A couple of RX8 questions...

Yes, yes, I've got Automotive ADD as much as the next GRMer.

Anyway, I noticed that RX8s seem to be easier to find for a decent price than a decent Miata. So I'm thinking, hey, I like rotaries and in a sense it's the Miata's big brother...

I've read the GRM buyers guide but it leaves me a little stumped, hence the questions:

• Most of the cars I see for sale are 2004 ones, so they're falling off the warranty next year, and/or are getting close to the Mazda warranty limits. Any experience on how the engines are holding up in the longer term in a hot climate?
• Do the 16" wheels fit the manual 6-speed? I'd need to stick snow tires on it if I wanted to drive it all year around and I'd guess the 16" ones might be a tad cheaper.
• Aside from the fuel consumption which I'm aware of (I used to DD a tuned FD...), anything else that would prevent me from DDing one?
• Any special areas that need to be checked when looking at one? I know about the coil packs dying early and would think that I'd want to see a genuine Mazda compression test on the engine, but anything else?

I used to known an RX-8... I loved it and I hated it. I think I got one from a bad batch however.

The '04 and the '05's are the least reliable (obviously) of the entire run. Most people experience flooding issues, cold start issues, and random detonation issues much more frequently than later models. Of course, since you're buying a used one, it's going to be much more important to look at it's previous history, service reports, etc. Mazda will warranty your engine up to 100,000 miles - so if it blows up before then, they HAVE to replace it. This is a transferable warranty. Of course, some dealerships will give you a harder time than others in respecting the warranty.

16's MAY fit... of course offset, width, and wheel design will play a part in this but I'm not too sure.

The RX-8 was a marvel to drive but I eventually parted with it due to two reasons - reliability issues and MPG. I swear I must have been getting 15MPG around the city. Not a big problem if you're driving around a V8 making 300 or more horses, but when you know it's coming from a 1.3 litre engine that would only dyno around 190hp, it becomes much more frustrating.

I would definitely get the car checked out by an independent and COMPETENT third party rotary shop. To be honest, most Mazda dealers won't know what to look for. But yes, the coilpacks do go bad very quickly... check the compression and definitely drive the piss out of the car when you test drive it. A healthy rotary is a rotary that likes to be winded-out.

Again, these are great cars as long as you don't end up with a bad example. Although there's a bitter taste in my mouth in regards to rotaries, I would love to own a later model RX8 again someday.

16" rims will not fit. I have some 17" rims and they barely sort of fit, but different designs may fit better. I had to clearance the front calipers a little.

There are a lot of great things about the car. It's a fine daily driver (other than fuel). Handling, dynamic behaviour, steering, shift feel are all incredible. It's easy to drive and flatters a mediocre driver. The engine doesn't pack a lot punch under 6000RPM, but it's fun to wind it up.

A lot of little things seem to be weaker than they should be. They seem to rust readily and have issues with coils, transmissions, engines, rear shocks, etc. The trade-off is they depreciate nicely so you can get them for a good price.

C&D rated it tops in 3 comparos, 10 best x 3 years, named it the #3 best handling car for <$100k last year after the boxster spyder and elise, motortrend rated it the #3 best handling "feeling" car after the Audi R8, etc, etc, etc.

Gotta say, I wouldnt go there.

I have a friend with a 2004 with 9x,000 miles that apparently blew an apex seal that couldnt get it warrantied. (lack of receipts for oil changes)

From what I gather from him, when its running right, its great, but it needs a little too much love to stay that way for my taste. He has had to seafoam the engine for carbon'd up apex seals a number of times, lots of coil packs, and some weird oil control problem that had him mosquito fogging for awhile. That said, thats a lot of autocross miles on the car.

That said, the car has been frustratingly good in our PAX based team trophy. Driving the car, it turns in like a MOFO and with the lack of torque you dont have to be shy at all about planting your foot on the throttle, which translates to the car biting you less then others might.

On a warm day the squishie e-brake knuckle guard thingy is highly amusing...

I've had mine for 60k miles and have had zero issues. Mine is a 2006. I heard horror stories about the coils, so I replaced them with the BHR kit at 58k miles. The stock ones looked fine. I'd say that the RX-8 has typical normally aspirated rotary reliability. I'd say that they're one of the best deals you can get today.

I'd say that they require less monitoring than something like a DSM, Alfa, Fiata, MG, or any other number of cars people on here jerk off over. That said, if you don't need four seats, get a C5 or C6. I've seen several C6's with 50k miles and less going for around $25k.

My 04 RX8 has been in the family for 4 years. The engine was replaced under warranty 2 years ago at 97,XXX miles (just made it). After the new engine put in haven't had a single issue with it. Has 117,XXX on it now and is my daily driver. I keep up on the services and drive it like it's meant to be driven. It was interesting driving it the snow last year, we had a lot more than usual for North Alabama and my RX8 has MazdaSpeed springs installed. Which lowers it some. The front airdam plowed some snow.

As stated, unfortunately 16" wheels off an autotragic RX8 won't fit over the brakes on the 6-speed manual version. Do what I did and check out some local tire shops to see if someone that had aftermarket rims installed left their old ones behind. My daughter has a friend that works at a local tire shop (hook-up for mounting also ) and someone did that at the shop he works at. I have an extra set of OEM RX8 18" rims.

I endorse picking up an RX-8. My brother has an '05 that he has been DDing since new. The only issue he had was the autoleveling in the headlights. They kept slowly aiming as far down as possible. Replaced under warranty. Zero issues since then. It's really a blast to drive. He gets 18mpg no matter what sort of driving he is doing. I should add that it handles great with snows mounted on his second set of OEM 18's.

rotard wrote: That said, if you don't need four seats, get a C5 or C6. I've seen several C6's with 50k miles and less going for around $25k.

'07 - '08 BMW's are also going for this price. Check out a search for 3-series at Carmax.

Xceler8x wrote:

rotard wrote: That said, if you don't need four seats, get a C5 or C6. I've seen several C6's with 50k miles and less going for around $25k.

'07 - '08 BMW's are also going for this price. Check out a search for 3-series at Carmax.

Yeah, but you can get a good 2006 RX-8 with low miles for $15k. The BMW's are not worth $10k more, in my opinion.

I've driven at least 7 of them. If you are tall-ish, and/or plan on wearing a helmet in it you want the cloth MANUAL seats and the hardtop (no moonroof).

They have to be whipped like BDSM dominatrix to get any kind of momentum going, and it's still not really all that fast (coming from a self-proclaimed rotor-head who's owned and raced an FB and an FC RX-7).

I should add that my brother did get one as Javelin describes. I'm 6' and sitting in an RX-8 equipped with a moonroof had my hair brushing the headliner at a comfortable seating position.

Javelin wrote: I've driven at least 7 of them. If you are tall-ish, and/or plan on wearing a helmet in it you want the cloth MANUAL seats and the hardtop (no moonroof). They have to be whipped like BDSM dominatrix to get any kind of momentum going, and it's still not really all that fast (coming from a self-proclaimed rotor-head who's owned and raced an FB and an FC RX-7).

Javelin wrote: They have to be whipped like BDSM dominatrix to get any kind of momentum going, and it's still not really all that fast.

Print this

I am eagerly awaiting the 2004s to be thoroughly off-warranty so that broken ones get even cheaper.

I have every intention of doing a 4.8 LS swap Rx8 for under $5k.. preferably closer to like $3500?

The RX-7 engine bay will swallow up damn near anything but a 392 Hemi. Is the -8 similar in that respect?

You're a bad man. You think like I do. I've seen a few RX-8's with dead rotaries for pretty cheap every now and then.

Vigo wrote: I am eagerly awaiting the 2004s to be thoroughly off-warranty so that broken ones get even cheaper. I have every intention of doing a 4.8 LS swap Rx8 for under $5k.. preferably closer to like $3500?

Hinson's basically done with their LSX conversion.

http://hinsonsupercars.com/s-942-mazda-rx8-2003-present.aspx

If they can do it, I'm sure many others can as well.

Actually what had occurred to me when RX8's w/blown rotary gets cheap is 20B should fit and bolt up to everything nicely. Should only have to fab mounts and maybe upgrade cooling.

It started as a rotary, might as well stay rotary.

Does that mean I'm a rotorhead now? My RX8 is the 1st rotary I've ever owned or driven.

wlkelley3 wrote: Actually what had occurred to me when RX8's w/blown rotary gets cheap is 20B should fit and bolt up to everything nicely. Should only have to fab mounts and maybe upgrade cooling. It started as a rotary, might as well stay rotary. Does that mean I'm a rotorhead now? My RX8 is the 1st rotary I've ever owned or driven.

Have you researched this at all? 20B=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ It most definitely does not fit in and bolt up to everything nicely. It is a fantastic engine, though.

rotard wrote:

wlkelley3 wrote: Actually what had occurred to me when RX8's w/blown rotary gets cheap is 20B should fit and bolt up to everything nicely. Should only have to fab mounts and maybe upgrade cooling. It started as a rotary, might as well stay rotary. Does that mean I'm a rotorhead now? My RX8 is the 1st rotary I've ever owned or driven.

Have you researched this at all? 20B=$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ It most definitely does not fit in and bolt up to everything nicely. It is a fantastic engine, though.

The massively interconnected ECU will prove expensive to work with, too.

Not to mention the 20B swap would actually put more weight into the RX8's nose than an aluminum LS would.

Do not care! If i was looking for the perfect car, i wouldn't be looking at an RX8 in any form.

I'll take mine with a screaming 3 or 4 rotor, please and thank you!

I know it wouldn't be cheap. The cheapest 20B I've heard of was over 3K, came w/ECU and twin turbo. And realize that there is more $ to a swap that just buying the engine. Just think it would be cool to have that setup in an RX8 and surprise those that hear the rotary and think nothing out of the ordinary.

I have thought of a wrecked RX-8 as a one car Locost donor.

But then I run out of beer and my wife changes clothes for bed

Javelin wrote: I've driven at least 7 of them. If you are tall-ish, and/or plan on wearing a helmet in it you want the cloth MANUAL seats and the hardtop (no moonroof).

Can you define tall-ish? I'm 5'11" and I can just about wear a helmet in a Miata with a hardtop.

Javelin wrote: They have to be whipped like BDSM dominatrix to get any kind of momentum going, and it's still not really all that fast (coming from a self-proclaimed rotor-head who's owned and raced an FB and an FC RX-7).

I know what an N/A rotary is like so that was kinda expected.

rotard wrote: I'd say that they require less monitoring than something like a DSM, Alfa, Fiata, MG, or any other number of cars people on here jerk off over. That said, if you don't need four seats, get a C5 or C6. I've seen several C6's with 50k miles and less going for around $25k.

The problem with the 'vettes is that they're fairly useless in snow, or that's at least what everybody around here tells me about them (and there's a ton out here).

If that wasn't the case I'd be all over the low-mileage C4 ZR1 at the local used car empornium.