klem0813

ok..here's the story, I am/was really really considering on buying an RX-8. I consider myself to be very mechanically inclined, but after finding this website and reading on all of the forums i dont know if i want to put up with all the problems that seem to be happening with the mazda 8's. i have always admired the Wankel motor, but i dont know if it is reliable enough for me? I was looking at a 2004 under 18k with decently low miles...would there be a lot of problems with the 04, can anyone help restore my faith in the rotary?? PLEASE help this newbie out!!!

Rhawb

Nobody ever makes a post to let everyone know that things are going great.

alerx-8's

havnt had a problem with my 8 yet and it has 22,000 miles on it. good enough answer?

j67345

I was going to post this same comment myself. You generally won't hear anyone talking about how great their car is running. You hear about the problems, because it's more interesting to post about them!

Also...I can't remember who it was, but a few months ago, a member posted that they didn't have any problems for the day...and I think it was the next day something bad happened to their car. We don't want to do something like jinx our cars by saying something good about them

playdoh43

if you take care of it, its just as reliable as most piston engines. it just requires more careful monitoring and discipline than most engines.

DarkBrew

^+1
Just get the best one you can afford and have fun!

Phantom Menace

What would that even look like?

Title: Everything's going GREAT!

Body: Hi. Lately, my car has been running GREAT! I'm getting 30mpg and not only has my car stopped consuming oil, but it's actually MAKING gas! Yesterday I was merging on the freeway and I went from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds! My leather is softer than ever and ALL of my mods are in sync! I LOVE LIFE, and Mazda sent me a check for $35,000 to thank me for buying an RX8. Furthermore, the local Civic driving punks have stopped revving on me and ALL of my coworkers respect me now.

BTW, my ***** has grown 6"!

Everything is GREAT!

eforer

All kidding aside, I just in the last two months purchased my first 8. An 04 mt with 8k miles on it (it now has almost 12k as I like driving it so much). Here's the good news: its an awesome car, and 04s can be had for pocket change! The bad news: well its not all that bad, 04s are more prone to the few issues that are consistent on the 8 as they are early in the production run. That said, I've had 2 days of warranty work done and the car is now perfect. Basically the sore points are the Cat and coils. Other than that, everything else has been perfectl. There is a good list of tsb's here. If you get them to do the venthilation tsb, the latest flash, have the cat checked and ask them nicely to update the coils to the newest version you should have nothing to worry about.

There is no car in this segment that is fool proof. My evo was WAY more of a headache than the 8. Even my C class mercedes had its fair share of issues. The issues with the 8s aren't enough to keep you from buying the car if you like it.

Phantom Menace

Who said I was kidding?!

eforer

The only side effect from the 8 I had was crapping solid gold bars. Helped pay for the gas.

CarAndDriver

Honda Civic or Scion tC.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Yaris or FIT

Ever Hernandez

If you're thinking too hard about it this car is probably not for you, sorry to say that. I bought my car with 3 miles on in and 93003 miles later, love it even more.

grinn253

Me too!
Funny post Phantom Menace!

tajabaho1

The RX-8 sucks ***, I'm being completely "honest" here, it sucks, don't buy it at any cost, especially if it has a turbo in it, it would be wayyyy too fast for you, and make you look wayyyy too good, and that 4 comfortable seats..........yea.........who needs those anyways, and the cheap insurance would make you look cheap, don't buy it man, and the gas is like.........OWWWWWWNNNNAGE!!! not to mention the 9k rpm, thats OUTRAGEOUS!!!!

if you want a very great car....buy a kia!!!

Flynbri

iTrader: (1)

44,000 miles...not a single problem...not even a lone CEL after any mod...this is a great car.

AndrewE

For the love of god, no one buy a kia
If you wanna be a cheapass buy a Toyota, if you wanna love driving, buy an 8

reaper1

Do It !

mike0615

omg, this actually happened. i didn't post anything cuz i was afraid that when i did it would go away. on another note, i have a 2004, in the 2 and half years i had it, i put 56k miles on it. i constantly redline, tracked it a few times, and it runs like a gem. no problems. all my friends that i havent seen in a while, like 2 or 3 weeks, when they see me, they always ask me "so hows the car running? any problems?" expecting it to fall apart already cuz its a rotary. but its prefectly fine, aside from a hard start that happened after the dealer reflashed it. but i can't complain, cuz after the reflash the car ran even stronger then before. ppl here are telling me its normal with the reflash, so i can live with the trade off. but i will say this, i check my oil religiously, do oil changes every 3k on top of adding oil when low and keep my car in a garage. but i mean, for the extra 6 inches my ***** grew, i think its all worth it.

ZanRx8

Gas 3.00 a gallon
Oil 2.75 a quart

Pure driving excitement with 0 issues after 40000 miles Priceless

I Have had my 8 since April of 04 with no issues, my car was built in Dec of 03 so it was one of the first one's with the expected problems. Fortunately I never experienced any.

This forum has guided and helped me experience one of the best cars I have ever owned.

I make sure that I keep up to date with all recalls, maintenance and services.

Observed other 8's issues, experiences and problems on this forum and took proactive measures to ensure the same did not happen to me.


Test drove an S2000, 350z, G35, Sti, Evo and an Rx8. back in 2003. Made my mind up the second I drove the Rx8, just brought the feeling back that I had with my first car, Second Gen turbo RX7, amazing.........

expo1

It seems like I make a post like this every other week.

5/2003 Build 04
91,000 miles
No major problems.

NoTears316

meh

ken-x8

Yeah...same here. What's everyone else's problem?

Speaking of the chronic malcontents...why do so many people say this car needs more care than other cars? Is it because you have to check the oil once every two weeks instead of every month?

Ken

klem0813

all right guys, I went and test drove one today, an 04 AT with 37k miles on it, and the AT car kicked ***.....I wonder what a MT and 20 more horse would do?!?!?! i couldnt believe how fast i could go around corners OMG...when I find the car for me I am gonna pounce.

thanks for the help everyone, i guess i was just a little worried about buying some kind of lemon or something. which i realized can happen with any kind of car

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

test drive the manual...