can happen at low mileage and don't seem to be particularly related to routine wear and tear. Specialists now say that the usual cause of the problem is poor ignition due to failed coils - the engine injects oil into the combustion chamber to lubricate the tips, but unburnt fuel from poor combustion can wash it away and lead to rapid wear.
I think if I was planning a track car, I might pick up an RX-8 with a known bad engine for peanuts and take it to someone like Pettit to be rebuilt, ported and blueprinted;
http://www.pettitracing.co.uk/pettit_racing_built_...
I think if I was planning a track car, I might pick up an RX-8 with a known bad engine for peanuts and take it to someone like Pettit to be rebuilt, ported and blueprinted;
http://www.pettitracing.co.uk/pettit_racing_built_...
Just been a road tested this car out of interest as I had not driven an RX8 before http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
I was quite impressed actually, although it wasn't much of a test drive, just round the block really & I get the impression that a longer test drive was not possible.
The price includes 3 months engine & gearbox warranty with the option to pay an extra £150 to have it extended by an extra 6 months. They have sold loads of these & the dealer seemed to know a bit about them, including the hot start issues.
I was quite impressed actually, although it wasn't much of a test drive, just round the block really & I get the impression that a longer test drive was not possible.
The price includes 3 months engine & gearbox warranty with the option to pay an extra £150 to have it extended by an extra 6 months. They have sold loads of these & the dealer seemed to know a bit about them, including the hot start issues.
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