series 2 rx8 r3 owner here, its worth it if you have deep pockets and either a shop to do your maintenance and engine swap, or if you can do it yourself. what you dont make up in money, you can make up in time to diy and learn it yourself. still really costly either way. but if youre about that life, its such a joy
That goes with out saying for any performance vehicle I own a gen 1 s-type Mitsubishi GTO tt, gallant VR4 gen 8 used to own a fd had to sell it for financial reasons wish I could buy another one, and a triumph Daytona 675r it’s one of those things No vehicle is it gonna cost you money if you enjoy it money is no object apart from living costs these days
I own a series 2 rx8 myself, biggest cost is spark plugs 😂 I replace them every 8k miles still got the original engine, no rebuild 128k miles. I see rebuild in the near future…
Series 1 rx8, have to say after a rebuild and a few "small" mods in cooling and a sohn it's way easier to compensate in smiles per mile over caring for reliability
I've had my current RX-8 for almost two years. This is my second one. For a car often slated as unreliable and thirsty, I've just come back from a 1021 miles/1643km trip over 5 days and not a single problem or warming light. It's been punished by battered Belgian roads, driven at 10mph through towns and got stuck in traffic jams during a heatwave. It's also been regularly driven at 80mph/90mph on Belgian motorways. Running temp has never spiked above 103C (112C is the safe limit) and its returned 26.9mpg/ 10.5l/100 which is great for a rotary engined car. It's also gone through 375ml of oil. My usual mileage on normal daily commute is around 21mpg. I have a cooling mod (ECU remap for fan temp triggers), a Sohn kit and an aftermarket ignition kit (Ryan Rotary Performance). I also premix. That's it. I change engine oil twice a year. I change diff oil and gearbox oil every 18 months. Spark plugs every two years. I also only use high octane fuel (Euro 98 or 99). I never cheap out on oil or parts: Only quality products. Take care of her and she'll take care of you.
RX8 Club’s recommended maintenance schedule, more comprehensive and proactive than Mazda’s schedule. 30,000 miles: - Replace Ignition coils - Replace Plug wires - Replace Spark plugs - Clean MAF (mass air flow sensor) - Clean ESS (e-shaft sensor) - Reset ESS profile - Clean power steering connections - Clean battery terminals and clamps - Replace transmission fluid - Replace coolant (Mazda FL-22 is highly recommended) - Replace air filter - Replace brake fluid (fluid in the brake lines AND the clutch line) ~$300 USD in parts if you shop smartly. every 60,000: ...all 30,000, plus... - Clean all chassis electrical grounding points - Replace accessory belts - Clean OMP lines - Replace rear differential fluid - Replace thermostat - Clean / Straighten AC condenser fins - Clean / Straighten oil cooler fins - Inspect catalytic converter - Clean / Inspect intake valving - Consider / inspect all points in 90,000+ as well, many items fail early ~$130 USD in parts if you shop smartly. 90,000: ...all 30,000, plus any 60,000 not yet done, plus... - Replace coolant bottle - Replace radiator hoses - Replace radiator - Replace front O2 sensor - Replace motor mounts - Inspect clutch pedal assembly for flex / weld breaks ~$900 USD in parts if you shop smartly. At 100k, anything original in the cooling system and any original cat are really suspect and failure prone. They represents the biggest threat to your engine. Replace. __________________
I personally have a 2005 RX8 at first I fell in love with it. How it sounded. How it drove. It was great. Til I had to put a motor in it. But then I did. I had to change the fuel pump on it, replace the slave cylinder and clutch master and aside from that I did more preventative maintenance on it. I live in texas so it’s HOT. Put a aluminum radiator in it, 3168 CFM fans, lower temp oil cooler thermostats. And soon to come a ECU reflash so the fans turn on at a lower temp and the air fuel gets adjusted. Like he said pre mix is HUGE. I have a delete OMP. So I premix 1 ounce per gallon. It’s a 16 gallon tank sometimes less. I get 12-15 MPG half highway and half city. Agreed though it’s something you want
Nice I used .5 oz per gallon for daily driving and 1 oz per gallon if I plan on driving hard. Anything more then 1 oz per gallon isn’t meant for daily driving/street car.
I loved my 2006 RX8. I was upset when it got hit by one of the two people racing down the road. I just happened to be right where one of the cars lost control and hit me. It was a sad day having to say goodbye to that car. I plan to get another one very soon.
I've had my 07 for a little over 8 years now and I still love it! I don't daily it anymore but did so for about 5 years. Sohn adapter, upgraded ignition and a catless midpipe have all helped to keep it running strong.
Had my 93 rx7 for quite a while, and I absolutely loved it. These days everyone knows that rotaries can be temperamental, but they aren’t as bad as you typically hear. You deff want to spend some cash on regular maintenance and reliability upgrades first, but it’s worth it. I upgraded all the silicon engine hoses (they would leak whenever temperature got too cold) and it made a big difference. As long as you Go into it expecting some extra love and care, you will love it!
@@Burchie_ i think rob dahm said something about the engine, it has super long screws that secure the sandwhich together, theyre good at clamping but bad with tortions (which is what rotaries do) so he talked about adding supports by boreing the screw holes, inserting high tortion-rigidity metal tubes, then screw into the center
I currently own a 2004 RX8 Grand Touring (GT) that I got in February of 2022 and I do not regret my purchase for one second. I've had plenty of people give me 💩 about it, but they don't know how fun it is to drive this car! I bought mine for the reason of learning how to maintain my own vehicle, and I think this is the best car to learn. Learning so much and hope to keep on learning. End game is to hold onto it till the day I die, or one of my future kids want to keep it cause I know it was worth it 🤟🏼
Good video. Have had my RX8 for 19 years as of last month. Been a great car and I'll keep it forever. Was my 3 season daily for the first few years I've owned it. Just one of my weekend toys now. Been a very dependable car thus far and still going strong on stock motor. The most misunderstood car on the internet.
Catching this a year later, but congratulations! You must have hit the 20 year mark now! My 17th anniversary with my RX-8 is coming up! A few years in, I vowed that I would never sell the car. It grabbed me by the heart strings! It's very reliable as long as you warm it up, rev and let it get to operating temperature. The only times I had flooding was when an auto body shop didn't follow my instructions on a single-digit temperature cold day and years later when the engine finally completed its run at 120,000 mi. Doing a carbon cleaning every year is a good idea plus rev, rev, rev! On my second engine now for 17,000 mi and doing great!
Hope my engine will last as long as yours. I recently bought an 04 8 with 29,000 original miles. I did have to replace the catalytic converter (not a cheap fix). I will eventually put a mid pipe on but need to past my first year of emissions to be clear for the next 2. Need less to say I absolutely love the car. It is my weekend toy and honestly at the price point it’s a poor man’s Ferrari. Plan on doing a compression test again as I’m coming up on almost a year since I have bought it. Definitely a car you have to want.
I have a 2005 Shinka RX-8. It was my daily driver from 2006 - 2021. Great car. A blast to drive. I am currently doing a rebuild on the engine and some minor mods. Love the car.
Bought an FD a little over a year ago and it’s definitely been one hell of a learning curve. That said, I did my research for months beforehand so I knew what I was getting myself into. If you know how to treat a rotary (aka drive the piss out of it) and the kind of maintenance it needs, they’re plenty reliable! My engine is approaching 57k miles, unknown when the last rebuild was or if it’s had one yet, and still has extremely healthy compression 👌🏻
In my opinion and from my experience, the biggest things you can do for reliability is: 1. getting a tune for lower fan temps 2. replace oem coils with LS coils 3. keep RPMs under 3000 until its fully warmed up 4. use 10w40 instead of 5w20 5. premix .5oz/gal
I've had my rx8 for 17 years now. Bought it 6/7/05. Original owner and I've pushed it to its peak. Just removed the turbo and went back NA. It's hard to find a competent tuner and tuning solution. I no longer care about power. Just enjoy the car for what it is and avoid the people who wanna race you because the rx8 isn't the fastest so its an easy win. Keep it at no more than 10psi. Mine made about 330hp and 279 tq.
Thank you for this video, it gives me comfort of buying an rx8 in the future since weirdly enough it's my dream car and my dream project for rotary engines. To me they have a special place in my heart and seeing this video makes me think that my choice won't be so bad after all and to be fair a lot of the points you covered is something that a lot of people should take into consideration. Most important one is "Really wanting an rx8". Thank you for this video and to many more years brapping. I hope one day I can show you guys my rx8 one day ❤️
I have a '11 S2 with 182K miles on the original engine. It never has let me down. I drive it 80 miles a day to and from work (mostly Interstate). Love it. Keys to making it reliable. Change oil every 3K. Use 0w-40 or 10w-40. I use M1 0w-40. Yes, synthetic..... Change spark plugs ever 30K miles. Premix and/or Sohn adapter for s1 guys. Change factory coils to good aftermarket (BHR) or GM D585. DRIVE IT HARD!!!!! Babying an RX8 will kill it!!! I bang the limiter all day, everyday, it serves to keep intake valves free and improves combustion. I average 20 MPG 90/10 highway/city driving@75-80MPH
I've had my rx8 for 4 years. love the thing. I daily mine. I can say gas is expensive but not as bad as some other cars I've had shockingly. I recommend Premixing, Deleting Catalytic Converters, Redlining it weekly, Keeping a close eye on oil and coolant levels. The inner coolant jacket seals tend to go bad and leak into the engine. Which doesn't cause too much of an issue but it can be a big issue if you let it get too low.
I always liken them to two strokes. They have twice as many combustion events as a normal engine, generally make twice the power per liter and get half the millage and half the time between rebuilds because of it. On the plus side, the rebuilds are actually really easy, quick and cheap comparatively.
Have my 07 first car I learned to work on myself it was very nerve wrecking and anxiety however after you learn how to de flood it and standard maintenance its worth plus you gain a skill mechanics don't even know, number 1 thing that must be immediately done is a compression test if it's below 90 psi you must get a rebuild its worth it for a long lasting life on the engine plus if your in the new jersey area there are hidden rotary shops that will help you
I've had my 05 RX-8 for almost a year and it's my daily driver! I live in Colorado and yes, I drive it in the winter also! It's a great car and I average 20 mpg and I drive about 80 miles a day!
Yes they are not super fast but it keeps up with my FD rx7. But leaves it behind in the corners ! Sometimes low compression will badly effect the rx8 performance
i bought my mazda rx8 2 years ago, with 52k miles on it, its now at 68k miles and so far( knocked on wood) no major issues with it, i recently replaced the alternator but thats legit the only big thing i have done to it, car runs amazing and i love it, it is my first ever bough car with my own money, even if in a future it dont run anymore, i will try my best to save up as much now for a rebuild later. i love this car :D
Rx8 R3 longterm owner (4years) and totally worth it. Back 2015 i sold my RX8 S1 i got from 2012. Good if you have deep pocket for gas and enough reliable do drive my R3 daily
I own a 2008 40th Anniversary Edition RX8 (only 1000 made like this in the world) . I bought it new in 2008 and now it is insured as a Classic Car for 150% of what I bought it for new in 2008, full value, no depreciation. I have owned seven rotary Mazdas since the 70's; one RX3, two RX4, all three generations of the RX7 with two of those RX7 modified by Racing Beat for the track. I easily have over a million rotary miles on street and track . Yes I have upgraded and improved my RX8, cooling modifications with Koyo-Rad radiator, Pettit Racing closed system, Racing Beat hoses, low temp thermostat, oil cooler low temp thermostats , low temp fan control, upgraded water pump, ; Mazdaspeed CAI, high performance BHR ignition coils and wires, upgraded starter, performance Cat and mid-pipe from Rotary Performance, BHR clutch pedal assembly, Series Two fuel pump upgrade, new clutch and engine (from Mazda warranty, no cost to me), new engine mounts, and a few other things. I also upgraded to Conti Contact DWS06+ tires. I will be keeping my 40th Anniversary Edition RX8 forever. Wish I could have kept them all. Nothing drives like a rotary. FYI, I use 5W-30W non-synthetic oil and yes I pre-mix. Cheers and best to you.
I bought one because I really wanted another FC but the price of FC's and FD's has gone Supra but the 8 was affordable. I'm happy with my my choice. Def going to REW Swap it eventually.
@@Aus.S7in Its even worse when I only want a S5 Coupe. I had an 89 GXL with a TII swap years ago was forced to sell it :( S5 non convertibles are almost impossible to find in any condition.
FWIW, the RX8 is well poised in the snow with winter tires. Easily outran Jeeps on all-terrain tires going uphill on snow. Still have mine since 2006 - all stock. The only problem is a failed TPMS sensor or two on the wheels. For me, daily 9k rev, premix, check clogged cats, replace coils/wires every 10k, replace oil every 3k, 2k rev before shutdown = no problems. This car hates idling. It's born to trace curves in comfort without drama.
I have a friend with an fc rx7 with over 200k on the original engine the short engine life is kinda just an rx8 thing and your supposed to have an oz of premix per gal the rx8 has a 16 gal tank which is 8 oz a tank but the oil metering pump injected 0.5 oz a gal so I’d personally recommend 8 oz a tank just to keep those apex and corner seals happy that’s also what I’ve ran in my 06 rx8 and it has 93k miles and still has great compression
I said it on the post this morning but people miss put on a very fun car simply because of the reputation of it but honestly you summed it up extremely well... its really not that bad.. you just to know that there is a bit more care needed , make sure it doesn't run out of oil... keep it cool... if your looking to buy a sports car and you care about MPG forget it lol you don't buy a rotary or any sports car imo and care about your MPG ... either way I daily my 09 Rx8 R3 and I love it. The looks it gets, random conversations with people curious about it. The pops and bangs the smells ... its an experience that many people miss out on simply becuase they won't take the chance to actually check it out.
Series 2 GT owner here. I've had mine for over 6 years and always keep a spare engine in my garage 😂. This car has some really weird quirks like how plugging wireless obd scanners in causes your key fob to not work unless you stand at a certain angle, and the aux having a mind of its own but its a really fun car. Sometimes I wish I got a S1 though, there's so much support for the S1 generation compared to the S2.
I have a 04 RX8 SHINKA! Absolutely love that car! For reliability, I would relocate the battery, get the AEM intake, and an upgraded radiator, get the adapter to inject 2-stroke oil, upgraded BHR ignition, bigger oil coolers, and run 20w-50 if you are in a hot Texas climate like I am. 10w-30 is usually the go-to for the rest of the climates though.
Had mine for 5 years never had an issue with the engine had to replace the radiator clutch pedal, master, and slave cylinders. Other than that but it's been super reliable I do premix 1 ounce per gallon of gas and run 10w-30 oil.
I had one that I loved a lot but had to get rid of it because at the time needed a good daily with gas mileage... now I'm wanting to get back into the rx8 game... really love them
I have a 2011 r3 rx8, and I love it with all my heart. Ive had it for 2 years and daily drove it for all those 2 years. The gas sucks but ive never even had a check engine light. Amazing car, beautiful engine noise and so much fun for a little six speed. Your rx8 has been a huge inspiration for my future mods for my car.
Got a super low mile 2007 rx8 as my first car and love it. Only maintenance thing that has failed on my in my 20,000 miles of ownership is the MAF sensor. Only thing that isn’t stock is my exhaust and it’s a ton of fun to drive. Daily driving it is probably worse than dallying a SUV because you gotta use 93 octane.
if you want a true budget, get a miata. else the gas and maintenance and eventual engine swap is way above “budget”. i own a reliable one but it still hurts if you dont plan ahead
As a previous 06 Shinka owner I absolutely miss that car. Had I not been t-boned and the car being totaled out I know without a doubt I would still have it. I picked the car up wit a fresh motor rebuild and I never had an issue out of it other than needing a new battery. I owned the car for 5 years before it was totaled. When I say that redline was running premium gas it was WORTH it. I miss that car😢
I've been working on my rx7 for over 3 years and still plenty to go. Rotaries definitely take drive to keep with them, but when you have that passion (and money isn't an issue) it's all the more reason to stick with it.
Had this car since 2011. On my second engine. Just got around to installing a sohn adapter. It's a great car that has taken more abuse than she needed too. If you do need to do a rebuild on the car. I suggest getting rx7 3mm apex seal and a street port. This way you have the option of going forced induction. Even if you never do a mild street port and bigger apex seals don't hurt.
I have a 1980 RX7 with a 12a; by far the most simple engine I've ever touched, and as long as you keep up with maintenance the 12a can go 250k+ miles without a rebuild
Gels, did you at least giggle at my question? I tried to channel my inner Dakota when asking it. LOL And truthfully I like what you've done with it. Especially after you took the picnic bench off the trunk.
Owning an rx8 is alot more similar to an s2000 or subaru sti (if you follow the recommended maintenance to a t. Even the bushings) if you can do that you can own an rx8. They take a special love though . And agree highly you have to want it. I've had 3 rotaries. Probably own a 4th one here soon. After I sell my 5th subaru... Don't be like me kids. Choose life
Awesome video guys! I just got a 2006 231 RX-8 for cheap, and it is really fun! Tomorrow it will get a new upgraded starter and fresh oil+coolant, otherwise it drives really well, it was a love at first sight/hearing :D We make a lot of smiles/gallon, even if the miles/gallon is around 12-15 :D :D :D
Love my rx8, had it for 2 years now as my daily. I’ve actually been figuring out my mpg lately and I get 16-18mpg :) even though I do hit redline whenever possible
If you can find one, get a Manual Series 2. The stock upgrades made between the series 1 and 2 really did make a difference. We absolutley love ours and will not be parting with it.
I love dailying my 2011 GT, and I will say that you get many of the points right here! Experience seems to filter the truths from the myths. My only additional point would be to take extra care about the stock ignition system; The RX-8 coils are prone to early failures, and they can silently fail without warning while driving. Given that yours is almost at 50,000 miles and the coils generally fail every 25-30k miles, be wary of your OEM coils dying relatively soon! Some stronger upgraded would be an LS D585 conversion or some Black Halo Racing coils. They last significantly longer, and enable bumping the rev limiter up safely to above 10,000 without the spark failing to charge every cycle.
the rx8 is my first rotary. also my first car. its my daily and damn how im learning alot about how to maintain cars! i have a series 2 with 87xxxkm on the clock. im really loving it especially the comments on how shit it is hahahah
yea i have a rx8. First few weeks of owning it SSV gave out, so your corect you need to want it. I love rotarys, and im saving for a rebuild as i need it done sooner rather than later.
2007 rx8, 128k miles starts hot and cold everytime, got it a 89k w good compression and the thing is my baby.. but man my passenger side is absolutely fucked on the door due to a hit and run from a rusted out jeep 😭 but it’ll get back looking aesthetically pleasing one day Also I recommend checking your plugs every other oil change, if you daily like myself even in the winter, spray the oil coolers with Wd-40 to prevent that corrosion, top off your oil every week, I premix 1 oz per gallon( no sohn) but listen if you take care of the car like many things in life it takes car of you in return. You really have to want this car at the end of the day but it’s a blast! Redline a day keeps the carbon away !
I bought an rx8 had it for like 2years also got an Audi s4 b5 . I call them the duo matrix machine . they’ll get you stuck in 3d vibration tune of living. Everything he said is right in place
I am looking to buy one and obviously had the "don't do that, it's unreliable" comments from people but idk, I feel like the RX8 is underappreciated and I can't really afford much else when it comes to manual/RWD sportscar that looks good and has a decent amount of horsepower. So this video is definitely helpful ^-^
If you're willing to learn and get your hands dirty, it's a really fun car to drive. It's a bit of a lottery with those 2nd hand sadly. A friend got 2 of them, both ended up having catastrophic failures and issues (even tho the 2nd one has amazing compression, he had a bad bearing failure). I have 2 and it's been mostly smooth sailing with parts failure that make sense on a 17 years old car. But lots of time has been spend working on them, doing maintenance, changing small things here and there and it pays back with doing road trips with no issues whatsoever. If that sounds fun to you, I'd go for it ;)
1 year in on my Series 1. Had to pull out the ssv valve and clean it up. Other than that it's been very good, oil change every 5000k. Running 10w30 mineral for Australian conditions.
It’s pretty simple honestly, if you don’t know how rotaries work and/or don’t want to take special care of them that’s more then the care for a piston engine then you shouldn’t buy a rotary car. These engines are amazing, especially for racing but they are swarmed by hate from people who either have never even owned a rotary or didn’t take care of it how you’re supposed to. Rotaries have some pretty big advantages over piston engines but people love to push that under the rug because they once heard someone say “rotaries are super unreliable”
I own a rx8 2004. Got it for $2k 🕺🏾 and runs great with a few minor issues. Would not recommend this car unless u have another car as a daily driver. Also gotta make sure u get the basic maintenance stuff/add-ons taken care of. I'm still learning about this car and only drive it once or twice a month. Starts right up every time and never fails me ✌🏾😌.
Get a wifi or bluetooth OBD reader that has an APP. Then you can use your phone to monitor the engine temp (very important to avoid an overheat), fuel trims, read and erase codes, etc.
Been driving my Rx8 as a daily since August 2014. Bought it with a new motor in it. Most annoying repair was replacing the clutch. I worked for Napa and replaced it with one of their clutches at 125k miles. DON'T USE THEIR CLUTCHES!!! my employee price was 425$ and it lasted 2 months. I fought forever to get it replaced and the only reason they did it was because the same thing happened to the district manager and I raised he'll until they swapped mine out too. Now it's replacement has been slipping ever since it was put in. I quit because they charge a premium price for sub China quality parts. The most fun thing I've done to it is straight piped it with turbo X's exhaust. I worked the graveyard shift at a new job and the police profiled me relentlessly. So I straight piped it and rev the crap out of every night to make that small town mad. Absolutely worth it!
Here's what I learned during my time owning an FC RX-7. The car has a strict maintenance schedule and needs more TLC than other cars. Shops that know how to work on rotaries are few and far between. Be prepared to travel to get your car repaired. Car guzzles gas like crazy. You won't be able to just start it and shut if off just to move it around a bit. Do your research and know what you're getting into.
I have 2 rx8 a s1 gt rx8 and a s2 r3 rx8 for 6 years now, and none of them have rebuild still use them every day no issues. Good cold and warm starts good compression. Also I’m a rotary technician from the worlds top 3 rotary’s garage and All I know it’s that my FD3s it’s worst!!!😂😂😂😂
I'm planning getting an Rx4 soon. Can I be asking you for some stuff as in my country are barely any rotaries, what's left for familiar mechanics? It'll be quite useful.
I owned a 2005 rx8 for 5 years and I loved it but a lot of headaches came with it from buying a new climate control module due to how faulty they are to relocating the battery and upgrading almost all the lines, radiator, the sohn adapter, switching to s2 starter, ignition coils, fuel pump, thermostat, short throw shifter, Rmagic weighted shift knob, 326 power wing, coil overs, tint, wrap, wheels . It was fun to work on but aftermarket parts are limited which kinda sucked and if you take your car to Mazda before it reaches 80k or 100k miles you can get a motor rebuilt for free due to the recall of the motors, the transmission do give out and to buying one from a dealer does run 2k. Don’t get me started about the electric power steering rack and how it’s common for it to fail 🙃 fun car to have and always the odd man out of car meets 10/10 for fun, looks 8/10,4/10 maintenance with 4 being that it sucks lol if I could I would definitely buy an rx8 again but as a cruising car for the weekends or meets but definitely not as a daily
Oh and the slave cylinder and master clutch cylinder was changed out, took out the catalytic converter and straight pipes it due to how the easily go bad but kept the mufflers
NFS Most Wanted got me into the rx-8 when I first saw it, it’s been my dream car ever since sadly 21 now and only ever had one opportunity to get one and also sadly it was bought the day I was gonna drive 5 hours to the dealership to go look at it :( rough times least the 96 jeep works 🤷♂️
It’s my favorite money pit 🤣 Actually my Renesis was reliable until the 133k mark and then my seals failed. Still, I used nothing but the best products when doing maintenance to the car. The most important things to do starting out is to try to keep the engine cool… cooling fan modifications so that they kick on at a lower engine temp vs OEM. Intake, using the correct coolant, etc. an added aftermarket water temp gauge is a MUST even if you don’t do anything else. It’s fun to drive, super fun to drift and if the stock Renesis is not your fav you can always REW swap or build a hybrid or Turbo II. It gets expensive and can be expensive but then again, what girl isn’t? If you wanna play, ya gotta pay. Good & smart RX8 owners are a rare breed. Just my opinion, there’s a lot of bad coming from people who out of ignorance have blown their engines… on the other hand, there’s a lot of good out there because of people who know what they’re doing with the car. Knowledge is definitely power in this case.
Im kinda torn between an rx7 and an rx8. I really wanted to buy an fc rx7 for a while, but after seeing how much fc turbo II are going for and the mods I would want to do, I realized that I would basically be at the cost of an FD.
I've driven my RX8 for about 30,000Km now. Bought it with "low" compression - upgraded the coil packs to BHR, new sparkplugs, decat midpipe, started premixing and using proper Brad Penn 10w40 oil. Car has been absolutely mint, starts fine cold or hot and hasn't given me any issues aside from some squeaky worn accessory belts ($50 to replace) and a bad driver's side wheel bearing ($200). For the money, I don't think you can find a car that is equally as fun to drive and rev out, handles well, and FEELS LUXURIOUS. Sunroof, leather and suede interior, great sound system, electric seats, you name it.
I would love to have one. I am concerned with the flooding thing since I am very distracted person and I can forget about not turning it on and off quickly etc. If you daily drive it there is going to be a moment where you would do it in a piston car and I am afraid of forgetting about it and do it nevertheless in the RX8
A huge amount of the bad rep these cars got was from the new owners not knowing that it was different to a normal car. They would flood them constantly and not keep up with maintenance. Not rev them out and not let the engine heat up before driving. This is partly because the car was marketed to a wider consumer base rather than rotary enthusiasts. Many people still ask me if it even is a rotary because they simply didn't know.
@@FitmentIndustries thanks gels!!!! Y'all should do videos on you most out of your comfort zone cars, like the miata lover should do a video on an f450 super duty or similar, the hellcat lover should do a video on base mustangs, stuff like that would be hilarious and great (put the stanciest of you up against full blown drag cars pr something lol)
Do you like go-karts? YES Do you want to drive go-kart on street? YES Do you care about fuel usage? NO Do you own tools and can use them? YES BUY AN RX8 Have owned my RX8 for 2.5 years now and honestly its the most fun car I've ever had, comparing that to a R34 BTW. Its an absolute gem to drive and that redline is addictive as well as the noise it makes with a good exhaust setup. If you work on cars yourself its going to be a much easier car to own, if your a mechanical NOOB then stay away, its that simple. Also side note, these cars now get crazy amounts of attention on the street with people giving thumbs up and stopping you to talk about it. Mods I suggest are: AEM intake, helps power and heat. Full exhaust with 100cel catalytic converter, helps power and longevity. Raise the rear of the bonnet with washers under the bolts, this allows hot air in the engine bay to escape easily. 2kW starter motor upgrade, helps with cold/hot starts and minimizes flooding.
For a daily, Just for the gas mileage alone I would say NO… But it is a prefect weekend car for curvy roads, drifting through Malibu Canyon. It was an endless money pit for me tho, because it was my first car & I was terrible at maintenance. But god damnit, it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. If you got the extra cash for an extra car why not.
I have an RX-8, gets 26 miles to the gallon, don't need to pre-mix, don't ever check the oil between 5000 mile oil change intervals, have more than enough torque to have lots of fun..... Oh it's also LS swapped. #YankTheWank
series 2 rx8 r3 owner here, its worth it if you have deep pockets and either a shop to do your maintenance and engine swap, or if you can do it yourself. what you dont make up in money, you can make up in time to diy and learn it yourself. still really costly either way. but if youre about that life, its such a joy
That goes with out saying for any performance vehicle I own a gen 1 s-type Mitsubishi GTO tt, gallant VR4 gen 8 used to own a fd had to sell it for financial reasons wish I could buy another one, and a triumph Daytona 675r it’s one of those things No vehicle is it gonna cost you money if you enjoy it money is no object apart from living costs these days
I own a series 2 rx8 myself, biggest cost is spark plugs 😂 I replace them every 8k miles still got the original engine, no rebuild 128k miles. I see rebuild in the near future…
Series 1 rx8, have to say after a rebuild and a few "small" mods in cooling and a sohn it's way easier to compensate in smiles per mile over caring for reliability
@@jerryglennie5375 Exactly and it also comes down to previous owner ownership as well,
@@senpaiknows4801 why are you replacing them that much Order them online you can get them a lot cheaper
I've had my current RX-8 for almost two years. This is my second one.
For a car often slated as unreliable and thirsty, I've just come back from a 1021 miles/1643km trip over 5 days and not a single problem or warming light. It's been punished by battered Belgian roads, driven at 10mph through towns and got stuck in traffic jams during a heatwave. It's also been regularly driven at 80mph/90mph on Belgian motorways. Running temp has never spiked above 103C (112C is the safe limit) and its returned 26.9mpg/ 10.5l/100 which is great for a rotary engined car. It's also gone through 375ml of oil. My usual mileage on normal daily commute is around 21mpg.
I have a cooling mod (ECU remap for fan temp triggers), a Sohn kit and an aftermarket ignition kit (Ryan Rotary Performance). I also premix. That's it. I change engine oil twice a year. I change diff oil and gearbox oil every 18 months. Spark plugs every two years. I also only use high octane fuel (Euro 98 or 99). I never cheap out on oil or parts: Only quality products.
Take care of her and she'll take care of you.
RX8 Club’s recommended maintenance schedule, more comprehensive and proactive than Mazda’s schedule.
30,000 miles:
- Replace Ignition coils
- Replace Plug wires
- Replace Spark plugs
- Clean MAF (mass air flow sensor)
- Clean ESS (e-shaft sensor)
- Reset ESS profile
- Clean power steering connections
- Clean battery terminals and clamps
- Replace transmission fluid
- Replace coolant (Mazda FL-22 is highly recommended)
- Replace air filter
- Replace brake fluid (fluid in the brake lines AND the clutch line)
~$300 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
every 60,000:
...all 30,000, plus...
- Clean all chassis electrical grounding points
- Replace accessory belts
- Clean OMP lines
- Replace rear differential fluid
- Replace thermostat
- Clean / Straighten AC condenser fins
- Clean / Straighten oil cooler fins
- Inspect catalytic converter
- Clean / Inspect intake valving
- Consider / inspect all points in 90,000+ as well, many items fail early
~$130 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
90,000:
...all 30,000, plus any 60,000 not yet done, plus...
- Replace coolant bottle
- Replace radiator hoses
- Replace radiator
- Replace front O2 sensor
- Replace motor mounts
- Inspect clutch pedal assembly for flex / weld breaks
~$900 USD in parts if you shop smartly.
At 100k, anything original in the cooling system and any original cat are really suspect and failure prone. They represents the biggest threat to your engine. Replace.
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I personally have a 2005 RX8 at first I fell in love with it. How it sounded. How it drove. It was great. Til I had to put a motor in it. But then I did. I had to change the fuel pump on it, replace the slave cylinder and clutch master and aside from that I did more preventative maintenance on it. I live in texas so it’s HOT. Put a aluminum radiator in it, 3168 CFM fans, lower temp oil cooler thermostats. And soon to come a ECU reflash so the fans turn on at a lower temp and the air fuel gets adjusted. Like he said pre mix is HUGE. I have a delete OMP. So I premix 1 ounce per gallon. It’s a 16 gallon tank sometimes less. I get 12-15 MPG half highway and half city.
Agreed though it’s something you want
Nice I used .5 oz per gallon for daily driving and 1 oz per gallon if I plan on driving hard. Anything more then 1 oz per gallon isn’t meant for daily driving/street car.
I loved my 2006 RX8. I was upset when it got hit by one of the two people racing down the road. I just happened to be right where one of the cars lost control and hit me. It was a sad day having to say goodbye to that car. I plan to get another one very soon.
@@spinydj700 Yo I'm looking to buy a rx8 for 7k down (engine not replaced) do you recommend?
@@slick0046 did you end up buyig it?? Dude if you don't know much about these cars I wouldn't get it.
@slick0046 rx8's are worth 3-5k
I've had my 07 for a little over 8 years now and I still love it! I don't daily it anymore but did so for about 5 years. Sohn adapter, upgraded ignition and a catless midpipe have all helped to keep it running strong.
Had my 93 rx7 for quite a while, and I absolutely loved it. These days everyone knows that rotaries can be temperamental, but they aren’t as bad as you typically hear. You deff want to spend some cash on regular maintenance and reliability upgrades first, but it’s worth it. I upgraded all the silicon engine hoses (they would leak whenever temperature got too cold) and it made a big difference. As long as you Go into it expecting some extra love and care, you will love it!
what would you say are the first things to make an fd better reliability wise besides premixing
I had one too, let’s just say that I didn’t do a compression test before purchase 😩
@@Burchie_ i think rob dahm said something about the engine, it has super long screws that secure the sandwhich together, theyre good at clamping but bad with tortions (which is what rotaries do) so he talked about adding supports by boreing the screw holes, inserting high tortion-rigidity metal tubes, then screw into the center
I currently own a 2004 RX8 Grand Touring (GT) that I got in February of 2022 and I do not regret my purchase for one second. I've had plenty of people give me 💩 about it, but they don't know how fun it is to drive this car! I bought mine for the reason of learning how to maintain my own vehicle, and I think this is the best car to learn. Learning so much and hope to keep on learning. End game is to hold onto it till the day I die, or one of my future kids want to keep it cause I know it was worth it 🤟🏼
Good video. Have had my RX8 for 19 years as of last month. Been a great car and I'll keep it forever. Was my 3 season daily for the first few years I've owned it. Just one of my weekend toys now. Been a very dependable car thus far and still going strong on stock motor. The most misunderstood car on the internet.
That's awesome! I completely agree with you!
@@FitmentIndustries That being said, I have been sitting on a 20B for the last few years to replace my Renny when it does go :)
Catching this a year later, but congratulations! You must have hit the 20 year mark now! My 17th anniversary with my RX-8 is coming up! A few years in, I vowed that I would never sell the car. It grabbed me by the heart strings! It's very reliable as long as you warm it up, rev and let it get to operating temperature. The only times I had flooding was when an auto body shop didn't follow my instructions on a single-digit temperature cold day and years later when the engine finally completed its run at 120,000 mi. Doing a carbon cleaning every year is a good idea plus rev, rev, rev! On my second engine now for 17,000 mi and doing great!
Hope my engine will last as long as yours. I recently bought an 04 8 with 29,000 original miles. I did have to replace the catalytic converter (not a cheap fix). I will eventually put a mid pipe on but need to past my first year of emissions to be clear for the next 2. Need less to say I absolutely love the car. It is my weekend toy and honestly at the price point it’s a poor man’s Ferrari. Plan on doing a compression test again as I’m coming up on almost a year since I have bought it. Definitely a car you have to want.
I have a 2005 Shinka RX-8. It was my daily driver from 2006 - 2021. Great car. A blast to drive. I am currently doing a rebuild on the engine and some minor mods. Love the car.
Bought an FD a little over a year ago and it’s definitely been one hell of a learning curve. That said, I did my research for months beforehand so I knew what I was getting myself into. If you know how to treat a rotary (aka drive the piss out of it) and the kind of maintenance it needs, they’re plenty reliable! My engine is approaching 57k miles, unknown when the last rebuild was or if it’s had one yet, and still has extremely healthy compression 👌🏻
In my opinion and from my experience, the biggest things you can do for reliability is:
1. getting a tune for lower fan temps
2. replace oem coils with LS coils
3. keep RPMs under 3000 until its fully warmed up
4. use 10w40 instead of 5w20
5. premix .5oz/gal
I've had my rx8 for 17 years now. Bought it 6/7/05. Original owner and I've pushed it to its peak. Just removed the turbo and went back NA. It's hard to find a competent tuner and tuning solution. I no longer care about power. Just enjoy the car for what it is and avoid the people who wanna race you because the rx8 isn't the fastest so its an easy win. Keep it at no more than 10psi. Mine made about 330hp and 279 tq.
Wow 10 psi is way more than I though it could handle.
Thank you for this video, it gives me comfort of buying an rx8 in the future since weirdly enough it's my dream car and my dream project for rotary engines. To me they have a special place in my heart and seeing this video makes me think that my choice won't be so bad after all and to be fair a lot of the points you covered is something that a lot of people should take into consideration. Most important one is "Really wanting an rx8". Thank you for this video and to many more years brapping. I hope one day I can show you guys my rx8 one day ❤️
We can't wait to see it! 🙏
You will love it. You should do the premix and you need to watch your oil levels, but they are so fun to drive.
10+ years of ownership. If you enjoy pain, lots of refueling, premixing oil, and lots of fun then yes
It's definitely a commitment!
I have a '11 S2 with 182K miles on the original engine. It never has let me down. I drive it 80 miles a day to and from work (mostly Interstate). Love it. Keys to making it reliable. Change oil every 3K. Use 0w-40 or 10w-40. I use M1 0w-40. Yes, synthetic..... Change spark plugs ever 30K miles. Premix and/or Sohn adapter for s1 guys. Change factory coils to good aftermarket (BHR) or GM D585. DRIVE IT HARD!!!!! Babying an RX8 will kill it!!! I bang the limiter all day, everyday, it serves to keep intake valves free and improves combustion. I average 20 MPG 90/10 highway/city driving@75-80MPH
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I've had my rx8 for 4 years. love the thing. I daily mine. I can say gas is expensive but not as bad as some other cars I've had shockingly.
I recommend Premixing, Deleting Catalytic Converters, Redlining it weekly, Keeping a close eye on oil and coolant levels. The inner coolant jacket seals tend to go bad and leak into the engine. Which doesn't cause too much of an issue but it can be a big issue if you let it get too low.
I always liken them to two strokes. They have twice as many combustion events as a normal engine, generally make twice the power per liter and get half the millage and half the time between rebuilds because of it. On the plus side, the rebuilds are actually really easy, quick and cheap comparatively.
3 times actually and not a 2 stroke
Have my 07 first car I learned to work on myself it was very nerve wrecking and anxiety however after you learn how to de flood it and standard maintenance its worth plus you gain a skill mechanics don't even know, number 1 thing that must be immediately done is a compression test if it's below 90 psi you must get a rebuild its worth it for a long lasting life on the engine plus if your in the new jersey area there are hidden rotary shops that will help you
I've had my 05 RX-8 for almost a year and it's my daily driver! I live in Colorado and yes, I drive it in the winter also! It's a great car and I average 20 mpg and I drive about 80 miles a day!
That's awesome fam!
Another colorado rx8 owner here 👋
Love my RX8. Slow, but fun. Also recommend upgrading fuel pump and to an S2 starter, plus ignition.
Yes they are not super fast but it keeps up with my FD rx7. But leaves it behind in the corners ! Sometimes low compression will badly effect the rx8 performance
i bought my mazda rx8 2 years ago, with 52k miles on it, its now at 68k miles and so far( knocked on wood) no major issues with it, i recently replaced the alternator but thats legit the only big thing i have done to it, car runs amazing and i love it, it is my first ever bough car with my own money, even if in a future it dont run anymore, i will try my best to save up as much now for a rebuild later. i love this car :D
Rx8 R3 longterm owner (4years) and totally worth it. Back 2015 i sold my RX8 S1 i got from 2012.
Good if you have deep pocket for gas and enough reliable do drive my R3 daily
I own a 2008 40th Anniversary Edition RX8 (only 1000 made like this in the world) . I bought it new in 2008 and now it is insured as a Classic Car for 150% of what I bought it for new in 2008, full value, no depreciation. I have owned seven rotary Mazdas since the 70's; one RX3, two RX4, all three generations of the RX7 with two of those RX7 modified by Racing Beat for the track. I easily have over a million rotary miles on street and track . Yes I have upgraded and improved my RX8, cooling modifications with Koyo-Rad radiator, Pettit Racing closed system, Racing Beat hoses, low temp thermostat, oil cooler low temp thermostats , low temp fan control, upgraded water pump, ; Mazdaspeed CAI, high performance BHR ignition coils and wires, upgraded starter, performance Cat and mid-pipe from Rotary Performance, BHR clutch pedal assembly, Series Two fuel pump upgrade, new clutch and engine (from Mazda warranty, no cost to me), new engine mounts, and a few other things. I also upgraded to Conti Contact DWS06+ tires. I will be keeping my 40th Anniversary Edition RX8 forever. Wish I could have kept them all. Nothing drives like a rotary. FYI, I use 5W-30W non-synthetic oil and yes I pre-mix. Cheers and best to you.
I bought one because I really wanted another FC but the price of FC's and FD's has gone Supra but the 8 was affordable. I'm happy with my my choice. Def going to REW Swap it eventually.
SAME 😂
Fc’s are just hard to find in a good condition. I was happy I found mine for a good deal
@@Aus.S7in Its even worse when I only want a S5 Coupe. I had an 89 GXL with a TII swap years ago was forced to sell it :( S5 non convertibles are almost impossible to find in any condition.
@@rotomon yep it’s either an s5 vert or a s4 shitter. You have to get lucky or have a lot of money
FWIW, the RX8 is well poised in the snow with winter tires. Easily outran Jeeps on all-terrain tires going uphill on snow. Still have mine since 2006 - all stock. The only problem is a failed TPMS sensor or two on the wheels. For me, daily 9k rev, premix, check clogged cats, replace coils/wires every 10k, replace oil every 3k, 2k rev before shutdown = no problems. This car hates idling. It's born to trace curves in comfort without drama.
I thought it was 3k rev before shutdown? I guess I'll go to 2.5 just incase
Ended up REW swapping mine.Just working bugs out on the dyno.
Stock is fun though also. You hit all the most important points 👌
I have a friend with an fc rx7 with over 200k on the original engine the short engine life is kinda just an rx8 thing and your supposed to have an oz of premix per gal the rx8 has a 16 gal tank which is 8 oz a tank but the oil metering pump injected 0.5 oz a gal so I’d personally recommend 8 oz a tank just to keep those apex and corner seals happy that’s also what I’ve ran in my 06 rx8 and it has 93k miles and still has great compression
I said it on the post this morning but people miss put on a very fun car simply because of the reputation of it but honestly you summed it up extremely well... its really not that bad.. you just to know that there is a bit more care needed , make sure it doesn't run out of oil... keep it cool... if your looking to buy a sports car and you care about MPG forget it lol you don't buy a rotary or any sports car imo and care about your MPG ... either way I daily my 09 Rx8 R3 and I love it. The looks it gets, random conversations with people curious about it. The pops and bangs the smells ... its an experience that many people miss out on simply becuase they won't take the chance to actually check it out.
Series 2 GT owner here. I've had mine for over 6 years and always keep a spare engine in my garage 😂. This car has some really weird quirks like how plugging wireless obd scanners in causes your key fob to not work unless you stand at a certain angle, and the aux having a mind of its own but its a really fun car. Sometimes I wish I got a S1 though, there's so much support for the S1 generation compared to the S2.
I have a 04 RX8 SHINKA! Absolutely love that car! For reliability, I would relocate the battery, get the AEM intake, and an upgraded radiator, get the adapter to inject 2-stroke oil, upgraded BHR ignition, bigger oil coolers, and run 20w-50 if you are in a hot Texas climate like I am. 10w-30 is usually the go-to for the rest of the climates though.
I 100% agree. The Oil cooler lines are a pain in the ass!
Had mine for 5 years never had an issue with the engine had to replace the radiator clutch pedal, master, and slave cylinders. Other than that but it's been super reliable I do premix 1 ounce per gallon of gas and run 10w-30 oil.
I had one that I loved a lot but had to get rid of it because at the time needed a good daily with gas mileage... now I'm wanting to get back into the rx8 game... really love them
I have a 2011 r3 rx8, and I love it with all my heart. Ive had it for 2 years and daily drove it for all those 2 years. The gas sucks but ive never even had a check engine light. Amazing car, beautiful engine noise and so much fun for a little six speed. Your rx8 has been a huge inspiration for my future mods for my car.
Thank you! 🙏
I have a series 2 rx8 as well. I love it. Amazing driving experience.
Got a super low mile 2007 rx8 as my first car and love it. Only maintenance thing that has failed on my in my 20,000 miles of ownership is the MAF sensor. Only thing that isn’t stock is my exhaust and it’s a ton of fun to drive. Daily driving it is probably worse than dallying a SUV because you gotta use 93 octane.
Great video Gels! You explain what is to own a Rx8 perfectly! Rotary life!
Thank you! - Gels
RX-8 Is a very good budget sports car if you know how to maintain it and if you can maintain it
if you want a true budget, get a miata. else the gas and maintenance and eventual engine swap is way above “budget”. i own a reliable one but it still hurts if you dont plan ahead
@@Huebie Miatas are not budget cars anymore sadly....definitely can find a cheaper rx8 on the market rn
As a previous 06 Shinka owner I absolutely miss that car. Had I not been t-boned and the car being totaled out I know without a doubt I would still have it. I picked the car up wit a fresh motor rebuild and I never had an issue out of it other than needing a new battery. I owned the car for 5 years before it was totaled. When I say that redline was running premium gas it was WORTH it. I miss that car😢
You should definitely seek out another one!
Agreed! Find another one! My '05 shinka is my absolute treasure!
I've been working on my rx7 for over 3 years and still plenty to go. Rotaries definitely take drive to keep with them, but when you have that passion (and money isn't an issue) it's all the more reason to stick with it.
Absolutely fam! 🙏
Had this car since 2011. On my second engine. Just got around to installing a sohn adapter.
It's a great car that has taken more abuse than she needed too.
If you do need to do a rebuild on the car. I suggest getting rx7 3mm apex seal and a street port. This way you have the option of going forced induction. Even if you never do a mild street port and bigger apex seals don't hurt.
FROM CALIFORNIA mad respect to people who have to drive in the snow
I have a 1980 RX7 with a 12a; by far the most simple engine I've ever touched, and as long as you keep up with maintenance the 12a can go 250k+ miles without a rebuild
Gels, did you at least giggle at my question? I tried to channel my inner Dakota when asking it. LOL And truthfully I like what you've done with it. Especially after you took the picnic bench off the trunk.
Owning an rx8 is alot more similar to an s2000 or subaru sti (if you follow the recommended maintenance to a t. Even the bushings) if you can do that you can own an rx8. They take a special love though . And agree highly you have to want it. I've had 3 rotaries. Probably own a 4th one here soon. After I sell my 5th subaru... Don't be like me kids. Choose life
Awesome video guys! I just got a 2006 231 RX-8 for cheap, and it is really fun! Tomorrow it will get a new upgraded starter and fresh oil+coolant, otherwise it drives really well, it was a love at first sight/hearing :D We make a lot of smiles/gallon, even if the miles/gallon is around 12-15 :D :D :D
Love my rx8, had it for 2 years now as my daily. I’ve actually been figuring out my mpg lately and I get 16-18mpg :) even though I do hit redline whenever possible
If you can find one, get a Manual Series 2. The stock upgrades made between the series 1 and 2 really did make a difference. We absolutley love ours and will not be parting with it.
I love dailying my 2011 GT, and I will say that you get many of the points right here! Experience seems to filter the truths from the myths. My only additional point would be to take extra care about the stock ignition system; The RX-8 coils are prone to early failures, and they can silently fail without warning while driving. Given that yours is almost at 50,000 miles and the coils generally fail every 25-30k miles, be wary of your OEM coils dying relatively soon! Some stronger upgraded would be an LS D585 conversion or some Black Halo Racing coils. They last significantly longer, and enable bumping the rev limiter up safely to above 10,000 without the spark failing to charge every cycle.
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My 2008 40th anniversary edition is fully stock and has about 115500 miles and runs LIKE A BEAST!
the rx8 is my first rotary. also my first car. its my daily and damn how im learning alot about how to maintain cars! i have a series 2 with 87xxxkm on the clock. im really loving it especially the comments on how shit it is hahahah
yea i have a rx8. First few weeks of owning it SSV gave out, so your corect you need to want it. I love rotarys, and im saving for a rebuild as i need it done sooner rather than later.
2007 rx8, 128k miles starts hot and cold everytime, got it a 89k w good compression and the thing is my baby.. but man my passenger side is absolutely fucked on the door due to a hit and run from a rusted out jeep 😭 but it’ll get back looking aesthetically pleasing one day
Also I recommend checking your plugs every other oil change, if you daily like myself even in the winter, spray the oil coolers with Wd-40 to prevent that corrosion, top off your oil every week, I premix 1 oz per gallon( no sohn) but listen if you take care of the car like many things in life it takes car of you in return. You really have to want this car at the end of the day but it’s a blast! Redline a day keeps the carbon away !
I bought an rx8 had it for like 2years also got an Audi s4 b5 . I call them the duo matrix machine . they’ll get you stuck in 3d vibration tune of living.
Everything he said is right in place
I’ve got a 40th anniversary rx8 and I absolutely love it
I had an FD about 17 years ago and now I can’t afford another one 🤣 I’ve looked at RX8’s and this is some great info, I subscribed 👍
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Love your videos! Keep up the great work!
I am looking to buy one and obviously had the "don't do that, it's unreliable" comments from people but idk, I feel like the RX8 is underappreciated and I can't really afford much else when it comes to manual/RWD sportscar that looks good and has a decent amount of horsepower. So this video is definitely helpful ^-^
If you're willing to learn and get your hands dirty, it's a really fun car to drive. It's a bit of a lottery with those 2nd hand sadly. A friend got 2 of them, both ended up having catastrophic failures and issues (even tho the 2nd one has amazing compression, he had a bad bearing failure). I have 2 and it's been mostly smooth sailing with parts failure that make sense on a 17 years old car.
But lots of time has been spend working on them, doing maintenance, changing small things here and there and it pays back with doing road trips with no issues whatsoever.
If that sounds fun to you, I'd go for it ;)
Currently working on my rx8 but I love it. Hopefully will be able to drift it in the near future
That would be dope!
1 year in on my Series 1. Had to pull out the ssv valve and clean it up. Other than that it's been very good, oil change every 5000k. Running 10w30 mineral for Australian conditions.
It’s pretty simple honestly, if you don’t know how rotaries work and/or don’t want to take special care of them that’s more then the care for a piston engine then you shouldn’t buy a rotary car. These engines are amazing, especially for racing but they are swarmed by hate from people who either have never even owned a rotary or didn’t take care of it how you’re supposed to. Rotaries have some pretty big advantages over piston engines but people love to push that under the rug because they once heard someone say “rotaries are super unreliable”
💯💯💯
I own a rx8 2004. Got it for $2k 🕺🏾 and runs great with a few minor issues. Would not recommend this car unless u have another car as a daily driver. Also gotta make sure u get the basic maintenance stuff/add-ons taken care of. I'm still learning about this car and only drive it once or twice a month. Starts right up every time and never fails me ✌🏾😌.
I owned a new one for a couple years and loved it. I dont know about getting a high mileage one though.
Mine has been pretty solid since I've had it. Like me, it's not fast but it's fun.
I feel that brother 😅 - Gels
It's not fast.. Yet all the supercars somehow want to race you on the highway... :')
Also had my yellow for 2 years. I love it!
Building my second motor rn. I love my rx8 such an amazing car!
Get a wifi or bluetooth OBD reader that has an APP. Then you can use your phone to monitor the engine temp (very important to avoid an overheat), fuel trims, read and erase codes, etc.
Been driving my Rx8 as a daily since August 2014. Bought it with a new motor in it. Most annoying repair was replacing the clutch. I worked for Napa and replaced it with one of their clutches at 125k miles. DON'T USE THEIR CLUTCHES!!! my employee price was 425$ and it lasted 2 months. I fought forever to get it replaced and the only reason they did it was because the same thing happened to the district manager and I raised he'll until they swapped mine out too. Now it's replacement has been slipping ever since it was put in. I quit because they charge a premium price for sub China quality parts.
The most fun thing I've done to it is straight piped it with turbo X's exhaust. I worked the graveyard shift at a new job and the police profiled me relentlessly. So I straight piped it and rev the crap out of every night to make that small town mad. Absolutely worth it!
Here's what I learned during my time owning an FC RX-7. The car has a strict maintenance schedule and needs more TLC than other cars. Shops that know how to work on rotaries are few and far between. Be prepared to travel to get your car repaired. Car guzzles gas like crazy. You won't be able to just start it and shut if off just to move it around a bit. Do your research and know what you're getting into.
I have 2 rx8 a s1 gt rx8 and a s2 r3 rx8 for 6 years now, and none of them have rebuild still use them every day no issues. Good cold and warm starts good compression. Also I’m a rotary technician from the worlds top 3 rotary’s garage and All I know it’s that my FD3s it’s worst!!!😂😂😂😂
I'm planning getting an Rx4 soon. Can I be asking you for some stuff as in my country are barely any rotaries, what's left for familiar mechanics? It'll be quite useful.
I like the rx8. I wish people would 13b turbo swap them more
I owned a 2005 rx8 for 5 years and I loved it but a lot of headaches came with it from buying a new climate control module due to how faulty they are to relocating the battery and upgrading almost all the lines, radiator, the sohn adapter, switching to s2 starter, ignition coils, fuel pump, thermostat, short throw shifter, Rmagic weighted shift knob, 326 power wing, coil overs, tint, wrap, wheels . It was fun to work on but aftermarket parts are limited which kinda sucked and if you take your car to Mazda before it reaches 80k or 100k miles you can get a motor rebuilt for free due to the recall of the motors, the transmission do give out and to buying one from a dealer does run 2k. Don’t get me started about the electric power steering rack and how it’s common for it to fail 🙃 fun car to have and always the odd man out of car meets 10/10 for fun, looks 8/10,4/10 maintenance with 4 being that it sucks lol if I could I would definitely buy an rx8 again but as a cruising car for the weekends or meets but definitely not as a daily
Oh and the slave cylinder and master clutch cylinder was changed out, took out the catalytic converter and straight pipes it due to how the easily go bad but kept the mufflers
owning an RX8 is definitely a commitment, however it is worth it!
NFS Most Wanted got me into the rx-8 when I first saw it, it’s been my dream car ever since sadly 21 now and only ever had one opportunity to get one and also sadly it was bought the day I was gonna drive 5 hours to the dealership to go look at it :( rough times least the 96 jeep works 🤷♂️
Hopefully you find one soon!
It’s my favorite money pit 🤣
Actually my Renesis was reliable until the 133k mark and then my seals failed. Still, I used nothing but the best products when doing maintenance to the car. The most important things to do starting out is to try to keep the engine cool… cooling fan modifications so that they kick on at a lower engine temp vs OEM. Intake, using the correct coolant, etc. an added aftermarket water temp gauge is a MUST even if you don’t do anything else. It’s fun to drive, super fun to drift and if the stock Renesis is not your fav you can always REW swap or build a hybrid or Turbo II. It gets expensive and can be expensive but then again, what girl isn’t? If you wanna play, ya gotta pay. Good & smart RX8 owners are a rare breed. Just my opinion, there’s a lot of bad coming from people who out of ignorance have blown their engines… on the other hand, there’s a lot of good out there because of people who know what they’re doing with the car. Knowledge is definitely power in this case.
Im kinda torn between an rx7 and an rx8. I really wanted to buy an fc rx7 for a while, but after seeing how much fc turbo II are going for and the mods I would want to do, I realized that I would basically be at the cost of an FD.
Get the FD
Thanks a lot! Great sharing. Thank you.
🤝
I can't believe it's been 2 years already :0
I've driven my RX8 for about 30,000Km now. Bought it with "low" compression - upgraded the coil packs to BHR, new sparkplugs, decat midpipe, started premixing and using proper Brad Penn 10w40 oil. Car has been absolutely mint, starts fine cold or hot and hasn't given me any issues aside from some squeaky worn accessory belts ($50 to replace) and a bad driver's side wheel bearing ($200).
For the money, I don't think you can find a car that is equally as fun to drive and rev out, handles well, and FEELS LUXURIOUS. Sunroof, leather and suede interior, great sound system, electric seats, you name it.
I would love to have one. I am concerned with the flooding thing since I am very distracted person and I can forget about not turning it on and off quickly etc.
If you daily drive it there is going to be a moment where you would do it in a piston car and I am afraid of forgetting about it and do it nevertheless in the RX8
A huge amount of the bad rep these cars got was from the new owners not knowing that it was different to a normal car. They would flood them constantly and not keep up with maintenance. Not rev them out and not let the engine heat up before driving. This is partly because the car was marketed to a wider consumer base rather than rotary enthusiasts. Many people still ask me if it even is a rotary because they simply didn't know.
How do you spell the name of the adapter (sone?)
Sohn adapter
SOHN - Gels
@@FitmentIndustries thanks gels!!!! Y'all should do videos on you most out of your comfort zone cars, like the miata lover should do a video on an f450 super duty or similar, the hellcat lover should do a video on base mustangs, stuff like that would be hilarious and great (put the stanciest of you up against full blown drag cars pr something lol)
Got one for 2k perfect body roller just obviously didn’t run but can’t wait to put my ls in mine, yes I’m from Houston lsx the world
looks so much better with the low offset wheels.
I'd love a followup after your first rebuild.
Beautiful answer on the daily question I’m
Hey i don't have a son adapter and I use 10w40 semi synthetic?
One of the main benefits is to always be injecting clean oil to burn instead of oil that's been circulated through the engine. - Gels
my friend bought one , drove rotary untill it blew up and then K swaped it , recommend doing it unless you want rotary for whatever reason
having a rotary is a different kind of commitment
Rx8 well always be my dream car I Kant wait to own one
This week I made my dream come true and got a S1 RX8.
I would do this financial mistake every day of my life 💖💖
Do you like go-karts? YES
Do you want to drive go-kart on street? YES
Do you care about fuel usage? NO
Do you own tools and can use them? YES
BUY AN RX8
Have owned my RX8 for 2.5 years now and honestly its the most fun car I've ever had, comparing that to a R34 BTW. Its an absolute gem to drive and that redline is addictive as well as the noise it makes with a good exhaust setup. If you work on cars yourself its going to be a much easier car to own, if your a mechanical NOOB then stay away, its that simple. Also side note, these cars now get crazy amounts of attention on the street with people giving thumbs up and stopping you to talk about it.
Mods I suggest are: AEM intake, helps power and heat. Full exhaust with 100cel catalytic converter, helps power and longevity. Raise the rear of the bonnet with washers under the bolts, this allows hot air in the engine bay to escape easily. 2kW starter motor upgrade, helps with cold/hot starts and minimizes flooding.
“Free gas here” got me W channel
I'm actually buying a 2005 rx8 in green Bay this weekend. Maybe you'll see me when I go to Petco
2005 how much. 77km. Ty
I miss selling my old one. Im saving for another one currently 😅
I want one so bad. The exhaust tone is so sexy
For a daily, Just for the gas mileage alone I would say NO…
But it is a prefect weekend car for curvy roads, drifting through Malibu Canyon. It was an endless money pit for me tho, because it was my first car & I was terrible at maintenance. But god damnit, it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. If you got the extra cash for an extra car why not.
*Laughs in Daily 2011 RX-8*
@@bluspectre2042 I agree, that 0-60 is hilarious
S2 are the reliable ones. I have had 0 issues
All Renesis engines are horribly unreliable... the S2 models are the worst.
Had one as a first car… poor previous maintenance meant it shit on me after 2 months and I had to sell it but I’d get another in a heartbeat
Hopefully you can find another soon!
Fuuuuuuuuuck 2 years?! Time flies
You're telling me! - Gels
@@FitmentIndustries thanks for the good times brotha!
I've always wanted one. I'm not deterred. You can just k-swap it if it's too unreliable for you.
If you got money go for it!!!
November 2024, CarGurus had ONE listing in SoCal, a 2009 Grand Touring AUTO, 49,000 mi. one owner for....
$11,500.
I have an RX-8, gets 26 miles to the gallon, don't need to pre-mix, don't ever check the oil between 5000 mile oil change intervals, have more than enough torque to have lots of fun..... Oh it's also LS swapped. #YankTheWank