Hello,
I've gotten tired of my 1996 Avalon and the money I keep pouring into it. I have the opportunity to purchase a 2004 Mazda RX-8 with 70K miles for $7,800 (including taxes and fees).
I came here looking for advice and to see if it was a good deal. I want a small sporty car and I want it to last a while. This would be my daily driver and I live in the midwest (how does it handle in snow?).
In the bit of research I've done, I realized it has a rotary engine. How hard is it to take care of maintenance on these?

Any advice or thoughts are welcome.
Thank you

 

Read the new owner stickies.
Each car is different and hard to say if it's a good deal or not.
The most important thing is to get a rotary specific compression test, 2 sets of 3 numbers for each rotor face.
Good luck!

 

Thank you
Would I go to just any mechanic for a rotary specific compression test? Or where?

 

Usually a Mazda dealer, but there are some shops that specialize in rotaries
that have them.

 

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

 

Rip off.
Maintenance is expensive.
You don't like dumping money in to your Avalon for maintenance you ain't gunna like a 2004 Rx8

 

At least it's not an Avalon.

 

Too pricey IMO, Avallon & Rx8 are 2 different breeds. Avalon is calssy smooth heavy slow kinda car while rx8 is sporty llight fast oem car, rwd will be rwd, winterwise if you can drive a rwd its pretty good, i drove one in winter before but dont drive mine honestly. As for the money pit cars, If you don't know anything about rotaries i suggest you research and learn about their needs first, then decide if its for you or not. Cumming from an avalon fuel economy of the rx8 wont be an issue unless you expect a 2.0 honda f/m. you need to add oil and check it often since this engine uses some naturally. An usual car with spark issues as an example would hesitate on acceleration, reduce fuel economy or have a rough idle without further consequences. A rotary with spark issues, will lose power,hesitate,idles,rough,might burn a cat,then flood, witch would requires you to deflood it to fire it up again. Everything surrounding the engine is the same as any other engine but the engine itself doesnt operate the same compared to others. some shops wont even take your car in for dumb repairs, simply because they think a rotary comes from the moon. youll have to deal with it. If your goal is to get a sportier car with fuel economy, forget it, if your thinking about checking oil on oil changes only,forget it, if you're used to let mechanical issues as is for ever and fix them only when you can't even start the engine,forget it.
If you want a sport car, well balanced and built, with a unique amazing engine as a soul, and can accept to take care of it when it needs you to, not when too late, you want a fast oem car, this car is for you. You will probably fell in love with it and become a future sad guy if mazda don't ever make a rotary car again lol

 

The 96 Avalon was my first vehicle I've ever purchased. I've had to put almost 4K in major repairs in the 4 months I've had it and they just keep coming. At this point I'm done putting money into this thing, esp when it looks like crap.

I want something more sporty, 2 door and not excessively expensive to maintain. Repairs in the $$$ are fine, $$$$ repairs aren't an option. Am I looking at 4 digit repairs when something goes wrong?

ALSO, the price of the car is $6500, still bad deal? The 7800 was after taxes.

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

Only you can say if it's worth it.
It's actually a 4 door with 2 back suicide doors in case you didn't realize it.

 

Manual or automatic? I'd avoid any automatic transmission RX-8s if I were you, especially one with higher mileage. Manual is the way to go with this car, for a variety of reasons.

 

It is a Manual transmission.

 

Honestly, if maintenance is your main concern, 11 year old RX-8s are probably not what you're looking for. It's not that they need a lot of regular maintenance, it's the risks you take buying a used one that may or may not have been properly maintained. You could get lucky, but if you don't, there is no safety net, you're looking at a new engine.

 

No one likes maintenance, but the RX8 in my opinion can have some higher maintenance than most vehicles. Granted some of the maintenance can be avoided by good habits, but its a vehicle that has is quarks.

 

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5062201230.html

Not the same car.. But stumbled across this. Thoughts?

 

^Automatic

 

Why is automatic undesirable?

 

FWIW, I enjoy my 2005 Rx8 automatic. I never stall it. Manual mode shifting is kind of fun.

 

Redline is considerably lower than on a manual

 

+1^
Lower redline, less horsepower= less fun, imo.

You should read the new owner stickies, there is a section on autos & manual differences.
If you don't read the new owner stickies and buy an 8, you're asking for trouble.