I'm currently still looking around. Im pretty interested in rotary engines, I've been thinking about RX8 models but not too sure. I saw one & tried to get the guy to get a full on diagnostics from the my local Mazda shop that specializes in RX models. Tri-Point Engineering. I had as well asked the guy when the last time the spark plugs, ignition coils, & wiring have been changed. Not any time soon. The car has about approximately 42k & is 13k. So I'm iffy & just cut contact with the guy.

 

You don't routinely change coils... or "wiring" for that matter. And $13k (asking) for a clean car with 42,000 miles doesn't sound out of line to me. If I was the seller and you wanted a "full-on diagnostics" on the car from Tripoint, I wouldn't care as long as YOU pay for. I wouldn't do it on my dime either.
If it's a decent car and those are actual miles, he'll sell it at (close) to that price.

 

Idk I went to the other forum & the broke my arm about it. I just personally don't seriously want to put up 150 to find out something is wrong with engine. He's changed the radiator out with a OEM replacement. Has all receipts. Still what are somethings I should be watching out for with engine internals of the cars?

 

1993 Playboy car of the year.

Enough said.

 

Hachiro-

After reading this thread...I genuinely think you will be better off with an RX8 for now. Just my opinion. Good luck regardless.

 

Thanks. I'm thinking the same, just the fact of having to tackle some of the problems of that vehicle is what I'm interested in. Still overall what are some things I should be looking for while checking the car? Be it engine or anything else?

 

Gotta be the Devil's Advocate and point out the obvious here. Hachi, while an RX-8 may certainly be more reliable out of the box, it will ultimately be more of a PITA to work on when it fouls up and you'll spend more time switching parts because quality control has gone downhill. A prime example of this is the RX-8's ignition coils failing every 30k miles. In contrast, I believe no one has ever seen a FC's coils fail. Even FD owners switch to FC coils when running an ignition amplifier.

In the words of our friend and admin Aaron Cake, the FC's trim isn't cheap, just old. I firmly believe that this carries over to the electronics as well. If you took two identical brand new parts from the FC and RX-8, I'm certain that the FC's part would outlast the RX-8's part by a big margin.

For a new owner, never underestimate the value of simplicity. My experience with the FC, specifically the S4, has been surprisingly positive at every step. There just isn't too much craziness with the FC as there bis with a RX-8, especially in wiring. S4 cars are especially easy to install a Standalone EMS like a Haltech in. Extract the wiper/washer, subzero sensor and motor wiring from the Emission Harness (they're just taped together), run a new wire for the temperature gauge sender and the rest is part of the Standalone EMS harness. This kind of learning curve is just what a new owner should find when doing their own work.

One other thing I'd like to point out is that the FC doesn't need as much electrical power as the FD & RX-8. On the S4, the stock 70A alternator is barely adequate. On the RX-8, it got a 100A alternator (110A for 09+) for the same marginal adequacy as it has a lot more circuits in it. I'm running a 130A alternator from a 3.8L Ford Taurus since I have a Taurus Fan on my car. While a stock Mazda alternator is quite pricey, one can find a 3.8L Taurus or its clones anywhere any time of year and grab the alternator for $20.

Simply put, the FC's only weakness is age and a few electrical shortcomings. These are all well documented and fixable with regular tools and a soldering iron for when you find cold solder joints. Read the Second Generation FAQ and you'll learn lots from it. With the right approach, a properly maintained Turbo FC will outlast a new RX-8, be quicker (lighter weight & more torque), get about the same gas mileage, be much more fun to drive and be much easier to diagnose and cheaper to fix you since you can do all the work yourself. Those are things you can be proud of.

 

Yeah most definitely. Thanks for bringing that up. So approximately how much can i expect to spend on an FC costs & FD costs & things that need to watched for besides fluids & all? As well getting the smog passing on them? I'm personally more lenient with an RX-7.

 

Well, the base price for an FC is significantly lower than an FD. You can find a somewhat decent FC N/A for like $800. A turbo one (which they're hard to find) will probably be somewhere between $1000-$2000. An FD for a somewhat decent one is like $6000-$8000. Plus parts are more expensive for the FD, and I hear the FC is more reliable.

So, you'll ultimately be looking at a far cheaper car if you go with the FC. I would recommend getting the N/A and after you've been driving a few years, think about doing a turbo swap.

 

I bought my FC in march n its been sitting more than its been driven lol...take that into consideration

 

Buy a Miata.

 

If you're set on something sporty, get something without a lot of power for your first car. I'm going to agree with what Ryuske said earlier: you WILL do stupid things when you're young. The difference between doing something stupid in (for example) a stock-ish CRX and something with 3 times the amount of hp can be A) a lot of money and B) a lot of pain. (Ask me how I know!)

What would you rather wrap around a tree? Your beautiful FD that you bought for $15-20k or an EF Civic that you can pick up parts for for practically nothing? Plus, flogging around in something underpowered for a while can teach you more and give you more satisfaction/appreciation in the long run!

 

This is something I've been spending a long time thinking about because I'm looking at possibly getting an FC as a first car or possibly buying something new like a Mazda3 hatch. I am a bit older though I think, for sure.

An FD is going to need an absurd amount of work. If you have support from people close to you to do it, it might be worth it to you. It still might be a big money pit and hassle that you end up hating too.

Some of us just have to dive in at the deep end. This can work out great! An FD is like the ocean though. I'd think carefully about it and pay attention to all the advice given.

 

Ok, seeing how I owned a 05 rx-8 for the last 2 years, I will try to make this short and sweet

Let me start by saying, I LOVED THE **** OUT OF MY RX-8. Granted, it was my first "real" car. Going from a 88 DeVille (grandma's garaged beauty), to a 07 POS Solara (only because I hated the car), to my 05 8 (that I just recently sold in San Diego). To be honest, I saw the car online, went to the dealership, and same day it was mine, so I pretty much dove head first into rotaries (which I do not suggest).

Anyway, long story short, I had absolutely zero problems with the engine.
If you ask anyone who's owned an 8, they will tell you it's "hit or miss", meaning you either get a good one, or the opposite.
If you're serious about getting one, my best advice is as follows:
1, Whatever you do, do not buy an automatic!!! They are a complete abomination of what a rotary powered car is meant to be. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
2, Buy a Shinka (2006, limited edition with a sweet leather/suede interior and 'keep it in your pocket' keyless entry ) or an 2009/11 R3 (Recaro's, Blisten shocks, somewhat of a body kit, limited production).
3, As mentioned before, swap out the ignition coils for the ever popular LS2's (BHR, Race Roots, or make your own).
4, Upgrade your brake pads, rotors, get stainless steel brake lines and you're ready to race [on the track ]! That's it! Well, sort of. 8's honestly don't need that much modification to take to the track... yeah, you're not going to be the fastest guy out there, but hey, you only spent about $400 in mods.
5, I was really impressed with the technology in the car. Not just it being "modern", but the Bose stereo was actually a decent stock system, the car is up-to-date feature wise, and the Vehicle Stability Control will keep you from sliding off into oblivion.
I can't tell you how impressed I was with the stability control system of the 8, it really helps in the snow (which I do not suggest driving in, but it happens in VA) and it was great on the track (hence how I sold my car instead of picking up it's pieces).

The FC is a very nice car, I will give you that. I myself am looking at an FD as a Daily, but one that's already had money poured into it... because I'd have to do that stuff anyway
I just highly recommend the 8, one that's in great condition, as a first "real" car.

So the choice is yours my friend, choose wisely
I'll include a picture of my former baby for you to think about...

 

This is exactly what I found when I was researching 8s to buy. especially point #2. A lot of people with those ones before '06 seemed to have issues. The only other thing is that a lot of people who bought them didn't seem to do proper maintenance on them. Low mileage actually scared me off most of the time (here in the southeastern US, people seem to buy nice cars new and then treat them like ****, then trade up).

There doesn't seem to be a lot you can do in mods to improve the car's performance though...but you definitely want to do that brake job if you get one.

Absolutely everyone LOVES driving that car though. The emotional factor for most owners is off the charts.

 

GET A MIATA FIRST. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. There's nothing more enjoyable to drive anyway.

 

It was very hard to let my baby go...
Out of state plates in California with a full 3in exhaust, it was truly a thing of beauty (and awesome flames).
Damn it, now I want my car back!
If you, or anyone else has question's about an 8, message me. I'll do what I can

 

You know I do love the handling... but common, a stock 8 would run circles around a stock miata. Or at least in my mind it would
Personally, the only way to go with a miata, is a Mazdaspeed version

I drove one, and it's very hard to imagine what a normal miata would be like.
A automatic rx-8 comes to mind...
RX-8 9,500 redline, just sayin.

 

Why's that?

Also, some of us are too tall/fat to fit in some Miatas.

 

Did I mention 4 SEATS???
Haha, that's a very important part if you're thinking practicality.
It was so much room, I fit my entire life in it when I changed bases from VA to CA.
Granted, you only have so much stuff living in the military, but it was tons of room.
If I could change 2 things, it would be gas mileage and power, then it would be the ultimate car to me (but I'm bias).

 

How about buy a Miata and put a 13B in it! Best of both worlds........Kinda

 

Well I was looking around at my options staying in mazda cars. Miata's were my next best choice, talked to a guy who lives close by to where I work. He said he'd do 8500 for it. So right now I'm seeing how the financing will come along. If not I'll just take an FC no doubt about it. Possibly a nicely taken care of NA miata.

 

can't most repairs/mod/maintenance be done alone? Wtih atleast some knowledge of mechanic?

 

Its all in your mechanical ability, dedication and common sense.

For me the harder part of fixing there cars is the electronics (timing,tps setting, troubleshooting). The wiring diagrams are tough for most people to read but there are many people on.here who.are willing to.help.

Mechanically they are very easy to fix, the engine is tiny and very easily worked on, any knowledge you have in the piston world can be reapplied to a rotary you just have to know the varying factors.

Your first rx7 may include learning many lessons the hard way, but it'll only help you in the future.

If you don't want to learn the hard way, you'll want to spend alot of time researching preventive maintenance.

Lots of people don't properly maintain their rx7, and/or turn up.the boost without doing the proper supporting mods/tuning, and their motor grenades.

 

Good Luck!