what about rotary

[ZoomZoom Diva]

The RX-8 can sell on handling too. For other automakers (GM was very close to producing a rotary that AMC had licensed as the original engine for the Pacer), the cost/benefit equation is very different than Mazdas. Also, like diesels, rotary engines have a bad reputation with a lot of people based on false and outdated information.

Anyway, the equivalency factor is to double the displacement and triple the cylinders. Therefore, the 1308 2 rotor is equivalent to a 2.6 litre V6 engine... and my mileage and power are comparable to similar weight V6 cars of the day.

I've never burned a clutch out before (even with over 180K on a car), and mine stuck in the engaged position, so I don't know it it's only driving like an ass that can do it... I see it as simple mechanical failure and not a given fault of the car and particularly the rotary.

Jay, excellent point on the R&D differences.

 

[turbovert91]

Those are all good points. Every manufacturer in the early 70's licensed wankel technology-GM even touted the next Corvette as being rotary powered.

Then the big bad gas crunch hit and the technology was abandoned because of a) poor gas mileage compared to piston motors, and b) combustion chamber sealing problems.

Mazda had simply already spent too much on R&D to abandon the project, and was the only company that stuck with it. Eventually they fixed the reliability and oil sealing problems to acceptable levels but realized the engine would only be good for a sports car since it a) runs VERY smooth and b) has a high redline and c) their smaller size allows them to be placed farther back in the chassis for near perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Well, that and the fact that sports car owners aren't as concerned with gas mileage as most car buyers

Rotaries ARE novelty motors and will never be as easy or cheap to run as a V8, I think enthusiests just like bragging about all the power these little beer kegs can make when pushed...

Other than the Rx-8 (which certainly is not a SLOW car, just lacks any oomph) you still see a lot of them in small aircraft because of their size and the fact that they can run at a constant rpm all day long without any resonating or reciprocating type of fatigue.

I just happened to fall in love with them because my Dad was a Mazda dealer when I was young, and once you're bitten the bug is hard to get rid of

 

[ij1889]

lol i agree with 99.9% of turbovert91, when i said my 12 a is like a 4banger i only ment torque wise but on the the highway its a v6 and a really good car.

as most of us rotary owners have said it not a high maintence vehicle(unless you have the fd) its just people who dont know shit about rotaries buy them and think they are excatly as pistons and end up fucking up the cars, this is why we rotary get bad press.

the reason why the rx8 sells is the looks of it, there is no other car in the market like it.

i dont think its much of a novelty if you want something nice and cheap stick with a 12a or a non turbo 13b, but if you really want performance go with the 20b(i heart 20b) now thats a novelty.

once you own a rotary your outlook of what is rotary changes, you understand what rotaries are capable of, it is addicting and i have been hit hard with the love bug on rotaries that i dont only have one but 2 1st gen rx-7s

 

[RoadRageMotors]

the reason your clutch hasnt burnt out is mostlikely one of two reasons 1 lack of lowend torque and 2 my girlfreind hasnt driven it yet