2004 Mazda RX-8

This higher powered RX-8 with 231PS (228bhp) and a 6-speed manual gearbox was first registered in March 2004 by Hodgson Mazda near Newcastle. It didn’t appear to stay in the North East for long (perhaps it was a dealership car?) as by the following March it was with a second owner in Merseyside.

From 2006 until the last of the car’s 5 owners (who bought the car in Oct 2019), it lived in the West Midlands area; first around Wolverhampton, then slightly south in Tipton and then further south near Kings Norton.

On selling the Mazda into the trade for financial reasons, the last owner mentioned that the car had recently been driven to Spain and back.

This RX-8 is finished in the aptly named Velocity Red which includes a mica mid-coat and is the only paint colour to be offered throughout the production run - probably because it’s one of the most attractive. There is a scuff/scratches on the nearside front valance and a handful of stone chips across the nose but no more than usual for a car of this age.

The rest of the bodywork is good but it appears that at some point in the past a rotary polisher has been used inexpertly, leaving swirls in the paintwork here and there. A good detailer could resolve this though.

At the rear, the tail lamp lenses have a fair bit of condensation inside and there are a few scuffs across the plastic rear bumper. Overall though the car still looks pretty good - especially in the sunshine when the light catches the mica grains.

The car sits on its original 18-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels which are in very good condition with just a small chip in the lacquer on one wheel barrel. They are fitted with a variety of tyres, Dunlop SP Sport 2013 on the front left, Bridgestone Potenza 2014 on the front right. On the rears there are Autogrip Radials 2010-11, the earlier of which is starting to crack on the sidewalls. The most recent MOT advises of tyre wear on the front inner treads.

If the sparkly outside wasn’t showy enough, the interior racks things up another notch. The striking combination of red and black leather across the seats, door trims and steering wheel elevates the spacious interior beyond the everyday black to a retro party mode. With all the doors open, the RX-8 is a very accessible car and the rear seats are much more accommodating than you’d get in a +2 coupé.

The upholstery appears in a very good condition throughout with just the expected creasing from light use but no damage or undue wear. The gear knob chroming is a little burnished and there are scratches on some of the hard plastic surfaces in the areas you’d expect such as around the seat bases and footwells.

The black carpets appear intact and there are red-trimmed floor mats fitted front and rear for additional protection. Up above, the headlining is marked in a handful of places but is taut and otherwise undamaged.

The original 6-CD stereo pumps through Bose speakers around the inside of the car and the pop-up sat nav appears to be working - with mapping fed from the nav DVD drive installed in the rear armrest.

Lifting the bonnet, you do wonder whether Mazda were ashamed of their Wankel and so they hid it under a large plastic cover. With the air filter, battery and other ancillaries also covered in black plastic shields, it’s only a few fluid bottles and some cable looms on show. What can be seen could be described as “honest in appearance” but serviceable and there are no signs of rust anywhere.

Underneath the car, so far as can be seen, there is a little surface rust across structural components and some of the suspension parts but nothing that gave rise to any advisories at the recent MOT. The underseal looks good and the exhaust appears like new.

Inside the boot, which some might consider small for a four seater (although fairly spacious for a coupé), the carpets and linings are intact and in good order. There’s a jack and wheel brace stowed against the rear wall of the load space.

As ever we’d encourage a personal inspection, so why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ option and arrange a visit - subject to government guidelines of course - or a video call where we can discuss the car in detail and give you the guided tour.

The Mazda has a current MOT which is valid until April 2021 and the online history shows a full set of first time passes since it first required a test in 2007. It also shows the progression of mileage of the car, validating the current low miles of 35,844. The mileage recorded at the MOT in 2017 can be discounted as “incorrectly transcribed” by piecing together the paper evidence summarised below.

Servicing, Repairs and MOT Timeline:-

Owner 2

Mar 2005 - 4,023 - Ryder’s Mazda Bootle

Owner 3

Aug 2006 - 12,795 - Mazcare Wolverhampton

Jul 2009 - 17,889 - Bilston Wolverhampton (MOT)

Oct 2011 - 22,124 - Midland Car Wolverhampton (MOT)

Mar 2014 - 22,131 - Mr Tyre Darlaston (MOT)

Apr 2015 - 24,518 - Merridale Motors Wolverhampton (MOT)

Apr 2016 - 27,242 - Autolink Wolverhampton (MOT)

Mar 2017 - 46,492 - Rapid Willenhall (MOT - mileage misread)

Owner 4

Jan 2018 - 30,157 - A&E Auto Tipton (flat battery / ignition)

Mar 2018 - 30,269 - A&E Auto Tipton

Mar 2018 - 30,299 - MOT Bay Tipton (MOT - mileage unreadable but confirmed)

Sep 2018 - 30,732 - A&E Auto Tipton (suspension noise)

Sep 2018 - 30,746 - A&E Auto Tipton (misfire)

Jan 2019 - 31,316 - A&E Auto Tipton (flat battery)

Feb 2019 - 31,400 - A&E Auto Tipton (flat battery)

Mar 2019 - 31,517 - Car Services Tipton (MOT)

Owner 5

Oct 2019 - 32,500 - Lucky Racing (compression test)

Mar 2020 - 34,885 - Viking Auto Kings Norton (MOT)

The selling dealer has run full diagnostics on the car - coming out clear, has had the alloys refurbished, fitted a new battery and a new exhaust and has had the car undersealed. They also report that the engine has been replaced at some point in the car’s life as the numbers do not appear to match the log book.

As well as a sizeable sheaf of paperwork, the car comes with its original owner’s manuals and service booklet in the Mazda documents pouch.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

The Mazda RX-8 is a sharp-handling, super-looking sports car with a more spacious interior than some of its rivals. This example has a low mileage for its age and it starts, runs and drives exactly as it should.

According to our data, asking prices for RX-8s have been holding steady for the past 4-5 years, so there’s little chance of depreciation. In fact at our estimate of between £3,000 and £5,000 - there can’t be a lot more to lose and with interest from collectors growing, who knows what might happen.

As it is being sold with NO RESERVE, why not put in a cheeky bid and you might find yourself becoming a very happy member of the rotary club!

Inspection is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.