Is The Mazda RX8 Worth BUYING In 2024? *RX8 R3 In Depth REVIEW*
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- čas přidán 11. 04. 2024
- "It revs all the way to 9,500rpm!"
Hello world!
Welcome to one of the most controversial cars we've ever featured; the Mazda RX8 R3!
The RX8 is the cause of many debates among petrol heads, even today. So we were so excited when Liam offered us his great example to feature on the channel.
The famous rotary-wankel engine is considered by many as a master piece, others disagree. With a fair bit of experience with the "brap brap" powerplant, we felt it was time to give our opinion on the matter.
Join us as we take a good walk around Liam's RX8, put it through it's paces around around our beautiful Welsh mountain roads, & catch up with the owner to get his real world opionons on ownership of the R3, to help us answer the question; is it worth buying in 2024?
#mazda #rx8 #rotary #review #13b
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I wanna drive one I just don't wanna own one it's one of those cars
Completely agree! I'm so grateful we got to give this one back 😬😂
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
are they really THAT bad???
@RubyXIII from experience (I.e my close friend owning one, and the information Liam gave us) the fuel economy IS that bad, the tax IS that bad. Reliability issues would always be on my mind, BUT the driving experience IS that good!
- Drew
@RubyXIII Having owned 2 x 07's for a combined 16 years... no they're no where near as bad as their reputation. People love repeating what they hear. From my experience most of the haters have never driven one let alone owned one
I felt the same way until I finally bought one. I got a 2009 RX-8 GT manual almost a year ago now. It’s got 90k miles (I’m in the US), and it’s been the more reliable vehicle of my daily and my wife’s car. If you’re worried about longevity, get a Series 2 (2009-11) with a manual. Even the Series 1 would last if you take care of them as you should.
The condo I used to live in Singapore had a few Rx-8 owners, and my dad was one of them. He still loves his Rx-8 till this day, ever since from 18 years ago when he first bought a 6-Manual Transmission Mat Black Rx-8 with a black-brown interior. No mods, just a beautiful mat black stock Rx-8 without a wing.
Sun visor is because the car is low, it allows you to look through to see traffic lights. Just align it slightly differently to block the sun.
Ah right! That makes sense, I knew there had to be a reason for them, thank you for clearing that up!
- Drew
I own one and just got back from the Deals Gap Rotary rally. It held up great to the tail of the dragon. Not many could keep up with it on that road while I was there
Oh wow, I dream of driving the Tail of the Dragon! I bet that is a fantastic car to throw around those roads!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
I have owned 3 of them and never had an flooding, check engine light on and no engine failures. Own a 2006 with 40K and drove it from CT to Florida and got almost 23 mpg and used about 16 oz of oil for the 1000 miles. Great cars.
I have an 2007 series 1 and love it. Great fun on the twisties and on track. The engine though will always be the star of the show.
They really see great fun to drive. The turn-in response was fantastic!
I'm so glad the engines have such a good following, we need more rotary engines on the road!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
Best thing to open up the renny 13b 230hp is a bigger exhaust, mid pipe and ram cold air induction. Not only improves top end and response but sound wise is heavenly!
Fantastic vid👌 Kenny and Drew, brilliant editing! I don't mind these cars, I see you made the most of the weather ☀️ first sun we have seen in 7 months 😅🏴
Thank you dude! 🙏 I wanted to try something a bit different with the editing, glad you like it!
Yes! We got very lucky with the weather...ish...lol it did rain on e or twice whilst filming lol
- Drew
First time on this channel, really enjoyed watching you guys, subbed 👍
Brilliant vid bois very informative 👏 great editing as always
Thank you dude! 🙏 thought I'd try something a bit different with the editing.
- Drew
Got mine in January. 2008 40th Anniversary version with the Bilstein dampers. Prestine condition 40k kms on it. Absolutely love it.
Very nice choice! Is it your first rotary powered car?
- Drew
@@accelerateyoutube Yup! I really wanted a rotary for some time now. The RX8 made the most sense to me. It's comfortable enough, the interior is really nice I think and it drives (and revs :D) like a dream. People often criticize the looks. At first I wasn't the biggest fan either but it really grew on me. Despite being 20 years old it still looks fresh and modern to me. Of course It's not the fastest, or even fast in the first place... but I don't need that anyway.
I mean could have gone for an FD but it just didn't seem worth it. I don't need a race car haha.
The R3 would be my first choice. But I live in Germany and only 40 of them were ever sold here before they got them off the European market.
Great video lads, don't know how you did it but somehow you found a dry day amongst this horrible weather we've been getting recently
Thank you! 🙏
We did get very lucky with the weather (although it did rain slightly while filming the cinematics lol)
Thank you for the support as always!
- Drew
Love the video guys!
Thank you dude! 🙏
- Drew
I've always been a big fan of even the early rx8 purely and simply just because their different.. great video lads
A-men dude! They are such pretty cars. I'd love one with an SR20 engine or something similar 👌
Thank you dude!
- Drew
Orrrr .. could do what seems to be the go to swap with literally everything atm and k20 swap it 🤣🤣🤣 still have an awesome sound track with a great handling chassis 👌
wanted this car for years and i still do jst gotta wait lil bit more till i can
It will not dissapoint!
- Drew
I bought mine last week - a 2006 series 1 with relatively low mileage and pristine interior. I owned one before and regretted selling it. This one is much nicer and seems to have a bit more poke. Loving it.
Very nice! A lot of them seemed to be looked after & loved in fairness...then you do get the odd one that has been thrown sideways for most of its life 😂
Glad you're back in one and enjoying it!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
The perforations in the sun visor is to enable you to see high level traffic lights with the visor down.
This. I own one and it's great.
Kinda wierd to see that the car that gave me inspiration to buy an rx8 again on youtube in a very odd way! I saw MJ09 PZE plate rx8 on youtube channel ashrafoncars and I decided to go for it! And Randomly after 2 years I thought about watching a r3 review as I’m converting mine to r3 and I stumbled across your video and I noticed that it’s the same MJ09 PZE! Quiet funny and very very wierd!
Oh wow, I had no idea this exact car was also on another CZcams video! Thank you for the info!
That's a mad coincidence for you lol
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
Love how the alloys are made up of little rotary triangles. I love details like that on a car.
Wow! I can't believe we missed that 😂 well spotted!
I really appreciate details like that too.
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
Been debating buying one for years and finally the last 8-12 months a ton have flooded the market… it’s just a matter of how much you wanna spend honestly. There’s a 2011 I believe within 200 miles of me with 60k on the motor for around 9-10k which is the best deal I’ve found yet. But when I personally go to buy one of these I want the rotary to start and have fun with then when it goes out LS. Very good chassis 😈😈
Coming from a lot of RX-8 (1st gen) and FD track time, and now driving an R3, I would say buy the 1st Gen RX-8 with cloth seats as a driver's car, and the R3 as a sporty DD. The older car drove a little sharper, they're much cheaper, and the ~100lbs less in weight is nice since the power is low.
I love it for the same reasons you mentioned but wouldn't buy it for the same reasons you mentioned. Losing that engine would be a shame but if it has a normal high revving engine would make it much more obtainable for most people
😂 that's why we are so grateful that we get to experience these cars, then hand them back at the end if the day lol
Completely agree! If they were offered with a piston engine, things would be very different!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
They have those already tho, they are called Mazda 6's. Bless Mazda for making a poor business decision in an attempt to keep and develop their rotary line. Sad it didn't work out, who knows we might've been on rx-9 or 10 by now if these were successfull and the rotary would have a lot more time to work out the kinks
I had a 2008 RX8 in that amazing blue color. I loved it! Had 4 years with no issues at all. Just stick to the few rules that help save the engine etc and it’s all good.
I’m about to look at a 2008, what’s your advice on them? What premix should I use and things I should look out for?
@@blakeavila2295 I will be honest I didn’t use pre mix. Just used premium fuel.
Things to check for are start up. Make sure it fires up straight away from cold. Just the usual things mate. Just go on the forums. All there
I owned the exact same car as in this video. It does suck gas, it does use oil. But, if you love it and take care of it properly, they can be very reliable. Plan on a rebuild at about 120k miles for apex seals. Is it worth it? For many it is. It's completely unique and feels very special when you drive it. Fun car.
i still want this car.
Is it good for delivery driving like side gigs ???
The main things in 10k kms ive had fail are.(86k kms on odometer) CAT failed and my input shaft bearing is failing due to harsher driving lol. Otherwise hella relaible. In the same time, in 15k kms, my truck broke 4 times
Coolest mazda ever made, alongside with Miata.
It is the other way around. nc is based on rx8 chassis with materials shed off from the rx8 parts because of lower stress from a smaller car
You missed the fact that you can close the front door with the rear door open, slam the rear door into the front. No contact 😅
😂 I thought abiut this whilst I was editing! Gutted I forgot to mention it lol
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
A real curiosity. I would love to have one for 6 months but I can't help thinking that in 2024 the mk1 Audi TT (in 225 Quattro guise) gives more bang for the money (just paid £1,500 for mine, plenty at that price). Sure it's a bit heavy and is only a two seater but for the money...
my dream car....
TT MK1 = amazing
Enthusiasm will of owning the one!
Ffs, I've been thinking of selling the astra to fund either an rx8 or a 650 bmw 😂
I really want a rotary tho 🙈
😂 I keep getting the urge to own a rotary just for the noise alone! Lol
They are 2 very different vehicles 😂
- Drew
@@accelerateyoutube I've always wanted a rotary too (rx7 originally but I ain't paying them prices 🤣)and I need a rwd car in my life again.
Rx8 ticks the rotary n rwd box
The 650 is alot car for the money, with a few tweaks here and there it should see 400bhp at the wheels.
Its hard to ignore for the price 🤷🏻♂️
@@DisAstra-qx9gqBought mine less than a year ago and for the price, chassis, and rev range it is absolutely worth it hands down. Poor man’s Ferrari or an actual affordable sports car that you don’t need to be retired to be able to own lol.
too late bought one before this video came out
I had 1 of these years ago! Don't get me wrong they are thirsty as hell on fuel and oil but my god that was a good chassis. Should of been turbocharged from factory. Could handle atleast 270 bhp
Side port will even more overheating, so no.
I really like the look of them and wanted to get one years a go but the reliability really put me off 🙈
They are so pretty!
Same here dude, the running costs are crazy, then you have the reliability issue eating away at you everyday lol
- Drew
One of the most underrated cars ever made…
I4 performance with V8 fuel consumption. Nope it was rated quite whelmingly as deserved. And expensive
You have it backwards though. The NC miata came out in 2005 making the RX8 2 years older
You are absolutely right! Thank you for the info!
- Drew
The NC came out in 2006...
@@nawmean2006 model year, mine was built in December 2005.
This is a miata with 12" and a roof. See parts interchangeability. Or the v6/8 swap guys.
Buy my turbo model in nz 20k 😂 lowest rx8 forsale on the market only renesis high comp turbo forsale under 50 thousand km in total, engine replaced with 2000km engine rebuilt has done just over 5000 km since rebuilt total of 7 thousand km on the engine 🙌🔥🔥❤️
The only bad thing I encounter is the fumes smell, it is just too strong for me. I sold mine in 2021.
Fortunately, we didn't experience that. How long had you owned it??
- Drew
As someone from across the pond, it's still crazy to see that yall pay so much to the government just to drive your cars 😭
😂😂 it is sickening!
What state are you from? Do you guys have anything similar to "Road tax"?
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
@accelerateyoutube Down in Florida we only have to pay an annual registration fee along with insurance. No smog testing. "Antique" cars that are 30 years or older have reduced registration fees & custom plates.
Great car to drive had a brand new one in 2004 but reliability was absolutely crap and engine failed at 40k compression went.
Just saying I looked after mine was serviced on time oil top up monthly and oil change 6 monthly and full of problems.
Even a mazda salesman told me few years later that it was released to early and that u believed mazda simply wanted them out as soon as possible to rival nissan 350z despite the facr that they hadn't ironed out the issues with the wankel engine.
But never brought a mazda product since build is horrible quality isn't there but as a driving machine when working is up there with the best .
What does R3 mean?🤔🤔
There’s a video in your ads
Not a lot of people know this, but it has a carbon fiber driveshaft!
I want one but only to LS swap them. They make so many kits to swap them. If this has like 400-500 hp it would be sick
Oh wow, THAT would be insane! I imagine with that power/torque in that chassis, it would be an awesome drift machine!
Thank you for watching!
- Drew
It's absolutely worth buying one. Then putting an LS V8 in it.
I would LOVE to experience a V8 one!
- Drew
700 quid tax on 1.3L 😑
It’s because the government class it as a 2.6L due to the nature of the rotary engine. It requires 2 rotations per ignition cycle so in theory has double the displacement that it has officially
I had one back in 2011. Cool car but the engine is junk.
BMW i3 has suicide doors
Yes it does. The i3 was released in 2013, 10 years later than the RX8. So they may have just copied Mazda.
Thanks
Ken
They are shite! They drink oil and fuel like a drunken sailor! Looks nice but I would rather own a bog standard mk 1 Mini than own one of those. Same goes for the Mazda MP6. I owned one. They are as fragile as a Cadbury's flake chocolate. MX3, MX5 and MX6 are the best sporty cars Mazda made. I owned an MX6. Beautiful car that drives as smooth as a Lexus.
🤣. They weren't even worth buying when they were brand new! 🤣😂. Cars a ugly joke!
They sold quite well, so the market would disagree with you.
- Drew
@@accelerateyoutube . PT cruisers sold very well also, 🤣. So much for that argument!
The r3 should have came with a black roof lining.
TT MK1 = amazing