Hey guys i live in Canada and was looking into getting a RX 8 within the next week or two. Anything i should be looking for when im testing a car out? I know about the starter problem n the battery needing to be upgraded. Anything else i need to know! Im looking at an 06 right now! Thanks for the help!

Kyle

WELCOME TO THE CLUB! great to see more 8-owners or soon-to-be-8-owners joining the forum =)

Take it to the track and see how she runs ;)

Look in the rear fender flares and check for rust.. also in the door liners where the front and rear doors meet. If you're getting an 06 and find any rust on it it should be covered still under warrantee.

If it's a manual... do a clutch test (so a search here.. there should be instructions how to do it).

Try to test drive a few vechiles... and pay attention to how the car pulls in 2/3rd gear in each. Depending on milage and what not.. the coils and sparkplugs may need replacing.. so if you feel that the car isn't pulling as well as others tested.. this could be a cause.

Otherwise you should be good. Enjoy the great car you're about to purchase... and as Thumper mentioned.. be sure to take it to a lapping day at your local track.. then you will start to truely apperciate how great the RX8 really is.

Hey thanks so much for the help on looking for a Rx 8! I will be test driving this weekend n will be buying this weekend also. I have another question i would like to install a new stereo and a 12 inch sub also. is this possible as i have been looking at the stock stereo n it looks like its one piece not two. Let me know thanks!

ok so today i went to test drive an Rx 8 in Kitchener. Checked the car out looked under the fenders and all no rust at all. No big scratches n one little scuff on it other then that was so clean. Inside was good too. So went to test drive it n went to start the car and it didnt turn over. It mad two clicking noises and did nothing! The sales guy was starting it not me and he said that it was the battery and i know it isnt bc the car should have at least tried to start no? Like all the doors unlocked n the truck and the lights worked n all just no start. Could this b bc of the flooding issue? Im guessing them moved it from one spot to another not allowing the car to warm up before turning off? Should i still look into buying this car or is it a no no. It was so clean thats why im asking bc its hard to find a nice clean car like that and it had 61000 on it! Help me out guys thanks!

Kyle,

I picked up my black 06 MT in September and I've been very happy with it. This is my sixth Mazda, the wife drives a Mazda5, I used to drive a 3 GT til I got the 8. I always wanted one, because of the styling and performance. Heads up...look for the issues mentioned in the thread. Beware the gas mileage is not the greatest, and I'd be sucpicious of the one with the dead battery....look on this forum about oil changes, coil, battery and plug changes. Black wasn't my first choice, but I couldn't pass up this car that had only 36,000 kms and extended warranty. This one you loked at sounds like it has issues.

its prob the battery nothing wrong with buying a car thats been flooded once or twice anyways. you need to do alot more reading and research if you want to be a good rotary owner. best of luck my friend

if its that clean, and if its possible, try your best not to drive it this winter

hey thanks guys for the advice. Im reading through as much stuff as i can about the 8 so i can learn more about it. So i got two different responses. If its just the battery then im not worried but if is something more im a little nevus bc i dont feel like buying the car n then having to do the engine or something else that might be why its not starting. Keep the advice coming please. Will be looking more on Monday n going back to the one in Kitchener to see if it was the battery or not! Now if its flooded how do you fix that? I was readying about one guys problem with flooding n then he ended up replacing the spark plugs n coil overs. So could i run into the same issues as him? Also i red about redlining the car once and awhile for cleaning of carbon n i think that was his problem in the end. Again thanks for all the help guys!

Also one other negative on the car is the back passenger tail light had condensation on the inside of it. Now what causes that? Never had that problem at all with any of my cars! Thanks again!

Kyle

welcome to the club, ^^

ok so today i went to test drive an Rx 8 in Kitchener...

Do you live in Kitchener? If you do shoot me a Message and I can help you check them out; if you want?
I'm not a master of the 8, but I've had my share of issues already plus I've read TONS of info on here.
I'm more than happy to help out any way I can, plus it gets me out of the house which is always a bonus (I'm self employed and work from home...).

Cheers,
Shawn

the light thing is normal. you need to start reading more..... i think it would be easy to talk them down in price bitch about the light being a huge issue and the not starting first try. start reading the faq's

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that helped me out n gave me advice. I ended up buying a 2006 RX 8 GT black. Once i drove it i fell in love. lol. Test drove a few others but the body on them where pretty beat up n one had a crash on it so i went with no on that one. This car has had some work on it but just repaints for scuffs and scratches on it no accident or anything. I would also like to thanks Shawn for coming out n looking at the car with me was a great feeling to have someone who knew a lot about the car n knew what to look and listen for so thanks again Shawn. I will post pics up when i get the car on Thursday. Cant wait.

Thanks Kyle

No Worries Kyle, glad I could help out.

I really think you have a winner in that car, it was strong and nothing wrong that really jumped out (Except those tires are near end of life). I drove a few when I was looking and probably would have easily jumped on that deal if it was around at the time.

I'm a little jealous now though, that key less thing is pretty neat & It's nice to hear an RX8 turn over quickly with those updated starters!

Good stuff! The one you bought the one you have been inquiring about?

FYI - if your tires are low, I have 4 I am going to throw out so if you don't feel like buying some new ones right away you can have them, you just have to come pick them up.

Hope to see ya at a meet! You should take it out to Mosport this upcoming weekend and see what it can do ;)

Congrats on the purchase dude. If you're ever in the GTA in the next bit.. let us know... might organize a year end meet or somethin.

Thanks guys. i will post some pics on Thursday night or Friday sometime after i get the car. Ya i cant wait to get to a meet already have parts on their way lol n i dont even have the car yet lol oh well. Thanks again.

Congrats Kyle, looks like we have the same year/colour. I'm just west of Guelph in Erin, lookn fwd to seeing the pics.

ND

thanks ND i will post pics ASAP. Tomorrow night cant come any faster. lol

I never thought for a moment I would end up owning an 8 when I was shopping for wheels three weeks ago. I've bought a number of cars over the years, never new ( well once ) always looking for a late model, low mileage car that someone else has taken the depreciation on.
They had this RX8 GT with the luxury package at my local Mazda dealership, beautiful metalic blue, all black interior. It was a 2006 model with just over 25 thousand kilometers on it, not what I was looking for but I sure gave it a number of glances.
Auto transmission with those awesome paddle shifters, it certainly looked like it had been well looked after and as far as the condition of the vehicle it didn't show a heck of a lot of difference compared to the new ( 2009 ) one in the showroom offered at $43 k.
One test drive and I was hooked, what a great machine, oh sure I gave up some hp. with the auto but my sweet little wife can't ( or wont ) drive manual. It has all the power and performance I could ever want in a car, I negotiated a price of $22.k which included a top of the line 3 year / 60.k extended warranty.
Our kids ( who are all adults ) can keep on drooling while Mom and Pop zoom zoom on our merry way ! By the way my beeping golf clubs can not be squeezed into the trunk, they will be regular front seat passengers this season. Have a great day everyone !!

Take your drivers out of the bag.

sure you can with alot of practice you will find the right technique.i can fit a fold up cart a full set of clubs with a taylormade cart bag and an other set of clubs in a light weight carry bag plus shoes and the usual crap that goes with golf too all into the trunk.last summer myself and two other team mates went to a golf tournament plus three sets of clubs and we all fitted into my 8.

Have you tried using the pass through?

Hey guys i live in Canada and was looking into getting a RX 8 within the next week or two. Anything i should be looking for when im testing a car out? I know about the starter problem n the battery needing to be upgraded. Anything else i need to know! Im looking at an 06 right now! Thanks for the help!

Kyle

No starter problems on mine... :) Excellent from day one. 3yrs old...

You'll never regret this purchase as I love my car!