craigknox

So I purchased a 2004 RX-8 about a year ago. Through a job change and the RX having compression issues I ended up trading her for a more "sensible" vehicle. I now live in Denver Colorado where we do get pretty bad winters and cold weather. I have a Subaru for those days where the weather is a concern. However my wife and I have really missed the RX. The think we have wondering is that with the rotary and how it functions needing to warm up and everything. Our thought is that is the extreme weather we have here winter and summer (this summer it topped out at 110) is the RX not really suited for this climate?


Thanks

Hector Castillo

iTrader: (6)

IMO the 8 could be for every climate I live in Texas and the summer is almost the same you can upgrade the water pump and radiator and that could help to the performance in those hot temps...
Get another 8 and have with it

JamesD31

I live in Chicago and my rx-8 runs fine like always. Also, with people saying you should let the engine "warm up" are you talking about the flooding issues?

pistonhater

A lot of people think they have to wait until the car warms up completely before they start driving during cold weather. But that's just not necessary.

Just start the car and start driving soon after.

The one thing you might need to be careful about is not shutting it off before it warms up completely - especially during the winter.

But even the manual says that

tza0001

iTrader: (2)

Go for it! I changed states recently, from the South to the North East, and I was concerned how the car will behave when exposed to low temperatures...So far I have no issues at all...I could tell you the car is happier as the cold temperatures keep the engine temp low Of course the coldest it has gotten so far is mid 20s....But hey coming from the South this is extremely cold for me, my wife, and my rx8

kustus

iTrader: (1)

We new you would be back...jk. have at it. Car is a blast!

craigknox

yes by warming up i am meaning the flooding issues. When I had by RX i had put in a fuel pump shut off switch when seem to help if not eliminate the problem. Plus it doubled as a security device. I thinking my concern is the warming up in such a cold climate. For example last night it got down to 2 deg where I am. The good think is that the RX would be a second car so if the weather is really bad and snowy i have an AWD to use. My former RX was a 2004 and am thinking with some of the compression issues that year had finding a 2005 1/2 or better might be a good thought. It seems around here there are a ton of 2004 and a few 2006 .

Bladecutter

I'm sorry, you live where and get what type of winters?
Not Denver, that's for sure.

Yes, it can get cold here, but sub 0 degree weather is rare, and sub 10 degree weather is rare if it lasts longer than 3 days in a stretch.

Bad winters are even more rare.
Typically, we get a dump of snow of about an inch or three, once every month, and its gone within a week, more typically 2 days.

There are plenty of people here in the Denver area with RX-8's, and we're doing fine.
I don't know why you would think otherwise.

Also, my 2011 Sport has been wearing its snow shoes (Hankook I*Cept Evo's) since early December, and it does fine in the snow, if you know how to control yourself, and your inputs in the steering wheel, throttle, clutch, and brakes.

BC.

craigknox

Actually I am in Denver. Im probably overly concerned with how the Rotary reacts with the cold climate

Bladecutter

You certainly are over concerned.
My engine has been fine, and it's been a Denver only car.

Make sure you have a car with good compression, a strong starter, a fresh ignition system, and proper coolant, just like you should have in it anywhere else in the US, and it will start fine, every time.

BC.

craigknox

I had an '04 when in the end had compression issues. If i go back i will fork our the $ to take it to Mazda and get the rotary checked out. Ideally i would not mind getting an '11 but I'm not a big fan of loans.

monchie

I never bought the same car twice. I like the rx8, but if i traded it with another car, it would be it for my recent car. Anyway, if you are planning on getting another rx8, then good luck, and it would be the second charm around.

Bladecutter

As most '04's do.
You can't prevent it fully, but you can counter it, and extend the life of it if you are willing to put the work and money into it.

That's the best plan to take.
If you don't, you are risking a whole lot of money and stress.

I'm not a fan of loans either, but getting a loan gets me what I really want.
A new car without problems.
You could always get a 2009 or a 2010, and save a bit more money than you would over buying a 2011.
Getting a Series 2 car gets you an engine that is less disposed to having the bulk of the problems that the Series 1 cars had.

That's why I bought a 2011 brand new off the showroom floor, rather than buy a used car when I decided to give the RX-8 a chance.
My engine warranty won't expire until either 100k miles, or March 2019, whichever occurs first.
All the 2004 and a good portion of the 2005 cars are fully out of warranty at this time.

But, as for concerns about the car in cold weather, last night, after that horrible series of events where Coach Fox told Peyton Manning to stop playing football with 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter, and the Bronco's Defense let Joe Flacco, who looked like Tom Brady all night long, pick them apart once again, I went out, fired up my Sport, and went to Sonic and Wendy's for some drinks and a salad to wash away the foul taste that game left in my mouth.

The car said it was 6 degrees out, cranked right over, immediately revved up to ~4k rpms for about 10 seconds, and came right down to its normal idle speed.
So, that car can handle the cold here in Denver, as long as it's in good shape.

BC.

pistonhater

As blade said, a car loan will give you more peace of mind at the end.

Beside, we live in a capitalist society. The only way to keep making your credit history and credit scores strong is by borrowing money and paying it back - but hopefully in a wise manner.

Having said that, I bought my RX-8 used, but with low miles (3 year old car, 13,000 miles on the clock) and an extended warranty from Mazda (not from a third party). That's as close as buying new as I could get it.

If you are looking into an older, cheaper RX-8, then that's a bit of risk. But that's the case with any motor vehicle.

Personally, the only way I would buy a cheaper, high mileage RX-8 for which I could pay cash is if it was not going to be my daily driver. I would keep it as a weekend toy, so that if it broke down on me I wouldn't be stranded. In other words, it would be more like project car, something I could slowly get it back to full performance.

Moby

iTrader: (6)

Why don't you get a 2009 gt model? The reliability is greater than the early S1 models and they aren't as expensive as the R3s.

Karack

i disagree somewhat, new cars are one of the worst investments anyone can make. you do it for peace of mind with the bumper to bumper warranty, not having to pay out of pocket for repairs for the first few years, but at the cost of monthly payments.

in the end most pay well over $30,000 for a car, by the time you actually own it it is worth 1/3 what you paid for it. 10 years down the road it is worth 10% of what you paid for it. there are of course exceptions but we are talking cars costing $100,000 or more(rarity exotic or hand built/low production cars) and cost multiples in maintenance.

the best way to build credit is use your card for daily purchases and pay it off every month.

i look around my neighborhood and see cars in the driveways totaling how much their house cost, at least the houses aren't depreciating in value any longer.

i could replace the engine in my '04 10 times at a qualified repair facility(not even doing it myself) and still be ahead versus buying a brand new car, and i have the title for it. most people wind up trading in their cars as soon as they are paid off, sorry to say this but i feel that is an idiotic trend to follow.

Bladecutter

It's not any of your business what the rest of the world decides to do with their money. Concern yourself with what's in your wallet, and the rest of us will keep our eyes on our own.

Some people don't look at every single purchase as investments.
A car purchase never has, and never will be an investment.

For most people, a car purchase is about the same as buying an oven, or a refrigerator. All they care about is that it works, day in and day out, for as long as possible.

Other people, buying a car is a decision based on having a nice car for a period of time. They then replace that nice car with a different nice car that catches their eye several years down the line. They buy cars because they like them, and it's not about investments and money, it's about enjoyment. Hell, some of them either just like the smell and feel of a new car, or they like the change from one type of vehicle to another.

Not everyone wants to hoard money the way you do.

BC.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

i shut mine down even when it had compression issue and never had a single problem.

like bc above said, its ur money so do whatever ur guts tells ya, others is just opinion and they are often biased.

i got mine new in 2005, couldnt be happier and i am keeping it for life

j9fd3s

pretty much. in fact "investment" is even a bad word to use as it implies that there is a potential to make money.

anyways on topic, i have yet to flood an Rx8, even when i did the water cleaning, and even when i fired it up, pulled it into the driveway and shut it off, and even when its 0C outside.

am i tempting fate? yes. eventually i will flood one, but its just not a huge problem.

i've never driven the 8 in the snow, its probably just really fun. however i'm not sure its supposed to be in the snow, i think the ski pass thru is actually so you can buy a new cat/midpipe and put it in the car.