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Ok, so here's what's up. I found a 2004 GT model that's in my price range. I could actually go tomorrow and pick it up if I wanted. 2 things though. one is that it's an 04 model with the original engine in it. the second is that it's not one of my fav colors (silver isn't a bad color, I just prefer blue, yellow, red, in that order best). so the question is should I get this one or wait for an ideal one? btw, the car I'm looking at is here
I personally would avoid an 04. At least it is a 6M though. I would see about finding out its service and owner history. At least the engine has a 8/100K warranty. The bumper to bumper 4/50 must be almost over though if not over. I looked in the Memphis area on cars.com. Not a lot of supply!
If it really isn't what you want don't get it. I would try and find an '05. And have a Mazda Dealer check the warranty history on it. Make sure all the TSB's have been done and anything else done under warranty.
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The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
Wait it out until you find the one you want if you already have it in mind. I wanted a black one. Almost sold myself on a Yellow one, but the black had 20k less miles. My 04 has been great, but I had all SBs done to it. Buy something that has 6-12 months warranty left on it, so you can check it all out yourself.
If you DO get something out of warranty, get the full service history on it. Specifically check the tail lights for any moisture inside. The seals can go bad and turn your tail light into an aquarium, repairable under warranty, but will cost you otherwise.
But yah,
Hold out for the one you want, especially if your own bank is doing the financing (or paying cash). It doesn't have to be an absolute local or dealer buy either. People on here sell all the time. Good luck!
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On my No Rotary
Sold my 04 BB 8
RIP-87 Base 7, 86 GXL 7, 89 GTU 7
Looking forward to the next gen rotary.
Don't buy it because it is convenient at the time. Wait a little longer and expand your search area a bit and find the one you really want. You'll end up regretting your purchase and chances are within the first month you will find the car you wanted all along.
let's see, it's up to date on it's recalls/reflashes and has been certified at the nearby gossett mazda dealership. All of the service recorts are in the glove box. so yeah, it appears it has been taken care of, but the fact still remains that it's a first gen engine.
As for looking around, I've seen several on the forums that I'd love, but I have a couple problems with them for the most part due to their distance from me, and the fact that I'd then have to sell my own car, rather than trade it in. I'm in west tennessee, this place is a lil bit of a dead zone
By the very fact that you are here on this forum asking us to rationalize your decision in picking this silver one, is a screaming red flag that you really don't want this car. When I want a particular thing no matter what it is, I know it in my heart if its right for me or not. I do not need anyones opinion or blessing.
And yes, service history and records are all very important. But what good is a mate if all they are is dependable? You have to want to wake up to this person/car everyday of your life. This is not a Toyota boring YAWN daily driver. This is a love affair, one that will give you thrills, make you look backwards on it after you drove it, delight you in its whistle and its turbine like sound and make you giddy with anticipation of winding it out at 9K rpms as she screams for more, More, MORE!!!
And she will cost you for sure... No matter what condition she may appear to be in, she will cost you in tears, money and patience. And because you DIDN'T SETTLE when you bought her, you will taste chocolate that is bittersweet instead of rancid... love every minute of it...and keep coming back for more...
mmmm, it's not that I don't like the car, far from it. I'm just saying it's not ideal. now, my rationalization is that I may never find that dream car, and with my car the way it is (13 years old with a non-functional AC in summer) it may behoove me to settle. Then again, it may not. I'm on sort of a crux here because neither side is the clear winner. I asked for the opinions mainly because I wanted to get a better feel for the consensus on 04 vs 05 engine reliablility (seems it's VERY much in favor of 05) and whether or not that overruled all else considering the overall quality of the car.
and yes, I do want an 8. I've read all the good and the bad and the bad just doesn't seem to phase me much. I'll keep some good oil in the back, and watch for compression failures. I don't mind that because I identify with the car. it's different. it does things its own way. it handles in curves (I love a curvey road).
I'd like very much to be able not to settle, but if I wasn't going to settle, I'd go get a blue R3. I don't see that happening anytime soon. on some level, I'll have to, it's a matter of which point will be the cutoff. That's sorta what I'm tryin to work on here.
on a side note, ever feel like you just wrote way too much? >.>
I personally like silver the best. Whitewater Pearl is nice and 2nd best for my taste but the car is actually for my daughter and she likes the white.
Did you run a carfax or vincheck on it? I ran one on every '8 I found online and found a lot of used car dealers bought them at auction and they had damage or other questionable history.
hmmmmm, just read some of the info more thoroughly. noticed in warranty history from the mazda dealership, "ENGINE,SHORT M/T" as one of the warranty claims. now does that mean they replaced the engine or the transmission, or was there a short in the engine they fixed? O.o
How much is left of the bumper to bumper warranty? Not sure about the "ENGINE,SHORT M/T" though.
A lot of people have had good luck with 04s, but I wasn't willing to gamble so I went with 05. If you could get the 04 really cheap you could always give it a shot and look for an 05 later.
ok, new development, the price on the silver one has been reduced another $1000 O.o; it's getting quite tempting, as that just took 3 months off my payments
Did you find out if the engine had been replaced? It's getting cheap. They must be desperate. If you want it, shoot for that price OTD. Another person was looking at 04 for $13.5K OTD. You should be able to do better than that in this market.
Last edited by CarAndDriver; 05-30-2009 at 04:10 PM.
i would go for it....I have an 04 with 71k miles on the original engine and it runs perfect still....the only thing you need to see is if the computer thingy was redone (sorry I cant remember what exactly it was)
I'm going to contact the service center where the claim was entered on monday and see if that means the engine was replaced. the car was also certified there, so I believe all the recalls and reflashes should be done. at this price, with that many features, it's a hard deal to pass up, even if it's not "ideal"
thing is, this isn't an impulse. I've been looking for an 8 since around feb. actually, been looking at this since about mid march. been steadily watching the price go down. would 13k be considered about normal for an 04? I've noticed 05's tend to go for about 15-17k (been tryin really hard to find one, but alas...)
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