Hey guys?! Just joined up because I am thinking about buying an RX-8. Found one for sale and immediately started researching about them because the only thing I knew was that they are rotary. That lead me here. I read a lot in the New and Potential Owners START HERE! thread and I am now very skeptical... I have never owned a Mazda before. Right now I drive and old Honda Accord. Here is what I know just from the ad and I plan on calling them later today to ask the questions in the above stated post.

2004 Mazda RX-8 Grand Touring 6-Speed Manual
97,000 miles
Looks super clean, almost brand new
From the pictures it looks stock
Not sure about number of owners just yet
$5800 "firm"

I will post anymore info I get here. After reading about it, 97,000 seems like a lot of miles. Thoughts?

 

Oh and I live in Montana. (That probably doesn't matter) There are more picture's but here is one

 

People need to chime in with the expected engine mileage. I can't because I only have 32K on mine.

 

If you can afford lower miles/newer car, always go for that. You don't want to save money by buying problems. See what the compression test says, that's the main decision factor regardless.

 

That's a decent price for a 'super clean' GT. The miles are a concern.
Ask the owner if he'll do a compression test.
If he refuses, offer to pay for half of it if it passes.
If he still refuses, don't buy it.
Also, you can call MNAO with the VIN# to check if it's the engine was replaced under warranty, and if all of the recalls were addressed.

 

If that engine is original then pass on it. Even if it passes a compression test, it won't last a very long time. $5800 is way too much for even a clean 04' IMO. But worth is subjective.

You can also call MazdaUSA with the VIN and ask them for the service history, that would tell you if it has ever had a remanufactured engine installed.

 

Newer the better... Even an '05 with that many miles I'm sure is better.

 

That's a generalization that may be inaccurate.
An '05 with that many miles that was abused and neglected by multiple rotary ignorant owners may not be as good as an '04 that had one knowledgeable owner that took proper care of it.
I think each 8 is an individual case.

 

Well I left these guys a message a few days ago. They haven't called back so I guess it has been sold already.