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I test drove an rx-8 and I would like to say that although I was very inpressed with the look of the car, I can't say i was impressed with the drive. The car shifts very smoothly, but inorder to get any juice out of the engine you have to be constantly reving over 5000, the car does handle nicely but i was definitly not impressed with its acceleration. Now one would think that with a 1.3 litre engine you would be saving money on gas right? wrong, the engine consumes gas like nobodys business, and since you also have to constantly rev high to get any power you're gonna be spending alot of money at the pumps. I really wasnt impressed with the car, hopefully they'll release a turbo model that will make me think differently of the rx-8.

thats the biggest prob with wankel motors, they need something to boost the torque on it, i was reading somewhere with all the emissions crap on it that it dont have the EGTs to run a turbo well and that they have been looking into a supercharger for it

<small>[ August 28, 2004, 12:05 PM: Message edited by: papa roached ]</small>

Originally posted by Pedro:
Now one would think that with a 1.3 litre engine you would be saving money on gas right?

Ummm. No. It's not a piston engine, so 1.3 liters does not equate to 1.3 liters on a Otto cycle engine. So anyone with half a brain wouldn't think that a rotary engine would get some kind of phenominal gas milage.

And why wouldn't you expect to have to rev over 5,000 RPM? MX-3 owners have to rev thier engines over 5,000 RPM to get oomph out of them, so you're basically preaching to the choir. If you're too scared to rev an engine, go buy a Cummins turbo-diesel.

You really can't get gas milleage and performance at the same time, it's almost an oxymoron, its a sacrifice, one or another. Even on the same car, if you rev low, you'll get better milleage, but to get the power you'll need to go higher up in the RPMS, the more power you want, the more fuel you'll need. How with a v8, you'll get your power down low, but also, it's a big v8, and will consume more gas...I think your asking for the impossible

Your ideal solution would be that T-Zero battery powered car that out accelerates ferrari's

Rotarys are VERY Overrated when it comes to natural Aspiration, The Rotary was designed to have a turbo, that's why the RX-8 is doing so poorly! yes, the 8 isnt close to the 7 in HP and no where near in tourqe, the Renesis design is great, slightly better than the previous wankel, but it needs boost, it needs 2 small turbines to increase the Tourqe and HP at low RPMS. Rotarys put out alot of back pressure, so spooling up lets say, 2 T1 or T2 sized turbo's at low RPMS won't be hard.

I just bought an 8 and I am pretty happy with it as is.......the problem with test drives is that they won't let you rev it to the redline....also keep in mind that a rotary is not straining at all at 9000rpm like regular piston engines which will lead to greater reliability......yes it needs more torque and companies like greddy have already answered that ?.....but realize that this is the most powerful n/a rotary engine to date.....remember the 8 is still fairly new and it will just be a matter of time b4 the aftermarket embraces it......

dont forget mazdaspeed is already testing forced induction on these engines as well. i have no doubt this rotary will be built tougher and probably has better potential in the long run then the 7s

I test drove an rx-8 and I must the the high reving part was the best part of it. The engine had a unique harmonic sound like the v6 mx-3, looks were excellent in and out. I will definately buy one of these when I am done school. This is the only car I would consider trading my mx-3 for in any price range!!