Filed under: Maintenance, Coupes, Sports/GTs, I.C.E., Marketing/Advertising, Recalls/TSBs, Mazda
Mazda extends rotary warranty on RX-8 to 100k miles
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Mazda RX-8.
You've got to hand it to Mazda for its perseverance with the Wankel rotary engine design. Ever since it's engineers managed to make it semi-reliable, the turbine-like smoothness of the quick-spinning lump has seen duty in numerous Mazda-branded vehicles, and even a few others as well. Still, despite constant engineering work and updates to the basic rotary engine design, there is a lingering question about the reliability of the design. Most owners seem happy with the engines in their RX, that is, until a seal blows or they forget to keep the oil supply topped up and it fails to restart. Or it floods in the winter, needing a tow. Alright... so there may be a few problems.
To ease the minds of RX-8 owners and owners-to-be, Mazda has reportedly decided to extend the warranty coverage for the 2004-2008 Renesis rotary engine for a period of eight years or 100,000 miles. Mazda even goes so far as to offer reimbursement to those who've spent money on engine repairs before 100,000 miles. This seems like a nice measure made in good faith on Mazda's part. After all, most educated owners of the rotary-powered cars knew what they were getting when these purchases were made, and the engine was already covered under the same basic warranty that comes standard with all Mazda vehicles. Nice work, Mazda.
In the interest of full disclosure, this particular blogger bought an RX-8 new in 2004, though it was sold two years later.
Gallery: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3
[Source: RX8Club.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Pluton 10:35AM (6/05/2008)
Thanks Mazda, Now if you can you PLEASE make RX-8 look pretty?
Reply
jordan 10:41AM (6/05/2008)
While I do enjoy the previous iteration more than the '09 and up models, I don't think it's ugly by any means.
In other news, I'm very happy that they're willing to put this much faith in the Wankel. Personally, on my 2nd gen 13B, I'd expect to do a rebuild every 150k miles (N/A) just to make sure I don't wait for any seals to blow and be thrown out the exhaust (ruining the intermediate plates and rotor housings, possibly, in the process). Of course, the Renesis has a little more to it...
Torrent 11:11AM (6/05/2008)
Subaru Impreza's gaping whale mouth, much?
Benfolio 10:57AM (6/05/2008)
Mazda is finally realizing that it's not the fault of their car, it's the fault of unimformed owners.
For those who don't know how to take care of a rotary, and aren't told when they buy the car (or RTFM!), they are the majority that have the problems.
Who but a small percentage of gearheads these days check thier fluids or let thier car warm up on a cold day anymore?
Okay, so instead of coaching owners, Mazda tried to make the car more 'normal', and supposedly the 2009 is going to be the culmination of all the previous changes and then some.
I've heard it uses less oil, and is all but impossible to flood. In the winter. So it won't need a tow.
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tankd0g 12:53PM (6/05/2008)
Extending the warranty would seem to indicate the opposite. If it's the fault of the owners, don't offer to pay for it.
Pete C 11:01AM (6/05/2008)
I think the 09 refresh is a definite improvement over the last design. Gone is the happy pikachu face from the original, replaced by more sinister sneer. It's a unique looking car that looks good on the road.
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PJ 3:52PM (6/05/2008)
But what's with the black-plastic Snidely Whiplash 'stache?
TBlueMax 11:02AM (6/05/2008)
I almost bought one of these when the redesigned model was released but it meant I would have had to purchase it from one of the local Mazda dealers, and like the local Subaru dealers, the ones in my area are all terrible (greasy, underhanded bastards really). They did offer the RX-8 in a stunning dark forest green paint w/black and tan leather interior that was simply majestic and the test drive almost sealed the deal, but the dealer managed to effectively quell the urge to purchase the car.
I like the exterior/interior styling but I can't help but wonder how this car would perform with the Mazdaspeed's turbo 4? And if the fuel economy would improve as a result?
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ConeDodger 11:09AM (6/05/2008)
Probably a lot like a rwd mazda 3/6..
The rotary is what makes the RX8/7 interesting, and a unique experiance to drive. It really is special to feel and hear them wind up.
Benfolio 11:22AM (6/05/2008)
It's a heavy, long motor that would turn the 8 into a heavy understeering nose heavy pig.
But a fast pig, at that.
rmz298 3:03PM (6/05/2008)
I love my RX-8, but absolutely hate all the Mazda dealers around here.
Brought my car because the CEL was lit up for the 4th time in last 8 months I've owned the car. They say the spark plugs are shot and need to be replaced 8,000 miles before mazda says they should. Dealer wants $380 to do all four plugs. They say plugs are $70 a piece x4, plus an hour to change them. Service advisor tells me he saw the plugs and there is no electrode left trying to scare me, Completly warn away". I refute this yet they still charged me a $91 fee for checking the light, even though the car is under warranty.
I go home and pull the plugs, the original leading plugs Mazda was supposed to replace under a recall are still in there and as assumed there is no wear on the plugs just slightly fouled as expected. I go back to the dealer and show the service advisor the plugs and he just shuts up and says oh both on the lie and on the face that they incorrectly performed the recall. Says superior will call me, its been a week with no call. I called mazda usa and they pretend to not understand and just deflect my questions. I doubt I will ever see my money but I can tell you this, mazda will never see my money again.
As great as the car is, the dealership and company experience leaves much to be desired. Just lies on top of lies. The local GM dealers I've dealt with in the past have been excellent and will probably earn my buisness again in the future.
jordan 5:54PM (6/05/2008)
Re: rmz298
Don't keep your money from Mazda because of a bad dealer experience.
Actually, I got a good laugh at your experience w/the technician, because apparently he doesn't realize that rotary plugs (if they're at all similar to my 2nd gen) aren't like normal plugs. One of the interesting things is that you don't have to gap them, and the design is just a bit different, so I have a feeling that he saw this different design and assumed that "the electrode was completely worn down" or whatever.
Besides, keeping your money from Mazda for a bad dealer experience is similar to suing your ISP because Autoblog.com is down (assuming your ISP isn't AOL :D). It's not the ISP's fault that the specific site went down due to it being too popular and not being able to handle the user load. :) In this case, it's not Mazda's fault that the dealer treated you badly.
In fact, if you haven't yet, I'd write to Mazda to let them know about your bad experience. If a dealer gets enough complaints, I think they're put on a probationary period where they have to address the issues and not receive any more complaints of that type or risk losing their dealership license from Mazda.
Michael 11:27AM (6/05/2008)
I would already have an RX-8 if it weren't for the bad gas mileage.
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Paranoid 12:30PM (6/05/2008)
What bad gas mileage? I drive mine like I stole it every day and have a lifetime average of 19 MPG. INCLUDING two track days!
Chris 12:32PM (6/05/2008)
Yeah, its mileage shocked me right out of the showroom when I ended up with a G35
tankd0g 12:54PM (6/05/2008)
19mpg, what is that Chinese gallons?
Paranoid 1:02PM (6/05/2008)
tankd0g: What? Was that a joke attempt or just a racist slur?
Joel 1:13PM (6/05/2008)
@Paranoid
What grade of gasoline are you using? Also, am I correct in assuming that you drive mostly freeway miles?
I have put almost 69000 miles on my '04 RX-8. I have lived in Santa Cruz, San Francisco and San Rafael, CA and have only gotten 19 mpg averages while doing only freeway driving. In town driving I am lucky to get maybe 14 mpg. I solely use premium gasoline. However, I have never gotten below 13 mpg when I drive it like I stole it.
Also, buying new tires yearly gets expensive, too. Every 12-15k miles. And yet, I rarely want another car.
khan.silver 11:09PM (6/05/2008)
Indeed... 16/22mpg for only 232 horses...
I'm making 30 fewer horses... but I have ~275 fewer pounds to slow my horses down. However, the big kicker is that I'm getting 24/31. (and it's real... travling 300 miles most at 75-80mph netted me a bit over 30mpg)
For what you're getting I can't accept 16/22
Paranoid 1:33PM (6/05/2008)
@Joel: I run premium. My commute is NO highway miles. Each way it's 20 miles in 40 minutes of two lane roads. Typical top speed 75 MPH briefly, with a couple stretches of 45-50 and a couple that are 30-35. Nine stop lights, three stop signs. Lots of traffic. Outside of that, very few highway miles. Total miles is 20,000.
Worst mileage was 9 MPG ON THE TRACK! I filled up right before and right after the track so I could isolate track mileage. I think that ain't bad for hours of wide-open throttle.
You might be able to decrease tire wear by not dumping the clutch at 7000 RPM at every light. ;-) I have noticed lots more wear on the rear tires than I'm used to. It's just too much fun not to hammer it around corners, isn't it?