I currently have a 2000 Miata. I am looking for a new car that still has a sporty look, performs like a sports car but has a little more room. I have been reading about the Mazda RX8. Generally, the reviews sound positive but some of the individual user reviews aren't as much.

I will read over the threads, but meanwhile, can some of you who own RX8 give me a snapshot of how it compares to the Miata (if you've driven on, that is). What are the negatives, besides the poor gas mileage? Also, I am a little concerned about the rotary engine. Forgive my ignorance, but didn't Mazda have problems with rotary engines some years back? Is it risky to buy a car with a rotary engine? Also, does this car's lower torque make it slower? I would like it to be at least as fast as my Miata or faster.

(I'm female and my knowledge of cars is limited, so please don't get too technical.)

 

Don,t let the negatives sway you. I've had my 8 since Nov and 4000 miles no flooding problems or any other major problems. Just 4 months of fun. You owe it to yourself to drive an 8. I think you will be hooked. If you can afford it keep the Miata to. It wold be great to have a drop top and an 8. Good luck

 

Welcome... I used to have a 1996 M-Edition, which I sold to get my RX-8, so I think I can give you some insight. The RX-8 has a very similar sports car feel- great handling and high revving engine, but with more creature comforts, more room and better safety features. It's not quite a nimble and 'tossable', so if you autocross your Miata, you'll notice the extra weight... but the RX8 still handles very well for it's size and weight. I consider it a "super-sized" Miata :P

As for rotary problems- Mazda did have issues with the 3rd Gen RX7 because of the turbos and cooling issues, but the motor itself is definitely solid. 2nd gen RX7's (no turbo) are still running around with 200,000+ miles with no problems.

Performance-wise, as long as you get the 6 speed, the RX8 is considerably faster than the Miata. While it does have low-ish torque for a car with this much HP, it's still a more torque than the Miata... and loves to be revved up like the Miata to be in the sweet-spot of the powerband. The only thing I miss is the convertible top... but the big sunroof does a decent job.... besides that the RX-8 is everything I wanted in a Miata replacement.

 

The user reviews are generally not so good because all the people that enjoy their cars (95% at least), are too busy having fun in them.

 

I drove a Miata from 1990 till '04 when I traded it for the RX-8. There are a lot of parallels between the 2 cars. Both cars like to rev and to get the power you need to work the gears. Both handle great. Both were designed by enthusiasts. I consider the RX-8 to be the Miata's big brother. You lose the convertible top but you pick up the ability to carry 4 passengers. The only real negative I've had to this point has been the disappointing AC, but heck, my Miata had no AC :D The RX-8 has a lot more going on in terms of stability and traction control, for better or worse depending on your perspective. It can be turned off if desired.

There are a few simple things to keep in mind about care and feeding of the rotary engine. Basically, keep a close watch on the oil, and try to avoid cold shutdowns. Learn the "de-flood" procedure, but possibly you'll never need it. Early on, the RX-8 had issues with flooding but those have been largely dealt with by the newer "flash" versions and stronger batteries. Make sure yours is up-to-date on the flash version and make sure you've got a capable battery. The original stock was in the 300's cranking amps which is anemic.

 

This car is Great! I've driven a lot of cars and this is the 1st to make me fell like I'm one with it. Handling is Great (Don't know if its as good as a Miata) but handling is very responsive. Ride is comfortable but sporty. Lack of Torque? yah yah I hear that all the time. You just have to know how to roll with the gears and your fine. I don't have any trouble getting in front of people when they don't let me, I just drop a gear and shoot right in front of them with no problem. :D lol The 8 can hang with the best of them! As for the gas mileage, I don't know what people Bitch about. I get about 16-20mpg and don't expect any more. Its A Freakin Sports Cars for crying out loud! Why do people expect for it to get any more......................... I say go for it especially if you are to be a daily driver.

 

I think we should ask dmp

I'm sorry did you ask about our Rx8???
where can you possibly get the best feedbacks of the car other than this rx8club???
we all own one!
The car is great. I chose it over STi, Evo and M3.
Never regret it. I'm sure i missed some out in power, but when i redline this baby,
I don't know how much more do i need.
Besides all the haters out there who would like to key our cars and violate them, I feel real comfortable driving my car around. It's very reliable. I never had any problems. I have 1300 miles right now, and I didn't even add any oil yet. I check it time to time, but i just don't need to add it!! I'm waiting to add some, but the time never comes!

 

I had a 1993 Miata that I sold when I got one of the first 2004 RX-8 in Richmond. My impressions, comparing and contrasting the cars, are as follows.

1. Both the RX-8 and the Miata are true sports cars. I didn’t believe this when I first pre-ordered the 8, but Mazda really did it … they built a 4 door sports car. In over 20 months, I have yet to hear anyone who has driven the RX-8 ever question whether it should be considered a sports car.

2. The RX-8 is bigger and more comfortable. The interior, particularly with the back seat, is both spacious and luxurious as compared to the Miata. Being able to have a rear car seat for my daughter was a key reason for switching to the RX-8. You will love the trunk space, particularly if you opt to not get the spare tire. The only interior downside to me was the dash board. The Miata instruments are based on a functional no-nonsense design philosophy. The RX-8 controls are fine but the instrumentation has too much "flash and trash" for my taste ... fancy lighting, randomly placed lights, near meaningless icons and non-functional gauges (analog idiot lights) abound. However at 52, I probably do not fit the RX-8 demographic.

3. Driving position in the Miata was more comfortable for me. I am 5’7” and my legs are not particularly long. The Miata fit like a glove from day one. The RX-8 took a while to find a seat position that made clutching comfortable (it needs either adjustable pedals or a telescoping steering wheel) and still gave me enough head room (the moon roof doesn’t leave you much). Short people may need a clutch pedal extension.

4. If you kept your Miata stock as I did, the RX-8 has the power you have probably been looking for and braking that is so good it can make one weep. I find the clutch/transmission smoother than the Miata, particularly after switching to RedLine (which I had also run in my Miata) but the shifter throw seems longer and not quite as crisp as I remember in the Miata. I am thinking about switching to a short throw shifter. The handling is awesome, but the car is bigger than the Miata so the stock RX-8 probably does not come out as being quite as nimble. From the stats, it looks like one can change that with minor suspension upgrades. Another amazing thing is the ground clearance. I was always scraping bottom on the Miata. The RX-8 has wonderful ground clearance but still has a kick-butt low center of gravity. I have yet to scrape bottom on it.

5. The RX-8 is a coupe not a convertible. Opening the moonroof helps but it is not the same. If our heart beats for a roadster, stick with the Miata, the S2000 or the Boxster.

6. The Miata was very well balanced and engineered to be very forgiving toward the less skilled driver (like me) without the need for automation (ABS, LSD, traction control, etc). I would not recommend an 8 without the automation (ABS/LSD are standard, TCS and DSC should be) unless you are experienced driving a high performance vehicle without such aids. Things happen a lot faster when driving an 8 (acceleration, braking, steering response) so I find I have to pay more attention when driving it and end up relying on the automation to keep me safe, which it does a fine job of.

7. The RX-8 appears to be just as reliable as my Miata was. I have had a few things addressed under TSBs but not many. I have not had anything break since I got the car 20 months ago. I have previously owned 3 NA rotary engine cars and have not had any reliability problems and I see no reason to expect problems with the RX-8.

8. Two issues I had to accept with the RX-8 were the gas mileage and the possibility of flooding. Mine has never flooded but I am careful to never turn it off cold and I live in a temperate climate (Richmond, VA).

Hope this info helps.

 

Thanks to all of you for the great information! It is very helpful. Obviously, I have to test drive one of these babies soon. The most difficult thing for me though would be giving up my Miata. I can't afford to keep both. The Miata has only 33000 miles on it and is still a sweet car, and I love having a convertible.

One more question: a problem I've had with the Miata is that it is absolutely terrible in snow and ice. (I know, sports cars are expected to be, and the rear-wheel drive certainly doesn't help in this regard.) I used to live in NC so this wasn't that much of a problem, but I've moved to a colder climate where we get a bit more snow. Is the RX8 any better in snow/ice due to its heavier weight and larger size, or are you guys such sports car enthusiasts that you're only driving it in the spring/summer? Sigh. Must be nice.

 

This is REALLY REALLY important. The RX-8 comes with "summer tires", which means that they do not have the rubber compound or the tread to deal with snow. Driving an RX-8 on stock tires in the snow is frustrating and very dangerous. Unfortunately, that means that if the RX-8 is your only car, you'll need to get a set of all-season tires, or get a set of snow tires and have them switched each winter. That said, I've read on this forum that with a good set of snow tires the RX-8 is an excellent snow car.

There are probably hundreds of testimonials on this site about various brands of all-season and/or snow tires. Happy searching!

 

I second everything that RevTo9K said. I didn't believe how bad 8 was with stock tires until I had to abandon my 8 at a friends house during a light snow storm. Discussions on this forum indicates the car becomes acceptable in light snow with all-season tires actually does well if you put winter tires on it. DSC/TSC is very important if you want the best snow performance. Also, as I noted earlier, the RX-8s ground clearance is a big advantage over the Miata in snow.

I use the "park in garage" method of dealing with the few snows we get in central Virginia.

 

i almost bought a miatra a few years back, power seemed lacking, convertible is nice for the 3 days of the year you want it and generally convertibles fall apart real fast. Additionally convertibles sport coupes cost a fortune to insure. My rx8 cost less than half what my 2001 civic is to insure.

you can get 2 people in a maita and your convertible top eats the trunk. you can have 4 in a rx8 and get all their luggage in the trunk if they are guys..

Miata gets better gas mileage since it's a 4 cyl.

rx8 looks way cooler.

miata is a stadard engine and parts are readily available. rx8 is proprietary as heck and it'll be a few yerars before any real competition in aftermarket engine parts and stuff comes out. good luck finding a non dealer mechanic who can work mon one unless you hapen to be by the handful of rx7 fanatic garages.

miata is much smaller tires are cheap. rx8 has some fairly expensive tires, not bad for what they are but it's $250 vs $450.

miata has a spare tire.. forget it on the rx8 the spare tire kit donut is basically worthless, you have a fixaflat type kit with some tire slime, a compressor and patches in the truck that should fix most flats, however if you blow the sidewall you are waiting for a towtruck to tow you in... or to bring you a tire.

right now you can grab a rx8 for a little bit more than a miata. prolly in the 4-5k range. go drive them both on the dealer lot and tell me whcih one you rather prefer.

Both are fun cars to drive but rx8 really seems to have more zoom zoom factor

 

It works the other way for convertible junkys ... the goal is to drive with the top down for as many days a year as you can manage without dying from exposure. :D :D :D

 

All said is gospel - the -8 on the stock tires is a death trap in snow, but switch to either snows or top-end all-seasons (my choice was the all-seasons) and the car is quite livable in the snow and dare I say, FUN in the snow.

Stew

 

Not to sidetrack this thread, but I think your lack of experience with a Miata is showing. When I lived in Florida my top was down about 300+ days a year. Even when I moved to Chicago I still had around 200 days of top down joy... so don't discount the powerful attraction to a ragtop roadster. My top was still like new after 100,000 miles and 7 years old... it's all about how you take care of it. As for insurance... I don't know who you use, but I think you were getting ripped off on your civic... my Miata was about $100 cheaper than my RX8, and my RX8 is less than $600/yr. Also, both the RX8 and Miata come up donut spares... why is it worthless in the RX8?

 

G8rboy, where do you find the donut in your '8?
Cos I don't see one in mine......

S

 

I should have said if you paid for the option, you get a donut spare. My point was it's no better or worse than the dinky donut the miata comes with. The Rx8's donut is just really, really ugly.

 

He's right, here a pic of mine............................

 

Aseras, I guess it depends on where you live, but in NC I could drive my Miata with the top down 3/4 of the year. so the convertible aspect really made the car for me. Even in Louisville, KY where I live now, I can drive sans top just about as long. That said, I grew up and lived most of my life in Alaska, and the Miata first caught my eye when I lived there but I would never buy one there. It's a death machine. People who owned Miatas there mostly garaged them for the winter (which, in Anchorage, is unfortunatley about 8 months long.)

I find the Miata has plenty of power for my tastes, but I would welcome the extra power of the RX8... and the extra room. One thing I don't like is never being able to drive at lunch with work friends because it's just a two-seater. My Miata is a 5 spd so a 6 spd would be nice. (One other thing I love about the Miata is how seamless the shifting is. I have heard the RX8 comes close but is not quite as short a shift.) I also love the way it takes corners.

I will keep in mind what everyone said about the tires. Given my background, I know how important tires are in the winter. In Alaska, it's considered risky to buy a car that is a rear-wheel drive (unless it's a Volvo, SUV or something similarly heavy), so a RWD in snow definitely needs good tires.

I just drove by the Mazda dealer and stopped to look at a beautiful black RX8, completely tricked out and gorgeous. I went after the dealership closed so I wasn't pounced on. I just looked and drooled. Sigh.

One other thing: from reading some of your posts, I get the feeling that the RX8 is a great car but rather high maintenance. Would you all agree with this assessment? I am blonde and rather prissy. I just need to know in advance if I'm getting a car that needs to be babied.

Also, I've heard Mazdas don't have great longevity. They run great for a few years and then start breaking down. What do you guys think? I must admit that I was disappointed that I had to put $800 into repairs on my 2000 Miata this year when it has only 32,000 miles on it, has had regular oil changes and tune-ups. That didn't seem right to me. (Mazda's warranty sucks. I got three years, which ran out two years ago.) The car hasn't been ridden hard and has mainly highway miles on it. Is this to be expected?

 

I can't agree enough with what everyone said about the tires... I drove my Miata year round through Chicago winters with good snow tires, and I've done the same with the RX8 for the last two winters. The Miata and the '8 came with the same Bridgestone summer-only tires, so it's the same story- they're both absolute blasts to drive in the snow with the right tires, with the RX8 being a little more sure-footed thanks to the extra weight, traction and stability control.

Oh, and good choice on the sexy black :P

 

I don't think it's high maintenance at all. It's slightly different, but in my view, you trade a small bit of "involvement" for money. You should check the oil every 3rd or 4th gas fillup, but I don't actually have to add oil until about 1500 miles. The other thing is it appears park plugs don't last quite as long, but I am comparing to cars that now will go 120,000 miles without plugs being changed. But that's it. Otherwise, the suggested maintenance schedule is really no different than a piston car (I'm comparing to a Honda I had), EXCEPT there is no timing belt to worry about at 75-90,000 miles and there are no valves to be adjusted. That is easily $1,000 avoided over the life of the car compared to my piston Honda.

As for other stuff going wrong that aren't related to the rotary engine, my opinion has always been that it's a lottery with any car. My Honda inexplicably had all sorts of problems with starters and fuel injectors (which were not common problems at all) and those ate up a few hundred dollars. It was just bad luck.

The only other thing (and I hate to bring this up given how it gets overblown) is the flooding thing. Basically, even with driving it all through a MN winter (exceedingly cold for a few weeks), I have found that as long as the vents are blowing air that is warmer than the air in the cabin, it is just fine to turn off. Even on really cold days (like -10 F), I could get it to that point by letting it run for a minute at a stand still and then driving maybe 10 or 12 blocks. Even that may have been more than necessary to prevent flooding. And my dealer went out of their way to say they would tow the thing and fix it for free during the warranty period if it did flood- check what the dealer's policy is on that.

You obviously are aware of annoyances of cars during winter and the importance of snow tires. I did fine this winter with a good set of snow tires. I just had to be careful with the gas pedal when going anything but straight. I don't have DSC or traction control with my car, so I imagine it could be even better in snow than I experienced if you got the Sport or GT package. All the manuals have the limited slip differential which is the old school way to deal with snow, and it does help.

Anyway, you just have to drive it. If you want to add a backseat, a roof and a good helping of horsepower to a Miata, I can't think of too many cars that come close to the RX-8. Gas mileage will be different than a Miata for sure, but I have found that the surprisingly low insurance rates will likely make up for it over the long run in comparison to similar cars. My 2nd choice (in the mid- $20's range) was the RSX, which I think is a nice car, but I just felt the RX-8 had way more personality and matched or outperformed it in every respect.

 

I owned a 1999 Miata previously. I love both the 8 and the Miata. One thing I think the 8 wins is that the body is much more rigid. The body will not flex over bumps like a convertable.

Mazdas are very reliable cars. They may not have the interior fit and finish compared to a Toyata so you will have a few rattles here and there. But they will last forever when taken care of.

 

Sweet_Tea, be sure to read this thread: The Little Things. And welcome to the forum.

 

My wife had 2 Miatas, and I had an early (80) RX-7. None of these cars ever required extradordinary care. In fact, the Miatas were particularly good cars. Whether that applies to the RX8, and it's engine, one can't make a direct comparison. However, go drive it and sleep on your decision. Don't be intimidated by the sales process. You should remember that these guys are in business to move product, but the only way they can do that is to let you drive it.. More than once I would suggest.

 

There are two types of people posting on this forum. Those that believe the rotary requires special attention and is not for everyone and those that view it as a normal engine that you generally don't worry about. I belong to the latter group.

Having owned both a Miata and RX-8 I find the RX-8 does not need to be babied any more than the Miata. You need to regularly check the oil on both. The only special attention I have found needed for the RX-8 is having to warm the engine before shutting it off to avoid flooding after a very short trip (like moving it out of the garage to wash).