Important: The following is a text only archive!
For full features; Go to Mazda
Hey I have a question. I like the mazda rx-8 and would like one. But I see
the the fuel mileage is really bad and was wondering if anyone knows if
there will be a more fuel efficient model later or if there's a way to make
it more fuel efficient. Thanks.
davann923
Mazda araparently going to modify their Rotary engine to be more fuel
efficient ib 2010 if that helps? I'm sure I heard a whisper that they're
going to stick a diesel in it at some point, that floats ya boat!
Cliffy
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff224/DJspanks/rotary_engine.jpg
Spanky2324
I think the rotary engine has done extraordinary well considering it had
the fraction of development the piston engine had. Stupid how the
organisers of Le Mans(I think it was the FIA back then) had to ban them
after Mazda the race instead of adjusting the formula to make it fairer.
fudge
People generally don't buy performance cars for the mileage...if you are
worried about that, don't buy one because you won't be able to afford the
maintenance either.
newyorker
X2. repair bills on sports cars can be VERY pricey.
Satty101
Just like anything else if you drive it nice the mileage wont be too bad,
if you drive like you should drive a performance car, it'll suck. Like he
said, if gas prices are an issue, affording one of these cars should be
too.
DBain
Well the RX-8 despite only being a 1.3 is pretty poor on MPG compared to a
similar sized piston engine, then again it makes the same sized piston
engine look VERY poor on power. Rotary engines are great IMO, and
apparently the new Renesis motors are pretty reliable to boot(minus the
millions of recalls I've heard they can easily go 100k miles, unlike the
older gen 13bs that needed rebuilds on a fairly regular basis.
The problem is maintenance. Its like my friend who wanted to buy an EVO*
because they can be had in the low 20s now, but when he found out the price
for parts such as brakes, good tires, and other tidbits, he changed his
mind. Ferraris (I know its not the same tier car) from what I hear have to
be serviced every 5000 miles, and not just oil change, but a whole lot, and
its not priced the same as a Civic, or even an EVO for that matter. My boss
told me its why so many of them are at the auctions, people buy them not
knowing the maintenance side of things and then can't afford to maintain
them properly.
newyorker
First time in a while that petrol has dipped below £1/litre in the UK so at
least something good has happened. With so few moving parts on the rotary
engine you would have thought that it wouldn't be too hard to rebuild when
it goes poop.
13Bs were turbocharged and probably had the boost increased by it's owner
during their lifetime so it wasn't a suprise to see them more prone to
failure than the new ones in the RX-8.
Converting to LPG is a possiblity as you can run a higher compression ratio
due to it's high knock resistance and at half the price of petrol its seems
a good idea. However the conversion itself might not make up for what you
save plus not many garages sell them(ie you gotta do your research before
you set off to refill)
fudge
All in all I like the rx-8 even if the mileage is bad. I still probably get
one if i had a good enough job to pay for it. Has anyone ever seen a tv
commercial for the rx-8? Just wondering because every time I see a mazda
commercial it's always the 3's and 6's.
davann923
People need to get the whole 1.3-litre thing out of their heads. Before
anybody has a go, I know it's a 1.3, but on paper, and technically
only....It wouldn't be a 1.3-litre if it was a conventional engine! So the
MPG and performance are about what you'd expect from a mid-range sports
car.
Slightly off topic here, but I'm really liking how fuel has gone down in
price, as I'm sure is everybody! Near me it's on around £1.07 per litre,
although I've heard it's at £1.00 per litre just up the road! Worth
travelling for? :laughing:
Cliffy
Its a 1.3 but bear in mind that Wankel cycle is different to the Otto
cycle. Each rotor creates 3 power strokes per revolution compared to 1
power stroke per cylinder for every 2 revs. Thats why it's hp/litre ratio
is high.
Cliffy, the price for crude oil is forecast to drop even lower so enjoy the
lower fuel prices whilst the news is frenzied about the 'economy
crisis'.
To be honest I seriously doubt they could sustain such high prices in
petrol without some backlash!!
fudge
Gas has fallen here as well. When I got my MSM, I paid 4.35 for 93 octane
the first time I ever filled it up, most recently I paid 3.35 for the same
fuel from the same local station.
newyorker
Yeah I hear a barrel of crude in the us is down around $75, when it was
around $150 last winter. Oil dropped by a half but gas prices didn't. Still
I paid $2.97/gal last I filled up.
DBain
£0.87 per litre soon I hear....:hi:
Cliffy
Well since we've shifted our topic over to gas costs, anybody know people
who pre-bought or locked in their heating fuel prices months ago expecting
prices to go up. I know several people who screwed themselves this way, for
example my buddy locked in for the season in june or july at $4.05/gal of
oil and right now the rate is between $3.50-3.75 depending where you go.
Definately a gamble that was lost.
DBain
Does anyone know how well the mazda engine can last because most cars these
days can easily make it over 100k miles with no problems.
davann923
newer rotaries are said to be pretty reliable
newyorker
