damon

I dont know how true all of this is but...

I just got done talking to a guy (older fella) who said that he used to work on rx-7's at the mazda dealership in the early 80's til the mid- ninty's. He was the only qualified tech at the dealership. He said something that cought me off guard about why Mazda stopped importing the rotary. He said that the US govt stopped the import of these because it was hurting the domesic car sales and was becoming a nusance. He also stated that most of the cars wouldnt pass emissions because of all the crap they put on them to get them into the country. He gave me twq thumbs up for resurecting this old car and said to keep up the good work, then he drove off.

anyone know if there is any validity to this?

peace

youdoitimtired

That is interesting. If there is validity i am glad that i am restoring my 84 se

rx7gslse

how was it hurting domestic car sales? They sold like 500 of them in 95

JEC-31

I wouldn't put too much stock in the ol' Government Conspiracy Theory. While it's true that some of the extremely high cost of the FD was import tarrifs and what not, the rotaries of the mid '90s were not exactly (as rx7gslse pointed out) a threat to American sales. Maybe GM lost a handful of C4 Corvette sales, but they knew by 94/95 that the C5 would make that up and more (read "All Corvettes Are Red, by James Scheffter).

No, the rotary left our shores because Mazda went too far out too fast, making the fast-as-hell FD not only way too expensive but horribly unreliable. This shut out and turned off all the people who could afford and depend on the cheap and sturdy RX-7s of the previous generations.

I pray to the Rotary Gods that the reason that the RX-8's arrival is so delayed is so Mazda has the time to work out all it's flaws and engineer their costs down. The comeback of the rotary gives me goosebumps!

damon

This is why I posted on this, I didnt know whether or not to believe (I mean everyone blames the govt for everything these days). I dont know too much of the other gens so I couldnt really make an assumption.

peace

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

I have some good insider information that Mazda is having problems with the RX-8 powerplant. While the new engine makes Bridgeport power (250hp) in stock form, while reducing emissions, noise, and increasing fuel economy. The new side-exhaust ports (which are now on the same plate as the intake ports) are causing a problem for the rotor side seals.

It turns out that they are filling the side seals with carbon, and locking the engine. Something the side seals weren't designed to handle. The Apex seals had no problem with carbon though, as that is how our current engines run.

What is going to happen? Who knows. But don't expect the RX-8 to come out on schedule, as this is a significant engineering problem.

BTW, they had the same problem with the original designs of the rotary engine as well back in the late 60's early 70's.

BrianHeston

If they ad the same problem back then, I have two questions.

1) Why have the backslid and made the same mistake(s) again?

2) Why can't they fix it the same way they did before?

BrianHeston

P.S. Yeah!! My 100th post. Now I can use my own pic.

abeomid

I think that's some BS about the RX-8. There is no such thing as insider information. The Mazda dealers know about the RX-8 less than we know. The car has been in test for 3-4years now, it's not like they wouldn't notice that already.

Manntis

Stuff happens within companies, it leaks out, and people and/or the press find out about it. The dealers are usually the last to know.

It's not as if the manufacturer is going to call up each dealer and say "Hey, you know those products that we charge you tens of thousands of dollars for? Right now our flagship one sucks and we can't seem to fix it. Just thought you ought to know."

HOWEVER,

Automotive journalists build up relationships with automotive negineers over time, which is why they don't send noob journalists to investigate preproduction models unless it's to a Kia factory in Upper Obscurvia S.S.R. The engineers let certain details 'slip' that the bean counters and marketing lizards would rather not be known, especially if it's a tech problem that either (a)the journalist might then offer a bit of info about how the folks over at Competition, Inc. do things or (b) when the engineers DO solve the problem they look even more brilliant.

Moving the port solved some emmissions issues, but only now in long-term testing would it come out that the new design causes early long-term wear of side seals, etc.

Mazda engineers have proven that when pushed they can solve some tough tech problems (like creating the first mass-produced, reliable Wankel Rotary, f'rinstance)
Literally hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars of revenue AND the company's reputation are at stake with the RX-8 (it's failure would give the Dearborn guys an excuse to micro-manage everything the smaller-nosed guys try to do in the future) so I'm confident the problem will be solved.

Defprun

I have a mazda insider, and after extensive testing, this is what mazda is FINALLY deciding to come out with next year. As you can see, he had to sneak around a bit as this final design example of the car is under strict guard at Area 51.



It looks as if Mazda has decided to go for a more rustic design, almost SUV-like or "Truck-like" if you will. I'm nost sure, but it looks as if this thing may run diesel. A diesel rotary?! Hmmmmm.

851stgen12a

ummmm that looks like a Ford superduty, with the Duramax deisel.

Defprun

No no no! It's the RX-8!!!

(Really its the next Dodge Ram Dually design! WOOOOOWWW!!!!)

79+80_rx-7

I was about to say.. look through the white screen

It looks like the distinctive grill design...


LOL

851stgen12a

thats the same design of the new ford super duty they just unveiled at the, the, (damn I cant remember which one) Auto show......

onepointone

i might be wrong, but i heard that since ford bought out mazda , and the mazda was doing better than the mustang, they decided to cut it off so the mustang would do better.. i might be wrong.. but thast just what i heard

Defprun

why would ford want to lose money?! If they cut the mazda, and than the mustang went down hill wouldnt they lose a shitload more money??? Keeping the mazda, and using the money profitted by its sales to make the mustang a better car would be better business, no?!

MikeLMR

Why would ford drop Mazda ... a brand that sells all over the world in largeish numbers for a 1 market low volume sales prospect like mustang ? ... I don't think so

Defprun

You tell him! But it is just "what he heard" probably from a domestic freak.

HadaGSL-SE

iTrader: (6)

remember when the probe was gonna be the 94 and up mustangs
disgusting

Manntis

Ford hadn't 'bought up' Mazda back when the decision to discontinue the RX-7 for left-hand drive markets was made;- they owned a shitload of shares, but didn't gain control of Mazda until recently.

The simple fact is high dollar sport cars weren't selling well in the mid 90's, hence the disappearance of the 300ZX, Supra, Stealth, 3000GT, and RX-7 within about 2 years of each other.

Defprun

Manntis, as usual is right.

Where the hell were you at the starting of the thread?? LOL!