ND Thoughts

[sailaholic]

I bone stock NC donk is 1300cc though ;)

We have a guy here at work races a 20b turbo methanol FD and said all the hype on fuel and maintenance is a blow up. It's how people drive them.

Has a 12a in a rx3? That he bought 15 years ago. Never spent a cent on the engine. No plugs, no oil changes nothing. Tracks it. Weekend drive / rotary cruises etc.


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[project.r.racing]

The rotor is dead. As much as MAzda dont wanna give up on it. The world is moved on from it.

I'd like the next MX-5 to be a non turbo 2.0L 2 door soft top. I'd like the next RX-7 to be a turbo 2.0L 2 door coupe. Same chassis. The RX-7 just runs more power, bigger brakes and wider track.

[Odd]

Mazda is spending lots on Diesels.....with twin turbos

[speed]

I bone stock NC donk is 1300cc though ;)

We have a guy here at work races a 20b turbo methanol FD and said all the hype on fuel and maintenance is a blow up. It's how people drive them.
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And has always been.

Oztrackdays,
You can't compare a n/a mx5 engine with a turbo rotary that has taken the turbos off.
For a start the compression ratio of a turbo 13b is completely different to that of a non turbo 13b.
Buy an evo and take the turbo off it and dyno it. Is it the same power as a non turbo 4g63. God no!
Rocky,
A modified 13b goes so much harder than a standard one. Think the sa22 12a put out like 70kw.
(Much earlier than fd)
My 13b turbo puts out about 350hp atw. Launches from zero to the 60 in about a second. Motor mods include; mild port, doweled for strength, microtech lt10s and factory s5 turbo, 3inch exhaust from the turbo. I constantly rev off the dial and have never had any mechanical issues other than fouled plugs when the car wasn't tuned.
People that don't warm up their motor often kill the side seals resulting in a blown engine. I always warm up and cool down.
Usually consideration of neighbours is an issue but I'm lucky that my immediate neighbour also has two rx7s. Come to think of it there are quite a few rotarys in my suburb and no I don't live at pad stow or bankstown.
I thought fellow Mazda owners would be aware of the hype but I guess not.

Long story short, I like them and have had great experiences with them to the point where I would bother writing about it here.


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[project.r.racing]

- Edit Okibi, forum etiquette 101, please don't quote the post directly above your own -

how do you change the compression ratio on a rotor? shape of curve on the rotor itself?

[JayMo]

People that don't warm up their motor often kill the side seals resulting in a blown engine. I always warm up and cool down.
Usually consideration of neighbours is an issue but I'm lucky that my immediate neighbour also has two rx7s. Come to think of it there are quite a few rotarys in my suburb and no I don't live at pad stow or bankstown.
I thought fellow Mazda owners would be aware of the hype but I guess not.

that is the thing, I had a mild port 13b in my RX5, never had a problem because it was a) mild port b) non turbo (adding boost to a stock NA 13b seemed to be asking for trouble) and c) I warmed it for a good five minutes every morning so all the alloy bits grew to match the iron bits... (which was not the funnest for my neighbors)

I cant comment on stock RX4 being not as good as RX2 (no such thing as a stock rotary in 17 year old cars in my day)... but yeah a stock RX5 was a dog with dog ratios in it... putting in a mild later naturally aspirated 13B without the pollution gear, matching it to a 121 5 speed gearbox (lower ratios) made it come alive... putting that combo in an lighter RX4 or 3 oh yeah! And RELIABLE...

That is what made owning a rotary fun!...working it out without an internet...

I guess the Rotary thing is a small subset of the Mazda community, the rest may not care....

[speed]

I bone stock NC donk is 1300cc though ;)

We have a guy here at work races a 20b turbo methanol FD and said all the hype on fuel and maintenance is a blow up. It's how people drive them.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And has always been.

Oztrackdays,
You can't compare a n/a mx5 engine with a turbo rotary that has taken the turbos off.
For a start the compression ratio of a turbo 13b is completely different to that of a non turbo 13b.
Buy an evo and take the turbo off it and dyno it. Is it the same power as a non turbo 4g63. God no!
Rocky,
A modified 13b goes so much harder than a standard one. Think the sa22 12a put out like 70kw.
(Much earlier than fd)
My 13b turbo puts out about 350hp atw. Launches from zero to the 60 in about a second. Motor mods include; mild port, doweled for strength, microtech lt10s and factory s5 turbo, 3inch exhaust from the turbo. I constantly rev off the dial and have never had any mechanical issues other than fouled plugs when the car wasn't tuned.
People that don't warm up their motor often kill the side seals resulting in a blown engine. I always warm up and cool down.
Usually consideration of neighbours is an issue but I'm lucky that my immediate neighbour also has two rx7s. Come to think of it there are quite a few rotarys in my suburb and no I don't live at pad stow or bankstown.
I thought fellow Mazda owners would be aware of the hype but I guess not.

Long story short, I like them and have had great experiences with them to the point where I would bother writing about it here.


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how do you change the compression ratio on a rotor? shape of curve on the rotor itself?

Correct. Lower comp has a bigger scoop.


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[speed]

People that don't warm up their motor often kill the side seals resulting in a blown engine. I always warm up and cool down.
Usually consideration of neighbours is an issue but I'm lucky that my immediate neighbour also has two rx7s. Come to think of it there are quite a few rotarys in my suburb and no I don't live at pad stow or bankstown.
I thought fellow Mazda owners would be aware of the hype but I guess not.

that is the thing, I had a mild port 13b in my RX5, never had a problem because it was a) mild port b) non turbo (adding boost to a stock NA 13b seemed to be asking for trouble) and c) I warmed it for a good five minutes every morning so all the alloy bits grew to match the iron bits... (which was not the funnest for my neighbors)

I cant comment on stock RX4 being not as good as RX2 (no such thing as a stock rotary in 17 year old cars in my day)... but yeah a stock RX5 was a dog with dog ratios in it... putting in a mild later naturally aspirated 13B without the pollution gear, matching it to a 121 5 speed gearbox (lower ratios) made it come alive... putting that combo in an lighter RX4 or 3 oh yeah! And RELIABLE...

That is what made owning a rotary fun!...working it out without an internet...

I guess the Rotary thing is a small subset of the Mazda community, the rest may not care....

But don't they realise that the first gen rx7 was based on the lotus élan, the same as the mx5.
If anything the mx5 is a slightly modern design of the first rx7. People only need to Sit in one and you will see what I'm talking about.
Australians have had some very good results on the world stage in drag racing. That Is something to be proud of, especially when we are such a minority.

Anyways I've rambled on for far too long now. I own a NA mx5 and have a great level of respect for rx7's. without them who knows if Mazda would have even bothered with the mx5. Think about it...


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[rjastra2]

Anyone watch the show Utopia?

You will understand why Mazda occasionally mentions a new RX7 in 4 yrs time... same with Toyota and the Supra.
It's to create buzz...Just like Governments bringing up the Very Fast Train every 5yrs or so ;)

Companies usually don't tell their competitors 3-4yrs in advance of their intentions.

It's like the speculation about MPS versions of the 2,3 & 6. The crap sprouted that they will wait until sales need a boost in a couple of years tells you they aren't committed. Does anyone doubt VW will release a Golf GTI within months of the normal model? Or there will be a RS version of a new Clio or Megane? Even ford can be counted on for a sports Focus ST. It's a given.

Honda NSX anyone? Does anyone truly believe it will be better than the competition... cause none of their other cars are.

[project.r.racing]

I cannot see any Japanese manufacturers make any MR cars in the future. Japan just doesn't do specialist cars anymore like the old days. All we'll get is FFs and FRs.

Unfortunately like the rotor engine, MRs are becoming a thing of the past for major manufacturers. Emission controls and develope costs are just pushing some of the unique things from the 80s and 90s back into the past. RX7s, MRs/2s etc. All will become classics, as their ideals/fame will never be repeated again.

The only MRs we'll continue to see are from Euro supercar manufacturers. But they charge a pretty penny and can afford the developement costings involved.

[Mr Morlock]

speeds comment that the MX5 "was based on the lotus élan, the same as the mx5" is just plain wrong at least as far as MX5 is concerned. Anyone doubt it;read the history as related by the designers

There are no givens in the car industry- night does not follow day if the co is bankrupt or taken over like many have done. How secure is Mazda or Nissan or any French manufacturer.

I think Dupain could easily be on the right track. Cars must offer economy if they are going to survive on the main stage. Its a pretty safe bet that hybrids and electric cars are in their infancy.

Incidentally what sort of whacky name is Skyactiv- it probably means nothing to the majority and I never got "zoom zoom" either- always reminds of kids playing in the sand pit with their toy cars.

[hks_kansei]

Incidentally what sort of whacky name is Skyactiv- it probably means nothing to the majority and I never got "zoom zoom" either- always reminds of kids playing in the sand pit with their toy cars.

That was actually Mazda's aim with the Zoom-Zoom campaign.

The zoom-zoom thing was about reminding people of how they as children enjoyed motion, riding their first bicycle etc. The aim then is that you connect those happy memories with Mazda cars, and supposedly buy a Mazda based on it being a more "fun" version of the alternatives in the market.

[JBT]

You would have to consider seriously an Lotus Elise over a new ND. $15K more but you get the heritage/rawness that is lost from the NA

The only reason the NA seems raw is that cars have since become more refined. The NA was/is riding around on a 25+ year old chassis design. It was not considered "raw" when released - they thought it was very refined yet sporty with tenacious handling and a very sharp gear change (albeit nothing but a modified 929 gear box).

[Odd]

The leap (in terms of specifications)
from an MGB to NA is far far greater(i.e. push rod motor, with twin SU to twin overhead cams/cross flow head/fuel injected,....leaf spring fixed rear axle to independent rear suspension, etc) than from an NA to NC

Point is NA is not that distant from current offerings

For Me....the ND will have to be something very special to justify an additional $40K cost over the cost of my NA8....

[JBT]

The NA may have the same general ideas (as you highlighted in blue) to the NC but they are poles apart in driving experience and safety. Similar in some respects to the MGB and MG TD relationship - same suspension but advanced with unibody and a later B series BMC lump.