2005 Mazda RX-8 Review
Price: $6,499





+8
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Low base price, agile handling yet still comfortable enough for daily use, smooth rotary engine fun to wind out on the open road, room for four in a pinch.
Cons
- Option packages add considerable expense, iffy interior ergonomics, poor gas mileage.
What’s new
Mazda's four-door sports car was all new in 2004, and is back for 2005 with no changes except for the addition of a satellite radio-compatible head unit.
Edmunds says
Regardless of how many doors the RX-8 has, it is ultimately a sport coupe that offers sensational handling without the stiffness typically associated with cars of this type.
For sale near Clermont, FL
6 listings
- 100,500 miles
- 2 accidents, 6 owners, personal use only
- Manual
- VACARSR (23 mi away)
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Upgraded Headlights
- Power Driver Seat
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Orlando, FL
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
18 Combined MPG (16 City/22 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1FE173150148621
Stock: 148621
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-20-2025Close
Located in Chantilly, VA
CLEAN CARFAX 1 OWNER!Extremely clean 2005 MAZDA RX-8! Includes 4-month GOLD Standard Warranty (Engine & Transmission coverage) During the first 4 mon...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary Unavailable.
Features and Specs:
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1FE173550160741
Stock: 1902
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Florida
$197/mo for RX-8 Automatic
RX-8 Automatic
vs
$156/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Mazda RX-8 Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Need To Know!
4.63 out of 5 starsRotorHead613, 03/17/2010
2005 Mazda RX-8 Manual 4dr Coupe (1.3L 2rtr 6M)
Rx-8's are good/great cars but few people know how to take care of them. They are amazing for handling and they are engineering marvels when it comes to the motor. The problem is most people who buy them, do it for the looks not the motor. Rotary is an amazing thing. YOU CANNOT BABY IT! When you buy a car do some research. Understand what your driving and what you need to do. … rotary has a different oiling system and it requires the motor to be run at high rpm to keep it well oiled. I own a R1 93 RX-7 and My Rx-8 i know how to take care of them and if u listen to these words you wont have an issue. Check the oil every 750-1000 miles to make sure its full.
Awesome car for Rotary lovers!
5 out of 5 starsCam Smith, 08/07/2015
2005 Mazda RX-8 Manual 4dr Coupe (1.3L 2rtr 6M)
This is a really great car, don't let negative reviews sway you as most of the negative reviews are from people who don't want to put in the extra time and care in maintenance. To truly appreciate this amazing vehicle, you need to have a decent understanding of the Wankel rotary engine. It's a super high revving engine due to its design (Redlines at 9000 RPMs). It's owners must love … it enough to regularly check the fluids and conduct basic maintenance. The RX-8 will treat you awesome as long as you treat it awesome. The only thing I would recommend is that a perspective owner has the time and funds for keeping it maintained. If you drive it hard and keep the RPM's high, the engine will last a long, long time without carbon build-up. Just take the time to learn about it. I love driving mine! I bought mine as a project car and I have it almost all brand new now. I put a newly rebuilt engine in so the new engine only has 4,184 miles on it, although the odometer still has 172,824 on it. This car handles amazingly and accelerates like crazy once you pass 5k Rpms. The sound of a rotary engine is unlike anything. Another great thing is that they are highly customizable with wonderful support through online forums, clubs, and rotary fanatics. I'll never get rid of mine, no matter what the cost over my lifetime. I have never driven anything as fun as the RX-8, and I've been around a long time.
Love my 2005 rx8
5 out of 5 starsMe, 03/06/2016
2005 Mazda RX-8 Manual 4dr Coupe (1.3L 2rtr 6M)
I love my car black on black 6 speed manual trans. Absolute blast to drive just as long the roads are dry. Its a rotary so checking the oil frequently and letting it warm up for a little bit in cold weather is a must and dont start it up and shut it right off cold and your fine.
I was very lucky when i bought this car used because the owner took great care of it. Been having issues … finding a passenger fender but its cosmetic stuff.
Still crazy after all these years
5 out of 5 starsrockschwag, 04/19/2015
2005 Mazda RX-8 Manual 4dr Coupe (1.3L 2rtr 6M)
Can't believe the reviews I read about quality; this sports car has easily been the most reliable car I've ever had. After being left on the side of the road by mustangs and Camaros in the past, as a 6'4" guy I couldn't even fit in the new versions. So I tried this Japanese sports car after my AWD GSX blew, and I fit in it like a glove. You won't find many for sale, but that's how you … know its good, and you should grab one before they disappear (like the RX-7). I got a fully loaded sport version in winning blue metallic with the spoiler and trim, and there isn't another one like it within 1000 miles. This is a special car.
2005 RX-8 Highlights
Automatic
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $25,375 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $197/month |
Seating | 4 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 7.6 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the RX-8 include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover5 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
Related Used 2005 Mazda RX-8 info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Volvo V90 Cross Country 2021 Review
- Tesla Model 3 2020 Review
- Buick Encore 2021 Review
- Lexus RX 450HL 2020 Review
- Porsche 718 Boxster 2020 Review
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Honda Fit Car
- I3 BMW
- Lexus NX 300H Awd
- Used Acura ILX 2013
- Used Acura ILX 2015
- Used Acura ILX 2016
- Used Acura ILX 2017
- Used Acura Integra 2014
- Used Acura Integra 2019
- Used Acura Integra 2020
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe 2025
- 2024 GMC HUMMER EV
- Lexus LX 570 2025
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 2025
- Mercedes GL A
- New Porsche Taycan
- 2026 Subaru Solterra News
- New Ford E-Transit Cargo Van
- New Ford F-350 Super Duty
- 2024 Ford F-450 Super Duty
Research other models of
- 2025 CX-70
- Mazda Protege 2024
- 2024 Mazda 3
- New Mazda CX-50
- 2024 Mazda CX-90
- Mazda CX-50 2024
- New Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
- 2024 Mazda CX-30
- Mazda CX-90 2025
- New Mazda CX-70
Other models
- Used Lincoln Mark-Viii in Bemidji, MN 1998
- Used Nissan Altima in Olathe, KS 2025
- Used Mclaren 720S-Spider in Homewood, IL 2023
- Used Lincoln MKS in Playa Vista, CA 2016
- Used Kia Spectra in Bloomfield, NJ 2009
- Used BMW 1-Series-M in Sparta, TN 2011
- Used Hummer H3T in Howell, NJ 2010
- Used Lincoln Navigator-L in Richmond, IN 2009
- Used Cadillac Deville in Doylestown, PA 2005
- New BMW Alpina-Xb7 for Sale in San Jose, CA