Okay, So i'm 17, Have a part time job, I've been in love with ALL Mazda cars since about the age of 3, A few months back i'd been saving and bought my first car, A 1993 NA Miata with 197K Miles on the body and 150K miles on the engine and trans.

It has it's own problems. It consumes oil like crazy (I think it could be bad oil rings) But it feels like it's running at 100% power despite me doing no compression test. It leaks PS fluid, Has no A/C and the interior is "Florida spec" AKA Sun damaged to hell. Other than that it's a clean car on the outside. 100% stock and drives great. I've been fairly happy UNTIL i thought i saw a opportunity too good to pass up.

There is a 2004 RX-8 Grand Touring for sale for $1950, The ad claims it overheated and has just now started to blow oil smoke on startup, (But still runs and drives fine) I talked to the guy and asked him if we would be interested in a trade. He said "sure what do you have?" I said what i had and sent him pics. He almost immediately said he was good with the trade without even seeing it. (That raised a red flag to me) We are going to talk tomorrow and set a time for me to come look at it. I still have mixed emotions.

I'm already aware of all the extra stuff that goes into owning an RX-8, Regular oil checks (I'm already used to that lol) Premium fuel only, And letting the motor run to not flood it. I think i could handle the extra maintenance, My Miata burns oil and coolant as it is.

As for the RX-8 It's CLEAN, He claims it's a one owner car and such, If i did trade i would plan on rebuilding the motor eventually, But until then i'd just daily it, What do you guys think? Would the car hold up as a daily if it's just burning oil? Or do you guys think it would not be feasible?

Here is the ad BTW. https://daytona.craigslist.org/ctd/6150109130.html

Really what attracts me to it is the idea of having a much faster, much more comfortable air conditioned car in Florida heat. WITH BACKSEATS! While i love the Miata it really unleashes a beating on me when i drive it. Especially with no A/C in Florida heat.

As for maintenance the Miata is as simple as it gets, Fluids, Fuel and you are good to go. As it's an entry level car, I know the RX-8 is different and i'm honestly just looking for opinions on whether i'd be able to handle it or not. (You won't hurt my feelings)

Thanks!

 

Does your miata work? Under no circumstances should you trade a working car for a blown RX8 unless it's a complete beater.

Edit: I guess I glazed over your post a bit. So the miata has a blown engine too. Here's the reality of it. An engine rebuild will cost you $2500-5000. Can you afford that? There's also a very large chance that this is not the only thing wrong with it. These cars can be giant money pits if you let them.

 

It runs and drives great, Just at the expense of alot of oil and coolant. And that's what i'm trying to figure out. Is the motor really blown? You can say whatever you want on craigslist but the guy claims it drives fine. So idk. You guys know more about RX-8's than i do, So if you say it's blown i'll take your word for it.

 

Yeah, i would be able to afford that if i saved up for months at a time. A motor for my Miata would be way less, be the reality of it is the RX-8 is a nicer car. Decisions Decisions.

 

Mainly, I just wanted to know if it would be able to be dallied like that. If you guys know :P I'm sort of treading in dangerous waters with a Renesis like that.

 

The problem is, the engine might not last several months. An RX8 with warped housings might still run fine for a period of time, but it's a ticking bomb at that point. It will end up quitting on you, and likely at the least opportune time possible. Also, the longer you drive it while in that condition the more your rebuild will end up costing. What began as a rebuild that most likely just requires new rotor housings could turn into something that requires you to replace almost the entire shortblock. (Housings, rotors, e-shaft, front/rear/mid irons, etc.)

Don't get me wrong, I love my car, but I never would've bought another RX8 if I didn't have to cash on hand to dump into it. I had one back when I was in college and it's definitely not the type of car you want to drive on a budget. Beyond the above average maintenance there are quite a few things you will likely need to replace with the car being almost 15 years old. Doing the work yourself will only save you about half the cost. I've still spent thousands on parts just within the last 6 months.

I won't even start talking about the fuel economy. That's a whole other story.

Also your miata most likely just needs new piston rings.

Personally, if I was in your position, and I was absolutely dead set on owning an 8. I would buy a blown engine and rebuild it in my garage over time while still driving the car around. It might be pretty frowned upon around here, but if you can pull it off, you can probably stay within a reasonable budget. If not, you're out $1500, learned a whole lot, and you can start saving for a professional rebuild anyway.

 

Those are very good thoughts. I'd probably be best to steer clear. I'm quickly seeing the problems at hand. Great car but i'd need tons of money. (I sort of already knew that) but when you compare it to the Miata, The old NA seems like a much better option for my budget. Honestly i'm still tempted to go atleast LOOK at it but it probably wouldn't be a good idea because i'd start lusting and forget the problems at hand.

A rebuild for my 1.6 B6ZE would probably be next to nothing, VS what you already stated for the Renesis wouldn't be cheap at all. And their are plenty of other quick comfortable Mazda's that cost less to run. I did have a 626 for a time. Great car. And there is always the Mazda 6 and Mazda 3 as well.

I appreciate it. I may only be a Miata pleb but from one Mazda guy to another i appreciate the time dude.

 

I was planning on saving for a pro rebuild anyway. I don't trust myself with such a refined motor XD

 

Personally, rebuilding a rotary sounds much easier to me than rebuilding a piston engine. Though I've done neither in my lifetime, so I don't have much room to talk. But the one nice thing about having a car with such a "reliable" engine, is you can pick them up pretty cheap. I bought a motor with blown coolant seals for $125, fully dressed (inc. harness, ECU, etc.). I don't plan on rebuilding it, but being able to use it for donor parts has been invaluable.

 

Really? that's extremely cheap! Even for a blown motor. My dad is completely against the idea btw, He thinks Rotary engines are "garbage" and a terrible design. I honestly don't care what he says because he just thinks all imports suck so he is biased.

Honestly. I just have to contemplate, Both motors in both cars are technically "blown" but so far my car is a real trooper. I just keep adding oil and coolant and can beat on her all day. I don't have a feeling that the Renesis would be as resilient. The lust for such a clean car is very big though. XD

 

To be fair, the inside of it definitely looks like it's seen better days. I don't even want to know what that white sticky stuff is on the passenger door. Looking at the pictures of the dozen of cars with no plates, I'm going to say you're either dealing with a junkyard, or someone who flips cars. Therefor anything he's saying about the condition of the car is just complete bullshit. I highly doubt he's driven it around long enough to even know if there are issues with it.

I'd probably pass on this one even if I had the cash.

Edit: Oh this is in the "Dealer" for sale section.

 

Yeah. Another good observation. From what i saw around the RX-8 i thought the same thing. Probably best to just keep driving my NA and letting her take care of me like she has so far. Provided i take care of her.

I just now realized With my car he wins regardless of condition. A running NA fetches anywhere from 2 to 3 K regardless of condition most of the time. While a blown RX-8 you will have a hard time getting anything for. I'm sure he knows this and that's why he jumped right on it because i'm a stupid 17 year old XD

 

What year is the Miata?

 

It's a 1993, 1.6 NA first gen.
Miata's have gotten way more popular lately, So it's caused the price to go up. A decent NA can be had anywhwere from 2 to 3K. While a REALLY clean example can go 5K+

 

RX-8 will be quite a bit of work, especially if you buy one with a problematic engine. Even without a blown engine, it does tend to eat through your wallet in terms of gas. 04 and 05 also tend to be more problematic than the later years.

That said, it is very, very fun.

Can you install an AC in the Miata? I remember in my old Corolla, I can see where all the AC components would go; they are just not there. Maybe you can source something from a junkyard?

 

No u should not

 

Have you read this thread in its entirety?

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/

A single overheating event kills many Renseis engines. If that one is smoking at startup, there is a good chance it is dead. It could be other things, but since we know it overheated, it is probably suffering blow-by.

These engines seem simple to rebuild, but there is an art to it that very few people possess, several specialized tools are required, and the parts are expensive. Individuals who try, usually end up broke and frustrated.

We like to say you can get your engine rebuilt for as little as $2500, but that isn't really true in a practical sense. That number assumes you can remove/replace/troubleshoot the engine yourself, that you incur no shipping costs, and that you replace none of the auxillary items that really should be replaced with the engine (radiator, fans, hoses, OMP lines, various solenoids and valves, ignition coils and wires, fluids, etc.). The real cost is often considerably more.

That questionable engine may be good for a year or more. Or, it may die on you tomorrow. There is no way to know how long it will last, so driving it and trying to save for a replacement is a gamble that may leave you stranded.

It has already been brought up that these cars are not cheap to own. While I love my 8, I would not buy it again. I could have had nearly as much fun for MUCH less outlay.

As for your Miata, you can buy a replacement engine for less than the cost of a set of tires. The 1.6 engines are obviously out of favor, and therefore inexpensive.

My vote is pass.

 

Definitive NO

 

My philosophy has always been if you had a nice empty patch of wall to bang your head against for as long as it takes to get the job done, that you can figure out how to do pretty much anything...eventually. I wouldn't recommend it though, it hurts.

 

Yeah... It's extremely risky.. It may run awhile and it may not. More than likely it would blow before i had the money for a rebuild. I'd have the time of my life in the meantime though. XD

 

If you want to make it a project, make it a project. But by no means should you trade your working daily for a project car.

 

No question, pass.

The only RX-8s you should consider are those 1) in good running condition that 2) have PASSED a rotary-specific compression test.

That's all you need to know.

 

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