Ike

That's really not true. It's not any cheaper to get a rotary worked on and or replaced than most piston engines. In fact it's often more expensive because you're usually stuck with whatever the dealer decides to screw you over for.

LionZoo

In my opinion dealers are only good for warranty work. If you're paying for the work, you're better off having an independent rotary shop do it.

Ike

Many people are not lucky enough to have an independant rotary shop next to them. I'd have to get my car towed (if I had a rotary) over 100 miles, assuming there is one in Chicago...

CarAndDriver

I think it definitely to live on one of the coasts if you're looking for rotary mechanics.

I guess the next best thing would be to look for someone who specializes in Mazdas then Japanese cars next. Or check out another Mazda dealer.

Smileynh

I really think it's the BAD gas mileage. 15 mpg with $3.20 gas gets old real fast for some people. Hence, people sold the cars off. I have also noticed a glut of used 8's where there used to be none.

The Solstice and Sky came out recently as well. Far cheaper then the 350z but good looking IMO. The redline is faster to 60 and gets 30 mpg. If I didn't need 4 seats that'd seem reasonable.

Then again, I wanted a rx7 since 1990 and finally got my rx8. I'm keeping it a long time.

NH

mysql101

15 mpg isn't terrible for a sports car.

But, when you have other cars making much more power with similar or better fuel economy, then it doesn't look so good.

Astral

IMO, resale has tanked exactly for the reason that Mazda shipped too many and offered discounts that were too deep.

I remember thinking back in the day: why should I pay someone $22K for a used car, when I can spend $23.5K after discount and get a brand new one?

TomAssBender

ummm, doesn't this make it terrible for a sports car?

thats like saying "10% isn't a bad rate on a loan, but when you have shorter loans for more money at 5%, it doesn't look so good"

sorry, thats a weird analogy, but its morning and i'm brain dead at work, hopefully you get my point, or your lack of one, hehe

TomAssBender

I'm sure I dont even need to say this, but obviously this is a whole different monster.

A) the recall was life threatening + B) many more people owned Ford Explorers than will EVER own rx-8's = heavily televised recall

vs.

A) the recall regards poor engine performance, power loss, etc - B) most of the nation thinks rx-8 is a synthesized cough medication teenagers use to get high (wait, what?) = a recall that educated potential buyers don't even know about (that would be you)

dmc27

I feel just the opposite to be true. Bought my base 05 brand new for about 2.5k more than the used 04 sports w/10-20k miles were listed for. 2.5k for 0 miles and no-body elses abuse? Pretty good deal, imo.

Anyway - OP - go testdrive the 8. There really is no compelling argument against buying one if you like it. And you'll be getting a great deal right now. Drive it. Make sure you accelerate through some nice sweeping on/off ramps.

New Yorker

Close to greatness

"Our long-term test of the Mazda RX-8 has ended. We miss the car. Everyone who drove it enjoyed its sinfully smooth engine and sporty nature. For all the things it does right, it's a shame it isn't perfect. A collection of trivial faults diminish what is otherwise a wonderful car—these are the type of faults that may be irrelevant to some, but of utmost importance to others…

…Minor grievances aside, the RX-8 is a wonderful automobile, more of a civilized sports coupe than a sports sedan. Prospective owners should be sensitive to the complexities of ownership, as this Mazda tries to be a different type of car… We'd recommend the RX-8 to anyone, especially those who don't mind getting a little dirty checking the oil and keeping the revs up—way up."

This report was written after 50,374 miles—on an '04, no less. Obviously Shaun Bailey—the Road Test Editor who wrote this—doesn't read these posts. Maybe that's why he—along with every other auto journalist from every other auto magazine—is so in the dark about the true nature of this car. He didn't even use the word "recall" once, let alone four times! Talk about sugar coating it!!! Fortunately the truth can be found on this forum. Not in Consumer Reports, not in Road & Track and not in any other car magazine. Just here. (The strange thing is, my experiences with my 8 have been a lot more like the 8 R&T tested. Weird.)

ken-x8

I read that road test, along with all the others. I've only had my 8 since July, and don't quite have 4000 miles on it, but I've formed my opinion.

IMHO, Bailey and the other reviewers captured the true nature of this car. Thanks to the reviewers, I knew all about the gas mileage and the oil thing. I do disagree with the ones who didn't like the perforated sun visors - I think it's a cool and useful feature for a car with this low a roofline. But overall, the car is great. Possibly even more than I expected.

Need to be careful about what you read in on-line fora, even good ones like this. All of the problems surface, and are harped upon. I've got a couple of Nikon cameras, which I thought were great until I started reading the camera fora. I was very careful to not let the cameras know any of the stuff I read on line, lest they stop taking excellent photos.

Ken

New Yorker

mysql101

I know what you're saying, but my point is valid. 15 mpg is NOT bad for a sports car. But there are cars out there that make more power and get even better mileage. In that context, it might not look so great, but that doesn't change the fact that 15 mpg is decent for this type of car.

rodrigo67

I wonder what this review would be like if they had one of the problematic cars others have here. Probably not so positive.

Yes, there are car here that have no problems at all, as I stated, and others that have had numorous issues. I have had no issues with my car, but I only have 16K miles on it, and it too is an 04.

The original poster asked why prices are so low and I answered my opinion. Nothing in it is not true. Unfortunately, the perception out on the street about this car is mostly negative, which in turn reflects pricing. Wether true or not, wether deserved or not. It is a fact that some cars are on thier 2nd, 3rd, or even fourth engine. It may be a small number or not, but Mazda is not going to tell you how many they replaced. Some of the replacements need replacing, and a starting pool of 3000 engines is not a small thing.

The writer of this article not mentioning the recall is not even an issue as I myself have not even gotten the recall notice yet, but you can be sure that other car enthusiest who drive Z's, RSX's, evo's, and others know about it, and it does factor in when they are looking at buying...

Read other forums and what do they say about the 8, the car is slow, it blows engines, it eats oil. It is the perception that determines what people will pay for a car, because honda's break down just like other cars.

CarAndDriver

Considering that far more powerful cars get better gas mileage, I think that is not a very good figure. That is a figure more along the lines of a lumbering SUV.

Passenger cars of all types seem to be getting better MPG while improving HP and performance through technology enhancements.

The 8 should be the same, but it's one of the downsides to the rotary.

Detrich

the 8 is not a popular or better-than-average car when it comes to maintenance/ reliability. it's more of an enthusiasts' sports car and thus has a niche market. therefore, the resale value will reflect these factors.

popular cars like beamers & z's are high in demand and hence hold their value much better. but, the flip side is that they are a dime-a-dozen everywhere...

that said, there's nothing as sweet as the smell & touch of a new car...

New Yorker

Yes there have. Maybe even more. I read it on the internet… right here:

Design1stCode2nd

Any entirely new platform and entirely new engine is going to have its share of issues. I haven't always been able to stay away from the first or second year of production for a car but I think it's a good idea to do so if you can. If I move on to an Evo X or New Camaro I will give them at least 3 years to work out the bugs before I buy one.

BMW_2_ARGh(ex)Eight

I would somewhat agree to that but... I have a 99 323i, the first model year of the e46 chasis, and first introduction of the M52TU engine. In fact, my car's build date was 12/1998, so it was one of the very first of the very new model.

That being said the car has had no problems other than a lock actuator I replaced last weekend, and a thermostat that is slowly going and I'm replacing this weekend. 98,000+ miles too and I still get 28-29 mpg (errr, 170hp though, you win).

Thats pretty damn good, but hey, its German baby!

CarAndDriver

Uh yeah--tell that to any owner of an Audi, VW and/or Mercedes. Those three produce some really unreliable vehicles and that's putting it mildly. None of those companies even have a aggregate average rating as a whole.

Say Mercedes M-Class and you'll have a sea of unhappy customers.

German schmerman--doesn't mean a thing when it comes to reliability.

BMW_2_ARGh(ex)Eight

Mercedes has some of the best drivetrains in the world... best diesel technology of anyone out there. Christ if your company is claiming diesel is the way of the future they must have something really ingenius in the works.

Audi is just a poorly run company, so I can't/won't speak to their reliability, but I will they they are the best selling luxury car in China, and the Chinese know a thing or two about reliability and efficiency (positive stereotypes are ok).

Vdubs... pretty reliable actually, the jettas are mini tanks.


Electrically... ehhhh. You hit a puddle in a German car and pray that your trunk doesnt explode from an electrical fire. Personally, I enjoy driving a HOT car!

Most of the ratings for drivetrain dependability/reliability are very good, but overall I think they come in "good" I think Lexus wins for most reliable right? Then maybe its sister Toyota?

JeRKy 8 Owner

Why is it so cheap used?

Uhhh....maybe these 5 letters will help you figure that out: MAZDA

CarAndDriver

What German drug have you beeen smoking?

Research and read the Internet and Consumer Reports. Mounds of articles on the terrible reliability of many Mercedes and VWs. BMWs aren't too golden either. The 3 series seems to be the best of their models.

I didn't say German engineering is horrible. In fact, I think German engineering is world class.

However, German automaker seem to have problems designing, manufacturing and assembling many of their models to avoid reliability issues.

Using Survey Data from 1998-2004
Consumer Reports ranking, by Automaker brand, problems per 100 vehicles:
Subaru 8
Honda 9
Acura 10
Toyota 10
Hyundai 11
Infiniti 11
Lexus 11
Audi 12
Mini 13
Ford 15
Pontiac 15
Cadillac 16
Chevrolet 16
Chrysler 16
GMC 16
Jeep 16
Mazda 16
Saab 16
Dodge 17
Mercury 17
Volvo 17
Buick 18
Nissan 19
Saturn 19
BMW 21
Volkswagen 23
Mercedes-Benz 25
Lincoln 26

http://www.autosite.com/content/shar...cle_id_int/409

BMW_2_ARGh(ex)Eight

"problems" define.