Used 2005 Mazda RX-8 Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Best car ever had.
This car is unique. Rotary engine, fun to drive, it's fast, 4 doors, 4 passengers and a lot of space in the trunk. What I can say! Look good and its fast like a sport car. 4 doors and a lot space like a sedan car. Plus you can take your friends for a fun ride.
Very Pleased
Just bought used 2005 with 26K miles. Had to immediately replace tires with snow tires (no problem ....am driving it in winter in midwest...$1000 for tires but should last 4-6 winter seaons). Alternator went out but warranty still good! (0 cost to me). Fuel economy is about 19 MPH combined Hwy, City. Rear quater view is restricted but acceptable. This car rocks! Fun to drive...you have the option of automatic, or you can still manually shift it (no clutch!) which I like to do about half the time. Roomy and comfortable interior (I'm 6'2" and still plenty of room). Mirror has garage door opener built in. Overall I really like this car...sports car with a backseat!
- Coupe 4DMSRP: $7,992297 mi away
- Automatic CoupeMSRP: $7,995913 mi away
- Manual CoupeMSRP: $4,9952,019 mi away
"Fine French Fencing Foil"
it is the best car i have ever driven. it respond to the road with such accuracy and precision, "like a fine french fencing foil."
3rd rotary ownership
great exterior design, excellent road handling. pickup is somewhat lacking with the automatic, gas mileage fair. real looker!
Still a treat to drive after 3 years!
I don't know of a better handling sports car for less than 5 times the price. The ride is firm, but comfortable. I am blown away with how comfortable a long distance cruiser the RX-8 is. I get 20 mpg combined city/hwy with spirited, but legal, driving. The rotary engine responds well to some pampering. I use 4 oz synthetic 2-cycle oil and 4 oz Lucas Upper Cylinder Lube in every 10 gallons of gas. That's probably why my mileage is better than most. Even a mechanic at the dealer commented that it was the smoothest running RX- 8 he had ever heard. The off-the-line grunt is weak, but once you get the revs up to 5000 rpm it is a winner. Drive the rotary right (high rpm) and you will be thrilled!
awesome vehicle
this car is exceptional. the mazda rx-8 is both beautiful inside and out. its 17 inch wheels are magnificent. very unique car. i hope mazda keeps up the good work. bravo!
My RX 8 is still thrilling to drive
This is a great car and it continues to be a kick to drive. Originally there were some problems with the starter and the battery but once these were replaced and the computer adjusted the car is very reliable.
Flashy Fun
The RX8 is an awesome looking, head turning sports car. It is extremly fun to drive and handles great. The four doors, back seat, and roomy trunk also make it very convenient to take along an extra passenger or two! The manual transmission is a definite must. It shifts very easily and is actually a very quiet ride inside. The exterior styling and Royal Blue paint finish is very eye-catching. The ability to change the dash lights from white to Red is also a plus. Great car!
Great RX-8!
I wanted an RX-8 since I first saw it at the auto show. I finally got my RX-8 last December. This car is great and soooo much fun to drive. I get about 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. My only big complaint is with the 18" Bridgestone tires. I only have 11K miles on the car, but they are already worn uneven due to how soft they are. It looks like I'll have to replace them soon. Otherwise, the car is excellent and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking to get a little zoom, zoom, zoom!
Amazing car
This car is everything you want in a car and more. I lvoe this car. I plan to get every model. ALso withs it's rotary powered engine this car drives like a dream. I would suggest this car to everyone.
I love my Rx-8
I love this car!!! I have wanted one since they came out (when I was 11) because my grandma had a yellow Rx-7 when I was little, and I missed it. It drives great, though loud, I love that. You have to use the best quality EVERYTHING!!! I cant stress that more. I live in the hills and it is fun to drive on the curves. I just bought it a month ago as my first car...LOL :)
love this car
this is a great handling car, fun to drive, gas mileage isn't all that good, but you do have fun driving the RX8
Best of all worlds
This car is a pleasure to drive: very responsive and agile, but also comfortable. Fit and finish are excellent, especially for a $30,000 car. The backseat easily accomodates medium-size adults or a car seat or booster seat. My kids (2 1/2 and 5) love riding in it. I also drove the Volvo V40 and was disappointed by the quality of the interior finish as well as the power. I also considered the Audi A4 and the BMW 3-series, but they get really expensive when you load them up with options. With the RX-8 you can get all the options and a thrilling ride at a reasonable price, and also stand out in the crowd.
Great value, great fun
I bought this car used 15 months ago. For the money, it's hard to imagine a car that offers the combination of spirited driving, mechanical quality, and inspired style. I also see no more than two RX-8s per month driving in the Chicago area. It's sweet to drive a rarely-seen car among all the bland brands. The car has a cool factor that usually comes with cars twice the sticker price. The only negatives? The paint chips easily and the gas mileage stinks. I knew that going in, though.
Fun sports car for fairly mild $$
What a fun car to drive. Even makes going to the supermarket enjoyable. Very reliable, definitely sporty (but not brutally so) -- as a matter of fact, other people that have driven it or have ridden with me have all commented on its smoothness. It also has a surprising practical side -- you can carry quite a bit of stuff in it when necessary. I'm very happy with it.
More bang for the buck!
Easily the best car I've ever driven, and I've had a BMW 330I to compare it to. Excellent power from the rotary engine in any gear, at any speed, tons of torque, tight steering and stop on a dime brakes. This car looks like nothing else on the road, which is great. The Bose stereo is awesome. This car easily gives the most bang for the buck compared to anything else on the street, plus it has a usable back seat that the 350z and BMW don't. Gas mileage isn't great, but who cares? If you want great gas mileage, buy a hybrid. If you want to ENJOY your ride to work, or wherever, THIS is the car to get.
RX 8
Enjoy the car as I am also the owner of the 1st RX 7 number l503 and noted several upgraded features in the new model ex power steering, power windows and seat etc. concern about the poor gas mileage and the lack of a real spare tire.
interesting
This must have been one of the first rx-8 produced! I've had electrical problems, sunroof problems and hard starting concerns. All of course fixed, but the car has been tied up in the shop for at least 10 days!
Crossing my fingers
An answer to my mid-life crisis, I was coerced into buying the lil red sedoupe (sedan,coupe) rather than a used luxury sedan. 47, no wife, no kids: it seemed to make sense, I've owned nothing but SUVs/Mini Vans since the disco era. The first thing i noticed was the ride noise from the standard 17'inch tires. Also, the rear light housing was fogged up/filled with inner perspiration. Both items served as bargaining chips & I managed to walk out with it for a mere $11K. With only 37K miles, I was happy. Getting in/out is a challenge with my 275lb frame, but the car's an excellent incentive to lose weight and I've got nothing but compliments from friends/co-workers. 30 days so far, no problems.
Rotary car doesn't fade
There is a tendency to do errands in zig-zag back and forth across town style. It is very difficult to go home after completing the errands. It is difficult to do the actual errand, because you don't want to get out of the car to go in anywhere. I plan out huge, inefficient road trips on computer trip software. I'm fond of poking along routes that skulk through the corridors between the major interstates. 18 hours at a pop sometimes. Always sticking to posted speeds because I'm in "local territory", unshielded by the usual pack of rabbit-chasers and "what I can get away with" cruisers. Bottom line? There's no end in sight with driving this car at this point.
Great littlesports car
This is a great car:looks good, drives and handles very well. Takes me back to the days of the Britsh Sports cars like Tr-3, MG, etc. Mileage is disappointing but who buys a sports car for the mileage! Comfortable on long trips. For crowded Southern California Freeways and other stop-and-go driving the automatic transmission is a blessing.
Head Turner
Great looking car in Velocity Red Mica. Good lines, and the suicide doors prompt plenty of interest. Adults fit in the back comfortably if the front-seaters scoot up a bit. Plenty of head room. The rotary lacks impressive stoplight torque, but the ponies wind up quickly. It's a great passer - drop to 3rd, floor it, and you're blowing their doors off just before you slip back out of the oncoming traffic. The gas mileage is poor for a smaller car - I'm getting about 21 mpg when driving smoothly on the back roads at about 65 mph. I shudder to think how bad it would be if I frequently drove aggressively. Premium vs regular makes no difference.
Help the owners of these cars
I had the 2004 rx8 car broke down every month. Had to have a new motor at 12000 miles, got started vibrating shaking so bad and then it would knock off. I hated to drive the car i was so afraid it would leave me stranded somewhere. Then it got to the point it would flooded itself i was so discussed with this car. Had to get an attorney. Mazda finally bought the car back it was a lemon. Cute car but worse car i ever had.
Best Car Yet?!
Mazda Rx-8, a simple way of saying "everything I've wanted and more". Before the Rx-8 I drove a Mercedes S500, Honda S200, Lumina SS, Mustang, and the Bmw 330ci. None of these cars but the Rx-8 gave me complete satisfaction when it came to driving, comfort, and (my favourite) style. When on the road you may not be the biggest car, the most powerful, or even the most "bling" or done up, yet once you've driven by these other cars have felt a sense of defeat, a sense of "must bow to the prophecy of the Rotary Engine" (LOL) . Basically I love it, you'll love it.
Exciting Machine
I bought my car as a left over model so it was still brand new but with a nice discount. That and the style were initially my main reasons for purchasing the car. I would say I'm glad the pieces came together the way they did. I have owned 20 cars and 1 motorcycle and I'm only 30, and this vehicle is one of the most fun I have driven. One downfall was it didn't start out as fast as I would have liked but with a few minor upgrades the motor woke up a lot and it is now as fast as a 2008 Mustang GT 5 speed but handles 10 times better. Tests have been done with a stock RX-8 vs a 350z which is a faster car, the RX-8 matched the 350z's track time because the handling was superb to the quicker car.
RX-8
A beautifully executed design. It looks like no other car on the road. Its handling and engine note border on the exotic at the price of a well equiped Camry. Very competent as a daily driver with the comfortable cabin and nifty rear "suicide" doors. Cross shopped several cars (G35, 350Z, Magnum R/T). Interior build quality head and shoulders above 350Z and Magnum, better than G35. Not quite Audi, but very good. Love the invisible features like aluminum body panels (they sing when you rinse it off), 50/50 weight distribution, etc. Great price too.
Don't bother wasting your money!
This car is horrible, it has spent more time in the shop than on the road. I have had four recalls, over heating problem, flooding, starter, risk of it catching fire! and have had it towed four times to the dealership. It doesn't like hot weather, or cold weather, it is the most unreliable car ever!! I bought it brand new off the show room floor, and I HATE it! Save yourself a lot of headache and go buy a G37 or G37. This morning, went to start it to go to work, it wont start, so guess what, towed again to the dealership. This car stinks! it only has 50 kilometers on it.
Great 3rd Car
I loved this car for the first six months. The handling is phenomenal. Convinced my wife that it was practical for our family b/c it was a 4 door. However, this car is undriveable in winter, and thus, remains parked for nearly 4 months of the year here in Michigan. If I could, I would keep it as a third car to drive for fun. It just isn't practical for me as a daily driver.
Buyer beware...
A couple of things interested buyers should know. The bridgestone tires wrapped around the 18 in alloy rims are horrible in snow! Get winter tires or a 2nd car. MPG is another problem. The 05 RX-8 had a couple recalls already. The 2 back seats in the car are for children! Not for adults, unless your under 5'2 you will not be comfortable. At low cruzin' speeds the cabin noise is over whelming. But the fact is the RX-8 is still a pretty fun car to drive. If you dont mind the shortcomings.
I love this car
Ilove this car. It is a blast to drive and I can take my kids to school in it. It attracts attention everywhere I go. People who are not "into" cars stare at it and ask what it is and Gearheads want to talk about the rotary engine. I was going to buy a 3 series BMW but EVERYONE has one of those. The RX8 is cheaper and a lot more fun. If you want a car that you look forward to driving everyday and don't want to get lost in the parking lot, this is it.
owner on rx8 since 2003
vehicle is great but don,t try to go out in the snow. need a winter car
great car - IF IT STARTS!
Warning: if you are thinking of buying this car be warned: it will not restart if it is turned off cold. This is a widespread problem, and Mazda is fully aware but refuses to do anything about it (it is a problem with the rotary in that to start the engine needs a burst of gas, and until it's burned off, e.g.: warmed up, the car WILL NOT RESTART and must be towed). Otherwise: a great car. Fast. Great handling. Wonderful design. But very bad gas mileage! But I could live with that, IF I COULD BE ASSURED THE CAR WOULD START. It's already left me stranded once, and Mazda will only pay to fix it once, and then you're on your own. Shame on Mazda
Nice car
More than adequate acceleration with great handling characteristics. Like the style and design in silver -- looks like the sports machine it is. Have had no mechanical problems to date although just got a recall notice about possible engine cooling problem. Did run the car hard during our peak hot week -- temps mid-90's for 600 miles with little stopping along the way and everything worked fine; comfortable ride with no excessive heating indications. Lots of inquiries about "what's that?" with lots of positive comments about the car's design. Gasoline consumption depends on how you drive it. Did check on one throughway trip at average speed of 70 and got almost 24mpg. Less when playing in city.
MY RX8 OF 3 YRS
I have had my 8 for 3 years now got it when I graduated from high school as a first car it ran great never any problems and really fun to drive. 2 years in my cat converter got plugged which gave it no power this was fixed by the dealer no problem free at cost have to change the oil at least every 2-3 months they key is taking care of the car don't be cheap n turn the engine off ull flood it or worse there are no problems if it is taken care of i have also done my car up n boy its been great!2 10" Alpine Subs V12 Alpine Amp Greddy SE exhaust custom led lights K&N Intake
Engine is a disaster
Going to trade my RX-8 tomorrow. Been in for rough idle and cutting off (in traffic) 9 times in 6 months. Mazda has no fix for this unreliable engine. They can only add engine mounts and brackets to the engine... yeah, makes no sense to me either. Beautiful car, horrible engine!!! Stay away from this car until they start putting a reliable engine in them. First 30,000 miles were wonderful, but beware - once you turn 30001 it goes down hill from there. Cold and hot outdoor temperatures play a big part in the rough idle as well. Again beware of this car. Don't lose money on it like I have.
Get some ROOM-ROOM with your ZOOM-ZOOM!!
Researched and test drove several cars before deciding on the 8. GTO, Mustang, A3, G35's, 3 series, S2000, TSX, Tc, etc. None had a better combination of performance, handling, value, room, and looks than the 8. Good power, excellent handling, exceptional 6 sp trans., great brakes, wonderful steering, all make for a perfect 10 in "fun to drive". Gas mileage is below average..but, you knew that. :) Exterior styling is sharp and full of "character" and car is exclusive (not easy in SoCal). Interior is comfortable and well thought out with very good materials. Roomy back seat with good access. Trunk space is generous for a sports car, but the opening is a bit small. Overall, this 8 is The One.
RX-8 a new breed of greatness
I have been a sports car lover for some time.I looked at purchasing a 350z, but after I put both these cars to the test the RX-8 blew it out of the water.This car handles like a dream and after 4000 RPM's on the Tachometer feels like you are in a dream as well. The low end torque is nothing to brag about, but you are only in these low RPM's for a very short time. Anything above 4,000 rpms you are flying. There is nothing on the road that I can't compete with (or at least I feel like that) All in all this is a great sports car, that has been doubled as 'usefull'. That in its own right can't be beaten.
Fun car, but scared of snow flakes
Great ride. A little slow off the line but rips above 5000 RPM's. Handling is amazing. The brakes are less than high-performance--very squeeky. (I've gone through 2 sets of rotors with only 26k). As far as snow goes, this thing starts slipping and sliding about 2 secs after the first flake hits the ground---garage it.
The joy of balance
The true personality of this car can only be revealed when in manumatic mode on a twisting road using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Let the free wheeling engine wind up to 9000 RPM before changing gears and you begin to appreciate the true advantages of a rotary engine. Bought this car with 5000 miles on it - nicely loaded and comfortable to ride in. The 50/50 weight balance is a pure joy, no sudden spin outs - very predictable handling with solid braking and good feedback through the steering wheel. A very nicely put together package or design, utility, performance and fun.
NOT good
I owned this car for 26 days when, like many of the reviews I am now reading say, it stopped cold. Not only was I uninformed about the fact that this can happen secondary to "flooding", I was not told of a safety recall at the time of purchase. 6 days later I am still waiting to get my car back from the shop. My last car I had for 12 years without a problem, this one for less than one month and it breaks down and leaves me stranded. VERY frustrating. It also does not drive very fast (the automatic). At times when I'm merging on the freeway, I feel like I'm driving a big boat. I much prefer the Toyota Corolla I now have as a rental car!
I love my RX8
The best thing about my RX8 is that it is soooo much fun to drive. I love the feeling of being pinned back in my seat when I step on the gas. Everywhere I go people stare and wonder, "what kind of car is that?". I love my car! The body of the car is perfect. I've never seen anything like it. Anybody can have a Mustang, and a lot of people do, but you don't see the RX8 everywhere. The only thing I wish is that it had better fuel economy. With the premium gas that's recommended, it can add up. But, you don't buy this car to worry about how much money you have to put in the gas tank. The car hugs you in. I feel like I'm in a person size capsule when I drive. It's perfect!
INCREDIBLE machine... RX-8 = FUN!
Had this a month now... UNBELIEVABLE! Have yet to really run her hard as only 600 miles but have already seen the potential. Dealership could be much improved customer service wise, but got TREMENDOUS discount! Traded an '04 Accord for something sporty yet still practical for kids ... thrilled with the choice! Only 2 drawbacks: came with summer tires (live in snowy WI) and could use bigger gas tank (mileage has averaged 21-22mpg). Researched almost every car ... this was the PERFECT choice!
2005 RX-8
Did not think the tiny rotary engine would be so quick. On the test drive I noticed right away the car loves the road, sticks like glue at high speed.
Fun Car
I traded in a Maxima SE for this car because I wanted something fun to drive. The RX8 delivers in the fun department. Enough can't be said about the 50/50 weight distribution and the rotary power curve. It is not the most practical car, however, having low gas mileage and limited cargo space. As with any car in this category, consider that you may need a second car/truck to accompany this very fun vehicle.
pretty darn good
Great nicely fast and handles like a dream. A little idle shake but anything over 1000rpm it's silky smooth.
Mazda no go!
Since I have had this car for the last four months the dealer has had it one month out of the first 3 months. There is very little acceleration and it has been taken to the dealer. After Mazda had it for a week they called and said take it home, go through two full tanks of premium gas (that's all I use anyway ) and then if it still has no acceleration we will look further into it (in other words they do not quickly stand behind their car).
Titanium Gray w red & black leather int
Amazing car to drive hard. Very smooth, makes you look like you are a better driver than you are. Expect attention from strangers regularly. Mine has all the options available from the option brosure. Fender strakes, deflector, appearence pkg, rotory accents, extra interior lighting, wing, ect. Had it for almost a year (the board will not let you put 2003) and people still compliment me on it all the time. Gas milage is not good and it only drinks premium. About the same mpg as my friend's G35, but much better gas milage than SVT Mustang's or GTO's If you just want to go fast in a strait line buy one of those, but if you want a real drivers car with a unique flair look no further.
Zoom-zoom? They ain't Kiddin'!!
We (My wife and I) took our time and checked out a number of performance cars. When considering the thrill to price tag ratio, no other car came close. The engine looks no bigger than a beach ball,but with a 9000 rpm redline and 'snake in a rat-hole' handling, it's more than enough! My kids have plenty of room in the back and I feel they are well protected with the side curtain air-bags To sum it up, the head turning good looks of the RX-8 got us interested, the pure fun of the ride sealed the deal.
Just right
I purchased my r-x8 on 5/04.A mature sports car. If you're a 17 year old and think a sports car is speed and thats all,this is not the car for you. If you understand what a great sports car is about,then the x-8 is worth a test drive. True, it is slow "Off the line" and thats where it ends. HANDLING (on par, if not better then Porshce,I know I've drivnen Porsche) SUSPENSION,BRAKING,COMFORT,INTERIOR and especially a head turning exterior. Oh yeah, room ROOM-and more ROOM,you can fit 4 6Ft. adults in the Rx-8 and the x-8 is not longer or wider than a Porsche 911 !!! Bottom line, if you want to stand out, the proof is in the pudding, test drive it!
This is not your Daddy's RX-7
This car is FUN! It is responsive and tight in the turns. It accelerates off the line fast enough for me! This is a lot of car for the pri