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    #31
    Originally posted by Richard.John View Post
    Piston engines can of course but they don't like it. I read that Wankels have four moving parts compared to forty for a regular engine. Not sure if that entirely accurate but redlining a Wankel won't harm it as such. It seems that a good thrashing actually cleans it out, and driving like a granny at low revs causes carbon build up. With that said, it beeps at 8 or 9000 to remind you to change up. I also read that, unlimited by computer safety systems, the engine can happily go to 13,000 rpm before exploding
    But some do like it. 4AGEs and VTECs etc. I don't mind the RX8 and I love the RX7 but other engines can still rev and its still horses for courses. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a 440 big block that could only rev to say 4 - 5K

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      #32
      I get to see some interesting cars through my job, some right knackers and some top quality motors.

      The mark 1 Escort that came through the doors a few weeks back was quite interesting. It is fitted with a BDA Cosworth engine, and revs in excess of 10k. The engine alone is valued at over 20 thousand. It was a joy to listen too, and actually made my ear drums rattle

      Pictures aren't up to much, took em with my mobile.
      Attached Files

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        #33
        Amazing cars those old RS Escorts. Toyota based the 4AGE on the BDA. Still a superb engine.

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          #34
          Originally posted by Richard.John View Post
          Piston engines can of course but they don't like it. I read that Wankels have four moving parts compared to forty for a regular engine. Not sure if that entirely accurate but redlining a Wankel won't harm it as such. It seems that a good thrashing actually cleans it out, and driving like a granny at low revs causes carbon build up. With that said, it beeps at 8 or 9000 to remind you to change up. I also read that, unlimited by computer safety systems, the engine can happily go to 13,000 rpm before exploding
          Its the change of direction thats the problem. The wankel goes round and round on the same direction. So theres no Mass changing direction.

          Piston engines go up and down (Yes i know about the Boxer). Thats why Rod bolts are a common failure if you over rev

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            #35
            Boxer engines rule! So smooth and they sound fooking fantastic. Especially the six cylinder versions.
            (Disclaimer: I sit in front of a flat six nearly every day.)

            Do the advantages of a rotary engine really outweigh the oil consumption, rotor wear, lowish torque and poorer than average fuel consumption?

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              #36
              Don't know but they sound fantastic. In reality though, in this day and age of high fuel prices, they are not ideal but Mazda should be given credit for bothering to continue with the rotary as the rest of the industry has obviously decided that they have no place in the modern world. Interesting that Ford hasn't tapped into the rotary pool considering they are the majority shareholder.

              That said, I would happily swap my rotary for a Ferrari V8 perhaps....

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                #37
                Originally posted by Alastair View Post
                No mate, not yet, have had all the wheels re-balanced (again) but the high speed wobble is still there. Consulted with a mechanic yesterday and he suggested that the prop shaft is probably slightly bent but I need to get it on a wheel-less lift and run the engine in gear at speed to check for that. Am still 'liaising' with the garage and their warranty to get it sorted.

                Good luck with the liaising then! I am sure it's annoying as the summer is coming to an end, so you want to get out and feel the wind in your hair before the rain and gales arrive.

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                  #38
                  Well, it's perfectly driveable so I'm still out enjoying it, not that we're having any summer at the moment. I think that's why the dealer is dragging his heals as he probably thinks I'll just give up as I can still use it.

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                    #39
                    Originally posted by Alastair View Post
                    Oh, yeah, sorry for two posts in a row but there are rumours around that both the Audi RS5 and TT-RS will be officially announced this week. TT-RS supposed to be in the region of 350bhp!
                    Just read that the TT is possibly going to be phased out, or at least the name... and replaced with "R3". Which, more importantly, is going to be mid-engined!

                    Speaking of Audi... anyone else looking forward to the A7? I'm one of these family guys that wants a Porsche (again), but don't really want a Cayenne. Panamera is going to be out of my budget until the prices come down but the A7 really does pique my interest... along with, of course, the Merc CLS (which is my current fave to replace my car next year). Can't wait to see some proper pictures of the A7 though. If it's anything like the A5, but with a couple more doors, then I think I might quite like it

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                      #40
                      The A5 is beautiful I feel. Sexier than anything from the other two German luxury makers.

                      I have a question actually as today, I went driving and hit a storm. The net result was the rain was so heavy I could feel it slowing down the car and puddles so deep on the highway the water splash came up onto the bonnet. So should I have anything to worry about in terms of the car? The engine bay seems dry and the electrics work but still it scared the s#$t out of me as at stages I could hardly see the car in front, and I am amazed that nobody aquaplaned. Modern tyres truly are life savers. Thanks Bridgestone...

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                        #41
                        I meant to reply to this when I first saw it but obviously forgot!

                        Brakes would be the main thing to worry about when going through such water, check they work before you need them after the water as often the first use will be pretty weak as the water will have cooled the discs and pads a lot.

                        Also be careful of aquaplaning, like you say though with modern (good) tyres it wont be as much of a problem, it has happened to me a lot though in the past and my advice if it does happen is try to stay as straight as you can and relax, once you're doing it there's not much you can do to stop it except ride it out.

                        Regarding the water 'in' the car, shouldn't be a problem at all, most things in the engine bay will be so hot that it'll just turn to steam pretty quickly on contact.

                        I can't believe you've got an RX8 as a first car, I'm jealous, take care in it though!

                        I'm enjoying the wet weather we're having at the moment, rear wheel drive and wet corners/roundabouts = nice little slides, nothing too silly but fun none-the-less.
                        Last edited by Alastair; 02-09-2008, 08:25.

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                          #42
                          I bought a year old Golf GT TDI a couple of weeks ago from a local Volkswagen dealership. Perfectly happy with the car, but when the new log book came through I found out that the previous owner was a rental company, which has kind of left a bad taste in the mouth. I'm a bit wary of ex-rentals because I've always had the perception, perhaps unfairly, that they've been banged more times than Frank Bruno's jaw. I feel really stupid for not asking the salesman to see the log book, but when I asked him he told me it only had one previous owner (which it has), so it never even crossed my mind that the previous owner might have been a rental company.

                          Still, like I say, I'm well happy with car. It's in great nick, with just over 12000 miles on the clock, and I've still got the peace of mind of it having two years left to run on the warranty, but I think if I'd known it was an ex-rental I probably wouldn't have bought it. Should I give the garage a ring and have a little moan, or should I just let it go and put it down as a lesson learned, yer think?

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                            #43
                            My current car was owned by rental company before and I didn't realise when I bought it either. The same thoughts crossed my mind also, but tbh, the way I look at it is that so long as the car has been serviced regularly then should be no problems. Given the age, then that's probably not an issue at all, and like you say, you still have 2 years worth of warranty (as did I), plus its only done 12,000 miles so thats perfectly average for a car that's one (?) year old.

                            Wouldn't worry aboute it mate.

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                              #44
                              Live and learn I think, I guess you could have got a few hundred more quid off if you'd known but there's nothing they'll do now. They'll never tell you who the previous owner is unless you ask to see the log book. Must admit though that I didn't think ex-rentals ended up back at dealers, will have to bear that in mind.

                              Not everyone rags rentals though (just most people and me). I wouldn't be to bothered about it being crashed/bent, no real reason why it should be. Rental co's tend to service well too so it should really be a nice car. Good luck with it.

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                                #45
                                Cheers, fellas - you've put my mind at ease a bit. More annoyed with myself than the dealership really. Damn it, if only I'd checked the log book, maybe I could have haggled a bit more on the price.

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