Comments on: 2008 Mazda RX-8 GT review

By: L0u15

L0u15 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:05:44 +0000

I REKON no boost no way

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 08:19:11 +0000

I just purchased a 2004 rx8 with 94,000kms. I have driven a bmw 328ic, mustang gt and bmw 1s turbo. I was at a used car dealership going to buy a mustang gt took an rx8 for a drive and bought it.
These are hands down key advantages to this car:
Once you get above 5000 rpm in 1st and know how to drive you can pass a 350z, mustang gt. People have never driven the car that post on here. If you know how to drive a standard and drive the car hard as it was made for its fast. I rev 2nd gear up to 90k before a gear change. When I change the gear 3rd is at 7000′ and its a split second. This is not a slow car by any standards I have been 280kmh in it. My first day I got it I raced a GT500 and was ahead. I love the short shifter and the fact that a rotary is meant to be driven hard and its good for it. I was never a mazda fan and always wanted a black mustang gt but changed my mind when I drove this car. The main downfalls to this car is its much worse on gas than any mustang gt/gt500 v8 or anything I have driven and eats up premium like nothing. I have a rough idleing sound and need to have it checked. (was like that when i bought it) I have been very careful letting it warm up for 5 mins before I drive and cool down. The true fact is that mustang gt’s, 350zs’ gt500s’ rx8s, porsche boxters, stis – shit interior. These are all mid stream cars nothing special in terms of performance. You want a fast car buy a corvette I will be soon. I am sick of hearing about ppl bragging about 350zs their rx8s lancers etc. These are all just ok cars not high performance at all if you want power buy a powerful car. I personally love the rx8 because its the car that makes me feel like I am driving a ferrari. I love the gauges and the steering feeling. As long as you car is stock you are not a ricer and none of these cars are truly high performance cars. However if you plan on purchasing a corvette in the future and can afford the gas an rx8 is a great car to have before. It feels like you’re driving a ferrari and sure is fast enough to get you enough speeding tickets. Rev to 9.5k in second gear and you’re 95kmh in a 60. The gas is just too expensive though in this car I want a corvette but with rx8 steering and the sound of 10000rpms.

Mustang GT – Normal torque, Poor Top Speed, Normal interior.
Corvette – High torque, High Top Speed, Normal interior
RX8 – Low Torque, High Top Speed, Great interior quality (bose sound system)
Subaru – High Torque – Low Top Speed – Very cheap interior.
350z – Low torque – Low Top Speed – Very cheap interior.

I could go on forever because I love cars but all aspects need to be looked at before buying a vehicle not just how fast it is. You’re car isn’t truly fast unless it hits 200mph. If you spend all you’re money to get a subaru, rx8 etc to go that fast then you odviously can’t save you’re money and just buy a corvette, ferrari, lambo used.
I just love how owners of 350z’s consider their cars to be high performance. Buddy its a standard v6 my dodge caravan engine puts out 250hp lol. If you buy a 350 it should be solely based on you like the looks of the car.
It doesnt have good handling, interior sucks, cheap steering wheel feel, good sound system though. I actually like the looks of the 350z more than mazda and actually hate mazda because they made the miata. Somehow the rx8 was good enough to get me to buy it instead of a black gt. However I may be wishing I had the mustang if this idleing requires a new 7k rotary from mazda.

By: Olly

Olly — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:41:10 +0000

I am a bit late to this thread, but owned an RX8 for 4 years and 100K. Overall experience was very very satisfying. I am not sure were the reliabilty questions come from in the articule above. Mine never missed a beat and I here the same from current the owner. If you like to drive, like to be smooth , like to cover long distances, but, still drive a car with precise handling, that can carry four adults and reasonable luggage, you will get enourmus satisfaction from the RX8. The only reason I am reading this articule, is that I am again considering buying one and want to review what my other options might be? So far it looks like the GT. Fuel is the only negative point I came across, just have to do your summs on that. The oil usage is nothing and if you dont like looking under the bonnet, dont buy any performance car.

By: RX no Torque just action

RX no Torque just action — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:40:50 +0000

Stevo, Stock standard RX-2 in 1972 was 16.9 in the 1/4 with the 13s.

Pious, why would you change gears 5 times to get to 100 when it will do easy 115 in second?????

DanMan The only way you would need to replace the engine at 60,000 is if you flogged it from cold and didn’t give it its reward of oil every couple of thousand Kgs.

I’m happy to pay for the oil and fuel to get to drive my RX8 everday.

By: Fenno

Fenno — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:51:09 +0000

Nailed it!

By: Rex

Rex — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:03:50 +0000

I’ve owned quite a few sports cars in my time and the RX8 is the best car I’ve ever owned. Anyone who thinks it isn’t fast enough has real problems with reality. I sat at 180 on a country road in NSW and it just sat firm on the raod all the way – it wanted more. The handling is fantastic, especially the steering. So I can understand people saying that it doesn’t have a V8, but so what? As for realiability I’ve never had a problem – and that includes oil petrol and everything in between.

By: whereisv

whereisv — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:03:58 +0000

I have had a Rx8 for a couple of years now. Absolutely wonderful car to drive. The only draw back is that if you are using for city driving then the car is very very very thirsty… The rotary oil every 2K you drive also gets rather expensive.
The CD player also is prone to konking out rather easily (especially if you use burnt CDs) and there is an issue with engine mounts, I think this issue is resolved in the newer models. However for the price I would compare the drive against a Z4 and its a lot lot cheaper

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:02:31 +0000

Just bought an RX8 a month ago and its the best car I’ve driven. The more you drive this car the more you love it. Its just wants the revs and corners like no other thing on the road and its fun. The Mazda finish is great so to all those sceptics – get a drive in one and enjoy.

By: DanMan

DanMan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:57:57 +0000

’3/ emissions would not pass euro 5′
This is still true… and the real deal killer for mazda.

Yes but the thermal load under bonnet would still cause issue’s…

Yeah my bad. I only sold 18 of these in my career with mazda (GP mazda and Centenary mazda in Brisbane) and had a Winning blue RX8 for 2 months with a nice HYMEE exhaust system which i drove down to Kingsgrove in Sydney in to tour the head office and meet Allan Horsley and chat about all things petrol…

I DONT talk about things unless i am aware of ALL the facts. Amazing yes, but i actually am a jack of a few trades… and a master of same…

By: Revolver

Revolver — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:06:44 +0000

DanMan said as follows:

Oh yeah a turbo.. nice to see some garage engineers here.
1/ the bonnet would melt (it has ’shock cones’)
2/ fuel consumption would change from bad to terrible
3/oil consumption would go to 2 litres per thousand klms
3/ emissions would not pass euro 5
4/ price (and insurance) would surpass evo money..
Mazda aust made one in kingsgrove sydney. Mazspeed head office. Hiroshima laughed…

Well Danny, I’d suggest before slagging off others you acquire some knowledge of your own. I know of quite a few turboed RX8s and to answer your assumptions:

1/ Um, no – although some fit a vented bonnet, plenty have retained the stock bonnet with no heat damage, including track use.
2/ Funnily enough, some haven’t noticed any change in fuel consumption in regular driving. And despite reports to the contrary, even stock this car is only marginally thirstier than other cars with similar performance (unless you pay megabucks for Porsche technology, etc).
3/ The oil consumption remains pretty constant and is no trouble for those of us who don’t mind checking our car’s fluid levels regularly. After a while, it just becomes a habit and isn’t expensive. I use about 250mls per 1000kms.
3/ All the turbos I am aware of have been engineered and registered for street use. Go cry to the greenies about anything else.
4/ Pretty much line ball with Evo money and for that you get a car which is much more liveable day to day and ten times better looking, not too mention better interior quality…the Evo does one thing well, the RX8 does many.

As for the Mazda Aust version, they had their own reasons for doing it but couldn’t mount a strong enough business case in Australia’s small market. Happens to a lot of skunkwork cars. Doesn’t mean it can’t work.

Short answer to others – don’t write this car off if you haven’t driven one. 10 minute test drives in suburbia also don’t give too much away about it’s strengths. And does anyone still believe 0-100km/h straight line times are the last word on performance? That’s fine for bogans talking about HSV’s/FPV’s in the local pub but enthusiast drivers look for a whole lot more than that when it comes to choosing a car…