Bought it used at 76k miles, and had it until 86k miles for only one year. One of the most fun to drive cars, but also one of the most unreliable and expensive cars to own. Spent over 12k in one year in maintenance alone. PROs and CONs are listed in the full review.
Favorite Features
PROS:
ABSOLUTELY FUN to drive. One of the most amazing experiences while driving this car. The handling and throttle response is beyond comprehension. Horsepower is adequate enough to please most people in CA freeways/highways. Torque is just enough to give you little kick, although just a bit more would be a blissful dream.
EXTREMELY sporty looks on the exterior and in the interior that would surely turn heads.
Adequate sound system
Great room usage for such a small sporty car.
Suggested Improvements
CONS:
Total cost of ownership is expensive mostly due to maintenance/repairs
Reliability of these vehicles are HORRENDOUS. Engines are very fragile, and must be maintained extremely carefully, and must be driven a particular way (recommended not driving at low RPMs)
Maintenance can be VERY EXPENSIVE, especially at the rate your vehicle may be going to the garage.
MPG is BELOW AVERAGE with most people averaging around 16MPG in this car. Gas also requires premium, which makes it more expensive for such a small car.
Avoid heavy traffic at all costs. MPG drops a lot more in traffic, and driving and stopping damages your engine components.
Front Cup holders are in a bad position
Small trunk
Spending 12 k in maintenance in 1 year sounds like you bought a bad car, I've owned my RX8 and countless other rotary's over the years and not had those issues. If it was a motor issue e.g. carbon build up that blew a seal (the cars covered till 100k miles thru Mazda all 04's). Own a sports car is expensive either way I do agree and the MPG are low but it's a Rotary so it's to be expected. But for 12 k I could get a 3 rotor turbo set up built so I tend to believe you either wrecked the car or something else in which you didn't post.
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on 05/02/12 00:22 AM (PDT)
Spending 12 k in maintenance in 1 year sounds like you bought a bad car, I've owned my RX8 and countless other rotary's over the years and not had those issues. If it was a motor issue e.g. carbon build up that blew a seal (the cars covered till 100k miles thru Mazda all 04's). Own a sports car is expensive either way I do agree and the MPG are low but it's a Rotary so it's to be expected. But for 12 k I could get a 3 rotor turbo set up built so I tend to believe you either wrecked the car or something else in which you didn't post.
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