In my youth I recall these being an ongoing source of problems.
Have they improved at all regarding reliability.
Thinking around a 2007 model #964545450.
I would presume they need a quality workshop to provide servicing.
robotnik,
Nov 21, 8:23pm
They are better but still often need a rebuild at 100,000 kms. Then they have this issue with flooding if not started right. That one being an auto will be detuned and slower and they are not fast cars in the from first place . Get an Axela turbo instead, faster and more reliable.
vtecintegra,
Nov 21, 8:46pm
Forget about reliability for the moment and ask yourself do you really want an auto paired with a rotary?
Not only is the transmission ill-suited to such a highly strung engine, the auto model was also considerably less powerful while offering awful fuel economy.
kenw1,
Nov 22, 7:00am
Like the look of the Axela, but it has to be automatic and all the ones on here seem to be manual.
What else is there?
Do not want a 4wd car again.
Thanks
robotnik,
Nov 22, 7:22am
Yes I don't think they did the Axela MPS in automatic.
sw20,
Nov 22, 9:29am
Don't buy a rotary with an automatic. You may as well go to McDonald's for a salad.
It is slow. Seriously slow for a car that has a claimed 247hp. In reality it's more like 210 at the most. Low 15 second 1/4 mile stuff. The fuel use is a bit shit too. Because you are getting around 18mpg but you aren't getting 18mpg piston powered performance.
However, it rides really nicely. Has four seats which can fit four adults. It has a decent size boot. It's also quite an attractive car. It's cornering grip is other worldly and the brakes, my god, you literally need a super car to stop faster from 60mph.
Mine has done 109,000km. Starts every time, hot or cold. I have even turned it off dead cold on purpose to see if I could flood it. It fired straight up. No flooding issues here. If it floods and won't start, either your ignition is old. Your engine is on the way out or your starter motor is tired. Or a mix of all three.
fordcrzy,
Nov 23, 1:15am
they are pretty crap. well at least the ECU is. the ECU is a royal pain in the behind. you have to use genuine coilpacks and leads or the ecu throws a ecu light and runs rich. you have to make sure the front O2 sensor is good or it runs rich. you have to make sure you wear your good shoes or it runs rich. your girlfriend has to be good looking or it runs rich. you get the idea. The motor itself is just the same in terms of reliability but the Stock ecu is the worlds biggest dog of a thing. mate has one and has spent mega bucks on it. RX8s now are only good buying if you plan to an engine swap to something else. id never buy one as adaily driver now. youd just be asking for a world of hurt. once you get the "wont hot start" and then itll fry a coilpack and then youll be left with a car that wont run reliably and isnt really sellable either
beetle1234,
Nov 23, 1:39am
The ole man traded a RX2 auto on a v8 Holden once,It was that loverly lemon yellow,2 dr. He sold it in CHCH and rang me in under3 hrs going over Arthers Pass,now my ole man could drive,sold everything that went fast. GTHO,s,E49 etc(from new). now this and a 2,5 PI trumpet was the only cars that put the shit,s up him, not for their handling but how bloody fast these were.(and they overtook everything but a service station.) Dad reckond the RX2 Auto was the fastest most dangerous overrevving gokart he had everdriven. He said : I,m really glad the road was dry:,drift it threw the corners just outta Jacksons Pub, fik it just didn,t want to stop revving,smoked the tyres the tyre,s up Arthers Pass,just went like a shot dog boy he said. He traded it on a 69 351 Ford Cougar. old mans car in comparrison he reckond. What I am saying is Auto,s and rotaries are a good mix,just ring their neck and learn how to drive a timebomb.
kenw1,
Nov 23, 2:00am
Funny you mention a Triumph 2.5PI, I had one, years ago in the UK, fabulous car, when it was going. drop it out of OD at at a 100mph and put your foot down click OD back in and off again.
It was unreliable, like a nightmare, dropped a rod on my way up to Bristol to see the wife 3 days after it was used to get there with her in labour.
beetle1234,
Nov 23, 2:25am
Now the PI Trumpy was an auto,Brown in colour,tan seat,s now that will get the purist,s an keep em happy;) An absolute bloody mongrel to start when cold,flood it and your,e buggard.My job as a kid was start the bastard,my ole man was a good bugga but had a temper pretty quik to explode so I only floodd the bloody thing once or twice (By then I was outta the house driving somthing else)(ps I was so pleased when he traded a 69 XJ6 on this bloody thing) but back to story, this Trumpy would blow a gt falcon off the road,it had already blown a E49 off the tarmac,beleive me or not this one was bloody fast and it was the only car after all his in his life that was bloody bloody fast,and he said it bloody handled,but it was fkn fast. RIP Dad
kenw1,
Nov 23, 3:26am
Mine was dark maroon, light tan upholstery.
After it dropped a rod, I sold it locally for parts. Guy put a new engine it it, had all his tools in the boot, some rotter's stole it, and backed it flat out into a wall corner to spring the boot for all his tools. Wrecked it completely, that was the end of it.
sw20,
Nov 23, 3:27am
A Triumph PI being bloody fast? Compared to what? Cycling?
kevymtnz,
Nov 23, 3:39am
rotorys were crap back then and are still crap now
beetle1234,
Nov 23, 3:39am
Obviously one hasn,t driven a well sortrd PI. The mechanic used was realy good at what he did.(maybe unlike your bike mechanic who (maybe you) forgot the link);)
kenw1,
Nov 23, 3:46am
I dont recall you slipstreaming on your bike up the M4.
The only other car that really lit my day up was a Red/Black roof Ford Granada 3 litre, now that was quick down the Motorway. Had to get back to Bristol for a ship to sail, and the company hired this for me.
beetle1234,
Nov 23, 4:01am
cool car,not many arrived here,like a 4 dr capri,wen,t like a shot dog,but mate you were bloody lucky to get the missus to the vet when birthing? Did you call the bubs Avenging?PMLA
sw20,
Nov 23, 4:06am
Be realistic here. They might have been a good car forty years ago but by the mid '80s they were nothing special anymore.
Even a standard 4AGE powered car in the mid '80s would leave them behind and use half the fuel.
loose.unit8,
Nov 23, 4:19am
The only thing unreliable about the rx8 engine is the coilpacks.
kenw1,
Sep 21, 9:33am
Really it was not funny.
I was driving through South Bristol just off the Motorway and it started running a bit rough, then BANG KAPOW and it sort of stopped.
Looked under the bonnet and the starter was hanging there by its lead, bits of crankcase all over the road. Rang the AA and they said they had to send someone out to have a look to see if it could be fixed on the roadside. PSML.
Really boring after that, a Ford Escort Estate 1300.
Anyway, it was good in the late 70's, but what to get now?
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