As the World Turns: Mazda RX-8 Production Finally Stopped

It always had enough flaws to keep it from being a great car but it sure was a cool car.

I've wanted one of these but then heard horror stalls of engines dying. e.g. start an RX-8 to move it and shutting it down may flood the engine.

The lack of success of the RX-8 in the marketplace has always mystified me. I guess nobody wants a genuine sports car with daily driver practicality.

Kind of a shame....it was unique for sure. My uncle had two RX-2s in the 70s......they were a blast to drive and he loved them....even though they were complete junk........after the second one fell apart he bought a 76 Vette....which he loved but was complete junk. He did not care what quality a car was as long as it was fun!

"I've wanted one of these but then heard horror stalls of engines dying. e.g. start an RX-8 to move it and shutting it down may flood the engine."

One would hope, with this knowledge in hand, that you would not do just this. The only people that have flooded my car are the Mazda dealer and the body shop.

Is that flooding called "washdown"? When fuel coats the chamber walls and damages them?

Mazda needs something to differentiate itself from the mainstream-- in which they are not prospering. A real touring car would be nice. Big enough to take two people on a week long trip-- meaning it has to have a good ride, good gas mileage, and above all, a decent size trunk.

The almost complete lack of a trunk in the Miata nixes it for me. Yes, I know, it is patterned after the British sports cars of the mid 20th century. But the Miata is no longer $14,000. It is close to $30,000, For that kind of money, I want some versatility.

There are some cars out there now that are not sports cars, but they are sporty enough for me. The Scion TC and Ford Focus SE with the manual and the sport package are two that immediately come to mind.

"It always had enough flaws to keep it from being a great car but it sure was a cool car."

I agree, always wanted one, just not enough.

The low mpg was the hardest thing for me to overcome.

And the thing about not shutting it off right after you start it seemed like it would make pulling it out of the garage to wash it kind of a pain. That one thing is probably livable but after reading an RX8 board for a couple evenings I decided it was more temperamental than I wanted for wife's daily driver. My 240Z has it's moments but it is old, less expensive and my car so it is much easier to put up with things on.

Sad, I always liked this car, even though it had it's flaws.

they just didn't update this car enough for it to be competitive. It was like being in a class of its own, but just sitting there waiting for death. Oh well, maybe they'll get it right some day!

yeah they need to come out with a revised version that gets better than 16 mpg and doesn't drink a quart of oil every couple of months... two biggest complaints i've heard.

I loved the R3, but the fuel economy was horrible considering the bhp produced. Another 100 bhp and I would have been fine with the mpg.

I always thought this car would have been a winner if it had a normal engine along the lines of Nissan's VQ37. But of course that wouldn't be a "rotary experiment", now would it?

Bummer to see them end. I love my '05. It does a great job as daily driver and track car...perfect dual purpose car. I never had any of the typical RX8 issues except a free engine at 99k miles. Other than that, 126,000 miles completely trouble free...and it gets ran hard on the track.

Ok. Time to fire up the haters! The RX8 is a great car, but I would love to have seen one with the MS3 motor in it. I know, I know. The rotary is an inspired piece of engineering, but on top of the obvious emissions woes it also gets horrible gas mileage.

Hey Mazda! Bring us an MS8!!!

I hate when stories are posted twice, so I'll reiterate what I said on the news feed.

I just bought a Miata this weekend and the dealer had a 2010 RX-8 in the showroom that was a leftover. The sticker was $33,000 and they were asking $26,000 for it. Still, no takers.

If it got better milage and didn't have oil consumption issues it would sell much better, but its most unique feature is also its biggest downfall.

@ed124c: No thanks, the Miata is perfect the way it is. The trunk is large enough, and the perfect rectangular shape. I've taken my Miata for weekend trips with an overnight bag and duffel bag in the trunk with no problem and some space to spare. The Miata is not meant to be an all-around car. It has a very focused mission.

Congrats on the Miata carguy! Is it new? What trim?

2006 NC sport owner here.

@stovt001: Thanks! It's a new 2011 in True Red. A sport model with the convenience package and a 5 speed manual.

I used to have a 2008 Sport in Copper Red, just like yours. That was a lease, but this one I bought.

Happy motoring!

RIP.

sorry to see it go. love it, hate it, love it and hate it - no matter. it's fun to drive (like many cars), and that engine is like butter. mine is a 2006 so, yep, i carry a bias. the end of RX-8 production will make the the ones that are out there just a little more unique than they already are. interested to see what mazda comes up with next.

every car has it's short comings. one can certainly take the RX8 to the grocery store, but that is not why someone purchases this car. The 8 is obviously not one for the masses and perhaps that has limited its feasibility as a product. however, the day that owning an RX8 becomes "unwelcome work", the day that taking it for a drive to warm it up before shutting it off to wash it becomes anything less than an opportunity, and the day that i expect to get 40mpg while ringing it out in the twisties is the day that i buy a Yaris. i hope that day never comes. until then, i'm gonna drive it.

Dang it, Insideline. Why can't I rate other's comments?!

To @runriderive1, you get a thumbs-up. Thank you for putting into words the thoughts and emotions that defy logic for those that view a car as an A-to-B appliance. I am, unfortunately, with the many other commenters who often considered the RX due to sheer fascination with the underhood engineering, but always chose something a little more practical. Here's to you, good man. Keep on livin!

And RIP to the RX-8. Mazda, I say bring it back in a light weight 2-seater, befitting of the RX's low torque and stratospheric red line. Even less practical, you say? Yes. But I'm nearing the point in life where I can afford two cars in the garage. And the second one had better be interesting.