So as the title suggest I want to buy a rx8 and I ‘ve found a potential buy, but after checking it out I am skeptical. I tested the compression of the engine and rotor (1) had 6.2 bar and rotor (2) had 6.8 bar which is pretty weird considering the guy had put only three thousand kilometers or 1.864 miles in the last three years, also the car had been sitting for a while (I think six months) and there was a strange metallic noise when we started it and It lasted until we shut down the engine. I don’t think I took wrong reading

(also the guy is the second owner and also is a mechanic, he took pretty good care of the car, and wants to sell the car because he just had his second kid and wants to get rid of the car)

Any help is appreciated

*The car has 75k thousand kilometers in total
*he attached photo is the compression est from 3 years back
its normalized for each phase

 

The metal knocking sound is definitely not a good sign.
If he's a mechanic and hasn't fixed it to sell it, he may be trying to unload it before it gets worse.

 

The compression values you obtained for the rotors do seem a bit unusual, especially considering the low mileage over the past three years. The metallic noise at startup is also concerning. Given these factors, it's wise to approach this purchase with caution. The previous compression test results from three years ago can provide a comparison, but it's essential to consider the current condition of the engine and any potential issues that may have arisen since then. Considering the seller's situation and the car's history, it might be beneficial to have a thorough inspection by a rotary engine specialist to assess the engine's health more accurately before making a decision. This additional step can provide valuable insights and help you make an informed choice.