clsatt

My wife and I have rescently been blessed with a little bundle of responsibility/joy and I had to sell my 1969 240z. We picked up a Subaru Forester to accomidate the bulk of our daily routine but... I'm in the market for something to fill the void left by the loss of my old hopped up go-cart. The catch is that it must accomidate a child safety seat and it must be an acceptable daily driver since I'm in school and run the kid to and from the sitter. The 8 fits the bill.

My question is in regards to new vs old. Is the 2009-2010 a better deal for the third oil injector-- or would I be better off getting a low mileage 05-08 and spending the money I save on a winter set of wheels/tires, remote ignition coils, thermostat, and radiator fan early turn on thingy?

I've done my research but I'm having a tough time finding the answers I'm after.

Thanks,
Chris

jasonrxeight

no one can tell if the upgrade worked or not.
none of the S2's has reached 60k so far.
if you can afford an S2, go for it.
if not a newer S1 is pretty good too.

Sixsix

My 8 is my daily driver and the car seat fits in the back well. One of the reasons I chose the 8 over the other coupes out there was the rear doors. It makes it really easy to get my son (19 months old) in and out. My wife is pretty short and she still has a lot of room up front with her seat pushed forward so the kids feet doesn't touch the back of the seat. But this is a forward facing seat, so I'm sure there would be less space with a rear facing one. Also, you may be able to pick up a brand new '10 for cheaper than you think. I just got mine brand new for 23k, cheaper than some places wanted for used 08's and 09's.

seat fits good back there

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I would say S2 man, many changes and personally I don't think the reliability mods (increased OP, SOHN, premix gas) like I have done to the S1 will make it outlive the S2. Sure there are not many S2's near the 60k mark that is is a non issue because many S1 guys were losing motors way before that, despite maintenance intervals. My first engine died at 22,000 miles. My second with the new flash lasted 74,000 miles. Third is at 20,000 as of now.

I do think the change to the flash that increased the OMP rate extended the life of the S1 Renesis, but it is still flawed by design and will likely fail regardless if you live and drive in a high heat situation.

jasonrxeight

the flash was still not enough.
S2 burns half a quart every 600-700 miles.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Agreed, and I personally believe the Mazda remans are not the best either. When I installed the Mazmart Oil pressure mod I noticed silicone oozing from between the housings. Very sloppy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/4453405582/http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/4453405582/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/9krpmrx8/, on Flickr

clsatt

Honestly I was looking to get out the door at around 15k.... if I was to go 2009 or 10 I would have to wait another year or so but if it means I wouldn't have to drive a canary yellow Cavalier while the engine is being rebuilt it might be worth it to drive my wife's old Jetta for a little longer.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah 15k would be pushing it for an 09+ RX-8.

jasonrxeight

if you gonna get 09, dont wait another year cuz theres wont be many left and I doubt many people will sell them.
get a 06 and start enjoying it now. have all the flashes and you should be gold for at least 60k miles.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah unless you plan on keeping the car above 100k it's a non issue because the warranty stands. Try and find one that has had the engine recently replaced. Another local member of our (Cornholio135) traded his 04 GT for a super clean 06' Shinka and paid 15k for it with 30k on it and a new mazda reman and new cat that had just been installed.

clsatt

Well, I do hope to keep this car long term. Something in the neighborhood of 15 to 20 years, depending on when my midlife crisis sets in-- I figure I'll break down and get a DB9 or something along those lines then. If the engines are only good to ~60k in the older ones and are completely hit or miss regardless of the maintainance... I may wait for one of the newer ones.

Anyone know, or be willing to estimate, a ratio of older 8s that have failed to ones that are still on their first engine? Is it something like 1 in 5? I havn't found many posts from people still on their first engine but at the same time, folks with reliable engins don't have much reason to say anything. Is it really as bad as Google makes it seem?

clsatt

And before anyone says "buy a civic" do keep in mind I just had to sell my old Datsun-- which only got 17mpg on a good day and required a fairly rigorous maintainance schedual... I don't mind working on my cars and I don't mind the long term cost, I just don't want to be in and out of the shop for new engines every 20 - 30k miles. If it was a case of a few bad eggs after 05 and the hype regarding the problem is a tad over blown- I'll take my chances and nab an older one with low mileage. If it is an inevitability that the engine will lose compression and fail, I'll wait for the newer ones to go up for sale used or get one new in 2012... if they are still in production.

sorry, I'm struggling to justify this one way or the other. you guys have been huge help.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Well, the engine problems are not overblown IMO. I mean they did open an entire engine plant and train staff to rebuild these engines specifically. What the exact numbers are is unknown but I have a buddy who works at the largest mazda dealer in Texas and they have done around 450-500 engine swaps so........ and that is one dealer in a city of 5 mazda Dealers.

If you plan on keeping it for that length of time (as I do) then just plan and budget for a rebuild ($3,500.00-$5,000.00+). Or just wait it out and see how the Series II engines hold up.

clsatt

That sounds reasonable. If I am planning on paying for an engine at some point anyway, it shouldn't catch me unaware and by the time I'm ready for one I might be able to get my hands on one from an S2 anyway. I think I may risk it with an S1 and hope for the best.

thanks for all the advice,

Chris

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Well, now a S2 engine in a S1 chassis is a whole other story and I have a separate thread about that

clsatt

picked up a 2007 GT with 34000 miles on it.

yiksing

The only reason S1 > S2 atm:

1. AP
2. SOHN (not 100% sure)
3. Strakes if you are into this kind of stuff
4. Side markers if you are into this kind of stuff
5. More bodykits available

other than that S2 is the win

Paintballer

Just out of curiosity, what did you pay for it? And what state are you in? I'm also in the market for an 06/07 and the prices seem to be all over the place for those cars.

jdenman03

My 04 GT 6sp is at 77k and STILL on the first engine. I do a compression test every six months and have never flooded the car once.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

My 04' Touring is at 117,000 and STILL on the third engine. Not that it has anything to do with reliability but I did flood it twice since new and both times were due to my own stupidity.