I had a Rx8. I would recommend a Rx8 as well. fun car with 2+2. Its almost like a 4 door S2k.

 

RX8's are awesome! Just as someone else said, try to get the newest one possible due to the 04s having flooding issues etc. Dare I say it but many even say the tranny is the next best thing to an s2k. They're not speed demons so dont expect much from them. But they handle great, seat 4 and the looks will last a long time.

 

I was able to talk Herzog Mazda into letting me borrow an rx8 for an extended test drive a few years back. I really liked the car. Nice interior, great shifter, neat sound and the goodies such as rwd/hid/lsd. But what I really liked was that the car felt special, like some limited build exotic. It's hard to explain. Not fast or overly flashy like an exotic but just the feeling that the guy next to you probably does not have anything like it. My S is a far better car but still does not give me the same feel. I did not buy one due to gas mileage and reliability concerns at the time (2004) but I think they have ironed out at least the reliability issues.

 

My 04 had a flooding issue - Lemon Law full refund and used money to buy an AP1 FTMFW!

 

I had an 04. Overall, it was a good car. I had a lot of TSB / recall work done on it though. It was not the fastest car on the street by any stretch, but it handled beautifully. It had way more bells and whistles than the S on the interior so it is not a minimalist design.

Mine used about 1 quart / 1500 miles just before I traded it. I think one of the later flashes increased the oil metering to avoid engine troubles. If you live in a hot climate, be prepared to sweat. The AC is just awful. If you sit in traffic in the summer the center tunnel will cook bread. Also, some folks in hot climates have claimed more engine failures. I guess this could be said for any car though.

 

wow didnt realize the 04's were that much different. Ill be sure to let him know. Any other benefits to 04+ besides fixing problems?

 

There's no other car I'd rather buy new for way under $30K than a RX8.

 

I'm happy to see all the support for the RX-8 on these boards. I've always thought it is a great car. It has a fantastic look to it - both interior and exterior, and offers a fun ride and a decent price. Many knock it for the mileage, oil consumption, and lower performance than an S2K, but it you want a nice handling car that is fun to drive with a backseat, the RX-8 is your car.

 

There are a lot of haters of the RX8 on here too.

I've always thought it was a wonderful car for a very decent price. Have driven it quite a few times and liked it a lot.