2006 Mazda RX-8

flashy ride/high maintenance

By DP (WI) on Saturday, April 27, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 112,000

Pros: "corners like on rails. An absolute blast to drive"

Cons: "Everybody wants to race you at the stop lights"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 5

"I bought this car used with 30,000 miles on it. I have had it for 7 years and have over 112,000 miles on it. It is the funniest car that I have ever driven. It turns heads and I frequently get asked about it. That being said, it guzzles gas and oil. It is not the car for the person who wants to just jump in and go and forget about the maintenance on a car. It should also NEVER be driven on snow or ice. I can't begin to explain how bad it is on ice, even with snow tires. I have had no problems with any of the other frequent complaints I have read here. The air conditioner is still cold, it idles great even with the air running."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Great car if you can maintain.

By Brock (CO) on Wednesday, April 17, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 67,000

Pros: "price, handling, interior styling,exterior styling"

Cons: "reliability"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Only con is reliability. But it's one of the most fun cars to drive. Very luxurious (GT model anyways) and perfect styling. I love this car and always will."

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Great and Practical Car!

By Adam (MO) on Monday, April 01, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 95,000

Pros: "great handling, fun to drive, quick"

Cons: "bad in snow, mpg"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"With the right tires (goodyear eagle gt's are what I have), this car is amazing with handling, speed, and despite other reviews, good in the rain. It probably won't beat anything else in a straight line, but take it down a mountain, and you'll beat the likes of the 350z and S2000. It even has back seats! It drives like it is on rails, and its so much fun."

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Do not buy ANY YEAR!!!

By Kino (DE) on Thursday, March 21, 2013

I owned and sold this car
Reason: engine - My approximate mileage is 11,000

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 2

"Ok so i bought the car used with 7000 miles... garage kept and everything. Loved the car until the engine blew. I put 5000 miles on it and the engine blows. This car would be perfect if they put a speed 3 engine in it but the rotatory engine just isn't reliable. If you are thinking of buying this car please reconsider."

3 people out of 8 found this review helpful

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Great drive, Fantastic Handling

By california surf (CA) on Thursday, March 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 30,500

Pros: "Interior & Exterior."

Cons: "A bit uncomfortable for 4"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"This unique car has fantastic handling. Feels like a coupe/sports car and its unique rotary engine gives it that lightweight feel. Never run into any mechanical or electronic issues with the car. Its exterior is stylish and interiors have classic leather power seats."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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DO NOT BUY!!!

By Texas Ranger (OH) on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 83,000

Pros: "Drives like a dream"

Cons: "Motor will blow and will leave you stranded"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"For a sports car this is definitely top of the line. Drives and handles like a dream. Slow from a stop, but 40-100 mph in no time and hugs curves like younwouldnt imagine. Amazing and very comfortable interior, front seats that is. Good luck fitting a large or two medium size suitcases in the trunk. Sound quality fantastic. Loved just about everything about the car, until BLOWN MOTOR at 83,000 miles. Coming straight from the Mazda dealer themselves, all rx-8's have a 50% fail rate. This car has left me stranded multiple times, but only in the winter. Most definitely only a very once in a while drive me type of car, in warm weather above 60F; not great to run for hours on end, very temperamental. Do NOT do lots of city driving and never turn on and off car for short periods of time, so you can forget about running errands in this flashy car. It won't start back up unless it sits for 15 minutes, floods out real bad due to poor design. Oh and it'll cost at least $300 if it floods out on you, not counting tow cost. $28/spark plug, yeah OUTRAGEOUS(for cheap ones). Oh did I mention it takes premium gas 20-25 cents extra/gallon. Be very careful driving in bad weather like any rear wheel drive car. Single most important thing, OIL. This car is designed to burn oil and gas for combustion, check your oil every time you put gas in it and always carry at least a quart. Regular oil changes a must, but no synthetics. Every 1500 miles for mine, usually burned 1-2 quarts of oil. If you do purchase and notice it burning gas like crazy, like 20-30 miles for the first quarter tank and has slow starting problems, cranks for a while till it fires, or slight loss in horsepower SELL it. take it to a dealership and trade it in ASAP. Could be signs of low compression in one or both rotors which will eventually lead to engine failure. $6000 to fix unless you know how to rebuild a wankle engine or drop a new one in yourself. This is not a reliable car it will leave you stranded. Like I said I loved it, but I wouldn't buy one for my worst enemy. Endless money pit. If you want to drag race it, I'd most definitely buy it. the options for engine upgrades are endless, plus drag cars have a short life anyway."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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