Originally posted by mopar34
Rotaries are definitely a power making engine, but better than the V8? I doubt it. Rotaries are also thirsty little devils too. Much more than size equivalent 4's and 6's. Probably more like a small v-8. They are easy to rebuild since there are only 3 primary wear points (each on the tip of each rotor crown), however, probably not many mechanics outside of Mazda knows how and if you can't do it yourself, it will likely be expensive.

I believe the Mazda Rotary is a single rotor engine and they do make very good power. However a number of years back (about 25 to 30, I think) Mercedes Benz experimented with rotaries and produce three models with rotary engines. The most notable was the C-111, a beautiful wedged shape vehicle with a three rotor rotary engine. The engine pushed the car to speeds in excess of 220 mph. Much to the disappointment of sports car enthusiasts world wide, MB did not put the C-111 into production, so regardless of how much money you had, you could not buy one.

i personally would have loved to see them built (I couldn't afford one for sure), but MB elected to abandon the project and continues to this day to produce normal piston engines for all of their cars. Therefore suggesting that the Rotary was not better than the standard inline or V piston engines. In fact, if MB really believed the Rotary to be superior, then I am sure they would be running them in their hign end cars as well as their race cars. Others, of course, may draw a different opinion. But for now, that's mine.

A dohc inline 4 can develop over 700 hp, far more than any small rotary. Nearly all tuner guys build 4's for racing because of the lower acquistion cost and the inexpensive power potential.


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A little history never hurt anyone, unless of course it's revisionist history.

Bob

mazda rotaries actually have 2 rotors, and the rebuild cost depends if you need apex seals or not, if you do depending if you want the 3 piece seals or the 1 piece seals, you'll pay anywhere between $300-900 just for those, new rotors, you have to buy in matching sets which will run you another $400-1000.... then theres those that get bold and port their motors, which if done right can put out 900hp n/a but they blow up really quick.... the rotory really isn't superior to the v8.... the more prospective looking style motors starting to be produced are the miller cycles and the 5 -stroke motor that crower is releasing in a few months, but both of those are just a different variation of a piston motor