2004 Mazda RX8 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Easy to flood engine. Not a reliability issue in the classical sense, but everyone knows that the Gremlins will make it pull a stunt like this the day you're running late.

First off, the dealer flooded the engine bringing the car round for me to test.

The engine needed some time before attempting to restart. The interior felt average. It seemed well put together, but the materials had a cheap and nasty feel and look. The seat leather felt particularly poor.

Driving the car I was alarmed at how absent the torque was - I arrived at the dealer in my Ford Cougar V6. On paper the RX-8 is faster than the Cougar, but it certainly felt like an laborious effort. Above 5000rpm the Wankel engine begins to deliver some torque. This car would be great fun on a track day I reckon.

The Wankel engine also drinks fuel compared to my V6 - I returned approx 23mpg on my 3hr test drive compared to 31mpg for the Cougar. The Cougar feels faster and sounds better obviously (The Wankel sounds like an irritating dimented bee) although the RX-8 would easily out corner the Cougar. That said the Cougar doesn't get left behind on the twisties as it catches up immediately out of the bend unless the RX-8 is driven everywhere in 2nd or 3rd gear. The Cougar driver can also switch off the traction control to aid aggressive and snow driving whereas - as far as I could tell - the RX-8 was stuck with it.

In traffic I found the RX-8 a real chore due to having to work the gears to make up for the lack of torque - the Cougar pulls away without laboring at 18-20mph in 5th!

The doors on the RX-8 make the car more practical for users carrying more than one passenger frequently, but this practicality is offset by the very small boot space compared to the Cougar and 406 Coupe. In my personal opinion the 4 door arrangement on the RX-8 also destroys the side profile of the car - I hate the randomly shaped rear quarter windows and truncated front doors. Perhaps I'm being harsh, but the RX-8 seems to suffer an identity crisis between a Coupe and a saloon. A true two door would be a real looker.

Also, the car uses oil on a basis normally associated with 20yr old bangers. Enthusiasts may not mind this, but it's certainly an annoyance to someone such as myself.

Although this report seems very negative, I would like to point out that far from disliking this car, I was very disappointed in it after all the hype. The novelty of the Wankel engine wore off within minutes for me - I missed the ability to overtake or negotiate roundabouts in top gear, not drop 2-3 gears to even consider speeding up. The interior disappointed me and I was disappointed that the traction control appeared permanant (at least I never found the switch). The car is fast on paper, but feels slow, and will cost a fortune to run due to it's oil addiction and the fuel pumps located in each tail pipe.

I would encourage a potential buyer to consider seriously before succumbing to motor press hype and fashion trends.

The RX8 uses too much cheap plastic in its interior too.

The trip odometer reset knob is a joke. Like on a cheap plastic $1.98 toy.

Ford is ruining Mazda, by using lower quality materials than in other Japanese cars. It's not doing Jaguar any favors either.

I disagree that Mazda interiors are cheap. Visually, they are of different materials than say a VW Passat, but they never fall apart.

Surely quality is all down to opinion?

From a Ford, I'm surprised you are complaining about the quality of a Mazda.

The hype thing is interesting however, take a 1998-2003 VW Golf for example: less reliable than its predecessor, bland banal styling, over priced, poor nose heavy handling, iffy build on early cars i.e. turbo diesel valve failure, rear wiper motor failure. The Golf was the most over-hyped model I know and to call it stylish...

The RX-8 is genuinely different. If you want economy and a cheapish to run car with a sporty nature then buy a BMW 330d coupe, but they are rather less exclusive.

First of all, I don't own a Ford. I'm saying the Ford influence on Mazda is negative. The hard plastic interiors and the silver paint over plastic (made to look like aluminum) are not only cheap, but tacky.

Thankfully the Miata's interior is more tastefully done.

Speaking of the Ford/Mazda alliance, the Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape is one tin can of an SUV.

The materials used inside and out are laughable.

Look at the suspension. It would look more at home on an inexpensive passenger car than on an SUV.

Ford had absolutely no influence on the design or part selection of the RX-8. Do some research before you start spouting off bullch!t.

Pulling away in 5th at 20 mph will not do your car any good, and neither will it help your fuel consumption. Yes, the Ford has a lot more torque, but one can expect that from an engine twice the size! The revvy nature of the Wankel engine is something to enjoy, and unlike the Ford, is designed to be used, hence why the Ford is 30% slower off the mark!

It's also nice to see modern manufacturers doing something a little different, in their engineering and styling.

20mph in 5th gear on a Ford V6 Duratec and MTX75 gearbox puts the engine at about 1000rpm. The V6 will very happily pull away with no labouring what-so-ever in this configuration providing the throttle isn't opened too far.

The fuel consumption issue is one I am willing to contest. If I drive around town changing gear at 1750rpm (as I need to in my I4 cars) I return an average of approx 25mpg over a 10 mile town run. Changing at 1200rpm (which drops the revs back to about 1000rpm) on the same trip returns me 30.5mpg.

I cannot scientifically contest whether an engine is enjoyable or not. I guess it's horses for courses isn't it? Personally I hate Japanese style engines which rev to the heavens, but cannot be driven quickly any other way. I've always had a fondness for muscle cars personally, and hence I like V blocks for their torque. The Ford V6 revs to 6750rpm, but I rarely go above 4500-5000rpm because I can drive fast without thrashing the engine. I don't like a high pitched racket every time I want to speed up. On the other hand, I do know people who buy Japanese engines specifically because they can rev higher. Fair enough, that's not me.

It seems there are drivers who enjoy a responsive, torquey engine that sounds beautiful, and there are those who like the frantic experience that is the revvy low torque engine.

It must be a personal thing liking either good torque, or revvy power. I myself take great pleasure from winding an engine up, as I drive a Honda CBR 250 RR which has power between 10,000rpm and 19,000rpm. I dislike these boring cars that have the same power right over the rev range, so there's no point in winding the engine up. You will also find that an engine set up specifically for torque low down will generally have a disappointing hp/cc rating and not something I would personally be interested in buying. For me, the driving experience is generally relate to several things. The horsepower, the weight (I prefer a light car that is easy to "throw" around), and good suspension for the twisties. My parents have just recently purchased an RX-8, and I can't wait to have a ride in it.

I found it to be a very attractive car with aggressive body lines, and revolutionary engine, and body structure with the reverse rear door. As far as I'm concerned if you are getting worried about interior details that are really just taste related, then you probably aren't a true car enthusiast. This article just seemed to be very negative about Japanese vehicles in general. I think this is a perception that a lot of Europeans have (I'm of European descent) because they fear the Japanese car makers because they do make superior engines and more weight efficient chassis' than pretty much all of the rest of the worlds car manufacturers. And I haven't even gone into cost effectiveness. You've got to let yourself like something before you are able to like it.

I have to say that comparing the RX8 to a Ford Cougar seems very strange. The Cougar is hardly an enthusiasts vehicle and I would say it's much more middle of the road. People that buy the RX8 are looking for its qualities, and its quirks. These certainly include ringing its neck at 8,000 RPM. I agree the fuel consumption is pretty dire, but you pays your money and takes your choice. The best I've achieved is 27 MPG on a run, the worst is 15 with short local thrashes. Oil consumption is hardly terrible, mines used 1 litre in 2,500 miles. I know VW Golfs that use that much.

On the traction control front, the button is to the right of the steering wheel (RHD models) and is only fully switched off when you hold the button down for about 8 seconds.

Hmmm. I was millimetres from buying the RX8. I loved the price, the early reviews of its amazing handling, top stereo fitted, and so on... In the end, worried that the revvy engine would irritate me, I bought a car at the other end of the spectrum - a Jaguar XJR. Every time I get in, I know I made the right choice. Sorry the reviewer had a bad experience. We've all done it, and it's no big deal. It'll just make you love your next big bore car even more. Try the XJR. For your Mazda's money you'll get a mint 4 year old. And it'll blow away any RX8 you might come across. How would that be for therapy?

I've owned both a 99 Mercury Cougar and now own a Mazda Rx8.

And I put about $2000 of performance parts on the cougar and ran 14.5 to 14.8 on the quarter pretty consistent. Just don't let a Cougar get to hot because it looses mad power. I ran my stock Rx8 with only a KandN air filter and the first run ran a 14.4 but I only launched it at 3000 rpms. Well the next run I said forget that my reaction time was to slow. So the next run I lauched at 6000 rpms and it really made a huge difference in the time I ran a 14.0 and also clipped a 13.9 but just barley, but I have ran 14.0's consistently. So if you think a stock cougar will keep up with a stock rx8 your smoking something. And yes mustang Gts have also fallen prey to me. They have way better torque no doubt, but my torque band is a lot longer than the mustang gt and thier for before the end of the race I always pull ahead and win even in the quarter mile. And I never have lost to a Mustang Gt on the street. Not to mention the pethetic redline of the Mustang of 5500 they shift twice to every one of mine.

Yes the XJR is fast, no getting away from the fact, but it needs its 4.0 (4.2 in new xjrs) and a supercharger top lugs its big back side off the mark, but just look at the cars, A. They are 2 completely different cars B. there is NO comparison in looks between the 2,the RX8 Wins hands down, unless you 75 years of age then you may be wanting the XJR, and I willing to bet you the RX will leave the XJ for dust on race track, yes we don't drive on a race track, but not all our roads are straight lines and that RX will be pushing and pushing you to get out of the way around every corner, as for the Ford, Ha, lets just say bye bye in every gear to the poor Ford, and they don't look to hot either.

Hi,

The RX8, V6 Cougar and Jag XJR are odd cars to compare. Here's why:

The purpose of the RX8 is not to go round roundabouts in 5th gear. If that's your bag, steer clear of the RX and similar vehicles. The RX8 has rear wheel drive, limited slip differential, 50:50 weight distribution, and a very light engine mounted behind the front axle. All this in the name of handling, which is pin sharp. Combined with 231 BHP of power, it gives a great driving experience, if you like that kind of thing.

The V6 Cougar is a family car with a powerful engine added to make it more interesting. It is practical, economical and sensible compared to the Mazda, while still being desirable and quite fast.

The Jag is a super saloon, a luxury rocket (and British!! Hurrah!!). In a different class to the Cougar and RX8, and much more expensive. Get one and you will have beauty, performance, and luxary in a single package. Don't expect it to outrun "every RX8 you come across", through, not if you plan to go around any corners. There are penalties to having a huge engine in the nose. But that's not what Jag ownership is about.

Well I have had an 88 RX7, now I have a 90 Ford Probe GT turbo, and I'm looking at the RX8. You all say it's lacking power and torque. I know my PGT will get me 30 mpg, and it's only got 145 BHP. It's also stomp a mud hole in a lot of other cars out there. I can make a VETTE scared (I love picking on them). Now top end I can't beat them; I top out at around 140 ish. The vette goes far beyond that. My old RX7 was a... how shall I word this.. dog off the line, but past 30mph it's a rocket. It was the none turbo model mind you.

My PGT is the first gen Cougar, I know how they drive and feel. Love them. I also love the ability to race someone and watch them shift gears twice as many times as me. :-) Do you think the RX8 will be a good runner. Who cares? Every one will buy what they want.

I "think" I will buy the RX8 unless I find a decent powered sport coupe 4 door, (my 2 year old) for the same price and performance. I tried the Mazda speed3, didn't fit the cockpit right. It wasn't a good car for me. Yes it had great power and OK room, but not for me...

HR.

One thing I have learned from working at a car dealership that carries 14 different makes is that they all have cheaply-made interiors. Like Benz really surprised me with that, but after working there I hate them. But like anything else, its all personal preference.