*People don't like the RX-8 because its a shed... an unreliable POS with a weak fragile engine that had about as much torque as a 4-cylinder Oldsmobile firing on just one cylinder and worse fuel mileage than a 455hp Corvette! Although it had an excellent chassis that was still available for sale with a much more reliable and efficient engine...its Mazda's best selling sports car ever! **_ITS CALLED THE MX-5!!!!_*
@michael webber *Its called wishful thinking... and denial. The NHTSA recall investigation proved that there is no link between how well you cared for your RX-8 and the extremely high rates of premature engine failures... you are either very lucky? or just a liar?*
doktorbimmer Somebody had a bad experience, or neglected their engine and now relies on data collected by scientists to prove a meaningless point. All the while, there’s over 40 years of hands on builder and driver experience that proves that neglecting a rotary engine is the quickest way to its demise. First gen 8’s sucked, reliably. It still beats the shot out of a Miata, though. Also, it’s two rotors and a bunch of seals. The seals will eventually wear completely, and you will have to rebuild it. If you don’t like working on cars, don’t buy a rotary.
@Gage Hanson *Only to prove what Mazda and RX owners have already known for years... there are still a few delusional people out there like you that remain in denial of the truth.* *I guess you haven't been down to your local Mazda dealer in several years? They don't make them anymore due to the engines horribly bad reputation for poor reliability...*
My Dad had his first car stolen also, it was a Ford Capri in 1979 (UK) car theft was very common at the time. He went to a birthday party and parked a few streets down, after the party he couldn't find the car, he kept looking for about an hour (poor Dad 😖)
I owned an RX-8. I've also owned a 911, 928, 944, Evo, M3, S2000 and driven more sports cars than I can recall. The RX-8 may not be fast in a straight line, but it does have one of the most rewarding driving experiences. The chassis is amazing and handling is telepathic. Of all the cars I've sold, I regret this one the most. Disclaimer; I still have the 911, and I might regret selling that one more if I ever part with it. The RX-8 is as reliable as you want it to be. Take care of it properly and you won't have any issues. I put more than 90k miles on mine and it never skipped a beat. Zero issues. Loved it.
Fact!! I have owned and driv8n many sports cars and muscle cars and my rx8 r3 is by far the best front engined car when it comes to handling , people who dis it have little dicks and need 500hp to compensate !!
*Reciprocating engines are the clear winner here, Porsche has won the Le Mans 24 hours **_19 TIMES!!!_** and even the Diesel engine has proven superior on the track with Audi winning **_9 TIMES!!!!_** the Wankel? nothing but an old, obsolete, dead-end technology thats been out of production for years.*
+ThatDudeinBlue Some facts about the RX-8: The reason no forced induction was ever introduced from the factory was that the 13B Renesis motor used ninth RX-8 was developed to be the most efficient rotary Mazda technology at the time could produce for a reasonable price. This was primarily in an attempt to save the rotary engine in their lineup. Increasing demand for fuel efficiency and rising gas prices made the rotary a dinosaur in the market. The Renesis engine was approximately 30% more efficient than the unit used in the FD. Previous naturally aspirated units in the RX series topped out around 170 hp, the Renesis (called a Renny) makes 230-240 hp. Essentially, the Renny was Mazda taking the consumer rotary to its maximum potential as a every-day engine. Yes forced induction made more power, but it didn't have the linear curve of the Renny. The gearing in the RX-8 is a compromise. Since the car lacks the low end push of the FD and its twin turbos, it used a very short final drive of 4.44, after the facelift 4.77. So yes, the car has 6 gears but a very short final drive so as to compensate for the lack of torque inherent to the Renny being NA. This does you no favors for gas mileage, which is likely a big reason why Mazda chose to upgrade to a 6 speed unit. The car is a bit heavier than its FD counterpart being in the high-2800, low-2900lb range, also a reason for the short ratio. The AP1 S2000 is a bit lighter, but the AP2 is almost exactly on par with the RX-8's weight, but has 2 less seats and 2 less doors. The NC used the RX-8 chassis, the RX-8 debuting on 2004 and the NC in 2005. So, when someone says "the RX-8 is just an NC Miata with 4 doors" thats actually incorrect. An NC is an RX-8 with two doors. Due to how far Mazda stretched the Renny to maximums, there is VERY little anyone can actually do to extract extra power from the Renny outside of forced induction or machine work. People really like to centrifugally supercharge these. Pretty much the only place to make real gains (around 10-15 hp) is the exhaust. The mid-pipe and cats especially choke down the motor, and there are only one or two good options for replacing them. Any modification should be complimented by a tune to see real results, as per normal. Deleting accessories also helps; it's a tiny little motor so decreasing the load from the accessories has obvious advantages. Most of the engine failures tended to be in automatic-equipped cars. Though many met their fate as you mentioned: people not understanding how the rotary works. The one thing on the car that CAN be blamed firmly on Mazda engineers is the oiling system for the apex seals. Rotaries have oil injectors to feed the apex seals, as we know rotaries are two stroke in the fuel mixture aspect. On a stock car, these injectors pull oil from the same crank-case reservoir that lubricates the engine with four-stroke oil. Four stroke oil doesn't burn worth a crap, so it actually contributes to harmful engine buildups and accelerated failure of the apex seals. However, SOHN sells an oil kit to fix this. The kit gives you an isolated oil reservoir that you fill with two-stroke oil, and then hook up to the apex injectors. This way your Renny burns nice, super-flammable lubricant instead of the heavy four stroke stuff.
Very informational, thank you. Loved my RX8, Identical to the one in this vid with the exception of red/black interior. Comments are right on about keeping the RPM's up and handling, amazing driving experience :)
I had my first car stolen, even though it was only an EJ civic hatch i was so pissed! Luckily i found it in a B&Q (The UK's Home Depot) car park 2 days later completely by chance. The keys were inside but it was locked. I sprinted 3 miles home for my spare key, and 2 years later it's still sat on my driveway :D
I did call the police as soon as I found out it was gone, However there is limited stuff they can do apart from keep an eye out for it, or wait till it pops up on their surveillance somewhere. I just happened to stumble across it before they did.
doktorbimmer Pop-up headlights were banned in some countries over safety issues. yjjeeper1 @doktorbimmer well look who it is lol. Yes your correct, I'm just referring to U.S models. Why the interest in a car you feel has such a flawed power plant, your not also one if those V8 into rx7 guy's that should be shot are you? You know, I wasn't lying, I really am a cert BMW mechanic. I hope if you really are touching them please try to do it correctly. Their fantastic cars, do them justice doktor. doktorbimmer You're a jackass that doesn't know shit about automobiles is what you are... Your service manger called and said he has oil change he needs you to do... so shut the fuck up and get back to work boy!
Driven By Madness yea I understand it’s one of a kind but you’re kind of crazy to keep putting the money into the thing when you could easily upgrade to another Japanese sports car that will last twice as longer
@@yvnggloryjay8352 they're only unreliable because retarded 16 year Olds grab them and then change the oil every 10k miles. Never let them warm up. Flood the engine twice a month. Etc.
@@yvnggloryjay8352 the rx8 motor is really high maintenance, but if you keep a very keen eye on whats happening, the motor and seals should last the same as a basic piston engine of today (150-180k miles on series 1 and 230k miles and more on series 2)
@@doktorbimmer well if you "know anything about engines" you'd know a Wankel engine is a type of roatary engine.... It's like your making the argument that a square isn't a type of rectangle.... you kinda sound stupid tbh...
@@doktorbimmer Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you? I've seen you in many comments being an asshole. Do you get paid for it, or does the strain of having to constantly fix your underpowered car make you act that way? Perhaps not enough money for paying rent after spending it on gas?
Very true. mine has stayed with me for 4 years now and no funny or shitty sounds from the it. these are the same guys giving a bad reputation to the Rx8..
Unfortunately that's the down side of buying a used car, having to deal with shady salesmen with a cheap sales pitch. With the amount of likes and other people who confirmed the myth is invalid, something is definitely up with your brakes, most likely just the pads need to be replaced. Mine is an '07 but I don't think they've changed anything in terms of brakes.
My first car was a foxbody handed down from my dad for my 15th birthday we worked so hard getting that car running solid. It was the first car that got me into the car scene heavily. One day while everyone was at school and work we got broken into and they stole it from our garage. Not too many things ruined my child hood like losing that car but thankfully 7 years later I'm finally going to start looking for another fox and relive my childhood one more time.
The one thing that has made me want an RX-8 has been that smile that gets bigger every time you get to redline. On every single review I see it. I watch for it. Thanks for the review.
I adored my RX8. Had every possible bolt on, update and modification done to it. 10,800 rpm retuned redline. Straight pipes. She was GLORIOUS. In fact, she was a better car than my current 1993 RX7 FD. But to be fair, they're very different. DIB is completely correct about people just not understanding how to take care of a rotary engine properly. Mine had 150k original miles on the original engine when she went to a new owner, and nearly perfect compression. You just need to PRE MIX THE FUEL AT EVERY FILL UP! I used 20w40 oil mixed half with Metal Conditioner Squared, and used 3/4 of an ounce per gallon of 93 octane VPower gas. Redline every time you can as well.
So u have to mix it every time u gas up? Im thinking of trading a silvia s110 for an 04 rx8 with 155xxx miles. Any taughts? Would this would be a good move or move along and wait for a cash offer?
@@MK-sk2mi It's definitely not a daily driver car if you don't want to put in the effort. They're not simple "Change oil every 30K and you're good" types of cars. It's definitely a project that needs constant love. And for some people the rewards are worth it. Make sure you figure out if it is for you first.
*Premixing and engine already equipped with metered oil injection is monumentally stupid... this false urban myth does not extend engine life and only waste money it damages sensors, emission equipment, spark plugs and apex seals.*
I bought one as my first car and had it for about 2 years and absolutely loved it. Had some minor problems here and there but it was definitely worth the driving experience imo, especially since I was on the backroads a majority of the time.
how did you search for a good one though? cause you would have to make sure that the engine wasn't on its last legs or if the owner before knew how to take care of it, if you didn't buy it straight up from the last owner
+Reda Ak The engine is a real problem.. buying one now that is out of warranty is taking way too much risk. Resale values also continue to sink making the the chance of any engine problems a real catastrophe.
The real doktorbimmer you are right, I have done some more research about this car and found out that maintaining it in a good condition or even just keeping it alive can be pain in the ass, especially financially , so as a student I don't think that car would be the right choice for me right now. Thanks for your comment tho.
Last year I bought a 2005 RX-8. It has an aftermarket turbo boost and exhaust. Absolutely a blast to drive! My biggest trouble is finding someone to properly tune it because no one will touch a rotary engine in my area. The rumors of the problematic O-2 sensors falls true with my RX-8.
I was expecting this vid to be some sort of clickbait, but instead I found your thoughts on the RX-8 (especially its handling) to be very insightful. Thanks for the vid!
The RX8 looks nice, but its biggest problem is the FD RX7..... that thing was so gorgeous that pretty much anything Mazda could do would have been worse in comparison.
It is gorgeous in its on way though. Beautiful rear doors, the same double bubble roof as the FD, those sweet fenders. Its just that they overdid the triangles.
The RX8 was never meant to be compared to the FD. If you look at the MSRP of the FD 30K-40K in the early mid 90’s vs the RX8’s 25k-30k 2004-2011 it makes sense. 30-40k inflated from 1992 to 2004-2011 is 50k-65k ish.
Awesome review dude and thank you. As for the turbo issue, the Renesis motors ports are different from the traditional 13b-rew. That's where ppl running to issue, exhaust flow etc. But I wish Mazda would have thought of that before mass production lol :/
they're really not that bad, maintenance can be a pain but as long as you stay on top of it. It's a good car. mine has 127,××× on the original motor and the only thing I had to change was the catalytic converter.
At 100k miles, the first stage of my catalytic converter blew into many, many pieces and clogged the second stage. I was getting on the interstate, following my friend's GT-R... at 7+k RPM... when it happened. I nearly shit myself at the sound, the dashboard disco lights, and it losing power like I just stood on the brakes. Couple hundred bucks later, good as gold. Until the secondary O2 sensor failed from being filled up with heavy metal dust a few weeks later. Live and learn
Yea the fact the RX8 weighs more and has significantly less power and no turbo has nothing to do with it... plus it looks like a boy racer versus the wide, low and mean looking fd3.
When I was still in Grade School I used to go to my grandma's for lunch every day. I live in a small town where most cars are inevitably four door sedans, station wagons (we call them combis in my country) and the occasional tractor. But there is a house along the main road where I used to cycle every day, where one day I spotted it. A crimson colored Mazda RX8. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I haven't seen that vehicle in years. Another rare vehicle I regularly see in my hometown is a jet black classic Ford, one with a huge, rumbling V8 you can hear from half a km away. There are no words to describe that sound, it just sounds like pure POWER. On the day I first saw that monstrosity I found my second dream car.
Good point at 4:00 So many people judge a car in a straight line or on the highway when a sports car should be judged in the twisties. Oh yeah, that car you test in a straight line? Those are drag race cars.
His “once you got rotary you never go back” that I can’t agree with more, had 2 RX8s, one shit box and the other was perfect! Haven’t had one for 2 years now, went to a diesel, didn’t like it, now going back to a RX8.
not a 2 stroke, all rotaries require oil mixing into the fuel, either by the factory method of oil squirters or by the more preferred of mixing the fuel because the oil squirters fail sometimes more often then not. they require proper lubrication to maintain the seal with the apex seals, thats why most people consider the rotary unreliable, because they fail to keep it lubed/mixed properly and then the seals get burnt out.
+90 whp *Of course Rotary engines can have either orbiting or reciprocating pistons, making 2-stroke operation possible only on Rotary engines and not the Wankel engine.*
The real doktorbimmer the wankel is essentially a 1 stroke not a 2 or 4 it doesn't have pistons. the wankel makes power every stroke because it doesn't reciprocate, which is also it's downfall because the exhaust side of the housing never gets a break to cool.
I own an FD and a FE. They both are incredible to drive and are different. If I had to choose between the two for a drivers car I would choose the rx8. The rx7 is a lot faster (mine is modded to heck), its lighter, it brakes a little better, its balance is the same roughly speaking, but you need to be a good driver to drive a really fast car fast. The slower cars like the rx8 are fun as hell, you rail them deep into the corner, slam on the brakes and get on the gas to catch the rear end on it and you stay in it all the time. You really push the brakes and lines and throttle all the time. the rx7 is so fast that its sometimes butt puckering jumping on the brakes from 140+MPH. Another thing is the series II transmissions (I swapped one in my series 1) are silky smooth in shifting compared to my rx7 gearbox. The ABS brakes are insanely good on the rx8 and the steering is very good. I have ohlins dfv on both cars and while the rx7 is faster in the large open spaces, the rx8 is just as fast on a tight autox course. The rx7 is definitely better looking but the rx8 is more refined, I also like the rx8's suspension/chassis a lot better. Honestly, with only a slight difference in speed on a small closed course autox type set up, the rx8 is a better buy over the FD. The FD does have better build quality but once you fix the stupid cheap stuff on the rx8 the rx8 is a much better buy if you are a driver. The things that suck on the rx8??, clutch pedal can break, radiator is plastic, steering column needs love sometimes, MAF sensor not as robust as MAP sensor, heat/cool controls need soldering, series 1 trans sucks, MPG.
I've owned 3 fc's, 1 fb and 2 8's. The one I own now I've owned for over 10 years. Never premixed, never flooded. I drive it hard and it takes care of me. Great vid!
A lot of flooding and "engine failures" were caused by a weak ignition system. Also, a lot of engines were replaced by remanufactured engines that had terrible quality control. Upgraded coil packs/plugs + plus the Mazda reflash from the later S1 models fix a lot of the reliability issues. love my rx8, barrel of fun
+Richard Huynh Flooding is a common sign of weak seals and compression loss in any Wankel type engine.. the ignition upgrade is often a red herring, masking the real, true problem, which is impending engine failure.
+Richard Huynh *The RX-8 is Infamous for engine failures and short service life.. Mazda's Remanufacturing and Technical Center in Chesterfield VA. produced over 20,000 warranty replacement engine between 2008-2012.. this figure does not include, engines supplied by outside contractors, new replacement engines from Japan or Aftermarket rebuilds..*
that warranty replacement was because of people buying the car not knowing what kind of engine it had, leading to them flooding the engine from no letting it warm up/ cooling down before and after driving and parking it. The engine itself only had one flaw which was the oil lines didn't lubricate the housing enough, so they added a third line.
Higher compression rotor aswell... The Renesis motor bought along a lot of "Efficiency, Economy and Reliabilty" changes that just made it hard and unreliable to add forced induction.
The MSP-Renesis was specifically designed to address a problem that all fixed, piston ported engines suffered from, overlap and poor scavenging which negatively impacts exhaust emissions, which as a side effect also improved _Volumetric Efficiency._ The primary mode of apex seal failure that plagued the Wankel engine was directly related to _Dynamic Compression_ and _Peak Combustion Pressure_ (what engineers IMEP) and the erratic combustion related to the Wankel's inefficient chamber design.
The RX8's a great car for track purposes, excellent handling. I've had mine for 9 years (2nd engine) over 100k miles. The car runs perfect. The only issue with the 8 is its limited HP and torque. I'm planning the pull the renesis out and put a 13b in it.
I believe you Jormah. My 04 RX8 GT 6 speed got over 178,000 km/110,604 miles on the engine before I started getting cold start issues. I changed the solenoids, coils and spark plugs but I let the registration expire as I have two other cars that I need to maintain (wife wouldn't let me put any more money into the rotary) lol. It's been 6 years sitting in my grandparents garage. I miss it hence I'm on UA-cam looking at RX8 video's during Covid lock down.
David, the new port location for the exhaust ports gave the renesis loads more NA horsepower but compromised the reliability. The ports were located such that they would overheat and cook the side seals over time. A design plus that was also a design flaw. A turbo system just increases the problem of exhaust heat and further shortens the life of the side seals. If you really take care of them they can go 100K before a rebuild. Most people didn't know how to take care of them so the motors were making it to like 60K. Mine had 105K when I sold it and it was fine. I miss it.
I was young and broke when my Honda civic got stolen in Charlotte, NC. I'd bought a transmission I hadn't even picked up yet. I just bought two 2004 RX8s and I'm going to build them both out from the ground up. They have good shells. Thanks for your video.
I loved my rx-8. I did many power slides turning into intersections. Always felt controllable. At 130mph it was unstable though. Early models we're very problematic. 2006+ were better.
I know Forza is a game but one time I jokingly built an A600 Class Mazda RX8 with only bolt ons and very little if any power adders. But to my surprise was the fact that car had some the fastest record lap/apex corner times I’ve ever seen on some tracks. The speed at which that thing could hold G’s and continue to accelerate was second only to my Viper ACR. I was astounded. I researched more about the RX family of sports cars with their near perfect 50/50 balance and their extremely light weight at around 3k or under. These cars including the RX8 are so underrated........ I can definitely feel their allure.
1000% agree with the statement about the back roads driving at the 4 minute mark. I live on the back roads and my RX thrives on those roads. I get so many twits that want to race at the light but the tight curves are where this car excels in my opinion.
My first car is an rx8 and Ive had small problems with the OMP other than that Ive had no other problem after I replaced it. Im at 120,000 miles original engine and its still going strong.
OverPoweredKnife look in to idemitsu premix bro! for your car with a running omp you would put 6 onces of premix in your gass tank at fill up and it will clean and keep the carbon off the engine!! or you can delete the omp and go full premix!!!
lincoln carnegie I usually add a bit of premix on each tank with ofcourse the omp still in the car and ive never really had any issues. But yea ive been holding out on taking out the OMP and should probably probably do that xD. And thanks for the sugestion on the premix ill look into that brand.
dont take out the omp the rx8 needs the localised oil that the omp provides but you should still premix because the omp doesnt lubricate the middle of the apex seals so use both thats what many rotary experts tell me
I finally got mines been interested for years about these cars. Got mine for $300..invested time putting transmission in and about $175 worth of maintenance fluids and stuff. Its totally different from my evo but I live it. GREAT review David
Had a brand new 2009 up until 2015. Not one issue. But that was due to the fact that I knew how to take care of it. I think he hit the nail on the head by stating that most (and I do mean most) people who owned RX-8's were people who had never had experience with Rotaries beforehand. Thing is - if you keep oil in them, rev them high, and let them warm up every time you start them - you will have no problems at all. I had 55,000 miles on my RX-8 when I sold it and again, never had a single issue. It was a great road trip car. It was a great in town car (minus the gas mileage). I'd definitely buy another one if I had the opportunity.
I owned an Rx8 for my first car and loved it. It's definitely not great as a first car though, due to unreliability. But that may be me just being unlucky, and it being a bit old. I had to replace the engine at 133k miles, and the radiator, and a lot more. But I love the look of it, and the sound. Plus, it's comfy as fuck. It handles amazingly. However, most aftermarket bumpers/body kits are a bit "ricey". Overall, it's not a good first car, but anyone who loves rotaries and likes cornering, should definitely test drive one.
As a Mazda Fan Boy and a Previous Owner Of a 2004 RX-8 6-Speed in Winning Blue, I Absolutely Love They Handle and Sound. Mine Had Aftermarket Mazdaspeed C.A.I. and Borla Exhaust, XXR 530 Chromium Black Wheels on B.F. Goodrich G-Force Summer Performance Tires and Tinted Windows!!!
*Lots of performance cars have 50/50 weight distribution...and some cars that don't still handle and perform better... which is why they are still made and the RX-8 is not, major sales flop for Mazda.*
7:30 Keep beatin on it keep beatin on it and everything is good temperature is the same, oil is good - same temp, buuuuutttt the engine blows up sometimes.
Handling on the car is unlike anything else I've driven. Power wise the rotary has the best power to weight ratio of any engine. *Supercharger would be better I think.
doktorbimmer doktorbimmer *WANKEL ENGINES ARE SOARING* 5 months ago +Dindyracer Engine failures, poor fuel consumption and lack of performance is what cause buyers to shy away from Mazda's troubled RX models.. sales dropped to below a sustainable level and they had no choice but to discontinue the brand for good. Ernie Brink Add a public reply... Edward Ashbolt Edward Ashbolt 5 months ago (edited) The real doktorbimmer why are you on so many rotary videos complaining about rotaries? for something you dislike so much you sure spend a lot of time watching them lol 1
I absolutely love the body lines, the smiley front bumper ruins it for me personally, but I've seen some with aftermarket front bumpers and they are to die for.
THE FOUR STROKES OF A INTERNAL COMBUSTION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A WANKEL ENGINE THIS MAKES IT MORE EFFICIENT THAN A PISTON ENGINE JUST THE FACTS CHEERS RIGHT BUDDY RUB THIS
sort of. the rx8 engine can't be babied, or else it will constantly flood, and brake. Everytime you start it youre supposed to rev it some to like 4k, and every drive you need to take it to 6k atleast once I believe. It's been a while since I've looked at all this so I may be off, but its something like that.
I have had an RX8 GT (Australian R3) for about 5 years. When I go out and lean in and start it so as to warm it up, I straight away start to smile. There is no other car has done that to me. Thank you Mazda.
My ex girlfriend had an RX8 and I personally loved this thing. I know the FD was legendary but I liked the RX8 to this day I'd love to own one of these
@@doktorbimmer SOS Brigade Chief SOS Brigade Chief 6 months ago doktorbimmer lol, I'd rather take my chances from people who own a rotary and has had no engine problems with 150k+ miles than to listen to someone who goes from video to video talking nothing but cons about the engine. You really do sound like you spend a lot of time on /o/ btw. Not an insult. Just an observation.
"And thats why I think a lot of cars are overlooked - a lot of cars are judged by how does it drive on the straight line or on a highway and then they are not given a chance anywhere else" made me instasub
i have an 06 shinka edition rx8 and it never gives me a problem and the power to weight just gives the car such good handling and you can control the car so well and it such a responsive car i personally love it in every way shape and form.
I don't think the RX-8 is the most hated rotary car. As a current FB RX-7 owner and ex-RX8 owner; I can comfortably state that I get more hate in my FB. A lot more. I get hate from FC and FD owners quite often. Their argument is that I don't have a "real RX-7" despite the fact that the SA/FB has the most motorsport pedigree. I also get hate from a crowd whom I call the "community justice warriors" who are basically just "concerned" Prius-owners who live in my area (I live in a mega-snobby city for Uni).
You do you man. I am an FD owner but I always get excited when I see another Rotary on the road. We are a family and have to look out for each other. Don't listen to those morons!
when i was 16, i had a 2000 Honda Civic Si (Electric blue) and i left it at home to go to a party and my dad calls me later on and ask "if i came home and took my car" and i said "no" and come found out it was stolen off my driveway and found it few days later stripped.. I was torn from it.. but eventually got money from it and got a new car.. but it still sucked
EliteWolf A new Honda Civic is as expensive to insure as a new Mustang GT where I live, I'm not even kidding. Primary reason is that they're stolen so much.
Dude this video just made me sad. I just totaled my 2005 Rx8 2 weeks ago. Some old dude cut me off in a turn on the highway while the roads were a little wet. Put me backwards into the fast lane barrier at like 70 ish mph after doing a couple spins trying to regain control after I lost the rear end. I had that car for 11 years. Insurance totaled it out because of the airbags being deployed. I had 89K on it, new clutch, flywheel, plugs and wires -_- Ive been so heartbroken over this and was watching videos and saw this title and wondered "what is to hate about that car"!!!! I will forever miss my rx8 but have hope that one day I will have another! Great video, the car was truly an amazing ride. Highway, from dead stop and the twisty backroads was always a blast to drive.
*Of course it makes sense... the Wankel engine is obsolete today because it is inherently inferior to and less reliable than comparable reciprocating engines.*
*No, the NHTSA recall investigation of Mazda RX-8 engine failure complaints found that owners that provided fully documented service and inspection records still suffered from unacceptable rates of premature engine failures due to compression loss and seal damage. The truth is these engines were unreliable no matter how you cared for them... dispelling this false urban myth forever.*
*All Wankel engines use the same 4-stroke operating principle as the Otto type engine... the only difference is the Wankel requires 1080° of crankshaft rotation to complete it firing order sequence rather that the usual 720° of the typical 4-stroke Otto or Diesel reciprocating engines. cheers!*
I had an FC non-turbo and treatmed it exactly the same as the 5.0 Mustang before it. Never had am issue. No more warming up, no more warming down. On when I need it, off when I didn't. Rotary is best when not being babied. I've AutoX'd the RX-8 and had a blast.
Thanks for watching guys!
Whatcha think about that wankel?
ThatDudeinBlue they are amazing in my personal experience I have 3 of them
ThatDudeinBlue people probably won't know who wankle is lol
ThatDudeinBlue my first car got stolen it was a rx7
i have owned 2 fc's and i loved them both very much im currently looking for a vert fc and from there i wanna do a 20b swap
Josh Vargas damn thats tough man
I for one love our rotary overloads
maybe you wanted to say rotary overlords? lol i have 2 (fd & rx8) and i feel like i am working just to feed them gas and keep upgrading them
Rob Dahm Doritos engine. Illuminati confirmed!
Rob Dahm h
Rob dahm too complicated 4 me
*Rotary Engines SUCK! Rob.* jalopnik.com/the-rotary-engine-sucks-1773174001
I don't think people hate RX8s, I think they're just scared of it. What I mean from that is, that they are afraid of the motor giving out on them.
*People don't like the RX-8 because its a shed... an unreliable POS with a weak fragile engine that had about as much torque as a 4-cylinder Oldsmobile firing on just one cylinder and worse fuel mileage than a 455hp Corvette! Although it had an excellent chassis that was still available for sale with a much more reliable and efficient engine...its Mazda's best selling sports car ever! **_ITS CALLED THE MX-5!!!!_*
It’s called taking care of your car lol my rx8 has never given me problems.
@michael webber *Its called wishful thinking... and denial. The NHTSA recall investigation proved that there is no link between how well you cared for your RX-8 and the extremely high rates of premature engine failures... you are either very lucky? or just a liar?*
doktorbimmer Somebody had a bad experience, or neglected their engine and now relies on data collected by scientists to prove a meaningless point. All the while, there’s over 40 years of hands on builder and driver experience that proves that neglecting a rotary engine is the quickest way to its demise. First gen 8’s sucked, reliably. It still beats the shot out of a Miata, though. Also, it’s two rotors and a bunch of seals. The seals will eventually wear completely, and you will have to rebuild it. If you don’t like working on cars, don’t buy a rotary.
@Gage Hanson *Only to prove what Mazda and RX owners have already known for years... there are still a few delusional people out there like you that remain in denial of the truth.*
*I guess you haven't been down to your local Mazda dealer in several years? They don't make them anymore due to the engines horribly bad reputation for poor reliability...*
My dad had his first car stolen, it was a Honda Prelude, it was such a P.O.S that the thieves brought it back 2 days later, no joke
Lol
My Dad had his first car stolen also, it was a Ford Capri in 1979 (UK) car theft was very common at the time. He went to a birthday party and parked a few streets down, after the party he couldn't find the car, he kept looking for about an hour (poor Dad 😖)
What year was your dad's prelude? I have a 98 sh fixed up. Got a euro R H22a swapped. Pulls pretty good
@@jponz85 wunna engine swap it either dat or a h23
@@wackoterp7026 h23 has a bit more tq but doesn't do well on high rps at higher speeds such as the h22a
I owned an RX-8. I've also owned a 911, 928, 944, Evo, M3, S2000 and driven more sports cars than I can recall. The RX-8 may not be fast in a straight line, but it does have one of the most rewarding driving experiences. The chassis is amazing and handling is telepathic. Of all the cars I've sold, I regret this one the most. Disclaimer; I still have the 911, and I might regret selling that one more if I ever part with it. The RX-8 is as reliable as you want it to be. Take care of it properly and you won't have any issues. I put more than 90k miles on mine and it never skipped a beat. Zero issues. Loved it.
Fact!! I have owned and driv8n many sports cars and muscle cars and my rx8 r3 is by far the best front engined car when it comes to handling , people who dis it have little dicks and need 500hp to compensate !!
That Bimmer guy sure is pissed lol , must be a trump supporter!!
*The 911 is a real sports car... and its still in production.*
*Reciprocating engines are the clear winner here, Porsche has won the Le Mans 24 hours **_19 TIMES!!!_** and even the Diesel engine has proven superior on the track with Audi winning **_9 TIMES!!!!_** the Wankel? nothing but an old, obsolete, dead-end technology thats been out of production for years.*
@@doktorbimmer I'm pretty sure it was banned.
+ThatDudeinBlue Some facts about the RX-8:
The reason no forced induction was ever introduced from the factory was that the 13B Renesis motor used ninth RX-8 was developed to be the most efficient rotary Mazda technology at the time could produce for a reasonable price. This was primarily in an attempt to save the rotary engine in their lineup. Increasing demand for fuel efficiency and rising gas prices made the rotary a dinosaur in the market. The Renesis engine was approximately 30% more efficient than the unit used in the FD. Previous naturally aspirated units in the RX series topped out around 170 hp, the Renesis (called a Renny) makes 230-240 hp. Essentially, the Renny was Mazda taking the consumer rotary to its maximum potential as a every-day engine. Yes forced induction made more power, but it didn't have the linear curve of the Renny.
The gearing in the RX-8 is a compromise. Since the car lacks the low end push of the FD and its twin turbos, it used a very short final drive of 4.44, after the facelift 4.77. So yes, the car has 6 gears but a very short final drive so as to compensate for the lack of torque inherent to the Renny being NA. This does you no favors for gas mileage, which is likely a big reason why Mazda chose to upgrade to a 6 speed unit.
The car is a bit heavier than its FD counterpart being in the high-2800, low-2900lb range, also a reason for the short ratio. The AP1 S2000 is a bit lighter, but the AP2 is almost exactly on par with the RX-8's weight, but has 2 less seats and 2 less doors.
The NC used the RX-8 chassis, the RX-8 debuting on 2004 and the NC in 2005. So, when someone says "the RX-8 is just an NC Miata with 4 doors" thats actually incorrect. An NC is an RX-8 with two doors.
Due to how far Mazda stretched the Renny to maximums, there is VERY little anyone can actually do to extract extra power from the Renny outside of forced induction or machine work. People really like to centrifugally supercharge these. Pretty much the only place to make real gains (around 10-15 hp) is the exhaust. The mid-pipe and cats especially choke down the motor, and there are only one or two good options for replacing them. Any modification should be complimented by a tune to see real results, as per normal. Deleting accessories also helps; it's a tiny little motor so decreasing the load from the accessories has obvious advantages.
Most of the engine failures tended to be in automatic-equipped cars. Though many met their fate as you mentioned: people not understanding how the rotary works. The one thing on the car that CAN be blamed firmly on Mazda engineers is the oiling system for the apex seals. Rotaries have oil injectors to feed the apex seals, as we know rotaries are two stroke in the fuel mixture aspect. On a stock car, these injectors pull oil from the same crank-case reservoir that lubricates the engine with four-stroke oil. Four stroke oil doesn't burn worth a crap, so it actually contributes to harmful engine buildups and accelerated failure of the apex seals. However, SOHN sells an oil kit to fix this. The kit gives you an isolated oil reservoir that you fill with two-stroke oil, and then hook up to the apex injectors. This way your Renny burns nice, super-flammable lubricant instead of the heavy four stroke stuff.
Very informational, thank you. Loved my RX8, Identical to the one in this vid with the exception of red/black interior. Comments are right on about keeping the RPM's up and handling, amazing driving experience :)
*The Renesis was also the most fragile, failure prone version of the 13B family...*
+Adolf Reich *My condolences... hopefully someday you can afford a real performance car.*
Damn, makes me want to buy an rx8 now lol
@Rathanak's Life... *The RX-8 was the worst RX model ever made... it was so bad it killed off the entire RX brand forever...*
I had my first car stolen, even though it was only an EJ civic hatch i was so pissed! Luckily i found it in a B&Q (The UK's Home Depot) car park 2 days later completely by chance. The keys were inside but it was locked. I sprinted 3 miles home for my spare key, and 2 years later it's still sat on my driveway :D
I did call the police as soon as I found out it was gone, However there is limited stuff they can do apart from keep an eye out for it, or wait till it pops up on their surveillance somewhere. I just happened to stumble across it before they did.
Why is it always the early 90s Civics that get stolen?
it's a 2000 actually, last year of the EJ. And it may have something to do with the fact it can be opened with a spoon.
2-door Civic hatches and the CRX too! Something about those cars just screams "stick a crow bar in the doorjam!"
Ethan Gee holy shit you must of ran like hell. Good to hear you got it back
"Triangles everywhere!!!" -Mr. Regular
Triangles? Triangles! Triangles! Triangles! Triangles! Triangles! So much Triangles !
Ryan Caldwell the word vtech makes me cuuuuuuummmmmm
Hey son, where are you going, come back here, I wrote a song. It goes: Brown, Brown, Brown, Brown, Brown, Brown, Brown, Ezra Pound
Brandon Hightower VVVVRRMMMMMM
MOAR TRIANGLES
Did i tell you it has a rotary engine? Did it tllrlrrlr rotary engine? TLRLRLRLELE RTRY ENRGRGRNRNN?
It was the starter tuner car in Need for Speed Carbon
Renny that's why I want one now ! Or at least the alfa Romeo too
Renny and it couldn't go more than 220kmh
Renny omg i thought i was the only one who played carbon❤️❤️My childhood game
My favorite nfs
I beat the whole game with that car too!
piston engines are evolutionary but the wankel engine is revolutionary
doktorbimmer
Pop-up headlights were banned in some countries over safety issues.
yjjeeper1
@doktorbimmer well look who it is lol. Yes your correct, I'm just referring to U.S models. Why the interest in a car you feel has such a flawed power plant, your not also one if those V8 into rx7 guy's that should be shot are you? You know, I wasn't lying, I really am a cert BMW mechanic. I hope if you really are touching them please try to do it correctly. Their fantastic cars, do them justice doktor.
doktorbimmer
You're a jackass that doesn't know shit about automobiles is what you are... Your service manger called and said he has oil change he needs you to do... so shut the fuck up and get back to work boy!
I love my rx8, knowing how much money it makes me spend. But no other car makes me feel as special, especially when i go on mountain roads :)
Driven By Madness yea I understand it’s one of a kind but you’re kind of crazy to keep putting the money into the thing when you could easily upgrade to another Japanese sports car that will last twice as longer
@@yvnggloryjay8352 they're only unreliable because retarded 16 year Olds grab them and then change the oil every 10k miles. Never let them warm up. Flood the engine twice a month. Etc.
@@yvnggloryjay8352 the rx8 motor is really high maintenance, but if you keep a very keen eye on whats happening, the motor and seals should last the same as a basic piston engine of today (150-180k miles on series 1 and 230k miles and more on series 2)
The plain truth is the RX8 is one of the worst cars ever made..
@@sandervanderkammen9230 the plain truth is you're talking out your ass to get attention
Not the most hated the least loved I'd say
Well played!
I love mine!. 2004..98.000 klm and still running great!..
Tank Connors I know if they were available were I live I would get one
Tank Connors my manual has 143k miles on it, runs like a dream 😁
Darion Farina nice man. Always nice to here. I hope mine makes it up there. ☺️. Premix.? .
The RX8 is a beautiful looking car to me. stock, stance, whatever. looks great
*Define, "stance" for me...*
You know what I'm talking about. Aggressive fitment. What I really meant is they look good from stock to aggresive stance and everything in between.
I definitely agree that it looks great, i love how it looks, but it's probably an unreliable ride to actually invest money in.. oh well.
the RX-8 looks weird
in a good way
looks amazing not a fan of the motor
SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE A VIDEO:
How to properly own a rotary
*Someone should make a video: How to guide for rotards, how tell the difference between a Wankel engine and a Rotary engine.*
@@doktorbimmer its basically the same
@Siapit Apit *Only if you know absolutely nothing about engines....*
@@doktorbimmer well if you "know anything about engines" you'd know a Wankel engine is a type of roatary engine.... It's like your making the argument that a square isn't a type of rectangle.... you kinda sound stupid tbh...
@@doktorbimmer Jesus Christ, what is wrong with you? I've seen you in many comments being an asshole. Do you get paid for it, or does the strain of having to constantly fix your underpowered car make you act that way? Perhaps not enough money for paying rent after spending it on gas?
No turbo rx-8 because of emission standards. Imagine the MPG with a turbo on it!
I really don't want to know. I get 18mpg as is.
I got the same MPG as stock when mine was turbocharged
Mpg might be better with a turbo?
as an rx8 owner I love your unbiased review...keep being awesome.
I've had my Rx-8 for 10 years and I've never had squeaky brakes, it's your friend's pads lol
Reach
7 years on, can confirm. Only squeak I ever heard was the car telling me to shift.
Very true. mine has stayed with me for 4 years now and no funny or shitty sounds from the it. these are the same guys giving a bad reputation to the Rx8..
Reach I own a 2006 RX8 with 38,000 miles and was told the brakes squeaked from day one when the couple bought it from the dealer
Unfortunately that's the down side of buying a used car, having to deal with shady salesmen with a cheap sales pitch. With the amount of likes and other people who confirmed the myth is invalid, something is definitely up with your brakes, most likely just the pads need to be replaced. Mine is an '07 but I don't think they've changed anything in terms of brakes.
Reach how did you look after rx 8 for 10 years people say it breaks down after a while
LEMME TELL YA HOW A ROTARY ENGINE WORKS
oh you already know
WELL IMMA TELL YA ANYWAY
IMMA IMMA IMMA IMMA IMMA TELL YA ANYWAY
+errorcode99 TRIANGLES!
IMMA TELL YA HOW SMALL THE DAMN ENGINE IS
HAVE YOU SEEN THAT THING?
Oh, you know this already.
WELL IMMA SHOW YA ANYWAYS
Jaunge its a doritos engine
Suck squeeze bang blow
My first car was a foxbody handed down from my dad for my 15th birthday we worked so hard getting that car running solid. It was the first car that got me into the car scene heavily. One day while everyone was at school and work we got broken into and they stole it from our garage. Not too many things ruined my child hood like losing that car but thankfully 7 years later I'm finally going to start looking for another fox and relive my childhood one more time.
Mycoal 23 good luck!
Simon Dobrev thanks!
fox 5.0 ?
BOOG IEMAN yes 1989 fox 5.0 Green with gray bumpers and side skirts and purple tint
Mycoal 23 Screw people that steal, they can't work for their own stuff.
The one thing that has made me want an RX-8 has been that smile that gets bigger every time you get to redline. On every single review I see it. I watch for it. Thanks for the review.
I adored my RX8. Had every possible bolt on, update and modification done to it. 10,800 rpm retuned redline. Straight pipes.
She was GLORIOUS.
In fact, she was a better car than my current 1993 RX7 FD. But to be fair, they're very different.
DIB is completely correct about people just not understanding how to take care of a rotary engine properly.
Mine had 150k original miles on the original engine when she went to a new owner, and nearly perfect compression.
You just need to PRE MIX THE FUEL AT EVERY FILL UP!
I used 20w40 oil mixed half with Metal Conditioner Squared, and used 3/4 of an ounce per gallon of 93 octane VPower gas.
Redline every time you can as well.
Ryan DeClue What a waste of money
So u have to mix it every time u gas up? Im thinking of trading a silvia s110 for an 04 rx8 with 155xxx miles. Any taughts? Would this would be a good move or move along and wait for a cash offer?
@@MK-sk2mi don't
@@MK-sk2mi It's definitely not a daily driver car if you don't want to put in the effort. They're not simple "Change oil every 30K and you're good" types of cars. It's definitely a project that needs constant love. And for some people the rewards are worth it. Make sure you figure out if it is for you first.
*Premixing and engine already equipped with metered oil injection is monumentally stupid... this false urban myth does not extend engine life and only waste money it damages sensors, emission equipment, spark plugs and apex seals.*
best way to describe what a rotary sounds like is a pissed off weed eater. this coming from someone who owned 2 fc's
David I think you took a look at my white fc at the Katos meet on midlothian one time.
ronnie cason you should go to the Steel horse meets and the Pietros meet in chester
oh yea well ive owned 2 weed eaters
Jonathan p And they both were pissed?
I bet they both eventually crapped out being used to cut weeds and not get driven on da road !
I see a fellow Mazda, I hit the like button
Like the intro!
RX8 has a great shape in my opinion. Mostwanted (2005) made me love it.
Niclas Hedler car was pos in MW
Rx8 In NFS Underground 2 is where i fell inlove
TheDemitirus I had a nasty NA all motor RX8 in NFSU2. Thing would scream. Auto X was never so easy!
For me it was Carbon that I first saw the RX-8. Then it was MW lol
carbon rx8 sucks big time, pissed me off so much that i dont finish the game
Love my 2007 Rx8. The handling, sound, high revving rotary, gearbox, suicide doors, and styling are an absolute joy.
I love the RX8 for basically the same reasons. Props for referencing Mr. Regular.
I bought one as my first car and had it for about 2 years and absolutely loved it. Had some minor problems here and there but it was definitely worth the driving experience imo, especially since I was on the backroads a majority of the time.
how did you search for a good one though? cause you would have to make sure that the engine wasn't on its last legs or if the owner before knew how to take care of it, if you didn't buy it straight up from the last owner
Honestly it was a lot of luck. I purchased from someone local and it was the first 8 I had looked at and everything checked out.
planning on getting one too, but idk about that engine tho..
+Reda Ak The engine is a real problem.. buying one now that is out of warranty is taking way too much risk. Resale values also continue to sink making the the chance of any engine problems a real catastrophe.
The real doktorbimmer you are right, I have done some more research about this car and found out that maintaining it in a good condition or even just keeping it alive can be pain in the ass, especially financially , so as a student I don't think that car would be the right choice for me right now. Thanks for your comment tho.
Find a sick ass FC to review
Grimiez Wun yes please
Grimiez Wun please
fc is my favorite rx7
Mine to! I want another one so bad. unfortunately the one I owned previously was rusted to hell :( but one day I will build one
I had two and I wish I never sold them :(
Last year I bought a 2005 RX-8. It has an aftermarket turbo boost and exhaust. Absolutely a blast to drive! My biggest trouble is finding someone to properly tune it because no one will touch a rotary engine in my area. The rumors of the problematic O-2 sensors falls true with my RX-8.
My first car was a FB, I've learned to love the rotary and wow. when they run, they are amazing.
I was expecting this vid to be some sort of clickbait, but instead I found your thoughts on the RX-8 (especially its handling) to be very insightful. Thanks for the vid!
Just now watching this one. I love that you defend the back road driver's cars. Great review as always
The RX8 looks nice, but its biggest problem is the FD RX7..... that thing was so gorgeous that pretty much anything Mazda could do would have been worse in comparison.
It is gorgeous in its on way though. Beautiful rear doors, the same double bubble roof as the FD, those sweet fenders. Its just that they overdid the triangles.
The RX8 was never meant to be compared to the FD. If you look at the MSRP of the FD 30K-40K in the early mid 90’s vs the RX8’s 25k-30k 2004-2011 it makes sense. 30-40k inflated from 1992 to 2004-2011 is 50k-65k ish.
@@jakereagan5805 people don't judge things that rational, i mean look at all the VW and Audi drivers.
I've never heard this car talked about in good light, but now that I have, I really wouldn't mind owning one.
Awesome review dude and thank you.
As for the turbo issue, the Renesis motors ports are different from the traditional 13b-rew. That's where ppl running to issue, exhaust flow etc.
But I wish Mazda would have thought of that before mass production lol :/
they're really not that bad, maintenance can be a pain but as long as you stay on top of it. It's a good car. mine has 127,××× on the original motor and the only thing I had to change was the catalytic converter.
Sweet! I'm changing out my cat on mine currently. Runs like a dream when it does! 76k KM on the odo.
I got 118k on mine, only had to change the radiator. Sadly sold it last weekend for something with better long-term future prospects.
At 100k miles, the first stage of my catalytic converter blew into many, many pieces and clogged the second stage.
I was getting on the interstate, following my friend's GT-R... at 7+k RPM... when it happened. I nearly shit myself at the sound, the dashboard disco lights, and it losing power like I just stood on the brakes. Couple hundred bucks later, good as gold. Until the secondary O2 sensor failed from being filled up with heavy metal dust a few weeks later.
Live and learn
Sounds like its time to look for a new car...
Question for rotary owners. Do you guys use premix gas with the 2 stroke oil or did you achieve 120k miles just from regular gas?
Not as cool as a rx7 but it still has a rotary lol
The thing about the rx7,is that we saw it in car cartoons when we were young,and we grew up to love it and praise it as our lord and savior.
Yea the fact the RX8 weighs more and has significantly less power and no turbo has nothing to do with it... plus it looks like a boy racer versus the wide, low and mean looking fd3.
Price differance brand new. Rx 8 sold for 55k and Fd rx 7 $90k
Ben Chesterman Where and when were you buying FD's? I need to know, I'd like to go flip a few of them.
Australia . Convert AUD to USD
Jeremy Clarkson loved this car though, so it must be amazing
When I was still in Grade School I used to go to my grandma's for lunch every day. I live in a small town where most cars are inevitably four door sedans, station wagons (we call them combis in my country) and the occasional tractor. But there is a house along the main road where I used to cycle every day, where one day I spotted it.
A crimson colored Mazda RX8. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
I haven't seen that vehicle in years.
Another rare vehicle I regularly see in my hometown is a jet black classic Ford, one with a huge, rumbling V8 you can hear from half a km away. There are no words to describe that sound, it just sounds like pure POWER. On the day I first saw that monstrosity I found my second dream car.
Good point at 4:00 So many people judge a car in a straight line or on the highway when a sports car should be judged in the twisties. Oh yeah, that car you test in a straight line? Those are drag race cars.
The RX8 is a sedan not a sports car.
His “once you got rotary you never go back” that I can’t agree with more, had 2 RX8s, one shit box and the other was perfect! Haven’t had one for 2 years now, went to a diesel, didn’t like it, now going back to a RX8.
not a 2 stroke, all rotaries require oil mixing into the fuel, either by the factory method of oil squirters or by the more preferred of mixing the fuel because the oil squirters fail sometimes more often then not.
they require proper lubrication to maintain the seal with the apex seals, thats why most people consider the rotary unreliable, because they fail to keep it lubed/mixed properly and then the seals get burnt out.
Wankel engines are all 4-stroke, Rotary ICEs can be either 2-stroke or 4-stroke... but of course the rotary type has been obsolete for nearly 90 years
The real doktorbimmer you are wrong
The real doktorbimmer how often does the 13b make a power stroke
+90 whp *Of course Rotary engines can have either orbiting or reciprocating pistons, making 2-stroke operation possible only on Rotary engines and not the Wankel engine.*
The real doktorbimmer the wankel is essentially a 1 stroke not a 2 or 4 it doesn't have pistons. the wankel makes power every stroke because it doesn't reciprocate, which is also it's downfall because the exhaust side of the housing never gets a break to cool.
I own an FD and a FE. They both are incredible to drive and are different. If I had to choose between the two for a drivers car I would choose the rx8. The rx7 is a lot faster (mine is modded to heck), its lighter, it brakes a little better, its balance is the same roughly speaking, but you need to be a good driver to drive a really fast car fast. The slower cars like the rx8 are fun as hell, you rail them deep into the corner, slam on the brakes and get on the gas to catch the rear end on it and you stay in it all the time. You really push the brakes and lines and throttle all the time. the rx7 is so fast that its sometimes butt puckering jumping on the brakes from 140+MPH. Another thing is the series II transmissions (I swapped one in my series 1) are silky smooth in shifting compared to my rx7 gearbox. The ABS brakes are insanely good on the rx8 and the steering is very good. I have ohlins dfv on both cars and while the rx7 is faster in the large open spaces, the rx8 is just as fast on a tight autox course. The rx7 is definitely better looking but the rx8 is more refined, I also like the rx8's suspension/chassis a lot better. Honestly, with only a slight difference in speed on a small closed course autox type set up, the rx8 is a better buy over the FD. The FD does have better build quality but once you fix the stupid cheap stuff on the rx8 the rx8 is a much better buy if you are a driver. The things that suck on the rx8??, clutch pedal can break, radiator is plastic, steering column needs love sometimes, MAF sensor not as robust as MAP sensor, heat/cool controls need soldering, series 1 trans sucks, MPG.
*You really need to get out and drive some real performance cars.*
rx8 was def my favorite car sense I was a little kid. I got the opportunity to test drive one. absolutely loved it.
I've owned 3 fc's, 1 fb and 2 8's. The one I own now I've owned for over 10 years. Never premixed, never flooded. I drive it hard and it takes care of me. Great vid!
my baby
:3
A lot of flooding and "engine failures" were caused by a weak ignition system. Also, a lot of engines were replaced by remanufactured engines that had terrible quality control. Upgraded coil packs/plugs + plus the Mazda reflash from the later S1 models fix a lot of the reliability issues.
love my rx8, barrel of fun
+Richard Huynh Flooding is a common sign of weak seals and compression loss in any Wankel type engine.. the ignition upgrade is often a red herring, masking the real, true problem, which is impending engine failure.
+Richard Huynh *The RX-8 is Infamous for engine failures and short service life.. Mazda's Remanufacturing and Technical Center in Chesterfield VA. produced over 20,000 warranty replacement engine between 2008-2012.. this figure does not include, engines supplied by outside contractors, new replacement engines from Japan or Aftermarket rebuilds..*
The Mazda "reflash" also significantly reduced the rated power output.
that warranty replacement was because of people buying the car not knowing what kind of engine it had, leading to them flooding the engine from no letting it warm up/ cooling down before and after driving and parking it. The engine itself only had one flaw which was the oil lines didn't lubricate the housing enough, so they added a third line.
their excuse for not turbocharging the rx8 was because of the ports.
They were able to make "258" hp N/A because of the porting.
Mike Coolbaugh
No, they didn't turbocharge it because that will reduce reliability even more.
Emissions
+Soranut Ratanavaraha RELIABILITY... not emissions
Higher compression rotor aswell... The Renesis motor bought along a lot of "Efficiency, Economy and Reliabilty" changes that just made it hard and unreliable to add forced induction.
The MSP-Renesis was specifically designed to address a problem that all fixed, piston ported engines suffered from, overlap and poor scavenging which negatively impacts exhaust emissions, which as a side effect also improved _Volumetric Efficiency._ The primary mode of apex seal failure that plagued the Wankel engine was directly related to _Dynamic Compression_ and _Peak Combustion Pressure_ (what engineers IMEP) and the erratic combustion related to the Wankel's inefficient chamber design.
The RX8's a great car for track purposes, excellent handling. I've had mine for 9 years (2nd engine) over 100k miles. The car runs perfect. The only issue with the 8 is its limited HP and torque. I'm planning the pull the renesis out and put a 13b in it.
My first good bicycle was a mongoose and it was stolen. I still remember how much that hurt almost 30 years later.
I w9uldnt say the most-hated. perhaps just the least-loved.
*Not the most hated... just the worst RX model ever made.*
here before david leaves a comment. stay awesome
You stay awesome!
ThatDudeinBlue no you!
a Ma the cringe
My ones done 167,000kms (103,000miles), and still going hard ☺️
jormah ewington is it still going?
jormah ewington ^^^ how is it now?
What about now
What about now?!?!?!
I believe you Jormah. My 04 RX8 GT 6 speed got over 178,000 km/110,604 miles on the engine before I started getting cold start issues. I changed the solenoids, coils and spark plugs but I let the registration expire as I have two other cars that I need to maintain (wife wouldn't let me put any more money into the rotary) lol. It's been 6 years sitting in my grandparents garage. I miss it hence I'm on UA-cam looking at RX8 video's during Covid lock down.
David, the new port location for the exhaust ports gave the renesis loads more NA horsepower but compromised the reliability. The ports were located such that they would overheat and cook the side seals over time. A design plus that was also a design flaw. A turbo system just increases the problem of exhaust heat and further shortens the life of the side seals. If you really take care of them they can go 100K before a rebuild. Most people didn't know how to take care of them so the motors were making it to like 60K. Mine had 105K when I sold it and it was fine. I miss it.
I was young and broke when my Honda civic got stolen in Charlotte, NC. I'd bought a transmission I hadn't even picked up yet.
I just bought two 2004 RX8s and I'm going to build them both out from the ground up. They have good shells. Thanks for your video.
"The FD had a Turbo, and even the FC."
The SA22 had a turbo model in Japan too.
"It's singing me a song!" -ThatDudeinBlue 2017
2020😂😂
I loved my rx-8. I did many power slides turning into intersections. Always felt controllable. At 130mph it was unstable though. Early models we're very problematic. 2006+ were better.
I know Forza is a game but one time I jokingly built an A600 Class Mazda RX8 with only bolt ons and very little if any power adders.
But to my surprise was the fact that car had some the fastest record lap/apex corner times I’ve ever seen on some tracks. The speed at which that thing could hold G’s and continue to accelerate was second only to my Viper ACR. I was astounded. I researched more about the RX family of sports cars with their near perfect 50/50 balance and their extremely light weight at around 3k or under. These cars including the RX8 are so underrated........
I can definitely feel their allure.
1000% agree with the statement about the back roads driving at the 4 minute mark. I live on the back roads and my RX thrives on those roads. I get so many twits that want to race at the light but the tight curves are where this car excels in my opinion.
love the coupe with the strange doors! looked at one, but rusty as hell.....
My first car is an rx8 and Ive had small problems with the OMP other than that Ive had no other problem after I replaced it. Im at 120,000 miles original engine and its still going strong.
OverPoweredKnife
look in to idemitsu premix bro! for your car with a running omp you would put 6 onces of premix in your gass tank at fill up and it will clean and keep the carbon off the engine!! or you can delete the omp and go full premix!!!
lincoln carnegie I usually add a bit of premix on each tank with ofcourse the omp still in the car and ive never really had any issues. But yea ive been holding out on taking out the OMP and should probably probably do that xD. And thanks for the sugestion on the premix ill look into that brand.
dont take out the omp the rx8 needs the localised oil that the omp provides but you should still premix because the omp doesnt lubricate the middle of the apex seals so use both thats what many rotary experts tell me
Great advice here! I would love to have an rx-8 as my first car.
I love my RX8
Me too 😭❤👌
Alberto Gomez you still have your Mazda rx8?
I finally got mines been interested for years about these cars. Got mine for $300..invested time putting transmission in and about $175 worth of maintenance fluids and stuff. Its totally different from my evo but I live it. GREAT review David
Had a brand new 2009 up until 2015. Not one issue. But that was due to the fact that I knew how to take care of it. I think he hit the nail on the head by stating that most (and I do mean most) people who owned RX-8's were people who had never had experience with Rotaries beforehand. Thing is - if you keep oil in them, rev them high, and let them warm up every time you start them - you will have no problems at all. I had 55,000 miles on my RX-8 when I sold it and again, never had a single issue. It was a great road trip car. It was a great in town car (minus the gas mileage). I'd definitely buy another one if I had the opportunity.
Watching this review makes me miss my Rx8 :( Great review though!
This was my favorite car back in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010)
I owned an Rx8 for my first car and loved it. It's definitely not great as a first car though, due to unreliability. But that may be me just being unlucky, and it being a bit old.
I had to replace the engine at 133k miles, and the radiator, and a lot more.
But I love the look of it, and the sound. Plus, it's comfy as fuck. It handles amazingly.
However, most aftermarket bumpers/body kits are a bit "ricey".
Overall, it's not a good first car, but anyone who loves rotaries and likes cornering, should definitely test drive one.
yep, a money pit is never a good idea for a first car. must have really loved it to not get rid of it after the motor blew at 130k
As a Mazda Fan Boy and a Previous Owner Of a 2004 RX-8 6-Speed in Winning Blue, I Absolutely Love They Handle and Sound. Mine Had Aftermarket Mazdaspeed C.A.I. and Borla Exhaust, XXR 530 Chromium Black Wheels on B.F. Goodrich G-Force Summer Performance Tires and Tinted Windows!!!
Sound of that rotary is great
the rx8 has 50/50 weight distribution
Joseph Santizo 52/48
That's rx7, that has 50/50 weight distribution not the rx8. Rx8 doesn't have 50/50 distribution
Rx8 has an almost perfect 50-50....but ONLY IF you rear mount the battery, remove plastic covers, and go to a basic intake.
*Lots of performance cars have 50/50 weight distribution...and some cars that don't still handle and perform better... which is why they are still made and the RX-8 is not, major sales flop for Mazda.*
I just want another rotary!!
What happened to the first one?
It blew. They all do.
7:30 Keep beatin on it keep beatin on it and everything is good temperature is the same, oil is good - same temp, buuuuutttt the engine blows up sometimes.
I've been debating on getting on rx-8 but then i saw this video. ITS A SIGN, thanks David!!
Handling on the car is unlike anything else I've driven. Power wise the rotary has the best power to weight ratio of any engine. *Supercharger would be better I think.
doktorbimmer
doktorbimmer *WANKEL ENGINES ARE SOARING*
5 months ago
+Dindyracer Engine failures, poor fuel consumption and lack of performance is what cause buyers to shy away from Mazda's troubled RX models.. sales dropped to below a sustainable level and they had no choice but to discontinue the brand for good.
Ernie Brink
Add a public reply...
Edward Ashbolt
Edward Ashbolt
5 months ago (edited)
The real doktorbimmer why are you on so many rotary videos complaining about rotaries? for something you dislike so much you sure spend a lot of time watching them lol
1
he cant afford one lmao
he hates wankel cuz he can wank no more lol
*calm car on the highway* "Installs a straight pipe" Calm you say?
You need to do a turbo rotary. Stop playing.
Nobody cares man! >:c Turbo or N/A, all cars deserve love.
Wut.
Christopher Twist truu 😤😤👌
I absolutely love the body lines, the smiley front bumper ruins it for me personally, but I've seen some with aftermarket front bumpers and they are to die for.
THE FOUR STROKES OF A INTERNAL COMBUSTION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A
WANKEL ENGINE THIS MAKES IT MORE EFFICIENT THAN A PISTON ENGINE JUST THE
FACTS CHEERS RIGHT BUDDY RUB THIS
Who else loves the sound of the mighty roraty
I love my RX-8 but it's a piece of shit lol... it's been dead in my driveway for a month now. Damn previous owner babying it...
ha my dads been siting since like augast last year....weve started getting the motor out for a rebuild lol
Brady K Engine swap it lol
I had a friend get an rx8 for her first car. Previous owner was a mom. I knew her car wouldn't last 😅
So if you don't abuse the engine it won't last. What?
sort of. the rx8 engine can't be babied, or else it will constantly flood, and brake. Everytime you start it youre supposed to rev it some to like 4k, and every drive you need to take it to 6k atleast once I believe. It's been a while since I've looked at all this so I may be off, but its something like that.
I have had an RX8 GT (Australian R3) for about 5 years.
When I go out and lean in and start it so as to warm it up, I straight away start to smile.
There is no other car has done that to me.
Thank you Mazda.
To must have owned some crap cars..
My ex girlfriend had an RX8 and I personally loved this thing. I know the FD was legendary but I liked the RX8 to this day I'd love to own one of these
I loved my 94 RX7..Miss that thing when I had it in 98..That car was a Chick magnet like no other car I ever had.
love the rx8 despite what people say. its a wonderful car. the only thing i hate is the cheap plastic interior.
*And the shitty engine that dies after 50k miles.*
@@doktorbimmer SOS Brigade Chief
SOS Brigade Chief
6 months ago
doktorbimmer lol, I'd rather take my chances from people who own a rotary and has had no engine problems with 150k+ miles than to listen to someone who goes from video to video talking nothing but cons about the engine. You really do sound like you spend a lot of time on /o/ btw. Not an insult. Just an observation.
he is a big COW PIE and yes deleted from ROTARY ENGINE BREAKTHROUGH*
Hey david, Would you do a review of NFS 2017? btw I like the rx-8 more than the rx-7. Hey dont hate ( hey Mia in NFSMW05 thats what got me into rx-8 )
ShadowxDrifting same i like the rx-8 better then the rx 7
i don't know who drove a Rx-8 in carbon but that person is the reason to why i love it
FreaKy i did in carbon. it was always my first car in carbon.
ShadowxDrifting nfs is fucking gay...
invinciblejets are you assuming it's gender
"And thats why I think a lot of cars are overlooked - a lot of cars are judged by how does it drive on the straight line or on a highway and then they are not given a chance anywhere else" made me instasub
i have an 06 shinka edition rx8 and it never gives me a problem and the power to weight just gives the car such good handling and you can control the car so well and it such a responsive car i personally love it in every way shape and form.
06' models were recalled for engine failures and the ECU reflashed to limit power output..
liked before watching
I don't think the RX-8 is the most hated rotary car. As a current FB RX-7 owner and ex-RX8 owner; I can comfortably state that I get more hate in my FB.
A lot more.
I get hate from FC and FD owners quite often. Their argument is that I don't have a "real RX-7" despite the fact that the SA/FB has the most motorsport pedigree.
I also get hate from a crowd whom I call the "community justice warriors" who are basically just "concerned" Prius-owners who live in my area (I live in a mega-snobby city for Uni).
You do you man.
I am an FD owner but I always get excited when I see another Rotary on the road.
We are a family and have to look out for each other. Don't listen to those morons!
@@Lewislpalm agreed 👌
when i was 16, i had a 2000 Honda Civic Si (Electric blue) and i left it at home to go to a party and my dad calls me later on and ask "if i came home and took my car" and i said "no" and come found out it was stolen off my driveway and found it few days later stripped.. I was torn from it.. but eventually got money from it and got a new car.. but it still sucked
EliteWolf A new Honda Civic is as expensive to insure as a new Mustang GT where I live, I'm not even kidding. Primary reason is that they're stolen so much.
The 99 00 em1 Si is probably the most stolen car. Especially in Ebp mines almost been stolen a few times. Ive gotten lucky is all
Acura integras as well, lots of nice 90’s 00’s cars get stolen. Protip: remove the steering wheel or install a GPS or best of all park it in a garage.
Dude this video just made me sad. I just totaled my 2005 Rx8 2 weeks ago. Some old dude cut me off in a turn on the highway while the roads were a little wet. Put me backwards into the fast lane barrier at like 70 ish mph after doing a couple spins trying to regain control after I lost the rear end. I had that car for 11 years. Insurance totaled it out because of the airbags being deployed. I had 89K on it, new clutch, flywheel, plugs and wires -_- Ive been so heartbroken over this and was watching videos and saw this title and wondered "what is to hate about that car"!!!!
I will forever miss my rx8 but have hope that one day I will have another! Great video, the car was truly an amazing ride. Highway, from dead stop and the twisty backroads was always a blast to drive.
*A blessing in disguise really... now a whole world of vastly superior automobiles is available to you.*
I own a 2006 Rx8 since brand new, and I still love it! every once in a while I upgrade something keeping it updated!
I love my RX-8 it’s all about how you take care of engine
*The RX-8 was plagued by horrible reliability issues that have been proven not to be related to maintenance practices.*
Wtf lol that makes no sense haha so I do t have to take care of my car any more ? Sweet thanks for advice
*Of course it makes sense... the Wankel engine is obsolete today because it is inherently inferior to and less reliable than comparable reciprocating engines.*
*No, the NHTSA recall investigation of Mazda RX-8 engine failure complaints found that owners that provided fully documented service and inspection records still suffered from unacceptable rates of premature engine failures due to compression loss and seal damage. The truth is these engines were unreliable no matter how you cared for them... dispelling this false urban myth forever.*
Agree to disagree I mean I’ve done nothing but take care of mine never had any issues
notification squad likes here
Not quite a two stroke. Just cause u put oil in the gas doesn't make it a 2 stroke.
*Good point, having oil injection and fixed port induction does not make it a 2-stroke... All Wankel engines are 4-stroke.*
@@doktorbimmer Wankel not quite 4 stroke either. ;)
*All Wankel engines use the same 4-stroke operating principle as the Otto type engine... the only difference is the Wankel requires 1080° of crankshaft rotation to complete it firing order sequence rather that the usual 720° of the typical 4-stroke Otto or Diesel reciprocating engines. cheers!*
@@doktorbimmer this is true
Whats this, a sane comment, be careful the unbelievers will flame you : =)
Watching this made me miss my FC 💔💔💔, sold it to buy a house
Thanks for reviewing this, David💙
That rotary sound is 💙
I had an FC non-turbo and treatmed it exactly the same as the 5.0 Mustang before it. Never had am issue. No more warming up, no more warming down. On when I need it, off when I didn't. Rotary is best when not being babied. I've AutoX'd the RX-8 and had a blast.
Hated??
Well, car buyers certainly avoided it, and it did nothing to improve Mazda's bad reputation for reliability problems.