Learn me: Is it time for an RX-8?

Background: since January 2016, my weekday commute has consisted of 2 miles in the car + riding a bus and train to work, giving zero berkeleys about the misery that is metro Atlanta commuting. Its not everybody's cup of tea, but I'm good with it. In fact, I highly recommend it.

Foreground: the poor fuel mileage of an RX-8 no longer bothers me. I'd only drive it ten miles plus some weekend running about every week.

Is there a good primer on buying and running one of these?

Is the Renesis going to suffer any more than any other fairly modern engine by driving it so little?

What's the deal with Premix?

Are they tall friendly? I'm 5'-17"...

Besides a compression test and being ready to spend for ignition upgrades, what else do I need to know?

Target budget = $6-9k

5'17" Is that like 6'5"? Or something shorter?

Rotary will last longer if warmed up completely. Had one that I drove like I stole it. Other things like heater/AC temp knob, AC clutch, coolant level sensor and a couple other small things added up to me getting rid of it. Engine ran strong. Oh yeah, it was an 04 w/dealer replaced engine. Engine replaced at 98k and had 80k on replaced engine.

height-friendly is trim level specific. the R3 is the most tall-people friendly (low seats, no sunroof) followed by normal non-sunroof models. A sunroof model felt tight to me and i'm only 5'11". In my R3 i can wear a helmet and fit mostly, but if i stretch my neck up up straight my head hits the top.

It doesn't sound like you drive far enough for a renesis motor. And even with proper care and feeding their failure rate is abysmal. Like, biTurbo bad.

If you feel the need to get something that gets bad mileage while having questionable reliability how about a 6.0 Ford, or a 2.7TT Audi, maybe something from the W8 VW lineup even?

KyAllroad wrote: It doesn't sound like you drive far enough for a renesis motor. And even with proper care and feeding their failure rate is abysmal. Like, biTurbo bad. If you feel the need to get something that gets bad mileage while having questionable reliability how about a 6.0 Ford, or a 2.7TT Audi, maybe something from the W8 VW lineup even?

it's not that far to walk, after all....

Rufledt wrote: height-friendly is trim level specific. the R3 is the most tall-people friendly (low seats, no sunroof) followed by normal non-sunroof models. A sunroof model felt tight to me and i'm only 5'11". In my R3 i can wear a helmet and fit mostly, but if i stretch my neck up up straight my head hits the top.

I haven't fit in a sunroof vehicle since I was 18. Thanks for the model specific info.

My commute is about 2 miles if I go direct, but c'mon folks, this is an RX-8 we're talking about. If direct is a right turn out of the driveway, I'm going left. I get warmed up enough to shut 'er down when I get to the office.

I'm 6'1", car is a 2004 Sport model (no sunroof, no DSC, 6-port engine w/ 6-speed manual), I fit comfortably, but with barely a hand's thickness between my head and the headliner.

2004 is the year I had. It's the worst model year, in my opinion. I'm not saying don't get it, but be advised it will likely have quirks. If you can swing a 2009 or later car, do it.

The major RX-8 forums border on toxic at times.

Racing beat springs with Bilstein HDs was what I had on mine. I really liked that suspension.

I really think it would be a bad time for you.

Remember a cold rotary runs rich AF which leads to flooding if not warmed up properly as well as massive carbon build up in the engine and cat over time which both can lead to premature engine failure, hell on the S2's they have a built in rev limiter so you progressively have to take your time before you can beat on it.

What is it about the RX-8 that appeals to you? Likely could be a better choice for what you are looking for ATM.

JtspellS wrote: I really think it would be a bad time for you. Remember a cold rotary runs rich AF which leads to flooding if not warmed up properly as well as massive carbon build up in the engine and cat over time which both can lead to premature engine failure, hell on the S2's they have a built in rev limiter so you progressively have to take your time before you can beat on it. What is it about the RX-8 that appeals to you? Likely could be a better choice for what you are looking for ATM.

This is exactly my concern relative to doritos and short distance driving (although it likely isn't great for any engine).

I've always like the oddball 4-door styling and the fact that it's a great handling car. Able to get moving if you wind it up. It can handle 4 passengers for short duration while still being a sports car. I've just always like them. The fact that I've seen a bunch of RX8 topics lately on GRM hasn't been a detriment.

Clearly, the answer is an RX-8...with an LS swap.

OHSCrifle wrote:

JtspellS wrote: I really think it would be a bad time for you. Remember a cold rotary runs rich AF which leads to flooding if not warmed up properly as well as massive carbon build up in the engine and cat over time which both can lead to premature engine failure, hell on the S2's they have a built in rev limiter so you progressively have to take your time before you can beat on it. What is it about the RX-8 that appeals to you? Likely could be a better choice for what you are looking for ATM.

This is exactly my concern relative to doritos and short distance driving (although it likely isn't great for any engine). I've always like the oddball 4-door styling and the fact that it's a great handling car. Able to get moving if you wind it up. It can handle 4 passengers for short duration while still being a sports car. I've just always like them. The fact that I've seen a bunch of RX8 topics lately on GRM hasn't been a detriment.

I'll say this if it means anything, when I first got my RX8 it was my DD and it was fine had no issues but i am glad it was a light winter that year lol. There is a lot of extra steps you have to take if you want it to last a long time (check oil at minimum every other fuel up, have oil on you at all times, if you premix that has to happen every fill up with about 3-6oz if i remember right, you are getting maybe 200mi to a tank with an S1 in city driving, if you are moving it you better have a plan to drive it till warm or push it around to avoid flood city along with other things I'm forgetting) and those extras got to be a bit of a pain for a DD and that in turn is why I got my protege, its great for a weekend car and can easily be used as a daily but that dumb little stuff can get old after a while on a daily basis.

Your experience may differ, but I've found its so much easier to have as the 2nd vehicle as opposed to the primary.

LS swap ready

JtspellS wrote: I really think it would be a bad time for you. Remember a cold rotary runs rich AF which leads to flooding if not warmed up properly as well as massive carbon build up in the engine and cat over time which both can lead to premature engine failure, hell on the S2's they have a built in rev limiter so you progressively have to take your time before you can beat on it. What is it about the RX-8 that appeals to you? Likely could be a better choice for what you are looking for ATM.

I'll answer for myself: because the car is FUN to drive!

Yes, it has had issues. Yes, it drinks oil, it guzzles gas, it sounds funny, it takes obeying a maintenance schedule, and you occasionally have to beat on it like the proverbial stepchild. It is an oddball, but what an oddball it is!

It is a plus-sized Miata with back seats, and an engine that thinks it is turbine-based. On track, it is a momentum car capable of scaring passengers silly, and putting a steel reinforced grin on your face.

The Mazda RX-8 is not a Mustang, or a Camaro, or any other domestic 4-wheeled appliance. It is a sports car, with all its quirks out there in plain sight. If you don't like it, then don't drive it.

You'll get mine only if I die in the paddock.

As the owner of two RX8s and an RX7 - my question is:

"Are you prepared to treat the engine as a wear item?"

In reply to Ricky Spanish:

Man that is hard to stomach. I like everything else about it though so there might be one in my future.

In reply to oldrotarydriver:

I agree 100%, but as a DD for him right now I would suggest something slightly boring for now and save up for the best one he can buy afterwards.

There's a reason why mine is still in the garage, and no it's not broken lol.

In reply to JtspellS:

I can agree with that. There's been a couple of R3s in the area, with unfortunate circumstance giving them 'rebuild' titles, yet asking prices north of the $10k line.

Might I suggest a Mazda2 or -3, if he can locate one? The "Mazda" driving attitude with a bit more fuel economy. There was one in the Classifieds awhile ago, with a withering price based on loan payoff. Tried to find it just now, looks like maybe Dankspeed finally unloaded it.

As an RX8 owner who does a bi of DD'ing as well, I wouldn't use it for trips this short as it won't warm up properly. Well, pretty much anything other than a bicycle won't in that distance, but it's harder on rotaries.

Bummer. Kinda what I feared..

Buy from this guy, he knows rotaries. May need head replaced:

https://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/d/mazda-rx/6216813923.html

In reply to maj75:

That's definitely down into LS-swap price territory.

I want a last model RX7 (FD) but with a turbo Ecotec for reliability and power.....

I wish FM made a plug and play swap kit for these.

OHSCrifle wrote: I wish FM made a plug and play swap kit for these.

Not FM, but CX Racing has stepped up in quality.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CXRacing-LS1-Swap-Mount-Kit-Torsion-Bar-Subframe-Bracer-Sway-Bar-for-Mazda-RX-8-/141723005981?_trksid=p2385738.m2548.l4275

I actually know the guys that work with the owner to RnD parts here in the Statesand build in China