deusexaethera

Hi everyone. I don't have an RX-8 yet, but I will likely be buying one this fall, barring any catastrophes. This seemed like a good place to ask questions first.



1. Is there any meaningful difference between the current models and the redesigned models due out in 2009? Anything worth waiting for, or is it all just new bodywork?



2. Are there any weak points I should be aware of when buying an 8? I know there were compression problems with a few cars about a year ago, but other than that I haven't heard anything. Then again, only the big important failures make it on the news, which is why I'm asking for lesser-known problems here.



3. Excluding the fact that 7's are inherently superior to 8's in every possible way except for the backseat, is there any reason why I should reconsider buying an 8?



4. What's the gas mileage really like? I've got a mix of about 2/3 in-city, 1/3 highway driving.

fc3sboy1

i have seen and played with the 2009 car as well as all the other year rx8s, kinda a perk when im the rotary guy in my mazda dealership , i can tell you this the rx8s are very nice cars. i have seen a few motor failures but mostly due to owner neglect and most of them where auto tranny cars. the 2009 is very very sex with the new body work and tail lamps and the induction , starting, ecu maping and oiling systems are way differnt then the current car. its only up to you on what you want to do and wich one you want to buy. if its to buy and modify the car right away id buy a current car and play with that, if its just to buy and drive id wait till the 09 is here.



randy

Sukai94

1. I don't know if there is anything different with the 09



2. I am not around 8's a lot. I have noticed some have a knock in the tranny. If you buy a new car and there is something "wrong" with it chances are the problem is going to show before the warranty is up. If it is a problem in all cars a recall may go into effect. I wouldn't worry about the 8 more than any other new car out there.



3. If you plan on daily driving the car I would get an 8. If you want an rx-7 buy a backup car for when something goes wrong! My brother liked my 7 so much he bought an 8. I don't know how he thought of that one, they are quite different cars. The 8 is a very comfortable cruise car bit it is also pretty sporty considering how comfortable it is.





4. If you are worried about gas mileage this is not the car for you. Get a Toyota (hehe I have a Toyota too!) Gas mileage varies on how you drive. My brother gets about 18 city+highway. He drives very "calmly"

1988RedT2

I think I read just yesterday that the EPA numbers for the RX-8 (current production) are 16/22. If you're doing mostly city, I would expect gas mileage near that 16 mpg number.

deusexaethera

Personally, I hate the new bodywork. I like the current design because it's fairly understated, but the new bodywork is much flashier and the car doesn't even really go any faster. And the bumper lip on the front is just ugly -- the old one didn't need that, the new one doesn't need it either.



But that's all fluff; your description of the changes in the engine intrigue me. What's different about the new oiling system? How is it better? (It is better, right?) What difference do the new fuel and timing maps make if the engine is essentially identical to what's in the current model? If there is any benefit to the new maps, is it something I could get flash-loaded onto an older ECU, be it through Mazda or through a tuner?



Speaking of aftermarket programs, are there any good ones for the 8? I know they don't do much on a car without forced-induction, but...I might decide a few extra HP is worth a few hundred bucks, I dunno.



And what about the geese? Ah, **** em, you can't worry about everything.

Sukai94

But yeah, I want an 8 because I can drive it without worrying about things like the fuel system catching on fire.



If you are worried about your fuel system catching on fire don't get a 7 lol (does anyone know if 8's ahve those crappy FPD and FPR's?) That may be a good thing to know but they aren't a problem until they are old and cracked. The rx-8 isnt as hot under the hood as a 7.



Let me ask the gas mileage question a different way: I drive 12 miles to work five days a week, at 80mph; then I drive 8 miles home every night, at 30mph. If I don't go anywhere else, I can get two weeks out of a single tank of gas, roughly 16 gallons. Does that scenario sound familiar, or does it make you wish you had a more efficient car?



My FD gets 14-16mpg during a regular work week. It is better on the weekends because I do more freeway driving. If you are this concerned about gas I would suggest you get something other than a rotary.



Speaking of aftermarket programs, are there any good ones for the 8? I know they don't do much on a car without forced-induction, but...I might decide a few extra HP is worth a few hundred bucks, I dunno.



http://mazdamotorsports.com/



http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPag...SpeedTuningMeet



What HP upgrade will only cost a few hundred bucks? From what I have noticed stock Renesis engines do not handle forced

induction well. If you want to add a turbo I would suggest rebuilding it with more robust parts. When motor is apart I would suggest a good port (they are a few hundred bucks) but if you thought your gas mileage was bad before...



It is an artform to be able to push more power through these car (and get away with it) If you want more power you a probably going to have to upgrade the fuel system, get a stand alone ecu, Depending on what you want to do I would suggest a better tranny and a motor rebuild (with more robust parts) etc. etc. etc.



I see alot of people nowadays putting 3rd gen rx-7 engines in their 8's. If you really want power that would be a good option. No warranty though. Maybe buy a used 8 and spend the extre $$ you save on it? What exactly are you looking to do with this car? (DD, Weekend driver, weekend autox?) Why would you need it to have more power?

deusexaethera

To be perfectly honest, the main reason I want an RX-8 is to have an RX-8. I felt gipped when Mazda discontinued the 7, and I've been all over news regarding the 8 ever since its prototype was announced back in '98. So basically, all I'm looking for is a probable oh-**** scenario -- something that, if I buy the car, I'll end up kicking myself in the *** for not knowing about beforehand. Gas mileage isn't my primary concern; it would be nice if I could get fantastic gas mileage, but since I'll be driving a 50hp dieselectric hybrid in ten years ( ), I have no problem splurging a bit right now. I can always drive long-distance in my Passat if it becomes an issue.



As far as power is concerned, the 8 has more power stock (though less torque) than my Passat does, including the mods I've done. I know upping an engine's output is an art -- I've done a bit of that myself. I was just curious if the engine is already making as much power as it can, or whether the ECU limits its output from the factory like 1.8t's are. It sounds like that's not the case.



So...does that oh-**** scenario exist? Nobody's said "dude, you'll hate it when [this] happens", but I figured I'd put out one last call for horror stories.

Sukai94

Quick story: my brother bought his 8 from the dealer. It was a dealer buyback car. Whoever owned it before had some vaccum problem, the dealer tried to fix it but couldn't so they paid the guy (what he paid for the car new) and bought the car back with 30k miles on it. They put a new motor & tranny in it and sold it to my brother. He has had it for more than a year now.



The same thing happened to my neighbor and his new turbo BMW. It had a problem, dealer couldn't fix it so they offered him a brand new replacement or his money back. This happens with every make and model car. If you buy a new car and it happens to you the dealer will take care of you. The last thing they want is a bad rap.



You can give the car however much power you want but will the car take it? If you spend 5k modding the drivetrain of a car it is likely you will have many many more problems than if you left it stock.



I don't want you to have problems with this car which is why I would advise you not to mod it for more power. Go take one out for a test drive. I own an 11.9 second drag car and I am more than satisfied driving my brothers stock 8. It is a hoot to drive!

treceb

i believe the new bodywork will only be an upgrade package labeled R3, which will also upgrade the handling.

deusexaethera

That's worth keeping an eye on. If I can put off buying one until the new motor comes out, without having to get the new bodywork, then that might be a better deal.