lodi

Hey folks, I'm days away from picking up my first 8, and you guys have got me stuck wondering if i should go for the '04 i already found, or if i should wait for an '05 to come up. I'm wondering if it's really worth the xtra 3 or 4 grand (average difference in price around here) for an '05 or not?? I'm only looking at GT'S, and i've been doing lots of thread browsing and research, so i'm pretty sure i know what to look for and what to avoid. There's a definite call to MazdaCanada in my future, and i'm pretty sure i'll take whatever car i go for into one of the local dealers to get it thoroughly checked out b4 making any final decisions, but this '04/'05 thing is killing me.

thoughts? suggestions? stupid comments?

Also, is there anybody else from the Halifax area in here? I see a handful of 8's around town, but i don't know any other owners. Maybe somebody knows a good rotary mechanic in the area that they trust as much/more than the dealers??

nate340

no significant difference in the rx8 from 04-08. i love my 04

Redshift

iTrader: (2)

As above, the only real difference are minor detail things. (Changes to the radio etc.)
I would say maintenance is going to be the biggest determiner of which car to go with.

As for being in Halifax, I've learned to do most of the work my self. There are 5 or 6 of us who've formed a rotary maintenance co-operative as there is nobody around here that I'd trust with them. (We maintain my race car, are building an engine for another friends FD etc.)

The bad stories from Steele Mazda and City Mazda are legion.
I wouldn't let City Mazda put air in my tires, never mind work on my rotary. Actually, now that I say that, I realize Steele managed to even screw that up on my car, but I'd still probably go with them over City.

The only dealership I'd trust around here (if you must use one) is Mills Mazda in Truro. One of their techs, Will, is really really good, and actually likes cars and likes working on them just because he likes them, enjoys the trouble shooting etc. You would be surprised how rare that is. (He installed a supercharger on a friend of mines Miata)
I'm out of town at the moment (should be back Wed night) but drop me a line if you want and I can help you shop a bit if you'd like. I've owned an 8 longer than anybody else in Atlantic Canada, so I've learned a few things about them.

lodi

Thanks for the advice, i've been hearing/reading a lot of bad things about City Mazda, so i'll definitely be dealing with Steele or Mills when necessary. Redshift, you'll have to tell me more about this co-op you guys have going on. I may want in if possible...

So far i've scratched a few 04's off the list because they had no service history or maintenance records, but i think i found a good '05 GT. It's got about 75000km's, and proof of all scheduled maintenance plus any other work that was done from 0km's right up 'til last april when the lease ended. They're asking 17000. What do you think a good price would be assuming that the car is in good shape all around?? Fully loaded except nav.

R-XXXX-8

+1 to what Redshift said, I would definately go for the full mtce history as essential with a pre-loved 8. My '05 has been through all the re-flashes (four I think) and two sets of plugs and coils in 56 000km. I actually like Steele's service, but havn't had them do anything creative. Mines bone stock. Good luck, you'll love it.

Redshift

iTrader: (2)

lodi: There are a group of 5 of us in our mid 20s - early 30s who are all into RXs who've become buddies, and communally work on each others cars. (My 8 and FC, 2 FC Turbos and 2 FDs) Nothing too fancy. Tend to use my home garage as our center point. We're mostly ambitious amateurs, but we've gotten pretty decent (my friend Craig built his FC motor and is almost done building the FD motor, we swapped the motor in my FC, swapped ,many transmissions in my race car (can do in about an hour now) and torn down and done some basic repairs on a couple of the transmissions, clutches, swapped suspensions and sway bars, and other general maintenance. For example, I did a full tune-up on my 8 this spring my self. Took a morning did my transmission and diff fluids, plugs, wires, coolant etc. that kind of stuff. We'll also do work on other peoples cars for a reasonable rate if they just want to have us work on their cars as opposed to earn their way into the co-op.



BTW R-XXXX-8, not sure what your vacation schedule is like, but a few of us are thinking about doing to the Deals Gap Rotary Rally in April. If we can get the engine back into the FD in time to break it in and tune it before we go. (Hope to start the assembly in a couple of weeks.)
Be nice to see you in a more social environment than installing a bracket on my car if we go go and you were interested. (Or if you want to come mock our efforts with the FD and your aren't flying some weekend.)

lodi

Redshift; co-op sounds interesting, i'm just wondering what it would mean as far as the engine warranty goes if anything 'catastrophic', cough cough, was to happen...will Mazda still cover it if we've been doing our own maintenance?

As far as mechanics and service goes, has anyone heard anything about the head tech at Atlantic Mazda in Moncton? Supposedly, he's been working on rotary's since the beginning of time, and the sales manager there claims that he's the guy a lot of other Mazda mechanics call when they need advice...He could've just been trying to sell me a car, but i didn't smell any BS, and he sounded pretty trustworthy... .. .

R-XXXX-8

Lodi; I,m pretty sure a logbook of service/oil changes with receipts for filters would suffice. If you settle on a dealership that's a good question for the Service Manager. If the drivetrain is left stock the 8yr/160000 engine core warranty should be fine. Did u find a car yet?

Dave, that sounds like a blast. My vacation is March break (read i,m doin something with the Family), but bidding a week off in April should be do-able. I'd love to grab a MS exhaust down in the States on the way. BTW I thought rigging up that clutch was pretty social.

Redshift

iTrader: (2)

Lodi: Haven't heard anything bad about Atlantic Mazda. Very possible what he's saying, but I would just stop into Truro on the way past.
Also, as Chris said, if you have documentation, they really can't void your warranty legally. (But, as he said, you might want to talk with Mazda just to make sure you won't have to fight.)

Chris: I'll keep you in the loop if you do go to Deal's Gap. (Trying to figure out in the next month or so if schedules/budgets allow.) I'll let you know about the FD as well...planning to build it up over a couple of weekends in January. (Two of the guys are in school so we need to get it done before class ramps back up.)

champi0n

iTrader: (1)

for an extra 3-5k the only thing you're paying for is either slightly less mileage or being able to say its "newer".

And as far as the dealerships go, I've only had experience with steele - and while I think they're competent to do the work, they (like any dealership) will try and bend you over when it comes to the bill.

Such as they charged me $50 to replace the bolt that holds the bracket for the floor mat in place. They made up some **** about how it was hard to reach, they had to take the seat off, blah blah blah... The problem lies both in communication & the "service agreement" you sign (I said, hey i'm missing a bolt that holds my floor mat bracket in place) - which i guess was "can you charge me $50 labour to install the $1.00 bolt please". Which btw, I managed to remove the bolt and re-install it in under 5 minutes... soo... yea...

And another time they charged me $200 (read: two hundred) to scan a check engine light code - which I said "hey I have a check engine light on, can you see what thats about while you're changing my oil" - "sure that's no problem it only takes a second". Any other place i've ever been charges maybe $15-20. Which prompted me to buy a scan guage II