How many HPDE track days have you done in your RX-8? How's the track day reliability and how does it compare to other cars that you've had in the past? If you have had any track day reliability issues, what were they?

I've now done 22 track days in my RX-8 and have always been impressed with the reliability. I've never missed a session or any significant track time time for mechanical reasons. I've even had a few agricultural driving experiences at the track but they've never caused any issues.

It seems that a lot of the guys that I do track events with are always breaking down, although to be fair many of them have older vehicles.

 

I have about 30 hours of track time and the only issues that cost me time was a broken wheel stud and and OMP / main seal issue that happened when I had over 100,000 miles on the car.

 

11 track days over the past year and tranny got stuck in 2nd gear between sessions once, a few months ago. I muscled it out of gear and it has given no further problems.

Rear caliper boots are shot. Turning the rear calipers back in requires a feat of unhuman strength.
Clutch throw out bearing is loud.

Other than that- no problems.

 

About 30 days over 3 years.....

Only on track problems I had were the fuel pump starvation issue that cost me a run group at one event, and the bushing on the RP short shifter that broke ( old delrin type) on the last lap of another track day.

I had a heat cracked rotor that showed up when I swapped pads back the next morning.....

OH...and a lot of worn out brake pads, and tires...but I guess that doesn't count

 

it's usually that last little bit, you can usually leave the squeal shims out and let the pads bed in, then it will go together easy once some initial material is worn off

 

2 track days so far, ~4 hours

Issues were fuel starvation (was under a quarter tank) and overheating (was using the original coolant from factory, switched out with 80/20 with water wetter and no more overheating). Other than that, car performs like a champ!

 

I have 17 track days in 2 years. Never had any real issues. I bailed early on a track day due to CEL, but it turned out to be the loose gas cap issue. I have never overheated, but I also only ran in summer heat once, I try to keep it to the cooler months just to save the stress on myself and the car. I have thrown CEL two other times, once after a spin in the rain off track (fixed by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting), and the other this last weekend (it flashed, I backed off, it went away, repeat process, and the third time it stayed on) but I did the battery trick again and it was fine the rest of the weekend. I think it was another gas cap issue. I swear that's the dumbest thing to throw CEL about.

At just under 50K right now, I have also never had any warranty issues other than TSBs. I'm very impressed with the reliability and plan to enjoy many more track days in this car.

 

So far I have done track days on Nurburgring for 20 laps (240 miles) and 10 laps (28 miles) on the Hockenheimring with only 1 slight problem. My first time on Nurburgring I had a little bit of brake fade and that was fixed by better brake fluid.

My 2004 has 19,988 miles and I have had no issues with it since I bought it in 2006.

 

we have a member with 6K track miles on his car--no real prob-except he did have to replace his trans recently.
olddragger

 

6 days total, just started doing track days this year. Have had fuel starvation issues at just over 1/4 tank. I was told this is an issue with RX8's due to saddle type tank. Had brake pedal stick down in some HARD braking sections. Check engine light has come on at each event. Does not seem to have any other issues and have been having a blast. Added racing beat sways first and now springs. Will be doing steady track upgrades each month, looking to get it to handle more like our spec miata!!