Pre-purchase worries...need some imput!
 

I am considering buying a 2005 RX-8 Shinka 6-speed manual with 92,000 miles on it from the local Ford/Mazda dealership. I've driven the car twice for several hours at length and had a trusted mechanic look it over. The thing drives, sounds, looks and handles like a dream and my mechanic can find nothing blatently wrong.
My concerns are these....I've heard and read SO many complaints about these cars potentially what with engines blowing, stalling, A/C not working, etc., etc., etc...Regarding THIS car however some of the troubling things are the fact that the dealership got the car at an auction (which negates me finding or talking to any of the three previous owners), the engine cowling is missing (which makes me suspect an engine swap although there is a K & N aftermarket air filter on), and the fact that at 92,000 miles I have only 8,000 miles and/or barely a year before the already extended coverage of replacing the engine will be up! Also nagging at me is the fact that another friend who works as a mechanic at THAT very dealership as well as the Parts Supervisor there BOTH said they'd replaced 5 engines within the last two months and WOULD NOT have an RX-8 if given to them! I'm thinking of having them do a compression test and researching all the TCM's (rear tail-light housings leaking in water, etc.) for starters. Any other suggestions?

Don't get to nervous about it. Anyway, if you just follow the scheduled maintenance, and maybe some preventive maintenance...you will be fine. Read the stickies and remember the important factors of it. But, in your situation, i will avoid buying a car that was bought in an auction. Like you said...it has issues and you don't know what your getting into. If i were you, don't buy it, find another one will lesser issues and with lesser miles. Keep searching, you'll find the one.

Well, the first thing you should do is ask your friend at the Mazda dealership to run a full compression test on the engine, and if it passes by a lot, then go ahead with the purchase.

If its just barely above passing, or fails, ask them if they can get Mazda to replace the engine before you purchase. He's your friend, after all, isn't he?

BC.

+1!

Also, consider an aftermarket warranty. If it's a reasonable price, offers solid coverage, and fits in your budget (you can often negotiate it into the sale of the car), it can offer quite a bit of peace of mind.

But if you're looking for me to suggest that you not buy a 2005 Shinka, I'm the wrong guy for that. I absolutely love this car. :)

Oh, as for the auction aspect... It's certainly something to be concerned about, but not a deal-breaker, imho.

If a car doesn't sell in a certain amount of time, or the prospect of a decent profit isn't there... A dealership will get this car off their lot (to make room for something more attractive to them) and send it to auction. RX-8's are not strong sellers right now.

Or perhaps the previous owner defaulted on their loan, and the lien holder put it up for auction.

Both of these scenarios are very feasible. Perhaps a carfax would shed some more light.

The compression test should tell you what you need to know.

I don't get how you can say he will be fine as lonhas he does allservuice and maintenance, Even if you add priot service reds, you don't know how well the propr oener did things like let the oil run low. I guess a compression test can tell you a lot but nit everything.

PS: what compression test readings are dreat, good, bsd, or ugly (or can you point me to then)

I have no idea what you typed here, and since I'm barely awake, I have no interest in trying to decypher it.

Instead, I'm just going to point you to a thread where I put together all the new owner advice. Read at least the first 6 posts, as they answer your question, plus many questions that the original thread creator had.

https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/

In short: If the possible issues are enough to make you nervous about getting the car, then don't get it. If you do buy it, buy it with your eyes wide open and prepared to deal with issues. The reward is fantastic if you can live with the risk.

What?! :squint:

Ha Ha monchie i love your avatar. ROTLMFAO!!!!!!!

Compression Test +1. If well taken care of, the engine should still have strong numbers. My FD has 94k on original motor and still has 120psi, then I've seen some at 50k miles have 0psi because of poor maintenance and care. Everything else besides the motor is normal maintenance you do on any car. So take care of it and you should be fine.

Lol