Mazda RX8 Pros & Cons

[@rx8mauri_]

My dream car being the rx8 and getting it as my first car was the greatest thing ever! Its so damn quirky but I love it haha

[@mrgokarcik1084]

Rx8mauri_ haha same foe me ♡ best car forever

[@mrgokarcik1084]

but my parents agree and rx8 will be my first car ;P

[@Baaang360]

same #rotarylife

[@deplorabledustinmaga6203]

you a broke ass nigga

[@AlexAndHer1295]

The Rx8 was a dream car for the past 2 years , never owned a different car . Suddenly became my First car ever . Rotary engine is a different feeling . #RotaryLove

[@johna9276]

I have 210000 miles on mine and the engine still solid. Original engine and never had a rebuilt.

[@rustyshackleford7359]

115,000 miles including lots of track days; still has original clutch and engine. Love the rx8. Keep up the great vids man.

[@Flyingdutchy33]

The funniest thing about doktorbimmer is that he used to have one himself, couldn't take care of it, blew it up and is now hating on the car instead of himself. Whats even funnier, is that despite his hate for the rotary engine, he still watches every rotary video out there. Honestly, it's really hard to find material where he is not in the comment section trying to slander the engine. Just imagine how much he was traumatized. Additionally, he claims to have at one point been a Mazda mechanic. Moreover, he doesnt know the difference between a rotary piston engine and a wankel rotary engine... Either way, he always makes my day, as an amateur psychologist I'm having a lot of fun trying to figure out why he's hating so much and not letting us "inferior people" just go on with our "inferior engine". So mr Doktorbimmer, untill next time! Again it was my pleasure.

[@Flyingdutchy33]

hahahaha Glad you're back man! How long has it been? I missed you buddy. Remember you saying something about the precession in rotary engines, and that it was ultimately why they don't use in aircraft any more? And remember me pointing out that that problem was with the rotary piston engine from before world war 2, *not* with the rotary Wankel engine? I was referring to that. It's ok, I'm just a silly rotard. And I love being one. Do you see me go to every BMW video to hate on their engines which are, and let's be honest, a lot more flawed as compared to their older engines? No, ofcourse you don't. Why would I? If you're happy with your BMW, then carry on buddy! I wish you the best of luck and good times. But answer me this, why do you litter the comment section of every rotary video out there? Is it because you care about us, and don't want anything bad to happen to us? Because if that's it I kind of feel like a dick for making fun of you, I mean, thats so sweet of you!

[@Flyingdutchy33]

hahahahaha I so love this guy!!!

[@Drivenbymadness]

Garrett Sendor Thanks man! So glad to hear that, not many people can achieve that :)

[@rustyshackleford7359]

Driven by madness also look into sohn oil adapter for future upgrade, did mine recently and showed that one of the oil injectors was failing (no blue 2 cycle seen running through one oil line on rotor housing). Plenty of car bonding time...and it showed that it loves my money once more 🤣

[@ILikeThemFast]

I've owned an 09 RX8 R3 since May '17. Bought it with 112,000 KM now have 130,000 KM. Did my tranny fluid and diff fluid after I saw how easy it is to do from your channel. So far only the clutch went on me but that was kind of to be expected. Nothing wrong with the engine .. so far (pray to god premixing prolongs it). Thanks for the tips and general info on the RX8, really helps! Cheers from Canada

[@Drivenbymadness]

Awesome man! I'm super happy and honoured to hear that :) Keep it up, r3 was my wet dream, but sadly they dont' sell them here, so enjoy it to the fullest! Cheers from Slovenia :D

[@flat4wankel]

Not new to rotary but i have own my rx8 since 2011 and still running. I did change the transmission last year. Car has 247k miles! One last thing guys check your oil. Again check your OIL! Im so surprised my rx8 beat my wrx sti on reliability since rx8 likes to burn oil a lot.

[@Drivenbymadness]

Well done mate! It's surprising to hear stories when a well kept rx8 is more reliable than some generally regarded reliable cars. Proper maintenance is key to a long life :)

[@user-yh1xz1we9h]

flat4wankel are rx8s semi reliable? i’m thinking of getting one and i’ve been researching them but no one really says what problems they have.

[@flat4wankel]

Driving Fails Blown apex seals tend to be the down side on the rx8s. The one im driving originally the first owner had a water pump leak and never fix it so the car overheated. My friend put a new motor in it and i bought it. 7 years later and im still driving it with no issues. Well, i did replaced the tranny last year but keep in mind this is an 04 with over 250k miles on it . $800 for a used transmission. Gas on the rx8 sucks so you know

[@user-yh1xz1we9h]

flat4wankel thank you!

[@SectionSkyly]

Honestly, the fuel consumption is by far the worst thing with the car. I average about 18MPG. The horror stories about the Renesis almost put me off buying one but I'm so glad I did. It handles amazingly because of the engine position and the rotary sounds great. Yes, it's more work to look after than a regular car but I'm very happy with mine. I definitely agree though that you're always wondering when something is going to go wrong...

[@Drivenbymadness]

SectionSkyly my man, you know where its at 👌😄 im so happy that you found the sweet spot in owning one 💪 keep it up !

[@katieadams5860]

The RX-8 doesn't have a lot of tuning capabilities and it's hard to keep things like AC when doing an engine swap

[@Drivenbymadness]

true, and if serious tuning is the goal, serious money is the main player.

[@kostasdiamantopoulos844]

M8 i drive my RX 8 since 2009 and your videos make me laugh hard. That feeling that something will break any Time soon haunts me everyday... Luckily i have no problems with minimum maintenance.

[@Drivenbymadness]

hahaha that's nice and funny to hear :P But i'm glad you've managed to enjoy it like you should, with proper maintenance :)

[@sirmiluch6856]

Insurance in Poland is calculated by engine capacity, so 1.3 engine is ultra cheap to insure. And there are great radio replacement on aliexpress (with actually good quality screen too). It can even show ODB2 parameters if you have Bluetooth ODB2 adapter. They are pretty expensive (about $500) but they are really worth the money. The biggest disadvantage is RUST.

[@Mr_guernsey_explorer180]

Isn't it classed as 2.6 though

[@markboersma8694]

At 1:30 I finally know why you are a bit nuts sometimes, there are 2 of you! 😅 good luck with that mate! 😜 on the build quality, yes it isn't leather and velvet all over but in my car at least, nothing made noise, even at 200+ kph in germany, everything was tight and silent, something not even every new lexus has achieved these days... so i would say that for a japanese sportscar from 15 years old the interior is very well made

[@Drivenbymadness]

Well, i am a geminy, so there are always 2 different people acting as one :P Don't get me wrong, the interior is beautiful, and some parts really feel well made, but other ones leave a bit to be desired, but still, they work so that's what matters to me :) I need to take mine on the autobahn one day to see what's like. Although many people that went on it say that it not in a good condition.

[@markboersma8694]

Driven by madness no the autobahn is in a bad condition to say the least 🤔 but that makes it even better that the interior did not rattle! But you are right, it is not class leading... but to call it a con is not exactly my opinion. Expect to max out at around 210-215kph... I lost tremendously to my dad's car although I should have had around 60 bhp more than him 😅

[@MrOzgooner]

owning an RX8 is a delightful sin...gotta love it bro !!

[@Drivenbymadness]

You bet man!

[@turbosydney]

In Serbia insurance(registration fee) is based mostly on the engine capacity and for an RX8 its around 250€/year, same as for a 1.9 jtd Fiat Punto

[@Snoopi25]

14MPGs?! What in the world!? Do you drive like madness?! (see what I did there? ;) ) I can get up to 21 on mine if I really try. I usually average low 19's. Insurance isn't actually that bad, and it's mostly because it's still a 4-door sedan :P Yeap, can totally relate w/ the Check Engine Lights .-. And the fact that you slide around is because of the leather seats. I have the cloth ones (and am smaller in body size), so I fit really snug inside my seat. It also looks like the cloth seats have bigger extrusions that hold you in place (or it could just be me). Also, I just noticed your steering wheel doesn't have cruise control and other stuff. Did you change it? P.S. Last but not least, fun fact of the day, the RX-8 trunk is NOT as small as one would think (once you remove the spare tire). FUN FACT: An RX-8 engine CAN fit in an RX-8 trunk. I've done it myself lol

[@Jason-hl2wy]

Snoopy25 I get 12/11mpg 90% city stop n go traffic 😂

[@Zero-ks3pc]

My lowest tank was 15.45 mpg, in the heart of winter with tons of snow, short trips, and I think a large portion of that was before the snow tires so, much slippage occurred. Generally around 19 mpg with 24 being best all highway, easy driven tank. I might try to beat it one day, after I get a BHR ignition upgrade and change trans/diff fluids; but not expecting much. Iirc, I got 32 mpg on my 88 GXL FC once or twice ;)

[@Drivenbymadness]

hahahah you cheesy joker :P i had semi bucket seats on my previous car in leather, and they were perfect. CLoth seats are a bit more grippy, but still have less side support than a semi bucket seat, like he S2 has. I never had cruise control :) I agree, the trunk is not small, but not enough tall. It would've been a very gib trunk, if you could open it like the one on the Rx7. Now that's a fact to put in a newspaper :D Quick, call the press!

[@Drivenbymadness]

Zero After BHR upgrade you should get better mileage :) I'm gonna do that next month and make a video to show the difference in fuel consumption. 32mpg is a wet dream :P

[@Snoopi25]

I have the BHR kit, so I think that's y my MPGs are better than y'all... I also premix 1:1. If I drive on the highway, at 70MPH I get 30MPGs... if I do 60MPH, I'm probably at 35. After 80MPH it starts dropping drastically LOL.... at 80 I get like 20MPG, at 90 I get 14MPG, and let's not talk about 100MPH lol

[@bydandML92]

My rx8 is hard on fuel, hardish on oil, in the UK, Very hard on road tax, not bad on insurance when you are in your 50's. Hardish on back tyres too, although, that's not the car's fault. There's always something in the back of your mind that there's a big Bill coming, but despite all this, it's a fabulous car, I love it to bit's, and, even with the costs, every time I drive it, I have a BIG Smile on my face

[@asquith84]

On a plus side if you live in the UK like me you can pick up a 55 plate rx8 with. Full mazda service history. 44000 miles on the clock. No rust and good bodywork. With 231 hp and Insure her for £230 full comp. This is what I have done and I have never been happier. Got my dream car and still got money in the bank if anything go's wrong

[@Drivenbymadness]

That's amazing man! I wish I had that kind of car market here 😑

[@clownavenger0]

allot of the issues with reliability have been fixed on the series 2. I love the car and when the engine goes it will trade places with my current project 350z while i rebuild and turbo the rx8.

[@Drivenbymadness]

Yup, and you can also make a S1 just as reliable if not more with a couple of easy mods around 1000€ :)

[@tobythomas5079]

I also think its pretty hard to find a comfy seating position for heel and toe, I find that if I'm comfortable with the steering position, I am not best positioned at the pedals, even after playing around with the seat controls, only solution seems to be to sit quite high up, which will let you legs relax in a better position for heel and toe, and your hands are placed well too, but then you're too high up the road to notice any feedback from the chassis, which counts since the steering is quite numb. I also think the stock rx8 damping isnt stiff enough, it feels a bit weird when you chuck it in. I do love revving it out to 9k though!

[@mercique]

I waited all day to watch this 💕😄

[@Drivenbymadness]

Merci For Everthing yaaaay 😄😄😄 such a honour to hear that ❤

[@JC_on_board]

Hi, Thanks to your video, i always get helpful information for maintenance :) 05 MT6 rx8 However nowadays, suddenly it becomes error code p0300 (cylinder misfire detected) in OBD. The ignition coil is changed 6month ago, and i changed spark plug last week. but p0300code is still... So could you please let me know whats the next doing for my rx8?.?

[@Drivenbymadness]

김종천 hey 😊 thank you very much man, I'm glad you like them 👌😄 I see, random missfire code. Here's the link to diagnose it ans fix it: www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/suffering-misfire-start-here-222280/

[@gerkav1008]

Full insurance coverage in Greece is 380 euros per year

[@Drivenbymadness]

Lucky!!!

[@williampayton8343]

Is rx8 a good car to buy?

[@Zero-ks3pc]

One of the biggest cons to me is 6th gear is not a real overdrive gear. The logic isn’t there for me either for it not to be. From the internets, I understand it is for people who complain about having to downshift to pass on highway. Autos kick down to pass, and if you don’t want to shift to accelerate, why are you buying a manual?! Another con is the only real way to change out drl/headlight bulbs is to take the bumper off ... /facepalm I’d say a con for the vehicle towards its owners is lack of knowledge about proper care and maintenance; like running premium only as a safeguard to detonation, etc A con not directly related to the car, is some of the enthusiasts on certain forums can be jerks or unrelatable. Some expect you to have money and frown upon frugal solutions. They get pissy about common questions, forgetting they are on a discussion board, search engines aren’t perfect, and some people learn better through communication than just reading walls of text. Modification and upgrades can be costly. BHR ignition upgrade can run you up to $700 delivered. There are a lot of reliability mods you should consider like sohn adapter and aluminum radiator that can add up fast just to assure you are doing everything you can for safety margins for lubrication and cooling to keep the engine healthy as long as possible. Large wheels = more expensive tires. Slippery when wet (and chilly), partly due to tire compound, but the pro of the systems allowing you some fun slip can also mean room for slip in specific conditions when you’d not normally expect it. People who complain about low end torque, when it actually has enough when it is in proper working order ... more than some smaller cars max power lol

[@Drivenbymadness]

Zero I strongly agree with all of your points. I that's why I said that a deeper understanding of this car is crucial to the outcome of the ownership. Ohh well, everyone has his way of handling his choices, hopefully my videos will aid in the process :)

[@Zero-ks3pc]

Driven by madness I’ll probably get to some pros later on, your videos are great because you crank up the personality and charm/humor. Part of the reason your channel will continue to grow and have engagement ;) I think I have an exhaust leak! A air noise that sort of sounds like a valve tapping that goes away after I drive and return home :p all a guess, but my thoughts are that once it’s warm the expansion of the metals is enough to seal it up. 40° F and slightly wet with summer tires makes for a fun time. Tires were slipping at 1/4-1/3 throttle in 2nd at 45 mph ... I can’t stress enough to people how much of a difference/how important real winter tires are for this car if they have to drive it at all near freezing. It has more torque than it is given credit for. Have a/c and defrost again!!! Replaced the blower motor and resistor, crazy how things still go wrong just from time, even on cars with low miles. The journey is part of the connection we have with any car, as you stated. Having copper red mica, I forget just how amazing velocity red mica looks until I catch just the right angle and lighting in your videos. The mica is much bigger on vrm than crm and gives it a lot of depth on yours while I get more of the color shift ... would love strato blue mica or stormy blue mica if there was a wrap/dip available:p Enjoy the videos, hope you keep having fun making them!

[@dragonMF]

Hint on the ash tray lid: The spring of your ash tray is missing or one of its holes broke.

[@Drivenbymadness]

doktorbimmer hahahaha 😂

[@Drivenbymadness]

dragon huh...I thought it was normal. Oh well, too late now, but thanks for pointing it out :)

[@sjipman]

Rx8 enthusiasts tuning: how to make it work in stock condition xD

[@Pspgamer789]

Whenever I see that Podfilter I just cry.........

[@Drivenbymadness]

The one on the Catch can? Yeah i'ts going down as soon as i find the screw that goes on top instead of it :)

[@BluePigProductions]

6:34 This one is very accurate.. lol

[@Drivenbymadness]

You can say that again :P

[@rokaleksander9163]

Živjo zanima me se vec o mazdi rx8 videl sm da si iz slovenije in bi rad izvedel ce priporocas rx8 za prvi avto ?

[@Drivenbymadness]

Sem naredil video prav na to temo :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJSke4yka8angJY&t

[@Marco-kx7ii]

1:34 the back dbm has no foot lol :D

[@jakekim861]

I was thinking about doing a leather seat conversion but I found out the cloth seats stick A LOT better. Hmm. I'm at a conflict here...

[@TheFatDemon]

As an RX8 owner, I was expecting the cons list to be longer than the pros

[@Flyingdutchy33]

Oh dear, this guy again xD

[@joseguzman1073]

It honestly depends on how you look at it. Most of the cons are honestly common sense issues that can be applied to any car

[@Aleph1337]

You're pathetic LMAO.^

[@ローズワイルド]

Is it worth to buy a RX8 with about 100k miles? I really love the car, I've got money for further needs, but is it possible to learn how to maintenance the car if it's going to be the first car that I'm going to own?

[@Drivenbymadness]

You can see if it's worth by watching my rx8 buying checklist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWXLqYJ_g82Xn80. Maintenance is really easy, check out my rx8 maintenance playlist and you'll have everything you need to do it yourself :)

[@ilj5000]

Hello beautiful GoPro 4 at 6:53

[@Drivenbymadness]

hehehehe :P Best multi purpose camera i ever had ;)

[@milliondollaboiibsb4927]

The one I am looking at is a 2004 with 120,000 miles seems to be good what are some things to check for before I trade

[@JQNAH]

2:17

[@mrawesomelemons]

I get why people hate it. But I love it.

[@Drivenbymadness]

That's the beauty of it ;)

[@DuoScythes]

Insurance is cheap in America, since they price you by how many doors and weight displacement.

[@Drivenbymadness]

It's funny how every country has it's own standards for insurance. We have engine displacement, so the more powr the car has, the more your pay.

[@alexpierre6619]

Dude you crazy lol, great video

[@goingonwednesday8725]

Wow... there’s a link in the description for everything eh 😂

[@mileantic8735]

200eur in my country registration :) was 150e before 3 years ago

[@Drivenbymadness]

That's nothing! You're really luck to have such low rates on something that can be very expensive :)

[@Alayir]

All the way up!

[@Drivenbymadness]

Thanks bro! :D

[@rosesmith5135]

Pros: looks good on a mechanic’s lift

[@snowhazard7872]

Do you have any custom exhaust modifications? It sounds wiked

[@Drivenbymadness]

yes, i have a de-cat and Cold air intake :)

[@mrgokarcik1084]

is it good car for long trips? i mean is it comfort :)

[@BluePigProductions]

Mr Gokartboy It's a very comfortable car. But save up some money before you go because you'll need gasoline, and a lot of it..

[@Zero-ks3pc]

BluePigProductions a lot of vehicles get low to mid 20s. If you win the rotary lottery, you can get close to 30, I’ve gotten 24 on current RX-8, 28 on a previous one. It is quite comfy and I’m a big guy. It handles roughness well, but it is no Camry or whatever. Dfg the impact tire choice can make on this though, even if you stick with factory rims.

[@Flyingdutchy33]

Last summer I drove 1300km to the border with Spain. In utter and complete comfort! What did scare me a little is how little oil it injects on the highway, so I slightly upped my premixing for the journey. Oh, and ofcourse I had to stop 3-4 times for fuel hahaha! Totally worth it. I've done that trip in a Porsche Boxster S, and it wasn't nearly as comfortable. Also did it in a CRZ and that was utter hell. Thats how I got my RX8 btw, I traded that piece of hybrid crap in for a real car. One thing I have to say though is that at some point after 600km my heel would hurt a little. But that could also be down to my shoes as I have this problem in every car I drive in on long distances...

[@mrgokarcik1084]

Flyingdutchy33 wow

[@mrgokarcik1084]

today im trying this onewww.otomoto.pl/oferta/mazda-rx-8-skora-xenony-zadbany-okazja-ID6zbJzT.html

[@cesarlopez2159]

very good is my 2005

[@emotlxnsyt8358]

getting a 2006 rx8 with 27k miles :) wish me luck

[@oofygoofy1698]

Pros: it’s a rotary Cons: it’s a rotary

[@szaka9395]

Insurance in Poland is funny low for this rx8 :)

[@s197_Luiz]

my rx8 has the bose sound system

[@YHWHJOHN316]

Big loves

[@doc.voltold4232]

oh god you look like another person with the glasses!

[@Drivenbymadness]

Thanks! I kind of like them, especially when i work long hours at the pc :)

[@MrOwnerxD]

3:15 how can you reach 8-9k rpm ? On my rx8 it drives good and fast but still max 5-6k rpm why is that ? Is the power lost that way ? What is wrong and what changes ? Can someone explain me please ?

[@tbay1959]

Is yours an automatic. they had a 7000 rpm redline and 40 less horsepower than the 6 speed std. Maxda did not have an auto that could handle 9000 rpm so had to detune the car for an auto.

[@itzzzaco8126]

Idemo Slovenija xD

[@Von4L_]

Had an 05 RX8 and I loved the car until it went to shit. Engine started hella flooding. Had to rebuild the engine a lil after 100k and on top of all of that it was SLOW AS FUCKKKKKK!! I drive a 370z now and don’t regret the rx8 at all it’s just levels to this shit 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@gaborangyal338]

wow in Slovakia the insurance is based on engine displacement so its a 1.3 and im paying 100euros a year :D

[@Drivenbymadness]

Gábor Angyal whaaaaaat 😱😱😱😱 lucky bastards 😜😜👌

[@andriimandybura7731]

In Ukraine it's even cheaper) I paid 12 euros last January for basic) And isurance company didn't even know what car it is

[@daliborfloric1662]

I get insurance 128 euros with 3 progeamms per year for my rx8

[@toretoKamares]

the last one is undisputed... haha

[@Drivenbymadness]

toretoKamares you bet 😜

[@toretoKamares]

I am wearing a Veilside original bodykit,soft suspesion springs so i always think that sth has been broken haha...Kris...i have sent you at Facebook Messenger some queries.. try to respond me if possible bro

[@shadogaming5905]

Insurance is actually cheaper on my RX8 than my previous car

[@adrianau4246]

Another rx8 con ; driving with a full car just sucks 😂😂

[@Drivenbymadness]

i hear you. Although it has 4 seats, i take only 1 person with me. The fuel economy is bad enough with 1 person :P

[@danrobinson2574]

pros: its a rotary cons: its a rotary

[@damiantoczek4814]

700€ yearly? I pay 1100€ yearly for my Opel Astra G CC 1.6 16V lmao

[@rzydmasterton297]

i pay over 1200 pounds insurence a year for zafira now, in 1st year i paid 2200 xD aaaaand i bought this car for 800 pounds xD

[@Drivenbymadness]

hahaha well, there's life :D

[@Szymon7573]

60l/100km??? This is awful, on average in the city I manage to get 16-17/100

[@banpowel9784]

Pros ( none) cons ( loads)

[@Zero-ks3pc]

My ashtray lid does not do that ;) yours is worn out!

[@dragonMF]

Zaphinine If you remove the ash tray, there's a little spring on one side which holds the lid. Usually if the lid behaves like shown in the video, the spring 'fell off' or - what's most likely - one of the holes which holds the spring broke. I just got a intact back end of the ash tray on eBay.

[@Flyingdutchy33]

Hmm learn something new every day. Mine did it too, so what I did is used some of that heavy speakermat bitumen crap to weigh down the back of the lid so it stays open. Ghetto solution, I'll admit that, but you can't see it, and it works.

[@Zero-ks3pc]

dragon yep, that’s the good answer :) Mine is a series 1, 2006 Shinka, but was babied and less than 27k miles. So everything works, no cracks, nothing worn down ... only a few minor mods done. My previous 8 had a bad spring on the center console latch and I think I messed up the ashtray spring at one point and had to fix it but that was so long ago I had forgotten :p

[@Drivenbymadness]

maybe i miss interpreted that part. The ashtray opens and stays open by itself, but the way you open and close it was a bit cheap. Uless it open like the one on top near the dome light, where it's a push open mechanism. Anyway, thanks for the heads up! :)

[@Zero-ks3pc]

Driven by madness I think maybe we didn’t understand ;) it doesn’t have the smoothness of say the glove box with the damper on the side; but all I have to do is push the button and it opens all the way and stays, I do t have to manually push it up to full open, button only.

[@wesleydeporterfitness2474]

I’m looking at getting a 2005 RX-8, what would you say? Here is a link to the exact one I’m looking at: www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/684210231/overview?aff=share_other. Thank you in advance!

[@zaqxswcdevfrbgtnhymjukilop4876]

I pay £1,500 a year on insurance 💀

[@kumarcurry4990]

Old car? Old like your mom?

[@jayharte4865]

Can I get pinned tho ?

[@damionbates5463]

Jay Harte no

[@Drivenbymadness]

Have you eaten your vegetables and changed your differential fluid?