Mazda Rotary Sounds Alot Better Than A 355 | FerrariChat
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Mazda Rotary Sounds Alot Better Than A 355

Discussion in '348/355' started by bcwawright, Jun 25, 2010.

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  1. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

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    Bruce
    #1 bcwawright, Jun 25, 2010
  2. u2fast

    u2fast Formula Junior

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    #2 u2fast, Jun 25, 2010
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    i have had this twin turbo rx7/r1 since 1993. it is 1 of 200 built. rarest of all rx7's. truely been a fun car and a keeper. most people have no idea of what it is. back in the day it would stomp the new mustangs and ss camaros. whip them in the 1/4 and top end too. 160 mph plus car off the showroom floor in 1993. barry
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  3. traimpz348

    traimpz348 Formula 3

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    #3 traimpz348, Jun 25, 2010
    The RX-7 was such a nice design. Then Chevrolet ripped it off for the C5 Vette.
     
  4. rydermike

    rydermike Formula Junior

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    #4 rydermike, Jun 25, 2010
    At Texas World Speedway the Speedsource Rx-7's were clocked at 170 at the start finish line in 1994.They are now the leading maxda team in the world I believe ...... pretty damn good considering when I met Sylvian Tremblay he was autocrossing a yellow Shelby turbo and has built up to where they are today.
     
  5. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    #5 yelcab, Jun 25, 2010
    And then they lost the recipe when they did the RX-8 ... with a 3rd half door.
     
  6. Cartist

    Cartist Formula Junior

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    #6 Cartist, Jun 25, 2010
    Great cars Barry. That FD3S is probably one of my favorite body designs of the 1990's... small, curvy, sexy (in a very Dino way, no?) -- I still swoon when i see one up close.
     
  7. Smyrna355Spider

    Smyrna355Spider F1 Rookie
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    #7 Smyrna355Spider, Jun 25, 2010
  8. Ferris Bueller

    Ferris Bueller Formula 3

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    #8 Ferris Bueller, Jun 25, 2010
    +100
    I couldnt of said it better!
    you beat me to it!
    Thanks for telling it like it truly is Smyra
     
  9. bushwhacker

    bushwhacker In Memoriam

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    #9 bushwhacker, Jun 25, 2010

    Huh?, what am I missing here, a full blown Mazda race car with no exhaust compared to a 355 Ferrari street car with exhaust.? The Mazda sounds great but where's the comparison.
     
  10. tommott77

    tommott77 Formula Junior

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    #10 tommott77, Jun 25, 2010
    Wholeheartedly agree! I miss my '93, fun, fast, nimble car. I had my car up to 155 once (who knows how correct the speedometer was at that speed, and I was going downhill a tad) If Mazda had only been able to engineer these things as something other than hand grenades without a pin from the factory they would definitely be destined for collector/classic status down the road. Just be careful in the wet with them. I spun mine out going around 90 degree corners, starting from a stop at a stop light, amongst traffic, at traffic speeds, more than once. My buddy totalled his in the rain. Chevy totally ripped them off with the C5 too.
     
  11. power007

    power007 Karting

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    #11 power007, Jun 25, 2010
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2010
    +1 that Mazda is full blown race car not fear to compare it to 355.. but nice sound

     
  12. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    #12 plugzit, Jun 25, 2010
    Hi Bruce! Whereyabeen?
    Yes, I've always thought that Mazda was the purtiest thing since the Ferrari GTO. Cuter'n a bucketful of puppies. Sumpin Ferrari shoulda built with a 12 in it.
     
  13. JSBMD

    JSBMD Formula Junior

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    #13 JSBMD, Jun 25, 2010
    I have a '95 RX-7 which shares my garage with my '98 355F1. Totally agree with all that has been said here. Stock, very little sound out of the Mazda. Still, very fast for the era and price point. And yes, very much a handful in the rain, what with turbo lag and all. Beautiful steering feel, near-neutral handling, decent brakes for the time. And gorgeous to look at, as the above pics show.

    No valve guide issues, as stated, but the rotaries do have a reputation for being a fragile engine. Funny thing is, though, all things are relative. See, the turbo rotary engines have a lifespan of about 100K miles (mine has 44K), then a rebuild is in order. Price of rebuild? $5000! So, compared to even the cost of a 355 major (not to mention headers, cats, etc) these are NOT fussy, expensive cars to own.

    If you can locate a nice, original (not riced out), low-miles example of one of these cars, I whole-heartedly recommend adding one to your stable if you've got room for another car. Similar build numbers to the 355, meaning not very common, especially stock.

    John
     
  14. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #14 gothspeed, Jun 25, 2010
    ........... the 355 is the best sounding ....... EVER ........... X ...... infinity³ ....................... :D!!!!
     
  15. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

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    #15 bcwawright, Jun 25, 2010
    Hey Bruce, nice to hear from you....it's been along time.

    How have you been doing?

    Been working on the new shop(approx 30,000SF) which has left no time for R&D on Ferrari's.

    Got a massive collection of rare stuff which will eventually go on my killer F car...lol
     
  16. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

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    #16 bcwawright, Jun 25, 2010
    Goth, I knew you'd say that....but to use Einstein's equation for a black hole is intriguing.
     
  17. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

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    #17 UConn Husky, Jun 25, 2010
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  18. MarkJ

    MarkJ Formula Junior

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    #18 MarkJ, Jun 25, 2010
    That was the most beautiful car Mazda ever built, but still no comparison to the 355.
     
  19. gcthree

    gcthree Formula Junior

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    #19 gcthree, Jun 25, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Sold my 3rd Gen about 2 years ago, and still miss it. However, the RX8 as a daily ride is pretty entertaining. 9,000 rpm redline, 6 speed and near perfect balance.
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  20. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

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    #20 UConn Husky, Jun 25, 2010
    Like the plates!!!
     
  21. davehelms

    davehelms F1 Rookie

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    #21 davehelms, Jun 26, 2010
    Someone needs a final drive gear change!

    Those sure have come a ways since the RX2 we used to beat around in as kids. There was a GT2 RX3 that used to burn the paint off the drivers door of anyone that tried to pass inside of him.... Ear splitting, fire belching little thing that was obnoxiously fast.
     
  22. bcwawright

    bcwawright F1 Veteran

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    #22 bcwawright, Jun 26, 2010
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2010
    This was strictly a sound comparison!!!! mainly directed at a 355CH.

    I have never been around a rotary engine that didn't have a muffler and would never ever want to be. One of the worst things about working a 24hr endurance race was having to put up with the noise of those rotary Mazda's in the pit.....even though Jim Downing's cars had big ole mufflers I'd almost puke when they came by our pit area.

    The 26B engine in the video HAD A MUFFLER...

    As for an F60??? No comparison in the hp/torque rating of the 26B which would make the F60 engine look whimpy. The 26B has the highest output per liter of any normally aspirated engine I've EVER seen. How about a sprint setting of 930hp and 670ft/lbs torque at 11K from an actual 2.6L displacement(not FIA's screwed up 4.7L rating based on a 2 firings per rotation to protect the frightened Mercedes,Jaguar, and Porsche team entries).

    This engine is old....developed 20years ago but had the most unique intake ever devised...continuously variable tumpets(ala snorkels) driven by the ecu.

    As for reliability??? Doesn't get any better than a first place at the 24hrs of LeMan.

    This is not a 2 or 3 rotor, but a 4 rotor engine and what really killed it was fuel consumption.

    If they had only persued its use in a slightly detuned street version.

    Hopefully all(even Mazda RX7 and 8 owners) can actually hear and appreciate a truly awesome F1 sound coming from a little rotary engine.

    BTW, these rotary engines are hotter than a firecracker and would melt or burn anything that got close, especially the driver..lol
     
  23. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

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    #23 gothspeed, Jun 26, 2010
    Yeah the 355 is it sound wise for me :)!!!
     
  24. S Brake

    S Brake F1 World Champ

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    #24 S Brake, Jun 27, 2010
    Compared to the 355, that RX-8 looks massive.
     
  25. davehelms

    davehelms F1 Rookie

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    #25 davehelms, Jun 27, 2010

    Vern..., where are you?!

    Were loosing him.... must have the Still cranked up near the Copper melting point while looking up wiz-bang power plants for the 355.

    Bruce, hang in there. If you insist on a Fire Farting 355 we can mount an injector and a spark plug in the tail pipes.... no reason to change to Rotary power just yet. You'll poke your eye out on the snorkels while trying to extinguish the melting plastic bumper.

    I will admit I can still remember the redline warning buzzer that would go off at something like 9K RPM on that RX2.... really a giggle for us kids building GTO's (no, the Pontiac, just 3 carbs) at the time. Maybe now I am starting to understand what led me into this marque.
     
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