I'm on the fence. I keep bouncing from one to the other.
RX-8 or MX-5?
Here's the background:
I grew up in the 60s and 70s with Minis, Healeys, and MGs - later a BMW 2002 and last year a BMW Z3 coupe (2 seater) as a second car.
5 years ago I treated myself to a '95 Integra which is now at 125K miles. Still going strong and is in great shape. Very reliable, is my daily driver. It's time for me to replace the Integra though before it gets too tired.
Our '05 Mazda 6 has been great. My son is looking at an NB or NC Miata / MX-5.
I've had my eye on the RX-8 for over a year and I've followed it's problems and solutions.
I'm an engineer and the rotary intrigues me. It's sound at 6-9K is amazing. The handling and driveablity is great. The styling is super.
But, along comes the MX-5 Retractable Hard Top and it is very tempting. It doesn't have the looks of the RX-8 or the smooth Renesis but it does have years of reliability and now with 170HP in '06. Gas mileage doesn't concern me. We're on Long Island so winters are not too bad. I'd probably get by with all season or a set of Blizaks for the few days we get hit with bad snow – either with the RX-8 or MX-5. My only big concern and priority though, is reliability - this will be a daily driver. The Integra and my two kids Civics have been solid performers. Easy to work on and VERY trouble free. The Honda breed almost sold me on the RSX type S w/ Vtec – if it were not for the rash synchro problems they have in all their 6 speed transmissions.
I think I've covered all the threads on blown engines, flashes, flooding, little things, as well as the RX-8 facts at http://www.truebluetitan.com/pi/?page_id=32
Lots of good stuff. I just can't seem to get a handle on how serious the engine reliablity problem really is. I read about guys with 50K – 100K on their motors with no problems. This is what I would expect. With the history of the RX7 and prior, along with all the improvements and Mazda engineering, I'm surprised to hear about Vegas and New Mexico having all the “new engine” swaps, flooding, marbles and stalls. My local dealer has only replaced one “dronwing induced” engine. I expected the problems to taper off in '05 rather than to still hear about them in mid '06 – on low mileage 1 or 2 year old RX-8s. Usually on new models, problems are solved by the engineers and they dissapear. Early '90 Miatas had crankshaft problems, about '01 had some other bearing issue and later ones had a clutch shudder. But now they seem to be well known for their reliablity record. Is the RX-8 improving or just maintaining it's questionable reliablity record? Has anyone actually gathered any statistics on the engine problems and compared them to other models or manufacturers?
My commute is 15 minutes each way.
I don't need the four seats or trunk space of the RX-8. I like the sporty handling of the MX-5 and a convetible would be nice again.. But nothing on the road looks or sounds like the RX-8. What to do!?
Opinions?

 

Words make me angry!

 

Depends upon how you drive.

I know people with 200,000 mile RX7's and people with 200,000 mile Miata's

 

sorry speedy, but my eyes are bleeding atm. but sorry i cant help you. it would be easy for me to say get the 8, but i dont want a car to let you down. me getting 8 is because i already know what i had to deal with.

this isnt my first rotary car, i owned a 92fc in okinawa for 3yrs before i came to US for college. So i already knew what i was getting into witht he 8. Which to me 8 doenst have alot of problems on letting me down. so prety much i wont tell you which car to get, because i would feel bad if the car was not what you wanted in car etc, i hope that made sense.. any how i do hope somone here can point you to right direction.

 

1. Get the RX-8
2. Properly maintain the engine
3. Be happy

 

My old Miata was the most reliable car I ever owned. Miata's are well known for this, so it is the safest bet, although its still a first year model. Had my 8 for a year, perfect so far, which is not always the case - our Passat had problems in year one, which only multiplied and continued. Otherwise, I don't think there is any evidence that there are widespread problems with renesis reliabilty, early autos maybe being the exception.

 

I had three Miatas over 13 years, and drive an RX-8 now. I believe the MX-5 would be slightly more reliable, but since you're obviously into cars and would, no doubt, follow the 8's few, "special" maintenance rules (don't turn it off cold, check the oil every other fillup), I think, for you, they'd be equally reliable. And remember that the new retractable hardtop seems like just the sort of thing that might have a few bugs that need to be worked out.

(FWIW, the manual MX-5 top—redesigned for the "new" MX-5—goes up and down very easily—in seconds—from the driver's seat. Many auto journalists marvel at how well it's designed and consider it the definitive manual top. Considering it also weighs a lot less than the retractable hardtop, I'd have to think long and hard before going with the retractable which, I must admit, is very cool.)

 

The RX-8 and MX-5 are both very sporty and share Mazda's intrinsic handling feel, but that's where the similarity ends. Ultimately, they are very different sports cars. So buy the car you like better, simple as that.

Reliability depends in part on the luck of the draw. My '04 RX-8 is a 1st model year and has been 100% trouble free. By now, a 2006 or 7 model should be very solid. But it always comes down to the specific car you buy.

My 3rd gen RX-7 was the least reliable car I had ever owned, yet its the one that I still look back on with fondest memories.

 

I have one of each; an 04 RX-8 and an 03 Miata (for the wife). Both daily drivers and both fun in their own way. Very different cars. It takes me a good ten minutes to adjust to the Miata when I drive it. I would say that, if I drove the Miata all the time, it would have a turbo or supercharger. It's a great car, but I would need that extra boost to make me really happy.

As far as reliability, we've had both for just about 2 years now. The RX-8 has had all the flashes and TSB work done - typical for a first year model. I flooded it once, because I was stupid

The Miata needs to have the clutch shudder fixed. I just need to work up the ambition to get the dealer to fix it. It had the "normal" Miata crunchy transmission. After doing some reading, I replaced the transmission fluid with GM Synchromesh FM fluid. I never believe in snake oil, but this stuff did the trick! Works nearly perfectly now. I think I'll put this stuff in the RX-8 when it's time.

Be aware! Both of these cars are SUMMER ONLY with their stock tires. You can probably get away with very good all-seasons on L.I., but I went with full-on snows (Blizzaks) for both after a terrifying venture through the median and 2 lanes of oncoming traffic in the Miata in a sudden freezing rain storm!

Good luck - you can't go wrong with either.

 

I've had both for a while.
The Miata is indestructable and really fun to drive. It is a roller skate.
The RX-8, by comparison, is no slouch. But it is bigger and newer. Who knows what the lon term is going to be.
If owning unique stuff and being intrinsically involved with your vehicle is not important, go with the Miata.

 

Completely agree.

I don't know anybody here who has more than 75000 miles. So reliability questoins are hard to answer.
________
INFANT PRILOSEC

 

I just came across this thread I started over a year ago.
I went with the '07 MX5 PRHT in August 2006. It's been great.
I stayed away from the RX8 back then because the engine recall came out just as I was about to order one. But I still was interested in an 8 and kept my eyes open.
A few weeks ago I sold the Z3 coupe and now have an '05 RX8 with 3,500 miles.

 

Welcome back to the site! I'm glad that you decided to buy an 8 after a whole year and two months

 

Speedy,

Glad to see you now have both. I too have an MX5, RX7/SA, and RX8. They are all great in their own rite.

My 79 RX7 was my first new car and my 3rd rotary. I just love this engine. The car is now 28 years old and I still get a grin when I fire the old girl up. She is like an old friend that never let's me down. The car has 85k miles but I'm confident that 200k is probable. But at 1000 miles per year, I may never find out.

The 90 MX5, also the first year, was purchase when it was 10 years old and has served both my daughters well as their first car. The car has had a water pump and a maf sensor. Really a fun car. Not fast but very quick. There is a difference.

The 04 RX8 is the latested edition. This car was also purchase used this past March, with 19k miles. I love this car. It could certainly be my daily driver.

Enjoy your Mazdas.

Z10

 

enjoy your ride