Mazda RX8 car - What makes it a great car? | Car Review | Top Gear

The Top Gear team put the Mazda RX8 through its paces! Watch the official full video in high quality on the BBC Top Gear KZbin channel, and visit www.topgear.com for all the latest news and car reviews.
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[@nesimasmar1641]

Pros: it’s a Rotary Cons:it’s a Rotary

[@kierangallagher9213]

Best car ive ever owned

[@nesimasmar1641]

@@kierangallagher9213 just joking bro

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@kierangallagher9213 must be your first car... my condolences.

[@notchrisminecraft4791]

nononono you've got it all wrong Pros: It's a turbocharged Rotary Cons: It's a turbocharged Rotary so you've got more oil problems :)

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@notchrisminecraft4791 And more apex seal problems...

[@n3kbrEak3r]

Muscle guys died when he said it has a 1.3L with 200hp

[@doktorbimmer]

+n3kbrEak3r 2.6 liter when you compare it to Otto or Diesel engines... so 200hp doesn't sound that great really...

[@murmaider2]

+n3kbrEak3r we rather have an engine that isn't throwing pieces of itself out of the exhaust after 80k miles thank you very much

[@doktorbimmer]

Dick Pickles Well first off, regardless of proprietary nomenclature used by a former manufacturers... Wankel KKM engines have PISTONS... not Rotors. Each piston has 3 sides and 3 combustion chamber faces Each displaces an interior volume minus the unswept volume due to the stroke of the crankshaft. For a Mazda 13B engine for example this volume is 650cc despite the "published displacement" used for tax purposes the actual displacement is 650cc X 6 = 3.9 lites of total displacement Of course only 2 chambers can be on the intake stroke and 2 on the power stroke per revolution of the crankshaft, a '2X conversion formula' is then used when comparing the displacement to, for example a Otto or Diesel type engine. Making the displacement approximately 2.6 liters in relation to current existing standards. I hope that answers your question.

[@ShipWreckAndHaloFan]

The real doktorbimmer Alright thanks

[@DoomsdayMelody91]

herpherpbrocolli Nah, you'd rather have 50 more horsepower with 3.3 extra liters

[@Whackfear]

1.3 liters refers to the amount of oil it uses per 10 kilometers.

[@Wokiis]

Confused as to why people think think it uses so much oil. It _uses_ oil, sure. But not a staggering amount. Mazda recommends checking oil every other gas fill up but in reality it's like every 6th that you consider topping it off some. And then it's like 0.3L

[@allthingsrc5330]

+Wokis yeah, rule of thumb is they use 1 liter of oil every thousand miles, so just add a liter of oil every thousand miles and you're good, which isn't much to ask from that fun little engine!

[@spoada]

They likely put too much oil in, left it, and blew up the car. Mazda dipstick reads oil strange, ok once u get it.

[@doktorbimmer]

+Der Panda *But Wankel engines are not 2-stroke... everyone knows these engines were extremely unreliable and inefficient.*

[@doktorbimmer]

+Mark Wright *All Wankel engine are 4-stroke, Pre-mixing is not only NOT RECOMMENDED and a waste of time and money, It DOES NOTHING to prevent seal damage and actually makes the reliability problems WORSE... Tampering or disabling the OMP is also MONUMENTALLY DUMB and can DESTROY YOUR ENGINE!!!!*

[@billygoon8926]

The RX8 taillights are fabulous.

[@CardboardOdyssey]

Seriously. I'm not a huge fan of the front but the whole back end looks perfect to me. No idea what jeremy is thinking.

[@doktorbimmer]

*It looks like a shed!*

[@kurtphillips124]

@@doktorbimmer you are the most annoying person on the whole of KZbin.

[@doktorbimmer]

+Kurt Phillips *Brutally honest people often are... you must be one of those people that are not accustomed to hearing the truth.*

[@doktorbimmer]

*NEWS FLASH: **_The Rotary Is A Garbage Engine._* jalopnik.com/the-rotary-engine-sucks-1773174001

[@tonyjms2005]

I have had my RX8 for 7 years nows, I bought it new in 2008. It now has 100k miles on the clock. As a rule of thumb with the Rx8 dont buy one older than 2006. The 2004-2005 models are always the ones that suffer with lower compression. This is due to the fact that mazda grossly mis-calcuated the oil metering ratio, basically they didnt take into account that the many cars will spend a lot of time sat at traffic lights with the engine idling. Mazda then mad a rod for their own back by simpley just compression checking affected models. This was not the correct approach, an apex seal will seal down to approx 1.1mm thickness. These seals are 3mm thickness when new, A seal starved of oil will be badly worn but still sealing in the short term. Mazda should have fitted all affected cars with new engine. Instead they have ruined the reputation of the rotary engine, when the RX8 was supposed to have revived it. When I look for a car I look for uniqueness and a look for a car that has had a lot of thought put into it, thats why I like the RX8. For example the unique doors, carbon fibre prop shaft, and the one I like the most is that the fuel tank is designed that whether it is full or empty, it doesnt alter the handling charateristics of the car. My car is due a service, I was thinking of trying to measure the apex seals while in situe, I will post the results when I get chance. Hope this helps anyone thinking of buying an rx8, just stay well clear of the older models, you wouldn't buy a pistion engine car knowing that at some point it has been starved of oil so the same goes with a rotary. Thanks guy Tony

[@poopta]

so you wouldnt suggest the mada rx8? i dont know much about cars but my car just broke down recently and someone i know is selling a mazda rx8 2003 with 52k miles for around 5,000$ and I really wanted to go for it b/c it looks very visually appealing but idk your comment makes me second guess my decision. But thanks a lot for the information helps me a lot

[@tonyjms2005]

hi poopta. Ok if you really want that car see if they will let you take it to Mazda garage or rotary specialist to get it compression checked. Any issues with compression usually come to light when the engine is nice and hot. So take it for a blast and rev it right up to the shift alarm a couple of times. Immediately pull over and switch the engine off. Then start it up again and if the apex seals are good then it should fire up quickly without any problems. Also try and verity when the ignition coils were changed last and also the regular service items, this will tell you how well it has been looked after. Remember the engine in the rx8 has been tuned to the extent that no mods (except forced induction) will increase the hp noticeably. So these engines are operating at the top of their design capability which is why you see so many issues because they don't get looked after properly. Hope this helps. :)

[@doktorbimmer]

2006 and later were reflashed to have less power.... in an effort to reduce premature engine failures.

[@tonyjms2005]

The real doktorbimmer Yeah I think the first ones were something like 250bhp? I have the 231bhp, well at least that is what mazda sold it as lol

[@tougeruzbay]

Might as well find an RX7 Type R or S

[@Rytis36]

well 360p is better than 240p i guess

[@Rytis36]

Otto Man no it wasn't

[@coydog7902]

What about 36240p?

[@dylanjb4065]

CoyDog790 what about 1234567890p in the year 3000?

[@_lew_]

We 2160p now

[@authenticmax6350]

I watch Jeremy's reviews to Improve my English .

[@miegie1000]

Oh yeah? I watch Jeremy Clarkson to english my improve.

[@anton8067]

Oh yeah? Well I watch my improve to Jeremy's reviews.

[@bizbilmiyorum9509]

Dude , i Jeremy my watch to english improve.

[@Shumayal]

LOL GUYS!

[@amancuso07]

I English my watch to Jeremy my improves

[@BlackTransAmdude]

You know I've owned this car for a little under two years and driven 17,000 abusive miles on the original motor and the car is still running fantastic, I bought it at 68,000 miles and currently has 85,000 and hasn't left me stranded. Took it Los Angeles to Las Vegas and Los Angeles to San Francisco. I've taken it to willow springs raceway and I've taken it through the mountains just racing everything. Reliability isn't an issue, it's the owners who don't take care of them properly.

[@hybridownzDK]

I heard the fuel economy is bad

[@anthonylopes6399]

+Darkerkiller it is

[@hybridownzDK]

+Life of Lopes do u know why? Its a 1.3

[@Nikoxion]

+Darkerkiller Because it's a rotary engine, there are 3 phases of combustion happening at the same time in each rotor. So when comparing it to a regular piston engine, it's more like a 3.9l engine. But in general rotary engines don't have high efficiency.

[@doktorbimmersdaddy715]

disagree if u maintain they r awesome

[@saleemjavaid8870]

I just clicked this video to go back in time and enjoy old TOP GEAR. Ahhh the memories.....of the trio

[@BenilJoseph]

Lol

[@CornStreetVEVO]

ok that settles it. i shall buy this car. in nfs underground 2

[@CornStreetVEVO]

son did you click read more

[@doktorbimmer]

Tubular Pencil Damn straight kid, who the fauq would buy one of these POS today????

[@NitroTurtle9000]

The real doktorbimmer me. i love rotaries lol

[@doktorbimmer]

tyler white Good luck with that.. Me too! my favorite Rotary engine is the 9-cylinder Oberursel UR.II.

[@NitroTurtle9000]

The real doktorbimmer if i ever buy an rx8 the engines immediately coming out and being inspected and rebuilt

[@jagat4]

RX8 is like fine women with bad bad anger, if you treat her right she will give you pleasure but if you don't then you are in trouble. Proud RX8 owner.

[@hardcorehardo]

like a latina

[@doktorbimmer]

+Tam Ago *General Motors built its own Wankel engine and put it in a Corvette... it sucked and GM dropped it like a bad habit!*

[@thejay8963]

Tam Ago Make an 8 rotor for it.

[@doktorbimmer]

*Wtf? An 8 rotor??? that would just be 400% more likely to suffer apex seal failure...*

[@mitchfrancgames]

@ERNIE BRINK ROTARY name a car like this for the same price you would wife

[@peetersm6783]

I like how Jeremy says the tyres are bad on wet roads. I'm really wondering why... 4:05

[@peetersm6783]

What a nice car. IF taxes werent that high in belgium, i would have bought it! Instead, i have to drive a bmw E46 coupe :'(

[@tomleonard5801]

+Peeters M (TuCBe) Im the same, want it as my first car but because of the BHP (although the 1.3l engine) it costs an insane amount :( sad times

[@gehtdianschasau8372]

+Peeters M (TuCBe) he drove it on wet asphalt in the review.it actualliy is the differential, that doesn't respond very well to incoming momentum in tight corners.not really a problem tough, the car handles exeptionally well. it just wants to play, it won't bite.

[@skippyj9239]

+Tom Leonard (Thydar) i also want as my first car but over here in South Africa, a good second hand one is less the the bottom of the range Kia piccanto brand new

[@zameernizam3825]

+Tom Leonard (Thydar) expensive?!? In here it said 22k, but if you look on eBay, they are ALL under 2.5K, I was so shocked to see that, and don't think they're completely ruined cars who have been abused and outlived their expected lifetime, the cars are actually in great condition .

[@micglou]

I love his criticism on the busy rear lights... few years later all cars have them, including the led striping.

[@oliverwilliamson6528]

Now we've come full circle it seems.

[@groundedgaming]

@@oliverwilliamson6528 just like the taillights on the RX8

[@maxjohnson8659]

Yeah it's not busy at all. Car design got atrocious in that respect after around 2017 and onward.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

The RX8 is hidiously fugly, worse than a cheap plastic garden shed.

[@runyanpiano]

I remember watching this review when it came out in like 04 or something. It convinced me to get one. Totaled it, bought a second gen R3 11 years later. Couldn't be happier.

[@reinbeers5322]

Chad!

[@CrispyTurtl3]

Drive my RX8 every day. It is so great. Wonderful review. While not the fastest, I would like to see any other car of this class go around a chicane like that. almost 100,000 miles on mine, and still running fine. It is true what they say. A Red-line a day keeps the carbon away.

[@Hekkie]

Idiot

[@609filmz7]

CohenPoPo aw is somebody mad?

[@ivansavieira5728]

You know that in a Rotary engine one of the problems is definitely thermal efficiency. So... I don't think it heats up that much to destroy the carbon build up. On a valve engine, that might work a bit, depending on the size of engine and it's dispatchment, though the intake valves do not by any means heat up enough to break down the carbon build up. So... In extent probably not the best method to "clean" your engine.

[@doktorbimmer]

*RX-8... an ugly shed.*

[@AllThingsFascinate]

@@Hekkie idiot

[@user-rx5kw5gc6o]

Such a lad drifting soo casually

[@MrMoMo4242]

I got an RX-8 Yesterday for £1,600, and I am going to treasure. I hear so many bad reviews about how much it costs to run but when I drove it I fell in love like I said I will treasure it

[@christians131]

just learn how to take car of it and you shouldn't run into too many problems (obviously this also depends on the previous owner as well)

[@iworkinmexico]

Any update? Thinking of getting one. Any advice?

[@var8492]

How did the car treat you m8 ?

[@MikeG52]

Dude must have sold it👀

[@devg0309]

@@MikeG52 maybe, I bought one like a month ago

[@MrZattack101]

Most underrated Japanese car

[@msport224]

agreed. the price you pay for a good one vs what you actually get is excellent

[@mdc3227]

IF you find a good one that hasn't been brutalised or not had a frequent change.

[@ethownzbh]

Yeah because it lives forever in the shadow of the FD and is scoffed at for its poor fuel economy and reliability issues due to negligent owners.

[@CaptainD00M]

i better buy one before prices go up

[@msport224]

+CaptainD00M they're slowly creeping up in value I've noticed. low mileage ones are worth more than what they were last year

[@allenrm120]

Great car. Bought a 2010 with 40k miles on it. The first thing I did was buy brand new tires, because as a novice driver, I would spin out on wet curves with the old tires on the test drive. Now with experience and new tires, it handles sooooooooooo well. Love this car. Like driving a work of art. So beautiful. The only downside is the low gas mileage, but then again, it is a sports car. You also have to add oil frequently because of the rotary engine. A very affordable, great handling car...so smooth on curves and changing lanes in highway traffic. You also have to be careful, because it accelerates so smoothly that you lose track of the speed. 70 feels like 35. Stick to the 2nd generation models, 2009-2012. They have the better reliability. The car has ruined me, because other cars now look ugly and appear to underperform. I now have her up to 70k miles and she still purrs like a cheetah. I feel good when I drive this car, it makes me smile.

[@davidmusic824]

Randy Legend Allen I sold mine about 5 years ago and now I'm looking for another one, so I understand what you mean!

[@topkek7003]

You must have never driven an actual sports car.

[@breadstacka]

Currently have one as my first car, absolutely zero problems so far and drives like a dream. And yes, the motor is over 100000k's.

[@LavenderJJ_]

No it isn't. The car is at that milage. No way your car has done that without the engine going. Nevermind I thought your comment said 1 mil not 100k lol

[@LavenderJJ_]

@Seamus McShamish Lol sorry I misread his number as 1 mil, not 100k

[@anidiotaboard138]

@@LavenderJJ_ So did i lol was about to say the same thing. We shouldve gone to specsavers

[@GanjaNinja]

@@anidiotaboard138 haha specsavers

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

HOW IS IT RUNNING???

[@bogdy2craizy]

Jeremy is mad, this car is beautiful

[@bogdy2craizy]

Jar-Jar Binks Check your eyes, you must be blind

[@bogdy2craizy]

Jar-Jar Binks You're looking in the mirror there chief

[@mahidmalik7]

+Jar-Jar Binks like your mom you ass-shit!

[@brandonpavlock8961]

+Brad Culberston if you dont take care of it properly yes, it is. but if you are mature and responsible enough to do the maintenance and take care of it, its a nice car.

[@brandonpavlock8961]

+Jar-Jar Binks what car do you drive?

[@wingsofthephantomghost3105]

i don't know what hes talking about, i find it gorgeous.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Not everyone can have good taste..

[@YansenHaryanto4547]

most of us came to fuel station to fill the fuel tank. but in this car, we add an oil to it..

[@SteveyzTunez]

Still cheaper then my ex girlfriend :)

[@banaanipuukko]

THEN

[@BensCoffeeRants]

Than

[@user-jt8yp8ut8g]

Aparently you`ve never driven an Alpha Romeo before!!:P You should see the oil usage there!

[@Kasperx138]

I've had a 2009 rx8 r3 for 12 years now. not one single problem with the engine, ever. If you're thinking you're gonna have fun in a straight line you're doing it wrong.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

You are either a liar or you need to do a compression test

[@johntechwriter]

Despite its econocar brand and price, this car is a true exotic. It makes demands on its owner that few would put up with. But for those few . . . one of the greatest modern driving experiences awaits. I've driven one on back roads and know this to be a fact.

[@TheVgasm]

driving through curvy Virginia with the leaves turning was a dream this year. I have a 2004 with 33k miles on it and the handling is the best of anything I've driven.

[@pamspencer5733]

​@@TheVgasmI found one I love for sale! But someone said 2004 is low compression & not to buy as it's starved for oil? Sitting at lights & idling ? I guess hurts the starving engine? Overheats? Have you ever had issues?

[@deezhutts]

@@pamspencer5733 A SOHN kit or 2-stroke premix right into the tank should solve the oil issues, or just buy a 2nd gen RX8. For the compression, just look for a car sub 60k miles, if it's maintained well and has been on premix it might last to 200K if you're lucky.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

​@@deezhuttsThe Sohn adapter is a gimmick that will destroy your engine if it hasn't already lost compression, Mazda only recommends 4-stroke motor oil with an API SL rating, No 2-stroke oil meets this minimum API specification

[@deezhutts]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 the SOHN kit isn’t really necessary yeah, but having used it myself and knowing a few others who have, it has extended the lifespan of the engines, however it’s only really useful in early S1 RX8s due to its 2 oil injectors rather than the 3 seen in the S2 because of the improper and uneven lubrication it causes in the centre of the apex seals. The fact that no 2-stroke oil meets Mazda is true because they never intended for 2 stroke oil to be used as it is well a 4 stroke engine, however independent testing shows that either premixing with Idemitsu(designed for this exact use case) or using it with a SOHN kit can extend the lifespan of the engine.

[@jasonskinner5025]

This never gets old for RX8 owners

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Neither does the shame and humiliation

[@Auxilor]

clearly you don't have an rx8, the reputation really isn't justified for most of them. 03-04 models are as unreliable as people think, but then the engine isn't as bad after that. for the r3, they're almost perfect except for the gearbox, which was then fixed in 2010, and so any of the (very few) 2010+ models are the most incredible value for money car of all time @@sandervanderkammen9230

[@nikojeric8054]

you still alive m8? hope not@@sandervanderkammen9230

[@gerkav1008]

Update June 1st, 2021 My RX8 still runs like a devil, 200k km on odo, no problems, no rebuild! I bought an Rx8 in 2006 brand new. As of today my odo has more than 160.000 km and the car still goes strong. I have never restored the engine. I keep the maintance by the factory rules and put nothing extra in the car. The secrets to keep your Rx8 in good condition are: 1. Keep maintenance strictly by the book 2. Don't to anything more or less to improve the engine 3. Learn to drive it like any other car you might had (warm up time, fast running etc.) 4. Don't use it in traffic conditions, especially if you live in hot climate like me (Greece). You can use a small city car instead. 5. You'll get the most of this car in open highways and night drives when the city is empty. 6. Check oil level every 1.000 km 7. Fuel consumption is NOT high if you consider the power you get. Travelling (130-150 km/h) goes about 12 lt/100 km. City driving goes about 15-17 lt/100 km. I have a Mercedes c200 kompressor (185 hp) and consumption is the same. 8. Don't do car competition if you're not ready to pay the price. But above all, Rx8 is a unique car and designed on a blank piece of paper. It's not like a VW Golf, Opel Astra, Seat Leon etc etc. You know you have Rx8 and drive it with pride and respect. You wont be able to sell it ever. I know guys who sold their Rx8 and got Audi S4, BMW 330 and some other really good cars, but their nostalgia for Rx8 is still strong. Some of them bought back Rx8's and put it with their others car in the garage. This is Rx8. If anyone here has Rx8 he would agree with all of the above. Cheers from Athens, Greece!

[@doktorbimmer]

If that really worked? Mazda would still be selling these cars..

[@gerkav1008]

I'm just saying the facts of my car

[@doktorbimmer]

*Wankel engines are typically less reliable and generally have a much shorter service life than reciprocating engines, this is due to the many fundamental flaws found inherently in the Wankel KKM design... There is no effective means to prevent this from occurring which is why these engine have such a notoriously bad reputation and are no longer manufactured anywhere in the world.*

[@gerkav1008]

doktorbimmer Rx8 service is every 10k km and costs 60 euros. Service in other cars cost 350 euros every 25k km. Engine rebuild costs 2.000 euros after 200k km. Engine rebuild in other cars costs more than 5.000 euros after 300k km. Do the math.

[@gerkav1008]

Plus, this October Mazda will put out 2 new rotary engine cars. Stay tuned.

[@neutralwarlord]

The Mazda RX-8 is one of my favorite Mazda because of how round the car is, and also because is red

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Unfortunately for Mazda, most people don't agree with you.

[@PrimeGlaz]

This is what sets top gear apart from the rest, Jeremy doesnt mess around

[@DC2_Danny]

I love these things but I’ll never stop talking shit about em so that I can do my part in keeping the hype low and the prices lower

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

The only thing that effects the price of these horrible sedans is the price of scrap metal

[@alexsavastru8125]

Thank heavens it said "Mazda RX8 car" in the title, otherwise I would've thought the video was about Mazda RX8 boat. The BBC - quite the peculiar bunch.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Don't want to confuse the Mazda RX8 car with the John Deere 8RX tractor... the John Deere is reliable and produces torque!

[@elenchus]

any car that literally requires redlining it at least once per day is going to be a fun car

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Low compression simply means you need a new engine.. Nothing fun about that.

[@markmelrose1910]

Got this last year as my first car in superb condition. One of the 04 models. Got to say they are a joy to drive. Really comfortable, not too noisy, the sound system as standard is really good and for the 'buck' you don't get much that shifts faster. I have had it flood once I must admit but it was my own fault and the fix was no more than 15 minutes of work. And believe me, it takes no car expert to sort it out. The only drawback seems to be MPG, where I get around 22-26 MPG depending on my journey. When I ran it ragged it did about 19, but honestly if you look at cars that it competes with (such as the 350z) it's in the same ballpark for MPG, is cheaper, more practical, has seats and you get to say I have a Wankel engine. Which is good for laughs. Anyway I recommend this car to anyone who DOES NOT do low rev town only journeys and DOES NOT have a need for good MPG. If you're looking for this kind of car and are willing to do a decent length trip and get the revs up a few times on it, this is a good car.

[@doktorbimmer]

Mark Melrose And DOES NOT mind paying for a new engine.... Flooding is a sure indication that the apex seals are already damaged and the engine is well on its way out... Cheers!

[@markmelrose1910]

No I left it on the drive doing very little for just over a month in winter. When I got in I foolishly turned the ignition and only held for a short period, multiple times and flooded it. My fault. If you read about you'll find most engine replacements should in-fact have been no more than ignition coil replacements, recommended every 30k miles or so on various RX8 forums.

[@doktorbimmer]

Mark Melrose Wrong, replacing an ignition coil that has not failed, replacing your oil more often, using Sea-foam or some other snake oil remedy will not save an apex seal that is already damaged. This is the sort of typical nonsense, wives tales and magic tricks that fill the forums with all sorts of BS. Flooding is a sure sign of low compression, usually due to bad apex seals that have begun to fail. If your engine has flooded you need to have the compression tested (correctly tested) if its below 98psi on any chamber your engine needs to be replaced. But don't feel too bad, most RX-8 owners have had there engine replaced too.. unfortunately for you though you bought a car that was already out of warranty so sadly you will be paying out of pocket instead of Mazda getting the bill.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

How is it running now??

[@KenGroth-ts6ge]

The problem is that people think this is a regular Japanese car that can be abused for 200k miles. When I was a kid and the rx8 was new, I thought it looked sick. The problem is that it's a car that you buy as a secondary car, but it isn't good enough to justify owning as a second car. I'd rather own a miata

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

The RX is not a regular Japanese car... it's the worst sedan Mazda ever made, a truly shameful failure in automotive engineering.

[@trooperstudios4821]

As a owner of a 2005 Rx8, I always watch this a lot. Rotary liv4s forever

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Its ironic to watch this video now that the RX8 turned out to be such an epic failure.

[@trooperstudios4821]

Do to with it's history... and the engine. Understandable.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@trooperstudios4821 The weak, unreliable Wankel engine is why the RX8 was a failure.

[@trooperstudios4821]

True, the 1.3 wankel is a turd during the life time. We had to replace the engine with a new one.

[@ezpz4659]

I own an RX8 and CLS55AMG. I love watching topgear videos about them

[@TheAdaoo7]

im saving up to insure this for my second car. ive adored it since i was 10

[@gofinsgo13]

my mom had this car for awhile. I loved when i would be able to drive it. Such a fun car to drive!

[@BitcoinBro.]

nice your mom is really cool at all

[@clivec5328]

We have one of the last. 10 years old, 120K . Perfect condition. Handling is amazing (Pirelli Pzeros). Maintained by the dealer. Love the Recarros, Bilsteins. The mechanics at the dealer have asked for first option if it comes on the market. Love it.

[@IronMan3582]

This is seriously without question one of my all time favorite "short" segments that Jeremy has ever done.

[@knightrid463]

The engine sounds amazing. It's got to be thrilling to push it to the last RPMs to hear the engine's beautiful sound.

[@Plardo]

Hello from 12 years in the future

[@wrench3699]

let me tell you, it is absolutely thrilling

[@PeugeotRocket]

Mazda really made something special with the RX8. I used to have a 2nd gen RX7 (never should have sold it) so maybe that is why I find this car so attractive. I kind of have a certain respect for the RX series.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

The RX8 is fugly like a cheap plastic garden shed.

[@alfiedonnan3231]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 your girlfriend cheated on you with a guy with an rx8, i assume.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@alfiedonnan3231 The guys that drive an RX8 aren't into girls...

[@alfiedonnan3231]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 so your girlfriend looked like a dude? ouch.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@alfiedonnan3231 I'm not gay... I can prove it too, because I don't own a Tesla or an RX8.

[@FroztiProductions]

didn't know how I felt about the look of this back when it came out, being a huge fd rx7 fan. but then I saw some modestly modded ones with rpf1s and racing suspension. now I love these things

[@TripleGflow]

I traded in my ‘04 RX-8 for a new (at the time) 2014 Camaro SS. Even with 200+ more hp, I still missed the driving experience of the Mazda. So last year I bought an ‘05 in impeccable condition with only 62k miles. Feels good to remake the flame

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Not really a car guy are you?

[@jeradgonzalez2787]

Beautiful story!! Honestly

[@arian.495]

"The guy who used to run Mazda when they were designing the RX-8 raced cars" And that's why we used to get better cars then now we do now. Because the guy who ran Mitsubishi was a passionate car enthusiast, not a money-hungry guy in a suit, carrying a suitcase

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Mazda went bankrupt trying to race cars... they are back now selling cheap affordable cars and no longer has a motorsports program.

[@genmeriphoton7655]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 Apparently they're still in the Motorsport Business. Look for their KZbin channel; it looks like they run a DPi-something car last year.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@genmeriphoton7655 Mazda has left IMSA DPi series and is no longer involved with any prototype or endurance racing.

[@wheelman6360]

A gas station attendant yelled at me for trying to pump double cream into my Rx-8, some people are so oblivious.

[@asmerX100]

watching this car in real life..it was honestly medium sized big but jeremy's giant stature makes it looks like a miniature car

[@Kaamil360]

I think this is going to be my first car.

[@_sawbonz_]

Same

[@christofferniemonen8872]

K A A M I L Only if you can maintain one. It's not a car you can just go cruise around the block.

[@SNI3PER956]

You guys should learn cars, there rotary, which is shit but can be extremely fast.. You have to take care of it, you need to rev it up to 6000rpm everytime you drive to open some valves, you need to change oil every few thousand miles and also you have to warm it up to drive, and warm it up to turn off.. If you want a cheap first sports car, get a Toyota Supra, same price and very alike.

[@Kaamil360]

SNI thanks for the info :)

[@AmishWaffle88]

SNI if you're talking about mk4's, i dont think ive ever seen one priced any where near as cheap as an rx8

[@AVINIDE]

3:54 that spin though

[@papatorr3669]

His assessment while driving should have been the last words: "This car is sensational (with emphasis)" "Of all the cars I've driven this year, I'm pretty sure, this one, is the best." He clearly meant as an enthusiast's car. That actual ending should have ended up on the cutting floor. To clarify, when driving the RX8, he said out of all the cars that year the RX8 was the best...that is, the best handling driver's car. It was the "easiest" and most "forgiving" when driving fast. Someone upstairs told Clarkson: we have Ferrari, McLeran, Porsche, et all advertising money to protect! So backtrack your comments at the end (since he spent the entire test drive praising the car). You can't crown a MAZDA "the best car!" So he said that he didn't like the tires! 😄😂🤣

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Clearly he meant it as a joke..

[@papatorr3669]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 What did he clearly mean as a joke?

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@papatorr3669 Everyone knows the RX8 is a joke... no real enthusiast would be caught dead in this horrible little sedan.

[@papatorr3669]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 the Germans took it seriously enough to compare an RX8 vs E46 coupe 330ci. Check out The Slip Angle channel, huge Miata enthusiast that also owns Z4 Coupe, RX7, and RX8.

[@papatorr3669]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 perhaps you could help me determine whether I'm an enthusiast? My first car was a 1972 Triumph GT6 MKIII that I kept on the road for 25 years. I had a '92 Z28 with NOS and 550HP. I had a Turbo Coupe, an XR7 SC, and a built Supra Turbo. I just sold my MX5 NA, I've had five Z3's and still have two, plus a project Z3, our family has two E46 330xi sedans, two E46 330cic convertibles with factory hard tops, an E46 330ci coupe, I have 986, and my RX-8 is my favorite handling car (not the fastest/best handling). I'm not counting our SUVs or trucks, or Impreza. And most of my life I was more of a motorcyclist than car enthusiast. But do you think I might be an enthusiast?

[@mazdafreakmx6]

what kinda bugs me about this review is that he says he doesnt like it after cause it was twitchy on the road. but he blames the tires which would make sense, to me you cant blame a car for being not that great cause it has shitty tires its a simple change just get better tires. its not like your stuck with them.

[@adhdcabob4935]

If you watch this show enough you learn that if they aren't Pirelli brand tires they get sloshed lol

[@mazdafreakmx6]

true they all love them tires haha

[@williamthompson9927]

I have a 2004. I love it. That engine revs like a beast and drives like a dreamy cream. So smooth. The interior seating is so comfortable. It's really something to behold. Oh yeah, the shifting gears is so wicked quick. It red lines at 9. Thats just fabulous. I give that car hell and she still shows me love. I named her Roxanne. She is my boo.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

The RX8 is the worst sedan Mazda ever made.

[@IsmailPbx]

Has it had a lot of problems?

[@pc3983]

Stunning car , I’ve got the mx-5 RF but now I want one of these 😀

[@darek4488]

How do you judge a car by its tires? Makes no sense.

[@joseelchacal6579]

darek4488 suspension

[@Jeffiekins]

If you look in the RX-8 Club website, you'll see lots of people reporting replacing the original tires shortly after buying the car, not waiting to wear them out, and talking about how dramatically better their new ones are (no matter which new ones they got), especially in the rain.

[@doktorbimmer]

*Good point, the tires are completely irrelevant, its the engine that caused this car to be a failure.*

[@trevn__]

@@doktorbimmer Absolutely incorrect. The pre 2006 ones had an oil metering miscalculation that led them to be starved of oil and be unreliable. Post 2006 ones are phenomenal. Also the tyres are the most important part of a car. Anyone who has truly driven a car to its limits knows this.

[@_Zekken]

@@doktorbimmer considering how rediculously common it is to see them on the road, I have my extreme doubts about it being a failure.

[@S2KEVIN]

I picked one up last week for $2500 04 gt fully loaded. very minimal rust. engine problems and a weak starter. Meaning to get a rebuilt sometime this month. It really is cheap fun..

[@gordonjeffrey231076]

Loved my two RX-8s. Brilliant fun.

[@greenlemon4402]

I loved this car then i was young. Neverforget NFS Underground 1+2 :D

[@georgekatsanakis9338]

The RX 8 wasn't in underground 2

[@dotdot8614]

It was, you unlock it later in the campaign after completing some URLs in the industrial park

[@mrjdmtunerboy.1463]

@@georgekatsanakis9338 mmm i was

[@Bondstreetdrift]

underground 1 wasnt :D nfsu2 yes :D

[@SoheiJayce]

@@georgekatsanakis9338 it wasn't in Underground 1 but it is in 2.

[@shauneasterbrook5089]

I heard the pistons are really weak on this model.

[@KayoMichiels]

+Shaun Easterbrook Well, there aren't any of them in it..

[@Luggygees]

+MK3424 i think that was the joke buddy

[@r4pid1337]

+JustChilledx I think that joke was absolute garbage.

[@doktorbimmer]

Yeah it has two pistons..

[@giorgiotheodorou4287]

It's rotor dude!not pistons included

[@ehjhey7]

Been coming back to this review since the day it was posted. Been researching the car since 2005....I'm now finally at the point where I can say I can handle the car. Will be picking one up at the end of the month :P

[@dimashevchenkoua]

Mental how these are 20 years old now.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Didn't age well

[@rallycobra5738]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 they aged extremely well

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@rallycobra5738 No, most have been junked and crushed for scrap metal.

[@stevekresevic4629]

I own one.. awesome cars handle unbelievably and one of a kind..

[@rowteree]

After it was all said and done, i owned one of these cars for 5 years. I remember having a blast in it, but it wasn't the most reliable or the greatest on gas. If you have a chance to buy one for cheap, don't pass up the experience. Don't let its bad rep keep you from having fun in one of these. Do your home work before purchasing and you'll enjoy the hell out if

[@nenthal1761]

Air goes in. Apex seals come out 😂

[@nasiayam1653]

I still watching this in 2021

[@HenZoid93]

Had my heart set on buying one of these as my first car then I learnt how much it would cost to run :(

[@lybra82]

I'm owning RX-8 2004 for 7 months. It won't start now but I know that when I fix it, I will have this fun and smile again. Jeremy - thank you for making me having RX-8 with this video :)

[@doktorbimmer]

My condolences... buy you should have bough a better car, the RX-8 is a POS

[@aekaras99]

I was 4 when this went out now i am 18.I fell in love with it from the first sight and it is still my dream car.I hope one day i will be able to have one.

[@samusjuice]

Yo i have the same parkour and i get an rx8 at 20. Have you finally buy one?

[@MJ-uk6lu]

You better have garage and a good stock of apex seals

[@Klos010634]

I really really do love this car. I'm driving one for about five months know and is absolutely great. Is really fun to drive, specially in tracks, it lacks a little bit of low end torque, but if you know how to shift that's not a problem... The reliability problem were corrected after the 2005 revision, mine's a 2009... So far, just perfect!!!

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

How is it running now???

[@tuxtro1891]

bro asked 10years later 😂

[@liquidgeorge]

0:46 is that a sample of Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past?!

[@bigmoncrief6071]

I've always liked the rear passenger windows. They're a bit reminiscent of a Group C sportscar.

[@houbaahoubaa5757]

And when you crash it at 190kph, you get out of it on both legs. Ok… my back hurt like hell since then, but I was at work the same day! Built strong.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Sedans seem to do well in medium speed crashes

[@MasiukA]

Depends if you can afford the insurance/fuel consumption. My first car, which I still drive is a 1996 Camaro z28. Having a 5.7L v8, it's probably worse on gas than than the Rx8, and the insurance is pretty high, but hell, getting something awesome for your first car really pays off. It's a ton of fun to enjoy driving right from the start, and plus, you'll have a faster car than most people you meet on the road haha. If you can afford the upkeep, get an RX8!

[@jonathansefcik473]

Who else came here from Doug Demuro’s last video?

[@voltaire2001]

You got me

[@jacobkanjirakkadan5238]

Oh shyte

[@talhadar7017]

didnt exactly come from there but did watch it. Seems like a great handling car

[@nadil2631]

haha me too

[@levithesuzukiguy2121]

I absolutely love this car. My brother has one he had it for 3 years but he crashed it on a snowy day. So we have been fixing it up.

[@fabiolean]

This review sold me on an RX-8. Love mine!

[@user-lb7pt6jb3o]

the trick is getting it to start

[@bokchoi2865]

Sometimes I shit myself when it takes a while to start.

[@user-lb7pt6jb3o]

***** its not mazda's fault, its just rotary engines are retarded and dont work, i hate mazda though

[@canucklehead1937]

+Franklin Culbreth 130,000 mi on my rx8 and it's just now losing compression.

[@doktorbimmer]

Adam Canada Consider yourself among the lucky... there is a good reason why Mazda stopped selling them..

[@doktorbimmer]

Adam Canada It started losing compression long before 130k..

[@20bwannab1]

With in an hour or so after I seen this video I bought my rx8 on ebay that basically made up my mind. After 5 years of owning I have not had any problems other than the oil cooler lines having a hair line oil leak. Its the type of car of when you are walking up to it you just smile. I do not regret of buying it at all but now its time to sell for more of a family sedan.

[@Shumayal]

Was it easy to fix? Im a student with limited money, getting one for 4500$ a 2004 european spec version...

[@20bwannab1]

yes it was but instead of unhooking the a/c lines and the belt I just cut the lines with a jig saw and got my own lines installed

[@shaunmarshall4504]

Question, does this engine feel similar to a k20 (no vtec ofc) I love revving the type r, thinking of picking up a cheap one of these as a toy.

[@pushslice]

Cool video by Clarkson! Still have the one I bought in 2005. I’ve seen handful of other cars come and go since then; none will match this one for simply unique engagement. It hasn’t been exactly coddled, yet still runs great. and oh my …that shifter! it needs to be in some shifter Hall of Fame. feels like the action on a perfectly maintained sniper rifle.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

Worst pile of junk sedan Mazda ever made... so bad it killed off the entire RX brand for good, good riddance to old garbage.

[@pushslice]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 Whatever, dude. I'll continue to have fun racing mine on our local racetracks and ripping the backroads with my other enthusiast friends. that's the difference between you and me. I'm a driving enthusiast. enjoy your yawn-mobile or whatever Geely you're rocking.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@pushslice You're no enthusiasts, you're a rotard.

[@SynApse01547]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 It didn't kill the RX brand bozo, mazda can't make these kind of cars due to emissions and regulations, I tried and it feels like a big toy car that I can play around and what Clarkson says, it's a fun and enjoyable car to drive and very unique than the rest of sports car in that era and today.

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@SynApse01547 Sorry but that false urban myth won't fly here son... The RX8 met or exceeded the strictest emissions standards in the world right up until production ended due to lack of sales.

[@renesisrx8]

@Slipknotyk06 The Rx8 might not have as much power as cars like the mustang, but the power delivery does make it feel like car with more hp than it actually has. It is light and torque is evenly distributed throughout the rpm range and so it pulls up to 7500 rpm. It really is fast and if you watch the rest of this episode of top gear you will see that it laid down the same time as an M3 on the test track.

[@SJDig]

I addore the rx8 it's the I want for a track day car when I'm older!

[@Jules-69lol]

Never thought I'd actually use a Top Gear car review, I want one

[@charlesschembri591]

For all those who are whining about the gas mileage, I say, this car is not for you man. Go and buy a Kia. You don't go in a Ferrari showroom and inquire about the fuel economy on the car. I just got a 2010 model and don't give a hoot about the mileage. I love driving it unconditionally.

[@shisuiuchiha7769]

I just don't get how a 1.3 liter engine car doesn't have like the best gas mileage in the world

[@daytona2134]

LOL @ comparing a turd with 200hp to a Ferrari

[@jettsioson2799]

It's not a boulder, it's a rock there’s 3 phases in the rotary engine. so u can compare it to a 3.9l mpg

[@doktorbimmer]

@Jett Sioson *All Wankel KKM engines use the exact same **_4-STROKE_** operating principle as the Otto engine... but it takes 1080° to complete it firing order sequence making it a 3.9 liter in total displacement.*

[@doktorbimmer]

@Jett Sioson *The Wankel burns more fuel per horsepower generated because it is **_Less Efficient_** not because of it's displacement.*

[@KiyuukiRin]

Am I weird if I think mazda rx8 is the best looking car I've ever seen? I haven't changed my mind for about 13 years

[@TheVgasm]

I think it has sexy enby vibes, my silver one looks like something Batgirl would drive.

[@robsawalker]

An awesome car and a bargain these days as long as you know how to look after one (apart from fuel!) would love another - especially an R3!

[@Bastable]

I actually converted my RX to an R3 body, its up for sale on eBay! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231124509728?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

[@robsawalker]

Tom Bastable that's lovely, a bargain for somebody. I see you seen to have updated the nav internals too?

[@Bastable]

It actually sold tonight to a nice chap who's R3 was written off in the floods. Yeah I was originally going to replace the wiring loom and install the stock Mazda GPS, but half way through taking the interior apart I found out the last map update was 2005! Instead I fitted an Android system in there as it's a very open platform!

[@robsawalker]

I had the nav in mine and it was ok but not great... bet you're gutted to see it go! I still think of mine all the time.

[@manueltheis7512]

Tom Bastable How hard/what did you have to replace to get the R3 rear on the series 1 body?

[@TehFDE]

Earlier today I was with my friend he was driving his RX8 around a turn at 30 to pass a light before it turned red from a four way main intersection and the road was wet from rain that we got a 20 mins or so prior and after passed the median due to poor traction the back end slid out and hit a curb lucky everyone was ok and the only damage was that the rim around the tire was broken clean off but other then that there was no other damage

[@jwalster9412]

recently I've really been liking older Mazda's. They just look like such fun little cars

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

There is nothing fun about a car that won't start because it shit out its apex seals

[@5190Gaming]

Aside from having to put oil in it every 1-1/2 to 2 fill ups (this is normal), I've had no problems with mine so far. It's just an added preventative maintenance that cylinder engines do not encounter (but they usually do if they're ran hard). If you have to move it around your driveway or whatever, wind it up to 4-5k RPMs before you cut it off. It clears the engine out. It's a fun car, but fun comes at a price, but not for someone who is anal about their cars, though. :) Happy hunting!

[@dustyice3110]

Everyone considering owning own, take a moment to educate yourself on the racing heritage of the rotary motor as well as vehicle dynamics of the car itself. You might be pleasantly surprised. This car is by far one of the greatest cheap gems on the market simply because the keyboard warriors keep the car cheap for the rest of us. Thanks!

[@doktorbimmer]

The racing heritage is rather unremarkable.... There is a good reason why they don't make them anymore... and its because you haven't driven any really good cars lately you wouldnt still thinking this way. Cheers!

[@dustyice3110]

787B was the first and only Japanese manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But other than that you are correct, after further research it does not go much farther than that. The engine itself was far lighter than any engine on the grid, however it was quickly banned after many of the race organizers had no clue how to categorize the displacement. Also Ive owned two M3's, one stock and one not so stock and have driven many different cars at bay area SCCA including subaru's and evos and all of that from various sources. Dont get me wrong, the cars are faster, but they all go for upwards of 20k here in CA. Many people run the RX8 at autoX simply because they are cheap to buy and the aftermarket is plentiful and cheap. The only other car that is in a similar situation is the Mazda Miata, however it is hard to find a well taken care of one and I can not do track days without investing in a roll cage. Also 90hp does get boring after a while. However, the miata is an awesome auto-x car. RWD, LSD, rear suspension design and chassis rigidity makes the mazda a great tunable platform for me. For people who just want to get to work and back in a fast car I would never recommend a rx8, but for those like me who do more racing and can take care of the thirsty rotary. It was a smart buy. Especially because if god forbid the motor does go wrong, unlike many others I have the resources to fix it while still having another vehicle. I bought mine for 7 grand with 25k miles on the odo and it now has 38k with not even a hiccup. I made my decision and am happy with it. Cheers! TL;DR - It is a good buy for people like me or people in a similar situation to me. Very happy.

[@bliglum]

Dude, the keyboard warriors are simply stating well known concerns inherently intrinsic to Wankel's design.. It's true that they use up their own oil, and that they are thirstier than some V8's while producing less power than some V6's.. That they are quirky and finicky. And worst of all, It's true that rotaries have very short lifespans due to the rotor apex seals practically being guaranteed to fail every 80 or so thousand miles, necessitating a complete engine removal and teardown or replacement.. It was these well known concerns that killed the car's resale value, not a few comments on youtube.. Similar story with used Mercedes, you can get them super cheap because they are not the most reliable with the added bonus of costing a fortune to fix, at least the RX8 doesn't cost so much to fix. But as far as keyboard warriors go, good job on being the RX-8's Knight in shining armor! Though I'll always prefer the FD RX-7!! : )

[@doktorbimmer]

Take a moment to educate yourself on the Wankel KKM-57..... because Mazda never built a Rotary engine... not ever.

[@doktorbimmer]

I pretty sure the largest engine recall in North American history and a bad reputation for premature engine failure is what keeps the resale prices down.... you can have them all!

[@markwrayburn7640]

He makes a comment at the end about it being jittery in the rain. It may be because it is running its factory fitted dry weather Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres. I have this exact model with all original parts including the original Bridgestone Potenza tyres. These are for dry weather only. It is a fabulous and fast car with brilliant cornering - as long as you have the right tyres for the weather.. not skittish but at the end of the day or is a sports car so is most fun on dry and sunny summer days.

[@tomleonard5801]

Freaking love the rx8, one of my favourites :)

[@SamuDeAur1]

I already bought two ahah

[@asj511]

+sa140 Are they worth it?

[@SamuDeAur1]

If you can get an 06 and newer. Then yeah :)

[@BugattiVeyronBugattiliker2]

+sa140 what about for daily driving? I mean was the price a bargain

[@SamuDeAur1]

+I Bugatti Veyron I (Bugattiliker3) bargain, LoL. Nope not a bargain at all, it feels like having two 2.5l BMWs at once that you have to fill with gas. :))

[@BugattiVeyronBugattiliker2]

+sa140 I just saw the price for a 20b 3 rotor :/ why is it so expensive to maintain rotarys

[@briancha7741]

Great car.

[@Tazz92SHKing]

everyone have there own opinion, people have to own one to get a better understanding of the car. i own 06 and i love mine. yeah its not great on gas but(haven't pre-mixed yet) but it is absolutely a fun car to drive. one of the best handling NA cars.

[@4funHero]

This used to be my passion in nfs back in the day..

[@Nocxys]

This is why you shouldn't hate the RX-8 because it's not an RX-7 Because it isn't, and that's fine

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

True, the RX8 isn't just slow and ugly.... it's the worst RX ever made, so awful it destroyed the entire RX brand.

[@Nocxys]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 wow you woke up and chose violence

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@Nocxys *I am the enlightenment of wisdom which illuminates the truth...*

[@Nocxys]

@@sandervanderkammen9230 uh, ok

[@sandervanderkammen9230]

@@Nocxys Rotards are an ignorant lot of automotive misfits that know nothing about cars. The RX7 was the only successful RX model until 1986 when sales tanked. The RX8 was a colossal failure and ranks among the worst cars ever made like the Edsel, Pacer, Aztec and the RX8 sedan. Any questions kid?

[@teamkinetixmedia]

Considering trading in my MX-5 for an RX-8, now I'm sold!

[@WhiteTigerRevenge]

Mine is being sold on the end of this month, I'm going to miss it so much. I'm going to take it out with a friend to get some footage and do 1 last final drive and that will be the end of my sports car days for 10-20 yrs ;"(""

[@DMBRNGR-nm8wd]

I own the 06, same car here. He is spot on, it's a fine machine

[@Boardy1846]

watching old top gear because the new one is shockingly bad!