Overview & Reviews

Mazda's four-door sports car was all new in 2004, and is back for 2005 with no changes except for the addition of a satellite radio-compatible head unit.

• Low base price, agile handling yet still comfortable enough for daily use, smooth rotary engine fun to wind out on the open road, room for four in a pinch.

• Option packages add considerable expense, iffy interior ergonomics, poor gas mileage.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 179.00

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  Great Bang for the Buck - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By mstrongin - August 2 - 9:10 am

  Went to buy an 05 Miata (great deals - $5K to $6K off of MSRP) for me and my wife as an extra car. Wife was dead set against any of the two seaters without side airbags (which left out the Miata and S2000 - my other choice). I hadnt even thought of the RX8, but she like the look so we test drove it. Loved the ride & the practicality of the back seat. Also really liked the Black Cherry/Tan leather combo of the Shinka (in SoCal, tan interior makes more sense). Dealer had one with no add ons (exactly what I wanted) and sold it for under invoice. Great bang for the buck. A buddy bought a Porsche 911 S. Yes its cooler, faster & more exciting -- but its close to $100K and back seats are useless.

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  Trouble - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By anne - July 27 - 9:16 am

  This is a beautiful car and has a very clever design (I think I was won over by the suicide doors). Not exactly comfortable in the back, but it works. However, this car has been in the shop more than my 65 bug was. The first 6 mo of owning this car was so frustrating with frequent recalls and the car would stall easily. Then we had about 12 months of bliss. Now, at the ripe old age of 2.5 yrs, the car has been in the shop 6 times in 5 months. It has left me stranded (and not because the car was not warmed up). The dealers cant find anything "wrong" with it. I plan to get rid of it in the next month or so b/c I just cant have such an unreliable car.

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  Lot of engine for a little car - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By victor - June 27 - 1:33 pm

  Ive had my RX8 for three years, and I still get comments about it every now and then. Its a unique car, considering the rotary engine. Let me start there: The rotary has a great range, getting up to 8,000 rpm. It really starts to sing once you get above 4k. You can tell Mazdas engineers spent most of their time and money on the engine. Inside, you get most of the typical features for this kind of car. The gauges look really cool, but thats really the only thing inside that was engineered. The backseat is comfortable enough, and surprisingly roomy with the four doors. This car is a blast to drive, but it can be a rough ride, especially with the Bridgestone OEM tires. Somewhat rattly.

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  Head Turner - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Double Wankel - June 12 - 7:56 pm

  Great looking car in Velocity Red Mica. Good lines, and the suicide doors prompt plenty of interest. Adults fit in the back comfortably if the front-seaters scoot up a bit. Plenty of head room. The rotary lacks impressive stoplight torque, but the ponies wind up quickly. Its a great passer - drop to 3rd, floor it, and youre blowing their doors off just before you slip back out of the oncoming traffic. The gas mileage is poor for a smaller car - Im getting about 21 mpg when driving smoothly on the back roads at about 65 mph. I shudder to think how bad it would be if I frequently drove aggressively. Premium vs regular makes no difference.

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  Love it! - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Jamie - May 3 - 3:06 am

  I have owned this vehicle for the past few months and i love it! i have had two Madzas before this and this is the first rotary i have owned. I have read reviews of problems with this car and i can say that i have nothing happen to it, i drove to Florida and back from New Jersey. Oil consumption is NORMAL in a rotary because it used it in the combustion chamber, so it is burned off with the fuel! IT IS NORMAL TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES! GET USED TO IT!

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  New Toy - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By jwoods - March 4 - 4:56 pm

  I have owned 2 previous rotary engine cars in the past, plus 2 Mustang GTs and 1 Corvette. This car has been great so far. Very fun to drive. Shifts easier than the 2004 Chrysler Crossfire we own. Very rare on the road (unlike Mustangs). Ample power and torque spread across a wide powerband. Gas mileage is mediocre.

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  Cool Car! - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By jesse - December 24 - 11:40 pm

  Since I bought my RX-8, Ive gotten lots of comments. Too bad Im not still single otherwise I would be able to give more rides. Smooth as silk drive, except in snow and ice with the stock tires. Extremely treacherous --- do not attempt winter driving with these tires. I bought Pirelli Wintersports and have no problem now. Wide range on each gear. Excellent pickup at the 5000-6000 rpm range.

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  Duanes RX8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Duane - December 8 - 5:00 am

  Fun to drive, the car handles the road nicely. My last car was a 5 series BMW and I thought it handled extremely well, but Mazda did not let me down one bit. It holds the road tight, but is still quite comfortable. Had a few parts fall off of it in the first couple days, so I am not highly impressed with the quality, but the issues were minor. I drove a couple business clients back to their hotel and one was a very large man (I put him in the passenger front, and the other average sized gentleman rode comfortably in the back seat behind me. The back seat really is usable by adults and certainly by children. I wish the 20 mpg in mostly highway driving was better.

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  Crossing my fingers - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Crossing Fingers - November 28 - 6:53 am

  An answer to my mid-life crisis, I was coerced into buying the lil red sedoupe (sedan,coupe) rather than a used luxury sedan. 47, no wife, no kids: it seemed to make sense, Ive owned nothing but SUVs/Mini Vans since the disco era. The first thing i noticed was the ride noise from the standard 17inch tires. Also, the rear light housing was fogged up/filled with inner perspiration. Both items served as bargaining chips & I managed to walk out with it for a mere $11K. With only 37K miles, I was happy. Getting in/out is a challenge with my 275lb frame, but the cars an excellent incentive to lose weight and Ive got nothing but compliments from friends/co-workers. 30 days so far, no problems.

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  Living with a rotor... - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Will Dover - November 9 - 7:50 am

  A wonderful car - for a 2nd car. Fun to drive and reasonably practical (fits 2 kids in the back without complaining). Gas mileage a real nuisance, though.