How amazing are rotary engines.

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payydg

payydg

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The more I learn about motor engineering (aka the more episodes of wheeler dealers I watch) the more amazed I am.

Just discovered these exist; I'm sure they have their pros and cons, but what a great idea.

Plus, one type is known as a ****el engine which, lets be honest, is hilarious.
 
Mazda been putting them in cars for years, there are still arguments over the actual capacity. Also as said, suzuki put one in the RE5 and norton too. Rx8 looks good and has unique handling (apparently) but said to return about 18mpg and unreliable though there's loads for sale for next to nothing, rx7 not so unreliable but expensive to buy. Been considering an 8 for quite some time but put off by the hot start issue.
 
As as side note vw beetle and certain mercs have ****el seatbelt pretensioners
 
The suck up oil, a work colleague had one but binned it of after about a year as was a nightmare. Brought a Honda s2000 instead which was very revvy.
 
Chrisw8 said:
Suzuki fitted one into their motorbikes in the 70's.....the RE5
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Norton too: Norton Rotary

Anyone else remember the NSU Ro80?

ro802.jpg
 
notenoughtime said:
Thought they go well but "wow it was fast" not really imo! :p
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I see where you are coming from but it really was fast in 2 years he had 5 Subaru imprezas one was 380 bhp and the Mazda was not as fast but close. I actually preferred the Mazda to the Subaru cars he had and 1000s cheaper too.

Granted it was no super kid or Ferrari but what are you comparing it to?

For 2k for a nice one I bet it's hard to find something in its class unless you look at the misty twin turbo?
 
toms3 said:
I see where you are coming from but it really was fast in 2 years he had 5 Subaru imprezas one was 380 bhp and the Mazda was not as fast but close. I actually preferred the Mazda to the Subaru cars he had and 1000s cheaper too.

Granted it was no super kid or Ferrari but what are you comparing it to?

For 2k for a nice one I bet it's hard to find something in its class unless you look at the misty twin turbo?
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Oops sorry super bike not kid lol.
 
Nice engines but horrendous for wearing out the piston seals (neee piston rings ) as they travel a much larger swept distance than those of a conventional piston ring. - not really a high power 1.3 litre - more like a medeocre 3litre.

Knowing what i know now id have one as id have no qualms in ripping the heart open to change em but as a cheap bangernomics sports car and having to pay a garage to work on it.... Poke it, easy way to throw good money after bad at labour.
 
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top drive said:
Nice engines but horrendous for wearing out the piston seals (neee piston rings ) as they travel a much larger swept distance than those of a conventional piston ring. - not really a high power 1.3 litre - more like a medeocre 3litre.

Knowing what i know now id have one as id have no qualms in ripping the heart open to change em but as a cheap bangernomics sports car and having to pay a garage to work on it.... Poke it, easy way to throw good money after bad at labour.
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2.6 ltr :D
 
A mate had an RX7 with a single turbo conversion, the turbo was almost the same size as the motor :D, it was a special light weight model no back seats ect.
That would out accelerate most sport bikes, it was mental, but with fuel consumption in low single figure's :eek: it wasn't an every day car.

My brother had an rx8 was sh%$e in comparison (no torque) and used almost as much oil as fuel, and it used a lot of fuel.
On a plus side the insurance is relatively low on the rx8 due to it being a 4 door coupe.
 
bushwwacker said:
Why do engine freds always end up with Deltics... :rolleyes: :D
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Because the Deltic is the most awesome, out of this world engine design ever to make it into commercial production. I remember standing in front of the cutaway train engine in the York railway museum for ages, just looking at the complexity and wondering what kind of pharmaceuticals the original designer was on to come up with such a wacky design, and it actually worked!!
 
I had an RX8 for a while, though had to sell it due to 18mpg and being at uni!

Amazing engine, it was tiny and had loads of power. I didn't find it really used much oil, maybe 1/2 a L per month. You had to completely change your driving style as there was no torque, but once it got going it was fast.

I loved my RX8 and wish I hadn't sold it. I'm currently looking to buy one again. pre 2006 though, as I can't afford £500 a year road tax!
 
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