TheGloriousTachikoma wrote: Though, from what I understand, the revisions to the housing geometry to improve chamber sealing will negatively affect torque.
So, it'll have negative torque now?
TheGloriousTachikoma wrote: Though, from what I understand, the revisions to the housing geometry to improve chamber sealing will negatively affect torque.
So, it'll have negative torque now?
In reply to pinchvalve:
Try one to have the experience if nothing else. I didn't think a rotary would be all that different but it is.
Now I own one...
When I was 18 I got my first RX-7. I didn't own another piston powered car until I moved to Hungary almost 11 years later (although I did own a couple trucks in between).
It would really make my day if I could find an RX-3 out here.
This got me thinking about my rotarys.
I remember getting a coupon in the mail from the local Mazda dealer (Smail Mazda) after I bought a part off of them. The coupon was good for 10% off a timing belt replacement since my car had high miles.
I contacted teh dealership for a quote to do this. They said it would cost around $500.00 but with the coupon it would be about $450.00.
I asked them how they planned to change the timing belt on an RX7 since it doesn't have one. They just stammered on the phone. I asked what they would have done if I brought it in.
My mother had just had an issue with those retards and she contacted the state attorney general or something like that. She got a letter from them saying they would investigate. She got her repair paid for.
I also had a problem with the same dealership when I had my RX8. They wanted to charge me several thousand dollars to replace a faulty cat. I pointed out to them that the cat is federally mandated and the car had 60,000 miles on it. They gave me all kinds of crap and eventually changed it. They tried to charge me labor when I showed up. I will NEVER deal with them again!
Well.... That went a little off topic.
DaveEstey wrote: In reply to pinchvalve: Try one to have the experience if nothing else. I didn't think a rotary would be all that different but it is. Now I own one...
Plus eleventy billion. I dated a girl who had an '84 way back when and I used to drive it all the time, I immediately fell in love with the power characteristics. Obviously love of the engine outlasted love of the girl...
Curmudgeon wrote: Plus eleventy billion. I dated a girl who had an '84 way back when and I used to drive it all the time, I immediately fell in love with the power characteristics. Obviously love of the engine outlasted love of the girl...
What "characteristics"? Rotaries are incredibly boring engines to drive. Just look at this:
There isn't really a torque curve, it's more of a torque flat. It just goes the same no matter what RPM it's at.
Now if you want a fun engine, try an old EA82 Subaru. Absolutely nothing below 3500, absolutely nothing above 5500, but for 2000 glorious RPM it actually does something besides make angry purse-dog noises.
All I know is when you poked the pedal on the right it made some glorious noises and accelerated like a 125 MXer, you had to be ready to shift NOW. (Come to think of it, the owner also made some glorious noises when poked... ) When I found my '82 GS and test drove it, it brought all that back. 
Curmudgeon wrote: . (Come to think of it, the owner also made some glorious noises when poked...
hahhaha thank you for that. Clearly you have not always been Curmudgeonly
I'm going on a kayak fishing trip (flounder and reds) tomorrow, or I'd button my Golf back together enough to get it inspected and put it up for sale here and on Craigslist. As it stands, it looks like I'm going to be doing that Sunday instead.
Anybody want a rust free, red 1995 Golf Sport, 2 door, 5 speed? It runs. I'll post a more complete ad when I have pictures.
That said, the local Craigslist is full of delusional people who want 10k for an RX-8 with 125k miles on the original engine and a ratty interior. I should have picked up that one I saw with low compression for $4500 when I had the chance.
Knurled wrote:Curmudgeon wrote: Plus eleventy billion. I dated a girl who had an '84 way back when and I used to drive it all the time, I immediately fell in love with the power characteristics. Obviously love of the engine outlasted love of the girl...What "characteristics"? Rotaries are incredibly boring engines to drive. Just look at this:There isn't really a torque curve, it's more of a torque flat. It just goes the same no matter what RPM it's at. Now if you want a fun engine, try an old EA82 Subaru. Absolutely nothing below 3500, absolutely nothing above 5500, but for 2000 glorious RPM it actually does something besides make angry purse-dog noises.
you know.... Hitler didn't like the rotary engine either:
Yeah, there really is something about driving the rotaries that just puts a smile on my face. The engine is just so alive and rev happy.
I would say that I feel like the RX-8 doesn't really come across that way to me though. On the street I really find it pretty pedestrian, but damn, when you open it up in a race the whole car really comes alive in a pretty spectacular way. 9,800 rpm on a stock engine/ecu is just amazing.
When I test drove the RX-3 SP the other day, the car was just so happy to be beat on around town, it was great. Just a wonderful driving experience. I feel like the RX-8 begrudgingly accepts street duty.
Either way, I really hope the 13B isn't the last rotary we see from Mazda.
I just saw a nice '85 GSL-SE on Craigslist. While I was talking it over with the wifey (who actually said "go buy it") it was sold. I snoozed. I loozed.
There's a cherry silver GSL-SE at a local used car lot. $6600.00. Nope, ain't gonna do it.
That's as good as the 1983 924 for sale at a dealer lot for $9990!
Curmudgeon wrote: There's a cherry silver GSL-SE at a local used car lot. $6600.00. Nope, ain't gonna do it.
Rays?
It's at a place at the corner of Greystone and Broad River Road. I wish it had the BBS's but it has the straight spoke wheels.
Curmudgeon wrote: It's at a place at the corner of Greystone and Broad River Road. I wish it had the BBS's but it has the straight spoke wheels.
Yeah, he has a lot of clean old cars in there. I haven't lived in the area for a few years now, though.
I am going to miss the rotary. I think the rotary is to Mazda like herpes is to humans. They will never get rid of it. It just goes into remission every now and then.
What really aggravates me is that all the RX variants are great platforms. The Rotary is a really good motor but it is just to dam quirky for most of the general car owning public. Why doesn't Mazda offer a piston motor as an option in there RX line. Just re badge it so the RX purists don't have a bird. I have always thought that one of the 3l Mazda V6 motors would have been the perfect motor for the FC. Hell I have always thought that the Millenia S motor would have been fun in an FC or even the FD. It would have even been an acceptable alternative motor for the RX8.
The only problem I can see is that it would then be direct competition for the Miata. But proper marketing of them as Grand touring car and keeping the Miata as a sports car would have solved that issue.
dean1484 wrote: I think the rotary is to Mazda like herpes is to humans. They will never get rid of it. It just goes into remission every now and then.
quote of the year
Millenia S motor? 
Um, no. That has to be the most mixture sensitive engine on the planet, as in a partially plugged injector will blowtorch a piston the very first time you stick your boot in it. I gotta admit when it's running right it's fun.
Hungary Bill wrote:dean1484 wrote: I think the rotary is to Mazda like herpes is to humans. They will never get rid of it. It just goes into remission every now and then.quote of the year
I dunno if the next issue has gone to print already, but I hope this makes it into 'Say What'.
Curmudgeon wrote: Millenia S motor?
I liked the idea of the MZR in the RX7, or especially the RX8, though that would be a bit of engineering to turn it 90*
TheGloriousTachikoma wrote: I liked the idea of the MZR in the RX7, or especially the RX8, though that would be a bit of engineering to turn it 90*
Not really, just get one from a Ranger or a Miata.
Curmudgeon wrote: Millenia S motor?
The thing is if they put even a quarter of the engineering they have put in to the Rotary motor into the Miller cycle motor (KJ-ZEM) it could / would have become a fantastic motor. I could see them getting it to 275 reliable HP. This form a 2.25L motor that gets the economy of a 2L. Where is the down side here? It was just never given a chance. It needed refinement and tweaking but I am convinced that it could have been a brilliant motor especially with the improvements in engine management systems that we have today.
In reply to Knurled:
Completely different engine from the MZR.
It occurred to me while I was driving the family to dinner tonight that modern day direct injection would have been a neat addition to the KJ-ZEM.
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