Mazda is a fairly common car brand in Russia. But usually it is associated with the sixth series sedan and the CX-7 crossover. In fact, these are two bestsellers on the Russian market. However, today we will talk about a rare, but no less interesting car. This is a sports coupe "Mazda Air X-8." Mazda RX-8 reviews, specifications, and much more are further in our article.
Description
RX-8 is a four-seater sports coupe, the mass production of which lasted from 2003 to 2012. The car became the successor to the RX-7 model, which caused no less excitement at the time. The main feature of the machine is a rotary motor. Such engines are rarely used even on sports cars. But first things first.
Appearance
Perhaps the main advantage of the Mazda RX-8 is its design. Despite its age, the car still looks cheerful and fresh. Wide muscular wings and swift optics immediately catch my eye. No less interesting is the bumper with a smiling slot in the radiator grille. The Japanese coupe still attracts the attention of passers-by and stands out from the gray stream of cars. Any tuning is not necessary for her. The machine from the factory has a stylish and dynamic look.
According to the owners, the Mazda RX-8 sedans are perfectly protected from corrosion. The paint does not peel, does not fade itself. Chips are formed only after hitting large stones. But it is worth noting that in the event of an accident it is very difficult to pick up body parts. The Mazda RX-8 is a rare specimen, and it is difficult to meet at a showdown. Therefore, you have to order and wait for the “bodywork” to order, and for an impressive amount of money.
Restyling
At the end of 2008, the car experienced a small update. So, the Japanese released a restyled version of the sports coupe "Mazda Air X-8." The car received a new design of optics, a spoiler, as well as a more embossed bumper. The main feature (wide wheel arches) remained unchanged. The changes affected only the design of the rims.
Now the car began to look more fresh and stylish. The car is offered in different colors, but the most popular is still red.
Sizes, clearance
The car has compact dimensions for a four-seater coupe. So, the length of the Mazda is 4.43 meters, width - 1.77, height - 1.34 meters. Very slight and ground clearance. And this is one of the main shortcomings that reviews say. Mazda RX-8 is one of the lowest cars in the lineup. Ground clearance is only 14 centimeters, while the bumpers are very low. The machine is very responsive to the slightest bumps and steep climbs. Calling on the curb is unlikely to succeed. Yes, and before the "bedridden" you need to slow down a lot. In winter, this is a problem car. The car easily gets stuck in the snow - say the reviews. Mazda RX-8 is suitable only for smooth asphalt.
Salon
The interior design is no less attractive than the exterior. The red steering wheel and leather seats with pronounced lateral support immediately catches your eye. Among the features of the coupe Mazda RX-8 reviews note the design of the front seats. In their backs there is a cutout in the form of a rotor (a kind of reference to the technical component of the car). The gearshift lever is shifted towards the driver. But the handbrake - on the contrary, is located closer to the passenger. Mazda has aluminum pedals - they look pretty good against the general background. As for the free space in the front, it is enough. Despite the small size of the Mazda Er-X 8, the driver will feel comfortable. Landing is low, all controls are placed at arm's length.
The center console looks unusual with a certain circle in the area of ​​the radio. An LCD display is integrated into the torpedo from above, which shows the current time and status of the climate control.
The machine is pretty well equipped. Already in the basic configuration there is a central lock, power windows, air conditioning and high-quality acoustics.
The instrument panel is made in a sporty style. Each scale has its own "well". By the way, the tachometer is located in the center, and the speedometer is located at the bottom of the well (moreover, it is digital). Build quality pleases, but not without cons. Also, owners note too hard seats and hard plastic in the cabin. Another minus is the lack of free space for rear passengers. In addition, they are visually “pressed” by the ceiling, which is too low (for the sake of design). A rather strange solution is a fixed armrest between the rear passengers. There is no place left because of him. The only thing that pleases is the convenience of landing. There is a separate door for rear passengers. Therefore, you can get out of the car without making your way through the front seats, as in the G8. In this regard, the Japanese have notably tried.
Trunk
Since this is a sports coupe, you should not expect from it a roomy trunk. Its total volume is 290 liters, which is barely enough for a couple of food packages or one bag with things. But the Japanese tried to expand the capabilities of the trunk to the maximum. So, in the rear back there is a small hatch for transporting “long-lengths”. But there is no spare tire here. Missing even the "dokatka". In the event of a breakdown of the wheel, you have to rely on the help of car owners passing by (or call a tow truck).
Specifications
There is no wide variety of installations here. As a power unit, only a rotary piston engine is provided (although there are several versions in the lineup). The key difference between the rotary engine is the lack of the usual crankshaft and piston group. This unit consists of two sections. The volume of each is 654 cubic centimeters. The total engine capacity is 1.3 liters. The power of this unit varies from 192 to 250 horsepower, depending on version. Moreover, it is a fully atmospheric engine. Are there any other types of engines in the line? Unfortunately, there are no classic in-line or V-shaped motors.
A five-speed manual or automatic transmission in four or six gears is provided as a transmission. Depending on the gearbox selected, the car accelerates to hundreds in 6-7.5 seconds. What do the Mazda RX-8 reviews say? Perhaps this is the fastest coupe with a working volume of 1.3 liters. The car can confidently compete with brands such as Subaru and BMW. By the way, the maximum speed of the car reaches 235 kilometers per hour. The car still allows you to confidently stay in the stream.
Are there any problems?
If we talk about gearboxes, they do not bring significant problems to the owners. But what do they say about the Mazda RX-8 coupe engine? Many who operated this motor unanimously declare its small resource. On average, this unit serves up to 100-150 thousand kilometers to the capital. At the same time, the engine is picky about the quality of the oil. Moreover, ordinary synthetics will not work here. The manufacturer recommends the use of hydrocracking oil. Synthetics do not burn when they enter the combustion chamber, and this is a big minus for a rotary engine. The liquid begins to clog the thin channels in the seals and settle on the surface.
Hydrocracking oil is highly resistant to shear deformation and also withstands thermal stress. The replacement regulations for the Mazda are from six to eight thousand kilometers, which is very expensive for money. But even with timely service, you should not rely on a high resource. Mazda rotary engines rarely serve more than 150 thousand. And all because this motor is constantly working in critical loads mode. Engine turns practically do not fall below six thousand. With an increase in mileage, oil consumption also increases. Normally, it is one liter per 10 thousand kilometers. But closer to the overhaul, a liter of oil can go every thousand kilometers.
About fuel consumption
Considering the advantages and disadvantages of the Mazda RX-8, it is worth mentioning such a topic as consumption. According to passport data, this figure is no more than 11.4 liters per hundred. But in fact, the consumption of Mazda is much higher. So, in a mixed cycle, this parameter can easily exceed 14 liters, and this is on the mechanics. Someone will say, they say, it is all about the nature of the ride.
However, it should be understood that the rotary motor has a slightly different principle of operation, and even in the most severe mode, this figure will not differ from the average consumption for moderate driving. By the way, very often the consumption increases due to a malfunction of the spark plugs. In this case, the acceleration dynamics drops significantly.
Chassis
The car is built on a rear-wheel drive platform with a longitudinally placed engine and a supporting body scheme. It is worth noting that the Mazda has a rather complicated suspension configuration. There are several ball bearings and two levers in front. There is a mnogoryichazhka behind. There is also a stabilizer bar. The leverage is up to one hundred thousand kilometers. What is most interesting, many copies still go with factory suspension. And it's not about careful operation, but in low mileage. Still, this is not the car on which you can go to the "far".
Car behavior on the road
On the go, the car behaves very tough. Any roughness and road junctions are felt by the “fifth point”. But there is one plus in this suspension configuration. This is excellent handling. According to owners reviews, the Mazda RX-8 is a very maneuverable car. There are no rolls and excessive rolls. Still - the coupe is distinguished by an ideal weight distribution along the axes (in addition - a low center of gravity). Steering - rail with electric power. The latter has a variable force coefficient. So, at high speed, the steering wheel becomes more rigid, and the car - assembled. During parking, the steering wheel is quite soft and light. This is a feature of every Mazda RX-8 coupe. Reviews also note good brakes. They are quite informative, with anti-lock braking system and directional stability. Moreover, ventilated discs are installed on both axes (and after all, many manufacturers are limited to such “pancakes” only in the front).
Price
The Mazda RX-8 coupe is currently discontinued. Therefore, you can find it only in the secondary market. The cheapest are the versions of the first years of release. 350 thousand rubles - that’s how much the Mazda RX-8 (2004) costs. Reviews say that, despite their age, these cars have low mileage. It borders in the region of one hundred thousand kilometers. But you need to be careful. This is not always a native run, although these cars really roll a little. You need to look at the state of the cabin, the suspension (the native will not rattle on a run of 80 thousand) and the behavior of the motor. If we talk about the latest versions, they cost about 700-800 thousand rubles. According to reviews, the 2009 Mazda RX-8 coupe will be the best choice. These cars are inexpensive relative to the most recent (2012), while they already have a restyled “face” and there are many copies with native mileage.
By the way, in the secondary market you can find options already with a “swapped” motor. So, often Mazda engines are powered by Toyota for 200-250 forces. Together with the engine, the gearbox is also changed. As a rule, on the “swapped” versions there is a five-speed mechanic.
To summarize
So, we found out what the Japanese Mazda RX-8 coupe is. This car has a nice appearance and good dynamic characteristics. At the same time, hard plastic is used in the cabin, there is no normal trunk and a rotary engine under the hood. Not every service is taken to serve it. And those workshops that deal with their capital, sometimes write fabulous price tags. From a technical point of view, the car is thought out correctly. It has an ideal weight distribution, does not heel and quickly picks up speed. But when choosing an instance in the secondary market, it is worth remembering that not every engine was serviced correctly. Therefore, after the purchase you need to be prepared for unforeseen investments.