RX-8

The Mazda RX-8 (SE3P)

Mazda announced the RX-8 in Japan in April 2003 and built it until June 2012. It seats four, and its rear-hinged rear doors open only once the fronts are open, with no pillar between them. The engine is the 13B-MSP RENESIS, a 1,308 cc twin-rotor rotary without a turbocharger, its exhaust ports moved into the side housings. In the high-power version, with a six-speed manual, it made 250 PS at 8,500 rpm; the standard engine, with a five-speed manual or an automatic, made 210 to 215 PS. Torque is 216 Nm at 5,500 rpm, and drive goes to the rear wheels.

The March 2008 facelift brought new bumpers, headlights and LED tail lights, a six-speed manual made by Mazda in place of the Aisin gearbox, a revised high-power engine at 235 PS, and the Type RS, with Bilstein dampers, Recaro seats and 19-inch wheels. The last cars were the Spirit R of November 2011.

What RX-8 owners upgrade

RX-8 owners buy a lot for the body: tail lights from the lights range, and front bumpers, fenders and rear wings from exterior. Mechanically, the parts reflect how the rotary lives: water pumps and oil coolers from the cooling range against its heat, and battery parts from the ignition range, because a rotary needs strong cranking and spark to start cleanly.

Shift knobs, brake pads, exhausts, baffled oil pans and anti-roll bars make up the rest. RE Amemiya, R Magic, AutoExe, Ings, Valenti and Project Mu are among the names owners choose.

Genuine parts

The rotor tips wear against the housings, compression falls, and in time the engine needs a rebuild, so have a compression test done with a rotary gauge before buying. The engine burns oil by design to lubricate the rotors: keep it topped up. Short trips with a weak battery, starter or ignition coils flood the engine, and carbon builds up inside it. Coils, plugs, starters and engine parts are in our genuine Mazda parts catalogue.

Wheels

The RX-8 came on 16x7.5 +50, 17x7.5 +50 or 18x8 +50 wheels, and the Type RS on 19x8 +47, on a 5x114.3 bolt pattern with M12 x 1.5 nuts. More sizes are listed under wheels that fit the RX-8.