Closet Gas Hogs

[1sty]

The RX-8 has only one excuse for:
Bad Gas Milage
Week ass power
torque lower then a civic
Burning oil


THE ROTARY ENGINE OF USELESSNESS
There is absoultely no benefit to using this rotary engine. The DISI beats the crap out of it. Most all other manufacturers have I4s, V6s, and V8s that desimate the power and fuel effeciencies of the RX-8. That is why it is on this list. For the crap power it puts out, it EATS gas.
It it was capable of a 350 horsepower and 300 ftlbs of torque, this would be a radicly different statement that it east gas. BUT in a world where it is bested in power fuel effeciency by basicly ALL of its compeditors. Its placement on this list is well diserved.

The power plant is a sad excuse for an engine, a complete underperformer for a $33K "sports car" and it needs to be retired.

 

[bbychvz]

Nevar! But I can't get a rotary either because I like torque. 2.3 DISI please

X2(yippy)

 

[altspace]

Still all this talk about lack of power from a 1.3 liter engine. I think it does quite well. It's the overall very unique package that enticed me.

For those many here that do not understand why a rotory has "poor" gas mileage, here's a history lesson.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123695571

 

[Donas64]

Still all this talk about lack of power from a 1.3 liter engine. I think it does quite well. It's the overall very unique package that enticed me.

For those many here that do not understand why a rotory has "poor" gas mileage, here's a history lesson.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123695571

I understand why it has poor mileage. But it doesn't change the fact that while it is a cool design and very unique, the negatives outweigh the positives. The main positives it has are:

Smooth turbine-like movement

High redline so its fun to rev.

Pretty much everything else is a negative:

Drinks Gas
Drinks Oil
No Torque

etc..

don't get me wrong, I LOVE that its different, but for it to ever be a force, the design needs to evolve to be more efficient. Give me a 300hp rotary that can get in the 20's for MPG and be reliable and I'll be happy.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

you're still missing the point....it is a 1.3 liter engine....

Show me another 1.3 piston engine that has the output numbers that the Rotary does...

 

[jred321]

there's a huge difference between cool and practical. it's cool that a 1.3L engine with only a few moving parts can make that amount of power. that doesn't mean it's a practical choice. in a way it's like it should be sold at the sharper image

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

lol since when does every person who purchases a car buys it soley on practicality.... there are many car models that are completely impractical...

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

A car becomes impractical when it goes beyond the necessities of daily use. so in views like that we should all be driving bland 4 door cars that are slow but get good gas mileage and have adequate storage space.

 

[jred321]

all cars have their advantages and disadvantages. the struggle people have is, beyond being a brilliantly simple piece of mechanics, what does using a rotary get you? why a rotary instead of something else?

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

that question can be asked for anything tho. Why a v8 powered sedan? Why a minivan, why an SUV?

Its all about choice....just becasue some dont see the advantages or reasons for certain models to exist doesnt mean that the car is useless...

all cars have their advantages and disadvantages. the struggle people have is, beyond being a brilliantly simple piece of mechanics, what does using a rotary get you? why a rotary instead of something else?

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

its a niche car, simple as that. You dont have to "get it". You dont own one, nor care to, so why even worry about it...

(i dont me you in particular Jared, thats directed at anyone)

 

[Donas64]

its a niche car, simple as that. You dont have to "get it". You dont own one, nor care to, so why even worry about it...

(i dont me you in particular Jared, thats directed at anyone)

Actually I wouldn't mind owning one. maybe when the new motors get put in them.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

the current RX8 will most likely not see the 16x

 

[Hughes412]

Kind of a shocker about the Mazda's. But is anyone really shocked about the Wrangler's? 15/19 is being really nice from when I know of them, more like 12/14.

Well all in all, like the article said it's not to bad.

I get 16 mpg city and 14 hwy. Yea I know it's ass backwards but you try driving a block at 70-80 mph and see what happens lol. Oh and that 16 with 456 gears lockers front and back with 33in tires and only a 4sp.

 

[Hughes412]

and as for the RX8, it's a cool looking car. I wouldnt mind owning one, but I can't get past the fact that it has NO power. To me a true sports car needs to be fast and this car just don't do it. Before I spent that kind of money I'd buy a used Elise.

 

[ZoomZoomH]

such hate for the RX-8 in this thread.

 

[erick pina]

it's not about going straight, if you can't catch me going left and right.

 

[erick pina]

and yes I love rotary engine.

 

[erick pina]

please remember this is 1.3L engine.

 

[Antoine]

My name is Antoine and Yes...I used to be a pistonoholic.

lol...I'm a fan of all sorts of engines but recently I've become a big fan of Mazda's rotary-based powerplants because I finally put aside all the misconceptions I had about rotaries...then I was able to try and understand the true nature and purpose of a rotary engine.

What turned me into a rotary fan is not only the engines but the MAZDAS they came and come in...From the Cosmo Sports to the Eunos Cosmo and the iconic FC & FD...All these models were created with such passion and drive fueled by Mazdas excitement and love for the rotary engine!

All those factors make owning a Mazda rotary something really special and just plain FUN!

Now for all this talk of torque...A lot of high-perf piston engines these days USE TURBOS especially 4-6 bangers...while the RX-8 is a NA beast!

If you removed the DI & Turbo from these modern 4-6 bangers, they would make a lot less tq & hp and loose some mpg in the process when you factor out the DI.

I think if you took the smallest Honda engine (which is 1.5L maybe?) and beefed it up to produce 240-250 crank hp NA...First of all, it would not be very streetable and I doubt your MPG would be anything but HORRIBLE...plus you would probably need to run race gas...However...The RX-8 has a 1.3 liter that can pump out the same amount of HP in STOCK form and is totally streetable without the need for race gas...Plus the rotary is so much more of a true performance engine than many 4-6 bangers...It revs super high and is super smooth!

Imagine adding DI and a Turbo to the Renisis! I'm sure the upcoming 16x won't be a slouch!

Before I ramble on forever...I would like to add that I'm also a big fan of torque and in my case...3 rotors and two turbos provides more low-end hp/tq than you can shake a stick at from only 1.9l which is still fairly small!...and for the record...I'm getting pretty decent mpg...