im going to have to drive 4-6 hrs at least twice a month. How well can the Rx hold up , under alot of highway driving? also, is it expensive to keep the RX running?

thanks

 

It holds up just fine - why wouldn't it? 2 weeks after I picked mine up, I went on a 4400 mile road trip to California, driving 8 to 10 hours per day, the temperatures were never below 90. It was great!

Regards,
Gordon

 

Just finished a 6500 mile trip from temps in the 80's to mid teens. Driving time was about 15-18 hours at one time.

I was very happy on how it performed in the mountains as well.

 

You'll also get greatly improved gas mileage (maybe 5 mpg better than what you get in city/hiway driving.) Use cruise control.

 

I've already taken it on one 600 mile trip, and in two weeks, after we get our 5,000m checkup, we're driving to Niagara falls-somewhere around 1200-1300 miles. I don't anticipate any problems. Why would there be?

 

I have driven 3 major round trips from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Each trip accumulate averagely 1200 miles. On the same note I do make various trips to San Diego now and then (about 100 miles 1 way). On the freeway-only cruises, my gas tank can make the 8 go as fasr as 260 miles from F to E. And when I filled up, my receipt shows around 13.9 gals. That's the best mpg I have ever got. Outside temp is around 65-85 F (sometimes I drive late at night) with low humidity (given a good weather California). Rain doesn't seem to affect the mpg nor much of the driving dynamic.

So aside from the pain of having to put miles on my car and the low mpg (18.7mpg for freeway), or else I would take the car on every single road trip I make. Now, I rent things like Protege, Cavalier for my trips to SF (done about 1.5 times a month)... and the rental price + 87 gas price = 91 gas price for the RX8.

I still think the RX8 is too much of a sport car to be wasted on those long trip, although it drives much better than a typical car (especially with that Nav system). Although when it comes to the mountain roads, while others have to brake at every damn corner, my car ZOOM-ZOOM thru all the corners at 80-90mph (on 101 or I-5 Great Vines if you live in CA), not to mention gliding (coasting) thru the downhills !!!! The only reason I wouldn't take it above 90mph is the cops, which reminds me I need to invest in a data detector.

My 2nd reason the RX8 is NOT for long trip: I got pulled over on I-5 cited for 85mph (on a 70 speed limit) while others pass me at 90 or more. Reason being ... the RX8 looks too FAST even driving slower than some typical SUVs on the road. So expect the cops' eyes are fixed on you everywhere you go.

Other than that, do use cruise control, and when it comes to the mountain area: do the ZOOM-ZOOM.

 

Yeah, nobody ever said that cops were logical. Let's see what vehicle is more likely to cause deaths in an accident: a light sports car that handles very well going 85mph or a big behemoth that handles poorly going even 80mph. You don't have to be an Einstein to know that speeding SUV drivers are extremely dangerous, especially since they all seem to be on their cell phone all the time. Ok, rant over.

 

I wouldnt recomend the RX-8 on long trips. I recently last weekend went to SEMA in Vegas from Orange County, CA. In ideal weather conditions (55-65 degrees farenheit) and pretty much smooth, straight, level roads, it had some problems. Maybe it was cuz I was carrying a lot of stuff (4 people with luggage) and going about 75-95 MPH average for about 3 hours. The stupid TPS went off cuz as heat inside the tire increases, the air expands and creates a higher PSI. So it was at about 50 PSI (accurate measurement from my tire pressure gauge meter)normally inflated at 39 PSI. 51 PSI is the MAXIMUM PSI for the BridgeStone Potenza 40Z or whatever tires (I forget) so I stopped at a rest stop to cool them down as well as the engine. Problem is mechanically the rotary engine NATURALLY creates significant heat, having this heat for long periods of time is not very good for ideal performance. So it SHOULD be alright for you if you must, but just be sure to check your oil and make sure you are caring for the car correctly.

 

I've gone for two day weekend trips 600-1000 miles most every weekend since i got the car back in Sept. I get the best mileage on hi-way driving (as high as 24mpg) and the car is like a dream on the curvy roads that wind through the Northern Cascades here in Wash. state. It also handles the ups and downs over the mountain passes without a problem.

The interior makes the longer weekend trips very enjoyable - admittedly different than the Miata I have that spends a bit of extra time in the garage since the 8 came home. Btw, I agree cruise control is a must for the road trips...at least on the flat sections of highway.

 

FYI, it's called "The Grapevine"

 

What nonsense!

Quote:

The stupid TPS went off cuz as heat inside the tire increases, the air expands and creates a higher PSI. So it was at about 50 PSI (accurate measurement from my tire pressure gauge meter)normally inflated at 39 PSI. 51 PSI is the MAXIMUM PSI for the BridgeStone Potenza 40Z or whatever tires (I forget) so I stopped at a rest stop to cool them down as well as the engine.

Before you start calling the TPS stupid... perhaps you should check your door sticker or owners manual again and see what tire pressures you're supposed to be running. 39 psi is 5 psi too high. YOU overinflated the tires, the TPS was just pointing it out to you. Further - 51 PSI is the maximum COLD pressure for the RE-040 AT MAXIMUM RATED LOAD. The hot pressure can be higher, and it's physically impossible to load an RX-8 up to the maximum load weight of all 4 tires.

Quote:

Problem is mechanically the rotary engine NATURALLY creates significant heat, having this heat for long periods of time is not very good for ideal performance.

Again, what nonsense - ALL internal combustion engines create significant heat - there's nothing special about burning gasoline in a rotor chamber rather than a cylinder. If the engine isn't overheating (and it wasn't, right?), then it's not a problem. Once the vehicle reaches it's stabilised operating temperatures (say, after 15 minutes of driving), then it doesn't matter whether you drive another 5 minutes or 15 hours. Your statement makes absolutely NO sense.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Constant speed highway driving is the least wearing type of driving on your car.

There is a constant flow of air around the engine - this is great for the engine - it keeps temps down. The transmission is generally in one gear so the the clutch isn't being constantly engaged and disengaged with the engine and drivetrain being loaded and unloaded.

Highways are smoother than secondary roads and city streets so the body structure and suspension aren't being stressed.

I don't know why you said what you did. It's common knowledge that stop and go driving is more stressful on cars.

Stop and go driving creates higher engine temps because the car sits at lights and is constantly being revved. The transmision is constantly being shifted. More wear. If you don't believe me, ask a reputable mechanic.

It bothers me that people spread disinformation based upon hearsay and/or their own anecdotal evidence.

 

Good lord, if I bought a car for $30,000 and it wasn't good for long trips on the highway, I don't know what the hell I would do. Seriously, the car is fine for trips. This is not to say there is not some lemons out there (maybe Efini8's car--as he obviously isn't happy), but that should be a small percentage of the cars out there.

 

The only issue I could see about the RX-8 for trips is that the gas milage isn't as good as the Del Sol my GF and I are used to taking on trips. Since it's just the two of us, the trunk space is ample, and the two seater is fine. We get at least 25 MPH on the freeway, with me taking advantage of straightaways whenever I can. At 24 a gallon, which some people are having a hard time of even getting, the RX-8 drinks more gas...PREMIUM gas.

Other than that...The RX-8 seems like a dream ride to use if you are willing to splurge on gas money. Which...I tend to be.

 

Zeqs, many people (on this board anyway) are filling up with regular and getting better performance and reliability. I switched to regular and feel that is the case for me as well. I don't have numbers to back it up, just what it seems like.

 

I took mine on a 1200 mile round trip with absolutely no problems. I did have to add some oil on the way home since I did some fairly heavy driving in the North GA mountains and burned up a bit. The oil light came on. At my next fuel stop I checked the dip stick and it was a third of a quart low. I added a third of a quart and continued on home (no more oil light). I had about 1100 miles on the car before the trip and over 2300 when I got home (trip mileage varied between 21.5 and 23.3 MPG, driving at 75-85 MPH). I'm driving round trip from Orlando, FL to Winchester, VA for Christmas. No worries! Enjoy the car!

 

would you recommend a bra on long trips? I've heard that bugs build up on the oil radiators and rock chips occur on long trips.

 

Hmmm...thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind and hopefully get a chance to test different fuels when I get mine at the beginning of the year.

I had already planned to test it with premium pump gas and VP unleaded racefuel, but I'll try and test it with regular 87 octane in there as well.

Thanks again.

 

Quote:

would you recommend a bra on long trips? I've heard that bugs build up on the oil radiators and rock chips occur on long trips.

I had the Xpel Ultrashield 3M film (http://www.xpel.com/) installed on my front bumper, headlights, fog lights, rear view mirrors, and door edges. It's sweet stuff! You can't tell it's there and it takes the road abuse, not your paint. I used my $500 Mazda card to pay for it (or did I use it to buy the Garmin IQue 3600 GPS?...LOL).

 

For once, I agree with Gordon, Wether is a 5 minute or 15 hr drive, it shouldnt make a difference, the cooling system should keep the temperature at a steady and safe temperature.

The myth about rotary engines getting extremely hot came from the Turbo RX-7 Models, and it wasnt due to the engine, it was due to the Turbos that produce that extra heat, nothing a good intercooler wont fix.