I just bought a red 2008 RX-8 Grand Touring and it is being shipped to me from Santa Maria, CA. They are keeping it for another week to add all the accessories I wanted and to change out the all black interior for the more stylish black and red interior.

The question I have is what do people think about having an extended warranty on this car? I have purchased mainly Toyotas and Hondas and I had 1 Nissan - none of which I needed the extended warranty. While I have already fallen in love with the RX-8, from everything I have read, it needs a little more care/maintenance than the average Toyota which in my experience, wasn't bothered too much by missing certain recommended maintenance.

Warranty, yes or no. How is the reliability beyond the 3yr, 36K standard?

Regular manufacturer recommended maintenance - must have or OK to miss or stretch more miles than the recommended?

 

Worst case scenario would be a low compression engine in which case you'll have to get it replaced although that's very rare in the 2008 models.
That's enough reason for me to buy the extended warranty.

 

Drive the car, determine for yourself after the 3 years or 36k whether or not you still need the extended warranty. As with most cars, they tend to require more maintenance after 60k or so, but if the car is well maintained it can go 100k plus like any other.

Heck this guy didn't even maintain his that well and he hit 150k mostly highway.
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/milestone-150k-140240/

 

Don't buy an extended warranty unless it is for the drive train. Otherwise, you are spending 1000 plus on one or two repairs that probably wouldn't cost more than $300. Also, they have deductibles you have to pay and are usually a pain.