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 31 through 40 of 179.00

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  Just a few things shy from perfection - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Andrea - December 20 - 2:06 am

  Great car. Not impressed with the recall and the flooding problems. Needs a better place for the dipstick, you have to stick your hand down in the engine to get to it. I thought the interior would be more impressive ... my Dodge Neon was about the same when it came to the fanciness. A lot of people lean on that center console to get out because the car is so low, and because it slides open and its on tracks, it often pops off of track. Maybe get a lift open one instead? The speedometer is a little difficult to read, maybe make it bigger. Gas mileage isnt impressive ... otherwise this car has been very good to me, *knock on wood.*

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  Engine is a disaster - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By lav1 - December 10 - 3:40 pm

  Going to trade my RX-8 tomorrow. Been in for rough idle and cutting off (in traffic) 9 times in 6 months. Mazda has no fix for this unreliable engine. They can only add engine mounts and brackets to the engine... yeah, makes no sense to me either. Beautiful car, horrible engine!!! Stay away from this car until they start putting a reliable engine in them. First 30,000 miles were wonderful, but beware - once you turn 30001 it goes down hill from there. Cold and hot outdoor temperatures play a big part in the rough idle as well. Again beware of this car. Dont lose money on it like I have.

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  Great car, poor mileage - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By surfdude - December 6 - 7:13 pm

  This car is fantastic! The most fun car to drive Ive ever driven. It can hit up to 8000 RPM without any trouble, in fact, its healthy for the car to do this, as it cleans out the engine. Incredible handling: you can literally go around a 90 degree turn at 40 mph without any trouble! While the car doesnt have the acceleration of a corvette or a 350z (5.9 from 0-60), its handling is better than a 350z and rivals that of a corvette. Reason is a 50/50 rear-to-front weighting of the car. There is no 500lb engine under the hood, as the rotary engine isnt a typical heavy engine. Thus, there is no front heavy, back sliding that occurs in a typical car in turns.

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  2005 RX-8 - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By JROD33182 - September 26 - 9:20 am

  Did not think the tiny rotary engine would be so quick. On the test drive I noticed right away the car loves the road, sticks like glue at high speed.

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  Great car with issues, bad company. - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Babcock - September 19 - 4:03 am

  The car is very fun to drive, its handling dynamics are excellent. Interior is well done with everything nicely laid out. Good storage for a small car. Back seat room is good, adults seat comfortably. Truck space is good for a sports car but small opening. Over all this is a very livable sports car. Now the bad, gas mileage is the worst I have ever experienced in any car. I get 11mpg city while driving normally. I have had the car to Mazda who tells me that it is normal mileage and they will do nothing about it. Mazda’s service is very poor and the company does not likes to support this car. Mazda has given others a hard time on warranty work or refused to acknowledge problems.

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  Best Car Yet?! - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By nomi85 - August 30 - 3:50 am

  Mazda Rx-8, a simple way of saying "everything Ive wanted and more". Before the Rx-8 I drove a Mercedes S500, Honda S200, Lumina SS, Mustang, and the Bmw 330ci. None of these cars but the Rx-8 gave me complete satisfaction when it came to driving, comfort, and (my favourite) style. When on the road you may not be the biggest car, the most powerful, or even the most "bling" or done up, yet once youve driven by these other cars have felt a sense of defeat, a sense of "must bow to the prophecy of the Rotary Engine" (LOL) . Basically I love it, youll love it.

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  High tech traditional sports car - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By cactusrose - August 22 - 8:16 pm

  A sports car. Rear wheel drive, light snick-snick gear box and a hunger for the twisties. And you get to check the oil, and warm it up before buzzing the engine, just like an old Triumph. Yet if you know how to look after a rotary, unlike an old Triumph this car is tediously reliable, at least it has been for me. The car has a slightly overdone exterior, but draw your own conclusions on the looks. Yet from a practical perspective the interior is like the Tardis (check with a British friend for the definition of Tardis) and very well finished. I wasnt going to buy a car like this, but one test drive had me hooked. I havent looked back - buy this car!

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  Can you trash it? - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Street Breed Rx8 - August 16 - 2:50 am

  I drive my 05 GT every day and take it to the strip every weekend. Its a great automobile for the person that likes to go a little faster with a little more style. Amazing grip on the black top. Aggressive look, cant go wrong with a 9,000 rpm redline. When you first start the RX-8 the motor makes the best sound in the world. I thrash my RX-8 every day of the week. The Greddy turbo is a great turbo to add to the RX-8 upwards of 70hp gain. and it makes you forget about the absence of torque. Top end never fails. Had it stock up to 143 mph. No problems with maintenence so far. However be careful where your feet are. a couple wrong moves and the RX-8 will flood in a heart beat. Best car ever.

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  Enjoying it every Second - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Jay - July 30 - 9:33 pm

  It took me long time to choose what my next car was going to be. My choices were TSX, Volvo S40, and RX-8. I almost went for TSX due to its reliability and low maintenance costs; the s40 was too pricy after all the options and RX-8 was over $30k. I really didnt wanted to go over $30k, however when I finish the final deal with TSX it was just $1,700 under RX- 8. Then my good conscience kicked in, "I want RX-8"!!! So I dropped the deal and went on to buy RX-8. I am enjoying it every second there after. I would have regretted it immensely if I would have gone for TSX.

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  Never Again - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By scullymo - June 16 - 6:48 am

  This has bee one of my worst car buying experiences. Its hot, and fun to drive and all that, but the air conditioner never works. I have taken it to dealers in 3 states and they all say the same thing, "thats just the way it is, get used to it." I will never drive another Mazda because their customer service everywhere is awful!