The Mazda RX-7 / RX-8 Story

[@highlypolishedturd7947]

In Canada, a friend had a Mazda rotary many years ago. When he needed a repair, the shop had to remove the exhaust for access. While the exhaust was laying on the floor, the apprentice cleaned up, and chucked it in the scrap metal bin, which was emptied before anyone realized what happened. After a bit "Oh, Shit!" moment, they found out it was around $5000 dollars to replace, leading to an even bigger "Oh, Shit!" moment. The apprentice was sent to the scrap yard to try and find it, with no luck. The lucky owner, in addition to the repair, got a shiny new exhaust!

[@nateb7793]

okay that could have been 1 paragraph and a lot shorter but ok boomer

[@alfexsinosystems9205]

@@nateb7793 you are so miserable

[@parvezahmedjalil7310]

Hollywood should make a movie out of that story 😦

[@nateb7793]

Alfex Sinosystems ok “alfex “

[@dandingerat]

@@nateb7793 Jesus Christ do you have friends?

[@ircorva67]

Thank you so much for this video, and I love that you didn’t fall into the typical bashing of the RX-8 as many do. I have an ‘04 Rx-8 6-speed that I bought new in the autumn of 2003. She’s about to cross the 60,000 mile threshold, and runs like the day I bought it... an absolute joy to drive. For those few naysayers who posted some comments about the RX-8 engine being problematic, I have some comments of my own. The early 8s had a few issues, but Mazda handled them all beautifully for me. I have kept my car maintained religiously, and granted, I put it away each winter. Still, I’ve had NO problems with the rotary, and I’m sorry, but 24 mpg on the highway has been just fine for me, and has never changed in 16 years of ownership. Ok- around town I get about 17-18 mpg, but I didn’t buy it to be an econobox. My dealership has a rotary specialist who’s brilliant, and he tells me that my engine stays in fine shape because I REV it like rotaries prefer. I add a little premix to every tankful, and clean out carbon with some Sea Foam every so often. According to my mechanic, the RX-8 engines that fail happen for a few common reasons: the worst were people who drove them like grannies trying to eke out every last possible mile per gallon. Those engines needs revved! Lack of proper, informed maintenance is another common problem: rotaries require their own care and feeding, but Americans don’t read owner’s manuals. Finally, he says that the automatic trans models seem to have more engine problems- they probably don’t get into the higher RPM ranges as often as the manuals, and I believe they lack the degree of oil cooling found in the higher- performance 6-speed models. These days, there aren’t many RX-8s around that haven’t been modified and beaten to death by dumb kids. The thrill I still get from my 8 when it hits 8500 rpm on a clear freeway ramp is reason enough to spend what it takes to maintain this car in top condition, and if the engine needs a rebuild some day, I am keeping a savings account ready. If my choice is to put $10K into the 8 or spend $50-80K for a new car, it’s a no-brainer. I have yet to see anything at any yearly auto show that does for me what my RX-8 does.

[@fastinradfordable]

AkronDave Spending 50k on a car is not needed dude. Neither is $10k. ... I haven’t spent 10k on all my cars over 16 years of driving.

[@eriksiddons4730]

@@fastinradfordable not all of us like to drive absolute garbage

[@christwist8455]

Awesome comment. I hope to have my 8 in top condition like yours. Its recently been rebuilt, wish me luck!

[@noaht2005]

Yeah some rx-8s were reliable, it was a lucky dip

[@arrivendrive6831]

I own a fd since 1998 and my brother in law bought an rx8 new in 2005. I have driven his car plenty and it is a great car. His engine lasted 80k and he did a terrible job maintaining it. Often I would get in the car and the add oil light was on. A good owner and a little premix will get you a lot more miles out of the engine. Having a great rotary engine builder is key for when you need to refresh the engine. Brap on

[@atoner8771]

Great episode. The FD's styling is absolutely timeless, looks stunning to this very day. And the FC isn't far off either, it embodies the late 80s smoothed out box aesthetic. Either one would be my dream car. The FD/FC and all the other 90s Japanese sports cars are the stuff of legend.

[@burghiu9801]

I can't like because it's 69 sorry

[@sixstringedthing]

A worked FC Series V RX-7 was my dream car all through my teen years, I had a real thing for Japanese turbo cars before my tastes broadened to include many other kinds of desirable metal. Had all sorts of plans for what I was going to do with it, starting with an FD 13B engine transplant, chuck the staged-sequential setup in the bin and replace it with a big single turbo, front mount intercooler with shiny pipework and water spray, custom air intake that used the existing top-mount intercooler bonnet vent, upgraded injectors, brake and suspension upgrade, strut tower braces of course, maybe a roll cage and water-air intercooling later on... Of course, I had absolutely no way to pay for the car, the upgrades, or the insurance and running costs. But that wasn't the point, it was my dream car. In my early twenties I got a bit more sensible, bought a 1995 MX-5 instead. :)

[@taylorc2542]

The FD is the best looking Japanese car ever. This is why you don't rice them with wings and wide body kits; it's like tagging a gang sign on the Mona Lisa.

[@Nbomber]

It took me till I got older before I appreciated the FD styling. When I was younger, I just wasnt feeling it tbh. Also, I know people rate the rx8 as ugly, but ive always considered them to be very good looking. Shame about its lacklustre engine though.

[@uh3what]

Oh man the rx7 fd makes pop ups look modern even though it's as old as it is.

[@christopherconard2831]

Headlights go up Headlights go down I miss pop-up headlights.

[@francislea4700]

I don't. Pain in the ass on a TR7 but then what wasn't come to think of it ?

[@eurogryphon]

I got to ride shotgun in an old FB at an autocross meet. It still had the buzzer in it, and while we were on the track the driver told me, "yeah, it's to let you know when you hit redline. When it stops buzzing, you downshift until it starts buzzing again."

[@RustyPetterson]

Former RX-8 owner here, and I approve of this video! Mine was a victim of the hot starting issue. Caused by low compression, caused by worn rotor tip seals, caused by lack of lubrication, caused by by own neglect. :-( Ah well, it was a fun 5 years while it lasted. I really miss that car.

[@MrPhiliplock]

Had a RX8 as well. The worst car I ever had, bottomless money pit. Three catalytic converters after just 40,000 miles. Then the compression failed. Now replaced with a BMW 330i, much better car.

[@brembobrakes9656]

@@MrPhiliplock u sure it was the car?

[@roddydykes7053]

Rusty Petterson 5 years owning a rotary is pretty impressive on its own

[@williambanzhof9739]

Guess I'm lucky. 174,000 miles on my 2010 RX-8. No mechanical issues other than the normal plugs and ignition wires. BUT- I only use premium gas, change the oil every 4,000 miles and a "red line a day keeps the carbon away". I only use non-synthetic oil as specified in the owner's manual. Great car.

[@RustyPetterson]

@@williambanzhof9739 Nothing lucky about it, you're a responsible owner who looks after it properly! (Unlike me.) That's a hell of a mileage on an RX-8, keep up the good work. :-)

[@nabilm2941]

Easily becoming my favourite car channel. Keep it up!

[@eurogryphon]

It's a shame the RX-7 Spirit R was never sold in the US. I think it's the most beautiful car ever made.

[@johncitizen306]

America doesn't deserve nice cars

[@thepacerman]

@@johncitizen306bruh lol

[@HigeYatsu]

I owned a '94 R2 with 28k on the clock when I bought it for only $19k in 2007. It was my dream car, yet it managed to meet every expectation I could throw at it. It was sharp, lightweight, attention-demanding, had buckets of personality, and it put down plenty of power for a street car. I had to sell it when moving out of the US back in 2012, and in the 5 years that I was gone, cars in the trim and condition I sold mine in tripled in value; it now is in a price bracket that I just can't afford. To this day it's the car that occupies my heart, haha, I genuinely feel a physical longing to drive it again. Maybe one day if work and luck meet I'll get the opportunity to pull the trigger on another one. Truly a fantastic car.

[@karlgeronimo5349]

As someone who played Auto Modellista and Gran Turismo several times during his childhood, I kept dreaming of driving and owning an RX-7 FD3S. I even owned a small model of the famous yellow RX-7 driven by Keisuke Takahashi from Initial D. It's still one of the greatest cars ever produced.

[@rafalwietrzynski9144]

Rx8 was my daily car for 6 wonderful years. I loved those days.

[@SaidHead2]

I was fortunate to see the RX8 race twice. It ran with Speedsource, Sahlen and Dempsey Racing in the Grand-Am series from 2006-2012. The races I saw them at? Montreal in 2007 and 2008. And those things were loud and shot flames out of the exhaust on deceleration. It was really a joy to watch.

[@simplywonderful449]

RX7s DOMINATED IMSA GTU racing in their day, starting from 1978-79 on for 6-7 years. They raced in the GTU class, but after that, some teams campaigned in the GTO class. With a displacement of just 1.3 liters, and not turbocharged, they were excellent in the longer races as well. We used to go to Road America regulary for the June Sprints and their later sponsored endurance racing of typically 300-500 miles. I still have our 1981 RX-7 GSL with 17,000 miles on it, as well as a few 323GTXs.

[@GitGoodGaming]

I own an RX8 and I FREAKING LOVE THIS CAR

[@TexasVexes]

Can confirm. Very fun. Not a straight line car, but i love beating civics with it. Makes them so mad lol

[@avdcrx5441]

how many times did the engine blow.

[@GitGoodGaming]

@@avdcrx5441 none

[@avdcrx5441]

@@GitGoodGaming so you have swapped the engine?

[@GitGoodGaming]

@@avdcrx5441 nope, still the 13B, its original with 100k miles on it and still has good compression. Its because I know how to take care of my rotary. I did my research.

[@kaitospence18]

12:34 whoa slow down with that.... To clarify this confusion, the Spirit R LAUNCHED IN 2002 AND NOT 1999...

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I remember the RX-7. I was too young to drive when the first gen was on the market. I find both the first two generation the most attractive looking cars.

[@fleuger99]

Growing up in South Africa, in 1982 my best friend's father bought a red RX7. We used to sit in it dreaming of driving it. Beautiful car.

[@sarjim4381]

Excellent coverage a long running group. I had an MX-5 and an RX-7. The MX was the closest replacement car to my MGB. It had great road holding and you could slog it around all day. The RX was a much more sophisticated car, and fast as a bullet for 1984, but it just didn't have the same fun aspect as the MX-5, and I was still a sucker for a two seater roadster. Both were pretty reliable cars, especially considering the bad rep of the rotary in the RX. OTOH, my son had a 1982 P-Type Supra. Also fast as a bullet for the time, but the MGB put the Supra to shame for reliability and long life. The whole car started falling apart after 80,000 miles, and it spent more time broken down than it did on the road. It had the absolute worst leather seats in any car I or the family owned, cracking and stitching coming loose after just a couple years. It was a fun ride, when you could get it to go.

[@mushutak]

MGB more reliable than MA50 Supra? don't know what you did to the Supra but that is very hard to believe. I'm still driving a '85 Celica RA65 (essentially the same car, and the most reliable car I have ever owned twice, I crashed the first one)

[@sarjim4381]

@@mushutak That's nice but, as I said, it was my son's car, and I had the repair bills to prove the problems. Maybe, just maybe, he got a lemon. Don't know and, at this late date, I don't really care.

[@mushutak]

@@sarjim4381 I was just saying that I've had the reverse experience and between that and the experience of people I have known your experience might be unusual, but nowhere near impossible. Manufacturing is never 100%, there will always be cars that live a longer or shorter life than you might expect them to. I don't think the MGB is in any way an unreliable car, (the MGF might have given me a bias against the brand) but the reliability of well maintaned Toyotas from the 80s is legendary.

[@sarjim4381]

@@mushutak Starting out your post to me with "don't know what you did to the Supra but that is very hard to believe." was a bit more than just saying you had the reverse experience. Implying I was lying or "did something" to the Supra is a good way to get started out on the wrong foot.

[@mushutak]

@@sarjim4381 Fair enough, I guess I tend to use more confrontational language on the internet. You can probably blame reddit for that.

[@gerkav1008]

I bought a new RX8 in 2006. Still running perfectly after 185.000 km with regular maintenance (1st engine, no rebuild). This car needs your attention (check the oil level, drive it in high revs sometimes to remove the carbon from the housings etc.) Perfect brakes (better than Porsche's 911), absolute fun drive, it never fights back when you push it to the limit. Each time I drive it, after almost 14 years, it's like the first day I got it. Splendid car indeed. Problems? Some interior plastics lack quality and it's expensive to replace them. Damages? In 14 years a broken radiator some months ago, 150 euros cost. Annual service cost is around 300 euros for 10.000-12.000 km run. Fuel consumption is more than average, but horses need food in order to run well. In case someone wants an RX8 don't be afraid to approach it. Check the compression and go for it! Prices are extremely low!!!

[@danbarnes4069]

I purchased an Rx8 R3 a couple of weeks ago, its bloody amazing!

[@zx921]

How's the car so far?

[@x2amazing]

Update?

[@Snootyboss]

I remember the buzzer in the third model in the late 80's, when my boss took me out in his wife's newly acquired RX7. He thought the police were behind him at that point, which still puzzles me. I remember the car clearly as I used to borrow it on my nights off to take my girlfriend out from the Mendips to Bristol. Great roads and I loved this power, after her previous car, the Fiat X19.

[@marcokanthak8801]

I bought my 1995 FD in 2008 (directly from Tokyo) and I love it! It's a Type R special edition with 1 previous owner (I still have contact with him) and since 2014 I hit 480hp on the wheels with 80% locking diff! On the day I picked up the car and drove it home it was a rainy night (on the way back home) and I enjoyed it cruising with maximum 3500rpm! But after a few days I pushed the engine more and more and then I heard a buzzer! First I was confused (something wrong with my new car?) but not long time later I liked the buzzer and now I love it! Also the rear axle steering: lovely!!! I still own the FD and I will never sell it! I also own an NB 1.8S and NC 2.0 RS! Very good cars! But the FD is another level!

[@grahamt33]

Dear Big Car, I am trying to catch up on your library and it is such great fun - every episode never fails to make me happy and leave me informed - Thank you so much for your hard work !

[@runoflife87]

There's one interesting fact about Mazda RX: two or three of them were bought by soviet officials to research the abilities of rotary engine. The engine was reworked and installed into Lada Riva (later Samara too). The soviet version was modernized two or three times, production stopped in the mid-00's because of ecological reasons.

[@rafflesnh]

I never knew that. Thanks.

[@ChristopherCobra]

Having owned a tuned one (1979 North American - First year - not 1980), I can tell you, the MPG was 9-25 depending on how you drove it. I could get 18 in town. The red-line was not for the engine - but the transmission. The engine red line was actually closer to 12,000 rpm because of the design - and I used it because of the very flat torque curve. In 1980 they introduced an electronic ignition - mine was not originally. The car was actually very reliable, but the 12A needed a rebuild every 85,000 miles or so because it would blow the rear seal and dump extra oil into the combustion chamber. The 13B was supposedly better. The handling was actually amazing. This was a car build for cornering. The nearly even 4 wheel weight distribution meant that a good driver could put the weight on any of the 4 corners - it was VERY predictable to drive. The engine was also easy to modify and pull up to 300 HP. Road and track showed that a bit of porting and headers could could pull 310 hp. Mine had headers and an expansion chamber (the rotary is basically a 2-cycle engine - it required burning oil) and I could keep up with a 5.0 Mustang GT with no issue - and handle better. It was a great car.

[@spishco]

My 1984 GSL has 130,000km on it, and still starts right up in sub zero weather. She's a garage queen now, but still gets a healthy dose of redline every drive!

[@klx100]

Gotta love the RX7 such a legendary car such as the NSX and Supra :)! Awesome review as always dude :) Greetings from Malta x

[@blurryyu]

dont forget the skyline series

[@dougbergren8035]

In spite of what the commentator said, my RX-7s were incredibly reliable. They both had manual chokes and started every time, no matter the weather. They were great cars.

[@markallen2984]

I had a yellow 2004 RX8... what a special car that was. The handling was so good and the engine was so smooth that I really felt like I was driving something unique and amazing. The rear suicide doors were perfect for letting my two young sons access the rear seats were they were perfectly comfortable. I've owned quite a few cars over the years ( including a Civic Si, 2 Miatas, 2 del Sols and a FIAT X1/9) but the RX8 was my favorite in many ways, and the one I miss the most

[@maxbruce4220]

I love my 93 rx7 more than anything ❤

[@fastinradfordable]

rotorhead 88 one of the best looking cars imo

[@maxbruce4220]

@@fastinradfordable agree 1000%

ok

[@willswheels283]

What great cars the RX’s were, shame they could never shake off the emissions issues, for me the RX8 was my favourite, mainly for its looks and that engine of course, it’s down to the cars thirst though that I’vs never owned one, but maybe one day. Once again a great informative vid 👍

[@rayguzman1429]

William Cherrington I’ll tell you this much I have an rx8 and it’s great man. Every time I drive it I say I love this car, yeah it’s like owning a truck gas-wise but I enjoy every second of it.

[@roddydykes7053]

William Cherrington if only the RX-7 body style could’ve gone a few more years, with maybe a RX-8 engine, for reliability purposes. Now I only ever see RX-7s parked in driveways, never actually on the road. Which is a shame because it’s a beautiful car, and leagues better looking than the chubby 8

[@willswheels283]

Roddy Dykes yeah the RX7 is a good looking car admittedly, however for me personally I prefer the RX8, the RX7 has the looks of a Ferrari which for most is a winner, just doesn’t grab me unfortunately.

[@koloth5139]

I loved driving my RX-8. I hated fixing her. I had at least one shop turn me away without even looking at it. And I never got out for less then $400. That being said I would still have her today if the radiator hadn't cracked. Big rock somehow got in and smacked it. I just wasn't willing to spend the $1000 to replace it on a 14 year old car. I hope where ever it is now it is loved though.

[@GitGoodGaming]

As an owner of an RX8 I can attest that it is an absolute blast to own

[@dxutube]

Love the animation of the different versions near the end

[@jamieshields9521]

Awesome vid👍it’s funny the last bit of vid showing evolution of Mazda rotary didn’t show Holden HJ-HX rebadged as Mazda Roadpacer AP that was produced from 77 - 79. It sad shame to see emissions kill off rotary engine, it not like new Ford 7.0lt V8 gas engine is more efficient then rotary.

[@ChristianRX7]

Still today the RX-7s are great cars to drive and I and my brother love to take one of them for a spin. The only problem is the poor parts availability and the enormous parts costs.

[@poncho828]

My fc rx7 had over 210000 miles without any issues before I sold it. I would say it was very reliable.

[@maxpower001]

Gotta be a Guinness world record if that was the original engine with original Apex seals.. Mazda themselves said they were only good for 80k👍

[@weasle2904]

yeah okay boomer. My 1914 Model T has one hundred GAZILLION miles without any issues before I sold it

[@rafflesnh]

Like you BC, I also lingered drooling over the glossy brochures for the Supra, but when the RX8 came along, my allegiances shifted in an instant. I still reckon it looks every bit as orgasmic now as it did then, and still hanker after owning one if only my heart ruled my head. Many, many thanks BC for yet more quality nostalgic memories. 8-)

[@BryanSteacy]

Whayhey another one! What a wonderful surprise as usual.

[@mauritsvw]

In South Africa the Mazda RX2 was somewhat of a legend in the early 70's. It was a rotary engined version of the 616, also available at the same time.

[@jamied1579]

Great video/s, very interesting and informative, but as an Aussie I have to make a correction - Bathurst is pronounced Bath-erst, not Bat-herst.. Sorry, had to get that one out....lol

[@JamieBainbridge]

Wonderful cars. As a late teen I regularly worked on RX7s with a friend's dad who owned a few. I was later lucky enough to own an absolutely beautiful mint FC Turbo which later ended up in a rich collector's shed of rare cars. I love rotaries and will always have a soft spot for them. The FD is a strong contender for the best looking car ever made, it's just perfect 👌

[@XmarkedSpot]

Yay, the first new release while already being a subscriber, this feeling never gets old ^^

[@glennpowell3444]

Brilliant idea the rotary. Always struck me as kind of 4 stroke/2 stroke hybrid engine. Another very interesting video,cheers!

[@Kirktalon]

I lusted after the 1st & 2nd Generation RX-7. I did have a 1995 Ford Probe SE which bears a family resemblance to the RX-7 in my opinion. It was mostly Mazda with a normal piston engine. It was a fun car to drive.

[@Rupan-rx]

Daily drove a 1987 rx7 for 6 years and daily drove an 04 rx8 for almost 7 years. Reliable cars IF you do proper maintenance. Which is not normal. Rx8 has a comfortable backseat compared to any other coupe/2+2 I’ve ever been in.

[@jayartz8562]

In the early 90's had an RX2 with mild port 12a RX7 motor, custom exhaust and E1600 van diff. It handled and braked badly but not much would touch it in a straight line, the front wheels would leave the ground on a hard take off. The way the rotary power comes on is addictive, like a 2 stroke sportbike, no other car engine like it. It used V8 levels of petrol but was reliable for me. Early rotaries worth a small fortune these days.

[@BOABModels]

Really interesting - I learnt about cars like the Rx-7 from Gran Turismo like many others did in Europe. Now I'm making a Tamiya scale model 1992 RX-7 replica.

[@Xehanortlw]

Mazda keeps teasing us with that rx9 concept

[@6gwilliams]

I have owned all three generations of RX7 and also a 40th Anniversary Edition RX8 among my seven rotary cars since 1974. You have a few facts wrong here and some omissions. . I had my first gen RX7 in the USA in 1978 and it had no limited speedometer, that came later. I helped with the Racing Beat Bonneville car in 1978 and the stock version of the car had already been sold for months in the States. . And at the 1979 Daytona 24 hour endurance race ,RX7s finished 1-2 in GTU class and fifth and sixth overall in the race, beating many cars of the two higher classes from Porsche and Ferrari.. And when the RX7s went from 12A to 13B engines , it was not a bored-out engine. The 13B was a bigger housing with bigger rotors inside. The RX7 Turbo II had an early form of rear wheel steering.

[@rimjobledouche5201]

Utter class. Great video. I hope to own a Turbo II FC someday.

[@paulgruffudd5531]

Loved this video. My first car was an NSU Ro80 and briefly owned an RX7. Would love it if you did a video about the Wankel Rotary engine and the cars that used it.

[@山中一将-g7w]

かっこ良い‼️🎵 広島生の最高の車❗️ 素晴らしい動画ありがとう‼️👍️ from Hiroshima Japan

[@christopherpearce7368]

My 2001 type R Bathurst R was a lot of fun to drive and fantastic to look at. Even with the advances that the series 8 had, the turbos did not always sequence properly and the power delivery could be unpredictable.

[@jameslatimer1432]

Becoming the best car channel on you tube

[@smaxwell4062]

My first car was an RX5. The rotor seals failed on the first day. Luckily I had a brand new 13B rotary replacement under warranty...it was very reliable after that.

[@thedarrendasher8134]

Fantastic! My Dad traded his Triumph 2.5PI for a brand new yellow RX3 coupe back in 1974, he owned that car for five years and after the Triumph it never gave any trouble what so ever. The body started rotting in the end, the north west of England isn't the kindest climate to cars.

[@Danger_mouse]

17:26 The Group B RX-7 rally car was the most powerful naturally aspirated rally car in the world during the Group B years. It sounded amazing! (Oh, and 'Bat-Hurst' is pronounced 'Bath-uh-st' by local Aussies) 👍 Loved my time working on RX-7s at the local Mazda dealership where I got to test drive every car from the workshop as the workshop foreman 👌

[@karlosh9286]

I had a 1988 Second Gen (Porsche 924 look alike) normally aspirated Mazda RX-7 in about 1993 for just 1 year. I loved it. Coming from a Ford Sierra it was quite different. As I recall the RX-7 at the time had the most expensive exhaust to replace on any car in the UK. Something like £1500 for the complete system ! This was mainly due to the "after burner" that introduced air into the exhaust manifold to burn off all the unburnt fuel for emissions . At the time it was possible to throw all the "after burner" emissions equipment away and get a Janspeed exhaust for about £700 that released a fair few more BHP from the engine. As said in the video, it was the fuel consumption that was a killer. I found if I hammered it, I could get it as low as 16 MPG, drive really easy on a long run and it could do 23 MPG. Usually it averaged around 19 MPG. At the time I had it, UK petrol was around £0.50 / litre, but it was still too expensive to run. So I sold it after 1 year, and got another fricking Sierra that could do around 30 MPG ! I miss my Mazda RX-7 , plus I was young at the time :)

[@Colonel_RamRod]

Good lord, to quote clarkson that 2017 concept is "bite the back of your hand pretty" Why didn't they make it? What a shame.

[@jameslatimer1432]

I used to work for AJM MAZDA in chadwellheath IN THE LATE 80S AND LOVED DRIVING THESE CARS ON ROAD TEST VERY FAST CAR FOR THERE DAY , I actually got banned from driving them by the governor George for driving them too FAST ,, ,!!

[@ericgeorge5483]

You simply CANNOT ignore the crappy MPG and emissions figures and for that reason the Rotary engine has to be considered a failure. Shame coss the RX8 as a design is an absolute stunner.

[@sbomorse]

Nice one! Wasn't expecting an RX-7! I still want to request a Fiat Panda video 🐼

[@cristianionita2147]

the RX-8 is just amazing, I am still waiting for a rotary engine car like this, maybe an RX-9 with the SkyActive Technology? :P who knows!

[@iEnofadov]

Fun Fact: Ever heard of the Mazda Roadpacer AP? Hmm, probably not! It was a rebadged HJ/HX Holden Premier sedan and was exported from Australia to Japan in 1975 to 1977 without engines and upon reaching Japan, they would be fitted with the 1.3L Wankel engine! It's believed to be the only GM product ever to be fitted with a rotary engine. You're welcome! :)

[@shebbs1]

Yeah, had the power of the 4.2 Holden V8, but bugger all torque. The weight advantage of the rotary was not enough to offset the crude dynamics and weight of the Holden.

[@hazzah2276]

The first RX-7 was a well proportioned, clean design, and in the context of the time, it was a good looking car. I'd say it was a classic. I've driven an RX8 on narrow country roads, and it was a great drive, especially if you enjoy a buzzy engine with lots of gears available. The RX8 died in large part because of the word of mouth/internet forums highlighting the problem that if you stalled (or switched engine off to close the garage) just after starting, in some cases it just wouldn't restart and needed a dealer's truck to take it away - its reputation never recovered. In the UK second hand ones are usually broken, the seats especially are fantastic to transpose to other cars. Even though Mazda did the wankel engine well, it was always fighting the market "wankel" negativity (NSU was brought to its knees by their engine). Also finding post warranty mechanics who understood it and were willing to work on it, was also a challenge.

[@havoc3742]

There's a Reason why the FC and FD are both the cars of choice of the Takehashi Twins in Initial D.

[@7sins979]

fun video but a couple of things wrong here. 1: the series 6 rx7 had 255 hp in factory form 2: the rx7 ended production with the 2002 model year in japan

[@TooLooze]

I bought a new 1985 GSL-SE. The service manager told me to "run the crap out of it" and I obliged. I pegged it a few times at 140. I had a Japanese back seat installed; it matched perfectly; it was large enough to hold an infants seat. Seventeen years later, I had it repainted and gave it to the infant. Yes, of course, he wrecked it in a month.

[@jamesengland7461]

Great video as always! RX-7s look so fun, but at times they got worse gas mileage than their contemporary Corvette competitors.

[@Mr73Baja]

Don't know how I haven't seen this video yet but it is very well done! Thank you!

[@simplywonderful449]

It hit North America at the end of 1978, as a 1979 model, NOT in 1980. I had a 1979, which was terrific, and accumulated over 270,000 miles without ANY parts replacement - just regular oil & filter and wear items - brakes & tires, and one clutch. There is a LOT that is incorrect in your video, sir; did you ever OWN a Mazda rotary?

[@AH-cn5li]

I'm not a huge fan of the rotary myself, although I do certainly appreciate it's innovation and technical brilliance, but despite that I've always loved the RX7 :) I liked them much better as they evolved becoming bigger, me being 196cm tall I gained more of an appreciation for the later versions for that reason :) The RX8 is really cool too, loved them at first sight as well :) And those rear doors are a brilliant idea, a much better design for egress in and out of the vehicle, any vehicle for that matter. The design of those doors, known as suicide doors, harks back to days of old, but were considered less safe than front hinged doors. The rotary scene here in Australia is a huge, there's massive following for them. With every conceivable model ever released here in Australia and even with a ton of grey imports. Each Mazda I've had, all piston engined, 929s from 1974 to 1989 (my current Mazda, a 1989 929 Sedan), and 121Ls from 1978 are all much sought after as rotary variants or even as the piston varieties to convert them to rotaries. Even though Mazda is no longer, at this point in time, producing rotary engined cars, the rotary will be kept alive for a hell of a long time to come by enthusiastic, um... enthusiasts :) Just an FYI, Bat-Hurst, is actually pronounced Bath-urst, not Barth-urst though :)

[@Crazy_Borg]

You'll be amazed how practical an RX-8 really is. The back seats are fully usable even for adults, the ride is comfortable, even the boot is bigger than expect for a car that size. Fuel economy sadly torches it as a daily, as do spare parts costs. But damn, that sound...

[@JB-sv5pr]

Love em all owned all three rx7z an a rx8 mazda is in my blood! Dad has a rx3 and sa22 cheers !

[@fetsumm-wassie3970]

I had a 2005 Mazda RX-8 wankel. Used it as daily driver for 10 years but once it hit 100K, it became problematic and the dealership charges an arm and a leg because they know not many mechanics touch it. But was an absolute fun car to drive. I miss that beauty

[@boblaker8676]

I just like the way you talk and get your story down, also I like the cars you chose...and you're pleasant to look at. Thank you!

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

I think Mazda should have introduced a special tank for filling up 2-stroke oil so that it will be easier for owners to take care of their cars' rotary engines.

[@T.E.S.S.]

the RX-8 is one of my all-time favourites. so good.

[@sqd8r]

Had a 1st and 2nd gen, loved them. Unfortunately the 3rd gen and RX8 were out of my price range and the rotary engine issues, so I went MX5 and never looked back. Loved them all.

[@DavidB-rx3km]

After years of admiring them, I bought a black FD RX7 from Japan in 2015. Inside they're not that great, and the plastics are egg shell fragile. But outside, it's so beuatiful, It was just so fast and chuckable, with only a very minor fault (cat was clogged up due to leaking injectors), that cost me over 3000 pounds on new parts trying to trace it - the cure was just to rev it to 9000 rpm for a few seconds, which I did when I couldn't get it running properly out of frustration. My temper paddy fixed it, and it ran perfectly until I sold it in 2017, lol. My most favourite car ever, but they're going up in price now and I can't justify buying another one.

[@stanpeterson8273]

When you hear the beep that’s when you shift. The twin turbo RX7 would break the tires loose going into 3rd gear. Most fun I ever had.

[@SHARP2026]

Great work on the videos. High quality and always interesting.

[@giorx5]

That innovative ABS system in the last gen of the FD RX7 is a primitive ESP-like safety system that was applied to other Mazda models as well. It should have been a big plus for Mazda's fame but the Japanese financial crisis hit them hard and didn't allow them much money for marketing purpose.

[@jameslatimer1432]

I dont know why MAZDA dont drop the rotary engine in the RX8 and have 4 cylinder 2.2 and v6 2.8 in the RX8 using a conventional engine and gearbox with a restyling updates and more horsepower and better economy the rx8 would sell like hot cake on a cold day in the south pole for sure ,,, excellent video and brings back good memories of when i drove brand new xr7s at work,,

[@shebbs1]

So...an almost 20-year old design with new engines and some restyling would sell well? Seems unlikely.

[@chrispekel5709]

Both my Series 2 (1982) and Series 3 (1984) cars had a rev limiter buzzer. Australian delivered cars.

[@BLITZY261]

.....RX7. The only car i ever tried to buy back again...even though one owner had blown the engine. Best car i ever owned...bar none.

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Very interesting and well presented. Thanks from Orlando.

[@johan3561]

Thanks for these videos mate! Fantastic in-depth information as always.

[@rodoherty1]

Another wonderful video! Thank you!!

[@abelincoln95]

I had an RX-8 for a "VERY" short time. The engine gas fouled & had to be replaced and the dealership informed me that I was only allowed "one" warranty engine replacement. So, with only 10,000 miles on it, I figured the chance was very high for this gas fouling to happen again. I sold it. It was very powerful & manageable, but it was very easy to hit the rev limiter...

[@matthewbrown2037]

The mother of one of my school friends had a series 1 RX-7 with the Elford turbo conversion. I think it was on an X plate, so around 1982. Bearing in mind this was back in about 1990, so it wasn't that old back then. The turbo conversion made an already pretty quick sports car, for it's day, into something that many other performance cars of the time would struggle to keep up with. Before I knew that car, the headmaster of my previous school had owned two series 2's during the time I was there. A C plate in red, then an E plate in white. So at the time they were only a couple of years old at purchase. I always preferred the series 1 though.

[@capnthepeafarmer]

The buzzer was still around in the series four and five version RX7 cars. I own a 1987 Turbo and I love the car so much! It's unfortunate that the cars are just being used up and there are very few original stock versions remaining. It's also very challenging to keep the cars stock because they're so fun to drive. But that's also the bane of reliability. A stock engine is a reliable one. I've owned a slew of RX7 cars and they've all exceeded 150k miles without issue. It's just about maintaining the car and that's difficult with most car buyers these days.

[@ultr4fly60]

The RX-Vision concept car looks awsome.

[@odysseuslaertiades1528]

I would love to watch more videos on Japanese cars (e.g. Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 323). Other than that: Peugeot 404 and 504.

[@flybobbie1449]

When my 1986 RX7 engine failed, i had to get a Mazda tech guy to check the compressions. He asked the mileage, it was about 90k. He said you are lucky, they normally go at 70k or 35k for the turbos. They had replaced many turbos under warranty. I couldn't afford the cost of rebuilding so i bought the parts myself and rebuilt the engine. Some 20k later the 2nd rotor failed. I measured the wear on the rotor tips and from that would suggest they would be safe for about 50k miles and then the engine should be rebuilt, before the tips fall out and score walls. One of the best and worst car i owned. The 18mpg was the killer, never mind the engine rebuilds.

[@godfreypoon5148]

Cool story, bro.

[@johnennis4586]

What a fantastic episode! You really do knock it outta the park. Would you consider perhaps doing a video on kei cars like the honda beat or Suzuki cappuccino. But much like the Skoda your videos are superb haha.

[@BigCar2]

Maybe in the future. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@Chris.Davies]

I've had three RX-7s over the years: A Series-1, Series-2, and a gorgeous white FC with white BBS Y-spoke mags. I completed over 200,000km in the three cars and never ever had any mechanical issues with them. Mind you, starting from cold, I would always let them idle for at least 60 seconds, and NEVER EVER exceeded 3,500 RPM until the engine reached normal temperature. After that I beat on them mercilessly, and spent a lot of time close to the rev limit. The only unreliable thing about a rotary engine is the idiot owners with zero knowledge, and zero mechanical sympathy. If you blow up a rotary, the only blame falls on you. Strangely, the ashtray from an FC swaps straight into (or out of) a Porsche 944. Not many people know that!

[@bumpstart]

30 years with a daily driven rotary engined car. originally with an rx2 and now with an FC turbo rx7 on LPG . stock engines are utterly reliable . engines rebuilt with inexperience are not

[@erniemiller1953]

I sold Mazdas when the RX-8 came out. People were interested in the RX-8, until they saw the doors. No one who wanted an RX wanted rear seats, and NO ONE who wanted an RX wanted FOUR DOORS! I suspect the decision to do that to the RX line was the same people at Ford, who owned about 25% of Mazda, who have been trying to kill the Ford Mustang since the mustang 2. (Yes, I used lower case because that crap show was NOT a Mustang.) Mazda did the same thing to the Miata in 2000 by removing the flip up headlights. It was a personality of the vehicle. You'd drive down the road, and when you saw another Miata, you flipped the lights to say, "Hello." After that change, it no longer stood out from the competition, and became an 'also ran' in the category of 2-seat convertible. It's only saving grace at that time was the number of people who converted them to Monster Miatas.

[@1972dsrai]

There is a good reason why no other car makers went with the engine, but Mazda at least proved it could be reasonably reliable if looked after well and driven with a level of thought. Not what most drivers want to be thinking about when getting into their car.

[@dapprman]

First series of the 3rd generation/FD3 RX7 had 255 BHP not 237. UK only had 225 BHP due to a second cat for emissions reasons. 2nd variant had 265 BHP (which I had). Final variant, including the Spirit, had 280 BHP. BTW thank you, thank you, thank you for call the engine a rotary engine or a Mazda rotary engine and not a Wankel engine as they are different, even if the latter was inspiration. For those not aware the Wankel engine had the rotor rotate around a fixed central shaft (which resulted in serious bearing wear) and had a circular rotation. The Mazda rotary engine has the rotors fixed to the central shaft and offset so that they rotate in an elliptical pattern. Side note - main reason for unreliability on the FD3 engine was not design, but poor maintenance. Tips will go - but should take 60-80,000 miles. Often they went well before due to engine abuse and a failure to keep the oil topped up (as each rotor cycle a little oil is injected in to a chamber (reasonably certain one of the non-combustion ones) to keep the tips lubricated).

[@michaelthom5864]

The rev buzzer remained on all Rx7's sold in Australia

[@JTA1961]

Same in Japan

[@renzorebuli6088]

the rx3 also had the buzzer 😂