Adamchugg

Hi, i am looking at buying a 8 and so far the dealers just blow smoke up you all day, so i was wondering about the truth. what do you guys think about the car? how is it? is gas that bad? how about repairs, how stable is the engine. am i going to get destroyed on labor costs? just gen things i should know about thanks in advance for the advice.

DarkBrew

Read the sticky posts especially the little things
Also the site has a very good search capability.

Mortal Moxie

I suggest that if your going to take DarkBrew's advice and read the thread that he linked for you, that you read more towards the last half of the thread. The thread started in 03 when the car had just broken out. You get alot of the first time impressions, but you may want someone's impression of the car after they've already owned it for 3 years. Depends how long you plan on owning the car though.

But to answer your questions directly.

I love the car. I'm sure most people here do. Best car I've ever owned.

Gas mileage is not great, but you get used to it. And if your a sports car enthusiast; it shouldn't bother you.

Repairs are about as expensive as any other late sports car. Parts can always be found cheaper if you go outside of a Mazda dealer.

The engine is stable if you take good care of it. Don't baby it. Open it up often. Get on the gas. Change the oil at atLEAST every 3000 miles.

I haven't noticed that labor for this car is all that much more expensive than my old Mazda 3. If you can do the basic things yourself, you'll save some bucks. Oil change. Spark Plugs, air filter, fluids, etc.

There is no other car like it. It's life changing.

ken-x8

I thought so highly of the RX-8 that I bought one.

Any other questions?

Ken

NoTears316

Mine is pretty groovy.

BlueRenesis82

Raptor2k

lol

Twinturbo2800

well i loved the styling so much i bought one.... then i got tired of not having any speed/torque whatsoever and the 13mpg and sold it.

go test drive one!

RotaryP7

wtf? You serious.. .. ..

Adamchugg

well im upgradeing from a lifted ranger that gets 11 mpg so im not to worried about the gas ive been feeling the hit for 3 years now :-p and im not going to race it, i just think the get up and go is appealing maby throw an intake and exhaust on it to make it my own, p.s. im 20 :-p

Phantom Menace

There are ups and downs...the 8, as a car, is not perfect. No car is. The question is, can you live with the downs and enjoy the ups?

To find out what these ups and downs are, you're going to have to do a helluva lot of reading. On the top right hand side of your screen is a search botton. If you press it once, there will be an "advanced search" menu. Through advanced search you're going to have to read all of the posts and threads that interest you and make these decisions on your own. If you don't want us to "blow smoke" then you're going to have to formulate an opinion of your own. The facts are all here. You define what are the ups and downs.

We, however, are all obviously biased as we bought--and kept--the car and have joined a club .

Are you down?

ken-x8

Infidel!!

Winfree

It will get twice the gas miles of your ranger with twice the fun!

I tried out a used 04 silver stick - hated it so much that I almost didn't get the blue!

I was so worried about mine, I almost didn't get her, and after reading all the trash out there, I had them deliver to my house - I figured I would work out it's quirks, quietly, on my own.

Turned out it was just basically a great Mazda! I have an old 323 banger and this was like the banger only beautiful, and comfortable, and better handling, etc. etc.

It was better than any rental cars, it was better than my friends cars...I was so afraid I had messed up - This turned out to be the best thing I ever bought!

We have been running it since May and the only down was when a battery got low because of a week of 11 degree temperatures, and a stupid rodent that crawled into the air conditioner to die! No problem was serious! Oil use worried me because I didn't have to add any - Dealer said it was simply well tuned and normal!

Avoid a used one if its before 05 - get a new one with a warrenty if possible -the owners are holding on to all the good ones - the worst are the ones up for sale!

Check out threads of all sorts - you will find people who lease them usually keep them, people who sell them usually regret it!

Make sure you can sit comfortably inside it - guys over 6'4" have a little trouble -
Get snow tires for winter, keep up with maintanence,

This car probably has the highest satisfaction record of any car currently on the market.

Phantom Menace

Just keeping it "real," Ken...It would've been perfect if it came with a smoothie machine and gave me oral sex. But the fact is--it does not. Thus.

Ike

I've never ever seen a thread like this before.

DarkBrew

Are you new here?

Phantom Menace

You kidding? I think, Ike invented this site as a sick experiment...He's been in more threads than pubic lice!

ken-x8

Uh-oh...looks like somebody in the dealership pinched part of your accessory package.

IMHO, the only real worry in the spirit of Adamchugg's concerns is that it's relatively low production, so it's not like you can get it worked on at any gas station. And you need to learn a bit more about it than you would if you bought something ordinary like a Chevy or a Mercedes. But the uniqueness is part of the appeal.

I know that when I considered the 8, the idea of major mechanical problems never popped up. I had some concern over checking the oil frequently (turned into a non-issue), warmup/flooding (a quirk to live with) and being stuck with the dealer for service, but I bought anyway. Once I test drove it (and tasted that smoothie) I was hooked.

Ken

Phantom Menace

Waah? You got tha....Smoothie Maker? WTF!
I always get d!cked by the dealerships!

Wait a minute...don't tell me? Did you get the oral sex thing, in the seat, too?

MOTHERF@CK!

dmp

Likes:

• Visual - The car LOOKS hot.!
• Interior - The car is pretty nice inside
• handling - The car FEELS good taking turns. Inspires Confidence
• Utility - Car holds 4 adults reasonably well

Hates:

• Engine - Inconsistant power delivery. To fix this car, a mechanic must be part mechanic, part wizard
• Mazda won't fess-up to the engine's 'real' power - Sux paying for 232hp, when we only get about 215. I knew that going into it; but still, blows.
• Customer Support - Perhaps true of ALL cars, dealership experience varies considerably. What ONE service dept says 'Mazda' refused to cover (as far as warranty repairs) OTHER dealers seem to cover willingly

KRNrx8Driver

I love my car =) but i guess it depends on your enthusiasm for the rotary engine, or driving in general. if you love tackling corners and having 100% confidence your car can handle it then yes get this car, if you dont wanna see spoiled brats driving evo's and killing you on a line then dont get it, get a FD and get owned by labor prices but get over 500 wheel hp easy, but if you want a sophisticated ride which provides both performance and comfort get the rx8 and gas prices are going down (atleast here in GA) so its not bad but still you'll get approximately 16-22mpg depending on how much city/highway driving you do. i get about 17.9 with about 20/80 (city/highway) and i've never had to repair my car cuz of warranty. but its a great car because you can drive it anywhere and everywhere.

zoned

I liked it so much i bought the company.

Tanaka826

i like it soo far. hopefully it wont give me any problems. (knock on wood)

Phantom Menace

OBJECTION, your honor! KRNrx8Driver's leading the witness...

rotaryWizard

Dammit, i hate my rx8, its too god damn fast, even the slightest turn, i'm drifting for 10 miles. i'm sick of passing Sti's and Evo's in the street with just going first gear. Even worst, this car is giving people head turns, getting complains about neck injuries. Its even getting me a lots girls, when i only want one, god dammit, how am i suppose to get some. I need a slower and less attractive car like Elise or skyline, even a Muscle car.