2004 Mazda RX-8

Touring Pkg Coupe

1.3L Rotary Gasoline Fuel

Automatic

JM1FE17N540110048

Rear Wheel Drive

Gasoline

Power Windows

Most people know that Mazda builds sporty cars. But for driving enthusiasts, it's the company's history of building sport coupes with lightweight rotary engines that sets it apart from the competition. The Mazda RX-8 is the latest of these coupes, and it's the only one with a four-door configuration. The heart of the Mazda RX-8 is its high-revving, 1.3-liter rotary engine called the Renesis. It's a made-up word: The "R" and the "e" stand for "Rotary engine," while "nesis" comes from the word "genesis." Odd name aside, the Renesis engine is an impressive bit of engineering: Unlike its forebears, it locates the exhaust ports on the side of each of the combustion chambers, rather than on the outer edge of the rotary housing. Sounds simple, but this one change allows for more power, higher fuel economy and lower emissions. Because of the engine's compact size, engineers were able to mount it farther back in the RX-8's chassis, giving the car a coveted 50/50 front/rear weight distribution. This, along with balanced suspension tuning, sharp steering and a svelte 3,000-pound curb weight, makes the rear-wheel-drive RX-8 one of the best-handling cars on the market. However, the car's power is a bit lacking; newer competitors provide considerably more oomph. Current Mazda RX-8 The Mazda RX-8 is a four-seat coupe with a pair of rear-hinged "suicide" doors that ease access to the rear seats. Every RX-8 is powered by a 1.3-liter twin rotary engine, with an output that depends on the transmission. The six-speed manual version produces 232 horsepower at a stratospheric 9,000 rpm, and is capable of a 0-60 run in about 6 seconds. The six-speed automatic gets 212 hp and a redline of 7,500 rpm. All RX-8s have a rather paltry 152 pound-feet of torque, which means you have to hold the rotary engine on the boil to keep the car lively. Therefore, we'd suggest only buying an RX-8 with the manual. There are three trim levels available: Sport, Grand Touring and R3. Even the base car comes well equipped with 18-inch wheels, performance tires, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a six-speaker CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack. The Grand Touring gets a limited-slip rear differential, automatic xenon headlights, a power driver seat, memory functions, heated seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, keyless ignition/entry, a Bose stereo, Bluetooth and a navigation system. The R3 is a high-performance variant packing 19-inch wheels, an aggressively tuned suspension, Recaro sport seats, exterior body modifications and some of the other trims' high-tech convenience features. Although the Mazda RX-8 has the look of a race-tuned sports car, its demeanor on the road is considerably more docile. Its ample grip through corners and solid feedback through the steering wheel make it an absolute riot on a serpentine road, yet a compliant ride means that it won't beat you up on the daily commute. The rotary engine requires high engine speeds to make serious power, but the delivery is virtually vibration-free and noise levels are subdued. If you like a smooth engine (in feel, sound and delivery), the RX-8's is second to none. Inside, the RX-8's innovative two-person backseat and suicide half-doors provide the sort of practicality no other sport coupe can match. Provided they're shorter than 6 feet tall, those seated in the back will find supportive seating and ample room. Overall, the RX-8 is one of the best examples of a car that's both fun to drive and very livable on a day-to-day basis. I bought this car in 2007 with 60K miles. It has been well maintained and cared for. I sold the car to an employee of mine, who I am now trying to help him sell the car. This car has 141K plus miles but still runs and drives fresh off the floor. This is a daily driver, so milage will increase each day. This car is for sale locally as well. There are some cosmetic blemishes that are all reflected in the pictures of the car. The car looks great and is fun to drive. Below is a list of the features and the best known condition of each:Exterior Tires and WheelsAfter Market Black Alloy wheels - 18 x 7.5 in.P245/45R18 tires in good condition with good tread remaining Roof and GlassVariable intermittent wipersRear defoggerProfessionally tinted windows all aroundWindshield has 2 round rock chips Paint and Body PanelsWinning Blue Color - very brightNic on the driver side door (see photo)Ding/small dent in the hood (see photo)Ding/small dent in the roof between windshield and sun roof (see photo)Had stripes on the hood, over the top and on the trunk. The stripes were removed and a ghost stripe remains. At just the right angle, you can see where the stripes once lay on the car.All panels are straight and show no sign of damage or repairMechanical Engine & PerformanceBase engine size: Renesis 1.3 LRuns strong with no mechanical issues DriveTrainDrive type: rear wheel driveTransmission: 4-speed shiftable automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Transmission shifts great with no problems at all. SuspensionDouble wishbone front suspensionMulti-link rear suspensionFour-wheel independent suspension FuelFuel type: gasFuel type: regular unleaded - Has only had Premium Unleaded used since purchased in 2007Fuel tank capacity: 15.9 gal.EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 16/22 mpg Safety & Security4-wheel ABSFront and rear head airbagsDual front side-mounted airbagsChild seat anchorsAnti-theft alarm systemFront and rear ventilated disc brakesEngine immobilizer2 front headrests2 rear headrestsFront seatbelt pretensionersElectronic brakeforce distributionEmergency interior trunk releaseFront integrated headrestsRear integrated headrestsAirbag indicator light is always on due to a sensor in the seat belt.Spare tire with cover. Not all RX-8s have spare tires.Interior Front SeatsHeight adjustable driver seatHeated Leather - Driver side does not heat.Sport front seats - very comfortable on long trips Rear SeatsRear head room: 36.8 in.Rear leg room: 32.3 in.Rear shoulder room: 53.2 in.Folding with storage and pass-thru center armrest Power FeaturesRemote power door locksPower mirrors1 one-touch power windowsPower Sun Roof ConvenienceCruise controlFront console with storageFront and rear cupholdersFront door pocketsOverhead console with storageRemote trunk releaseFront seatback storageElectric power steering12V front power outlet(s)Tilt-adjustable steering wheelTransmission, cruise and audio controls on steering wheelNavigation System - Sometimes works great, at other times it does not. No rhyme or reason why, just when it feels like it, it works. ComfortInterior air filtrationAir conditioning - has a crazy flap on the inside, it blows ice cold but if you change the temperature knob it may swap over and blow heat. Trunk lightFront and rear reading lightsLeather steering wheelFront floor matsDual illuminating vanity mirrors InstrumentationClockTachometerExternal temperature displayLow fuel level warningRadiator warning light is on due to a sensor in the reservoir. But it is not low on coolant.Tire Pressure light is on due to the wheels being replaced with after market wheels and the sensors not being moved to the new wheels. In Car EntertainmentDiversity antennaBose 6 total speakers100 watts stereo outputAM/FM in-dash single CD player stereo