Bought a 2004 w/128K mi. for my daughter last Summer. No idea if engine has been replaced. All along has been sometimes difficult to start when warm. Now idles rough and sometimes stalls. Dealer says back rotor compression is eight point something whatever-units, but front is five point something while normal should be 6.8 and that I need a new engine. They don't rebuild them and wants $6K for new installed. Is there anybody in/around Dallas that can rebuild existing or install new engine for much less than $6K?

Other advice?

Thanks
SL

 

Rotary performance in garland http://rotaryperformance.com or prt performance in lewisville http://www.prtperformance.com

Those would be a good place to start

 

I spoke to both places you mentioned and both want almost as much as the dealership. Rebuild would be nearly as much, but can't tell until teardown. One told me that as is, the car is only worth about $1000. I paid $6500 for the car last June, but it was running great at the time. Also, I've spend about $1000 on brakes, radiator flush, new battery, new headlights, leaking tail-light seals, and fuel leak issues since then.

Given that I'm likely going to be shelling out in the neighborhood of another $6K, I could end up with:

1. A clean '04 RX8 with 135K miles and a "brand new" engine, good brakes, and clean cooling system, for a total investment $13.5K

or

2. A new $6K (plus what I can get for the broken RX8, minus TT&L) mystery mobile

What would you choose?

 

I didn't tell you places that are backyard mechanics. You're better off with one of those than the dealer. Your pocketbook = your decisions. I wouldn't have bought the rx8 in the first place lol

 

Its a hard decision, it just depends on what you want. And why you bought the car. You could sell it for 1-2k with a bad engine thats a pretty common price.

Then have 8 k to spend on something else.

I look at it as no matter what you buy a car is just a loss of money. So buy what you want and just commit to that loss.

Sure in some cases there is money to be made and in just the right cases there is a lot, but most of them involve considerable work and a lucky investment.

Also you would probably be better off buying a reman engine and doing the install yourself. Rebuilding is a huge risk and task. Installing an engine is pretty self explanatory to anyone with some mechanical skill. A reman installed would cost around 4k