Car enthusiasts generally have a love-hate relationship with the Mazda RX-8. It comes with buckets of personality and a unique powertrain. However, it’s also infamous for poor reliability and repair bills that will put your bank account to the test.
Due to its unique character, the RX-8 has already been marked by the car enthusiast world as a future classic, despite the most recent examples being barely over a decade old. The increasing scarcity of undamaged, unmodified models with a good maintenance record means that prices are sure to go up in the not-too-distant future. If you’re looking to add this Mazda to your garage, this is a good time to snap up a bargain before this iconic model gets out of your wallet’s reach.
- Base Trim Engine
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1.3L Rotary Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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6-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Rear-Wheel Drive
The Mazda RX-8: Before The Facelift…
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2003 Mazda RX-8 |
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Engine |
1.3-liter rotary |
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Power |
192 hp |
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Torque |
162 lb-ft |
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0-60 mph |
7.2 seconds |
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Top Speed |
139 mph |
The Mazda RX-8 traces its origins back to a concept car introduced in 1995 at the Tokyo Motor Show. This early concept car was called the RX-01; it was designed to be affordable and sporty, taking inspiration from the first-generation RX-7. At the heart of the RX-01 was a new generation of Mazda’s rotary engine, dubbed the 13B-MSP.
Although the RX-01 itself never directly resulted in a production model, some members of Mazda’s engineering team wanted to continue exploring the concept’s potential, with a focus on the development of its engine. This eventually resulted in the Renesis twin-rotor engine and the production RX-8.
The production model arrived nearly a decade after the concept car, making its debut for the 2003 model year. On the North American market, however, the RX-8 didn’t go on sale until 2004. It was powered by the 1.3-liter Renesis, which produced between 189 hp and 238 hp depending on configuration. A range of manual and automatic transmissions were available.
Mazda’s performance division at the time, Mazdaspeed, also produced a high-performance version of the pre-facelift RX-8 in 2003: a rarity of the automotive world, with just 480 units built and sold on the Japanese market only. Mazdaspeed upgraded the model with modifications to the bodywork and chassis, including extra aerodynamic elements and new anti-roll bars. A new exhaust system, new spark plugs, and new brake pads were added, too.
Mazdaspeed’s work, however, was not quite done: three years later another modified version of the RX-8 made its debut, called the Mazdaspeed M’z Tune. In this version, all comfort-oriented features were removed, with performance being the sole focus. The pre-facelift version of the RX-8 also spawned a variety of other special editions, sold in different markets around the world. These include the Evolve, the Shinka, and PZ, built as part of a collaboration with British firm Prodrive.
…And After
In 2008, the RX-8 underwent a facelift, which brought about a variety of changes to its design and mechanical components. Structural reinforcements increased the car’s body rigidity, while the reworked gearbox and suspension provided a slight improvement in performance.
The Renesis engine, meanwhile, was upgraded with a better oil delivery system for the 2009 model year. On the design front, the car was given a slightly more aggressive look, with a new grille. New wheels and a reworked rear spoiler and exhaust system also contributed to its visual makeover.
The second version of the RX-8 also produced some special editions. The R3 was oriented towards performance and fitted with several upgrades, such as a reworked suspension, high-performance tires, and 19-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels. The Spirit R was the last special edition of the RX-8 ever built, created as a “farewell edition” that celebrated the model shortly before its discontinuation.
Despite its unique place in the automotive world and its iconic status among car enthusiasts, the RX-8 also suffered from several issues which brought about its discontinuation less than a decade into its lifespan. The rotary engine was the main culprit, being prone to mechanical issues (such as flooding and starting issues) and struggling to keep up with the modern automotive landscape. Its notorious unreliability led to it being given the nickname “Dorito of Death”, inspired by its triangular shape.
The Renesis engine and the RX-8 were both discontinued after the 2012 model year. The RX-8 remains the last production Mazda to be powered by a rotary engine, but that doesn’t mean Mazda doesn’t have plans to bring the rotary back in the future. Undeterred by the RX-8’s issues, the brand has continued to pursue research and development in the area of rotary engines, with a view to bringing this type of powertrain back to the market.
The RX-8 On The Used Market
The RX-8’s reputation may make it a tricky choice for people looking to buy a car on the used market. The most common issues are apex seal wear, ignition coils that fail, leading to the catalytic converter packing up, and oil consumption. You’d better be prepared to spend as much on oil as on gas. This is one car where you absolutely need a full service history before you buy.
The ownership experience can be notoriously fraught with issues, but if you’re the kind of car owner who’s not afraid of meticulous maintenance and repair bills, here is what you need to know about buying an RX-8 today.
We start with the pre-facelift model, which is – as you would expect – on the more affordable end of the spectrum. Prices start around as little as $6,000, although you might end up with a few unexpected surprises further down the line if you decide to go that low. At the upper end of the range, for cars with a higher standard of maintenance and a lower mileage, you can expect to pay up to around $14,000. For the post-facelift model, on the other hand, the price range starts around $8,000 and goes up to around $15,000.
Mazda And The Rotary Engine: A Rich Past, A Promising Future?
Mazda’s history with the rotary engine goes back a long way, starting with prototypes in the early 1960s. In 1967, the Mazda Cosmo Sport 110 S, the first production vehicle with a twin-disc rotary engine, hit the market. This would mark the start of a history that would span four decades (and beyond), with several Mazda models featuring this unique type of powertrain being released.
Today, the company has far from given up on the rotary engine, and in the years since the RX-8’s discontinuation, the company has continued to work towards the goal of bringing a new rotary-powered model to the market.
This development work resulted in a concept car called the Iconic SP, powered by a twin-rotor engine, which was introduced to the world in 2023. In the Iconic SP, the twin-rotor engine is not used as the sole source of propulsion; it is used as a range extender as part of a hybrid powertrain, with a similar layout to the one seen in some variants of the MX-30 SUV. Despite being a sleek, modern concept, the Iconic SP also incorporated design elements that built a visual connection with rotary-powered cars from Mazda’s history (such as the RX-7).
When designing the Iconic SP, Mazda had to take into account the changes undergone by the automotive world as a whole. Emissions, one of the rotary’s weak points, are a more important factor than ever. Trying to adapt the engine to the rigid emissions standard used in Europe would have been too complex and costly, so Mazda decided to shift its focus to areas of the world where emissions standards are less strict, such as the US.
Mazda has made leaps and bounds towards the development of a future rotary-powered production car, but the road ahead is still a long one. Business cases will have to be prepared, and the amount of bureaucracy the company will have to fight its way through is sizable. However, there is reason to hope that a spiritual successor to the RX-8 may eventually make its way into Mazda dealerships.
Although the potential future of the rotary engine is a highly exciting one, its past is also fascinating. Despite its reputation for trouble, the RX-8 remains a part of the automotive world that many car enthusiasts are fond of, and is on track to become a veritable classic.
Sources: Mazda, Autotempest
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