Mazda RX8 car - What makes it a great car? | Car Review | Top Gear
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- The Top Gear team put the Mazda RX8 through its paces! Watch the official full video in high quality on the BBC Top Gear RUclips channel, and visit www.topgear.com for all the latest news and car reviews.
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Pros: it’s a Rotary
Cons:it’s a Rotary
Best car ive ever owned
@@kierangallagher9213 just joking bro
@@kierangallagher9213 must be your first car... my condolences.
nononono you've got it all wrong
Pros: It's a turbocharged Rotary
Cons: It's a turbocharged Rotary
so you've got more oil problems :)
@@notchrisminecraft4791 And more apex seal problems...
1.3 liters refers to the amount of oil it uses per 10 kilometers.
Confused as to why people think think it uses so much oil. It _uses_ oil, sure. But not a staggering amount. Mazda recommends checking oil every other gas fill up but in reality it's like every 6th that you consider topping it off some. And then it's like 0.3L
+Wokis yeah, rule of thumb is they use 1 liter of oil every thousand miles, so just add a liter of oil every thousand miles and you're good, which isn't much to ask from that fun little engine!
They likely put too much oil in, left it, and blew up the car. Mazda dipstick reads oil strange, ok once u get it.
+Der Panda *But Wankel engines are not 2-stroke... everyone knows these engines were extremely unreliable and inefficient.*
+Mark Wright *All Wankel engine are 4-stroke, Pre-mixing is not only NOT RECOMMENDED and a waste of time and money, It DOES NOTHING to prevent seal damage and actually makes the reliability problems WORSE... Tampering or disabling the OMP is also MONUMENTALLY DUMB and can DESTROY YOUR ENGINE!!!!*
Muscle guys died when he said it has a 1.3L with 200hp
+n3kbrEak3r 2.6 liter when you compare it to Otto or Diesel engines... so 200hp doesn't sound that great really...
+n3kbrEak3r
we rather have an engine that isn't throwing pieces of itself out of the exhaust after 80k miles thank you very much
Dick Pickles Well first off, regardless of proprietary nomenclature used by a former manufacturers... Wankel KKM engines have PISTONS... not Rotors.
Each piston has 3 sides and 3 combustion chamber faces
Each displaces an interior volume minus the unswept volume due to the stroke of the crankshaft.
For a Mazda 13B engine for example this volume is 650cc
despite the "published displacement" used for tax purposes
the actual displacement is 650cc X 6 =
3.9 lites of total displacement
Of course only 2 chambers can be on the intake stroke and 2 on the power stroke per revolution of the crankshaft,
a '2X conversion formula' is then used when comparing the displacement to, for example a Otto or Diesel type engine.
Making the displacement approximately 2.6 liters in relation to current existing standards.
I hope that answers your question.
The real doktorbimmer
Alright thanks
herpherpbrocolli
Nah, you'd rather have 50 more horsepower with 3.3 extra liters
ok that settles it. i shall buy this car.
in nfs underground 2
son did you click read more
Tubular Pencil Damn straight kid, who the fauq would buy one of these POS today????
The real doktorbimmer me. i love rotaries lol
tyler white Good luck with that..
Me too! my favorite Rotary engine is the 9-cylinder Oberursel UR.II.
The real doktorbimmer if i ever buy an rx8 the engines immediately coming out and being inspected and rebuilt
I have had my RX8 for 7 years nows, I bought it new in 2008. It now has 100k miles on the clock.
As a rule of thumb with the Rx8 dont buy one older than 2006. The 2004-2005 models are always the ones that suffer with lower compression.
This is due to the fact that mazda grossly mis-calcuated the oil metering ratio, basically they didnt take into account that the many cars will spend a lot of time sat at traffic lights with the engine idling.
Mazda then mad a rod for their own back by simpley just compression checking affected models. This was not the correct approach, an apex seal will seal down to approx 1.1mm thickness. These seals are 3mm thickness when new, A seal starved of oil will be badly worn but still sealing in the short term. Mazda should have fitted all affected cars with new engine. Instead they have ruined the reputation of the rotary engine, when the RX8 was supposed to have revived it.
When I look for a car I look for uniqueness and a look for a car that has had a lot of thought put into it, thats why I like the RX8. For example the unique doors, carbon fibre prop shaft, and the one I like the most is that the fuel tank is designed that whether it is full or empty, it doesnt alter the handling charateristics of the car.
My car is due a service, I was thinking of trying to measure the apex seals while in situe, I will post the results when I get chance.
Hope this helps anyone thinking of buying an rx8, just stay well clear of the older models, you wouldn't buy a pistion engine car knowing that at some point it has been starved of oil so the same goes with a rotary.
Thanks guy
Tony
so you wouldnt suggest the mada rx8? i dont know much about cars but my car just broke down recently and someone i know is selling a mazda rx8 2003 with 52k miles for around 5,000$ and I really wanted to go for it b/c it looks very visually appealing but idk your comment makes me second guess my decision. But thanks a lot for the information helps me a lot
hi poopta.
Ok if you really want that car see if they will let you take it to Mazda garage or rotary specialist to get it compression checked.
Any issues with compression usually come to light when the engine is nice and hot. So take it for a blast and rev it right up to the shift alarm a couple of times. Immediately pull over and switch the engine off. Then start it up again and if the apex seals are good then it should fire up quickly without any problems.
Also try and verity when the ignition coils were changed last and also the regular service items, this will tell you how well it has been looked after.
Remember the engine in the rx8 has been tuned to the extent that no mods (except forced induction) will increase the hp noticeably. So these engines are operating at the top of their design capability which is why you see so many issues because they don't get looked after properly.
Hope this helps. :)
2006 and later were reflashed to have less power.... in an effort to reduce premature engine failures.
The real doktorbimmer Yeah I think the first ones were something like 250bhp? I have the 231bhp, well at least that is what mazda sold it as lol
Might as well find an RX7 Type R or S
The RX8 taillights are fabulous.
Seriously. I'm not a huge fan of the front but the whole back end looks perfect to me. No idea what jeremy is thinking.
*It looks like a shed!*
@@doktorbimmer you are the most annoying person on the whole of RUclips.
+Kurt Phillips *Brutally honest people often are... you must be one of those people that are not accustomed to hearing the truth.*
*NEWS FLASH: **_The Rotary Is A Garbage Engine._* jalopnik.com/the-rotary-engine-sucks-1773174001
I watch Jeremy's reviews to Improve my English .
Oh yeah? I watch Jeremy Clarkson to english my improve.
Oh yeah? Well I watch my improve to Jeremy's reviews.
Dude , i Jeremy my watch to english improve.
LOL GUYS!
I English my watch to Jeremy my improves
well 360p is better than 240p i guess
Otto Man
no it wasn't
What about 36240p?
CoyDog790 what about 1234567890p in the year 3000?
We 2160p now
RX8 is like fine women with bad bad anger, if you treat her right she will give you pleasure but if you don't then you are in trouble. Proud RX8 owner.
like a latina
+Tam Ago *General Motors built its own Wankel engine and put it in a Corvette... it sucked and GM dropped it like a bad habit!*
Tam Ago
Make an 8 rotor for it.
*Wtf? An 8 rotor??? that would just be 400% more likely to suffer apex seal failure...*
@ERNIE BRINK ROTARY name a car like this for the same price you would wife
I like how Jeremy says the tyres are bad on wet roads.
I'm really wondering why... 4:05
What a nice car. IF taxes werent that high in belgium, i would have bought it!
Instead, i have to drive a bmw E46 coupe :'(
+Peeters M (TuCBe) Im the same, want it as my first car but because of the BHP (although the 1.3l engine) it costs an insane amount :( sad times
+Peeters M (TuCBe) he drove it on wet asphalt in the review.it actualliy is the differential, that doesn't respond very well to incoming momentum in tight corners.not really a problem tough, the car handles exeptionally well. it just wants to play, it won't bite.
+Tom Leonard (Thydar) i also want as my first car but over here in South Africa, a good second hand one is less the the bottom of the range Kia piccanto brand new
+Tom Leonard (Thydar) expensive?!? In here it said 22k, but if you look on eBay, they are ALL under 2.5K, I was so shocked to see that, and don't think they're completely ruined cars who have been abused and outlived their expected lifetime, the cars are actually in great condition .
You know I've owned this car for a little under two years and driven 17,000 abusive miles on the original motor and the car is still running fantastic, I bought it at 68,000 miles and currently has 85,000 and hasn't left me stranded. Took it Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Los Angeles to San Francisco. I've taken it to willow springs raceway and I've taken it through the mountains just racing everything. Reliability isn't an issue, it's the owners who don't take care of them properly.
I heard the fuel economy is bad
+Darkerkiller it is
+Life of Lopes do u know why? Its a 1.3
+Darkerkiller
Because it's a rotary engine, there are 3 phases of combustion happening at the same time in each rotor. So when comparing it to a regular piston engine, it's more like a 3.9l engine.
But in general rotary engines don't have high efficiency.
disagree if u maintain they r awesome
I love his criticism on the busy rear lights... few years later all cars have them, including the led striping.
Now we've come full circle it seems.
@@oliverwilliamson6528 just like the taillights on the RX8
Yeah it's not busy at all. Car design got atrocious in that respect after around 2017 and onward.
The RX8 is hidiously fugly, worse than a cheap plastic garden shed.
I just clicked this video to go back in time and enjoy old TOP GEAR. Ahhh the memories.....of the trio
Lol
Drive my RX8 every day. It is so great. Wonderful review. While not the fastest, I would like to see any other car of this class go around a chicane like that. almost 100,000 miles on mine, and still running fine. It is true what they say. A Red-line a day keeps the carbon away.
Idiot
CohenPoPo aw is somebody mad?
You know that in a Rotary engine one of the problems is definitely thermal efficiency. So... I don't think it heats up that much to destroy the carbon build up. On a valve engine, that might work a bit, depending on the size of engine and it's dispatchment, though the intake valves do not by any means heat up enough to break down the carbon build up. So... In extent probably not the best method to "clean" your engine.
*RX-8... an ugly shed.*
@@Hekkie idiot
Most underrated Japanese car
agreed. the price you pay for a good one vs what you actually get is excellent
IF you find a good one that hasn't been brutalised or not had a frequent change.
Yeah because it lives forever in the shadow of the FD and is scoffed at for its poor fuel economy and reliability issues due to negligent owners.
i better buy one before prices go up
+CaptainD00M they're slowly creeping up in value I've noticed. low mileage ones are worth more than what they were last year
I remember watching this review when it came out in like 04 or something. It convinced me to get one. Totaled it, bought a second gen R3 11 years later. Couldn't be happier.
Chad!
Jeremy is mad, this car is beautiful
Jar-Jar Binks Check your eyes, you must be blind
Jar-Jar Binks You're looking in the mirror there chief
+Jar-Jar Binks like your mom you ass-shit!
+Brad Culberston if you dont take care of it properly yes, it is. but if you are mature and responsible enough to do the maintenance and take care of it, its a nice car.
+Jar-Jar Binks what car do you drive?
most of us came to fuel station to fill the fuel tank. but in this car, we add an oil to it..
Still cheaper then my ex girlfriend :)
THEN
Than
Aparently you`ve never driven an Alpha Romeo before!!:P You should see the oil usage there!
I got an RX-8 Yesterday for £1,600, and I am going to treasure. I hear so many bad reviews about how much it costs to run but when I drove it I fell in love like I said I will treasure it
just learn how to take car of it and you shouldn't run into too many problems (obviously this also depends on the previous owner as well)
Any update? Thinking of getting one. Any advice?
How did the car treat you m8 ?
Dude must have sold it👀
@@MikeG52 maybe, I bought one like a month ago
i don't know what hes talking about, i find it gorgeous.
Not everyone can have good taste..
As a Mazda RX-8 owner - I will say.. I love this car. Even with all its flaws. It's like a bad girlfriend with great sex..
More like waking up with a dead hooker in your garage..
@@sandervanderkammen9230 you are so fucking mad
@@sandervanderkammen9230 are you enemy of this car? Replying every comment with negative comments..
@@DeltaDude. *The RX8 is the worst sedan Mazda ever made.*
This is why you shouldn't hate the RX-8 because it's not an RX-7
Because it isn't, and that's fine
True, the RX8 isn't just slow and ugly.... it's the worst RX ever made, so awful it destroyed the entire RX brand.
@@sandervanderkammen9230 wow you woke up and chose violence
@@Nocxys *I am the enlightenment of wisdom which illuminates the truth...*
@@sandervanderkammen9230 uh, ok
@@Nocxys Rotards are an ignorant lot of automotive misfits that know nothing about cars.
The RX7 was the only successful RX model until 1986 when sales tanked.
The RX8 was a colossal failure and ranks among the worst cars ever made like the Edsel, Pacer, Aztec and the RX8 sedan.
Any questions kid?
That was a weird nonsensical ending! He had a great time on the track, wet and dry, saying it was the most forgiving when he pushed it and concluding that "of all of the cars that I've driven this year, I'm pretty sure, this one...is the best." Then he announces at the show wrap up "...it was great, but after I recorded that I drove it on a wet road... and it's awfully twitchy. There's something about these tyres that make it...really...yeah...a bit skittish." WHAT BULLOCKS! He was gushing on the track, and not just about it's outstanding performance and forgiveness beyond the edge, but also about it's everyday drive-ability! Speaking of which, check out Everyday Driver for an S2000 vs RX8 shootout (BRS also ran). The only question remains: who paid JC to reverse himself, and how much? Great review until 5:06, thumbs up, thumbs down for the last 23 seconds. So no thumb from me, except a thumb poke in the eye for Jeremy!
*Jeremy was being his usual sarcastic self... everyone in the automotive world knows the RX-8 is a cheap and nasty shed... not a true sports car by any means.*
@@doktorbimmer and anyone whose driven one on a twisty road knows otherwise. They are everything he genuinely (not sarcastically) said they are. I happen to own an NA MX5, Z3 3.0, Boxster 2.7, and our family owns six E46 in different models. Their handling is excellent, fun, and sublime. Check out someone who's better than I, RUclips channel: TheSlipAngle.
Yes, I have an RX8, and a few other cars. Hehehe. 🧐
@@doktorbimmer Oh geez, Dorko, I just read a bunch of your troll comments only to realize that you're just a TROLL! Oh well, at least I meant what I wrote and based it on my understanding, reading, and personal experience. For the commuters I recommend Corolla, Camry, Prius, and their competitor equivalents.
Great car. Bought a 2010 with 40k miles on it. The first thing I did was buy brand new tires, because as a novice driver, I would spin out on wet curves with the old tires on the test drive. Now with experience and new tires, it handles sooooooooooo well. Love this car. Like driving a work of art. So beautiful. The only downside is the low gas mileage, but then again, it is a sports car. You also have to add oil frequently because of the rotary engine. A very affordable, great handling car...so smooth on curves and changing lanes in highway traffic. You also have to be careful, because it accelerates so smoothly that you lose track of the speed. 70 feels like 35. Stick to the 2nd generation models, 2009-2012. They have the better reliability. The car has ruined me, because other cars now look ugly and appear to underperform. I now have her up to 70k miles and she still purrs like a cheetah. I feel good when I drive this car, it makes me smile.
Randy Legend Allen I sold mine about 5 years ago and now I'm looking for another one, so I understand what you mean!
You must have never driven an actual sports car.
@@topkek7003clearly you never drove an rx8
My first car and it’s served me well sooo
Madlad, hats off
Worst sedan Mazda ever made..
@@sandervanderkammen9230your inception was more of a tragedy than any car
@@mountainjews *I encourage you to stop by your local Mazda dealership and ask to test drive the latest 2024 RX model... you will receive a cold, hard slap in the face by reality.*
Thank heavens it said "Mazda RX8 car" in the title, otherwise I would've thought the video was about Mazda RX8 boat.
The BBC - quite the peculiar bunch.
Don't want to confuse the Mazda RX8 car with the John Deere 8RX tractor... the John Deere is reliable and produces torque!
Despite its econocar brand and price, this car is a true exotic. It makes demands on its owner that few would put up with. But for those few . . . one of the greatest modern driving experiences awaits. I've driven one on back roads and know this to be a fact.
driving through curvy Virginia with the leaves turning was a dream this year. I have a 2004 with 33k miles on it and the handling is the best of anything I've driven.
@@TheVgasmI found one I love for sale! But someone said 2004 is low compression & not to buy as it's starved for oil? Sitting at lights & idling ? I guess hurts the starving engine? Overheats? Have you ever had issues?
@@pamspencer5733 A SOHN kit or 2-stroke premix right into the tank should solve the oil issues, or just buy a 2nd gen RX8. For the compression, just look for a car sub 60k miles, if it's maintained well and has been on premix it might last to 200K if you're lucky.
@@deezhuttsThe Sohn adapter is a gimmick that will destroy your engine if it hasn't already lost compression,
Mazda only recommends 4-stroke motor oil with an API SL rating, No 2-stroke oil meets this minimum API specification
@@sandervanderkammen9230 the SOHN kit isn’t really necessary yeah, but having used it myself and knowing a few others who have, it has extended the lifespan of the engines, however it’s only really useful in early S1 RX8s due to its 2 oil injectors rather than the 3 seen in the S2 because of the improper and uneven lubrication it causes in the centre of the apex seals. The fact that no 2-stroke oil meets Mazda is true because they never intended for 2 stroke oil to be used as it is well a 4 stroke engine, however independent testing shows that either premixing with Idemitsu(designed for this exact use case) or using it with a SOHN kit can extend the lifespan of the engine.
I've had a 2009 rx8 r3 for 12 years now. not one single problem with the engine, ever. If you're thinking you're gonna have fun in a straight line you're doing it wrong.
You are either a liar or you need to do a compression test
The problem is that people think this is a regular Japanese car that can be abused for 200k miles.
When I was a kid and the rx8 was new, I thought it looked sick.
The problem is that it's a car that you buy as a secondary car, but it isn't good enough to justify owning as a second car. I'd rather own a miata
The RX is not a regular Japanese car... it's the worst sedan Mazda ever made, a truly shameful failure in automotive engineering.
Currently have one as my first car, absolutely zero problems so far and drives like a dream. And yes, the motor is over 100000k's.
No it isn't. The car is at that milage. No way your car has done that without the engine going.
Nevermind I thought your comment said 1 mil not 100k lol
@Seamus McShamish Lol sorry I misread his number as 1 mil, not 100k
@@LavenderJJ_ So did i lol was about to say the same thing. We shouldve gone to specsavers
@@anidiotaboard138 haha specsavers
HOW IS IT RUNNING???
Am I weird if I think mazda rx8 is the best looking car I've ever seen? I haven't changed my mind for about 13 years
I think it has sexy enby vibes, my silver one looks like something Batgirl would drive.
any car that literally requires redlining it at least once per day is going to be a fun car
Low compression simply means you need a new engine..
Nothing fun about that.
The Mazda RX-8 is one of my favorite Mazda because of how round the car is, and also because is red
Unfortunately for Mazda, most people don't agree with you.
what kinda bugs me about this review is that he says he doesnt like it after cause it was twitchy on the road. but he blames the tires which would make sense, to me you cant blame a car for being not that great cause it has shitty tires its a simple change just get better tires. its not like your stuck with them.
If you watch this show enough you learn that if they aren't Pirelli brand tires they get sloshed lol
true they all love them tires haha
The RX-8 has had a poor reputation for all it's life, but I think it has aged nicely, especially the 3rd version.
Not everyone can have good taste...
How do you judge a car by its tires? Makes no sense.
darek4488 suspension
If you look in the RX-8 Club website, you'll see lots of people reporting replacing the original tires shortly after buying the car, not waiting to wear them out, and talking about how dramatically better their new ones are (no matter which new ones they got), especially in the rain.
*Good point, the tires are completely irrelevant, its the engine that caused this car to be a failure.*
@@doktorbimmer Absolutely incorrect. The pre 2006 ones had an oil metering miscalculation that led them to be starved of oil and be unreliable. Post 2006 ones are phenomenal. Also the tyres are the most important part of a car. Anyone who has truly driven a car to its limits knows this.
@@doktorbimmer considering how rediculously common it is to see them on the road, I have my extreme doubts about it being a failure.
When you have to diss the tires, you know you're grasping at straws for something to dislike.
I love these things but I’ll never stop talking shit about em so that I can do my part in keeping the hype low and the prices lower
The only thing that effects the price of these horrible sedans is the price of scrap metal
watching old top gear because the new one is shockingly bad!
They disconnected the rotary engine because of fuel consumption and oil consumption
And extremely poor reliability.
Who else came here from Doug Demuro’s last video?
You got me
Oh shyte
didnt exactly come from there but did watch it. Seems like a great handling car
haha me too
Update June 1st, 2021
My RX8 still runs like a devil, 200k km on odo, no problems, no rebuild!
I bought an Rx8 in 2006 brand new. As of today my odo has more than 160.000 km and the car still goes strong. I have never restored the engine. I keep the maintance by the factory rules and put nothing extra in the car.
The secrets to keep your Rx8 in good condition are:
1. Keep maintenance strictly by the book
2. Don't to anything more or less to improve the engine
3. Learn to drive it like any other car you might had (warm up time, fast running etc.)
4. Don't use it in traffic conditions, especially if you live in hot climate like me (Greece). You can use a small city car instead.
5. You'll get the most of this car in open highways and night drives when the city is empty.
6. Check oil level every 1.000 km
7. Fuel consumption is NOT high if you consider the power you get. Travelling (130-150 km/h) goes about 12 lt/100 km. City driving goes about 15-17 lt/100 km. I have a Mercedes c200 kompressor (185 hp) and consumption is the same.
8. Don't do car competition if you're not ready to pay the price.
But above all, Rx8 is a unique car and designed on a blank piece of paper. It's not like a VW Golf, Opel Astra, Seat Leon etc etc. You know you have Rx8 and drive it with pride and respect.
You wont be able to sell it ever. I know guys who sold their Rx8 and got Audi S4, BMW 330 and some other really good cars, but their nostalgia for Rx8 is still strong. Some of them bought back Rx8's and put it with their others car in the garage.
This is Rx8.
If anyone here has Rx8 he would agree with all of the above.
Cheers from Athens, Greece!
If that really worked? Mazda would still be selling these cars..
I'm just saying the facts of my car
*Wankel engines are typically less reliable and generally have a much shorter service life than reciprocating engines, this is due to the many fundamental flaws found inherently in the Wankel KKM design... There is no effective means to prevent this from occurring which is why these engine have such a notoriously bad reputation and are no longer manufactured anywhere in the world.*
doktorbimmer Rx8 service is every 10k km and costs 60 euros. Service in other cars cost 350 euros every 25k km. Engine rebuild costs 2.000 euros after 200k km. Engine rebuild in other cars costs more than 5.000 euros after 300k km. Do the math.
Plus, this October Mazda will put out 2 new rotary engine cars. Stay tuned.
I think this is going to be my first car.
Same
K A A M I L Only if you can maintain one. It's not a car you can just go cruise around the block.
You guys should learn cars, there rotary, which is shit but can be extremely fast..
You have to take care of it, you need to rev it up to 6000rpm everytime you drive to open some valves, you need to change oil every few thousand miles and also you have to warm it up to drive, and warm it up to turn off..
If you want a cheap first sports car, get a Toyota Supra, same price and very alike.
SNI thanks for the info :)
SNI if you're talking about mk4's, i dont think ive ever seen one priced any where near as cheap as an rx8
If Mazda could develop a 2 stroke Wankel engine, you could legitimately get about 500 horses out of it.
Alan Steadman No need, just increase the number of rotors! It's a modular engine!
kinda works like a 2 stroke though..
You just put a big turbo on it and there you go
I traded in my ‘04 RX-8 for a new (at the time) 2014 Camaro SS. Even with 200+ more hp, I still missed the driving experience of the Mazda. So last year I bought an ‘05 in impeccable condition with only 62k miles. Feels good to remake the flame
Not really a car guy are you?
Beautiful story!! Honestly
I loved this car then i was young.
Neverforget NFS Underground 1+2 :D
The RX 8 wasn't in underground 2
It was, you unlock it later in the campaign after completing some URLs in the industrial park
@@p0s3s3sD mmm i was
underground 1 wasnt :D nfsu2 yes :D
@@p0s3s3sD it wasn't in Underground 1 but it is in 2.
This never gets old for RX8 owners
Neither does the shame and humiliation
clearly you don't have an rx8, the reputation really isn't justified for most of them. 03-04 models are as unreliable as people think, but then the engine isn't as bad after that. for the r3, they're almost perfect except for the gearbox, which was then fixed in 2010, and so any of the (very few) 2010+ models are the most incredible value for money car of all time @@sandervanderkammen9230
you still alive m8? hope not@@sandervanderkammen9230
My gahd this makes me miss my rx8. I still have it... it's just.. dead.
I already bought two ahah
+sa140 Are they worth it?
If you can get an 06 and newer. Then yeah :)
+sa140 what about for daily driving? I mean was the price a bargain
+I Bugatti Veyron I (Bugattiliker3) bargain, LoL. Nope not a bargain at all, it feels like having two 2.5l BMWs at once that you have to fill with gas. :))
+sa140 I just saw the price for a 20b 3 rotor :/ why is it so expensive to maintain rotarys
It must take a lot of time to wet the track down for filming this...
Oh wait, its the u.k. thats just how the roads are 361 days out of the year.
+GeeCeeAte What exactly is your point here?
GC8 LOL LOL lol, oh you so funny, never heard anything like that before, especially from a septic!
"The guy who used to run Mazda when they were designing the RX-8 raced cars"
And that's why we used to get better cars then now we do now. Because the guy who ran Mitsubishi was a passionate car enthusiast, not a money-hungry guy in a suit, carrying a suitcase
Mazda went bankrupt trying to race cars... they are back now selling cheap affordable cars and no longer has a motorsports program.
@@sandervanderkammen9230
Apparently they're still in the Motorsport Business. Look for their RUclips channel; it looks like they run a DPi-something car last year.
@@genmeriphoton7655 Mazda has left IMSA DPi series and is no longer involved with any prototype or endurance racing.
A gas station attendant yelled at me for trying to pump double cream into my Rx-8, some people are so oblivious.
im saving up to insure this for my second car. ive adored it since i was 10
Mazda really made something special with the RX8. I used to have a 2nd gen RX7 (never should have sold it) so maybe that is why I find this car so attractive. I kind of have a certain respect for the RX series.
The RX8 is fugly like a cheap plastic garden shed.
@@sandervanderkammen9230 your girlfriend cheated on you with a guy with an rx8, i assume.
@@alfiedonnan3231 The guys that drive an RX8 aren't into girls...
@@sandervanderkammen9230 so your girlfriend looked like a dude? ouch.
@@alfiedonnan3231 I'm not gay... I can prove it too, because I don't own a Tesla or an RX8.
I heard the pistons are really weak on this model.
+Shaun Easterbrook Well, there aren't any of them in it..
+MK3424 i think that was the joke buddy
+JustChilledx I think that joke was absolute garbage.
Yeah it has two pistons..
It's rotor dude!not pistons included
His assessment while driving should have been the last words: "This car is sensational (with emphasis)" "Of all the cars I've driven this year, I'm pretty sure, this one, is the best." He clearly meant as an enthusiast's car. That actual ending should have ended up on the cutting floor. To clarify, when driving the RX8, he said out of all the cars that year the RX8 was the best...that is, the best handling driver's car. It was the "easiest" and most "forgiving" when driving fast. Someone upstairs told Clarkson: we have Ferrari, McLeran, Porsche, et all advertising money to protect! So backtrack your comments at the end (since he spent the entire test drive praising the car). You can't crown a MAZDA "the best car!" So he said that he didn't like the tires! 😄😂🤣
Clearly he meant it as a joke..
@@sandervanderkammen9230 What did he clearly mean as a joke?
@@papatorr3669 Everyone knows the RX8 is a joke... no real enthusiast would be caught dead in this horrible little sedan.
@@sandervanderkammen9230 the Germans took it seriously enough to compare an RX8 vs E46 coupe 330ci. Check out The Slip Angle channel, huge Miata enthusiast that also owns Z4 Coupe, RX7, and RX8.
@@sandervanderkammen9230 perhaps you could help me determine whether I'm an enthusiast? My first car was a 1972 Triumph GT6 MKIII that I kept on the road for 25 years. I had a '92 Z28 with NOS and 550HP. I had a Turbo Coupe, an XR7 SC, and a built Supra Turbo. I just sold my MX5 NA, I've had five Z3's and still have two, plus a project Z3, our family has two E46 330xi sedans, two E46 330cic convertibles with factory hard tops, an E46 330ci coupe, I have 986, and my RX-8 is my favorite handling car (not the fastest/best handling). I'm not counting our SUVs or trucks, or Impreza. And most of my life I was more of a motorcyclist than car enthusiast. But do you think I might be an enthusiast?
Air goes in. Apex seals come out 😂
The engine sounds amazing. It's got to be thrilling to push it to the last RPMs to hear the engine's beautiful sound.
Hello from 12 years in the future
let me tell you, it is absolutely thrilling
Its still thrilling to drive this curvy woman…
Got this last year as my first car in superb condition. One of the 04 models. Got to say they are a joy to drive. Really comfortable, not too noisy, the sound system as standard is really good and for the 'buck' you don't get much that shifts faster. I have had it flood once I must admit but it was my own fault and the fix was no more than 15 minutes of work. And believe me, it takes no car expert to sort it out. The only drawback seems to be MPG, where I get around 22-26 MPG depending on my journey. When I ran it ragged it did about 19, but honestly if you look at cars that it competes with (such as the 350z) it's in the same ballpark for MPG, is cheaper, more practical, has seats and you get to say I have a Wankel engine. Which is good for laughs. Anyway I recommend this car to anyone who DOES NOT do low rev town only journeys and DOES NOT have a need for good MPG. If you're looking for this kind of car and are willing to do a decent length trip and get the revs up a few times on it, this is a good car.
Mark Melrose And DOES NOT mind paying for a new engine.... Flooding is a sure indication that the apex seals are already damaged and the engine is well on its way out... Cheers!
No I left it on the drive doing very little for just over a month in winter. When I got in I foolishly turned the ignition and only held for a short period, multiple times and flooded it. My fault. If you read about you'll find most engine replacements should in-fact have been no more than ignition coil replacements, recommended every 30k miles or so on various RX8 forums.
Mark Melrose Wrong, replacing an ignition coil that has not failed, replacing your oil more often, using Sea-foam or some other snake oil remedy will not save an apex seal that is already damaged. This is the sort of typical nonsense, wives tales and magic tricks that fill the forums with all sorts of BS. Flooding is a sure sign of low compression, usually due to bad apex seals that have begun to fail. If your engine has flooded you need to have the compression tested (correctly tested) if its below 98psi on any chamber your engine needs to be replaced. But don't feel too bad, most RX-8 owners have had there engine replaced too.. unfortunately for you though you bought a car that was already out of warranty so sadly you will be paying out of pocket instead of Mazda getting the bill.
How is it running now??
Such a lad drifting soo casually
0:46 is that a sample of Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past?!
Where is the RX9?
Never existed, Mazda CEO confirmed it was a hoax started by bloggers.
This is what sets top gear apart from the rest, Jeremy doesnt mess around
ive got one. 6 speed. i love it
You should test drive some better cars... you don't know what you are missing.
The RX8 was the worst sedan Mazda ever made.
@@sandervanderkammen9230you really are retarded the cosmo was much worse
@@mountainjews The Cosmo was originally a coupe and was overwhelmingly sold as a 2 door model.
All RX8 models are 4-door sedan type bodies.
Aside from having to put oil in it every 1-1/2 to 2 fill ups (this is normal), I've had no problems with mine so far. It's just an added preventative maintenance that cylinder engines do not encounter (but they usually do if they're ran hard).
If you have to move it around your driveway or whatever, wind it up to 4-5k RPMs before you cut it off. It clears the engine out.
It's a fun car, but fun comes at a price, but not for someone who is anal about their cars, though. :)
Happy hunting!
Wankel engines are made by FIVE makers around the world. They are used in drones because of its attributes over piston engines: smoothness, quiet, small, light and a very high power to weight ratio. The Wankel does not like to be revved up and down as then fuel economy drops off. Its likes to be revved at a constant speed. About 2000rpm for Mazda, and then it becomes very efficient. Some generators are more efficient at high revs, the high revving Wankel is ideal for this application. Maximize its attributes the it is very efficient.
Mazda are R&Ding laser ign and direct fuel injection to improve the engine again. David Garside who designed the Norton Wankel which ended up as the Austo Engine Wankle, applied for patents on improvements again to use the engine as a range extender in hybrids. Mazda will have the RX-16 as a range extender running at a constant 2000rpm in a series-hybrid. Audi looked to having a Wankel as a range extender in the A1. It fits under the luggage area taking little space.
In June 2013 the first ever series-hybrid plane took off using an electric propeller, using a light Wankel as the generator. It is scalable to small airliners. For planes, it cannot catastrophically destroy itself, as the power just winds down, and is immune from shock cooling. In a series-hybrid plane, the Wankel generator can be fitted in the fuselage away from the weather, while small and light electric motors on the wings turn propellers. Two Wankles could generate enough electricity to turn 4 props. Having a spare third engine, the three engines give the overall size and weight of a one piston engine.
The Wankel has found its niche and I am sure we will see more of it, in improved versions and series-hybrid applications. Mazda announced the Mazda2 EV using a 350cc Wankel range extender. The Wankel is far from dead and I hope to drive one in series-hybrid car soon.
And when you crash it at 190kph, you get out of it on both legs. Ok… my back hurt like hell since then, but I was at work the same day! Built strong.
Sedans seem to do well in medium speed crashes
Everyone considering owning own, take a moment to educate yourself on the racing heritage of the rotary motor as well as vehicle dynamics of the car itself. You might be pleasantly surprised.
This car is by far one of the greatest cheap gems on the market simply because the keyboard warriors keep the car cheap for the rest of us.
Thanks!
The racing heritage is rather unremarkable....
There is a good reason why they don't make them anymore... and its because you haven't driven any really good cars lately you wouldnt still thinking this way.
Cheers!
787B was the first and only Japanese manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But other than that you are correct, after further research it does not go much farther than that. The engine itself was far lighter than any engine on the grid, however it was quickly banned after many of the race organizers had no clue how to categorize the displacement.
Also Ive owned two M3's, one stock and one not so stock and have driven many different cars at bay area SCCA including subaru's and evos and all of that from various sources. Dont get me wrong, the cars are faster, but they all go for upwards of 20k here in CA. Many people run the RX8 at autoX simply because they are cheap to buy and the aftermarket is plentiful and cheap. The only other car that is in a similar situation is the Mazda Miata, however it is hard to find a well taken care of one and I can not do track days without investing in a roll cage. Also 90hp does get boring after a while. However, the miata is an awesome auto-x car.
RWD, LSD, rear suspension design and chassis rigidity makes the mazda a great tunable platform for me.
For people who just want to get to work and back in a fast car I would never recommend a rx8, but for those like me who do more racing and can take care of the thirsty rotary. It was a smart buy. Especially because if god forbid the motor does go wrong, unlike many others I have the resources to fix it while still having another vehicle.
I bought mine for 7 grand with 25k miles on the odo and it now has 38k with not even a hiccup. I made my decision and am happy with it.
Cheers!
TL;DR - It is a good buy for people like me or people in a similar situation to me. Very happy.
Dude, the keyboard warriors are simply stating well known concerns inherently intrinsic to Wankel's design.. It's true that they use up their own oil, and that they are thirstier than some V8's while producing less power than some V6's.. That they are quirky and finicky. And worst of all, It's true that rotaries have very short lifespans due to the rotor apex seals practically being guaranteed to fail every 80 or so thousand miles, necessitating a complete engine removal and teardown or replacement..
It was these well known concerns that killed the car's resale value, not a few comments on youtube.. Similar story with used Mercedes, you can get them super cheap because they are not the most reliable with the added bonus of costing a fortune to fix, at least the RX8 doesn't cost so much to fix.
But as far as keyboard warriors go, good job on being the RX-8's Knight in shining armor! Though I'll always prefer the FD RX-7!! : )
Take a moment to educate yourself on the Wankel KKM-57..... because Mazda never built a Rotary engine... not ever.
I pretty sure the largest engine recall in North American history and a bad reputation for premature engine failure is what keeps the resale prices down.... you can have them all!
my mom had this car for awhile. I loved when i would be able to drive it. Such a fun car to drive!
nice your mom is really cool at all
I still watching this in 2021
Great engine !?. The rotary engine was just horrible.
The Renesis was the worst engine Mazda ever made... and Mazda made alot of horrible engines.
Had my heart set on buying one of these as my first car then I learnt how much it would cost to run :(
Mental how these are 20 years old now.
Didn't age well
@@sandervanderkammen9230 they aged extremely well
@@rallycobra5738 No, most have been junked and crushed for scrap metal.
I am so done with the rx8.. such a problematic car
Worst sedan Mazda ever made.
what year
@@Kasperx138 *ALL OF THEM SUCKED!*
front engine? check.
rear wheel drive? check.
limited slip differencial? check.
1.3 producing 228 bhp- from a1.3 Wankel rotary?!
Japanese sportscar? YES! quite frankly, the best of all worlds...almost. just don't plan to take this out in winter.
Don't expect to get more than 50k miles from the engine and you be slightly less disappointed when it fails at 35 k miles.
@@sandervanderkammen9230 bcs some idiots are not using the FL-22 cooling liquid thing and true rotary oil...
@@DeltaDude. *Bullshit, the primary failure mode of Wankel engines is not related to coolant or motor oil.*
What's the music at 0:15?
All cars have problems , this car has all problems .
For all those who are whining about the gas mileage, I say, this car is not for you man.
Go and buy a Kia. You don't go in a Ferrari showroom and inquire about the fuel economy on the car.
I just got a 2010 model and don't give a hoot about the mileage. I love driving it unconditionally.
I just don't get how a 1.3 liter engine car doesn't have like the best gas mileage in the world
LOL @ comparing a turd with 200hp to a Ferrari
It's not a boulder, it's a rock there’s 3 phases in the rotary engine. so u can compare it to a 3.9l mpg
@Jett Sioson *All Wankel KKM engines use the exact same **_4-STROKE_** operating principle as the Otto engine... but it takes 1080° to complete it firing order sequence making it a 3.9 liter in total displacement.*
@Jett Sioson *The Wankel burns more fuel per horsepower generated because it is **_Less Efficient_** not because of it's displacement.*
I love me rotaries. But think of it like when you get your brand spanking new Merc in the ever so popular "matte" paint job. If you don't wash it everyday, let stains bake in the sun for more than 12 hours, or accidentally use the wrong wash, you ruin the paint. I love matte paint cars when they're clean. More so than glossy reflective cars. But when you don't take care of it, it just looks trashed. and you've ruined your paint.
Same with rotaries. You can flood them if you stall, you can blow a seal if you don't properly lubricate them (feed them oil) or I just change my oil every 1.5K miles using Royal Purple or Idemitsu, and you can definitely chew through the vacuum lines if you give it too much boost. Rotaries are a pain in the ass, but it's the best pain in the ass. It's like dating a super hot instagram model. It seems amazing at first, but really high maintenance. But at the end of the day, you get bragging rights and you get to walk out on the carpet with other people's dream girl. At least rotaries don't talk back.
Great car.
We have one of the last. 10 years old, 120K . Perfect condition. Handling is amazing (Pirelli Pzeros). Maintained by the dealer. Love the Recarros, Bilsteins. The mechanics at the dealer have asked for first option if it comes on the market. Love it.
As a owner of a 2005 Rx8, I always watch this a lot.
Rotary liv4s forever
Its ironic to watch this video now that the RX8 turned out to be such an epic failure.
Do to with it's history... and the engine. Understandable.
@@trooperstudios4821 The weak, unreliable Wankel engine is why the RX8 was a failure.
True, the 1.3 wankel is a turd during the life time. We had to replace the engine with a new one.
1:37 soon as I heard that I thought man, that's really heav-waitasecond
You gotta do your research before you buy any car let alone a car like this. A simple search will tell you that the rx8s gulp gas like no tomorrow and need careful and more than regular preventative maintenance. It's definitely a car that you shouldn't buy if ur interested in fuel efficiency; rather people that buy them are enthusiasts and are looking to enjoy the ride. It's probably one of the most unique cars on the road today in terms of its engineering. All this bs about shitty reliability couldn't be more wrong. There's a specific way to maintain these beauties. If you know what ur doing it'll be just as reliable as any car on the road. My RX8 has 240000km on the original engine (got it at 120000km) and I haven't had a single issue for 6 yrs other than a power steering harness failure which cost me $100 lol. It's got a lot of mileage now but absolutely no loss in power .Shes still performing as good as day 1.
Well the 1gen 04-05 didn't get enough oil so that the seals dried out leading to failure resulting in compression loss. So mainly Mazdas fault.
RX-8の良さは永遠に語り継がれて欲しい
The RX8 sedan was an epic failure that destroyed the entire RX brand
@@sandervanderkammen9230 That idea doesn't matter as much as whether or not you put pineapple on your pizza.
@@MechanicHachino Not everyone has good taste..
Today is the anniversary of the death of the poor Wankel engine, 4 years ago today June 22, 2012 at 4:30pm the Wankel engine assembly plant at Mazda's Ujina #2 shut down and shortly there after was dismantled to make way for a brand new engine assembly facility at Ujina #2 specifically designed to manufacture Mazda's successful new signature Skyactiv-G ® line of reciprocating Otto type engines
it's not dead yet :) Mazda confirmed they are working on a rotary engine ! they even should off the rx concept. it will be a sky activ -R rotary engine .no dates on arrival .also they gave a patent for the engine which you can find online. THE ROTARY IS ALIVE ! IDC how much fuel it eats it's the best engine there is for me
Rahul Namboodiri Its dead.. been dead for years
Rahul Namboodiri No, they didn't...
It does not exist.. do you not understand what the word "concept" means?
I guess you haven't heard of patent "phishing" either
No, its dead
No, its not dead, they are working on ''rotary'' or ''wankel'' engines or whatever you want to call them, they are developing something that is based on wankel engine basically, so will it be the good old wankel that we all know? maybe, maybe not...but its anything else but dead. So go back to watch your rotary engine powered planes, which in fact are dead
Rotming Excuse me sir, can you please direct me to the nearest new car dealer where I might purchase a 2016 model with a Wankel engine????
It is very sad when I see these in mint cosmetic condition in junkyards!
I found a mint 2009 touring package in my favorite color (deep blue)!
I would LS swap it!
Why not 13B-REW swap it?
0:41 - "and look at these tail lights..."
oh jeremy of the past.... just you wait 10 years if you want some busy tail lights...
Hard to believe the RX8 could look any uglier but time has not been kind.
@@sandervanderkammen9230 are you kidding? I do not understand anybody who says the RX8 is ugly. It is a beautifully styled car and I just feel like you're blind or something I do not understand
@@SpaceMissile The RX8 was hideously ugly when it came out... years later it is now simply gastly!
@@sandervanderkammen9230 lmao we have drastically different sense of taste.
@@SpaceMissile Yes indeed, I have taste and you do not.
An awesome car and a bargain these days as long as you know how to look after one (apart from fuel!) would love another - especially an R3!
I actually converted my RX to an R3 body, its up for sale on eBay! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231124509728?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649
Tom Bastable that's lovely, a bargain for somebody. I see you seen to have updated the nav internals too?
It actually sold tonight to a nice chap who's R3 was written off in the floods. Yeah I was originally going to replace the wiring loom and install the stock Mazda GPS, but half way through taking the interior apart I found out the last map update was 2005! Instead I fitted an Android system in there as it's a very open platform!
I had the nav in mine and it was ok but not great... bet you're gutted to see it go! I still think of mine all the time.
Tom Bastable How hard/what did you have to replace to get the R3 rear on the series 1 body?
Not a bad looking car
They currently sell for so cheap yet they're so expensive
RX8s sell for scrap metal prices here because they all need a new engine...
Every time i see a RX8 i think of Mia from Most Wanted 😂😅.
Cool video by Clarkson!
Still have the one I bought in 2005.
I’ve seen handful of other cars come and go since then; none will match this one for simply unique engagement. It hasn’t been exactly coddled, yet still runs great. and oh my …that shifter! it needs to be in some shifter Hall of Fame. feels like the action on a perfectly maintained sniper rifle.
Worst pile of junk sedan Mazda ever made... so bad it killed off the entire RX brand for good, good riddance to old garbage.
@@sandervanderkammen9230
Whatever, dude. I'll continue to have fun racing mine on our local racetracks and ripping the backroads with my other enthusiast friends. that's the difference between you and me. I'm a driving enthusiast.
enjoy your yawn-mobile or whatever Geely you're rocking.
@@pushslice You're no enthusiasts, you're a rotard.
@@sandervanderkammen9230 It didn't kill the RX brand bozo, mazda can't make these kind of cars due to emissions and regulations, I tried and it feels like a big toy car that I can play around and what Clarkson says, it's a fun and enjoyable car to drive and very unique than the rest of sports car in that era and today.
@@SynApse01547 Sorry but that false urban myth won't fly here son... The RX8 met or exceeded the strictest emissions standards in the world right up until production ended due to lack of sales.
With in an hour or so after I seen this video I bought my rx8 on ebay that basically made up my mind. After 5 years of owning I have not had any problems other than the oil cooler lines having a hair line oil leak. Its the type of car of when you are walking up to it you just smile. I do not regret of buying it at all but now its time to sell for more of a family sedan.
Was it easy to fix? Im a student with limited money, getting one for 4500$ a 2004 european spec version...
yes it was but instead of unhooking the a/c lines and the belt I just cut the lines with a jig saw and got my own lines installed
3:41 Oh it will definitely fight back Jeremy.. Just not in the way you'd think.
I never seen this car do over 100,000 miles with the original motor EVER!!!!
Well, I haven't seen a this car do 1 mile on the "original motor" because it is not electric!
I have seen previous RX-7s doing 100,000+ miles with the original "engine"
chrischoy9 Motors don't just run on electricity son... they run on gasoline too!
The real doktorbimmer A motor is commonly referred to as an electric one
chrischoy9 Ahhhh... NO!
The real doktorbimmer Oh nvm, I think it might of an American thing
@Slipknotyk06 The Rx8 might not have as much power as cars like the mustang, but the power delivery does make it feel like car with more hp than it actually has. It is light and torque is evenly distributed throughout the rpm range and so it pulls up to 7500 rpm. It really is fast and if you watch the rest of this episode of top gear you will see that it laid down the same time as an M3 on the test track.
I own an RX8 and CLS55AMG. I love watching topgear videos about them
A car that's better at high rpms is what you need for actual fun
the trick is getting it to start
Sometimes I shit myself when it takes a while to start.
***** its not mazda's fault, its just rotary engines are retarded and dont work, i hate mazda though
+Franklin Culbreth 130,000 mi on my rx8 and it's just now losing compression.
Adam Canada Consider yourself among the lucky... there is a good reason why Mazda stopped selling them..
Adam Canada It started losing compression long before 130k..