- coupe 88,499
- 77 below average
- 6,995 fair
- Manassas, VA
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- autoshopper.com
- 77 below average coupe 88,499 grey automatic
2005 mazda rx-8 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The rx-8 drives like a sports car, with perfect 50-50 weight distribution for balanced handling and a high-revving engine. It reminds us of the brilliant third-generation rx-7 and it's $13,000 cheaper. the rx-8 is a true sports car that can pull double duty. There's enough room for a weekend's worth of luggage or two full-size golf bags, and the small rear doors and hatchback design make trips to the home improvement center possible. The muscular styling has a zoom-zoom edge. rx-8 was launched as an all-new model for 2004 so the 2005 mazda rx-8 carries over with minimal changes. They are two different cars due to the nature of the high-revving rotary engine. the six-speed manual benefits from 238 horsepower at 8500 rpm and 159 pound-feet of torque at 5500 rpm, while the automatic produces considerably less: 197 horsepower at 7200 rpm and 164 pound-feet at 5000 rpm. The at also has smaller wheels and brakes and a softer suspension. The transmission is sequential, with steering-wheel mounted thumb controls. The bottom line is that the manual is for driving enthusiasts. It's about the most aggressive shape possible in stamped steel. It's definitely aggressive, in a smallish kind of way. From the double-bubble roof, down the hood and over the bulge that's shaped like one of the engine rotors, to those big wide ears of front fenders, to the headlamps and grille and air intakes that give the rx-8 a face: wide-eyed, startled, big dimples. Head-on, the rx-8 looks like it's getting gently goosed and is saying, 'oh!' from the rear it looks good, with upswept lines and wide fender flares. The headlights aren't as dramatic as they might be. Mazda says it believes design should be expressed in sheet metal not lighting. the front and rear doors open in opposite directions, which mazda calls the freestyle door system. (in the '20s such doors were called suicide doors, but we've fortunately gotten away from that expression.) this allows very easy ingress and egress for the rear-seat passengers. There is no pillar between the doors, and mazda has carefully designed the structure with supporting steel crossmembers and braces for rigidity and safety against a side impact. Mazda says its expects to achieve top scores in government and insurance industry crash tests. interioreven large adults find the back seat of the rx-8 comfortable. Getting into and out of the back seats is easy. And the seats are comfortable. Rear-seat passengers can't see out front, but they can see out the side windows. Unfortunately, they don't roll down, but just push outward. The console extends back between the rear seats. the trunk can carry two sets of golf clubs. We were able to fit a desk chair and storage crate back there. A vertical compartment opens to the trunk to allow the carrying of skis and such. for the driver, the instrument panel seems to sacrifice efficiency for style. There are three big rings, dominated by the 10,000-rpm tachometer in the center, with only a digital speedometer located at about 9:00 on the tach face. The two large outside rings only include gauges for water temp, fuel and oil pressure. We miss having a separate speedometer. We like the stitched leather three-spoke steering wheel, both for its style and feel. Another great thing was the drilled aluminum pedals, including a very secure dead pedal. Each knee is comfortably and firmly supported during hard cornering. the panel forward of the gearshift lever is trimmed in a combination of leather and high-quality vinyl and glossy black plastic. The stereo and climate control knobs are integrated; redundant controls are on the steering wheel spokes. The soft triangular shape of the engine rotors are found throughout the interior, most noticeably and stylishly in the headrests. driving impressionthe rx-8 has great balance and precise turn-in. The suspension is soft enough for daily comfortable use and not as stiff as say, the nissan 350z, which corners like a race car but pays the price with a stiffer ride. the electronic stability control (mazda calls theirs dsc, or dynamic stability control) works well. The rx-8 wasn't completely forgiving when driven hard on an autocross circuit. With too much throttle it would understeer, or plow the front tires, although it should be noted that most cars would have been hopeless under the same abuse. At first we were surprised that the dsc didn't intervene and correct this, so we repeated the experiment until we felt the dsc kick in. Some cars do it by cutting the throttle, which skilled drivers find intrusive. The rotary engine, which is extremely smooth and simple (lacking pistons, valves, crankshafts, camshafts, etc.) has been developed by mazda for 40 years now. The rx-8 features the latest and by far the best rotary engine design, which mazda calls renesis. Its compact dimensions allow it to be mounted in a low and rearward position that results in that perfect balance. It also keeps the center of gravity low and the curb weight down to a stunning 2940 pounds. out on the open road the rx-8 feels even better. The exhaust note is almost hypnotic on a rhythmic road. It revs extremely quickly, although its significant weak point is mid-range grunt. Downshifts for quick acceleration are definitely necessary. Acceleration performance from 0 to 60 mph is less than 6 seconds, according to car and driver magazine, making the rx-8 nearly but not quite as quick as a nissan 350 z. downshifting is redefined by the rotary engine, especially when paired with the brilliant close-ratio six-speed gearbox. The fact that the rx-8 is a featherweight, thanks not only to the rotary engine but also to thoughtful design with aluminum in the hood and rear doors, reduces the stopping distance to an impressive number, comparable to a nissan 350 z. summarythe rx-8 is a unique sports car. The rotary engine is super smooth, simple, high-revving and almost indestructible. Tachometer✔ Heated Seats✔ Climate Control✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning✔ Sunroof/Moonroof
6,995 Manassas, VAManassas, VA at autoshopper.com