Mazda RX-8 (192ps)

We bought the car for something different sporty (231bhp) maybe a bit mid life crisis-ish. The cost of fuel at £60 per wk to get to work (18m per day) quickly took the shine off it then the little niggles started, filling up with oil every other week (1 pint - try that in the cold morning rain every other week) tyres £120. The wankel engine which is jet like, in that it is slow to respond then just keeps going but zero braking down hill, it never sounded happy to start then the first winter it wouldn ' t, changed the battery- £60 then needed a tow to Mazda £80 and fix £80 - cause - the engine floods if the journey is under 5 mins oh dear they never told me that! then there ' s the weekly family shop oh dear no room in the boot The visibility for passengers in the back is like being in prison, parking multi storey - a nightmare try squeezing you and your passengers out of those silly doors, reversing likewise. Look on e bay for non runner and there are an awful lot of Mazda 2l diesels, another manufacturing fault Mazda?

Fuel economy terrible (high-teens), "stalling" issue (when you come back from holiday don't expect your car to start without the RAC), clutch wear disgraceful (£700 replacement after about 20 000 miles in our case).

Style over substance. After such high hopes, the worst car I've ever owned. Will not buy Mazda again.

The Mazda RX-8 is a nice looking car with lots of nice design features at a decent initial price. Tax, insurance and fuel bills are excessive as are repair bills from Mazda (£90 an hour labour?!) and not worth it considering the performance. Is out paced by a 2L diesel golf doing 40mpg. Build quality is not really up to scratch and you can tell where they have saved money. If you need to have one the buy one - but don't expect everyday practicality. If they stuck a Subaru flat four motor in it then it would be a cracker.