Mazda Rx-8 ― All Models 2003 to 2012

The last rotary-engined car built, Mazda's RX-8 provides a unique driving experience. Until you've tried one, it's hard to imagine how smooth its free-revving engine really is, or how enjoyable its handling. With comfortable space for four, it can be practical too.

Like most Japanese cars, the RX-8 is generally well built, but the rotary engine can suffer from hot starting and rotor tip wear issues, which can prove expensive to put right. Extensive back-up from owner forums and independent specialists - listed in the guide - mean that these problems can be addressed, but choosing a good RX-8 requires care.

This guide will help you do just that. Understand the differences between models, and learn what to look for when buying one. What are the true running costs, and does the need for a new engine mean the end to your dreams? What other issues - with the mechanicals, body or interior - should you look out for? Follow the advice of an experienced RX-8 owner and benefit from his research among owners and specialists in Europe and North America.

A lifelong motoring enthusiast, Julian Parish has lived in both the UK and France, and has driven more than half a million miles throughout Europe and North America. After a career in book and software publishing, he now spends much of his time writing and translating motoring books and articles, many of them devoted to the pleasures of driving on the Continent. He has been a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists in the UK for nearly thirty years, is a member of AFPA, the association of French motoring journalists, and speaks French and German fluently.