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 1 through 10 of 179.00

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  Zoom Zoom with a Few Hidden Facts - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Jerry Miskovsky - November 16 - 5:33 am

  The Mazda RX8 is definitely fun to drive and I plan to enjoy it for the next year or two. Buyers should be aware of a few things you dont learn about until you own it. First, the tires are absolutely useless on snow or ice; youll need to get snow tires. Second, youre cautioned to always let the engine come up to normal operating temperature; even if you just need to go out and move if a few feet. Third, there is no spare tire (unless you want to give up your trunk space). If you can deal with these three shortcomings, get one and enjoy it as I have mine.

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  I love this car - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Marcia W - October 11 - 9:30 pm

  Traded in a Miata for this car with no regrets so far. I love the interior and titanium grey color. I love the suicide doors where I can put my bags. The back seats are comfy too.

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  Just right - 2005 Mazda RX-8
  By Anthony321 - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my r-x8 on 5/04.A mature sports car. If youre a 17 year old and think a sports car is speed and thats all,this is not the car for you. If you understand what a great sports car is about,then the x-8 is worth a test drive. True, it is slow "Off the line" and thats where it ends. HANDLING (on par, if not better then Porshce,I know Ive drivnen Porsche) SUSPENSION,BRAKING,COMFORT,INTERIOR and especially a head turning exterior. Oh yeah, room ROOM-and more ROOM,you can fit 4 6Ft. adults in the Rx-8 and the x-8 is not longer or wider than a Porsche 911 !!! Bottom line, if you want to stand out, the proof is in the pudding, test drive it!

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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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  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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  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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  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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  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.