Hi guys. It's been a while since I last posted. Anyways, I'm currently looking at a nice 2008 RX-8 automatic. It's done 11,000 miles and is in fabulous condition. Not a single scratch. The interior looks like new too. As in, really new.

What gets ugly is under the hood. It looks dark and dull. Kinda old. I have a few questions if you guys wouldn't mind answering

1. The windshield washer fluid tank and the engine coolant tank looks yellow. Like really yellow and old. Is that normal for a car with such a low mileage? Do I need to worry about it?
2. The car is red and when I popped the hood, the nuts on the fenders were red as well. Does this mean that the fenders have been re sprayed?
3. The brake pedal was extremely stiff for my taste. It had very little travel. Is that normal?
4. I crawled under the car and saw some structural beams with red overspray. Or at least it looked like overspray. Does it come this way from the factory? Or has it been re sprayed?

Sorry I'm just really nervous. This is my first time buying an RX-8

 

Hmm. The overspray underneath the car does suggest a repaint at some point. Do you have a carfax or some other car history report like that?

I don't know which fender nuts you are referring to, some are indeed body color.


Make sure you read through the new owner's thread for specific points to check on additionally.

 

Here is the underbody. Notice the black bar next to the red painted bit. It's next to the exhaust pipe. It's black but at some places it's red. Like red overspray. :/ I'm confused.

 

Here is the engine. Sorry for the double post. First time uploading pics here

 

No sir I do not have access to any history reports.

 

The fender nut on the far right is what I'm referring to

 

That nut is supposed to be body color, so that isn't anything to worry about.

The underside is hard to tell really. It may be overspray from a re-paint, but the general surface looks a bit odd. Like a anti-rust proofing layer, and that layer may have been painted?

The yellow bottles isn't a problem. They yellow normally and really quickly.

 

Oh alright. So the engine bay looks fine for a 11,000 mile car? I thought it looked kinda old coz I have another car with similar mileage and its engine looks a lot more, how should I say it... Fresh! Yes do you get a feeling that this car may have done more than 11,000 miles?

About the underside, maybe this is different because this was personally imported from Japan. But is that bit under the car supposed to be red? I don't want a crashed car

 

Looks clean to me. I really cannot tell from the picture but it doesn't look dirty. Mine looks dirtier...lol

 

Underside is not supposed to be red, its dense black deadening material.

Someone at some point in time painted something on the car.

 

So maybe it's been in a crash? Did you notice the bar (underbody) that goes along the car? At some places it'd black and some places it's dark red. That's over spray right?

 

Its not overspray, but its not from Mazda.

 

Alright. Should I worry about it?

Also, the brake pedal was really stiff. It didn't have a lot of travel. Could that mean the brakes are new? Or there's something wrong with it?

 

Either new or a fresh bleed has been performed, either way would not worry about it.

Whats the compression #'s thats the only thing you should be worried about.

 

I still didn't get a compression test done. He told me that he wanted to get one done but the service center had said that its not necessary because the mileage is low. I don't believe him so I will get a compression test once the deal is confirmed.

And what is new bleed? :/

 

Compression numbers or I would not even bother with a deal, regardless of miles it needs to be checked.

Bleed, is refereeing to brake fluid bleeding

 

Oh alright. So I shouldn't worry about the brake pedal being stiff yeah?
Yes I'll get a compression test done for sure. Thanks for all the info bro.

What really bothers me is that the engine looks rather dull compared to cars which have done way more miles. I saw some used RX-8s which have done like 30,000 miles and the engines look white and new. Not yellowish and dark like this one. Which has only done 11,000. :/

That said, could this car be clocked?

 

means nothing really, comes down to how the previous owner took care of it or how the dealership took care of it. Discolorations can easily happen if you spray the engine bay which I know a lot of dealers do when they want to clean under the hood.

 

It LOOKS like he took care of the car very well. Everything looks like new. No scratches on the body, door sills and interior. The streering wheel rim isn't polished. Seats are nice and tight. Everything looks and feels good. From the outside it looks like a 6,000 mile car. But when you pop the hood it looks like its done 60,000.

Btw paimon.soror, check the pic of the underbody. Does the red paint look stock to you?

 

Besides the yellow, and the missing engine cover.

That engine bay looks pretty clean.

 

It has the engine cover. I took it off to take a look inside

Thanks a lot guys. I might buy this if the owner agrees to my offer. Then I gotta get the compression test done. We'll see how things will go.

I'll probably take it out on a test drive this week :D
First time driving an RX-8!! OH YEAH!

 

I know it's been said, allow me to say it again, Compression test before the purchase, not the other way around. It does not take long to kill an engine if it was not properly maintained. Better to invest a little now, than discover you need an engine a few weeks or months down the road.

 

Yes I know sir. Compression test before the purchase. Got it