zspaun

Hi all,
I am a reaaaally old member but a lurker.

Some background:
Owned a 2004 Type-S RX-8 that started developing engine start problems due to a scammer mechanic (used one destroyed spark plug on purpose, not properly installed so it was hanging by the wire), car surprisingly was running for many miles but he kept doing this every service/oil change until eventually after 30,000km the car started developing cold start problems. If I didn't shut it down while holding revs at 5000, it would need deflooding next time I needed to fire it up... After some DIYing and some friendly help we found out the "problem" and I was very disappointed with the whole sport car thing in general.

Replaced all the spark plugs and so on after doing a compression test but the damage was already done, numbers were borderline. Traded the car part exchange and got something else (the new owner was informed of history/compression numbers and he was convinced he would fix it in a cheap and simple way, engine was a no-start within 14 days so he just put another used engine in it and resold it).

Long story short, it's been 6 years since that day and gradually my love for cars grew back...

Now I am an owner of a 2006 MX-5 NC1 (JDM 2.0 / 6spd model with 4.10 final drive, headers/intake/race cat and so on, the Super185 from BBR GTI basically and an adjustable suspension) and a 1999 RX-7 FD3S (rebuilt engine, 100% stock car nothing touched).

You are wondering why I am posting on the RX8club again I suppose.

Well, I was selling a highly modified Audi TT and after lots of time wasters and frustration, a good friend of mine who owns multiple rotary cars, showed up with an RX-8 he bought and was going to resell.. He managed to convince me to test drive it and he was interested in my Audi so...I ended up with an RX-8 *AGAIN* :D

Late 2003 model, JDM, Type-S (6speed supposedly 247hp if you believe Mazda) with 48,000 miles, adjustable suspension, decat and a Greddy SP2 catback.
Apart from a genuine Mazdaspeed rear spoiler and mods above the car is stock. Supposedly compression is good (I didn't care to check it at that point, my friend said it had good compression when tested), no CEL, no problems at all, starts every time cold or hot without hesitation, no matter how much I pushed it while driving, pulls hard without misfires, no oil burning nothing. Really clean engine bay everything looks good apart from some sun damage on roof/bonnet/spoiler. I went with just a gut feeling on this and I should have been wiser but anyway!

I had no specific plan apart from the emotions and nostalgia after driving it so, after using it as my daily for a while, I started coming to my senses so I listed the car for sale at a very reasonable (actually low price according to my friend who gave it to me). It's been 7 months without success on a sale or even any serious offer. I don't think it's my car, there's a lot listed for dirt cheap (800-1000euro) with engine problems, so people go for those...

I am starting to accept the fact the car may stay with me as part of my collection, so it's time to start planning a build.

This is where I am having trouble right now because of the following facts:
1) The NC I own is practically a smaller non-rotary RX-8. Apart from shorter wheel base and the way that changes the handling of the car, both cars I feel are equally capable handling-wise.
2) My RX-7 is planned for a 300whp twin turbo setup (with everything that requires for relative reliability and safety)
3) I already own a nice low tax economical sporty practical daily car (If you are interested, a 2010 Alfa Romeo MiTO with the dual clutch gearbox and paddles, tuned to 170bhp, consumes exactly half the gas an RX-8 does)
4) Tracking the RX-8 is out of the question, no tracks within reasonable distance for my family lifestyle I'm afraid.

So... What kind of build can the RX-8 be? I can share some of my ideas if there is interest

tl;dr - Sold RX-8, bought too many cars, somehow have RX-8 again, what now?

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Welcome back. Looks clean.

"used a destroyed spark plug, which hung by the wire"? I find it difficult to picture how that went unnoticed or how the car ran at all.
Sounds like you needed to replace the ignition coils on time. Don't make the same mistake with this car.

"no oil burning"? You realize this is a rotary right?
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CaymanRotary

Looks almost exactly like mine. There’s not much to do with tuning or modding this car. It’s set up well from the factory. Just have to make sure your ignition system and cooling system are always in good shape and it will rarely ever give you problems.

zspaun

I mean no oil burning beyond the normal :D

It went unnoticed since the car was running and up to that point I had trust in the mechanic. I have no clue how it was still running to be honest (but to be fair it did feel weaker than the one my friend had). I'd expect a CEL to popup or sound like crap but it didn't...
We only found out when we wanted to do a compression test, jacked it up, put it on stands and removed the wheel and we just saw it hanging, as if it was screwed in like two threads (don't know how else to explain what we encountered). When we removed it it was a fouled, rusty spark plug that looked nothing like the other ones. I really don't know wtf happened.

After confronting the mechanic he denied everything and asking around, apparently he also did engine rebuilds. He presented to the client a box of sealed rebuild parts (Apex seals and so on) and proceeded to do rebuilds by using spare parts he removed from crashed cars he bought on the cheap (which of course would either have low compression from the beginning or fail shortly after).

He ended up in court and closing down after the cases piled up...

Loki

iTrader: (1)

Wow. That's awful :/

CaymanRotary

An honest mechanic is hard to find so I'm not surprised by this. Glad that guy got his comeuppance though. That piece of **** deserves it.

zspaun

Yeah but unfortunately at least one guy I know paid him over 10k in total repairs and convinced him it was luck/wrong use of the car... What to say... Should have suspected something!