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Mazda RX-8 (2003-2011)
Chris PMetropolitan Adelaide, SA
- 21 reviews
Discontinued For The Right Reasons
The Wankel rotor. Can't believe it was German. Must have been designed as a generator. Hit it's pinnacle in Australia with RX7 - Series 3 - ''Super Deluxe'' - Japanese import with highway gearing. Actually hit 285 + km/hr and left V8's for dead. Think it won Bathurst as well.
Self destructive motor. Rotation of the motor creates crank ''pins'' at each of the 3 points of combustion called ''devil's claws''. Claws wear casing and weaken combustion, engine loses power and becomes inefficient. Unburnt oil builds up in exhaust like a 2 stroke....Read more
. My V8 mate called it an egg beater. Stop at the petrol station, check the petrol and fill up the oil. Acts and drinks like a 2 stroke - doesn't perform like one. Once you've blown the main seal you're looking at 3 grand repairs. Great looking, great fun to drive. Great handling but smaller engine (12A) was best in the RX3/4 series. Being young and stupid I actually borrowed money to buy one. Dad laughed - three months later I realised why. May as well have bought a 70's MG. Same thing different day syndrome. Bought a Peugot 205 GTI later then swapped it for a Honda Prelude 4WS - both were better cars. A VW Beetle with a Czekoslovakian Boxer engine would have been more reliable. Don't buy cars for emotional reasons - that's for teens. .Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
MR CooperBrisbane
- 34 reviews
- 5 likes
haha
1.3 litre but uses too much fuel. and repairs cost a bundle.
Still quite good luxury inside. But i would say totally over rated. and if your close to 6 feet tall or over forget it u wont even be able to get in its tiny inside made for 5 feet men.
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JackieAUS
Love but hate
The RX-8 is a great sports car which has a unique design, amazing BOSE sound system and rotary engine. Unfortunately I had not done enough research before purchasing the car nor was I familiar with rotary engines.
The fuel consumption is quite expensive compared to your economical vehicle. Petrol is around $80 AU a week which will get you only 400km a tank and you will be required to top up oil mostly every month costing around $180 from a MAZDA dealership. During the summer time you will find that the ventilation isn't great either.
Maintena...Read more
Purchased in December 2021.
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Find out how Mazda RX-8 compares to other Sports Cars
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Sarge18Hobart, TAS
- 8 reviews
- 4 likes
- Verified purchase
More than just another car.
I'm once again a proud RX8 owner, and loving it. Four years between RX8 ownership was forty eight months too long. Now I've bought a black beauty that I couldn't afford back then, as they have got way cheaper due to "orphan status", and idiots who can't look after them, and then tell everyone about their silliness.
Ok, there's some do's and dont's that go with these cars, which anyone with half a brain can read, or research, and then follow. Sure, they "use" oil....their meant to. It's in the design, and part of the engine's lube requirements....Read more
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shamusauckland
- 9 reviews
- 10 likes
Engine has short life
2004 model in black with black and red leather seats looks awesome,build quality feels luxurious,handles well and the auto is good. The engine was hard to start cold,moved it out of the garage and turned engine off and it would not start again. They said rotor seals worn out and starter motor not big enough to start it,there's a new starter you can buy that spins faster but mazda won't pay for it. Design defect? Mazda dealer wanted $6500 to replace rotor seals so took it to RX7 race workshop that put in after market seals for way less and they ...Read more
also had a kit to fit a RX7 starter which is like 30 percent bigger than RX8 and works very well. Guy also replaced a rotor housing, the chrome worn off, seems half as thick as RX7 chrome. The old RX7 motor is so much better than this side port rubbish and it was turboed with heaps more power yet more reliable. My wife loves it,and with new engine it purrs,so smooth like a turbine engine, and the back doors are neat.Performance is better than most sports cars. The engine is unreliable1 comment
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PorcinoSydney
- 2 reviews
- 4 likes
Just so good.
I bought a second hand 2009 manual RX8 a couple of months ago. I have been driving for forty years and have driven more cars than I can remember. What blows me away is that this car makes me feel the same thrill I felt when I was first starting to drive. This is the best driving experience I have ever had. I simply can't compare it to any other car. It is a refined vehicle with impeccable road holding manners. The engine is sweet to the ear and the ride is brilliant when you consider that this is a performance vehicle. Economy is completely a n...Read more
on issue and it is a special motor that needs some attention with respect to maintenance and I love that it I am drawn closer to the vehicle as a result of having to monitor the oil etc. It took me a couple of weeks to understand how to get the best out of it and now I find myself really looking forward to driving again whether it is in traffic or the highway. Windy roads are an absolute joy to negotiate. Plenty of vehicle for my wife and I for both daily needs and trips away. Mazda have done something seriously special with respect to rotary engined vehicles. This is my first rotary and I only regret not having looked at these earlier. Refined and sweet in its performance. It stands alone in this category and has no competition in my view with respect to performance and sheer driving pleasure. The shiny black plastic internally scratches easily from rings and keys etc.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
scenicpeak
- 3 reviews
- 4 likes
Terrible
I traded in my Subaru liberty and bought what I thought was my dream car, wish I could go back 6 months. I was aware of the fuel consumption but I think like most owners of an RX-8 it still comes as a surprise. I think it's written up as about 12L/100km combined. I have never gotten anywhere near that and I mostly do freeway driving. I average 300km to the tank and normally fill up over 50L, so what's that - about 16-17L/100km of premium? I took a test drive in the sunroof model and even at only 6ft I still hit my head on the roof. I've had iss...Read more
ues with starting, the way below average climate control, enormous fuel and oil consumption. I've been back to Mazda and they have said depending upon my driving it's quite normal for a rotary to have gone through 5l of oil in 5000km and to do almost 20L/100km. Nothing wrong with air conditioning, functioning normally (just don't drive on a hot day). It's dead sexy to look at but very hard to live with. I think the internal fit-out is ordinary. Cheap plastic dash and console. The boot is lined with plastic velour that simply peels away. The spare wouldn't do for a bicycle. Remember, this is not a cheap car, it retails well into the 50's. Only 5 months of owning my dream car and I sold it today and will never buy a Mazda or a rotary again. I was going to finish that if you're a revhead and don't care then it's probably a realistic option. But if you're that way inclined you'd want a turbo on it and for it do sub-6's. It's not even that fast.. Very disappointed owner, sorry, former owner. Handling, looks, leather seats, Bose sound system, surprising space in the back seats if you're not claustrophobic. Fuel consumption, poor internal finish, lack of any boot space of you want to travel with the spare. Headroom if you choose the sunroof.2 comments
What many people don't seem to understand is that in the rotary engine, some oil is deliberately and constantly injected into the combustion chamber. This is the only way the Apex Seals can be lubric... Read more
ated. So the engine actually consumes oil. This is normal. You just need to adjust your thinking to accept the fact that oil is, in this car, a consumable, and needs to be replaced, just like the fuel.I was going to buy a rx8, i was .reading reviews it telling me keep away form this car.i think the rx7 is a much better car, the 1993 model is a much better car.thank you.
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Best fun in real world driving
I have had my 2010 RX8 GT for a year now and I love it. By far the best handling car I've owned (have previously owned BMW 525, Porche Boxster, Golf GTi, Mazda Xedos, Toyota Celica and Audi TT). I just love the perfect weight distribution, stiff body and the Bilstein shocks. Handling iS absolutely surgically precise, and also amazingly forgiving (easy to recover if you overstep the mark). Power is good too, but to access it fully you have to keep the revs high (4000-8000) and shift quickly. For everyday commuting just potter around below...Read more
4000 and it behaves like a docile little mx5. Love the fact that you can accommmodate 4 people. The back is hardly spacious, but I have had four 5'11"+ adults in the car for a four hour trip and no-one complained. Reliability is great. I have done over 10,000 miles and have not had the slightest issue. I have heard that reliability and oil usage may have been an issue with the very early models, but have never had so much as a hint of trouble. Oil usage is no big deal - I have not had to top up between services. Only downside of this car is the fuel consumption - drinks like a v8. Air conditioning is a bit overwhelmed on a really hot day (my car is black). Small quibbles in a fabulous car. Sensational handling, surprisingly practical, great looks High fuel consumption, satnav not standardSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Bend_over_and_coughAU
- 2 reviews
Excellent
I've owned rotary engines before and I missed them. Driving the RX8 just reminded me how sweet and smooth they are to use. It's a great car.
Brilliant car. Fast as a whip. Engine sings at revs. Back seats are impractical but very usable (6'1"son fits OK)
Limited space in the boot but I didn't buy it to haul stuff around. Some quality issues like strange rattles.
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Find out how Mazda RX-8 compares to other Sports Cars
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Good
Excellent sport car with 4 seats, well balanced, but poor straight line performance. Rx-8 is not for you if you are looking for comfortable commuter, IS250 will do a better job. Although there are more and more Rx-8 on road, it still looks unique. Overall not everyone need the RX-8 performance on street but this is absolutely the best excuse to buy a track ready sport car when your wife only allow you to get a sedan.
Best handling 4 seater I have ever own, very easy to drive fast, exciting engine sound, car comes live when you rev over 5000 rpm...Read more
1 comment
Well, I can drive from Amsterdam to England, Rochester on one tank and still have enough left to ride around. That's practically more than 500 km!
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katenberryQLD, 4520
- 61 reviews
- 11 likes
Great car...but expensive
Great ride.beautiful car but rotary engines are not the cheapest. Poor fuel economy and expensive in general. But if you have the money...extremely worth the buy . Great handling, so fun to drive and very enjoyable.
Great handling, beautiful shape, fun!
Expensive
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rx88888888
- 3 reviews
Excellent
There is NO other car like it on the market, fabulous Rotary RENESIS Motor, Stunning looks and features, seats 4 people and a true sports car. Mazda at their finest.
Sexy looks, Great Packaging for the high price. Handling second to none, Brakes among the top 10 in the world...Value
Why the retail price is so HIGH, Same car in the US $25K, Japan $29K on Road.
Why when the Yen has doubled in value why are Japanese cars SO EXPENSIVE?
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Tom48VIC
- 62 reviews
- 2 likes
Good
This review is based on a weekend test drive, not an actual Mazda RX8 owner. Great looks and the benefit over Nissan's 350Z competitor is the genuine two back seats which can 'comfortably' seat 2 small to medium size adults.
very head-turning looks, both on exterior and the interior. I must have received immeasurable looks and many, many comments during the time i was driving it. The engine and throttle are very responsive, as are the brakes. Excellent performance and true road hugging stability at all speeds (though i never exceeded ~100 km/h)
went through about a tank of petrol in two days, though granted i was driving the car like a sports car.
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Questions & Answers
glenn b.asked
I cant find a build date on my 2003 rx8. Was imported in 2011. Have all compliance plates, import plate etc. The sticker on the driverside dore is in Japanese
No answers
glenn b.asked
Cant find a build date on my 2003 rx8. Needed for rego
No answers
Denisaasked
How can i know if the distribution of the car is broken?
1 answer
I think your asking if the "Distributor" is busted Denisa? I'm guessing you've got an electrical issue, re misfiring perhaps? New coils, leads and plugs are the usual fix; as they wear out and should be renewed anyway. I did mine when I bought her six months ago for an all up cost of about $500, and she's been running perfectly since. Utube shows you how to do it; not hard at all. The previous "owner" was too tight or stupid to do this, and suffered accordingly. Best wishes.
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shamus
update the rx7 starter spins too slow and needed to fit mazdas new upgrade faster spinning starter. It must do over 220 rpm before the spark plugs fire but still injects fuel, hence the flooding probl... Read more
em with older slower rx8 starter.Also all 4 coils must be putting out max spark they get weak with age and need replacing. So the old starer doing 208 rpm and slowly getting up to 220 but by then it pulsed in so much fuel it flooded.