flomulgator

<rant>
First, RG, I still think you're wrong about the H2 RX-8 (acronymity!) Pure Hyrdrogen fundamentally has the most power of any molecule and should have a lot of potential. Agree with you about the bomb strapped to my *** part though, as well as Geology (glad you like it too!) Now on to practicality.

I worked in the oil patch for a while and saw the true environment where full-size pickups and a few large SUV's are used and are absolutely necessary, mud-terrains and all. Some people could make it by in beaters, but those were just temp throwaways. Only the titans survive Wyoming winters and spring gumbo on oil roads w/ crews and gear. Me, I lived with a '91 Diesel Subruban. So yes, these vehicles have a captive audience and should be produced. However, the other 90% of users are pissing our natural resources and their money, safety, safety of others, and respect of others (anyone willing to admit to Vertical Superiority?) in the wind. And they all drive gas vehicles. Damn '07 Tier 2 emissions and the lack of diesel enthusiasm in the US pisses me off. That's the other thing, people in the oil patch use diesel a lot. So yes big vehicles in my mind are (usually) the epitomy of impracticallity, and i think eveything else can be seen as meaningful because everyone drives on the road and every sports/pracitcal combination can make full use of it's attributes in situations the driver WILL ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE.

Oh and RG, again, my sis lives in Houston and has mentioned the terror of driving a jetta there.

So now on to this forum, its members, this thread, and the RX-8: I believe i can extract from all your collective historical statements (drove my RX-4 in '70 somthing) that everyone who has chimed in on this thread is older than i am. For the record, I am 26. I believe that, althogh perhaps more articulate than some of the 19 year old trust fundians running 20"s and vielsides, I probably represent a different breed of rotary owner. First I'll tell you why I bought my car. I used to own a "improved" VW GTI. It Asploded (anyone?). I test drove a STI, a 350Z (what's w/ all the hate there?), and a RX-8. Then I left. 350z's have good resale, and I found a damn good deal on a used RX-8 and literally BOUGHT IT OVER THE PHONE SITE UNSEEN. I still had it checked out first, but although mechanically.....interested.....I had no idea what I was getting into. It was just the cheapest, most financially feasible option in my interest catagory so i went with it. And please don't blame me or anyone else who is young for not knowing dick about this car or the rotary. WE ARE YOUNG. Thus given our limited experience in this world their is a very high likelihood that ownership of a rotary is a new experience for us, and without wankel nostalgia and a long historical appreciation course, we are inevitably going to ruthlessly compare the vehicle to the other cars we can't appreciate, like Z heritage. We are the frightening cold minded objective consumer. All that being said, I have come to independently love my RX-8.

While I may chose a different vehicle in the future just to experience the offerings further, I feel that I am lucky to have been constrained against buying a more outright powerful vehicle like the Z. I have come to love the linear power delivery, the civilized ride, and the lightweight I never realized I cherished (MK III GTI is like 2800lbs.) Yes it has its quirks and yes they should be noted. There is no excuse for the dipstick location but there is also no excuse for trading your 8 in for a Goat and be boastful and ingratiating about it. (Side note: GTO = FUGLY. you think your 8 has bad depriciation? look at this POS's figures) So to summarize, you are right to hate the haters, but The Young and The Critical (tonight at 8) should not be ignored. Know your perspective and that over members. But most of all, thanks for being the older, wiser experts here, without you i would have flooded my 04 a long time ago. Not to mention my growing historical knowledge and general appreciation for the mechanical beauty of the rotorary.

</rant> WHEW!!

dynamho

Wow! That would fly!

dynamho

I don't understand why Ike would be banned. I like him here because he occasionally knocks some sense into delusioned RX-8 owners with researched facts.

Ike

There is some local club that has 7 or 8 of them. Most of them run 7's when they don't break... They're pretty cool little wheelie monsters. Sorry for the hi-jack, back to the topic at hand!

I'll start it back up...


OMGzorz, teh rotary rulez! Blah blah 3 moving parts blah blah high revs blah blah we're so unique!

dynamho

hahaha! You have to admit though that a 3 rotor RX-3 would be just as impressive.

Don't know if this is a 3 rotor or 3 turbo (?), but it looks fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMjmGfqdTWY

rotarygod

Maybe you didn't fully understand what I wrote. Many people don't drive those big *** honking machines because they need them. Some do. There are so many people around here that are not driving them because they need them. They are driving them because they want them. That's why I feel it's funny to say the RX-8 isn't practical bases on mileage when so many are willing to drive far less efficient vehicles just for the hell of it.

I will personally never own an SUV. It's like owning an American car. I blatantly refuse to under any circumstances. I don't care how many kids I end up with.

rotarygod

Hydrogen burns too fast. It has potential but as of right now every single attempt at it has turnged out to be crap. Maybe in the future it will be good but nothing good has come out of it so far.

It's a terror in any car here. I've driven a Civic for 6 years here an I'm a real estate agent. It would be harder to get around in a larger vehicle with al the traffic and overly small parking spaces. Having a small car is a blessing here.

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

i'm loving this thread the opinions expressed on this thread are awesome.... i bought this car because of its rotary engine

Ike

I mostly agree with you. But, I wish I had something for those trips to Home Depot and for various stuff around the house and I really don't NEED a SUV. I would imagine that a lot of the people that you think have it for no reason justify it for the same reason I sometimes wish I had one. Now if we're talking about the guy that loads the thing up with stereo equipment and or lives with his parents I totally agree.

From spending a fair amount of time with my brother and his kids there is a damn good chance I'd own an SUV if I have kids. It will be one with a DVD player. You can't imagine how effective that thing is at keeping kids from fussing, fighting, crying, etc. Also, if you have more than one child, the further away from one another they are from on another during a car ride the better.

Raptor2k

Agreed, RG. As you would expect, it's like that in here DFDubya too.

flomulgator

Good Lord I just looked at how long my rant was and I'd be amazed if anyone dared penetrate that treatise. Except RG of course.

Speaking of which, don't wanna hijack but wouldn't H2 be just fine if you spun the rotary faster? Like 20,000 rpms or so? Perhaps retard the timing severly too? I agree that I wouldn't buy one now....unless I had enough money to where I could buy technologies I believed in for the simple act of supporting its development.

And could you imagine the 20k tach you wouldn't need a beep then!!!!

Ike

Yeah, they're damn cool as well. Though getting parts and the cost of them is another story. There is at least one 3 rotor RX-3 that I've seen run at the local strip but I've never seen him complete a pass. He always seems to have something go wrong when I'm there, nothing engine related though. Also, street ported rotaries sound like a freaked out weedeater on roids to me. I know some people love the way they sound, but I can't stand it.

Frynge

right on. there's nothing out there at all like our 8s.

dynamho

Hahaha! That's a pretty good description of the way they sound. I myself prefer the classic American pushrod rumble, but that weedeater from hell sounds scary threatening. I guess that's why some people like it. It just sounds insane.

Ike

Maybe if you're a dandelion

dynamho

Paul_in_DC

A couple months ago, I drove in an Autocross, then on the way home stopped at Home Depot, bought a lawn mover, and shoehorned the box into the back seat. Fun and practicality at the same time.

dynamho

Nice. That's getting creative. For urban life, I get by almost everyday with the RX-8, even with two baby seats in the back seat. I actually have a photo of all the cargo we brought back from Costco because I couldn't believe everything would fit. For a virtual coupe, it's not bad at all. I rarely have to bring out my more practical car, a 3rd gen Protege beater, because the RX-8 is so much more fun to drive on a daily basis.

dreamfrog

Yea, I can put quite a bit of crap in mine too.
If it won't fit, then I either don't need it or....
I'll go ask one of my MILLIONS of neighbors who owns an SUV to help me haul it.
Love thy neighbor.
And, they will just gloat about the fact that I needed to ask them.
My hubby's car is smaller than mine.
It's just a matter of learning to not haul all that crap around, live with less.
It's really rather freeing.
And, I LOVE my car.
Every little teeny tiny thing about it.
There is nothing about my car that I don't like.

dynamho

Word.

rotarygod

I have no problems hauling 8 foot long 2X4's in my little Civic. They just clear the trunk lid and miss the radio up front. I haul tons of stuff in that car. The only thing I'd need a truck for was large pieces of plywood or something really large like a generator. You can do a lot without the need for a truck. When I do need one, which is rarely, I borrow a friend's truck. He owns one because he does haul stuff around and not because he just wants to drive one around for no other reason than to be a redneck.

9291150

Just because the guy can put a sentence together doesn’t mean he conveys fact or well though out arguments. But he’s no fool, and I’ve actually come to enjoy his concentrated efforts to put down the 8, still amazes me that he tries so hard. I wish I had staff members half as committed.

dynamho

I have to admit that I haven't read all of Ike's posts, but those that I have read, I get the feeling that he doesn't target the RX-8 specifically to shoot down, but rather, statements about the RX-8 from forum members that are just silly claims. Correct me if I'm wrong please. I prefer to see a smart RX-8 owner and Ike "enforces" that in my view.

bascho

I'm going to play devils advocate now to some of the things that have been said.

SUV's are being bashed as being not utilized by a majority of owners and purchased merely as status symbols??

1) How do you know what they do with their SUV?
2) Did you HAVE to buy your RX8?...because IMO it's just as under-utilized by 90% of the owners and gets comparable fuel economy.

The rotary engine is getting a lot of kudos for being an engineering marvel.

1) Were piston engines designed by morons?
2) Do you really think a rotary is more technically advanced?

The RX8 is being touted as a 'drivers car' with it's unbelievable balance and design owning all other cars on the twisties.

1) How many races have RX8 teams won in GP (all classes they compete in) and SCCA this year?

Some mention the rotary as being a high-revving engine and piston engines can't compete.

1) Have you ever seen a motorcycle engine or F1 race engine (or other race engines for that matter)? How does 18,000 rpm sound?

"The RX8 is so unique with it's rear doors and rotary engine."

1) Rear 'suicide' 1/2 doors have been used on trucks since the 90's and the first car usage was on a Saturn.

2) The rotary engine has been experimented with by most major auto manufacturers with negative results.....no one but Mazda even WANTS to mess with it.

*** I actually like the RX8....so don't make me out to be a hater. But please, take your car down from the pedestal you have it on......it's just a car and not even a great one. Great cars have large price tags......everything in the $30K price range has been compromised to be affordable.

dynamho

I love my RX-8 too. I make excuses to run the most ridiculous of errands just to zing it every opportunity I get.