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RX-8 are they really as bad (reliability wise) as Consumer Reports makes them out?

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RainyZX3

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I was sitting in the Mazda RX-8 at the SF Auto show and I thought to myself, I still, really like this car. Maybe it's time for a new ride.

Consumer Reports makes the car sound like you are lucky to get a quarter mile away from the dealership before running out of gas or having something break. Are they really that bad?

How hard is it to work on that Rotary Engine for the DIY guy?

Thanks for the input.
 
#2 ·
This should be in Pit Stop, not Rigz ;)

But basically you're gonna hear everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) about the RX-8. Me personally, I hate them. I drove one and hated that I had to rev the **** out of it to get any power, and the MPG ratings were putrid. There are some that love them and will swear by them, and then there are others who either owned one or knew someone who owned one that was an utter pile of **** that probably blew up and now hates them with a passion :dunno:

-Brian
 
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#3 ·
i had an 04 6mt. After blowing 2 engine, having the tranny rebuilt, burning 2 cat converters, both headlights and tailight replaced for fogging, replacing ignition coils. i sold the car. yea they are junk. Now that being said. i've heard that the 06+ haven't had as many issues and they do have a 100k warantee i think. they are fun to drive tho dreadfully slow feeling they corner like they are on rails.


btw i hadn't modded my 8 other than Intake and Cat delete

and i didn't run it very hard. it did see redline quite a bit but not constantly
 
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#5 · (Edited)
I have a 2006 RX-8 with some go-fast mods. I can't think of a more fun car to own. In fact I was considering treating myself to a GT-R this year but decided to wait since I love the RX-8 so much. In 2+ years of ownership I've had only 2 problems: the trunk release button stopped working and a rear light had gotten some water in it. Granted I don't drive much so fuel economy isn't that much of a concern for me. The car isn't economical but it's so much fun it more than makes up for it's appetite.
 
#7 ·
From what I've seen, they require a completely different mindset than any other car available. They are not turn on, drive, turn off vehicles. By their design, they require higher RPMs and also burn oil as part of their lubrication (unlike normal IC engines).
 
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#8 ·
They really aren't that different in day-to-day operation. There are little nuances you should be aware of if you drive a rotary car but it's not like it requires you to sacrifice chickens on the hood every time you drive it.

I do keep a quart of oil in the trunk just in case the oil light goes off. When it does, it's ready to take it. Also it's not a good idea to turn it on and turn it off immediately, you should let it run for at least 5 minutes to prevent flooding. It also smells like gas when you start it after a long hiatus but that goes away quickly.

Like I mentioned before, my car has been very reliable and I do drive the living bajesus out of it when I do drive it.
 
#9 ·
i test drove one and loved it. it's got more than my focus for sure power wise. adn it felt really zippy. the only part that bugged me was teh tiny ass triangular shift know that comes stock. but that can be easily changed.
 
#10 ·
My good friend has one and I like it but he has constant problems with the transmission. You do have to drive it slightly differently than a regular car though. You have to keep the RPM's high to get power but you also get better gas mileage at higher RPM's as well. The brakes are incredible and the suspension is ridiculously tight. I love driving the thing myself but without an extended powertrain warranty I'd never own one.
 
#11 ·
I have two of them both (2004) both 6spd, and they are decently powered for a heavy car with a 1.3, My wifes is her Summer driver, and mine is a beater, there were service issues with the flooding, and spark plugs, Mazda has issued a 100,000 drivetrain warranty on ALL RX8's sold, regardless if you are original owner. They are higher maintenance due to the use of oil, they do suck on fuel economy, but most "sports cars" do. They are great stock for running a road course. One has 38k, the other has 56k, have not had any issues with either of them.

I like my new SVT Focus better, the RX8 is a car you either like/love or hate. Heck I know lots of people that think the focus is w POS. (most of them loke crap such as neons, or cobalts though)
 
#16 ·
My buddy just got his 3rd....3rd! motor swap in his RX8 last week. Its bone stock and not driven hard at all, he uses it to commute about an hour drive. Its all about the FD3S! Period.

Oh yeah, to answer the question, Mazda failed with the RX8 and it WILL cost you time, money and misery.
 
#18 ·
Consumer Reports gets its data from surveys of owners of the problems they encountered over the past year of ownership. They're as trustworthy a source of information as you're going to get, considering the magazine is published by an independent organization that doesn't accept advertising.

That doesn't mean that your car will necessarily be a lemon - just that it's more likely to be than other cars.
 
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#20 ·
I love them. Im getting one. You can hate on them all you want as i spit fire on every upshift and down shift.:thumbup:
 
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RainyZX3
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