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Mazda RX-8 1st Gen

2003–2011 · SE3P · coupe

Rotary-powered four-seat sports coupe. Mazda's last Wankel-powered production car. 1.3L Renesis two-rotor Wankel (232hp on 6-speed manual / 212hp on 6-speed automatic). RWD, 50/50 weight distribution, double-wishbone front / multi-link rear. Rear-hinged 'freestyle' half-doors give four-door practicality without the visual mass. US debut as a 2004 model; production ended 2012. Sold in two phases. Series 1 (2003-2008) and the revised Series 2 (2009-2011) with updates including a higher-flow exhaust and better cooling.

Watch out: The single biggest enthusiast-known issue: apex seal wear and 'flooded engine' starts. The Renesis rotary doesn't tolerate short trips (oil and unburned fuel pool in the chamber); restart attempts on a hot-shutdown engine can flood it permanently. Compression-test any RX-8 before purchase, front rotor / rear rotor numbers should be in spec and within 10% of each other. A failed rotor is an engine-out repair, not a fix. The car is gorgeous and unique; it is also the riskiest used purchase on this entire list.