Obviously I am quite new to the forum, and after reading posts for about a weak and doing a search, I didn't find anything addressing this particular subject. Basically, it is time for me to get a new car, and the RX-8 (after a test drive that I wasn't even planning on taking) has cast a spell on me and is now on my list.

I would like to know from those of you who have had your car for a while, how is it holding up structurally? I went from a 2000 Nissan Maxima, which was quiet and solid as a rock after 3 years of hard driving, to a Volkswagen GTI which had a dash rattle as I pulled off the lot, and has only gotten worse over the last year. I want a car that delivers a great driving experience, but I have to admit that I am the kind of person that does not deal well with this sort of thing.

I'm currently in the northern VA, Washington D.C. area, and there are alot of rough expansion joints, potholes, and poor patch jobs on highways where the traffic normally travels at about 70 mph. A car that isn't solid will show its weaknesses quickly. I don't know anybody who owns an 8, so I was hoping I could get feedback from owners here. Do you have alot of little squeeks and rattles as you are driving, or is the car fairly solid and quiet after significant miles?

Any feedback would be appreciated, so I thank you all in advance for any time you can take to help me with my decision.

 

My dash is rattling right now. I know there is a post on here with a easy fix. Just have to get around to doing it. Nothing else so far. 3K + so time will tell.

 

After 17000kms, my 8 is starting to rattle here and there, but mostly it is drowned out by my catback so I'm not too concerned.

 

10k miles here- no creaks, rattles or otherwise, unless I have my subs cranked up to max... but that's no fault of the car :D

 

i'm close to 8000 miles (7 months old). my drivers seat makes a bit of noise when i get in and out of it, and sometimes i hear a rattle in the drivers side door. The rear view mirror is a bit "crunchy" as is the navigation area.

all in all, not that bad - nothing that would make me regret getting this car, but I don't know how solid it would be in 10 years, unlike some hondas that I've seen with 250k miles, 14+ years old and not a single rattle to be found.....

 

thanks very much for the replies all - sounds fairly solid for a light weight machine.

 

My car is a complete rattletrap. I count at least 4 or 5 rattles from the passenger compartment (doors & dash). It's a complete nightmare- my 2000 Mustang was quieter than this car by a long shot.

 

I've only got 3700 miles, but I'm still rattle free. I did have one that I had a hard time locating. I finally figured out it was the interior trim on the A pillar. I pushed on it a bit and it has been fine ever since.

I just sold an Audi A4 3.0 that had 11,000 miles on it, and I couldn't believe how bad it was already starting to rattle. I would have expected the Audi to be rattle free and the RX-8 to have some rattles, but it's been just the opposite.

 

I have a rattle in my drivers side door, and a rattle in the rear deck somewhere. I'm fairly certain that the rattles are due to parts shrinking and expanding due to the changing weather here in norcal; while it gets annoying from time to time, it doesn't make me regret getting the 8. I have 25k miles.

 

I have about 5 or 6 rattles myself. Rear deck above the back seat, right front passenger door....sunglass holder if I have sunglasses in them....and a couple more of unknown origin. I chalk it up to a new year car....Mazda...if you're reading this....you have some rattles.......QUALITY CONTROL.........time to move

oh yeah.....17k miles

 

8600+ miles....

sunroof rattle...found it..fixed it
drivers door rattle...found it..fixed it
No other rattles to speak of.......zoom zoom....

 

Again, thanks for all of your replies - sounds like a mixed bag, but it probably has to do with the roads traveled as well.

 

Had a rattle from the beginning. Bass from my stereo, particularly if someone is speaking, causes a sympathetic vibration somewhere, I believe in the right, front of the car.

Also have another creak/rattle coming from the front ceiling, maybe sunroof area (I think).

 

friggin rattles everywhere

 

Wow, 30k miles here and no real rattles to speak of. Just the driver's seat making a popping noise under heavy cornering (getting it looked at tomorrow)

 

Rattles galore. below 40 degrees, it is unbearable. There are components inside the doors that rattle all the time. The sunroof rattles. If I didn't love the rotary so much, I would crash this hunk of junk into a wall so i could get a new car. My Millenia S rattled like a bitch too. How did you guys fix these rattles. I'm probably what they call neurotic??, so these rattles are driving me nuts. If you even have the stereo on when it is cold out, the doors rattle like crazy. It's so loud it is almost funny. Besides the rattles, the engine flooded and the dealership has had it for three days. They don't ever call me to update me, so i am forced to call every 5 hours to see if they got around to it. See guys, i'm trying real hard here. I love the rotary, I love the styling and handling, but everything else about Mazda is pure ****. This flooding thing has almost sent me over the edge. I could go on and on, but I'll stop

 

Certainly the weather has a big part to play, but IME the average Japanese car is much more prone to rattles over time and a Mazda (any model) is no exception. The fit and finish of the interior are usually excellent for the first 40km or so, but then they will start to loosen up...can feel it mainly in the seats and hear it in the door panels since these "parts" are used frequently and prone to daily wear and tear.

The 8 is not structurally built like a BMW or Merc...those guys really hold their fit and finish over the long term. Yet, knowing all this, I still bot the 8 because it's a sports car and I honestly expect it to rattle as it ages. However, if your 8 is starting to rattle at < 10km or thereabouts, then I would get it checked because it shouldn't rattle at such low km's. Of course, this depends on how you drive your car day to day.

One thing the Jap cars normally have to their advantage is the engine....you take care of it with proper scheduled maintenance, do regular tyre rotations, etc. and it will deliver way beyond the long term, certainly beyond the interior/exterior quality of the car. Even the rotary's history is no exception there!

 

My rear view mirror seems to have a rattle in it - other than that no problems. 13,300 miles.

 

There are actually a bunch of threads on this topic. You might try another search. Experiences seem to differ based on geographical location (temperature, humidity, road conditions) and other factors. I think the interior of the RX-8 is pretty well-built, with good fit and finish, compared to other cars in its price range and some that are even more expensive. Still, with all the plastic that goes into cars these days (hundreds of individual parts), it's a crapshoot. I've had one minor rattle that comes and goes, and I've shot some silicone spray on the rattling part in the dashboard which seems to help.

 

Please how in the hell did you fix the driver side door rattle? It rattles so bad I want to just kick the sh*t out of it. Te most annoying thing ever.

 

Actually some times when I am driving I keep hearing a sound that sounds like my speeker is going all staticy. But its not my speakers at all. I dunno. hmmmm

 

Almost 12 months on and my 8 squeeks, rattles and shakes......... not that it means anything since I can't really hear them above my exhaust and intake anyway. :D

 

I'd appreciate this information too, it just started doing this in my car @5000 miles. Of course it started getting cold here as well so I don't know if that's a factor.

 

I have to say the car holds up really good, because you won't find any other place in the world with such bad roads, like my country.

The condition they are in, is simply as bad as it gets!!

After 16,000km I have a small creak behind the dashoard, but I try not hear it. Its a pain to start dismantling and searching for it. So I don't care However resently I had a button crack (the one that heats the rear window). I'm going to replace it...

 

30,000 miles in 10 months. Seats are starting to creak bad.
Should be an easy fix....