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All that’s well and great but at the end of the day you have to compression test it. There are some tricks to test it otherwise but it’s not reliable. The hot start test is a good indication but definitely not foolproof as I learned the hard way.
Read up on RX8help.com. A good carfax is a good start but doesn't exclude all possible problems.
Some red flags: no sign of maintenance since 2018. Current owner has had it less than a month, its an original engine with 110+ k miles. Do not buy without a rotary compression test.
At 110k miles in 2016 owner 4
Now XXXk miles in 2022 owner 7
I'd expect low compression or blown coolant seals at that mileage, bouncing between owners is a major red flag. For a good body near dead but driving engine I would not pay more than 2k-3k (I got two of mine for 1k near dead, but driving). Then add in 5500 for a new engine and $XXXX for labor and shipping.
Typically these engines will lose compression around 100k miles or potentially last to 150k miles. Engine wear/damage is exponential though so its one of those things were if done earlier at 80k-90k miles an engine rebuild can mitigate cost and damage. After looking in 3x 120k mile engines the rotor seal slots get bent and cause drastic compression loss even after rebuilding >>>> at this point it would be cheaper to buy a reman engine instead of a botched rebuild that would last 5k-XXk miles
Your service report does say the coils were changed out at 50k miles. A common early failure was the coils where your engine would burn inefficiently causing the CAT to clog. Which leads to heat buildup near the exhausts, which cooks your coolant seals. >>>This leads to plumes of white coolant smoke upon cold starts and burning coolant smell when cold/hot.>>>> new engine/rebuild necessary
If you do pick up an Rx8 I'd suggest for solid reliability
+High CCA Battery $250 (optima red tops suck, been through 7 of them within 8 years...somehow still getting autozone warranty though)
+2.7Hp starter $80
+Plugs $80
+LS coil kit $250
Getting a good body but dead engine rx8 for cheap and replacing the engine with a known good one is pretty much best case scenario these days, given the cars age. But it's not for everyone.
Red flag: 4/4/2006 No start/Hard start Crank no start condition
Red flag: Still the original engine, an engine replacement by dealer will show as Short Block Replaced.
I wonder why the engine floods at the first 10000mile ( I guess it's flooded), a healthy engine with healthy IGN should not flood
Getting a good body but dead engine rx8 for cheap and replacing the engine with a known good one is pretty much best case scenario these days, given the cars age. But it's not for everyone.
That’s exactly what I expected when I got into this rotary scene. I enjoyed it for a year before I got the failing compression numbers. Gotta be in love or be a fool to own a rotary car. All it took was me driving my friends Rx8 back in 2012 for the first time.
At 110k miles in 2016 owner 4
Now XXXk miles in 2022 owner 7
High owner count is a red flag to me for any used cars I look at. In this case what are the chances that all 7 owners "took care" of this car? Do dealerships count as ownership?
At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.
05-15-2022, 06:41 PM
