So I picked up an RX*, pretty good price, new tires, brake pads and rotors, 14K on motor, 88k on car. 6900 out the door.

But through removing the front bumper to do the bulbs. I discovered that the car is missing the undertray and the "mud guards" behind the oil coolers.

My question is. I found the parts on mazmart... are the mud guards missing because they attach to the undertray?

Or was the previous owner just an idiot...

Also assuming that the undertray is missing because the mounting points on the lower lip are damaged... so I am assuming, mounts broke and then undertray and mud guards removed because of this. Sound about right?

 

Not a bad price really. What year is it, color, condition?

Did you get a compression test? If so, what were the results?
You NEED the undertray, it helps with cooling. You can make mud guards for the back of the oil coolers honestly.

Your final thought on chain of events sounds about right.

Read through the info posted within the links in my SIG.

Welcome to the forum.

Travis

 

Sunlight Silver, Rear exhaust shouds needs replacing. AS above, front bumper has cracked paint. Some small chips here and there, rust around spoiler but nowhere else. And the passenger side side skirt aero package flare needs to be removed and re-adhered to the car.

No compression test yet, feels quite solid and pulls well (when I go in for steering wheel airbag replacement I plan on getting her tested). MINOR rough idle (a blip every once and a while idling), easily fixed with the new plugs, wires and ignition coils. Also, the starter should be replaced. Pretty good service history, but the owner was informed that his starter was weak, a replacement starter... he must has flooded and just kept cranking.

I saw a little in some postings, but no extensive research.
How are those aluminum undertrays? Worth it over buying an oem pan? Price is pretty close.


The more I have had time with the car, the more I would have liked to save 300 more. But the features and mileage cannot be beat in my area for that price. If you are not a car person, you won't even notice the rust around the spoiler. Any shop, or maybe me... could take care fo the rust pretty easily.

I am under the assumption, that this is the bottom of the market on this car, and prices will rise again as good examples become fewer and fewer.

 

No need for extensive research yet, but DO read the threads in Travis' sig. You'll learn a lot.

Also, oem undertray is fine. They both have their pros and cons. Use this as an excuse to use that extensive research, then come to a conclusion based on that.

 

Also, There's an rx8 enthusiast who started a company by 'LRB" and makes custom aluminum undertrays, and etc for Rx8 check it out, his prices are pretty good.

Mud guards are separate pieces not attached to undertray.

Get the compression test to be on the safe side :-)
Sounds like you got yourself an amazing deal
And definitely read the thread Travis advised you too.

All the best:-)