Mazda's Biggest Mistake? The Fatally Flawed RX-8 Driven and Reviewed (JDM Legends Tour Pt. 35)

Another day, another piece of fabulous Japanese motoring. This time, I am behind the wheel of a Mazda RX-8. A car notorious for many expensive problems - so what could possibly keep bringing people back to them? Let's find out.

#Mazda #RX8 #Rotary

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[Terryism]

Just let go of my 2004 RX8. I’ve got to say it broke my heart. Every day for 16 years, I have always been eager to drive it. At 80, 000 miles Mazda replaced the engine on there dime. As I let it go, the second engine had 106, 000 miles on it. The body looked great, no rust. But at my age (70) it was time to get something a little more practical. But I will never regret buying my RX8. I just regret I had to let it go.

[tassiecoinsandbullion]

I have daily driven an rx8 for almost 7 years. I’ve always kept an eye on the oil and given a daily redline. No engine rebuild 180000km, compression is still fine. Completely stock apart from a cat and exhaust upgrade. Starts and drives flawlessly, only thing I’ve replaced was a slipping clutch plate. This was probably from 4 years of city driving with lots of hill starts. Very fun car, surprisingly practical if you take the spare tyre out the only downside is that it does 22L/100km in the city.

[paulgmarriott]

Had one from new for 9 years; apart from a handful of the customary cold-morning start issues, trouble-free. Absolutely loved it! Will always remember Clarkson eulogising as he was test driving one: "God it's smooth. It doesn't feel like it's running on anything as coarse and vulgar as petrol. Feels like it's running on double cream".

[timakimat]

Probably one of the most misunderstood cars ever

[gonzomuse]

Really nice to watch a balanced, fair and honest review of the eight. Us owners know they drink oil (although nowhere near as much as some would have you believe) and that they use a lot of petrol (that IS as bad as you've heard!), but the driving experience is totally worth these inconveniences.

[paulrobinson]

My best memory of an RX8 was one i attended at the Holiday inn at j15 Warwick. It just about started but was running really badly. After having a poke around, as you do, i found that it had 2 faulty ignition coils. I replaced them and asked him to take it for a drive whilst i put all my tools away etc. All i could hear was the guy ragging it from j15 to j14 and back a few times. when he came back, he had the biggest smile on his face and said "it's never gone that well ever, it's so fast". I reckon it had a ignition coil down for ages, maybe before he purchased it, and the 2nd one just made it undriveable. He was one happy chappy!!

[Jakdaw]

Best feature of my RX8 was that if you got it on a good road and drove it like you stole it, it'd return 18 MPG. If you drove it like your granny you might *just* eek out 18.5 MPG! Warm up and short journeys killed it; but actually *under-load* it's an extremely efficient engine. Just a shame most driving isn't like that!

[essexrotary]

Thanks for the mention guys, glad you where not too harsh about the review

[louisvidalinc]

I know someone in Dublin who Renesis swapped his NC MX-5, I'm sure he'd happily lend it to you for a review !

[alextmss]

I’m that person who did get the £7k R3, and I couldn’t be happier. 4 years of ownership, no issues and honestly even if it goes boom one day at least street or bridge porting will be good fun ;) (if a bit expensive) p.s Essex Rotary is great, my car’s looked after by them.

[DjDolHaus]

In my experience RX8s come in 3 flavours:

Good mechanical condition but overpriced
Reasonably priced but waiting to explode
A pretty body shell for peanuts because engine swaps are a pain in the arse

[jamiedewberry]

I pre-ordered mine when they first came out in 03, funnest car I have ever owned. I wish I still had it but I did not have the money for an engine swap and at 140k miles I really needed a new engine. If I had space for a project car and money to spend I will still own it today. I keep hoping Mazda will do one more RX series.

[Element_y]

I owned one of these back in 09/10 out in the United States. Even drove it cross-country, didn't skip a beat. Still one of my favorite cars I've ever owned. I was one of the lucky ones; I drove it from 50k-80k miles without a single issue. The trick is though, you need to drive it hard. If you drive it like a nanny to the grocery market, you're going to have problems. I red-lined it EVERY. SINGLE. TIME I drove it, and I think unwittingly that was the secret to its longevity.

[marksaxby]

Good review, but I disagree about the rear seats. I'm 5'10" and have travelled decent distances in the back of my RX8.

Agree it would be a great engine in an MX5, but not instead of the RX8.

I had mine for years (yes it had an engine rebuild, at 76K), but I still miss it enormously.

Such a great car to drive, all the time...

[breadstacka]

My first car and i still have it 4 years later no problems. Honestly an amazing car if you know how to look after it

[Redshift]

Going on 17 years with my RX8 at this point. (Ordered Jan 2003, delivery in July 2003) First batch of cars that came to Canada. Still love it.
As an aside, part of the reason you probably love the gearbox so much is it is the same Aisin gearbox as the S2000
*Edit: Also, I've been to the rotary rally 3 time and expecting to go again this year.

[paulrobinson]

I love attending these for non starts, nearly always flooded with fuel. Usually caused by the owner moving the car a few feet and turning it off and/or the battery is getting weak. The smoke out the back on start up is superb lol

[mrjackbilbo]

Ive had one for 4 years, . It gives me a smile everytime, . When rx8 drivers meet each other on the road its always a great feeling

[scoobydooz]

Having owned one, its an awesome B road basher and track day fun car, excellent well balanced chassis, nice exhaust note with the right aftermarket system, Nothing on this planet sounds like the rotary engine and it promotes the biggest smile you could have, its only let down is MPG, I was returning below 20's average driving and down into single figures on track days or driven enthusiasticly for example around the evo triangle, However Every petrol head should experience the RX8 purely for the experience and that smile that lasts even after you get out

[inquisitorbtcneo]

Very well said! I am a proud owner of a 40th anniversary RX8 in Australia, completely rust free and mint and i love it. She does need plenty of tlc but that smile when driving makes it all worth while. Great review!