Buying a rx8
 

Hi everyone
Just joined the forum, looking to buy a rx8 2004 0r 05, not sure wether to try and find one with low mileage or one with a rebuilt engine.
Theres a place in alton, hampshire, uk, they rebuild engines and also sell cars with new fitted rebuilds they are called apex rotary, has anyone heard of them? or used them before as they are a new company but I am looking into using them any advice would be apreciated. cheers

Hi Jcrane,

Low mileage is always good, but more important is to check the condition of several parts. The following is an absolute must;

When were the ignition coils last changed? They tend to have a 30k lifespan but will die sooner if other items such as spark plugs haven't been changed when required.
Check the condition of the cat converter? Remove the oxygen sensor and look inside with a torch. Also has the cat been replaced? (mine was melted inside!)
Ask who your buying off what type of driving they have done in it. If its short trips around town (not long enough for the engine to heat up) then un-burnt fuel gets dumped into the cat.

I bought my 8 in September last year. 6 Months later the CEL/EML light came on and a week later it began lose power...and then died on me. Mazda advised it needed 4 new coils, a new cat and advised new spark plugs. Couldn't afford the main dealer prices so did it myself (had to get a new battery also as was sat on my drive for 3 months during the fix). In all, lesson learnt, before getting an 8, go over it with a fine tooth comb!

I live in Soton but haven't heard of an engine rebuild company in Alton...

Ummmmm can you say
Compression test

New owner. England.
 

Hi, great thread as i am going to see 192 2004 tomorrow with 61,000 mile reg
LA53ORG and i can check all that but i dont know how to check cat. if it runs until warm when i am looking at it then turn it off leave for 5-10 mins max and see if it starts, give it a thrashing through box and re start i am told that will indicate compression and if its coked up? if not the one tomorrow it will be another RX8.

Go to the new owners section.
At the top is a special section for people who want to buy an 8.
Everything you need to know is there.
The most important thing is to get a rotary specific compression test.
2 sets of 3 numbers, for the 3 faces of both rotors.