Mazda Rx-8 Coupe 2003-2010

The Mazda RX-8 Coupe comes with a brilliant and unique design at an affordable cost. It comes with incredibly good looks, exceptional built quality and a user friendly handling system. All these features together make the RX-8 a unique coupe in its class of cars. It is different from the traditional coupe designs as it provides easy access to the back seats via two rear-hinged doors, which open from the center of the car rather than the rear. Moreover, it uses Mazda's unique rotary engine that although is small produces tons of power.

Pros and Cons:

• Unique styling
  A practical coupe design
  Comes with four useable seats
  

• Guzzles fuel and oil

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Exterior and Interior

Mazda have broken away from the traditional coupe mould by adding two back doors making it easier to get into the back. This combined with its stylish and unique design helps it to stand out from the crowd. The interior is surprisingly spacious with the back seats offering more space than the conventional coupe. The car somehow feels a snug fit, rather than a tight one. The front passenger and driver also receive ample room and the seats are all comfortable and supportive. The Boot is surprisingly large with 290litres of space, which is large enough to easily hold a weeks shopping or luggage for a weekend away. The interior is just as unique and stylish as the exterior with it all being made of high quality and excellent materials that feel well built and up market. The black trimmed centre console is well laid out and is easy to use with the dials and instruments being backlit with white lights that adds to the sporty feel of the car. The amount of standard equipment is impressive to say the least, both models only come with only one trim level that includes alloy wheels, CD auto-changer, electric windows, stability and traction control, light sensing xenon headlights, rain sensing wipers, cruise and climate control and integrated Bluetooth system.

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Engines

There is only one engine available in the RX-8 but it does come in the form of two power outputs. The lower output engine produces 192bhp whilst the more powerful model produces 231bhp. The smaller engine has better pulling power though and comes with a five-speed manual gearbox whilst the 231bhp model comes with a six-speed manual.

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Performance and Economy

The smaller of the two models, the 192bhp engine, is the more economical of the two coming in at 26mpg and isn't that much slower than the more powerful engine going from 0-60mph in just 7 seconds. The larger 231bhp model only loses two mpg on the smaller engine with 24mpg and accelerates from 0-60mph in just 6.2 seconds. However, if you push the engines, as you will inevitably will, you'll see the fuel efficiency drop drastically and are more likely to see around 20mpg. The smaller engine is the cheapest to insure falling into group 15 whilst the more powerful falls into group 16.

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What it's like to Drive

The RX-8 is a dream to drive with responsive and well balanced steering, minimal body roll in the corners, plenty of grip and the car feels superbly balanced, even on the tightest country lanes. The larger of the two engines is the more enjoyable to drive with the extra power adding that extra fizz to the overall experience. The seats are all extremely comfortable making it perfect for cruising and the driving position can be altered to suit anyone's needs. In 2008 there was a face-lifted model release and these come with lowered and stiffened suspension that improves the handling even further and offers a retuned exhaust that produces a lovely sound as you weave your way through country lanes or cruise down the motorway.

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Faults and Repairs

Mazda's are reliable and well built cars with the RX-8 being no exception. There were a couple of recalls when it was first released due to a cracked joint in the lower suspension arm as well as problems with the heat insulators and dampers that also suffered from cracks. There was also a recall due to overheating exhaust components creating a fuel leak which was the most worrying, but most of these repairs should have been carried out. Servicing and repairs don't come cheap, but they are cheaper than those for the Audi TT and the Alfa GT.

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