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 21 through 30 of 179.00

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  interesting - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By peter wilcox - October 24 - 11:23 am

  This must have been one of the first rx-8 produced! Ive had electrical problems, sunroof problems and hard starting concerns. All of course fixed, but the car has been tied up in the shop for at least 10 days!

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  Regrets -- I have a few. - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Glenda - October 16 - 8:16 pm

  I have a 2004 RX-8 & its the worst car Ive ever had. I had an RX-7 for years & loved it; sadly the RX-8 does not come close for several reasons. The car has broken down (and been towed) 5 times in the last few months - the car floods itself! This past week the car began to shake violently - the end result being it needed new left and right motor mounts installed. The heat did not work this winter and 3 months later Im still waiting for a back-ordered part! The only saving grace not having heat was that I couldnt use the car in the first place because the slightest dusting of snow on the ground renders the car inoperable. Long story short, its fun to drive but TOTALLY unreliable.

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  Performance and Design beats MPG - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By piston to rotary - August 14 - 10:10 pm

  Love the looks and performance of this automobile. Interior accommodations are very nice and high quality. I have been looking at these autos for the last three years and finally took the plunge and found a low mileage 05. Prices appear to be falling and the car doesnt appear to have the residual that I thought it would, Seems folks might have been scared off by the less than ideal mpg and high octane requirements. All in all this is an excellent vehicle that performs beautifully, looks outstanding, handles like a slot car and has good Japanese quality.

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  Rotary car doesnt fade - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Andy - July 21 - 7:16 pm

  There is a tendency to do errands in zig-zag back and forth across town style. It is very difficult to go home after completing the errands. It is difficult to do the actual errand, because you dont want to get out of the car to go in anywhere. I plan out huge, inefficient road trips on computer trip software. Im fond of poking along routes that skulk through the corridors between the major interstates. 18 hours at a pop sometimes. Always sticking to posted speeds because Im in "local territory", unshielded by the usual pack of rabbit-chasers and "what I can get away with" cruisers. Bottom line? Theres no end in sight with driving this car at this point.

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  vroom is for real - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By george mouzakis - July 7 - 5:50 pm

  Have just had a month. No problems. The tranny lets me take turns being a teenager and a sedate 60 year old. Air and heat could be a little more powerful, and fuel economy is zilch -- but you know this when you buy it. Everything else is awesome - my gut gives out long before the car does in cloverleafs. Just hearing the solid sound and the way the door closes reassures you of the quality. And driving at night with the red/blue dash lights allows me to believe Im captaining the space shuttle. Go for it if you can!

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  Worst mistake of my life - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By carma8 - July 1 - 9:44 am

  Do not buy this car. If you are thinking of buying this car go to the Rx8 forums, everything that can go wrong with this car will go wrong. This car has been the financial ruin of me. When I bought it the KBB price was $17k and thats what I paid. 3 years later I tried to trade it in, and was offered $3k. Bear in mind that it is in better condition now than when I bought it. Every year I spend at least $2-3k on repairs. The only luck I have had is the engine seems to be the only one that works, for now. Thats right $2-3k/year with a healthy engine. The car is crap. Other cars are just as fun to drive with much lower cost. Save yourself and run away.

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  P.O.S!!!!! - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By turtle21 - June 12 - 9:30 pm

  I had my car for 4 years and it is the worst car ever! Ive had 3 engine replacements and 3 transmission replacements. The car has left me stranded numerous times and the brakes even go out on me. Ive also had to replace my coils every 3 months. And once the warranty is up good luck trying to get the thing to run!! It overheats and shuts off when driving long distances. It looks nice but runs like crap I wish I never got this car. And now getting rid of it is even harder due to all the problems it has.

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  Mazda rx-8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Mike Elliott - April 8 - 2:06 am

  Performance--lacks low end torque, (Mazda claims 0-60 in 5.9 seconds which is B.S.) 0- to 60 in mid to high 6s. Car still is qicker than most, and it is a blast to drive. Handling is amazing , braking is exceptional. I love the instrument panel. Get used to the high revving engine - and you will enjoy.

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  Perfect GT with sports car moves - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By ss8 - March 11 - 7:00 pm

  All controls buttery smooth and all surfaces look and feel expensive. Still finding thoughtful touches after months of ownership. And the ride and handling ... smooth engine with flat torque curve betray pretty good acceleration. Sound is exquisite. When you decide to brake entering a turn, it is always too early. Ride is supple over bumps, but somehow sporty handling. No other car I have driven has a front end that feels so light when changing directions. Turn-in is immediate. Best of all, handling at limits very forgiving and comfortable (as can be possible). Easy to rotate at limit with throttle and brakes. 21 MPG same as previous 5-speed WRX, not as bad as others said in my experience?

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  practical sports car - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Steve Dibble - January 27 - 12:13 am

  Ive owned M3,Z3,MR2,WRX,911,RX7 and several British sports cars. The Rx8 betters them all in some ways and betters some of them in every way. Who needs more power? Perfect compromise between ride and handling and it looks fantastic. I test drove all of the current sports car competition and there really was none - unless you must have a top that drops.