hi yall... i'm new
I am considering getting a RX-8 and I finally got to drive one yesterday
oh man what a car.....
First, the interior is great... fit and finish, design, quality, everything.
I'm 6'1" and the seat fits like glove.
I cant really say anything about interior noise......the engine sound was too loud, so I couldn't really hear anything else :D....it's all good though. It's good to know what's under the hood.
the thing i didn't like about interior was there is no new car smell.
cmon...where's that new car smell excitement?
the engine. it's lacking low and mid range grunt and feels a bit slower than my four banger accord when shifting at 3000rpm, but after that point is a completely different story. The car had only 17 miles on it so I couldn't go WOT on it but I could definitely feel more power coming after 3000 rpm.
the brakes feel really nice. the car is really lively and carves corners like a racing car
(i've never driven a racing car thought :D ). steering feedback is nice and everything is really nice on this car, even the price.
the only thing i'm concerned about this car is, though, the reliability of the new rotary engine. My friend's dad used to have a 94 rx-7 and it flooded like hell and it's been though like 3 rebuilds. i heard it's a lot better in rx-8 but i've seen some threads here about rx-8 being flooded. So here's my question. would something like turbotimer work on this car? would it help the car to not flood the engine?
anyways, i'm jealous of yall. you guys have nice cars.

 

Cool!! One thing is for sure...it's far better than your Accord!! :D Go buy one and join the gang.

- Irish

 

if you buy a 2005 I doubt you will have any problems with flooding, unless you like turning your engine on and then off very quickly. Just warm up your engine every time and you'll have no problem (hopefully). It may be a different story if you live in a very cold area though. Thanks for the compliments on our cars Mr. Accord_lover! Hopefully you will have one soon too!

 

Accord Lover,

Speaking as an experienced 3-time accord owner you won't be disappointed. I'm not sure what's up with the new car smell (mine still has it..acorrding to friends..and it's 9 months old), i have never flooded the car (but I don't just turn it on/off) and the engine noise I don't find loud except when I'm "givin it"..which is often.

I'm assuming you drove the stick as the difference between the auto and stick is night and day..I drove both.

I can honestly say this is the best car I have ever driven and I have had 3 accords, a maxima and a pathfinder. Yes. Different vehicles but all not cheap ones.

You will enjoy I'm sure.

spaceman

 

Flooding is not our big problems anymore my friend

 

There is a thread somewhere here about reliability. I put 140000 miles on a 1980 RX7 with no engine problems. The Mazda rotary has been around for years and has been proven reliable. That aspect of your decision should not be of any concern.

 

I love how people equate the rotary and unreliability. I believe the only reason for this is because the engine is so unique, the one thing most people choose to remember/hear and share are the horror stories of this remarkable invention.

Sorry, nothing against Accord lover, but I have seen this "syndrome" time and time again.

IMO, rotary = reliability. But thats just me.

Mind you there have been major problems with the rotary here and there and even now with Renesis. I believe these are special instances. Instead, looking at the big picture you will see that these are truly magnificient engines.

Now go get yourself one!!

 

Had my 8 for 3 months. Flooded it ONCE this past weekend and it was entirely stupid. I did the "never recommended" start up back out of the garage and shut down without warm-up. Not a big problem as the procedures in the OM for starting a flooded engine worked fine.


As for rebuilding a rotary, I had an RX-7 (1980) with 130k miles on it. Puffed a little smoke on start up so I rebuilt it. Ran it hard for another 90K miles with nary a problem.

Rotaries are very reliable.

 

As far as reliability, is it possible that most owners of rotary engines didn't properly care for their engines, giving the rotary a bad name? I can imagine numerous young and non-mechanical RX-7 owners running for 5000 miles without checking the oil. (They might also be the most vocal about their engine failure.) I don't know, just wondering...

 

I swore I'd never own anything but Hondas, my last car being an Accord and all. Then I test drove an RX-8. There's no looking back and no regrets. This is the most fun I've ever had driving!

 

I'm trying to make the shift from the accord to an 8 ..... but it no happen yet