Yeah, I've heard a bit about rotaries. The general consensus seems to be about just what you said.
And it sounds like you got a pretty beastly car in the makes.
I don't actually want to do much to the appearance and I like the look of the later generations a bit more. And at least with the second gen there isn't a big hike in price.
It's not all pixie dandruff and unicorn farts. They have cons just like any other design. They're thirsty, and by design have issues with emmisions. People assume since they're burning oil they're crummy engines. They try to compare them to traditional piston engines too much. Most don't understand that a rotary is SUPPOSED to burn oil. It's normal. The oil lubricates all the seals. It's better to look at them as a hybrid between a 2-stroke and a 4-stroke.Originally Posted by NorthernChaosGod
If you get a second gen you won't have to worry about it, but if you get a first gen make sure it doesn't have the 12a. There's nothing wrong with it, but parts are even harder to find than for a 13b. You never said why you weren't looking at a first gen. What's the deal?
People give them a bad wrap, but you'd be wise to look at a first gen Miata. They're perfectly balanced, RWD, easy to work on, cheap to maintain, and the sky is the limit for tuning. Food for thought.
baka question - is learning to drive manual difficult or does it just require practice?
Learning manual is easy, with the stipulation that you've chosen a vehicle with a nice light clutch and easy throttle manipulation.
This rules out most Jeeps and trucks. It also rules out learning on your friend's "mad tyte JDM yo" modified Prelude with a stage four drag clutch.
Find a nice compact four cylinder, and it's patient owner/friend. I've taught many "unteachables" and there's one common theme in my observation. They get apprehensive at the moment of clutch engagement. Learning to simultaneously engage the clutch and apply gas is a steep coordination curve. As soon as some feel the clutch start to engage they quickly jerk their foot all the way off of the clutch pedal. Meanwhile they still haven't given the car enough gas, the engine RPM's dip too low, and the engine stalls. They get nervous and embarrassed, and the situation snow balls.
I take my car and manually raise the idle rpm up. Now the car idles much faster than normal, but as the new person engages the clutch, the RPM's will never dip enough for the car to stall. So the student can then concentrate on learning the feel of the clutch engaging and practice shifting. Once they've mastered clutch engagement, I drop the RPM's back down and let them practice gas pedal modulation.
By separating those two learned skills, it keeps the person from getting overwhelmed and discouraged. I've never had anyone who learned manual regret it, or feel it was a waste of time. Seriously. No one. It's just fun.
EDIT: Here's a little bonus for NCG.
Last edited by sharkythesharkdogg; 02-16-2011 at 09:11 PM.
I pretty much just like the looks of the second gen over the first gen.
Miata's are only two-seaters, aren't they?
Looks are important, but certainly not the most important. Tell me this doesn't look good.
Miatas are two-seaters, but so are RX-7's. So I'm not thinking that would be a deal breaker for you. I love mine. I am curious why you asked though.
Another fine car is a something like that 325is I have. It's a two door with a back seat. With the right additions you can have a kick ass car with a stout straight six. There's a reason they went with the "big six" theme. People who drove them swore it felt like a V8.
Really, there's a ton of options.
Do NOT get the Mitsubishi Starion like the one I'm working on obtaining. You have to be masochistic to want a DSM vehicle.......
It's certainly nice, but I kind of prefer the rounder look of the second gen.
Also, I could have swore RX-7s had back seats in some.
I am learning so much in this thread.
Signature by rubah. I think.
This reminds me of Edward Cullen. I don't know how to feel about that.My girlfriend and I just bought our first brand new car together - a 2010 Mazda 3 6-speed.
This looks better :xLooks are important, but certainly not the most important. Tell me this doesn't look good.
Or it would if the photo wasn't so bad.
(Also aware this is not the type of car you are talking about)
xD That is a very different car. Now if we're getting into that, I'm going to have to go with the '71 Hemi Cuda.
The Japanese ones (and maybe some other markets) had back seats TECHNICALLY. Really they were grocery bag shelves with seat belts. It was done so that the RX-7 would fit a better tax bracket. The seats were child safety size. If you look in an american second gen that area has been replaced by two storage compartments which actually come in hand for all types a great ideas.It's certainly nice, but I kind of prefer the rounder look of the second gen.
Also, I could have swore RX-7s had back seats in some.
I couldn't see your post, bunny??? American muscle? Edit: I missed the link. Mustangs are everywhere. They're good, but I'll take the same car with different, and in my opinion, better looking sheet metal.
And to the person that got the new Speed3, very nice purchase! You won't be disappointed.
Last edited by sharkythesharkdogg; 02-17-2011 at 01:39 PM.
I learned something today.
If you have your heart set on a rotary with a usable back seat you're left with the
R100 Never shipped to the U.S., and you simply won't be able to get. Ever. Let it go.
RX-2 First rotary to be used in a race series. It was very succesful. Was considered the family sedan, as opposed to the
RX-3
Which was the sporty coupe. I think it looks awesome until I look at the
RX-4
and that's it except for the Cosmo which was never offered in the U.S.
Throw in Mazda's rotary truck, the REPU, all the different versions of the Cosmo, the rotary motorcyle called the RE-5 that they helped Suzuki develop, and of course the RX-8, and that's pretty much every Mazda rotary I can remember.
Like how anyone with a penis can't remember the significant other's birthday or anniversary unless the female in question has four wheels.
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