Price new: $25,000+
Price now: $2000+
By Staff Writer
Aug 22, 2022
|
Mazda
| Posted in
Buyer's Guides
| From the July 2015 issue
| Never miss an article
Photography Credit: Courtesy Mazda
[Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2015 issue of Classic Motorsports. Prices have been adjusted for recent values.]
Amazing handling? Check.
9000 rpm redline? Check.
Perfect ergonomics? Check.
And now with prices starting around $2000? Meet the Mazda RX-8.
The Mazda RX-8 signaled the return of the rotary. After nearly a decade away, Mazda brought the Wankel engine back to its fans, along with the promise of smooth power from a relatively small displacement–in this case, just 1.3 liters.
This was a new version of the tried-and-true rotary engine–or at least a pretty major update. Its basic architecture was carried over from the 13B found in all three generations of the RX-7, but the new Renesis engine featured redesigned exhaust ports and upgraded apex seals. The new, naturally aspirated engine produced 238 horsepower, nearly as much as the twin-turbo RX-7 that came before it.
The Renesis engine was nestled deep in the RX-8’s chassis, so much so that its maker referred to the layout as front-midship. In English, that means the engine rests behind the centerline of the front wheels. Add in the double A-arm suspension, 50/50 weight distribution and 3000-pound curb weight, and the RX-8 handles like a dream.
Then there’s the sexy bodywork. It looks like a coupe, but the design cleverly contains rear doors. Those rear seats can hold a full-sized adult, too.
The car hit the American market for the 2004 model year with an MSRP starting at $26,680. That price was for the six-speed manual; an automatic could be had for less money, but it also delivered less horsepower.
Today, though, the RX-8 is a deal, with cars starting at less than $3000. Revisions made for the post-2009 cars have many of those currently trading for more.
Why so inexpensive? Well, the RX-8 isn’t a fuel miser. The Renesis may be thriftier than previous rotaries, but it still likes gasoline. The EPA rates the car’s fuel economy as 16 city/22 highway, and those numbers are tough to beat in real life. Figure 13-16 mpg in town is par for the course. The early cars also saw some engine issues, to the point that Mazda extended the warranties to eight years or 100,000 miles.
Do those issues doom the RX-8? Remember, we’re talking about one of the best-driving cars of late, one with a price that’s tough to beat. As with owning a Lotus 7 or high-strung exotic, sometimes the compromises are just part of the ride.
Trent Harvey, Tire Rack’s brand manager for brakes and suspension, campaigned a Mazda RX-8 at national-level autocrosses for several seasons.
Rotary engines are designed to inject a small amount of the oil into the combustion chamber under normal operation. The higher the engine load, the more oil is metered into the process. Keeping the oil level topped off with the recommended oil type is a must and a rite of passage for an RX-8 owner.
I put 65K miles on mine–purchased new–and always fed it the recommended octane and oil type. The compression still tested strong when I sold it. I’ve heard of many other owners who have gone over 100K with no issues, but that contrasts with many engines that were replaced early. Rotary engines are not tolerant of pre-detonation, so using low-octane fuel can be a death sentence.
As the engine compression reduces over time due to wear, the cars become harder to start when hot, a loss of power may become apparent, and the idle may become uneven. A Mazda dealer or specialist will have access to a compression tester designed for rotary engines, which will provide the most accurate results. However, some research online will lead you to home-brewed methods of testing with a standard compression tester, which can provide you with a basic idea of the engine’s health. I would consider this a must-do prior to purchasing any rotary-powered car.
All of the normal handling upgrades translate well to the RX-8. Koni really nailed the Sport damper application for this platform: Several SCCA Solo Stock class national championships have been won with these off-the-shelf parts.
Always liked the RX's. The fuel costs don't really deter me if I like driving the car. I always figure that is just part of the cost of the hobby.
I really want an FD, but running unmolested ones are becoming unobtanium under $10k.
I liked the Rx-8 when it came out and still do, could be a future option if prices keep dropping.
I would agree. RX-8 can be considered worth buying even if the price is depreciating.
I'm still seeing lots of RX-8s out there. A friend just bought an autocross-prepped RX-8 for like $8k or so. (And "autocross-prepped" just means prepped for C Street, so it's not really modified, although it has received a new engine.)
He's happy with it.
I've always wanted one. I daydream about buying a cheap, non-running beater and swapping in a new engine and doing a restoration.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: I really want an FD, but running unmolested ones are becoming unobtanium under $10k. I liked the Rx-8 when it came out and still do, could be a future option if prices keep dropping.
Wait until JDM imports for FD become available. Not only will prices tank but there will be a wealth of hardly modded ones.
Friend runs CS in one. They installed 2 engines this year. Last one was a rebuilt to factory spec by a good shop for them supposedly. He hopes to keep it together for longer than a year now....
In reply to kanaric:
I'm waiting so hard for that.
I day dream about RX-8s from time to time when I run across one with a trashed motor for $1.5k, which is pretty common where I'm at. The problem is that I didn't enjoy it too much when I drove one at Zoom-Zoom Live a number of years ago and I'm still not sure if my opinion would be colored by that or not.
The0retical wrote: In reply to kanaric: I'm waiting so hard for that. I day dream about RX-8s from time to time when I run across one with a trashed motor for $1.5k, which is pretty common where I'm at. The problem is that I didn't enjoy it too much when I drove one at Zoom-Zoom Live a number of years ago and I'm still not sure if my opinion would be colored by that or not.
I flogged one there too and Mazda set them up to understeer a lot to keep people from spinning on course. I've driven a couple others and they are not understeery. Nice and neutral/balanced.
One of the best driving cars I have ever been behind the wheel of hands down. I've never had so much of an S eating grin as when I drove an RX-8 
Displaying 1-10 of 25 commentsView all comments on the CMS forums
You'll need to log in to post.
