Members Funkee1 Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 I dunno.... it just sorta popped into my head this morning. Anyone else remember when Mazda's were first sold in the US? Their commercial went: "Piston engine goes Boing Boing Boing Boing Boing Boing Boing! Mazda Engine goes Hmmmmmmmm! So....... do they still have rotary engines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 The Mazda RX8 does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members In Absentia Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 The Mazda RX8 does. This is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brake Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Some of the higher-end Mazdas (RX8) use Wankel engines, yep. They're extremely high-revving engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Mazdas in general? I was under the impression the RX-7/8 have been the only Mazda's to ever use a rotary design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FailBoatCaptn Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 yeah i was gonna say what they ^^^ all said. so there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lokidecat Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Love me some rotary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lokidecat Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Mazdas in general? I was under the impression the RX-7/8 have been the only Mazda's to ever use a rotary design. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Vehicles_with_Wankel_engine Wrong! :wave: (mostly in Japan, but quite a few here, too) The Rotary Pickup (a cute little truck) was sold in the 74-77 timeframe here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L. Ron Hoover Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 The Mazda RX-8 is the only current production car with a rotary engine. I'm not sure, but I think that some of the early non-sports car Mazdas did have rotary engines. Hasn't been that way for a long time, though. The RX-8 is a {censored}ing riot to drive. Not much torque but a 9k redline lets you wind it out. It also seems really comfortable at the redline. Piston motors seem like they're going to explode at the redline, but the rotary is silky smooth up there. Probably because there are no reciprocating parts. The small size of the motor allows for a really low hood and for perfect 50:50 weight distribution so the RX-8 handles like it's on rails. Seriously, there isn't another car that handles as well within $30k of the RX-8's price tag. The downside is that the rotary is really thirsty and that you have to put oil in it every second fill up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Mazdas in general? I was under the impression the RX-7/8 have been the only Mazda's to ever use a rotary design. R100 RX-2 RX-3 RX-4 Pickup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Vehicles_with_Wankel_engine Wrong! :wave: (mostly in Japan, but quite a few here, too) The Rotary Pickup (a cute little truck) was sold in the 74-77 timeframe here. Damnit! Why didn't I know about a shortlived pickup that was in production 10 years before I was born?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 cars You forgot the RX-5 and RX-6, n00b. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brake Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Mazdas in general? I was under the impression the RX-7/8 have been the only Mazda's to ever use a rotary design. First car to use one was a Mazda Cosmo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lokidecat Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Damnit! Why didn't I know about a shortlived pickup that was in production 10 years before I was born?! Because you're anti-education and want to work at taco bell? :poke::p:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brake Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 The RX-8 is a {censored}ing riot to drive. Not much torque but a 9k redline lets you wind it out. It also seems really comfortable at the redline. Piston motors seem like they're going to explode at the redline, but the rotary is silky smooth up there. Probably because there are no reciprocating parts. The small size of the motor allows for a really low hood and for perfect 50:50 weight distribution so the RX-8 handles like it's on rails. Seriously, there isn't another car that handles as well within $30k of the RX-8's price tag. The downside is that the rotary is really thirsty and that you have to put oil in it every second fill up. I think that's the nature of the design, though, they're supposed to be that high-revving. Taking it to the redline in every gear is kind of neat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t3ch Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Because you're anti-education and want to work at taco bell? :poke: :p:p brb, burrito sampler for party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jugghaid Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Seriously, there isn't another car that handles as well within $30k of the RX-8's price tag. Au contraire. The Lotus Elise will eat it's lunch on a slalom course. Or any road course actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Au contraire.The Lotus Elise will eat it's lunch on a slalom course. Or any road course actually. I've always thought Lotus should try Mazda's wankel in the Elise. Very small, lightweight, and powerful. Poor fuel economy is it's major weakness. This is why most ultralights have used rotary engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members groutt Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 I've always wondered... If the rotary engine is so good, why don't more cars have them? If the rotary engine is so bad, why do some cars still have them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 I've always wondered...If the rotary engine is so good, why don't more cars have them?If the rotary engine is so bad, why do some cars still have them? relatively poor fuel economy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 I've always wondered...If the rotary engine is so good, why don't more cars have them?If the rotary engine is so bad, why do some cars still have them? I had an RX7 and I absolutely loved it -- really quick and it got great gas mileage. The engine burned really hot and mufflers were pretty expensive but that's the only downside that I remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lokidecat Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 I want a Tesla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 I had an RX7 and I absolutely loved it -- really quick and it got great gas mileage. The engine burned really hot and mufflers were pretty expensive but that's the only downside that I remember. My RX7 was probably my favorite car but it certainly didn't get good gas mileage. I got about 18 to 20 MPG out of a 110 HP engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jugghaid Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 I've always thought Lotus should try Mazda's wankel in the Elise. Very small, lightweight, and powerful. Poor fuel economy is it's major weakness. This is why most ultralights have used rotary engines. wouldn't be a bad idea - he mazda put out about 250 smooth HP and gets 16/22 mpg The Elise currently has less HP and gets 21/23 mpg. The Exige S260 has about the same hp and same mileage so maybe there isn't a great upside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L. Ron Hoover Posted December 18, 2008 Members Share Posted December 18, 2008 Au contraire. The Lotus Elise will eat it's lunch on a slalom course. Or any road course actually. I'll give you the Lotus (never occurred to me), but who'd really want to use it as a daily driver? The RX-8 is actually pretty comfortable for every day activity. Can't really say the same about the Elise. There's not really anything else at a comparable price with comparable handling, though. The RX-8 is stupid fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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