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Mazda RX-8 Coupe 228 bhp



Price: £22,100 For:

Our Coupe of the Year 2004 looks great and drives brilliantly, and has reasonable practicality as well. And all at a very affordable price.
Against: High emissions put both models in the top bracket for company car tax; steering adjusts only for height.



Performance Ride Handling Refinement
Clever rotary engine gives strong push Superb control at all speeds Very good for a sporty coupe
Performance



Mazda is the only manufacturer to use a rotary engine. This clever design uses spinning rotors rather than cylinders. There are two versions, both of 1.3 litres, with 189bhp or 228bhp. Performance is strong from both, with a high rev limit and distinctive sound. The 189bhp model has a five-speed manual gearbox while the more powerful car has a six-speeder.



Handling

Balancing the ride and handling of a sporty car is a tricky job but one Mazda has pulled off. The low-speed ride is firm but not jerkily so and it’s very comfortable at high speeds. But it’s the body control that truly impresses: no matter what the surface or how tight the corner, the RX-8 just keeps on gripping.


Refinement

There is a very distinct note to the rotary engine when it is revved. The sound has a pleasing edge that lets the driver know the car is working hard. Road and wind noise are isolated well from the cabin and the RX-8 makes a good long-distance cruiser as well as a back-road blaster.

• Body type Coupe
• Number of doors 4
• Number of seats 4
• Engine (cc/type) 1308/R2
• Fuel type Unleaded
• Max power (bhp/rpm) 228/8200
• Max torque (lb ft/rpm) 156/5500
• Max speed (mph) 146
• 0-60mph (sec)
• 30-70mph (sec) 6.7
• In Gears 30 to 50 (sec) no data/no data/no data
• In Gears 50 to 70 (sec) no data/no data/no data
• Braking distance (m) 9.1/47.1
• Engine position F
• Driven wheels Rear
• Length (mm) 4430
• Width (mm) 1770
• Height (mm) 1340
• Front headroom (mm) 970
• Front legroom (mm) 935
• Rear headroom (mm) 1084
• Rear kneeroom (mm) 817
• Boot space (min ltr) 290
• Boot space (max ltr) no data
• Turning circle (m) 5.3
• Turning circle lock to lock(m) not available
• Towing weight (kg) 1200
• Kerb weight (kg) 1300

Buying Quality Safety and Security
Superb value for money Very strong on both counts Loaded with safety kit
Buying

The 189bhp model starts at a very reasonable £20,100 and £22,100 will get you the more powerful version, which seriously undercuts the RX-8’s main rival, the Audi TT. Given the amount of standard equipment, the Mazda is superb value. Only the car’s emissions spoil things, putting the car in the top 35% company car tax bracket.

Quality

Being a Mazda, owners can expect clockwork reliability and build quality that is right up with the very best. The cars we have driven have been constructed with care. The rotary engine should present no problems because Mazda has been building it for decades and it has won a reputation for durability.



Safety and Security

Even though there is no central door pillar, the rear door’s leading edge is heavily reinforced to create a ‘virtual’ pillar when closed, in the event of a side impact. Twin front-, side- and curtain airbags are standard, as are anti-lock brakes and stability and traction controls. Other Mazda cars have scored reasonably in security tests, so the RX-8 should fare well.

• Urban 18.1
• Extra Urban 32.5
• Combined 25.2
• Tank Capacity 13.4
• CO2 Rating 284
• Insurance Group 16
• Typical Quote 552
• Retained Value no data
• Contract Hire Rate 467
• Cost per mile 56.4
• Service Cost 890
• Servicing 9,000
• Warranty 36/60,000 + 3 year Paint + 6 year
• Perforation + 3yr Breakdown

Behind the Wheel Space and Practicality Equipment
Stylish and comfortable A coupe with genuine space for four Most things are standard
Behind the Wheel



The driver of the RX-8 has electric adjustment for the seat, helping towards a great driving position. Steering adjustment is for height only but this does not impair comfort. All of the controls are logically laid out in this stylish cabin.

Space and Practicality

Mazda’s clever reverse-hinged rear doors allow excellent access to a pair of individual rear seats that can accommodate adults with ease. There’s also a reasonable boot that can cope with a couple of suitcases, making the RX-8 a very practical coupe.

Equipment

Mazda has loaded both models of the RX-8 with plenty of kit. Foremost on the list is the superb Bose sound system with no less than nine speakers and excellent sound quality. There’s also climate control and 18-inch alloy wheels. Optional extras are limited to metallic paint, electric sunroof, leather seats and satellite-navigation.

• Central Locking standard
• Remote Locking standard
• Adjustable Steering Reach not available
• Adjustable Steering Rake standard
• Electric Steering Adjustable not available
• Seat Height Adjustable standard
• Power Seats Adjustable standard
• Air Conditioning standard
• Climate Control standard
• Seat Belt Tensioners standard
• Driver Airbag standard
• Passenger Airbag standard
• Side Airbag standard
• Side Impactbars not available
• Centre 3 Pointbelt not available
• Traction Control standard
• Antilock Brakes standard
• Auto Gearbox not available
• Alloywheels standard
• Deadlocks standard
• Immobiliser standard
• Alarm standard
• Visible Vin no data
• Secure Spare Wheel not available
• Marked Parts no data
• Etched Windows no data
• Satellite Navigation 1500
• Handsfree Phone not available
• Leather Seats 1500
• Locking Wheelnuts no data
• Metallic Paint 300
• Split Fold Rear Seats not available
• Electric Front Windows standard
• Electric Mirrors standard
• Heated Mirrors standard
• Manual Sunroof not available
• Electric Sunroof 500
• Cruise Control not available
• Multi CD standard
• Radio not available
• RDS Radio not available
• Unique Fit Radio standard

Looking good that is matey, I never knew they were only a 1300cc Rotary engine producing 228 BHP <img border="0" alt="[are u mad]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions050.gif" />

I love those door and the Pillar-Less design.

That is one real contender for the Modified car scene. Great post Sporty mate.... Let's see some more <img border="0" alt="[cwcool]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions049.gif" />

to be honest i prefare the rx 7's dont get me wrong if some said here u go there's a rx 8 4 ya i would have!!. quality the way they work. rotory engine n that cleva cars

im not realy a big fan of the rx8
i do prefare the rx7
but i do love the rx8 doors

Sexy cars, arn't Mazda meant to be pretty much the most reliable cars on the road?

Quite a bit better than its nearest rivals, ford and Honda.

I have had the pleasure of squaring up next to an RX7 and RX8, obviously, it wasnt even worth me trying.

Its a funny car from Mazda, the RX-8.

OK, the styling is a little different from its previous model - the RX-8, but the RX-7 produced 270bhp and was very lightweight, where as the new RX-8 produces less power, and weighs a tonne!

Even MX-5s lap race circuits faster than these things <img border="0" alt="[are u mad]" title="" src="graemlins/cwemotions050.gif" />

looks sweet

dont the RX-7's need the engine re-building every few thousand miles or something like that?

Depends how they are looked after, though I think they last more like 50k miles at least on a tuned car, though you can fit strengthened tips to help increase life.

The RX-8 engine works the same way, just without a turbo though - maybe Mazda have made the tips a bit stronger from std for the 8

j'adore le rx-8 engine must be much stronger nad more reliable than the sweet sweet rx-7. wouldnt say no to one anyway.

Would deffo have one over the RX7, more reliable and much better to drive aswell. Looks fantastic too.

Quite a bit better than its nearest rivals, ford and Honda

Mazda are owned by ford though lol

If you go to the top gear web site and look at there track times, you will see the RX8 has the same time as the new BMW M3. So I don't know where your getting your times from dude... Coz the M3 would eat a little MX5 as a snack.

i like em alot, fast, good looking yet different and well specced aswel as priced, cant really go wrong

I really like them too. Plus they look sweet modded. Id prefare one of these to the RX7. Far more reliable engine wise I think.

belive me they drive 10 times better than they look!!!!!!!!! what a car. i want 1 b4 i die. fan dabbie tastic easily the best part of my job!!!!!! o apart from city rovers