Every time I hit 4.5k RPM in second gear, my heart skips some beats. I'm fine paying extra for fuel, and having to do proper maintenance. I never used to understand people who talked about having a love of driving until I bought my RX-8. Now I don't think I can ever go back...

 

Good to see....I am very happy you are a Mazda owner-driver "who gets it"..

 

D@M... D@M... D@M...!

My 8 was stolen back in '08 and I've been tinkering with the idea of getting another one just for this reason. It's the first and only car that I've ever fallen in love with.

Fast forward... 3 years and a baby later, I'm still thinking about getting one of these ('04-'06 with low miles). I've been looking at other cars, sadans and what not but the RX8 is always in the mix because I remember how much I loved drving that thing. It has a back seat and four doors is my justification for wanting to get another one even with a 2 month old. Pssst!

 

How did it get stolen? Did it had an alarm on or none?

 

When I returned from a weeks vacation it was gone. Alarm, yes but I should have had lojack or some other GPS system installed. They found it a year later at some guys house in GA. I never even went to look at it as I'm sure it had been violated.

 

My 04' 8 running friggin great!!!! Has only 49k miles on her. I wonder how much I can get for her if I did decide to sell her....

 

For what the car was, it was good, and I was satisfied, it never promised great MPG or lightning quick speed, but the handling and that sweet rotary whine up to 9k rpm, it sure delivered. I get bored of cars quickly and tend to move on every 1-2 years...but I did own 2 8's so that's saying something. Overall somewhere between somewhat satisfied and highly satisfied.

 

I just pick up a 2004 last week with 78k miles and I love it!! I'm new too Mazda and the rotary engine. All I can hope is she doesn't take a **** on me

 

I love this car. Most reviews are totally wrong about this car. It is not slow, and it does not feel underpowered at all.

Most fun to drive car, ever.

And btw, a STEAL at $23,400. Red, MT, 18" wheels... Heaven.

 

^ totally agree. Reviews and common perception of the car are totally wrong. Lemme take you for a ride to change your mind. But hey, that means there's less rx8 on the road and makes mine that much more special.

Albeit there are inherent problems, mpg, transmission, potential flooding, etc.

However, the rx8 is a beautiful piece of art. It's smooth (mines not as smooth anymore), decent power, and looks pretty. No complaints here... I'm just trying to keep up with maintenance so I can enjoy it for another decade.

 

Know how u feel...


i got my gauges and interior stuff stolen like gear ***** etc...

 

We got our 04 in March of that year (my wife owned a 1st gen RX7glse and loved it). A couple of years ago we needed to get something bigger and relunctly conceded to trade it in. When the dealer gave us his best trade in value price we felt insulted, understanding, but violated in a way. Bottom line is we bought the new and kept "Zoomy" and haven't looked back. Even with the quirks the dealer and Mazda have been great standing behind their product (even now getting a new PCM). I am admittedly a grumpy person, especially when I'm not racing on the track, but when I take this car for a drive anywhere it takes right back to the on track feeling. It also puts a "sh*t eating grin on my face" (says my wife). That's MY therapy.

 

The driving experience makes me feel different about myself in a positive way, absolutely love the car.

 

Good for me and the lady!!
04 Rx8 V Red AT- BEST CAR IV'E EVER OWNED!! and at 26 I've had my share of Cars!! LoL
02 Dsm Gt V6 - Winter Ride 00 Integra LS-Gone 96 A4-GONE 91 Stanza-Gone
97 Dsm 4G63 Turbo- Gone 96 Gsr B16- Gone 88 626-GONE 91 Camry-Gone
02 Ep3 K20- Gone 96 Accord F22-Gone 96 Cavalier- GONE
94 Gsr B18-Gone 97 Accord F22-Gone 97 Civic-GONE
98 Prelude H22-Gone 01 CL Type S V6- Gone 01 Grand AM- GONE

 

The grin factor is worth the horrendous MPG return...lets face it, if economy was the deciding factor when buying a car, we'd all drive Nissan Micras!

 

If only the rotary engines didnt commit suicide so often, would be a great long termer.

 

Hell, I know my Rx8's a long termer. Even if I have to rebuild the engine, I've had to rebuild several piston engines, so I don't see it as something bad. In fact, I look forward to being able to rebuild her engine, I just hope it's not quite yet, haha. But even if so, with how happy the Rx8 makes me, I'd say it's in the budget to keep a smile on my face.

Never been one to care about mpg, even from my first car, which was also a Mazda. Yes, I know Mazda can make some great gas savers that are much more fun than a Camry, but, there's still only one Rx8.

If anything, I only wish I had the larger S2 tank. It would be nicer to be able to go that little bit further. But other than that, I'm 100% happy owning my Rx8.

 

and not forgetting the new fuel pumps they have in the S2...

 

Yeah, there's a decent number of things that'd be nice, but knock on wood, I do have a rather healthy S1, so I haven't been worrying about it.

 

My vote is totally satisfied on the 2008 40 AE... total upkeep in 34,000 miles has been oil changes and new wiper blades. With almost all highway miles and a redline a day, she still averages 22MPG.

 

I second that!

 

I love this car! I am a new owner only having gotten my 2007 Stormy Blue Mica in October of 2011. Originally it was part of a 2 car plan but then my son, who had just gotten his license, wrote off our 2002 Spec V...now we are a single car family with a set of Blizzaks (grippy but smelly) to get us through the winter. I have to say I feel like freakin Batman every time I drive this car. A joy to drive and it makes the commute to/from work much more entertaining every morning and evening. Sure the gas mileage is scary but then my second choice was going to be an STI so that hurdle was already crossed emotionally. BTW, -25C last night and it started right up this morning without any issue. Sweet.

 

Have always liked the noise of the rotary, and love the lines of the RX8. Handles great, has aftermarket tuning to make it go a bit quicker, wouldn't drive anything else!

It's a great set of wheels regardless of what anyone says.

 

If you wonder how safe this car is, the answer is very! The stability control won't let the back end kick out at all. But it does save your *** on a wet day when all the streets you live near are complete **** and you want to have a little fun. i.e, today

 

I have a 06 Black Shinka and while it does get low MPG, its worth every penny. People just don't understand the RX-8 till you've taken a ride or driven one. Its so smooth and comfortable. And the sound, my god I look forward to driving my RX-8 every weekend. Everytime I've taken one of my friends for a ride in it, they see why I preach so much about the 8.