91vert

With the RX-8 being the first model year, I was wondering what everybody is thinking might be some problems we'll run into.

Not doubting Mazda's commitment to building quality vehicles, but there is so much that is new about this car that I am getting myself mentally prepared for repeated trips back to the dealership to have things fixed.

I'm hoping that they have beat the crap out of the Renesis during development and testing. I want that engine to be rock solid. Anybody that has ever owned a rotary in the past knows that they are built well and will last a long time, but they always needed to be meticulously maintained to get the longest life and reliability out of them. There have been quite a few RX-7 owners on the forum complain that they have nothing but problems with their engines, but they are usually the punks who abuse their rotaries by over modifying them and those who just don't take care of them.

I'm a little suspicious of that electric-assisted steering having issues a couple of years down the road, and maybe door alignment problems with the goofy "suicide" doors after everything gets broken in and settled. Tranny problems maybe....which Mazda seems to be famous for.

With all of the "newness" to this car, what do you guys think we might see in the way of recalls or just problems in general?

DonG35Miata

I've bought several Japanese cars their first model year with no problems at all. (Don't ask me about my first model year BMW... I am confident Mazda will deliver a reliable vehicle. After the 3rd gen RX-7's problems, I don't think Mazda will repeat the same mistake twice.

My only concern about the car (and a few of my colleagues on here as well) is that the performance and driving character are going to be compromised by the car trying to be too many things to too many people. I have a small concern that the resale value will be poor due to its differences from other cars- the preorders have not been overwhelming, and the possibility exists that the car could be great but Mazda could really lay an egg in terms of marketplace acceptance. But it won't keep me from plunking down my cash if the car excites me when I drive it.

Hercules

There are some things I'd be wary of.. however most of what you mentioned aren't them

The door alignment maybe, but the chassis is extremely stiff, not to mention you have that brace running down the center of the car to keep it nice and tight... so I don't really see that happening.

As to the electric assist steering.. there are cars (and BryanH will attest) that from the early 80s have had such systems in them. You might sometimes tend to get 'infront' of it and it will catch up quickly, but otherwise nada. The motor is an 'assist' and if it's not working you will know Not too many problems as I recall from the cars in the 80s that had them.. I'd expect the same from the RX-8.

Most of the problems in my mind will come with the automatic version. Tranny problems will be the most likely. Manual tranny I'm not worried because well... look at the Miata

The engine I'm not concerned with at all... 6 moving parts and all you need to do is top off fluids and keep changing your oil regularly and you will be one happy camper. The apex seals on this car should last 150k miles (as I recall reading) so I'm not worried about that.

But I do believe the majority of the problems will be moreso with the auto than the manual.. and even then I believe those problems will be low.

For Mazda it's game time.. and they need to score here to keep themselves in the game.

91vert

Didn't realize that the electrically assisted steering was old technology. I had never heard of that before, so that's a little encouraging to know it has been around for a while.

I'm not really worried much about the Renesis internals, but more along the lines of emissions related components. So much has changed with the intake & exhaust systems that I really wonder if there are going to be problems there.

DonG....I kind of agree with you on the driving character. I'm afraid that I might get into the thing, test drive it, feel really good about it being able to satisfy all my wants and needs in a car, and then end up hating a lot of things about it 6 months into ownership. This car is not going to be some super-fast performance machine, and it is not going to be a comfortable float-down-the-highway-to-work-and-back-everyday-family-car either. It will hopefully turn out to be a nice balance of the 2, that the majority of owners will love.

Anyway...I would almost bet money on auto tranny problems though.

IGOZMZM

Well if the lack of preorders has any good side is that it should make the cars come faster for those of us who have or will take advantage of it. As far as laying down cash on it and having pure faith in Mazda quality, I'm already there....... I think the preorder would have gone over better had they had more information finalized at the start of it, when more info comes out tomorrow via the press from testing it maybe the preorders for the 2nd and 3rd allocation will pick up.

BryanH

That's news to me. The first such system I knew of was in the MKII MR2, which came out in '89 in Japan (1990 here as a '91 model).

Someone mentoined the RX-8's steering assist was different... an electric motor acting on the steering rack, instead of an electrohydraulic pump, I think. Something like that anyway. I'm getting forgetful in my old age. Can anyone confirm this?

Hercules

Sorry meant early 90s

wakeech

i thought the S2000 had the same power-steering setup...?

jdj1971

I had a first off the lot 1st gen MX-6 (1988) and never had a single problem with it. To top it off it was built here in the US in a ford plant! It had what they called 'variable power assist steering'. The amount of power assist varied with engine speed so I assume it was electric. Had a 1986 B2000 truck as well, never had a single problem out of it either. It was the first year of that model as well I think.

pelucidor

Yes the S2000 has had variable electric power assist (saves weight) with no real problems in over 3 years.

Hercules

The BMW Z4 also has it.

KKMmaniac

I am a little concerned as well, but when you think of Mazda's experience with rotaries, and in cars in general, I think they're gonna get it right from the start. We know the direct predecessor to the RENESIS was in running form in 1995, and from reading the press kit, it looks like they've scrutinized every detail.

Also, I suppose it is possible early production models tend to get more carefully built, and I'd imagine Mazda (and Ford) don't want to take chances on a car and engine they aren't confident in.

Here's a jpg taken from the press kit on the steering rack, it looks like hydraulics aren't involved.

zoom44

that was me or at least i was one of the folks who did. check the nice diagram above!