RX8 as a DD?

[Ike83]

Okay, I'm kinda confused here.

First of all, I'm looking for a daily driver here in a few months and one of the cars I'm interested in is the RX8. I love the rotary engine and the fact that it's a roadster vehicle with back seats. Plus, it's got some power though it may not be the fastest production car in the world by any means. However.......

the MAIN reason I'm looking at the RX8 over any other vehicle is because of the fact that Mazda is owned by Ford. I think, right? I mean, are these vehicles simply OWNED by Ford, or does Ford build them right here in the U.S.?

Anyone who could shed some light on this subject would be appreciated. Thanx in advance.

 

[fivespeedsteed]

all i know is that rotorays in earler RX's go bad around 90k and drink coolant bc of the apex seal, aka like headgasket goin bad.

 

[Ike83]

I thought the RX8 won engine of the year.

Does anybody know anybody who knows somebody else who had a friend who used to drive one or currently drives one. I'm VERY curious about this vehicle and would like to know if one is worth buying.

Now, they ARE still a Japanese assembled vehicle, correct?

 

[BlooDReigN]

I just got myself a new daily driver....a Mazda as well.

2007 Mazdaspeed 6

Turbocharged 4 cylinder with awd. It'll make an amazing winter car I think. It's very comfortable, handles and stops really well and also goes pretty fast with 274 hp and 280ft/lbs.

 

[Ike83]

I'm not quite sure I understand the relationship between Ford and Mazda so if there's anyone who can clear this up for me I would be much obliged.

 

[Ike83]

I just got myself a new daily driver....a Mazda as well.

2007 Mazdaspeed 6

Turbocharged 4 cylinder with awd. It'll make an amazing winter car I think. It's very comfortable, handles and stops really well and also goes pretty fast with 274 hp and 280ft/lbs.

Wow that sounds nice. I'm looking into a Protege Mazdaspeed for my girlfriend and an RX8 for myself. I just want to make sure I'm not buying crap.

Are the RX8s a reliable car or not?

 

[BlooDReigN]

I think ford owns a portion of Mazda like 33% or something. Theres a bunch of things they share, like the 2.3 liter engine used in the mazda 6, mazda 3, ford focus and ford fusion. The fusion is also built on the same platform as the mazda 6. There could be other things they share, but I'm not sure of them.

I think the RX-8 and mazdaspeed cars are the only mazdas still made in Japan though.

 

[Ike83]

Good stuff. Thanx man.

 

[BlooDReigN]

As for the RX-8's being reliable, I couldn't tell you. Check around on some mazda/rotary engine forums. I know the rx-7 had toooons of problems with their rotaries.

The only good rx-7 is one with a small block in it

 

[Ike83]

believable

 

[mustangkid05]

rx-8s are SLOW lol, i drive my friends alot and it is a dog......but very nice car by all means it has the paddle shifter

 

[niklid05]

OMG ITS RICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU RICER!!!!!!

anyways.... mazdas are solid cars.... Atleast the piston motors are....rotary I dunno...

I have a ford (mazda powered) car... 207k on the drive train and runs great.... I went 9k without an oil change and the motor was tapping like all hell, you couldnt hear the engine at all, it was such a loud ass tap. Then my lazy ass got around to changing the oil, and it went away....didnt lose any power or anything. I let it sit running in the heat and it never over heats....blows nice warm heat in the winter once its up to temp.

 

[Ike83]

I just asked my buddy about the apex gasket wearing out and he said it was b/c of the turbo on the older versions. Apparently, the new n/a rotary engines are pretty reliable. He's seen a n/a engine go 250,000 miles so it should be pretty dependable.

Anyway, I'm not worried about speed, just something to drive on a daily basis. Besides, I could do a little intake, exhaust, chip work and have it running quicker in no time. But definitely not something I want to soup up to the max by any stretch of the imagination. Just something to drive in the winter months.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I'm not quite sure I understand the relationship between Ford and Mazda so if there's anyone who can clear this up for me I would be much obliged.

Ford doesn't own Mazda, but they have a large interest in them. I beleive they own 40% of it.

Mazda is a seperate entity of Ford but there is a lot of technology and platform sharing between them.

 

[Ike83]

So in buying a Mazda I would still be supporting Ford, right?

 

[2000xp8]

An rx8 would be a sensless purchase for a guy that owns a mustang. Now you are going to have 2 basically useless cars.
They are slow, overpriced, and the 6 speed has 155 ft lbs of torque, lol.

Went with a friend to buy one, me personally, i wouldn't be caught dead in it. BTW, Sticker on them was only a couple grand off of an 03/04 cobra when new, i'm sure you know the logical choice there, which is what my friend landed up with.

Get yourself something AWD or front wheel drive as a daily driver wrx, lancer evolution. Something 4 door, that has a back seat.
You say you want something to drive in the winter months, not sure how the winter is by you, but i'll assume it snows, or else you wouldn't need a car for winter months. You would have to be out of your mind to buy RWD for the winter.

BTW, look at the value drop on them, some only have 10,000 miles and are 2 years old and have lost 10K+ in value.

 

[iwashmycar]

^^^^^
he's got some points there. I'd say just go look and drive a few. They look nice and maybe they are real comfortable. I'd personally scoop up a nice audi somewhere. Id love a slightly used S4

 

[Mustang5L5]

I'd personally scoop up a nice audi somewhere. Id love a slightly used S4

I was debating a used Audi, until i saw the prices of parts for those things. Out of warranty repairs can become very expensive quickly.

Same goes for Benz and especially BMW. My friend just replaced a alt on his M3. The part alone was $900.


Those are cars you want to own in warranty.

 

[iwashmycar]

true

 

[cervinistang]

ford doesent own/ have interest in audi,bmw or benz.

You cant blame a man for being loyal...

Im doing the same too.