First off I would like to say hey to all the rx-8 brothers on this site. I think its awesome to have a place to talk and share information all in one site!
I'm totally new to the rx-8 but have doing lots of research this past month, reading and viewing videos on the rx-8 and its rotary engine.
I'm looking to finally buy one after so much research and have been looking at 3 in particular. Hoping current owners and rx-8 guru's will chime in! Please help! Hoping to choose one by this weekend!!

I've been leaning to this first one. Even though it has 104k Miles, he's just replaced
battery,oxygen sensor, spark plugs & ignition coils, new radiator and all connecting hoses. Tires have less than 30,000 miles on them.

2004 Mazda RX8 Grand Touring with Navigation

This also seems like a great buy. I'm mostly stuck between these 2!
It is the original engine, New battery and tires. He told me oil has always been changed on time using dino oil. Has a carfax ready to show. It's never been flooded. The thing is its all original?
Mazda RX8 2004 GT (Sales End on 19 Nov)

This one is a 2005
2005 mazda rx8

 

Welcome, I assume you have read the new owner stickies.
Don't buy any Rx8 without a rotary specific compression test.
No test, no deal.

 

Neither the 1st or 2nd car has had a compression test done, But what I'm feeling most comfortable with is the 2nd car.
Am I wrong for feeling safer with this one?
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/4113257061.html

It ALMOST has 82k miles, so I know the engine is still covered by warranty if anything should go wrong correct?
10yr/100k Miles on engine warranty if I remember correctly? Clean history, 2 owners, Kept up on maintenance. New Battery and tires
Seems like the best choice to me? So far in the month that I've been researching and searching for an rx-8, this has been the one with the least amount of miles and best on my budget.

 

8yr 100k. No 2004 is still within warranty, many 2005s are out of warranty

 

Oh man, I guess I was so excited to find one with slightly lower miles than the most I've found around here, that I over looked the years and just paid attention to miles. : /

Ok so I plan on going this weekend, which would you choose?

 

ALL car warranties work the same way. Same with very nearly any other warranty offered by anyone out there. A time and a distance, is ALWAYS "whichever comes first".

 

This car is a trap... Don't do it unless you know what you are getting yourself into.

 

You mean the car in General is a trap?
I know there's a lot that goes into maintaining the car but is it really that big of a nightmare when maintained? I've got extra money saved up for extra parts when needed, and I already plan on replacing the plugs,wires and coils whenever I bring it home, i do like spending time in my garage.
In other words for someone who will still have extra money even when I buy one of these cars, will it most likely be a big mistake? I own a 1994 eclipse 1.8l now and I've kept it running, going on 200k miles : )

 

The rx8 and rotaries are definitely a different beast to deal with. I would recommend looking for an 07 or higher rx8 as they will still have the warranty and lower mileage for the most part. I believe they also have some welds added to strengthen the chassis a bit.

If you plan on keeping your eclipse, definitely get the 8 just in case of any mishaps, you'll have something to get your around. If this will be your only car, i would definitely be picky with the 8 you purchase, low miles, original parts, adult owned hopefully unmolested with mods.

From personal experience, i owned my 8 since new so having it brand new definitely gave me a sense of confidence. Now with all of them being used, you have to be very skeptical of who you buy it from, the history of the car and so on. Definitely inspect the car and definitely get a compression test done.

 

Actually funny you should ask, I do plan on keeping my eclipse as an emergency car.
Haha so I guess its ok now to get the rx8 since im keeping my eclipse?
The rx-8 with about 82k was actually adult owned only. Its all original and was garage kept.
No mods to the car either. Sound good so far?
Also guys, anyone familiar with freeman mazda in irving,tx? Im actually driving 2 hours to see this car in person and the only way I can actually see getting a compression test is by having him meet me at the dealer and having it done there. Then going by the results, it would either be a sale then and there or on to the next one.

 

That sounds like a good plan.

 

Awesome well I have it set up and will be meeting at freeman mazda in irving. I'm sure the techs there will be able to tell me if the test results are good or bad but if was wondering if there was any way I could send a quick text to one of you guys with the results? Just to get another opinion but from an actual rx8 owner.
Do I sound crazy? Haha

 

In the new owners stickies there is a compression #s chart. All you need is there.
If you are unsure, post the #s here & someone may offer an opinion.

 

Holy moly
Guys guys wow just wow!!!

Never mind that Mazda basically has just announced there will never be another Rotary engine (quickly becoming like the Oil topic)

The OP is totally getting ripped off buying a 2004 or 2005 with that miles on it!!!!
Especially in USD
Especially that it's in miles not KM's!!!

If that mileage was in kilometers I still would feel like I was getting bent over a bit.

Sorry to rain on your parade
STAY AWAY or get the seller down to at least 5k

At the very least ... as mentioned already get a freggin compression test.

Red Flags:

First link: Fully Loaded with Navigation (RARE) ... Rare like my steak -- 104,000 miles RUN RUN RUN -- Strong clutch What the F*$K

Second link: This car is good for college student (Price is negotiable) WHAT WHAT WHAT This statement is pure ******* evil!!! ******* EVIL!!! -- Feel the G from stop line <<<<AND THIS AAAAHHHH Do ******* NOT buy this particular car JUST DON'T. It's more like feel yourself getting fucked

Third link: Just seems to high of a price. But I would want to speak to the owner and see the modifications. If he is indeed a rotary mechanic as stated .... this might be the one I would get. MAYBE just maybe because those stickers on the back window make me nervous.

EDIT:

Ok ok ok .... I did an Autotrader.ca search for RX8's in Ontario Canada with KM's from 130,000 to 170,000 (that's roughly 80k to 105k miles give or take)
Basic 2004 to 2007 models ranging from 4997$ to 8999$ CDN boyz that's CDN

Here are some highlights
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Mazda/RX...howcpo=ShowCPO

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Mazda/RX...howcpo=ShowCPO

This one is a joke ... some sucker will buy it
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Mazda/RX...howcpo=ShowCPO

The search criteria link
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/pv/Used/...0&st=1&rcp=100

Dude ..... you need to settle down and have a look around.

EDIT EDIT:
I'm actually interested in this one .. lol now that I've done a search. I've always liked the winning blue
I know I could talk him down to 4k
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Mazda/RX...howcpo=ShowCPO

 

Wow you say? Tell us how you really feel.

Not like he wants to buy an Accord.
Asking price is usually negotiable. He said he would get a compression test on the 2nd car.
A sticker is a dealbreaker?
A GT in good shape with good compression #s under $7k is not outrageous, and if he is willing to pay, what's the big deal?

 

^^^ lol
I believe you and I have been back and forth over the price before so I'm getting in to that again.

Yup owners with stickers are a red flag IMO. Not a deal breaker per-say but a mmmmmm

Did I miss the post about the GT under 7k?
<deep breath> well I guess only if it's perfect. I still say it's about 1k too much

 

So why is it that members here (who presumably own RX-8s) are determined to declare the 8's value to be as low as they can possibly make it?

Ken

 

Why don't you start a new thread on the topic instead of hi-jacking this one and find out

 

Yeah i'm really hoping it works out with the GT. also he did say price is negotiable. I have a KBB print out already to take with me and show him.
but Here is some bad news! finally got a response from freeman Mazda in Irving. They wont have an opening until Monday to do the test. Wouldn't be such a big deal if I lived there in Irving but i'm 2 hours away. Anyone know another place I could get the test done in Irving? Even grand prairie? Somewhere near by maybe 20-22 miles away

 

Because RX-8s not being worth much seems to have become a major point in this thread. Perhaps I should have multi-quoted some of the earlier posts.

Ken

 

The OP has asked for opinions. Mine is he is paying too much.
Often one of the major buying conditions that makes a purchase attractive.

I did a quick search in my local area to see what the relative prices are on cars with the same mileage.
And noticed there were many of lesser value. Typically vehicles of all sorts cost more in Canada. Our dollar is also less then the US green back.

Go ahead and quote all you want ... IMO these cars are not worth much at all and that is that as far as I need to go in this thread, as per the topic is opinions on purchases.
It is not give me your opinion and back it up with a white paper and statically analysis.
I don't not have to justify my reasons for thinking these cars are of lesser value, then you apparently regard it's value.
I especially do not have to do it in this thread.

You want to start a thread topic on why some members think these cars are worth X or Y value go ahead and I'll try and prove my case there.

I'm not questioning why you have such a high regard for it's value am I?

You're also leaving out that ... again IMO ... other than price I pointed out some odd items detailed as selling features.
So I wasn't focusing entirely on price.

 

Thanks for the answer.

Ken

 

You're welcome

 

It's not so much the sticker that is the deal breaker as the attitude, and mentality of the owner that it conveys

 

Well I went ahead and had a compression test at freeman mazda on the rx-8 with 81,949k miles
here are the results
I'm going to try and explain it to the best of my abilities. I might be reading the results wrong but here you go. They added on the report " compression is very good' and "Good engine"
At 266 RPM
Rotor #1 8.8, 8.4, 8.3
rotor #2 7.9 , 8.1, 8.1