This month marks a little over a year since I picked up my new 2006 RX-8. I put on nearly 18,000 miles, well over what I normally drive, but that is a testimony to how much I like to drive it.

There have been no reliability or quality issues since taking delivery.

The car has just about suited my needs perfectly- excellent handling, great cornering power, comfortable without being soft, accurate steering and braking so effective, you have to be careful when you switch to another car- you won't have the drop dead stopping power you take for granted every day. And very important for me, a usable and practical backseat to drag my kids to their activities. Pizza toting capability is a big plus!

I read the complaints about power on this forum, but the car is hardly slow, and it makes power so smoothly and effortlessly, like a V-12, I sometimes think people are looking more for the sensation of speed as opposed to raw numbers. It's competence can be deceiving to someone brought up on the sturm und drang of four cylinder cars. Zipping through the gears quickly never gets old- best shifter on any manual transmission car I've ever owned. Complaints about gas mileage are likewise overdone, and reflect more frustration with the car's range than anything else. If you want mileage, don't consider yourself a sports car enthusiast. This sort of thing comes with the territory.

It is stylish, and doesn't resemble a japanese taxicab with a spoiler. This 55 year old can show up with it anywhere without embarrassment. Service costs are low, with no valves or timing belts to worry about. Small wonder this car usually comes out in first place even in recent magazine comparison tests. It's the one car you can really live with without compromises or self-flagellation. That is saying something for a design that should be getting dated by now, but functions so well at what it does, it never fails to satisfy.

The only modifications to the car are the AuxMod I installed to handle my satellite radio receiver, a Samsung Helix, the "RENESIS" lettering on the back trunk lid, and the Pettit Racing radio ****! The outside is just as I like it- very spare, with no spoilers, side skirts or rotary garnishes. The only thing I will probably add when I get around to it is a rear fog light. All in all, I am glad I made this purchase, and will probably keep the car for some time to come.

 

Thanks! That was very encouraging for a soon to be rx-8 owner. Thats what I wanted to hear

 

well-written overview

although, i wish i can have that kind of number for my mileage.
when i got my 8, it was brand new 2006. now i have 24000 miles haha
anyways thumbs up

 

good write-up! i turned 24k today and have the same things to say about the car.

 

Good post. i also had my RX-8 for about a year and 3 months now. with 18200 miles.....awesome write up.

I will have to agree on the part that the car handles and has enough power in reserve that you are reminded of that fact when you jump into any other car.

I remember when i took my friend passat out and i was so used to taking corners at 40 with confidence, only to realize, oh yeah, right i'm not in an RX-8, scared the crap out of my friend who was like what are u doing?! haha.

Same thing goes with acceleration. thinking about beepin and hearing the redline....feels like you're breaking something on other cars, feels like you have to be gentle with other cars cause redline isn't a good thing on other cars.....

I also appreciate the fact that if the RX-8 is stock, it is quiet on the highway....only a slight rotary gurgle as you move in RPM.

It's awesome ride, quiet, comfortable, sporty when its called for, sedan like when you just need to chill and relax.

Only had 2 issues, PCM reflash and Gas cap replaced. Otherwise, its been flawless, knock on wood.

 

Bought my 04 GT in Feb of this year so not quite a year in my hands yet. I'll ad to the comments above that if the 8 is your daily driver in the snow belt, prepare for big fun. Thing plows thru slush & snow (with snow tires) and is a blast on slippery roads where the road feel & balance give you the confidence to toss and slide the car around. When you are sick of playing, turn the traction control back on & motor comfortably to your destination.

 

A nice write up. i have had my car for a year now, second owner, nad i just hit 43K, yeah, and i just had a altenator and battery failed last month, so hopefully nothing happens in further years. i really love 8, how people look at it, and sometime i am thinking about buying EVO, but do you really need those horse power for the street?
in conclusion, when i parked next to EVO, people look at my car more that EVO.
hehehhehe,
peace
steven

 

06 Gt with 13,000 miles on it . I've had it for 20 month now . Not much on the milage because it's not my daily driver. On the same boat as you guys , no issues whatsoever and enjoyed everytime I drive it down the drive way ..... The one good thing is the fact that you could keep moding all you want .. give it a different look........

 

Damn. I have an early 05 and just hit 20k. Clean as can be

 

put only 10k on in 1 year. makes a difference storing it 3 months out of the year though too... didnt drive it until end of march last year. and been stored since first weekend in december. so 10k in 9 months. about 1100 miles a month. nice write up

 

Must be an 06 thing. Had mine for 8mths now and apart from the moonroof rattle which comes and goes, the car has never given me any problems. I don't know what is the fuss about. Looks great. Still get gawkers wherever it goes. I pity the fool who has to get cars with bi-wings and gills to get attention.... and most of the time aren't the positive ones too. The interior is great. Still looks good so far.

 

Good write up but the rotary doesn't have V12 power, a V12 powerband or the same sensation of power. It's smooth but it doesn't even have the low end grunt of a inline 6 BMW engine much less a V12. It's fast enough to get you into trouble if you want but the average high hp V8 SUV these days can keep up 0-60

 

2 years this January for me, and every time I drive it I still say "damn, I love this car..."

 

Good write up! I'll going on 4 years this coming february. 30k miles. Only minor problems which was fixed by the dealer. I received all the flashes and updates.

I agree that an 8 owner will have to adjust driving style when jumping into another car. I have a wrangler and its night and day when it come to how either one drives.