Have owned my RX8 for 21 years now. Done track days, auto cross, long road trips and never missed a beat. Still over 100psi on call faces last I tested. Car was only disabled once when an aftermarket coil kit I installed for "reliability" had a coil fail. This year, I finally had to buy a replacement for my original 21 year old battery as it was getting weak.
Congrats on 21 years man! I’ll hit my 20 year anniversary in the Spring. Only problem I ever had was a misfire due to problem with the stock coil kit. Still on original brake rotors, too!
Bought my first RX8 (2004 automatic) about six years ago and shortly after buying it, the o-ring blew and it started smoking white. My son and I rebuilt the engine and he drove it in highschool. I bought a 2007 automatic RX8 and drove it for five years. I recently gave it to my son as an upgrade and treated myself to a 2011 RX8 R3 with a 6-speed manual and only 41k miles!!!! I wanted the full RX8 experience before they dissappear forever. What an awesome upgrade!!!! I am definitely hooked!
This video gives me a lot of peace. I've just bought mine with around 85PSI with 57milles... And I reallly want to believe that I have engine for a long time. I really want to check compression after change the oil after 7 years and half a year of ''vacations'' as the ex-owner thought it had to change the engine... Now it runs so nice. I really love it.
Mine has been at a failing level of compression for about 50,000 miles. Still hot starts without an issue. I drive it everywhere, about 10-12K miles per year. Everytime it starts feeling weak and I start to wonder if it's finally about done. I throw a fresh set of spark plugs in it and it's good for another 10-15K miles. I drive it heavily spiritedly and occasionally track it.
Picked up an RX8 this year as a second vehicle. Given me no problems so far, swapped maintenance items, been easy to work on, not new to wrenching but new to rotaries. Super happy. Bit of a crunchy second gear but learned to drive around it. Everyone needs an RX8
Rotaries are inefficient, pointless and dumb and technically inferior. But so are fireworks. So is enjoying a nice cocktail or a sugary soft drink. So is having a fancy dinner. Fireworks technically just make noise and flash and dont last forever. Technically, you should have a glass of water as that hydrates you and is healthy. Technically, you could just have a sandwich at home as it's cheaper and gives you what you need nourishment wise. Technically better isnt always better. Realistically, it's the things that cause struggle and reward, excess, pointless entertainment that are the spice of life. I never not smile in my 8 or the randoms I come across. High risk, total reward. No regerts.
I was gonna rip your ass appart for that start until i read the rest 😂 Instead i have a story of my own to share wich fully verifies your point: I'm a mountain biker, but i'm on a budget of "no" and an equal amount of available parts, i have a 2009 Demo 8 i got out of sheer luck that even is on the colours i would've wanted my bike to be. At the start of this year i was forced to replace the rear shock since the previous one was blown up by having an oversized spring (el cheapo™ fix because a friend handed it to me and i was bottoming out too often with the previous one) but the mounting hole had a different diameter so i needed a bushing, got it done by a local shop and i finally could try my used but fresh Fox DHX2 Facory Series Kashima. Four months ago i found out they used a STUPID soft aluminium to make the part, so it began to shredd itself to bits even with proper cleaning and lubrication, i had to stop the bike before play started developing on it. The mounting hardware wasn't the original one, and there were a bunch of unexpected issues because the way it originally went wasn't in contact with the frame as the "unknown origin" hardware was. Two days ago i bought a WHOLE second frame to get the original hardware because as you may understand, there isn't much avilabillty for frame-specific bolts that are 15 years old. It's been a NIGHTMARE, loads of work, not so many results, still an outdated platform... And i REFUSE to let go of it, i have ridden more modern bikes and they don't feel as good, even if they're more efficient or comfortable, i'm very happy with my unreasonable DH bike wich is complete overkill and inconvenient for me (DH bikes are dogshit at climbing, wich i do a lot of) because it's my second favourite bike (my favourite was borrowed once from a friend, but it's an unrealistic standar to me because it was pro shop dialed by an enthusiast with LOTS of cash in his pockets before my friend got it, sadly it's gone as it was stolen about two years ago) That said, sorry for the huge ass comment but it's hard to cut the story much shorter without the details i wanted to leave, and i haven't even talked about the three previous years i owned it
@Ferrari255GTO lol thats cool. I was really big into mtb until i had a BIG accident. My first bike was a Gary Fisher Roscoe 3. 26 inch amongst a world of 29ers. Cable dropper, budget 1 by system. Loved it! I still couldnt beat some of my strava DH times i set on that thing with my Commencal i bought later (and still have). The Roscoe was ugly and old, but just so nimble. The commencal, although technically better, is a lump.
@@noname-sd5dt oof, that's a shame, i often ride conservatively so very few crashes ever since i got my hardware on check. I'm 26" gang too so i definitively know how you feel about that, i used some 29" bikes and i just don't like them, 27.5 max for me. I just ride for fun so i've never bothered with strava, i'm curious about power meter cranks though, could be interesting to see my output data but thoose are stupid expensive and completely unnecesary for what i do so it's unlikely. (Update on the Demo 8) The shock now looses oil after having been stopped for 4 months so i'll have to send it to Fox once i have the budget to do it, meanwhile it'll have to do.
I miss rx7. For the turbo and speed but I miss my rx8 for a comfy sports car with ac Sick sound system Suspension from god Throttle response was insane Only downfall was the monthly gas bill once you add it up ahahahhaha Old Mazda is the best
people base "reliability" on how hard you can abuse something and have it still work, if you run your engine low on oil for tons of miles just because you dont wanna top up doesnt mean that its reliable and people fail to realize..
@Learner_driver-withaRx-8 aye you keep that up and youll only have real fond memories with Joseph alot of fellas out here cant maintain their car to save their lives,, and it ends up costing them.. bmw and audi drivers have nowhere to go but the next light so i cant see why theyre in such a hurry😂
i get your point, but if you can abuse something more and it still works fine it is per defenition more reliable. i think a lot of the misconseptions about rotary reliability is because they compare them to either built engines or bigger size engines. they expect a 1.3l rotary to push 500+ hp with little to no work and then call it unreliable when they break it. like its not even the engines fault at that point, not to mention that they probably built/ tuned it wrong. if we compare the engine to something more similar then its like pushing a 1.6l i4 to the same hp amount. it will probably also need to be built to handle that. you aint getting 500+ hp out of a 1.6 without changing rods and probably pistons too (and all the engine specific problems all engine types/ manufacturers have). obviously a 7l v8 will make 500 hp more reliable on a stock engine. people need to realise that its more about the engine size than engine type if we talk reliable power, and more than that its about how much the builder knows the engine they build when it comes to reliable tuned engines.
@Learner_driver-withaRx-8 who knows, next week you may have to suddenly stop on these wild paths we call streets and your old brakes likely wouldnt have done their job well potentially hurting Joseph and ya, safe travels
@@tozkal96 hell yeah, i was thinking earlier today that the two engine types are vastly different anyway, you dont maintain a rotary how you maintain a pushrod motor, same with how you maintain even an electric motor, theyre all vastly different and should be treated differently
@@sun6262- yea, honestly people should think twice before claiming stuff like this. like its obvious that an engine won't be reliable if you do something its not designed for unless you redesign it (modify) to handle it.
Funny you posted this video, I just got done driving from Florida to Texas, I left to Florida October 12th stayed in Orlando for a racing event and came back today, covered 4098 miles
Just recently bought an 04 6 speed that had 102k and i’ve been loving it. Lots of your videos convinced me to do so lol. Had a bunch of new parts from Mazda installed already and plenty of extra interior bits. I’ve since put 3k miles daily driving it, put it on coilovers, got new tires, and an AEM intake. It is a low compression motor at high 50’s front rotor and low 60’s rear rotor. I’m about to take it to Tail of the Dragon from eastern NC tomorrow and ready to rip it during Tougefest.
Every time you make one of these advocate videos you tempt me to add another RX-8 to my collection. I really don't need another car though. I love my 2009 I bought in 2020 with just over 7k miles and now is about 50 miles shy of 19k. I do cringe driving it sometimes though because the paint is pristine and I hate the thought of anything happening to it.
Greetings from the UK. I've owned my 21 year old RX8 for over 18 years. I never intended to keep it this long but there is nothing else like it. Mine is on same engine, good compression. The only thing in all that time is change of coils and failed cat, the latter caused by the former, and a couple of drop link replacements. Has regular oil changes that I do myself. Fuel is expensive here so it's a weekend toy and not my daily driver.
Awesome video! lol I had the SAME exact problem 2 months ago on my 07. One day got in car no start no power no dash lights.. pulled a U0167 canbus code and thought my pcm was cooked… turns out? No reverse lights cause switch was bad and everytime I went to reverse it was shorting the 10A meter fuse to the instrument panel! Had to keep like 20 of those on hand and disconnected the switch and drove with no lights for like 3 weeks until I fixed it! One time I even was able to drive home without any dash lights at all which was pretty nerve racking 😂What did you use to insulate yours with? I might do that for a track day next year. Glad to see your rotary content as always !
I have been daily driving my RX-8 for 5 or 6 years now. The only issues I had are rusted out oil cooler lines and a bad second gear synchro which was bad when I got it so I would agree they can be reliable when taken care of
My biggest fear is that I will no longer be able to keep my 8 because it will break down and there will no longer be a supply of parts to fix. More people mean more support for this chassis! Thank you for doing what you're doing!
2x speed, so what you're saying is we need some titanium rotors and rev our engines to 16K RPM? Fun fact, a late friend of mine had a drag FC, with a 20B PP, making 1600hp at 14K RPM. Some videos of his still exist if you look up MPS 20B RX7. Most of them including the dyno videos were lost when Street Fire went down.
Glad to have stumbled over your channel, I have a fc turbo rx7 that has been off the road for 10 years, just starting to fix her up. Love the videos bro!
Well i wanna say mission accomplish man. I was on the fence about getting an RX8 and I ended up pulling the trigger on a 22k miles exemple. Will treat it well and hopefully ill be able to give it to my son one day 🤟 Amazing videos and you make it very easy to understand wheb you explain stuff. Keep up the good work!
I have been driving my 05 6mt 8 for the past almost 5 years DAILY during the summer months (NS Canada so only driving time is between april-october). Car currently just reached 140k kms and bought at 75k kms, the only things I have done is fuel pump, 3 sets of ign coils, 4 sets of spark plugs, and the sohn adapter (minus exhaust/intake mods). Seriously the best car ever minus the gas mileage lol
* * I flew from AZ to SEATTLE and bought my 04 and drove it back ( 24hrs ) straight back home w/ open header , no a/c , bunch of dash lights on , slammed on coilovers etc. no issues other than running out of gas lol ( fuel gauge doesnt work ) * *
I think the issue with RX8's is that they were sold to consumers, when they were obviously supposed to be enthusiast cars. I very much want an RX8 just so I can either prove to my coworkers they're good cars, or ya know, go broke trying to do that.
Sadly, the CHEAPEST manual RX8 where I live is $5000 and that's with a original engine that is worn out, and likely doesn't have any usable parts aside from rotors. All other RX-8s that actually run properly are $7000 to $10,000. There's a decent amount of them for sale, too. Thankfully, I already own an RX8. But, as it stands right now, it's almost impossible to buy an RX-8 to use for parts, or to use as a donor vehicle. Also, being in Canada means that OEM parts cost an arm and a leg, and anything aftermarket needs duties paid. Basically, if you live in Vancouver... Get rekt. Just pay 10k down on a GTR and laugh as your monthly payments+gas+oil will be less than if you had just bought an RX-8 and decided to premix. Don't ask me how I know. (Gas is expensive af here, and oil, and premix) Hopefully one day I will be able to buy a couple rx8 donor cars, because I genuinely do love this car more than any other car. Don't daily mine, though... Obviously
Hi RAD, just curious what temperatures are suitable for the renesis? Owned mine for about a 18 months now. Just had it rebuilt after a blown coolant seal. Sit at 90 oil 80 water celsius cruising. and up to 100-110 oil 85-95 water in traffic. I find it easy to hit 110-115 when beating on it during a summers day, any tips on keeping temps low, and whats the max acceptable temp?
Unreliable means something that lets you down frequently, so ya the internet is wrong. My rx8 is turbocharged, I drive it an hour and a half to the track, give a thrashing then drive it back home. So I don’t know what the hell everyone is talking about.
Been watching for a year now and finally got my own rx-7! Its an 83 gsl but the hood is rotten. I know its a long shot but would you be willing to sell one of those fb hoods you've got back there!!! Love your stuff, very informational. Keep it up!
i've bought my rx8 a year ago and its down for the last 4 months tested compression rear rotor is blown below 3bar- 43psi so i dont have any luck so far
I need a cheap sports car to scratch an itch. Never owned a rotary but I like them and I'm mechanically inclined. Should I go for an FC or an RX8 first? I like the looks of fc better but I'm more of a function over form guy. So what's better?
FC is easier to turbo, had pop up headlights, are old. RX8 are not as easy to turbo. Handle great and magic with a few bits. Good stereo ac leather seats etc and can fit kids or even adults in the back. I personally would love an FC, but bang for buck it was the rx8. They often in na make more power than an fc turbo anyway. Even an FC you need to port it and do mods to get big power. For FCs there is love. RX8s you got to get through the hate.
Excellent information! The biggest reliability issue with RX-8's.... really rotaries in general is; stupid / lazy/ cheap owners. I've had several RX-7's and now am RX-8, only replaced one engine and that was completely my fault (pro tip: don't tune your old school boost controller on a road trip 😅) Keep it rad!
I had an FB go to 223k kms before I traded it (like an idiot) and a RX8 go to 186k kms both on the original engines. Both ran with 0 issues before I traded and sold them. If you do the maintenance and take care of these engines they will last.
Funny I just blew my turbo 2 street port at the time I had a fb I would run for summer and for some reason I traded in for a rx8 Lmao I miss all my Mazdas Thinking about 13b swapping my hachi Roku
Paid 1k for mine and all it needed was a new radiator. Supposedly has a lower mileage engine. Haven’t compression tested it yet but it starts up just fine.
@RADpotential just curious if you’d like to work together with my 1992 FD rx7. It’s mostly stock with some drive-ability issues that I’d love to have figured out. I could ship it out to you to make some videos with, maybe rebuild the turbos, improve the cooling with a vmount, and add a pair of oil coolers to name just a few things. Let me know!
I'm trying to find a used engine for my (original owner) 04 rx8. The best option (in my mind) I've found is someone selling an engine only (2k) with a compression test video with the front rotor very healthy (128/106/123 corrected 132/110/127) and the back at 121/127/63 corrected to 128/145/72. All other used engine dealers state they were compression tested at time of pull and provide no proof or warranty. I want my car to be my daily again. I'd run it NA like I stole it and wonder if you think it's worth $2k. I also want to get into rotary engine building myself.
while the Renesis is still inherently weaker than the 13B, it's reliability is blown out of proportions... my 13B has been rebuilt in 2002, bought the FC TII in 2005 and driven it untill 2012 with close to 400hp on stock motor. have then taken off the turbo, slapped on a double Weber and put it in my RX-4, without opening it up. now, 22 years after rebuild, its still running strong and never skips a beat while pulling 8,5k redlines according to all comments and thoughts out there, my engine should have died many years ago after encountering detonation, overheating, running lean and a blown turbo
you see when a kid can't reliably push the engine past its limits with a 100 pounds of boost all of the sudden the engine is unreliable... god I hate how so many people expect every engine that was build to be on a passenger car and already tuned from the factory to handle power it was never meant to have.
NA rotaries are crazy reliable. That’s why they’re in aviation. But turbo comes down to management and discipline. My Haltech makes all my dreams possible. 500 all day on ethanol for 3 years n running. I’ve also popped 6 motors bc of underpar ecu’s
I have a sunlight silver but had the chance for a shinka in black cherry. I wanted a non sunroof version so i could fit with a helmet and passed on it. That colour is sexy!
I was really looking at buying a RX-8 to Daily, but what thew me off from it was the fuel economy at the end of the day. I drive a lot and needed something efficient, so I ended up going with another really slept on platform
miss mine so much had a shinka traded a ford fusion for it, i didnt even know what an rx8 was but i had to have it. i put about a grand in upgrades before i had to sell to pay for a medical thingy ... soon ill have one again
Are the s2 series significantly more reliable over the s1’s because of that extra oil injector? I ask because i want an s2 but i’ve seen s1’s sell for half the price of s2’s.
@ chat correct me if I’m wrong but there are no s3’s. They did make an r3 which is an s2 with sporty trim pieces and different seats and wheels and probably suspension tuning.
@@86surge90 i believe youre correct. if memory serves its the r3 that got the 3rd oil injector though? idk. i'd double check though before i bought an s2 thinking it did. id probably do the swap where you put a dedicated oil resevoir that feeds the 3 injectors clean 2 stroke oil and not oil from the pan :D
Some Renesis last 50k miles and some 150k miles. I had a Stage 2 engine built by Pettit Racing and it didn't even last 10k street driven miles, what a waste of $6500. Original engine lasted 143k miles so these engines are all over the place.
@JohnnyOctane i think my problem is getting one thinking it's all sick then finding out later I have to put a 4k rebuild into it. Once I move I plan to get a project car and a rx7 or 8 is what I want
I get it, they aren’t “that” bad. Still, I have never forgiven Mazda for killing the RX line with the RX8. FD to RX8 was the biggest downgrade of all time…
Mazda were being pressured by Ford by that time, and they weren't given a lot of time or budget to develop the RX8 in the way they wanted iirc. They had taken the NB MX5 chassis, and were developing the chassis for the NC, but given the constraints they didn't get to develop a new chassis for the RX8, and just extended the NC development and chassis. I don't think it's a downgrade at all, I don't compare the two cars because they are after different portions of the market. If they had called it the RX7 FE then yes I'd agree, but clearly Mazda were doing, or at least trying, something different. Two cars for two slightly different people, but share one thing; being fun and different. Though do remember, the FD failed to sell well, the days of the two-door, two-seater, pure sports car was going away. Not to mention the MX5 already filled that declining part of the market. So the RX8 pivoted to being more a luxury sports saloon.
Rx8 was more of a sporty luce/929/cosmo successor rather than an rx7 (hence the number change). Get the "successor" mindset out of your thoughts, and you will sleep better.
Dude how can you blame Mazda for persisting with the rotary tradition for 9 more years after the RX7? The RX8 was nearly half the price of an RX7 if i remember correctly...
@@VinsUplifting Of course it was cheaper, one was a twin turbo sports car that was competitive with its contemporaries, one was a 4 door sport compact that was slower than anything that could be considered a competitor but got much worse economy which offset its increased practicality. Here's why I blame them: they tried and failed AGAIN with the RX8 to make a rotary car practical, after already failing to do that twice before. At least with the 3 RX7 generations they made a car nobody could pretend was practical; they were sports cars. If they had stuck with the sports car formula and made something that went toe to toe with the S2000 or Z of the era, it would have been a better end. Instead they made a practical car that wasn't practical enough because it required the special treatment and gas bill that a rotary comes with, so it was slower than the sports cars, and worse as a sedan than the other sedans. They made a car that was the worst of both worlds. FWIW, my FD had a sticker of around $36k, a similarly optioned RX8 wouldn't be half the price with inflation, but it would be significantly cheaper.
Any car is unreliable if you don't maintain it. I've been driving RX7's for 41 years now, and I haven't had 1 fail me yet.
I use to change my oil every 1900 miles with my rx7z
Have owned my RX8 for 21 years now. Done track days, auto cross, long road trips and never missed a beat. Still over 100psi on call faces last I tested. Car was only disabled once when an aftermarket coil kit I installed for "reliability" had a coil fail. This year, I finally had to buy a replacement for my original 21 year old battery as it was getting weak.
The shocks: oh, you wanted me for reliability? That's too bad (collapses and implodes)
Congrats on 21 years man! I’ll hit my 20 year anniversary in the Spring. Only problem I ever had was a misfire due to problem with the stock coil kit. Still on original brake rotors, too!
Bought my first RX8 (2004 automatic) about six years ago and shortly after buying it, the o-ring blew and it started smoking white. My son and I rebuilt the engine and he drove it in highschool. I bought a 2007 automatic RX8 and drove it for five years. I recently gave it to my son as an upgrade and treated myself to a 2011 RX8 R3 with a 6-speed manual and only 41k miles!!!! I wanted the full RX8 experience before they dissappear forever. What an awesome upgrade!!!! I am definitely hooked!
W father
Lucky kid hope he appreciates it and stays safe🙏
This video gives me a lot of peace. I've just bought mine with around 85PSI with 57milles... And I reallly want to believe that I have engine for a long time. I really want to check compression after change the oil after 7 years and half a year of ''vacations'' as the ex-owner thought it had to change the engine... Now it runs so nice. I really love it.
Mine has been at a failing level of compression for about 50,000 miles. Still hot starts without an issue. I drive it everywhere, about 10-12K miles per year. Everytime it starts feeling weak and I start to wonder if it's finally about done. I throw a fresh set of spark plugs in it and it's good for another 10-15K miles. I drive it heavily spiritedly and occasionally track it.
85 psi isn’t bad at all. Around high 70s is when it’s time to rebuild generally
Picked up an RX8 this year as a second vehicle. Given me no problems so far, swapped maintenance items, been easy to work on, not new to wrenching but new to rotaries. Super happy.
Bit of a crunchy second gear but learned to drive around it. Everyone needs an RX8
That's quite the expensive way to walk a dog 😂
Rotaries are inefficient, pointless and dumb and technically inferior.
But so are fireworks.
So is enjoying a nice cocktail or a sugary soft drink.
So is having a fancy dinner.
Fireworks technically just make noise and flash and dont last forever.
Technically, you should have a glass of water as that hydrates you and is healthy.
Technically, you could just have a sandwich at home as it's cheaper and gives you what you need nourishment wise.
Technically better isnt always better.
Realistically, it's the things that cause struggle and reward, excess, pointless entertainment that are the spice of life.
I never not smile in my 8 or the randoms I come across.
High risk, total reward.
No regerts.
I was gonna rip your ass appart for that start until i read the rest 😂 Instead i have a story of my own to share wich fully verifies your point: I'm a mountain biker, but i'm on a budget of "no" and an equal amount of available parts, i have a 2009 Demo 8 i got out of sheer luck that even is on the colours i would've wanted my bike to be. At the start of this year i was forced to replace the rear shock since the previous one was blown up by having an oversized spring (el cheapo™ fix because a friend handed it to me and i was bottoming out too often with the previous one) but the mounting hole had a different diameter so i needed a bushing, got it done by a local shop and i finally could try my used but fresh Fox DHX2 Facory Series Kashima. Four months ago i found out they used a STUPID soft aluminium to make the part, so it began to shredd itself to bits even with proper cleaning and lubrication, i had to stop the bike before play started developing on it. The mounting hardware wasn't the original one, and there were a bunch of unexpected issues because the way it originally went wasn't in contact with the frame as the "unknown origin" hardware was. Two days ago i bought a WHOLE second frame to get the original hardware because as you may understand, there isn't much avilabillty for frame-specific bolts that are 15 years old. It's been a NIGHTMARE, loads of work, not so many results, still an outdated platform... And i REFUSE to let go of it, i have ridden more modern bikes and they don't feel as good, even if they're more efficient or comfortable, i'm very happy with my unreasonable DH bike wich is complete overkill and inconvenient for me (DH bikes are dogshit at climbing, wich i do a lot of) because it's my second favourite bike (my favourite was borrowed once from a friend, but it's an unrealistic standar to me because it was pro shop dialed by an enthusiast with LOTS of cash in his pockets before my friend got it, sadly it's gone as it was stolen about two years ago)
That said, sorry for the huge ass comment but it's hard to cut the story much shorter without the details i wanted to leave, and i haven't even talked about the three previous years i owned it
@Ferrari255GTO lol thats cool. I was really big into mtb until i had a BIG accident. My first bike was a Gary Fisher Roscoe 3. 26 inch amongst a world of 29ers. Cable dropper, budget 1 by system. Loved it! I still couldnt beat some of my strava DH times i set on that thing with my Commencal i bought later (and still have). The Roscoe was ugly and old, but just so nimble. The commencal, although technically better, is a lump.
@@noname-sd5dt oof, that's a shame, i often ride conservatively so very few crashes ever since i got my hardware on check. I'm 26" gang too so i definitively know how you feel about that, i used some 29" bikes and i just don't like them, 27.5 max for me. I just ride for fun so i've never bothered with strava, i'm curious about power meter cranks though, could be interesting to see my output data but thoose are stupid expensive and completely unnecesary for what i do so it's unlikely. (Update on the Demo 8) The shock now looses oil after having been stopped for 4 months so i'll have to send it to Fox once i have the budget to do it, meanwhile it'll have to do.
I had 0 problems daily driving my rx8 until i sold it at 142k miles. Original engine. Maintenance is just key
I miss rx7. For the turbo and speed but I miss my rx8 for a comfy sports car with ac
Sick sound system
Suspension from god
Throttle response was insane
Only downfall was the monthly gas bill once you add it up ahahahhaha
Old Mazda is the best
people base "reliability" on how hard you can abuse something and have it still work, if you run your engine low on oil for tons of miles just because you dont wanna top up doesnt mean that its reliable and people fail to realize..
@Learner_driver-withaRx-8 aye you keep that up and youll only have real fond memories with Joseph alot of fellas out here cant maintain their car to save their lives,, and it ends up costing them.. bmw and audi drivers have nowhere to go but the next light so i cant see why theyre in such a hurry😂
i get your point, but if you can abuse something more and it still works fine it is per defenition more reliable.
i think a lot of the misconseptions about rotary reliability is because they compare them to either built engines or bigger size engines. they expect a 1.3l rotary to push 500+ hp with little to no work and then call it unreliable when they break it. like its not even the engines fault at that point, not to mention that they probably built/ tuned it wrong. if we compare the engine to something more similar then its like pushing a 1.6l i4 to the same hp amount. it will probably also need to be built to handle that. you aint getting 500+ hp out of a 1.6 without changing rods and probably pistons too (and all the engine specific problems all engine types/ manufacturers have). obviously a 7l v8 will make 500 hp more reliable on a stock engine. people need to realise that its more about the engine size than engine type if we talk reliable power, and more than that its about how much the builder knows the engine they build when it comes to reliable tuned engines.
@Learner_driver-withaRx-8 who knows, next week you may have to suddenly stop on these wild paths we call streets and your old brakes likely wouldnt have done their job well potentially hurting Joseph and ya, safe travels
@@tozkal96 hell yeah, i was thinking earlier today that the two engine types are vastly different anyway, you dont maintain a rotary how you maintain a pushrod motor, same with how you maintain even an electric motor, theyre all vastly different and should be treated differently
@@sun6262- yea, honestly people should think twice before claiming stuff like this. like its obvious that an engine won't be reliable if you do something its not designed for unless you redesign it (modify) to handle it.
Funny you posted this video, I just got done driving from Florida to Texas, I left to Florida October 12th stayed in Orlando for a racing event and came back today, covered 4098 miles
Just recently bought an 04 6 speed that had 102k and i’ve been loving it. Lots of your videos convinced me to do so lol. Had a bunch of new parts from Mazda installed already and plenty of extra interior bits. I’ve since put 3k miles daily driving it, put it on coilovers, got new tires, and an AEM intake. It is a low compression motor at high 50’s front rotor and low 60’s rear rotor. I’m about to take it to Tail of the Dragon from eastern NC tomorrow and ready to rip it during Tougefest.
Every time you make one of these advocate videos you tempt me to add another RX-8 to my collection. I really don't need another car though. I love my 2009 I bought in 2020 with just over 7k miles and now is about 50 miles shy of 19k. I do cringe driving it sometimes though because the paint is pristine and I hate the thought of anything happening to it.
Greetings from the UK. I've owned my 21 year old RX8 for over 18 years. I never intended to keep it this long but there is nothing else like it. Mine is on same engine, good compression. The only thing in all that time is change of coils and failed cat, the latter caused by the former, and a couple of drop link replacements. Has regular oil changes that I do myself. Fuel is expensive here so it's a weekend toy and not my daily driver.
Awesome video! lol I had the SAME exact problem 2 months ago on my 07. One day got in car no start no power no dash lights.. pulled a U0167 canbus code and thought my pcm was cooked… turns out? No reverse lights cause switch was bad and everytime I went to reverse it was shorting the 10A meter fuse to the instrument panel! Had to keep like 20 of those on hand and disconnected the switch and drove with no lights for like 3 weeks until I fixed it! One time I even was able to drive home without any dash lights at all which was pretty nerve racking 😂What did you use to insulate yours with? I might do that for a track day next year. Glad to see your rotary content as always !
You are definitely helping get me excited to seize a recent opportunity to acquire one of these bad machines.
I have been daily driving my RX-8 for 5 or 6 years now. The only issues I had are rusted out oil cooler lines and a bad second gear synchro which was bad when I got it so I would agree they can be reliable when taken care of
My biggest fear is that I will no longer be able to keep my 8 because it will break down and there will no longer be a supply of parts to fix. More people mean more support for this chassis! Thank you for doing what you're doing!
Currently rebuilding my engine on my 04 learning you need alot of patience for this
2x speed, so what you're saying is we need some titanium rotors and rev our engines to 16K RPM? Fun fact, a late friend of mine had a drag FC, with a 20B PP, making 1600hp at 14K RPM. Some videos of his still exist if you look up MPS 20B RX7. Most of them including the dyno videos were lost when Street Fire went down.
Glad to have stumbled over your channel, I have a fc turbo rx7 that has been off the road for 10 years, just starting to fix her up. Love the videos bro!
Yes… 400hp RX8 please
Then build me one for my 8 😂
What about superchargers for Rx8?
I've read they're much better for keeping exhaust pressure and therefore heat down for reliability.
300hp to the wheels would be fine with me.
Rotarys are one of the most reliable ever . My rx7 never lets me down .
Absolutely on point! I’m up to 137K on my RX8, cranks every time, and still rips.
Well i wanna say mission accomplish man. I was on the fence about getting an RX8 and I ended up pulling the trigger on a 22k miles exemple. Will treat it well and hopefully ill be able to give it to my son one day 🤟
Amazing videos and you make it very easy to understand wheb you explain stuff.
Keep up the good work!
So glad your doing this full time, Keep up the amazing work!
I have been driving my 05 6mt 8 for the past almost 5 years DAILY during the summer months (NS Canada so only driving time is between april-october). Car currently just reached 140k kms and bought at 75k kms, the only things I have done is fuel pump, 3 sets of ign coils, 4 sets of spark plugs, and the sohn adapter (minus exhaust/intake mods). Seriously the best car ever minus the gas mileage lol
14:31 hahaha the end of that cable
Imma have to say yellow is the best color, i have a yellow one so i may be biased but😮💨
* * I flew from AZ to SEATTLE and bought my 04 and drove it back ( 24hrs ) straight back home w/ open header , no a/c , bunch of dash lights on , slammed on coilovers etc. no issues other than running out of gas lol ( fuel gauge doesnt work ) * *
Fuel gague is the most important gague!
I think the issue with RX8's is that they were sold to consumers, when they were obviously supposed to be enthusiast cars. I very much want an RX8 just so I can either prove to my coworkers they're good cars, or ya know, go broke trying to do that.
Man I love your video's, I just want to ask; how stong is the differential and axels 🤔🤙🏻
when the pup has more tq / hp than the 2 dorito chips haha
love my 04 !
Sadly, the CHEAPEST manual RX8 where I live is $5000 and that's with a original engine that is worn out, and likely doesn't have any usable parts aside from rotors.
All other RX-8s that actually run properly are $7000 to $10,000. There's a decent amount of them for sale, too.
Thankfully, I already own an RX8. But, as it stands right now, it's almost impossible to buy an RX-8 to use for parts, or to use as a donor vehicle. Also, being in Canada means that OEM parts cost an arm and a leg, and anything aftermarket needs duties paid.
Basically, if you live in Vancouver... Get rekt. Just pay 10k down on a GTR and laugh as your monthly payments+gas+oil will be less than if you had just bought an RX-8 and decided to premix. Don't ask me how I know. (Gas is expensive af here, and oil, and premix)
Hopefully one day I will be able to buy a couple rx8 donor cars, because I genuinely do love this car more than any other car. Don't daily mine, though... Obviously
12:50 exactly this ..I've personally beaten on an aisin 6 speed for years , on 17s with good tread.
Get good at shifting and their great gearboxes
Hi RAD, just curious what temperatures are suitable for the renesis? Owned mine for about a 18 months now. Just had it rebuilt after a blown coolant seal. Sit at 90 oil 80 water celsius cruising. and up to 100-110 oil 85-95 water in traffic. I find it easy to hit 110-115 when beating on it during a summers day, any tips on keeping temps low, and whats the max acceptable temp?
Unreliable means something that lets you down frequently, so ya the internet is wrong. My rx8 is turbocharged, I drive it an hour and a half to the track, give a thrashing then drive it back home. So I don’t know what the hell everyone is talking about.
Do you premix your nordic green RX8?
Been watching for a year now and finally got my own rx-7! Its an 83 gsl but the hood is rotten. I know its a long shot but would you be willing to sell one of those fb hoods you've got back there!!!
Love your stuff, very informational. Keep it up!
i've bought my rx8 a year ago and its down for the last 4 months tested compression rear rotor is blown below 3bar- 43psi so i dont have any luck so far
I need a cheap sports car to scratch an itch. Never owned a rotary but I like them and I'm mechanically inclined. Should I go for an FC or an RX8 first? I like the looks of fc better but I'm more of a function over form guy. So what's better?
FC is easier to turbo, had pop up headlights, are old.
RX8 are not as easy to turbo. Handle great and magic with a few bits. Good stereo ac leather seats etc and can fit kids or even adults in the back.
I personally would love an FC, but bang for buck it was the rx8. They often in na make more power than an fc turbo anyway. Even an FC you need to port it and do mods to get big power.
For FCs there is love. RX8s you got to get through the hate.
@1:45 ur RX8 is now named zoidberg
I'm about to rebuild,do you use oem corner seals,or af
Excellent information!
The biggest reliability issue with RX-8's.... really rotaries in general is; stupid / lazy/ cheap owners.
I've had several RX-7's and now am RX-8, only replaced one engine and that was completely my fault (pro tip: don't tune your old school boost controller on a road trip 😅)
Keep it rad!
I had an FB go to 223k kms before I traded it (like an idiot) and a RX8 go to 186k kms both on the original engines. Both ran with 0 issues before I traded and sold them.
If you do the maintenance and take care of these engines they will last.
Funny I just blew my turbo 2 street port at the time
I had a fb I would run for summer and for some reason I traded in for a rx8
Lmao I miss all my Mazdas
Thinking about 13b swapping my hachi Roku
@@JB-sv5pr Do it, more smiles per mile than any other engine.
Did those cars got a rebuild? Those are great mileage..
Paid 1k for mine and all it needed was a new radiator. Supposedly has a lower mileage engine. Haven’t compression tested it yet but it starts up just fine.
@RADpotential just curious if you’d like to work together with my 1992 FD rx7. It’s mostly stock with some drive-ability issues that I’d love to have figured out. I could ship it out to you to make some videos with, maybe rebuild the turbos, improve the cooling with a vmount, and add a pair of oil coolers to name just a few things. Let me know!
I'm trying to find a used engine for my (original owner) 04 rx8. The best option (in my mind) I've found is someone selling an engine only (2k) with a compression test video with the front rotor very healthy (128/106/123 corrected 132/110/127) and the back at 121/127/63 corrected to 128/145/72. All other used engine dealers state they were compression tested at time of pull and provide no proof or warranty. I want my car to be my daily again. I'd run it NA like I stole it and wonder if you think it's worth $2k. I also want to get into rotary engine building myself.
while the Renesis is still inherently weaker than the 13B, it's reliability is blown out of proportions...
my 13B has been rebuilt in 2002, bought the FC TII in 2005 and driven it untill 2012 with close to 400hp on stock motor.
have then taken off the turbo, slapped on a double Weber and put it in my RX-4, without opening it up.
now, 22 years after rebuild, its still running strong and never skips a beat while pulling 8,5k redlines
according to all comments and thoughts out there, my engine should have died many years ago after encountering detonation, overheating, running lean and a blown turbo
Which is the maximum oil temp that you think it is save for the engine? 240F?
DSM guy here. I know how you feel with people trashing something as unreliable, that you know otherwise.
you see when a kid can't reliably push the engine past its limits with a 100 pounds of boost all of the sudden the engine is unreliable...
god I hate how so many people expect every engine that was build to be on a passenger car and already tuned from the factory to handle power it was never meant to have.
Trying to get one they’re just expensive in Colorado
I bought a rx8 cos rotaries are sick asf, and so I can learn how to take better care of my weekender fd. rx8 daily, rx7 weekend.
I have an weekend rx8 which i love but i want a daily one too.. because as you said rotaries are sick and the handling of this car is amazing.
NA rotaries are crazy reliable. That’s why they’re in aviation. But turbo comes down to management and discipline. My Haltech makes all my dreams possible. 500 all day on ethanol for 3 years n running. I’ve also popped 6 motors bc of underpar ecu’s
I had a series 2 model and only owned it for 8 months. Fuel economy is freaking atrocious for a daily. It was a cool and fun car though.
Yes a boosted REW RX8 would be sweet
i personally really enjoy the rx8 in yellow
I have a sunlight silver but had the chance for a shinka in black cherry.
I wanted a non sunroof version so i could fit with a helmet and passed on it. That colour is sexy!
I was really looking at buying a RX-8 to Daily, but what thew me off from it was the fuel economy at the end of the day. I drive a lot and needed something efficient, so I ended up going with another really slept on platform
what is the real world mpg? I would be commuting 50 miles per day.
@@greenmonstah8753i get about 330 kms out of a 60L tank, premium, premix. So thats about 12.9 mpg?
City driving and bridgeport.
Rad, what coils are you running ?
Revision C coils on the green car. LS coils on the yellow one
@@RADPotential my 2011 rx8 r3 has cheap coils from Rockauto. What coils should I upgrade to?
Have an 04 nordic green rx8
I haven't found a way to do an REW swap for under $20k on my RX-8.
Side fun fact, majority of the rx8s/rx7s in pakistan are 1jz or 2jz, only ever seen 2 rotaries in my life
94 psi
Totally rad video 🤘🏻
Thanks RAD! More Chuckles please! Lol
Okay so I believe the rx8 is a great car for what it is and not trying to compare it to rx7.
miss mine so much had a shinka traded a ford fusion for it, i didnt even know what an rx8 was but i had to have it. i put about a grand in upgrades before i had to sell to pay for a medical thingy ... soon ill have one again
04 rx8z are dirt cheap
You for sure will get one again
4 rotor RX-8 you can do it!
Honestly the rx8 is a great platform for a rebody
20:53 theres a built 2j rx8 drift car thats been on marketplace for a while... buy it
Are the s2 series significantly more reliable over the s1’s because of that extra oil injector? I ask because i want an s2 but i’ve seen s1’s sell for half the price of s2’s.
i think its the s3 that has the extra injector. not s2. and they are rarer and wayyy more pricey. its been years since ive looked at an rx8 though
@ chat correct me if I’m wrong but there are no s3’s. They did make an r3 which is an s2 with sporty trim pieces and different seats and wheels and probably suspension tuning.
@@86surge90 i believe youre correct. if memory serves its the r3 that got the 3rd oil injector though? idk. i'd double check though before i bought an s2 thinking it did. id probably do the swap where you put a dedicated oil resevoir that feeds the 3 injectors clean 2 stroke oil and not oil from the pan :D
I believe all S2 engines are the same even the R3 models.
I got hayfever just from watching this 😅
I miss my rx8 a ton!
Sounds to me like you got really really really really lucky is basically the gist of this whole video
everything BUT my engine breaks :^)
reliability focused mods (and owner) ... cooling, lubrication, ignition, fuel, tune, and air flow ... 13Bs don't break
I want to know where you’re finding $2k rx8’s lol. All the ones within 3-400 miles of me are 4500 minimum. 3500 if they’re not running
Some Renesis last 50k miles and some 150k miles. I had a Stage 2 engine built by Pettit Racing and it didn't even last 10k street driven miles, what a waste of $6500. Original engine lasted 143k miles so these engines are all over the place.
I beg to defer the Mazda Rx-8 Shinka for me which I have is way nicer Mr.Rad lol 😂😆🤣
I'm glad that those morns are afraid and hate rotaries because it lowers the price for us.
These new batch of rx8 vids is going to send the prices way north
The day will come, when i will buy an RX8 again!
Superior chassis extended cab sports car, that your mom says we have at home
Believe me I'd love to get a rx7 or rx8 but im still afraid of the rotory
Don't be. I have owned 6 RX-7's since 1987 and NEVER had a motor issue and I beat on all of them.
Change fear with respect. Then you got the right mindset for rotary ownership.
@JohnnyOctane i think my problem is getting one thinking it's all sick then finding out later I have to put a 4k rebuild into it. Once I move I plan to get a project car and a rx7 or 8 is what I want
@@Rudedude_88 If your afraid get a compression test before buying, it should be over 7 bar/100 psi then you are good to go.
REW gas mileage is unlivalble
Black cherry Mica all day!!!!
*CWPM >*
Shhh. Your making them too popular, and I still don't have a parts car 😅 If you care for your wankle your wankle will care for you ❤
I get it, they aren’t “that” bad. Still, I have never forgiven Mazda for killing the RX line with the RX8. FD to RX8 was the biggest downgrade of all time…
I agree 100% but the real culprit was the need to pass emissions back then.
Mazda were being pressured by Ford by that time, and they weren't given a lot of time or budget to develop the RX8 in the way they wanted iirc. They had taken the NB MX5 chassis, and were developing the chassis for the NC, but given the constraints they didn't get to develop a new chassis for the RX8, and just extended the NC development and chassis.
I don't think it's a downgrade at all, I don't compare the two cars because they are after different portions of the market. If they had called it the RX7 FE then yes I'd agree, but clearly Mazda were doing, or at least trying, something different. Two cars for two slightly different people, but share one thing; being fun and different.
Though do remember, the FD failed to sell well, the days of the two-door, two-seater, pure sports car was going away. Not to mention the MX5 already filled that declining part of the market. So the RX8 pivoted to being more a luxury sports saloon.
Rx8 was more of a sporty luce/929/cosmo successor rather than an rx7 (hence the number change). Get the "successor" mindset out of your thoughts, and you will sleep better.
Dude how can you blame Mazda for persisting with the rotary tradition for 9 more years after the RX7? The RX8 was nearly half the price of an RX7 if i remember correctly...
@@VinsUplifting Of course it was cheaper, one was a twin turbo sports car that was competitive with its contemporaries, one was a 4 door sport compact that was slower than anything that could be considered a competitor but got much worse economy which offset its increased practicality. Here's why I blame them: they tried and failed AGAIN with the RX8 to make a rotary car practical, after already failing to do that twice before. At least with the 3 RX7 generations they made a car nobody could pretend was practical; they were sports cars. If they had stuck with the sports car formula and made something that went toe to toe with the S2000 or Z of the era, it would have been a better end. Instead they made a practical car that wasn't practical enough because it required the special treatment and gas bill that a rotary comes with, so it was slower than the sports cars, and worse as a sedan than the other sedans. They made a car that was the worst of both worlds. FWIW, my FD had a sticker of around $36k, a similarly optioned RX8 wouldn't be half the price with inflation, but it would be significantly cheaper.
Its because they are not an rx7 rotory drivers don't buy them so they go to shit because they aren't being reved to all shit like they should be.
I got a rx7 instead of
I really want one.