2009 Mazda RX-8 Philadelphia

See Our 2009 Mazda RX-8 Inventory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2009 Mazda RX-8 Design

The Mazda RX-8 bulges with style if not grace. It's about the most aggressive shape technically possible in stamped steel. From the rear it looks good, with upswept lines, notable fender flares, large exhaust outlets and LED taillights. The inflated-triangle shape on the aft half of the hood perfectly mirrors the shape of the rotary engine beneath it.

R3 models use a more aggressive front bumper and a small stand-off wing rather than the attached small lip spoiler of other RX-8s.

From the side you see big, sharp wheel arches; plus a small vent/signal repeater angled behind the front wheel. The headlights aren't overtly dramatic but are a bit sleeker on 2009s; Mazda says it believes design should be expressed in sheet metal, not lighting.

Handling of the 2009 Mazda RX-8

The rotary engine offers a sweet unique sound under acceleration and the Renesis is very refined, with little of the rasp that characterized early RX-7s. The two three-sided rotors deliver six power pulses per turn of the output shaft, the same number as a V12 (and twice as many per revolution as a V6), resulting in an exhaust note that's almost hypnotic on a rhythmic road, and sport-bike-like under full steam. The rotary revs extremely quickly, but lacks the mid-range grunt of a V6. The axle ratio in manual transmission cars has been shortened to 4.78:1 for better acceleration, while the automatic is geared for cruising.

Despite the modest power, short gears and light weight allow the RX-8 to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in or less than 6 seconds, making it fully competitive with many four-seat coupes in the price range.

Downshifting is redefined by the rotary engine, especially when paired with the brilliant close-ratio six-speed gearbox. You can drop the RX-8 into second gear at a speed that would cause many other cars on the planet to scream, and you can do so confident that you will never miss a shift.

2009 Mazda RX-8 Lineup

The 2009 Mazda RX-8 comes in four trim levels. All are powered by the 1.3-liter twin-rotor rotary engine.

Sport comes with a choice of six-speed manual or six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, both for the same price. Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery; air conditioning; AM/FM/CD stereo with six speakers and steering-wheel mounted controls; cruise control; power windows, mirrors and locks; leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel and shift knob; floor and overhead consoles; rear window defogger; variable-speed intermittent windshield wipers; alarm with immobilizer; and 225/45R18 tires on alloy wheels. Manual-shift models also get aluminum/rubber pedals, torque-sensing limited-slip differential and a rear lip spoiler.

Touring comes with manual or automatic transmission. The Touring adds Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with traction control; Xenon headlamps; fog lights; auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink; and an MP3/six-disc in-dash sound system. Additionally, Touring automatics get the limited-slip differential. Touring options include those above plus a Premium package that includes the Bose Centerpoint sound system, Sirius, moonroof.

Grand Touring comes with manual or automatic. The GT adds leather seating with matching synthetic leather door panels, heated front seats and outside mirrors, eight-way power and three-position memory for the driver's seat, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth, Bose surround sound system, and Mazda's advanced keyless entry and start system. Options include navigation and Premium package with moonroof and Sirius.

R3 is trimmed like a Touring but adds upgraded suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, forged aluminum 19-inch wheels and 225/40R19 Bridgestone RE050A performance tires, rear wing spoiler, side sills, unique front styling, Bose audio system, leather-wrapped handbrake, keyless entry/start, and leather-edged Recaro sport seats.

Interior of the 2009 Mazda RX-8

The rear bucket seats in the RX-8 are comfortable. We've found even large adults find plenty of elbow room thanks to the transmission tunnel/console that separates them, and surprisingly good toe room under the front seats. Getting into and out of the rear seat is easy. Due to the high front seatbacks, rear-seat passengers can't see much out front without leaning inboard, but they can see out the side windows. Unlike some coupes with fixed rear side windows, the RX-8 rear windows pop-out for some ventilation. Rear passengers also have their own padded-armrest center console, dual cupholders, and plenty of room for child seats. These features make the RX-8 more practical than the Nissan Z and other sports cars.

The rear-hinged back door and the pillar-less door configuration allows loading of large, awkward items into the back seat area that simply cannot be handled by other sports cars and sedans. We were able to fit a desk stool and a storage crate inside, without using the front seat, a very impressive feat for a sports car. At times, especially in close quarters, the counter-swinging doors can be cumbersome, just as they did on extended-cab pickups and the Honda Element. There are reasons rear-hinged doors have had limited appeal over the years, but apart from seating a fourth person or vacuuming the back, you never have to open them.

Conclusion

The Mazda RX-8 is a unique sports car. Its four-seat, four-door configuration is an original design that works. The rotary engine is super smooth, simple, high-revving and almost indestructible. It's complemented by a beautiful six-speed gearbox, great brakes, and steering that talks to your hands. The RX-8 is a great sports car with an innovative approach and admirable engineering.