This might interest Oerdin only...

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by SpencerH
I thought Mazda's were pretty good until I bought one and found out they had Ford (ie crap****) transmissions that fail everytime you look at them.

I bought my Miata in 2000, and the only problem I've had is with the front brake wearing out -- but then I drive a lot of nasty hills, so that is to be expected.

Miata

[Dinner]

http://autos.yahoo.com/consumerreports/article/best_used_cars_under_15000.html

If you believe Consumer Reports, which Asher does though many experts don't due to it's nonstatistical sampling methods, then Mazdas do very well.

[Spec]

Originally posted by Oerdin


OK, so they took two of their 1.3 liter twin rotor engines and put them together forming a 2.6 liter four rotor engine?

Exactly. That's why rotary engines are so great. The'er like a sandwich you can make with as many levels as you want. As long as the eccentric shaft is long enough.

I tried to find a link but cant, but someone made an experiment of making a 6 rotor engine but the shaft failed/broke.

6 rotor :eeek: 3 laps and you're out of gas....but hoe fast are those laps!!

Spec.

[kittenOFchaos]

Re: I just went

Originally posted by pchang
in the complete opposite direction by buying a Toyota Prius.

When so many diesel cars smack their pants on mpg?

Weird.

You ain't being environmentally friendly and have a rubbish car/van.

[Dinner]

The problem with the Prius is recycling the battery when the car is done or even replacing it 5-10 years later when the thing isn't performing like it used to.

[pchang]

By that time, I will be able to plug in my Mr. Fusion.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Oerdin
The problem with the Prius is recycling the battery when the car is done or even replacing it 5-10 years later when the thing isn't performing like it used to.

The expense bubble of new battery purchases is a problem with Priuses. But a buddy of mine who works in finance has worked out that, as long as gas stays above $2/gallon, he'll come out ahead with his Prius. Right now, he's not worried.

[Provost Harrison]

For the English speaker what does this mean. What advantage do the things have? Are they more reliable? Are they more economical?

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
For the English speaker what does this mean. What advantage do the things have? Are they more reliable? Are they more economical?

If "the things" are rotary engines, then their advantages are low initial cost, their small size (and high power-to-volumn ratio) and they dependablity -- they have very few working parts.

The main disadvantage is that they are gas hogs.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
For the English speaker what does this mean. What advantage do the things have? Are they more reliable? Are they more economical?

Are you talking about the Pruis or the Rotary powered Mazda? The advantage of the Prius, especially if you get one of those kits which turn it into a plug in hybrid, is that you get a lot of miles out of a gallon of gas. The advantage of the Rotary engine is that they are very light weight and they produce a lot of power per cubic centimeter but at the cost of lower fuel economy, increased complexity, and that if the thing does break then it is hard to find a mechanic who knows how to fix a rotary engine.

Still, the ****le is a totally different type of engine from your standard piston engine. If you'd like to learn more about them then here's a good website. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine.htm

[Provost Harrison]

Gas hogging is not good...especially with current fuel prices...

[Dinner]

Yeah, but if your goal is to have the lightest weight engine possible and you want 255 horses out of a 1.3 liter engine then the rotary is the only game in town.

[Provost Harrison]

Sounds like a silly game to me...

[Dinner]

I can't believe the autocensor censors ****el. Felix ****el was a great inventor not a cuss word.

[Provost Harrison]

Ah, I was wondering what it was...when you got the spelling right, I recognised it...