New owner
 

I am 65. Have owned a Triumph GT6, TR6, Subaru SVX and a Mini Cooper S amongst other vehicles.. So I went looking for what I would assume will be my last car. Went looking for a RX8. Had planned to buy a white one, but came across a 2006 Black one with 20,000 Kilometers on a new motor. Never winter driven. But I will. Not that it snows much here in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Found the car on AutoTrader. Just a ferry boat ride away.
Told the seller the same story that I was looking for my last car, and was not a tire kicker. He and his wife arrived with two cars at the ferry terminal to pick me up. Told me he held on to the car for me. Turned down offers of parents trying to buy it for the kids. Said he wouldn't sell it to teenagers. Also a lot of people didn't understand the oil procedures. We went straight to the insurance burrow. Don't you want to go to the bank so I can pay you first. Nah, lets do this first, its closer. he starts taking the plates off. His wife and I are doing the transfer. So I go to pay with my card and its declined and declined again. Well Tom I hope this doesn't happen on the other end. Not to worry lets find a bank. At the bank no problem. I pay him first and get some cash for the insurance. bank says it must be their machine. Back we go. The ladies at the insurance company are not amused. Even with both of us trying to get them to smile. His wife chimes in....it's good us girls are here to take care of these two clowns. Great great people I bought the car from.
Get to the ferry....and hey it was a long weekend , only had to wait 45 minutes to catch the extra sailing....anyways I get to the ferry, a young guy 20ish, you are in lane five. He looks around, and if you want to make some noise, lite her up. And gives me two thumbs up.
So I have had the car a week and know more then I did yesterday. Found out how to turn on the outside temperature display. Found the hidden charging port in the armrest. Loaded up the CD changer.
One question to begin with. The other night I was out in the dark....daylight saving time....does the radio itself light up?. is there a button I need to push. In the dark you can not see any of the radio or heater controls
Tom Nanaimo BC

Yes, the radio and A/C controls should light up. On the left hand side next to the steering wheel (US model) there is a slider that can adjust the brightness of the inside lights, and if you slide it all the way up there is a click that will hold them at full strength. Give that a try, its possible they are just really dim? Can you see the display showing the radio station or outside temp on the LCD screen above the radio?

Welcome to the club! I loved the backstory of how you bought the car. It's a good sign that the seller didnt want to sell it to just anyone. It means that they probably took pretty good care of it.

Read the new owners stickied thread and learn to use the search function of this forum if you have any specific issues as you own and drive your 8. Hooefully you did a compression test on the engine, even though its a low milage rebuild or reman engine. Keep your cooling and ignition system healthy and this car will love you back.

Someone else on the island eh? I was just in Nanaimo last Friday for a pre-employment examination. I am in Victoria so I am about 2 hours away.

Sounds like a nice find. You should post some pics.

Very unusual for them to transfer first before you paid. I would definitely have done it the normal way: pay first and then transfer the title. And I would only accept cash and/or a bank draft, the latter of which would have to be done at a bank with me present. Either those folks are really nice or they are inexperienced. Just saying.

Really nice. Great people We had a great time of it all

Welcome! Would love to see some pics of your new 8!! What trim level is it and did the car come with maintenance receipts?

Hey another BCer! Congrats! You had an SVX.... Instant cool factor x100! 20k km is seriously low. Take good care of the rx8 and it'll be a joyous ownership. I know as I have mine since new!

Will do....week two.
So last night out in the dark for the second time heading to Tim Hortons (regrading radio not lighting up)...boy these lights aren't very bright. Grab the turn signal lever. Give the switch a turn.....headlights light up.....and the radio and steering wheel.....holy crap its like sitting in a jet fighter. LOL.

So did you figure out your original problem then? Are the radio and A/C buttons lit up now?

Yes