Hi all, I'm in my biennial Mazda RX-8 lust. I've never bought one but have flirted with the possibility many times since 2004. I'm currently driving a 2008 Saab 9-3 which I love. But that's irrelevant. I am wondering which years of RX-8s offer the best combination of value + reliability + features?? Is it the 05, 06, 07, 08........?

What model year changes have occurred during these years? Also, Is it recommended to have an extended powertrain warranty?

Thanks very much.

 

09, many revisions made, most of which are agreed to be better.

Otherwise, I'd go for anything after 06.

 

Well I have an 05 shinka. I have about 82,500 on it using just the basics. I think it's just a hit an miss when it comes to this, but I have heard that 04's had alot of problems and in 05 most of them were taken care of. If the person who owned the car before took care of it and knew how to drive it, then more likely it should be good. With the warrenty though, I think they all end around 50 to 60,000 miles, except the core of the engine which is 8/100,000. I bought mine used with 76,000 on it, and everything is clean as hell, so I know someone took care of it, with also knowledge about engines and so on you should be able to tell besides if it's just clean. Hope my two cents helps.

 

09 is the best option as they've made a significant oiling change. the 04's and early 05's issues that you'll hear about were primarily PCM flash issues that they eventually figured out, but its a good idea to just avoid that headache if you can, of not - be sure to check into the PCM flash history and make SURE it had the recalls done...

 

05 not so good, but 06 should be good for releability, values, and features. any year after 06 will give you the same things.
as for the extended powertrain warranty, just depends on how you feel about the car, ill probably wind up getting it.

 

06 or newer.

 

It's too small a sample size to mean anything, but I have a manual '05, have just done basic maintenance; see my sig.

 

Hmm Avoid 2004 espically Automatic ;-)

 

well 09's are the most changed with the oiling system but anything from 04-08 is fine as long as if u go for an 04 you have all the tsb's and recalls done but personally I would buy the newest that you could afford for warranty length and lower miles

 

I agree with 04RX8MAN. If you have the money try getting something as new as possible, unless your thinking of buying a used older one so you can sink some money into a ton of after market parts.

 

The newer the better. And save yourself some money and don't buy the powertrain warrenty.

 

If its had all of its upgrades there should be nothing wrong with the 04....

 

^exactly! ppl that don't own 04's are just scared that they are the "problem year of the bunch"

 

I'd get the 09 because of the tweaks and reliability factor. of course, i have a launch 04, all flashes done, and the only problem i've had was water in tailights--which was replaced under warranty, and idling rough to the point of cutting off on rare and random off days. 26k miles.