2006 Mazda RX-8 User Reviews

Fun, Original And Dares To Be Different! — The Mazda RX-8 has been on my bucket list since it was released. It's everything I expected and then some! What a blast to drive, it definitely makes you feel alive. And it doesn't juts do one thing well, it does them all. The brakes are responsive and smooth, the handling with the sport-tuned suspension is spot-on, and the "get up and go" from the 210+ hp is perfect.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

Amazing — Great acceleration, awesome corning and suspention, love the short shift. Great lines, sleek appearance, luxurious interior, great bose sound system, surprisingly good passenger space with plenty of foot room in front and back seats. Decent gas milage for a sports car, all around GREAT car. Absolutely love it.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)

Rx-8 = Sex — I've driven almost every car under $50,000 (and even some over), and the RX-8 is by far the most fun to drive. It lacks low-end torque but the high revving Renesis makes up for it. In no way is the car slow. Handles beautifully in stock form. Rotary engine: can't go wrong! It looks awesome inside and out. I have the stock model so I don't have the sun/moon roof, leather seats, GPS navi, Traction Control, Heated Seats and all but that just adds weight. If you want a cruiser - not so much all-out performance, the GT makes the car even sexier. Two tone leather interior on the seats and doors and all the other above-mentioned options. Build quality gets 4/5 because after about 2 1/2 years of ownership, i have a few rattles here and there, and some of the plastics are cheap (but don't look or feel like it!). However, the fact that it can seat 4 people comfortable and has those sexy suicide doors just makes it shine. Add the Mazdaspeed Body Kit and performance parts and it becomes even better. The RX-8 is a beautiful car that has the best overall package and is cheaper than all of its rivals. If you really MUST have speed, then all you need is a turbo kit =]. Unlike the RX-7, the RX-8 has new rotary engine that is more reliable and will still be reliable after adding Forced Induction if tuned by a rotary guru.

Powered By A Rotary Engine, Runs On No Cylinders. 18mpg, Seats 4 — The RX-8 is not a successor to the RX-7. In fact, it was created to re-introduce the rotary engine to U.S. Market. It has not been received well to the general U.S. Public due to a variety of factors which include: Lack of advertisement which creates a lack of consumer product awareness, low horsepower compared to other sports cars, awkward styling, suicide doors, rotary engine assumptions. Despite the fact that the RX-8 remains unpopular. It is an exceptional vehicle if one decides to take a chance to drive and own one. It rides like a sedan (Not a bone jarring ride) yet retains exceptional handling. Most of the suspension parts are made of allumnium to reduce unsprung weight. It seats 4 in a pinch which is unheard of in sports cars. It is eager to rev and has a redline of 10,000 RPM in manual transmission form. Nevertheless, because of its unpopularity, the RX-8 when viewed from a strangers point of view can be quite exotic looking because of its rarity among other vehicles. As a result, people assume its more expensive than it is and begin to question what car it is and mistakes it for another brand other than Mazda. The RX-8 is the flagship of Mazda.

It'll Put A Smile On Your Face. All Day Long. — With two options available, 192bhp or 231bhp its a very different car, one has low end torque, one has high end power, mine is the latter. It'll do 0 - 62mph in around 6 seconds and push on to around 160mph with the wind in the right direction. It handles superbly, although the back end is a bit twitchy and can step out if you're not awake on wet roads. It stops like any of the best supercars, with epic braking that has won many a race and award with them. Build quality is faultless, nothing has ever "just come off" while driving it. Appearance is gorgeous I think, with all the curves in the right places and it is the most aerodynamic car in production today. The cost of ownership is, honestly, horrific. With HUGE Road tax of over £400 per year, insurance up in group 16E and doing 20mpg on a good day it's not one for the tight wads. But is it fun to drive, and does it make up for the horrific cost of ownership? You bet it does.

Primary Use: Sport/fun (spirited driving, track racing, off-roading, etc.)