RX-8UK

Help! I'm posting this here because it's too early for any results for the RX-8, and I thought the nearest thing to the RX-8 engine must be the RX-7 engine.

OK - I admit it, I've always dreamt of owning a rotary something, and I was looking at an RX-7 when the RX-8 was dropped into the conversation. I think I'm heading for an RX-8 now.

I know the theory of the Rotary engine, and I love it. Being a child of the 60s the talk when I was growing up was of worn rotor seals and expensive bills and short life spans.

Decades on, is this still true. Why this concerns me is that I want to use this car for driving to work and back. That's fifty miles of motorway twice a day, five days a week. Usually driven around the speed limit, and then a few miles of twisty but swift lanes at each end.

That's about 22,000 a year just to and from work.

I'd probably be insulting people if I suggested that the Rotary wasn't up to it (I'm hoping it is) but will this kind of mileage bring me any "hidden extras" on the servicing bills?

Thanks for any advice.

911GT2

That depends entirely on what kind of condition the car is in when you get it, and if you plan on modifying it.

If you get the RX-8, all would be in perfect working order from the factory. Naturally aspirated 2nd gen rx-7's have proven time and time again that rotary engines are actually more reliable than piston engines. When turbos are thrown into the equation, everything changes. The third gen is known for not being reliable.

But if you get a N/A rotary, like the RX-8, and keep it that way, it should be good for years to come.

TwinTriangles

Ive heard the Renesis is very reliable and trust worthy, as for 100-120? miles a day and 22k a year I dont know why you would want to go with an RX-8 and not have something else to drive to lower that avg. a little...My '86 held 168k miles before I was T-boned and I sold the engine to a guy who to this day says it still runs strong, why ? probably becuz I hardly ever beat it and only had mild mods, yet still that is a long life for any engine I would say

911GT2

I've heard of many a second gen that ran to 200k miles plus without issue.

kyle@insight

Tho it's far too early to say how reliable the RX-8 will be, the past tells us it'll be great for the many years to come. The NA 2nd gens, as 911GT2 mentioned, have long been reliable cars. I know a friend personally who has 150k+ on his and it's still making perfect compression. His name is JacobCartmill on the board, you can find him in the 2nd gen section.

I say go for it, I don't see any reason why it would give you any problems.

rynberg

A n/a 12A or 13B motor is capable of lasting to 250k-300k. The key is to keep them cool, change the oil frequently, and run them hard to redline on a regular basis.

Unless unforeseen developments occur with the Renesis motor, I would expect similar reliability.

rx7will

iTrader: (6)

My 8g gxl has 180k on it right now. And it still running strong and just passed smog. Another thing is to keep the coolant clean. With the new rotary engine the apex seal is always supported so this in my mind would be better for the seals. Rotary engines when take car of can last.

RacerX7fb

My first GSL-SE had around 116,000 miles when I first bought it in 1992. Over the course of eight years the car has been a daily driver, occasionally autocrossed and drag raced and logged on over 282,000 trouble free miles before getting swapped out for a fresher engine.

paw140

Where have you heard this??? The RX-8 is just now arriving at the dealers.

Swolbynos

well it is a more efficient version of the older rotaries and they last 200-250k so that means the renisis is reliable