Maybe I should have mentioned that I then spent $3k on fixing stuffs on my rx8...it was not a rx8 in the best shape. The mechanical are great but it was probably never washed its whole life lol. Barely any clearcoat left and I had to repaint the frontend of the car because of bug marks. Anyway I think it was an ok deal, but I rather have bought a car that is better maintained.

 

I feel sorry for you guys with payments.. I found an older lady with my rx8 gave her 8k cash and drove away.

 

We repossessed this car from my doucherag ex-son in law who drove it away and left my daughter with the payments after she kicked him to the curb. She couldn't afford it - and obviously he thought he could get away with stealing it (no, don't think so)

Since he HAD to have the spiffy sports car, we had co-signed for it - so it is now my car, and my responsibility. I try to take it out once a week, but for the most part it's in the garage.

So I feel sorry for us, too. Once I'm even on the value, I'll either sell it or trade it in... but I will miss it, it's a great car and so much fun to drive (even if I do end up getting pulled over all the time, argh)

 

That guy is a worthless piece of trash..although you have payments I still think you got the better end of the deal with that loser out of the picture.. just too bad your daughter had to go through all that. The lack of having a girl and a sports car should bring him back down to earth hopefully

 

That's a very positive outlook, and true, too! Thank you!

now, why is the 'cruise maint' warning light on? Derp!

 

Found your SevenStock trip and read the entire story and I gotta say i was completely riveted through the entire thread! Very impressive and definitely a huge motivator to plan a huge road trip! Cheers!

 

Hello everyone. I’ve been reading these forums for a few years now and have been wanting to get an RX8 for about 2-3 years now. This past Tuesday I found a 2005 black RX8 6 speed GT / loaded minus the nav system with only 27,330k miles for $12,400 at a dealership. I’m assuming the former owner drove it only in the summer as a toy car because the body is also in mint condition. Everything seems to be great with the car but I am more just nervous that I am doing everything I can do to make sure I am taking care of the car properly. I knew there was going to be more work / care into owning this car but that’s one thing I like about it. It’s a beautiful car and words cannot describe how much fun it is to drive. My wallet is already feeling the effects of owning this car gas wise but non the less I want to make this car last a long time.

From what I’ve read seeing the car is used, and is at ~27.5K miles I should look into coils, wires, and plugs and replacing them? Also I should look into the starter to see if it was a earlier 2005 model? I live in Michigan so its averaging 25-40 degrees here right now with it only getting colder and I want to avoid flooding the engine, really cold mornings and hard starts ect. Any suggestions I may have overlooked? My drive to work is 15 ish minutes and I let the car warm up for 10 minutes before I even pull out of the driveway so it is warmed up by the time I turn it off.

Also is there any thing else I should look into as far as preventative maintenance / regular maintenance (minus keeping an eye on the oil)

Thanks in advance and thanks for all the users advice on these forums!!

 

Yup, you got it right, coils, wires, plugs (~$180-220 depending on source), and probably get an updated starter as well (~$360 from Mazmart for a new one).

Post #9 on the first goes into more details about the various methods of failure and how to best protect against them.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I've looked at Advanced Auto parts and their prices are pretty decent and on par with your estimate. I'll probably get it done next weekend unfortunately, but it will be done.

I did think of another question. When starting the car one average how many seconds does it take to start? out side temp is ~30.

 

Too many variables to really call that

Cranking speed due to battery
Cranking speed due to starter
Compression scores
Coil health
Wire health
Plug health
Fuel quality
Presence of any foreign substances (like coolant or oil)
Temperature of the air in the charge
Temperature of the block metal (temps can change how much fuel is condensed out of the charge)

Even on 1 car with the exact same equipment it can swing from start to start.


In general, it should be somewhere under 2-3 seconds before it gets worrying.

 

Awesome post. Having had an Fd for 13 years I needed a four seat car now I have children & wanted more people room.
A lot of the information on the first page would be really informative to the new owner aswell as myself. The Se is a completely different fish & it's helped me to understand the car a lot more.
So big thanks

 

Nice thread thanks!

 

I've got a 04 RX-8 sport 6 speed with 99000 miles, had a compression check done on the engine and they said it was ok but needs plugs, wires and a new cat. What else can I do to help make it last?

 

See post #9 on the first page

 

Thank you that was very helpful but also has me a little worried too. I didn't detect my issue til the check engine light came on, took it to Mazda and they said cat was bad and needed plugs and wires but wanted to do a compression test. It passed so we are going to put the new parts on and I am going to add coils now that I've done some reading that was suggested. I love my car and have wanted one for a long time, I have a hard time explaining to people who don't own one why and they sure ain't driving mine lol but I am ignorant about rotary engines and I want to get it right so I know(to y'all) I will be asking dumb questions. So please be patient with this newbe..

 

Just found this by accident and it really made a difference in the search results. forgive me cutting it down to fit here, but I thnk it needs to get out there more.

 

Have already learned a lot about my car just by looking around, everything I've had a question about has been talked about in great detail in some forum or another...

 

So much information at the beginning of this thread really good idea !

Only had my RX8 for a month or so and the engine is already showing signs of it being on it's last legs, no doubt why the person I got it off sold it, oh well, hope it lasts long enough for me to get a new engine

 

Drive it till it dies and even then you can still revive her. You'd be surprised how long a "low" compression rotary will last.

 

Nah it's not low on compression, I think I either have a cracked rotor housing or a warped one, it may have been over heated, some days when I start it up it runs a little rough and smells a little like coolant, over the last 2 or so weeks the water level in my overflow bottle has gone down 2 or 3 ml, it's only a small leak so hopefully it will stay like this for a while (touch wood)

 

If you are burning coolant, the engine won't last all that long. It's one of the failure methods that the normal rotary durability doesn't really apply. The coolant will eat away at the housings and seals really fast. I'd recommend preparing ahead of time as much as possible.

 

That's not what I wanted to read even if the level is going down by only 1ml a week ?

 

Since it is possible that this is actually a very tiny leak from a hose only when pressurized and driving, or a faint loss through the overflow, you should verify if you do have a cooling seal failure or not. Two methods should be used:
1) Contact Blackstone Labs, have them send you a sample kit, pull an oil sample and send it to them for testing ($25). If you have coolant in your oil you have a coolant seal failure.
2) Do a coolant fluid test for combustion gasses (often free, or under $40 at most quick lube or quick repair shops). If you have combustion gasses present in the coolant, you have a coolant seal failure.

You may only have one, you may have both. If you have neither, you probably do not have a coolant seal failure. It is technically possible to have neither show a failure and still have a failure, but I have not actually seen this from anyone.

 

Didn't read this thread before purchasing huh..

 

You are hardly alone