usarcher

Hello RX-8Club,

I've been pouring over these forums over the past couple of weeks with a lot of helpful post about pre-purchase advice. My search started about a month ago when the dealership I have purchased several cars from called me saying they had just taken in a 2005 RX-8. I had given up on the idea but they still have it and my mind started pulling me back to it.

Like the title says its a 2005, from reading here I believe it is the Grand Touring as it has heated leather seats, 18in wheels, sunroof, basically everything except the navigation unit. It is the automatic transmission, which I'm ok with as my wife won't drive a stick. It has just shy of 71k miles on it and they are asking just under $14k. Its a dealer so I know the price seems a little high but I'm looking to trade my 2006 Mazda3 with only 50k miles on it title for title, and have them throw in some winter tires, as I live in Maine and will be driving year round.

From what I can tell from this forum most issues came from 2004 and early 2005. This one was built in October of 2005 so it should have the updated equipment, such as the starter and battery, right?

The only other issue I'm having is getting a compression test done. There is a Mazda dealer a mile down the road but they say they don't have the equipment to perform the test on the rotary. This is the same issue with the 2 other Mazda dealers within 100 miles. I know the engine should be covered for another two years by Mazda but not sure I can get all of the maintenance records, which are needed to get the engine swap if it ever came to that.

Should the lack of the compression test be a deal breaker for me or should I try to look to further Mazda dealers that might have the equipment? Another option is they are offering a 3 year or 36k mile bumper-to-bumper warranty for about $2k.

On a plus note, it did pass the carseat test this past weekend. So if anyone is interested, a Britax Boulevard 70 CS does fit with a little room to spare for the front passenger unless they are really tall.

Thanks for any insight.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

walk away.
no records, early model, fairly high mileage, auto (not bashing, just skeptical about the 4 port).
Where are you from? Someone local may be able to offer some more assistance with a compression tester

usarcher

I'm in the Bangor Maine area.

usarcher

Little update, I called the Mazda dealer as the other dealer was the one that said no Mazda dealer had the equipment. They said that the car had been in the shop to get a go over before the other dealer put the 8 up for sale. Said all they did was change out the plugs and the car was driving great. Sounded like he had gotten a few calls about the car, but said they ran 'all the checks' and everything passed and it was a good car.

Bladecutter

Would you ever really expect a salesman at a dealer to tell you that they ran all the check, but the engine was shot, the transmission grinds in 3 different gears, and its covered in bird poop?

And, how can it have had all the checks if no dealer near you has a proper engine compression tester? How can they verify that the engine compression is good for a warranty service, and relay the information to Mazda USA?

Your best bet is to keep calling dealerships until you find one with a compression tester, and get the car to them for a test. Since you live in an area with no dealers that can test the engine, you would be taking a HUGE risk buying this car untested.

Better yet, call Mazda USA, and ask them how their dealers in your area can service a car without the proper equipment in their service departments.

BC.

usarcher

It was the Ford dealership, which is selling the 8, who said no one in the area had the right equipment. So I called the Mazda service department down the road which is the one that said they had just gone over the car. The two dealerships are not owned by the same company so I wouldn't think they were trying to cover for the Ford dealership if it was a bad car.

This is not my first time around the block so I don't pay attention to what a salesman says, I do my own research.

I had called Mazda USA to get the history of the vehicle and it showed everything had been done on the car with regard to recalls, including the out of warranty things like replacement of the gaskets on the taillights. The engine is still covered by the extended warranty until Oct of 2013 and it had the added powertrain warranty which also lasts until Oct of 2013.

I drove the 8 around the other day while they were looking at my 3 for trade. It drove great, it made me realize how much I miss driving a RWD car. The dealer and I aren't seeing eye-to-eye with the deal so I walked away. The next day they came back with a better offer but I will wait to see if they still have it when the snow starts to fall and they might have a change of heart. I will also look into finding other Mazda dealers to see if they have the compression equipment. When I was on the phone with Mazda USA, which they are extremely friendly, they said that all of the work had been performed at a Mazda dealer ship right next to the town I grew up in. So if the dealer moves some more with their offer I might see about taking it back home and taking it to the techs that have known the car for its entire life.