hey guys, just wanting to say hello.i been wanting to get a rx-8 for a while now but still debating on it so i thought i will get you guys opinion since most of you own one.i really love the mazda cause the way it looks and performance and all, but i been reading reviews and stuff at other websites saying that rx-8's have sooo many problems and high up keep and soo that kinnda made me re decide on what to get but i still would love to get this car, i herd that if u dont warm the car up right it wont start the next day, alot of blind spots, brakes are very bad, bad mpg and soo on but im hoping u guys can help me out by telling me if these things happen often or if u dont take care of the car right cause im hoping to get the car by this week and i want to make sure. and im the type of person that would put money on the car than on myself honestly.thanks guys i hope u can help me decide easily.

 

Problems:

1.) Flooding ((warming car)): If you start and stop your car without it warming up it will flood...if you purchase an 06 and up than you will have an upgraded battery and starter, so flooding won't be as likely...04 and 05 have a service call on them in which you can get these items

2.) Blind spots: Not so much...pillars are kinda large because of the rear doors so yes not as visible as say a sebring...but still ok...((definately not as bad as a Z))

3.) Brakes: Some of the best breaks to ever come out of Japan! Not sure if they still are...but they had the shortest stopping distance for any car ever out of japan 2 years back...what you are referring to is the squeaking...some 8's have the problem some don't...dealer will replace the breaks!

4.) MPG: Is pretty bad on some 8's...decent on others...not good on many ...I actually get over 20 mpg in city and highway...but its an anomoly ((sp?))

5.) Only things you need to do often...is check your oil ...warm up your car before you shut it off....and rev it to redline every day

 

All these problems are worth the looks I get when I drive by people... i love the stares

 

okay cool soo the only thing i have to worry about is warming the car up. and basic engine maintenance, man after hearing and reading what people said about the car made me look back and disappointed me, cause i really love this car.

 

I've owned 2... flooded the first one, my fault, I should of known not to just turn on, reverse into drive, turn off... a quick call, it was towed, new parts in, and back...

 

poke around the forum a bit and read the sticky threads. it'll help answer your questions although dtorre summed them up pretty well sans all the back and forth bickering of those threads. don't let people worry you about it. this is a car that needs more attention but is well worth it. and please do read and do some searching b/c these questions have been asked and answered a thousand times before.

 

Best thing about the RX8 - it's not seen at every other intersection like the Z's and Mustangs!! I can count 20 Z's for every RX8 I see on the road. Nothing worse than dropping a nice chunk of change on a car you see every other punk in.

Long Live the 8!!

 

If you're a squirrely car owner who jumps from vehicle to vehicle I would not buy. Late 2005 I paid slightly over $31 (no NAV no rotary accents), and if I was looking to sell it would go for $18 today according to some posters? That's incredible loss over a 1 year period. Think about that for a moment.

Fortunately I am not looking to sell, and I feel very lucky to have paid MSRP in 2005 for such a fine vehicle, at a time when dealers weren't letting Mustang GTs go for anything less than $3000 above MSRP.

For drivers like myself, the negative info out there causing the public to think the RX8 is high maintenance and ridden with problems is a huge, huge bonus. They would like to get the RX8, if "only" they had the time and resources to maintain it. Ha ha ha ha.

I'm laughing all the way to 9000

 

Hey snake,

All I have to say is do it. It'll be one of the best things you'll ever do. I just picked mine up last week and I love it to death. It's such a blast to drive. If you haven't taken one out for a test drive already, I'd recomend doing it right away. The sound the rotary makes when it runs from 6k-9 is just awesome. Thats what did it for me when I was buying it. The top gear video helped me along the way and the looks of the car were a huge bonus.

I was looking into getting an FD, but the interior is far superior in the 8. And the exterior will catch just as much attention. You'll be hard pressed to find another car that's as practical and as much fun to drive. Check the top gear video. http://youtube.com/watch?v=tG-Ip7TamWg

Good luck and make sure you post pics!

 

Perfectly understandable. I was just as apprehensive before I bought mine. Ironically, after having my 8 for two years, I'm petrified at the thought of owning another car with a *piston* engine. lol Really, there's nothing to worry about. Keep the car warmed up before shutting down. Let it warm up fully before running it hard (and be sure to redline it once every day or so. Seriously.). And keep your oil topped off. Hardly anything to stress out about. Good luck getting one!

 

thanks alot guys i really appreciate ur help and info on this car, man cause soooo many people talk crap about this car and its just making me go crazy cause i love this car and i havent drove one because nobody i know has one soooo im getting the car hopefully wish me luck loool thanks a mill again ..............

 

The Internet makes problems seem much more common than they are. Once I get a few more RX-8s signed up we'll start seeiing some accurate repair rates for the car: Vehicle reliability research

Even the least reliable fairly new cars these days just average a bit over a repair trip to the shop per year.

My father has a 2005. Only problem is that he did flood the engine once. Is there no way for an owner to resolve this without a tow to the dealer?