2004 Mazda RX8 from North America - Comments

There are many small, but somewhat annoying rattles (with one serious noise from the sun roof that was fixed by the dealer under warranty).

The RX-8 is a real sports car that will please any one who really loves driving: it is a near perfect combination of speed, turning and braking ability, comfort and price.

This is not a car that will go fast if you are lazy; yes, engine torque is low. If you want to really go, you need to shift that wonderful short throw 6 speed transmission. The buzzer at 8500 rpm reminding you to shift before the 9000 rpm red line should give you a joyful tingle every time you do so. The engine is so smooth that you will soon understand why you need the buzzer: unlike most piston engines it has hard to actually intuitively develop a sense for when the redline is approached.

Having said that, the RX-8 has such a wonderful chassis that sheer acceleration is hardly the reason you should buy it. It has accurate steering, superb turn-in, handling that is neutral in almost any situation that is even remotely sensible on public roads, exceptional brakes, and excellent control over bumpy pavement. Surprisingly, the suspension does all this and still manages to make a daily commute comfortable!

So, what is wrong with car? Fuel Mileage! It makes my previous Impreza WRX look like a paragon of environmental responsibility. The RX-8 also burns oil by design, but that is a minor price to pay for the kind of driving experience you get. Also, oddly enough, the car lacks the sheer character and snorty nature that made my previous WRX such a lovable beast. Some times the RX-8 feels almost too smooth for its own good.

Should you buy this car? If you looking for a sports car you should certainly consider the RX-8. It is an excellent value, and I personally chose it over a Nissan 350Z, a Honda S2000 and a Porsche Boxster.

I agree... I too owned a WRX and kinda miss the "coarseness" of it. I think the RX needs just a wee bit more power. I hope I don't have any of the reliability issues I had with the WRX however. The transmission on that car was terrible, even with the factory short-throw.The RX8 feels like a rifle-bolt being snicked shut every shift...sweet!

I think that there is 250ps version sold in japan (sports pretige limited II I think). But I am not too such if mazda JP decide to export the higher power model overseas.

I am the original reviewer. The RX-8 has now been driven almost 15,000 miles. No problems. Gas mileage has improved a little (probably because I've learned to shift earlier!) and I could swear the engine is burning less oil too.

The car has also grown on me over the months, but it still does not have as much character as my long lost Subaru WRX :)

I have an RX8 also. After a set amount of miles the engine management system will save you fuel economy the more the engine is worn in. I'm very impressed with my RX8!

The nature of rotary engines is to improve with age, to a point of course. So, maybe the best is yet to come unless some other portion of the car has a defect and subsequently ruins your fun. So go out and enjoy some roadway fun and frolics with your car.

I am the original reviewer. The car is now three and a half years old, and I've managed a (meager) 27,000 miles on it. It's still awesome, and still going strong.

On the downside: it failed a California emissions test in 2006 when it moved to the golden state. This was fixed under warranty (spark plugs and a bad cat), and while being fixed up the water pump was replaced as it was about to die. Other than this one problem the car has been very reliable, and it seems to burn less oil than when it was new. The original tires now need replacement.

The car is still an awesome driver. A day on the track at Infineon Raceway (Sears Pt) north of San Francisco was a true delight, and it was fun to really flog the car and learn how good it really is. Trips down Hwy 1 to Los Angeles, and blasting around the Santa Cruz mountains south of San Francisco, always remind me of how special this car is.

The only negative is really a shortage of sheer grunt. In this day of 200+ hp minivans the RX-8 is not a car to impress at stop lights. But it's worth it just for those moments when you can shake off pesky traffic (even bikes) in the mountains, or on highway ramps :) Yep, it really is a wonderful car to drive if you can live with a certain lack of power and enjoy just-so dynamics.

The RX8 is a very under powered car.. I have one and am very disappointed with the performance.. also it eat up recalls and sparks plugs cost 125 bucks each..

The Mazda careless center are pretty useless in every way.. I have been selling cars for 18 years; every brand and make.. let me just warn you before you make a mistake.. stay away from the low end Japanese brand of Mazda.. if you're a diehard import buyer then think Mazda as your last choice..

I am debating between a Mazda RX8 or Impreza WRX. Which one should I go for? Please give me your opinion.

Can't comment on the Subaru, but after owning an RX-8 for a couple of years I would never recommend one.

Real fun on a curvy mountain road, but unreliable, poorly put together, and very low on torque.