2008 Mazda RX-8 Grand Touring 4dr Coupe (1.3L 2rtr 6M)

Pros: Fun, especially at higher RPMs

Cons: Low MPG (18), weak A/C, outdated console electronics (manual temp control)

Summary: I bought an '04 RX-8, literally driving it off of the dock when the boat dropped it off. I love this car. It is a blast to drive, especially at higher RPMs, and I really like the styling.

I have a bunch of minor nits, none of which matter when compared to the Pros.

The gas mileage is pretty consistent at 18mpg, although you can squeeze a few extra mpg out of it with a soft foot and lots of highway driving.

The engine is great at heating up the car, which is nice in the winter but not so great in the summer. Unfortunatley the A/C has trouble keeping up. The climate controls are also manual; in a higher-end model, automatic temp would be nice.

It's a little tight in headroom for taller folk. I'm 6' (tall in upper body) and my head touches the ceiling. So much for racing since a helmet wouldn't fit. I do however fit in back, although I wouldn't want to be back there more than 20-30 minutes.

The trunk is a touch small, especially the opening.

The front seats work well for some people (me) but the design hits some people (my wife) wrong making them fairly uncomfortable (for her). I really like the way they hold me in place on the tight turns.

That's quite the list of cons, but they really aren't bad and don't come close to offsetting the Pros so let's get back to those Pros. Love the strong lights. It handles curves like a dream.

I describe this as "my 4-door family car" and it works well for my family of 4 (two kids <10 years). I don't expect any issues/complaints until the kids are both fairly full grown.

I haven't had any major problems and the minor ones were all addressed by Mazda immediately. Also, no problems with flooding (make sure you follow the directions and DO NOT ADD GAS when turning the car on)or excessive oil use (in 4 years I've added 1 quart of oil outside of regular maintenance services).

In summary, I highly recommend this car. I'd certainly consider one again in the future, especially if they refine the high-end versions.