MotorWeek Road Test: 2009 Mazda RX-8 R3

[@916fanatic1]

Had one, nice blue color, wrecked it in the worst auto accident of my life. The fact that I lived and was not even injured shows how well these cars are put together.

[@jayespi37]

916fanatic1 how did the accident happen?

[@picdar16]

Did the tail break loose unexpectedly, they are such twitchy cars in the wet

[@Rasta1of1]

same shit happened to my first one. she got loose in the rain and i hydro'd into a tree. didnt think twice about getting another after i walked away with only a minor knee scrape shoulda been worse

[@tnutss]

@@Rasta1of1was it in stock tires? Potenza sport tires are known to have twitchy wet traction.

[@alextsahalis6984]

One of the last really unique cars to come around in a long time. Along with the Subaru BRZ, the RX-8 proves that 0-60 times aren't the only things that matter when gauging how fun a car is to drive.

[@Kacpa2]

It never was, if car was lively, engaging and handled nicely it was fun. It's a shame RX-8 was so underappreciated.

[@CamAteUrKFC]

@@Kacpa2 Just finished streeporting my irons, and going to put it back on the road once the winter is over. I wanted one super bad when I was in highschool, now in my 30s i can finally get a used one :) ... got a 2006 Spirit from a gentlemen in town for 12000, which is alot for these cars, but its only got 25,000km on it ( roughly 13000miles) so essentially new.

[@HarmonicHush]

​@@CamAteUrKFC I feel you dude, I'm also in my 30's and planning to fulfill my childhood dream. Good luck with it.

[@jayespi37]

I absolutely love my R3! Puts a smile on my face everytime 😁

[@desicollector]

MotorWeek do the best reviews of all. I love watching their reviews

[@nessuno5403]

In your own bit of the universe

[@senpaigarr]

I love the look of the R3 Mazda RX-8. It really would be a car I'd want to buy, if not for the unreliability of the rotary engine. Maybe if they put in a V6 from the factory, and gave it some sense of reliability, and less up keep, then it would have been something special. I mean a person can always do an engine swap, but would have been nice to have something better than the rotary from the factory. That's just me.

[@Saboda53]

My ‘05 RX-8 - purchased new - is still running like a champ 12 years and 44K miles later. Best car I’ve ever owned. Love the smooooooothness of the Renesis rotary engine. Revving it to 9K RPM - with zero vibration - is a real pleasure. I get about 17 mpg, on average, with about 75%/25% highway/city driving. Perfectly reasonable for a sports car that outhandles others costing two or three times its price. That’s the thing about the 8 most people don’t “get”: in most sports cars, you’re giving up fuel economy for power; in the RX-8 you’re trading it for sublime handling instead. It feels/handles as good as it does as a result of its tiny, 13” tall rotary engine; the body was designed to shrink wrap around the little powerplant.

[@juggnautbitch]

My 05 is sitting over 80k atm, still running good.

[@1compaqedr8]

Richard what’s a good price range and miles? What’s the best year to get?

[@VinsUplifting]

@@1compaqedr8 It is recommended to get 2006+ models, some people went 200k miles with good care and maintenance.

[@DcEvoIX]

some reviewers just don't understand a tuners more balanced car vs a car with raw power, this car doesn't need it, because it makes up for it's acceleration with later braking, a faster more responsive turn in, and early acceleration exits it can put up a great fight against really fast well balanced cars like m3's on a track, while leaving space for us to tune it further, it's called a car enthusiast dream, so go back to reading consumer reports and making non educating vids

[@joshuafinley644]

If I was to buy an RX-8, the R3 package is definitely the right choice for me. I love the styling and stance of the car, its consistent performance, and most of all its high revving, screaming Wankel rotary engine. I can't wait for Mazda to release its successor the RX-9 and brings the Wankel back to the world of sports cars

[@johntechwriter]

One of the few cars I've really wanted but never owned. Dammit, I still want one. But that little voice inside says, "You'll be sorry."

[@BigIrick]

You won't be sorry, unless you hate compliments ;)

[@kupidzheart]

+John Techwriter same here , heard the ones past 2004 don't really have that many issues.

[@pguth98]

Dooooooo iiiittt. (You might be a lil sorry.)

[@jakelamotta2387]

John Richards. As long as u get one after 08' u won't be sorry!

[@juggnautbitch]

That's sounds like some straight up puerto rican tom fuckery.

[@tloh141]

@AndroidJdm EVERYONE NEEDS TO STOP COMPARING RX7 VS RX8. 2 seater vs 4 seater, n/a vs twinFI, 30k(now) vs 32k(in 93). The rx8 is aimed at the family orientated person that loves driving, loves the rotary, but also needs a car to take the family/kids in. The FD RX7 was made to compete with Porsche and the rx8 was made to compete with every day life driving. Stop worrying about straightline speed, becuz no rx has ever been built with drag racing in mind. | fastcar S fastdriver

[@vettevr4thez516]

Have to rev the NUTS off these to get any power, but that was half the fun. One of the few cars that can keep up with my FK2 on B roads.

[@wahdaheck]

had one of these at one point in time. sucks gas like a v8 :-S although it handled like a charm, pretty well balanced

[@james6speed]

I own a 2004 6-speed and here are my thoughts having owned this car for three years now. Everything John Davis has said in this video is true. The biggest thing that the RX8 needs is power, and alot of it. My car has an aftermarket suspension, and it handles even greater than stock

[@octane520]

thats why i love the 3rd gen rx-7 it came with stock twinturbo

[@ΧΡΗΣΤΟΣΕΛΛΑΣ]

All time classic!

[@mikers73]

It would be nice if Mazda made a MazdaSpeed Rx8, with low boost to keep the rotary temps at bay. I don't think people would mind the additional weight too much.

[@dbass9767]

Had A 1988 RX7 loved that car never really thought about getting the RX8

[@Kamukix]

@cuseter performance means more than what a car will do in a straight line. The car is plenty fast (when driven properly), is a very good every day sports car, and is great value. Kei

[@Cino777]

This is one of the sports cars I would somehow have in mind..

[@tkpenalty]

they should make a 3 rotor RX8.. it'd be so much faster

[@Carrera911xc]

@rotarypsi What if you want both? Some reliability would be also nice. Not trying to hate, cuz I really want an Rx8. I just don't want the headaches and the lack of usable power on the street.

[@BigIrick]

I come on here thinking of upgrading to a R3 and what do I hear? ROEBLING ROAD aka my back door! I guess its a sign lol

[@brbn93]

@311ZeroCool That is why I will wait for the true successor of the Rx-7... the Rx-9 aka Shinari concept. I hope that it will be a coupe. No reason why any high performance sports car should not be a coupe. Mazda should redesign the Rx-8's appearance, the front of the Rx-8 is sleek but there's a camel bump for the roof? It should be a sleek transition from the front to the rear. Mazda had it with the 93-94 Rx7 FD/FC, but due to the economy they had to cut back.

[@aronyak1]

Bulletproof reputation? From a rotary engine?

[@VinsUplifting]

It would outlast piston engine in a single go... It doesn't like start and stop though...

[@wahdaheck]

sounds about right buddy. i was averaging 11 to 13 mpg on my old '06 rx8. i guess no much has changed in 3 yrs time. i really hope they come out with a more fuel efficient version of that motor, and yet put out more than 280bhp

[@larryzeldin7561]

Did he really say the rotary engine is bulletproof? I guess they have no idea what lies ahead for these engines in the future because even their long term tests only put a max of 30k miles and then the car goes back

[@rucarnuts13]

larry Zeldin - Mine’s been dead reliable. Though mine isn’t an RX-8, a rotary is still a rotary after all.

[@rotart12arx3]

You are right. Between coil pack failures, less oil ports, plugged cats, overheating, and carbon build up many people will have 2 or 3 engines before 100K.

[@dantontominagas]

@@rotart12arx3 at 80k on first engine running @100% . You take care of it its a good car

[@VinsUplifting]

@@dantontominagas Some people went 200+k miles with the same engine.

[@TheLeGeNdPvE]

I have Ben told by every single owner online and in person if I want to buy one of these make sure it has the 10year engine replacement warranty because the company realized then engines blew prematurely ....or have an extra 5-10 grand sittin around hence the used versions with low miles for 5,000 US...I want one bad but I need reliability if I want fast I have a sexy beast gsxr 1k...

[@thelegend6911]

I recently just wrecked my bmw, lovee BMW but thinking bout going for an r3 but when buying what's pushing it on engine mileage? I know BMW I don't like buying over 100k, I figured with rotary engine I heard they don't last?

[@VinsUplifting]

To be really sure you would need below 50k for an RX8, some people went 200+k with the same engine and good maintance though so it can be a bit of a lottery. Make sure the engine starts neatly cold and most importantly hot.

[@yungfo23]

How often do you put oil in your car? I was told to do it after 3 pumps and its starting to get really annoying lol

[@FoxHound621]

16 street and 22 highway on premium...my 95' Lexus does 3 times worse than that on premium and i don't suffer from money shortages, and i drive it everyday! Please not every car now a day has to get a 80 miles to the gallon to be considered good...if that's all they have to complain about is gas consumption and oil usage then this car is pretty good! Plus a Golf GTI is around the same price and personally ill go for the Mazda any day!

[@thatcarguy6]

0:08 Start!

[@NateRist]

Not sure what they mean by stiffer driveshaft. I swapped the entire power and drivetrain from my parts/donor R3 and noticed absolutely no difference between the stock carbon fiber driveshaft between my 2004 GT and 2009 R3, both are the exact same in every way, but I swapped them anyway just because the R3 one is newer

[@11steezy]

@Powersproductions130 it already has a 13b..

[@Mast3rSkillz]

this is a great car but i really think the engine completely lets it down. I good turbo 4 cylinder would make this car amazing.

[@TheCarArchives96]

the 2003-2011 Mazda RX-8 is assembled in Hiroshima, Japan Pretoria, South Africa

[@BlackChrome2020]

Rotary design makes it burn oil - what's wrong with that. Its like saying jet engine is great, but its a shame it burns kerosene?!?!?! Unproven reliability - isn't 40 years of rotary use enough proof on their reliability. They won Le Mans with a rotary - and if that is not the hardest test of reliability then nothing is.

[@fat10head]

they should have put the mazdaspeed 3 engine in this car

[@jasonmages4323]

Im curious how many owners of this make/model actually got up to 100,000 miles or more before that Rotary engine had exceeded mechanical limitations.

[@jakelamotta2387]

My stock R3 did 0-60 in 6.1 and quarter mile was around 14.2 so... this is bs!

[@richardhowle4871]

Motorweek always got 0-60 wrong.

[@tatianapanea7565]

Most car reviews, Edmunds and Car and Driver had the same times as Motorweek.

[@Shadowhazze]

Well they did = / Not to worry though im 100% sure it'll come back in a few years,

[@AlphaBlackWolf96]

Still waiting

[@12jamiegavin12]

the rx8's around 2006 were the best looking. sporty but classy.....this new one looks a bit tacky

[@VinsUplifting]

Agreed with that, similar to how the Mazda 3 looked worse with 2009 phase 2. Interior looks pretty good on the R3 though.

[@GrAYvTrAnE]

I by no stretch like the rx8 over the rx7, however, the way that renesis screams...

[@Tallandcharming]

Just to let you guys know, i bought this car (in black) last year here in Sydney Australia. You'll probably be pretty shocked to hear that this car sells here for AU$58,000 which is about US$60,000!!! We get a bum deal on cars here, the BMW M3 costs about $170,000 too. I like my RX8, just wish I bought it in the states:-)

[@kekethetoad]

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I prefer the look of the pre-facelift version. Just seems more unique and focused in its aesthetic.

[@sonic8002]

i stongly believe that the r3 should have come with two doors two seats and. it should have been a blast.. the base model four doors four seats, r3 too doors two seats and no other sport car would compare..mazda!

[@sparrow2a]

nah depends how much you push it and what rpm you are if you go to high rpm and you run fast all the time you have to pay if you go normal its fine

[@MrChacha2011]

I love the part were he says 232@ the wheels. Ahhhh ya.... no more like 180-190 for U.S. models.

[@rotart12arx3]

@Covert Cam 232 not to the rear wheels. It averages 180 to 190 to the rear wheels.

[@HeCute_]

I also think that is for autos. Autos had less power

[@DualofChaos]

wonderful car the only thing that can compete in terms of price is the Camaro and Mustang (genesis swallows)

[@AndroidJdm]

i think the next mazda rx car should go back to where the rx7 left off the rx8 is good but not as good as the rx7 is/was

[@richardmiller6422]

Can someone explain to me why Mazda didn't turbocharge this motor! Would have easily made 300 hp without an issue

[@twinturbo3470]

emissions......listen to 15:09, its hard on the environment even without turbochargers. Than there is fuel economy which once again is already horrible without turbochargers. Strap a single or twin turbo to it and watch fuel economy match that of a 3/4 ton gas truck(or worse). Rotary's spin up so fast that it would damn near always be on boost

[@GlassTopRX7]

Well for one they don't respond to boost like the 13b with it's peripheral port exhaust. They also can't handle nearly as much power. As for going to turbo charging in general it's not a huge hit on fuel economy provided you keep your foot out it. I can still get 24mpg with my single turbo making 450whp on the highway. Having said that my car is no stranger to single digits with spirited driving. I average about 14mpg's in normal mixed driving, about to 2 less than when it was stock with ethanol free gas. Also the rotary cars spin up fast because of gearing, rotaries in general have far less throttle response vs a similar performance piston engine. Even more so with the lower compression turbo engines. Its not a problem but if you are into quick blips of the throttle than a rotary isn't the engine for you.

[@rotart12arx3]

Because even without a turbo they were failing at a high rate.

[@rotart12arx3]

Because the 1993 to 1995 FD model had 2 turbos and went through engines and other repairs like water. They can't build them to last like a piston engine could.

[@VinsUplifting]

I like it without turbo. Probably this car could have been a bit lighter but that's it.

[@rollotomassi8251]

We need a 6 rotor Rx8. 🤘

[@srcej6]

lol @ "google the word steering response and you should find a link to this car" And you gotta love a motor that makes 178hp per liter.

[@MrSlowestD16]

@sgtsbre I barely forgive Mazda now for cutting the Rx-7...this is a horrible replacement...

[@sutter531]

is it truth dat thiss car gets alot of prombles with the engine??

[@sher854]

i still cant believe its 1.3l dont see much tunning mods

[@sutter531]

do this car spend to much gas? cause ppl be telling me its a small car but i be spending alot of money on gas. is this tru?

[@frambesbuckeye]

The car needs a lightweight aluminium or magnesium block V6. Even naturally aspirated, you could get 300hp and a lot more torque out of that with ease and still be fuel efficient. That would get you in the 0-60 range of low 5 seconds and still be lightweight and a great handing car....plus open up an aftermarket for forced induction as well for more fun.

[@iRx8]

0-60 in 6.6 seconds? They lightened the car and it's .6 slower? I don't think so. Get a new driver. My '04 GT which weighs more can get 0-60 in at least 5.8- 6 seconds and I've done the quarter mile myself well within 14.3-14.6 seconds.

[@tatianapanea7565]

Edmunds and Car and Driver both had it 0 to 60 in 6.7 and 6.8 seconds for the 2009 models.

[@twinturbo3470]

I watch this and all can think of is..........LS7/427 or LS3 Mazda RX8 R3!! That would be unbelievable

[@postersurfman1]

The RX8 is 1 of the sharpest looking cars ever. But the fuel economy sucks. A 09 Mustang GT has the same or better fuel economy and makes about 75 more h/p w/ a V8.

[@666gnarlsbad]

Lol bullet proof reputation😂

[@rsxzx6r]

most "enthusianst" oriented cars do not offer navigation...(nismo 370z, s2000 cr)..because they r meant to drive....

[@richardhowle4871]

Did he say bulletproof reputation?

[@AbHotten]

WTF? i have a 06 RX-8, and i am around 16-20mpg... and i am in germany, so i do drive with 150mph at times (legally)...

[@tatianapanea7565]

It tops out at 145 to 150 mph, and it takes a long time to get to that speed, so I am sure your engine didn't last long-running 8500 to 9000 rpm for miles and miles.

[@JoeBird76]

...i love my 2009 rx8.

[@kenshea3629]

I just bought an 09 RX8.. With 50 thousand kilometers. Im sooo excited to drive this baby!

[@xav3ng3rx]

[@rawzuccsauce420]

ikr

[@a.person7825]

Why no turbo? Oh yeah, because it would get 9 MPG's on the highway.

[@JcmMagNoo]

maybe the turbo

[@driveman4588]

I'll take the RX7 any day

[@firewire67t]

Why the hell do car show hosts in America always talk like they're a 1980's radio sports commentator?

[@A_Man_Of_Culture_]

Only hosts that have a history in news, and cheap commercials talk like this.

[@markflint2629]

Got to love Yanks, Never made one car out of the box, ugly to boot straight line knuckle draggers that race between stop lights, criticizes a manufacturer with vision that stick to their guns.

[@erictirado147]

Carbon tax got me

[@madarx88]

alguno de los que escriben aqui lo teneis? yo si y es estupendo. Lo del aceite gasta muyyy poco. Mira que a la gente le gusta hablar..

[@MrSegaGenesis]

Mazda please add a turbo

[@emmanuellnescau]

god bless my rotary engine !!!!!!!!!!

[@erictirado147]

And all its frustrating failures

[@mercoid]

Pat Goss. As I've watched him over the years he's used the term "econo box" many times. I have grown to REALLY REALLY hate that term, especially when uttered in his voice. Please Pat Goss! Don't ever say it again.

[@functionrecall]

1QT. every other fuel up!! That's outrageous. My '04 goes through 1 QT. every 1000 miles. But I suppose the extra OMP injector they added to each housing would up the consumption a little...but not that much.

[@rotart12arx3]

And it died a early death.

[@rotart12arx3]

It does not use that much oil. You can get a quart to every 1500 to 2000 miles.

[@XxKamillGxX]

@Powersproductions130 lol

[@nachtwheelman]

@JAPANTUNER100 They should just man up and put 20B s in all of them.

[@JAPANTUNER100]

they should transfer the 13B to the rx8

[@lee1130fromtwitter]

haha no one buys a rotary for carbon footprint awareness or MPG people are dumb.. its still the best TRUE SPORTS car for less than 100K, and notice i said sports car not horsepower=win? people

[@Artyfil]

does anybody really care about this car anymore? you just don't hear too much about em these days like the camaro or mustang.

[@adulby]

ya please no one compare this to the camaro or mustang..this is a asian sports car. its more to the line of a supra/ ft86, s2000, 350z.

[@thehiddendeveloper]

they did :(

[@smittymanjensen4000]

i tried liking this car but i just couldn't do it. i took over for my brother's payments and kept the car but i couldn't take it i lasted only 3 months with it. Despite for it being notoriously unreliability my bros R3 model never had one problem. the problem was the lack of power hell my old type s felt much more powerful and to make thinks worse was 15mpg! absolutely unacceptable coming from a car that pulls like a an old golf gti. hell my moms honda pilot almost beat in a drag race. so sad

[@LTJohn]

The little dorito engine that could.

[@CordovaMage]

sports cars are not supposed to smile...

[@VolodinIgor]

Предыдущая пёжже смотрится

[@rotart12arx3]

Bullet proof? Go to a Mazda RX8 forum and see how many people have had engine failures since 2004. Motorweek should have know all about them by this date 5 years later.

[@Rodriguez-ph9ws]

JJjjjj... este video parece de los 80s

[@dontevans]

What's wrong with Mazda are they brain dead or something high price, geo metro power, great looks,great suspension setup, terrible mpg on premium gas, no nav, why did they wait there time on this car.

[@pickles4429]

Did he really just describe the rotary as "bulletproof"??

[@destoryeverthing555]

that rx8 is slow.

[@TheDementation]

This is the most annoying voiceover.

[@destoryeverthing555]

Say, it's slow make me sick

[@driveman4588]

Rx7 better

[@GlassTopRX7]

The chassis is better than the RX-7's the FD has lot of body flex which is why they are bit twitchy.

[@thetreblerebel]

Beautiful and great handling car ..too bad it has the rotary engine.. Makes it a very labor intensive and unreliable car. Too bad ..💀

[@tatianapanea7565]

No, if they are taken care of, they can last a long time. Many people with Series 2 are driving them with little issues. Someday you might be able to afford one. Save your money while you live in your parents' basement.

[@BlackChrome2020]

Like what - cheap and nasty looking evo or some useless 2 door car.

[@mahidmalik7]

All false!!!

[@23109VC]

i can't stand how this guy talks.. it's so obnoxious...