Renault-Powered Mazda RX-8

[cawimmer430]

Having nightmares yet, rotor? 


$3,700 Stand Between You And This 70HP 1.4L Renault-Powered Mazda RX-8



Swapping out the rotary engine in a Mazda RX-8 with something that barely pulls along a tiny city car like the ones from Renault, makes for a very, very strange downgrade.

Yet, that's exactly what this Autogidas ad from Lithuania claims to have done; this 2004 Mazda RX-8 is being sold with a 1.4-liter 70 HP engine -allegedly- from a Renault Twingo, clocked at 160,000 km (99,419 miles).

We don't recall the Twingo ever being powered by a 1.4-liter unit with 70 horses. It's possible there's been a mistake somewhere or perhaps the engine is from an older Clio, but which Renault model the engine came from is hardly the gist of this story.

We'd be a lot more curious to know why anybody would just strip their RX-8 of its performance, and don't say for fuel economy, because "naturally aspirated" and "underpowered" is not the most efficient combination. Perhaps the engine died and it made more sense for them to sell the car with whatever engine

Despite having its heart removed, this RX-8 still features decent comfort specs, such as air conditioning, abs, electric windows, alloy wheels, power steering, fog lights, central locking and so on.

You'd undoubtedly be able to live with it, assuming all is well technically. But have fun driving it? Not anymore.


Link: http://www.carscoops.com/2017/03/3700-stand-between-you-and-this-70hp.html

[r0tor]

The person behind this should be brought in front of a firing squad

[cawimmer430]

The person behind this should be brought in front of a firing squad

On the bright side, that 1.4 Renault engine probably produces more torque. 

[93JC]

O_O

Is that a throttle-body fuel injector, or a carb...?

[Rich]

are LS3 swaps common?

[cawimmer430]

are LS3 swaps common?

Is that a Chevy engine?

[93JC]

LS3 is the 6.2 L V8 used in the previous Corvette and Camaro. You can buy an engine directly from GM, which makes them relatively popular for retrofits.

[CaminoRacer]

are LS3 swaps common?

IIRC I asked the same question a few months back and the answer was no. There's like 1 guy who tried it and his build is stalled halfway.

[68_427]

There's been multiple LS swapped RX8s but they aren't easy

[MrH]

There's been multiple LS swapped RX8s but they aren't easy

I hear that all the time, but then I see these hillbillies on craiglists selling RX-8s that they jammed V8s in.  These guys can't even put together a coherent sentence, but they can get a V8 in there and running.  Granted, probably terrible work, but still, they've got it working.  It can't be that complicated.

[Soup DeVille]

I hear that all the time, but then I see these hillbillies on craiglists selling RX-8s that they jammed V8s in.  These guys can't even put together a coherent sentence, but they can get a V8 in there and running.  Granted, probably terrible work, but still, they've got it working.  It can't be that complicated.

Never underestimate the fabrication abilities of a hillbilly with a shaky grasp of sentence structure.

[Rich]

An LS swapped RX-8 with BMW sport seats (with the little slide out thigh support)  would be ideal. Super cheap, inexpensive parts, easy to work on, decent steering, good looks, good sounds

The Mazda parts would last a long time and the LS should be fairly reliable.

[Pommes-T]

You know what's funny about this story: a friend of mine bought the 192hp version of the RX8 from his first salary 4 years ago. He had 3 (!) engine failures since. 1 year ago, after his last engine failure, he started leasing a 90hp Renault Twingo because he was so sick of it. He stil owns the RX8 with a broken engine and plans to have it repaired sonewhen. That's a fun, cheap sports coupe, but let's face it: that engine is a nightmare.

[r0tor]

You know what's funny about this story: a friend of mine bought the 192hp version of the RX8 from his first salary 4 years ago. He had 3 (!) engine failures since. 1 year ago, after his last engine failure, he started leasing a 90hp Renault Twingo because he was so sick of it. He stil owns the RX8 with a broken engine and plans to have it repaired sonewhen. That's a fun, cheap sports coupe, but let's face it: that engine is a nightmare.

He probably doesn't redline it often enough

[Payman]

[93JC]

Because Romania.

[Payman]

Because Romania.

I thought it was Lithuania.

[2o6]

Lithuania also has that Artur Tussik guy who repairs cars that should not be repaired into really nice looking things

[93JC]

I thought it was Lithuania.

Whatever; tomato, potato.

[Submariner]

Whatever; tomato, potato.

That's Latvia.

[cawimmer430]

Hey, don't leave out Estonia!