SiIver

Hey Guys!
I've been stalking this forum for months now after falling in love with the RX8. I like what I've seen so far but my dad is uncertain about going in with me to buy one. We're looking at 2006 6spd manual models because it seems like the '04 and '05 years had some issues that were not fixed until '06. The primary concern that my dad has stated is the reliability of the 8. Before he had kids, he owned a 1985 Mazda RX7 and loved that car. He doesn't feel comfortable that the 8's engine is much more prone to trouble compared the 12A that he had in his RX7. The page listing all the possible problems that commonly occurred with the engine really freaked him out.

We checked out one 2006 RX8 that had been rebuilt and only had 60k on it but its hot start required a second attempt every time. Low Comp? I checked out the page on engine problems and that seems to be the only possible explanation.

Oh just a little back ground info. Prior to looking at the RX8, my family had a 1997 5spd 6 cylinder BMW Z3 that we received from family. We got rid of it however because it was tiny and wasn't very practical for me to use.

So anyways, do y'all have any comments on the reliability of the 8 compared to the 7? I'm already prepared to take care of it like a baby and maintain the oil and change the spark plugs (seems like those are replaced pretty often).
Thanks!

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Buy your own car with your own money and you don't have to worry abour what Daddy says

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

Welcome.
I have no experience with RX7s.
I bought my 04' three years ago.
Daily driver except for snow and when hail storms are predicted.
+26k miles since, +44k on the odometer.
I have had the cat and battery go bad shortly after purchase, and recently had the fuel pump go out.
Other than that, it's been great, and I love it more than ever.

Colon Terminus

Welcome to the club.
I trust you've read the new and potential owners thread.


I've owned an RX2, RX3, RX4, RX7 and Rx8.


If properly maintained/driven The Mazda rotary engine cars remain reliable to 150K miles or more without major problems. When it does come time to rebuild the costs are generally less than the costs to rebuild a piston engine.


Proper maintenance and driving style are critical to the longevity of the rotary engine. This is something you may not know when buying a used RX8, so it is sometimes a crap shoot. Before you commit to buying ANY used RX8 have a compression test done at your local Mazda dealership. This costs from $100 to $150 but could save you thousands in subsequent repairs. The Mazda dealer will tell you if the engine is good/marginal/bad.


If the engine is good and the price is reasonable ... make an offer.


One problem with owning/driving an RX8 is, even after a few years, after parking it your face will hurt from smiling so much.

Khurram

I bought my 04 6spd rx8 almost 2.5 years ago.
It's been my daily driver yes even during snow storms.
It had 272k kms on when the motor gave up.
in my 2.5 years and over 150k kms I only replaced the brakes, the alternator belt snapped, bulbs in tail lights and starter stopped working. thats about it.
The car left me stranded twice, once the starter broke 2nd the belt snapped.
Rx8 by far has been the most reliable car i've ever owned, this don't mean that rx8's don't have problems lol read the new / potential owner's thread again and again.

As advised above, get the compression test done before making the purchase.

All the best

SiIver

Yeah comp. tests seem to be recommended by everyone. I will definitely have that done. Thanks for the advice! Concerning the years, are the 04 and 05 really as bad as I've read reliability wise compared to the later years? Or is that just due to each individual's personal experience with their car and maybe a little input by the anti-RX8 people?

Colon Terminus

The early 04's had some problems that were corrected with a reprogramming of the ECU. Mazda stepped up to bat and replaced many, many engines as a result.


The main problem is that Mazda marketed the car as a sporty alternative to the family sedan. Ergo it was purchased by many unknowing/unsuspecting people who were not prepared to give it the constant attention it needs. It was neglected by these owners who treated it as they would treat any piston engine car and those owners suffered early and huge failures.


The Rx8 is far from a family sedan, it is a very sophisticated race car in sheep's clothing. Think about it ... 238 HP from 80 cubic inches. Holy ****! That motor requires love and attention that the great unwashed are completely unaware of.

SiIver

So, I found a 8 and I want to know what y'all think. It's a 2005 with 76K and the guy is asking $5000 obo. The engine has never flooded, never been replaced, he never had the starter replaced, he doesn't have compression test results but I don't want to ask him to do it until I'm semi-sure about buying. Also, I've been going down that list of questions to ask when buying a used RX8 that are provided in the Newbie forum. One that I cannot find information on is the MSP 13 that can be performed by a dealer. What is that?
Thanks

gwilliams6

Silver don't even consider buying this 2005 without a compression test. If the seller won't do it, then walk away. I have owned seven RXs, a RX3, two RX4s, all three generations of RX7 and an RX8. Yes, even though Mazda rotary cars and engines have had their share of teething problems and development over the decades, the RX7s were generally more reliable than RX8s have been. The Renesis engine is the highest compression in any Mazda factory normally aspirated rotary engine. That is why I believe it has had its issues. It is a very high-stressed powerplant, and ignition health , proper care and proper operation are critical to its health and longevity.

Yes there were issues that were addressed with upgrades in 2006 -2008, and more upgrades and improvements in the Series 2 models starting in 2009. That is not to put you off buying any RX8. It did not put me off from buying one.

Just be sure you are getting a well-maintained one with good engine compression numbers, and then we all here can help you keep it humming and running well for many years to come.

SiIver

Oh yeah I wasn't gonna buy it without getting a comp. test. I was just planning on making sure everything else was sound before I have him do one. He said he was fine doing one but just hadn't done it yet.

gwilliams6

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/


Ask the seller to see his maintenance records. If he has them, you can check them against our club's recommended maintenance (below). If his service was all done at a Mazda dealer, they should have the records. If nothing else, it would give you an idea of what might need to be addressed if you bought the car.

RX8 Club’s recommended maintenance schedule, more comprehensive and proactive than Mazda’s schedule.
30,000 miles:
- Replace Ignition coils
- Replace Plug wires
- Replace Spark plugs
- Clean MAF (mass air flow sensor)
- Clean ESS (e-shaft sensor)
- Reset ESS profile
- Clean power steering connections
- Clean battery terminals and clamps
- Replace transmission fluid
- Replace coolant (Mazda FL-22 is highly recommended)
- Replace air filter
- Replace brake fluid (fluid in the brake lines AND the clutch line)
~$300 USD in parts if you shop smartly.


every 60,000:
...all 30,000, plus...
- Clean all chassis electrical grounding points
- Replace accessory belts
- Clean OMP lines
- Replace rear differential fluid
- Replace thermostat
- Clean / Straighten AC condenser fins
- Clean / Straighten oil cooler fins
- Inspect catalytic converter
- Clean / Inspect intake valving
- Consider / inspect all points in 90,000+ as well, many items fail early
~$130 USD in parts if you shop smartly.

90,000:
...all 30,000, plus any 60,000 not yet done, plus...
- Replace coolant bottle
- Replace radiator hoses
- Replace radiator
- Replace front O2 sensor
- Replace motor mounts
- Inspect clutch pedal assembly for flex / weld breaks
~$900 USD in parts if you shop smartly.

Belalnabi

Yeah definitely stay away from 04-05. Not saying they all have problems but I've personally come across a lot of them with ignition issues that were later fixed in the 07+ 8s

Legot

iTrader: (1)

04s are a little sketchy, 05s should be fine (the small problems are fairly easy to correct off the bat), 07+ are going to be better but they cost a decent amount more.

If you have another appealing option I wouldn't pick the Rx8 (unless of course you have a spare car on hand). You may or may not end up tearing it down every week.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

I bought my '04 GT 3 years ago with
18.5k miles.
Cat went bad from a bad coil shortly after.
Got new ignition and a midpipe to fix that problem.
A new battery shortly after buying it, (8 years old, no surprise), and recently a new fuel pump.
Got a BHR ignition kit for peace of mind.
+45k now, runs better than ever.

Each car is different, I wouldn't rule out an S1 if it was well maintained by a knowledgeable owner, or was a low mileage summer toy like mine was.
You could buy a later model that wasn't taken care of and be worse off.

The most important thing is the compression test.

Read the new owner stickies.
Be an informed buyer.