2005 Mazda RX-8 consumer reviews

Constantly having to be put in shop. Had to have the motor replaced, ac quit working, constantly replacing tires. Fuel mileage poor. Tired of paying out for repairs. Worst car I ever owned

I have a Rx8 with 28,500 miles. Never a problem. I was sceptical about buying this but am glad I did. There is alot of bad reviews from this car but people dont know how to take care of them. If you can maintain it like required it is a perfect car. Rx8 for life for me : )

I bought my first car, a new MGB in 1965 and have also restored and drive a 1959 Austin Healey "Bugeyed" Sprite. I have experienced driving British sports car and related upkeep for 40 years. The new 2005 RX8 Mazda that I have owned for the last five years is a true drivers car. The smooth reving engine rotary will take you to 9K RPM in all six gears if you have the fortitude! Considering the excellent handling, the ride is smooth and precise. My engine has 105K miles on the clock with no mechanical problems at all, other than my regular 5K mile oil and filter changes. I have very rarely had to add oil to the engine between changes. In 2010 I averaged 19.7 MPG with a 24.3 max/16.8 min MPG on 89 regular octane gasoline. Considering the cars I own and have driven, the '8' is a refined sports car I would recommend to anyone.

I have been a car nut from the time I could walk. I believe that the guy with the automatic sports car should have bought a cheaper car and used the extra money to pay for driving lessons in a manual; yeah, I'm that guy. I guess being raised by a single mom who was a major in the Army just gave me a different outlook on life. So, I have been driving a manual since my mother taught me on her old SAAB 900 convertible when I was 16. However, this Rx-8 is the first manual I have personally owned as a daily driver. I was originally looking at 4 cars: Mustang GT, 350Z, GTO, and Rx-8. Mustangs are easy to find, but hard to find in good condition and most GTs in my price range were automatics. 350Z's are amazing cars, but they have limited storage space and again are difficult to find in good condition at a low price. The GTO in most recent years met all my standards, but they put the gas tank in the trunk which is due to their Australian lineage and also limits storage space. The Rx-8 is amazing if you like small edgy cars like the 350Z, but it doesn't have the torque you would expect. I would recommend this car to anyone who is not worried about moving across the country, likes to drive fast in the morning (engine has to be warmed up before it can be shut off), and who can drive a manual. I test drove a 2007 model in paddle shifters and it is very difficult to get any torque out of the engine, but it was a smooth ride for a highway driver. Please do not buy any of the listed cars above without test driving them, every car is different and just because I love my Mazda doesn't mean you will too. Happy Hunting

I love my 2005 rx8. I had it for a couple of months and love every bit of it. People look at me when I drive around town, even people with the new camaro.

6 speed is the only way to go Not quick off the line but holds it own with the big boys I feel right at home in the drivers seat the 1.3 liter, 80 cubic inch power plant delivers every time

This is a Sports Car through and through. People that know how a car should handle talk about the 8 all the time. The rotory isn't the torkiest but its way more fun to drive. Keep the RPMs up and it pulls hard straight through 4th. Its also super practical as "sports cars" go. Nice size trunk, and back seats that even have tie points for child seats. Take CARE of your Rotory and it will out last a piston engine everytime. If you want a a real sports car, you can't match the performance for the price.

My first car was an early Rx7, so the sound of the rotary engine is a bit of nostalgia for me. The performance and handling is unbelieveable for a car in this price range. Some of my passengers have complained about how difficult it is to get in and out of (tall men) and that it rides rough and is noisy on the interior. But...it's a TRUE SPORTSCAR! It has sports suspension and it is small and hugs the road...that is why it drives like a dream! I am a small female and have 2 young children. The three of us fit in it perfectly, it's my ideal hot-momma mobile!

I've had my 2005 AT 8 since Nov 2007. It handles great and is fun to drive. Once you realize that when you drive in the city, you really shouldn't use full AT (it jerks alot because the AT takes you to higher gears faster than it should-even at lower speeds, and the car really wants to run smooth at about 3000rpm). We don't have kids-so I could care less about functionality with the whole "small" back seat, for me the car is very comfortable. I used to commute 75miles one way for work, and never thought twice about the comfort. I bought my 05 8AT pre-owned with about 14000 miles on it. I think it was a great value for the money. I got a beautiful, sexy, well handling, and fun to drive sports car for about $17000. Gas mileage is what I expected (fun to drive usually does not equal big savings at the gas pump!) It does take premium gas, and I expect to go through some oil, but it's wicked fun to drive and I don't care! My husband complains that it doesn't have enough get up and go, no low end power at take off (not that his WRX has any either!). It suits me just fine as is, I'm not looking to win any races. It's plenty of power for me. The only con I have experienced is the fact that I have now replaced 3 batteries since March 08. In May the Mazda dealer inspected it and at 1st found nothing, but then claimed that a "faulty trunk latch" was responsible for the battery drain. So again, I replaced a battery, and they replaced the latch. 2 weeks later-dead as a doornail in the driveway. Jumpstarted and ran fine for about 2 weeks, then dead again. Jumpstarted again, and has been fine for 2 weeks, and now, again, dead, dead, dead. The dealer I take it to here in Phoenix, AZ has been wonderful as far as customer service goes, let's see if this time they can fix the problem! More than anything, it has just been an inconvenience.

I've owned my 2005 RX8 for nearly 2 years now and have loved every minute of it. The car has been as much of a blast to drive today as it was when I first purchased it. Being involved with the tuner crowd, I've spent much more to modify the car and increase it's performance and handling. Even still, the stock version of the car is fantastic. While many people complain about the reliability nature of the rotary, many owners clearly were not informed or prepared for the responsibility of ownership. Still, owning a rotary only requires three things. Use the best products, drive it hard like it's designed for, and check your oil every fillup. Easy right? Now go get your zoom zoom!