ok folks i have been lurking here for a little while because i have been strongly considering purchasing an rx8 6mt with a touring package.....the deal that i would be getting is pretty damn good in my opinion and will take me out of some serious negative equity in the car that im in now....but im on the fence with the car....i need some serious honesty on the good, the bad, and the ugly here.....i have a toyota matrix xrs now and the car has nothing wrong with it.....the only problem that i have is that i cant justify the payments im making for the worth of the car....i am aware that allot of people seem to complain about gas mileage, lack of power, and some issues with 2nd gear on the tranny.....i want to hear more though....its tough going to a new site and skimming all the threads on topics like this so please dont flame me and ask me to use the search button...i know its there....initial thoughts when i drove the car it was sexy but only a tiny bit faster than my toy....wasnt able to throw it around though testing the handling on it....but that could be fixed after i buy the car if i actually do it....how is this car with modifications?.....how reliable is it with people that have put mileage on it?.....what are the ups and downs in your opinions?.....please help me get over the fence either way because im torn....i love my car now....i think the rx8 is hot.....i can grow to love the new car......i guess im just asking for justification on the switch.....its also kind of tough cuz i have never owned a rotary and i am completely new to it...i am quite knowledgeable when it comes to piston engines....need help!!

 

I lurked for quite a while before making a purchase... But I took the very first one on a lot here for a test drive... The car screamed buy me. It isn't as fast as the impreza was, but it is just a really really nice car.

In my honest opinion, the handling is amazing. The mileage is so-so, the acceleration is linear and awesome. The looks (both interior and exterior) are to die for.

Modifications just aren't happening as people had hoped... I am not certain too many people are getting more than 20 or 30 horsepower without forced induction, and those that are using forced induction aren't getting more than 60 or 70 more horsepower. If you want a car that will accept modification, the rx-8 probably isn't for you. There is far better bang for the buck.

Reliability, I think most of the issues have been solved by mazda, but I don't think any of the issues were terribly serious. Like you have seen, most of the gripes are about mileage. If you can handle that, the car is probably a good car for you.

That's my .02

 

In a nutshell, if you can afford it, get it. It's the all-round best value sports car you can get for the money. If you are a muscle car fan, then look somewhere else, because you could be disappointed with the lack of torque. Best is to give it a proper test-drive.
And you should not be concerned about reliability. Look after the car well, and it should serve you well.

You should lurk a bit more and look for more comprehensive answers.

 

The mileage will not be great. Seems like 15-20 is average around town and mixed driving. Maybe 22 highway by some. It may not be the fastest off the line, but it has good acceleration, linear power, great cornering, and great looks. I think most of the reliability issues have been addressed, and seem to be associated with early production models. It would be good to hear from those who bought 8's since last summer to verify this. I have only 600 miles on mine, so my personal experience is limited, but I have had no problems, and have been getting 15 mpg on three tanks of gas in mixed driving. I love driving this car.

 

I have almost 22,000 miles on Sybil. I've had her for almost a year. I haven't had any flooding issues, air conditioning issues or transmission issues. I'm far from the most aggressive driver in here, but have driven the car at times, like a sportcars.

Honestly, I can report that I still look forward to getting off work and driving the car. I look forward to coming TO work, because I'm driving the car. If you love and protect your car, she will take care of you. This car has PLENTY of torque. Maybe not as much as others, but she still zips.

She handles curves remarkably well.

The stereo sounds fine, but my wife's Nissan Quest seems to sound better. Not a big issue, however.

The car has rattle issues. I am BIG on rattles...they drive me completely mad. This car has rattles. And they're hard to find.

Overall, on a scale from one to ten....9.

 

thank you guys i really appreciate it....i have tons of rattle issues in my trix but i got used to them and as a 4cyl car the mileage is only a few better than the rx8 so im not concerned with that....to be honest i am leaning towards doing this..i am not looking for a muscle car but something a bit better than mine......i have stock 180hp and 127lb of torque with my car...and im not sure if any are aware but it all hits at 6k rpms so its not too practical for real life driving...i test drove it last night and liked the linear feel of the torque curve...i also love the high revving cuz im used to it with the trix hitting redline at 8450.....i can afford the car because with the rebates and deal im getting it will keep me at similar payments that i am making now....i feel its worth it financially cuz i will be paying 30k for a car thats valued at that and i hate paying 30k for a car thats worth 18k...please keep the honesty coming....how is it in adverse conditions such as snow/rain?.....how is mazda customer service?....how are they with minor mods such as exhaust/header/intake......im not trying to have a rocket ship but i want a little bit of quick...thanks again for all your help

 

You'll find tons of honest posts throughout this discussion forum so I leave it up to you to surf for the details. However, I thought I'd share a few comments about driving a rotary. The rotary is a completely different platform and therefore you must expect a different driving experience than with pistons. In a nutshell, the renesis is a sweet little engine that delivers real punch, but you have to work at it (with stick) to derive its maximum benefit. Some people don't appreciate that and it takes them by surprise, but for me personally I love it.

It took a while to get used to the feel of the engine since I've never owned a rotary before. The sensitivity of the clutch and its biting point threw me a bit and I found the car lurching while driving in slow traffic. With time and a better understanding of how the rotary engine delivers torque to the wheels I was able to adjust to the proper peddle movements to keep it smooth. I simply had to use the clutch more and keep the revs up. It's work, but it's FUN work, what driving a sports car is all about. Now that I've got the timing down and discarded everything I learned previously about driving a manual piston engine, the 8 is quite truthfully the most engaging and enjoyable car I've ever had. And that's about as honest as I can get

 

Genesis....good post.

True statement about the rotary being a different breed engine. With that in mind, remember the engine is designed to consume oil. I've spoken with several drivers and mechanics alike, who say that if you check the oil and keep it within the limits, the engine should last 200k to 300k.

As far as customer service is concerned, I've heard reports spanning the spectrum. Some real horror stories and some very favorable reports.

I bought my car at Tom Bush Mazda on Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville. On a scale of 1 to 10............10. Sales, Parts, Service and Management......top notch.

 

I concur!

 

You are going to get mostly good posts, but to get into it I'm afraid you're just going to have to peruse through the discussions, technical info etc. to get both sides of the story and not just recent feedback. I love my car but you can sense the negativity of it in some members. Good luck! And I wouldn't be lazy about searching if I were you, you are making a $30k purchase here.

 

i actually liked the feel of the clutch in comparison to mine when i drove it.....by far more friendly.....if all this happiness keeps up i may be a permanent fixture here.....thank you guys much!

 

....."i can grow to love the new car"......

The difference for me is that I loved the car when I bought it last night and after driving her for ten miles, well let's just say we have a loving commitment to be together for a long time.
If you don't love the car already, you may not grow to love it. If you justify it by better payments, perhaps another car in your pricerange might make you a decent deal with your trade-in. That's what I did. I shopped around and found someone (Mazda of course) who gave me a great deal. Trade-ins are becoming harder and harder to pull any type of money of out of them unless you have serious equity due to the rebates and such that manufacturers are offering for new cars. This will of course always bring down the value of any trade-in. If you don't love the car already, you might not love it after purchase. It's a big gamble to buy a car and have to grow to love a 30,000+ vehicle.

 

Congrats on your new baby Rowdy. I loved the car before I even saw it in the flesh.

 

What other cars are you considering? In my opinion if it's just between the RX8 and your Maxtrix - I would pick the "8". The two cars are in totally different category's.

I have had mine for 10 months and have 15,000 miles - haven't really had any problems, the only rattle I have is one in the rear view mirror every now and then. Contrary to some - my RX8 doesn't burn alot of oil (which is normal for a rotary) - hardly any. The only issue I have with the car is the gas mileage - not the best in it's class. Other than that, it wins on everything else. Go drive a Nissan Z too - that is the closest competitor to the RX8.

 

dont get me wrong....i do have love for it and its growing quickly.....but i have love for my car too and it has been good to me...i live life with no regrets so if i do this i want to do it with an education....here is a link to my car so you could see how much love i have for it...and im sure the rx8 will see as much attention!

http://www.cardomain.com/id/chrismarko

 

If you do get the 8, pls go easy on the decalcs.

 

Well, I just got my 8 in late December and I have (at my job's parking lot) 910 miles on it. It seems I enjoy the car with each and every drive...just a little bit more, the 8 is a great all around sports car and honestly (as an overall sports car) there is nothing out there that can compare.

While it does not have much torque you will not notice it very much in normal driving. Sure, we all wish it had another 50 HP but it really is a pretty fast car as it is.

Mod's are growing and growing for this car and some people already have a Turbo & SC in their car or are in the process of. ECU''s & headers are lacking but all other mod's are comming around. The car came out in mid 2003 but it seems that 2005 is the year of the RX8 in terms of mod's.

Handling is great.
Fuel economy is hit or miss (I'm getting high 19's and my lowest so far has been 18.9mpg) but some people have really bad fuel economy
The fuel tank should be bigger than the 15.9 it is, I would have loved a 18gal.
The AC, keep in mind it's winter, works great for me.
Interior is high quality
Exterior is just SEXY as heck...I can't stop looking at mine...
Rear seating is remarkably comfortable and the rear doors really help
The engine sounds great and is pretty smoth, I only feel vibrations at 800rpm sitting at a light
The tranny is a little grabby but once you get use to it you wont notice, and the position is great...fighter pilot like
FUN TO DRIVE...the RX8 is the fun to drive poster boy

That's all for now, I don't want to talk too much but overall it's a great looking and performing sports car. FYI, your Toyota would not be able to touch the RX8 in speed so if the Toyota is fast enough for you then MANY GRINS AWAIT!

 

-Chris, from the looks of your cardomain page you are probably going to hook up any car you get. It can get pretty expensive on this car, it's no civic.
-The car is undriveable in the snow unless you get snow tires, though it's been pretty mild so far this year in NJ.
-Compared to your matrix, this car will be lower to the ground and handle better, but you will sacrifice storage(don't know if you care) The back seat is probably of comparable size, except for the center console in the back, and the seats do not fold down. there are a few things you have to do with a rotary that you don't have to do with other cars, such as add oil, longer warm up, cool down, don't shut the engine off cold, etc.
-Be aware of what can void your warranty and what won't.
-Check out the good guy/bad guy forum for advice on service.

That's all I can think of for now

 

the decals are actually gone off the trix with the exception of the tribal on the side...i was already grinning on the test drive....i wanna actually hear more gripes about the rx8....doesnt seem like there are much which kinda makes me nervous cuz i may just have to do this......oddly enough my wife even picked out an awesome color for me which i loved too...im feeling more confident with all these good reviews...but that can be expected at a car forum.....now i need negatives....keep it coming :D

 

I think this is a rather biased and inaccurate subjective opinion, one that I disagree with. I would agree that it is one of the better ones, but with the Mitsubishi EVO RS and the new Mustang GT available for about the same price (or less), and offering better performance, it just comes down to what you are after. Superb looks and comfort, with adequate performance, or superb performance with adequate looks and comfort. Value is in the eyes of the buyer.

 

Doc, you make me laugh. You starting to sound like Ike.
When I say all-round, I include looks, comfort, interior in the formula. No doubt that as far as outright performance is concerned, there are a few better options other than the 8.

 

Gripes....gripes...gripes....hmmmmm....

Interior can get scoffed pretty easy (it's kinda rubbery-plastic)
The drivers seat (on the left side, clutch foot side) tends to be a little too aggressively bolsterd so it makes you sit up and correctly in the seat (which is OK but initially is bothersome)
The door storage bins/slots are hard to put your hand in to get stuff or to use, it's pretty deep but not very wide
Trunk opening is pretty small
Rear seats dont fold down (but the center arm rest/cover does go down so that helps a bit)
Rear seat shoe/feet room is a little lacking
Passenger side footwell has a bump (so my wife compains a bit about)
Doors seem to have wrong spacing or too long/short spacing between each stop point while opening
Oil stick is too low in the engine compartment (some things are in the way also)
Center cup holders are a little too back and are a little in the way for a stick car
Center (mid storage bin) is too far back (because of the cup holders) and kind of small

I think that is all I can think about....hmmmmm...

 

Now that's a great comment worthy of some reflection. I also had convinced myself that the 8 was the most awesome car I'd seen during the time I planned a purchase of a new car. So I already loved it. Then, while visiting the local dealer, I already knew I wanted one (and the reviews were positive). So, the test drive became a self-fulfilling prophecy...it was like an event that had to occur to justify my buyer's dissonance while I made the financial commitment.

So, although I had a clumsy (relative term) first test drive and found it difficult to 1) engage reverse, 2) max the revs in traffic and 3) start consistently smooth from a stop, I still had a huge appreciation for the car. My desire to simply want the car had taken over any misgivings about my understanding of driving a rotary. I knew that with some work that the 8 would meet all my demands and deliver the performance that I was after. I'm sure glad I went with my intuitions

 

Chris M: Where are you in NJ? I bought mine at Maple Shade Mazda in Turnersville. No problems with them so far, but I havent had any major problems with my 8. My only negative is that I wish the dealer had been more forthcoming about the need for snow tires. I got them, but only because of this site & what I heard here. Sorry I can't say anything more negative, but I just love this car!

 

i have my trix dropped with teins so it sits pretty low...the rx8 was actually higher than it...storage i could care less about cuz the wife has a rav and my trunk is usually full of subs any waythis is good knowledge about the addition of oil, longer warm up and not shutting the engine off cold.....as for the warm up i have a heated garage so it shouldnt be an issue....and the evo, mustang, and 350 are all out of my price range because of my being upside down with the trade in...dont get me wrong im not settling cuz i think the rx is by far the sexiest out of them.....but it just comes at a perfect time with rebates too