Overview & Reviews
Most people know that Mazda builds sporty cars. But for some, it's the company's history of building true sports cars with lightweight rotary engines that sets it apart from the competition. The Mazda RX-8 was one of these models, and it enjoys the distinction of being the only one with a four-door configuration, providing reverse-opening rear access doors and a genuinely accommodating backseat. Sold from 2004-'11, the RX-8 didn't change much during its lengthy run.
The heart of the Mazda RX-8 is a 1.3-liter rotary engine with a thrilling 9,000-rpm redline: that is, if you can find one with the six-speed manual transmission. The available six-speed automatic was limited to 7,500 rpm, yielding about 10 percent less horsepower. With either transmission, torque from the rotary engine is very modest, and shoppers should note that this engine is known for both significant oil consumption and poor fuel economy. But with its perfectly balanced weight distribution, sharp steering and svelte 3,000-pound curb weight, the rear-wheel-drive RX-8 is one of the best-handling cars ever made.
User Reviews:
Showing 1 through 10 of 879.00-
Coolio - 2004 Mazda RX-8
By Farah - December 29 - 2:00 amthe automoblie is a very equppid machine tat i would like to buy one day
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Mini Suburban - 2004 Mazda RX-8
By CaliforniaFun - December 29 - 2:00 amA bargain road hugging, gas guzzling eye catcher. I bought a fully loaded (all options except the body kit) for $29.5. I thought it was going to get better mileage than my GMC Suburban, but I was shocked. Itis definitely a fun car to drive, but you would need to really push your 1st and 2nd gear to the limit to get any zip at the low end. Most reviewers said that the shift was smooth, but I found it somewhat difficult, especially the reverse gear. The non-adjustable can cause serious stiff neck. It seems as if Mazda expects all drivers to be the exact same height.The freestyle doors are very difficult to open those doors in parking lot.
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Light and Fast - 2008 Mazda RX-8
By Beverly M - December 4 - 11:43 pmGas Mileage is not great
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Cool Car - 2006 Mazda RX-8
By JW79 - December 3 - 9:36 pmTons of fun to drive + has turned a lot of heads. I have had many compliments on the design from friends and strangers alike. A police officer told me to roll down my window + I figured my sticker was past due or I had committed an infraction + instead he inquired about the car and told me how much he liked it. The handling is great! Tons of fun around corners and curves. It should be a little faster off the line + this is a significant drawback considering the horsepower + the poor gas mileage. At first I was unsure about the lines but now I love the look. I love the suicide doors + at least 3 adults can fit in the car as long as everyone isnt tall. You need snow tires bad in the snow!
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Complete garbage - 2004 Mazda RX-8
By efwilson4 - December 2 - 5:13 pmI bought this car and saw where Mazda of North America warrantied the engine until 100,000. Well they lied. Mazda admitted to utilizing a loop hole to deny engine replacement. This car is garbage and Mazda will do anything but stand behind it. They charged me $1,100 dollars to replace coils, wires, plugs, decarbon the engine before saying I needed a new engine. The car runs worse than when I took it in. This my 4th rotary car and my last. I recommend something else. DO NOT BUY! Just search warm start or low compression.
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Zoom Zoom - 2004 Mazda RX-8
By janway3 - November 28 - 10:00 amMy wife talked me into test driving it while I was preparing to buy a Mazda 6. Well that was all it took. A lot of car for the price. will make you feel young again at any age. And talk about drawing attention, the stylig is great.
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Fast, Practical, and Dignified - 2004 Mazda RX-8
By daniel - November 26 - 10:00 amIve owned BMWs Audis, VWs and other exiting cars, and this is one of THE BEST. A coupe with all the practicalities of a sedan without the drawbacks. If you have passion for exciting cars, this is the right for You.
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Zoom Zoom with a Few Hidden Facts - 2005 Mazda RX-8
By Jerry Miskovsky - November 16 - 5:33 amThe 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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Love it! - 2007 Mazda RX-8
By Branz - November 10 - 9:53 pmIve had this vehicle nine months now and still get compliments like its brand new. I travel for work and have put 21000 miles on it already and only had to take it in once to get the catalytic converter replaced. It handles so great at high speeds. So glad I got this sports car and also happy that I got one thats loaded. Took a sneak peek at the 2009 model and may upgrade in another year - theyre only gettin better!
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This is different. - 2006 Mazda RX-8
By buteman - October 31 - 1:56 pmI honestly could not see myself in one of these cars, but Im really enjoying the experience. Perhaps with just buying this lovely car Im not quite qualified to offer an opinion but here is my initial impressions. I was fortunate to find a low mileage ( 25k,in kilometers ) GT model with the luxury package and automatic ( wife needs auto. ) We took it for a good run on a winding highway,,,,wow, it has more than enough power for me ( Im 64 ) the handling was great, the paddle shifters are great fun, so smooth a ride. The interior is so luxurious and very comfortable, oh sure it sucked some fuel but that is a known fact with this car and thats the price you pay,,no big deal. Nice car !!
