38special

I want to test the RX8. The Rotery motor has less moving parts and a better power transfer to the wheels with it having one less direction change in route.

Why is this motor not the norm? **** past maybe?

mr-mstng

The rotary was always something of an anamoly. More of a novelty to most people. They don't know what it is or how it functions, so they tend to ignore it.

The TT RX-7s from the early 90s were fast, but had some reliability problems.

Galaxie

The wankel motor is fundamentally a better design, but there have always been problems with sealing between the rotor and chamber... one thing most people won't like is there is not much torque, but the engines tend to rev like crazy... I guess it is a matter of taste and wanting to have something really different.

Evil_Capri

The wankel did win Le Mans in 1991.

And there was even a Corvette wankel concept!

And what Galaxie said!

mr-mstng

There was at least one early Mustnag done with a wankel as well.

Edit Found it.

Clicky

Moosetang

Wankels spin at high RPM to make their pwoer, so any gain in efficiecy from having a very small-displacement engine is zeroed out. Until the recent Renesis, they were also fairly "dirty" engines as well.

All they really need is development work equal to the 200 years worth the piston engine has. But they can't when only Mazda is doing the work.

Dr Iven

Call me a macho pig, but as much as I LOVE the RX-8, 1.3 Liters is a drink size.

mr-mstng

(Rob hands Dr Iven a 54 oz. Big Gulp Slurpee)

Drink and be quiet.

(edit: I couldn't resist).

holderca1

I have been in one and they are very quick, I would never own one, they aren't that great for tall people. It was a tight fit for me in the passenger seat, if I drove my knees would bang the steering wheel everytime I would try to shift.

38special

Well, I test drove it today. B)

6-speed gear shift, did not seem to have linkage, acted like a joy stick.
inside was tight. :notnice:
all hand controls were close and easy to get at.

suicide rear doors allowed easy access to rear seats.

needs torgue and better sound. It sounded like a weed wacker going down the highway. :notnice:

the worst aspect of this car was the visability out of the front windshield. The rear view mirror was so large it blocked the front view into right hand turns. Very annoying and not too safe either. :notnice:

Rakshas

I read some huge debate where it turned out because of the two rotor design it is actually a 2.6 ltr engine.

hdwrench

hope it's bigger than 1.3... my bike has a bigger motor than that.

Nazgul

Thanks, man. That's the first thing I need to know about a car.