2011 MAZDA RX-8 Consumer Reviews
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
This car gets a bad reputation, because of its rotary engine. People dont read the manual and take care of it for what it is. It needs premium gas, it needs good oil, and it burns that oil do you need to check it and top it off OFTEN. Thats just part of the deal when you buy one. I bought mine used with just under 60k on it. (Original Engine, never replaced). That was low milage at the time, heck its 13 years old now so its still under the average. I have put 50k on it in about 4 years. It has never mechanically stranded me. The only maintenance Ive had to do in the last 50k miles are a battery, a set of brakes, a set of plugs and wires, and a set of tires. I put a clutch in it at 90k and it really didnt need it. I have flooded it twice (moved it in the driveway and didnt let it warm up enough), but I was able to get it started w/o having to pull plugs. The car is bone stock, no add on, no enhancements. It runs as good as the day I bought it. While it has the grand touring package, this isnt really a great highway touring car. Its a bit noisy, and while its comfortable for a while, its not something you probably want to spend hours in. It performs well, goes where you point it. Not a very good winter car, and Ive driven it in all kinds of winter conditions that it probably shouldnt have been driven in. Id buy a new RX9 in a minute.
VS
Critical Review
I have never gone out of my way to write anything on one of these sites but I want to prevent someone from something I had to go through. Understand this car is beautiful and drives like a racecar (at first) but do your research before the purchase. I bought this car last year with 73 k miles on it. Had slow exceleration but it was beautiful and my first car purchase on my own. Thought I got it for a great deal, 8900 and it was mine. The car lasted me a few months with no problems until I had decided to move to flordia, I put over 1k into it to prepare it for the drive. The engine was making a weird noise so I replaced almost everything in this car that mechanics had told me to do. The day before I left the engine light was no longer flashing indicating back fire and I knew something was up...when I got down here I was notified that I had been driving it the entire time I had it with only one part of the engine working. The apex seals were going, and they told me its VERY COMMON! ok, so so common that to replace the apex seals was more expensive than replacing the engine (4500$$$$). APEX SEALS ARE THE KISS OF DEATH. Talked with numerous owners and all said same problem. The warrenty expired for that problem..that mazda was willing to replace the engine for free, thats not fishy at all. This was the worst purchase of my life. It is now sitting in a parking spot with only 10 k miles that I put on it and 3200 still owed. YOUVE BEEN WARNED.
2011 RX-8 Reviews
Showing 8 of 491 reviews.
You’ll never take a turn faster in anything else. Funnest car to drive you’ll ever find. Has milage is not its strong suit but if you love driving and driving fast around lots of turns this is the car you want.
Great handling car, and great driving experience.
its a very high maintenance vehicle.
Some advise for new owners; do oil changes every 3 months or sooner if you daily it (although i would not have it as an only vehicle). change the starter motor to a upgraded one, check ignition coils and spark plugs every oil change or so if possible, let the car fully warm up before fully driving on the higher RPM's. Depending on the temperature you can just turn on the car and start driving it and keeping it on the low RPM's until it gets to operating temperature. It only takes 91 octane or higher, premix is a preference. don't let the fuel tank get to below half a tank so the fuel pump doesn't suck up any debris and ruin pump, having the fuel tank above half a tank also helps keep the fuel pump cool and from over heating. Get an aluminum under tray if possible for better cooling under the hood. Don't get any after market "cold air" intake, the factory air box is the most efficient choice (unless you care more about the looks and the sound that they make) also making sure all the air filters are changed when needed in order to maximize engine longevity along with the oil change and oil filter. Now about the car itself, it is the most fun car i have ever owned and driven I will just keep it at that.
This car doesn’t get the credit it deserves here in the U.S. besides the poor gas mileage (which I don’t mind cause it comes with the territory) this car is a wonder to drive. I got an automatic because I am not a very experienced driver but even with an automatic I get a grin from ear to ear every time I get behind the wheel. The paddle shifters are a treat to use as I rev this thing up to 8500 rpm before I have to shift up. Even with the post pandemic car prices this car is still underpriced, so if you find a post 2009 model with under 75,000 miles do yourself and buy this car. It’s the most fun car I have ever driven and as long as you keep up with checking the fluids and using Royal purple engine oil this thing is going to take care of you.
fun to drive
tight fit for me
Low milage looks great, has full size spare installed in trunk. have had since new and have had no mechanical or other problems.
5050 weight, phenomenal handling
Low ceiling even for 5’10
I’ve owned this car since 2013, this was my first car and I had the rotary fail at 90k... That car should have died tens of thousands of miles ago, I’d push it to the max every other time I took it, sometimes even for the duration of the trip. This cars handling has saved my life countless times, easy to drift, however spin outs will happen, practice in a parking lot and you’ll know what to do when you hit a wet turn too fast
Drive smoothly
Fast and clean inside and out .................................................................................
fun to drive
no cons
the car is so comfortable and sports price is super underated the driving and reliability is amazing looks amazing
Great fun car
Really nothing major.
The car is FUN to drive and does not have any mechanical issues. If it is a daily driver no issues with the car at all just drive and have fun. If you let the car sit for lets say two weeks sometimes the battery gets drained by the car alarm. Easy fix is start it up at least once a week and let it run until it warms up or buy a low voltage battery charger to keep it charged up when you don't drive it as much.
