quebow03

I'm getting out of my 99 Accord (150K) and was looking at a super clean 2004 RX8. Is buying a 2004 trouble? I have read about poor gas mileage and Consumer Reports didn't offer much reassurance with their reviews (low ratings) especially the 2004 engine/transmission.

I need a reliable, daily driver and I commute about 50 miles/day. Am I asking for trouble with an 8? I really want one but don't want a major regret. Please let me know what your opinions are.

Also, do springs and an intake void the warranty? The one I'm looking at has extended warranty til 07/09 but don't want to be fooled if those items void it anyway.

THANKS!!! This is an AWESOME forum!

DW

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

welcome!

Is the 8 perfect? No, you'll never find that in a car.
Is it an amazing vehicle perfectly capable of daily driving... absolutely!

As long as you're not afraid of poor mpg and a little more preventative maintenance then your accord, this could be a great car for you. (you need to check your oil frequently as the engine is designed to consume oil and spark plugs need to be checked every 25k or so)

There might be some bad Consumer reports out there but overall, this car has scored very well amongst the major car magazines. Car And Driver favorite for 3 years in a row, motortend, edmunds, etc.

Spend some time using the search function here and I think you'll find all the answers you seek. Good luck, hope to hear about you in a rotary soon.

quebow03

Why do you think the bad reviews with Consumer Reports? I don't mind a little PM here and there. How "bad" is the mileage? Or should I say, what it the best I could expect to get on the highway?

delhi

This car is not for you. get another Accord. The new V6 is quite good.

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

The early cars had 3 or 4 'recalls' to adjust little stuff - two reflashes for the computer, some insulation here and there, check ball joints etc.....that stuff is deadly for the CU reliability record, but harmless.

The 8' gets poor gas mileage, I get about 19, doing mostly highway.

Probably want to stay with the 'appliance' type cars.


S

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

I used the word 'bad' only in relation to what you most likely get now in your Accord.
I've logged the last 30,000+ miles on my car and I average over 17mpg. (highway + street)

jdoo

The V6 Accord is probably just as fast in a straight line as the RX8 as well.

My average mileage has got to be around 14MPG, although I have only had my (new 2007) car for about 800 miles.

An Accord would get much better mileage and will probably have better resale value than the 8. I had a 1995 Accord and to be honest I thought that it was a pretty well sorted car. It was decently fun to drive and got great mileage.

ALL THAT SAID however, I wouldn't trade my RX8 for anything short of a Porsche Cayman S. My RX8 is the most fun car I have driven (even more than my brother's E90 M3). Mine is a weekend toy but usually by the time Thursday rolls around I am spending more than a few minutes at work daydreaming about driving the thing

I would love to have this car as a daily driver.

FloppinNachos

The new V6 Accord (as quoted from the Closet Gas Hog article on the RX-8) actually runs the quarter mile quicker than the RX-8...

If you like to go fast with good fuel mileage, get a new V6 Accord, but if you like to drive and still go pretty fast get an RX-8. Horsepower is something that can be improved upon (go FI) fairly easily, but the design of the RX-8 and effects of the rotary engine's small size and light weight in relation to the car's handling characteristics are things that no other car really has and is definitely one of the main reasons the RX-8 is loved so much by true drivers.

DOMINION

Get The 8!!!

TopGear8

iTrader: (3)

Seriously why would you ask that on the RX-8 Forums? We are all here because we love our cars, and we wan't to learn more about them. If we thought they were trouble we would sell it and buy another car...This is an amazing car. But if you are scared, then you shouldn't get it.

m3pkrobert

iTrader: (1)

i wake up everymorning just to see my baby 8 parking in front of my house, u gona love it

quebow03

Ok.... "Scared" makes me sound like a pansy. I'm not really scared... just hesitant. It this can be a good daily driver and obviously fun, I think I'm in for it. I know this is an rx8 forum and wouldn't expect you to dog the car, but just give me an idea, as objectively as possible, of the ups/downs and if the earlier years have more trouble than the later models.

Do the modifications void warranty? How much can you do without blowing the warranty?

sharkdiver99

Like the Nike ads say, just do it. The pros far outweigh the cons. This car is a dream to drive. As for the mods you would really need to check with mazda service to find out what would void the warranty. That would be the only opinion I would rely upon. After all if something goes wrong those are the guys determining your fate.

quebow03

Just bought an 8 last night. I chose to not go with the first one that I had looked at. The driver had been young and rear tires were not surprisingly almost bald. I found a very clean and maintained '04 w/ 40K on it. 6 speed, red, GT. Just a dream to drive. Mileage is in the toilet right now but my face is sore from smiling... seems to be a justifiable trade-off right?

Thanks for the advice!

Winfree

Now into 2nd year with the blue 8.

find out why they sold yours - people do not like to let this one go so it may have a kink or two

We get about 18-25 MPG, but we keep her tuned and clean - she uses gas if we run her up-hill a lot, or if we pass other cars a lot - but once she is set at a steady speed she is sweet, especially for distance runs.

Only problems - first battery was a little small, put in one with more amps and she loved it!

Fire Wall is made out of mouse candy - if you live in a rural or rodent prone area - spray engine fabrics with mint flavoring - you will not notice it inside the car but the mice stay away!

So far, ours has been very dependable, we have worn one set of tires off of her!

I have driven stick for over 40 years - but I was so worried about driving an RX-8 stick that I went for an automatic. I did not like the shift on a used 8 that I tried - which was like that of an old Ford truck -

I found the automatic is designed to slip into a shift mode or even take shifts from wheel paddles - lovely!

My only regret is that I don't have a second one to keep in wraps and keep as a show car...

Hokesmoke

I was wondering this as well and I havent seen anything in the forums about it yet. I am about to buy my first RX8 and I am just wondering if there were any major changes from the 2004 to say the 2006 model. There are definitly way more 04's on the market but that could be due to many things.

VikingDJ

I'm just gonna be as honest as possible here regardless of the partial people who backlash at me. Unless you're prepared that it will not be a Honda Accord in relibility, this isn't a good choice. I realize it's a fantastic car and all, but if you go from a 99 Accord, and jump into a 2004 RX8, the maintanence and mechanical problems you will face will likely be night and day. Without a warranty, it could get very very expensive. If you get a good warranty for it, then I suppose you can do this, because it's a fantastic car, and it's so much fun to drive, and is a truly beautiful machine.

It is a Sports car, and a rotary engine. It's highly unlikely an RX8 can be as reliable as a Honda Accord. The odds are so slim. If you can accept that, and be prepared to have to shell out more money to maintain, and have to pamper and baby the car far more then your Honda, then, I suppose you can purchase one. Just be prepared for the risks. It's not a fluke that Hondas last a very long time, and many people go many miles without problems. Tough to imagine anyone going from one of the most reliable cars ever made, to an RX8, but if you wanna live a little, and are willing to accept the higher maintanence, and more cost to own, I'd say, GO FOR IT!! Good luck!!

4me2

be afraid, be very afraid......................

Razz1

Don't get the 2004 auto.

If you do buy one all you need to do is check oil every 1000 miles.

Buy the AP to tune your car properly.

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

what he asked was perfectly reasonable... if you read the quote you used, it specifically said "2004". There are plenty of people on here whose opinion is that the 2004 are not worth it and will be problematic. While I disagree with that (having a 2004 with no major issues to date), it is a legitimate opinion with evidence in its favor in some cases.

That being said, congrats on the car! You wont regret it. I've had mine for a little over 2 years now and still love driving it.

tajabaho1

well, to be honest, as much as I love my rx8,

it drinks alot of gas, and you commute 50 miles a day, so its gonna be a pain for you to pay for the gas

it is a fun car to drive, yes, but it also requires maintainance (and again, gas)

as for reliability, it isn't as bad as most people make it out to be, there is usually not alot of problems at all


on the other hand, I really suggest you to get a nice compact commuter, not an
rx8 because 1. you will be commuting alot, and the money you will spend on maintaining and paying for gas on the 8 can be put elsewhere. 2. lets face it, i don't think you will be tracking the car much or anything, try out the new accord v6 or something similar, it might not feel as great as an rx8, but oh well, at least its a reliable and cheap daily driver. if you are going to get an rx8, then be prepared to live with the consequences, just like the rest of us ^_^

architect

It's too much fun for boring trips.

xsnipersgox

if you love it enough , the extra care for it will come normally, i commute about 40 miles a day and fill up about once a week if i am just doing daily driving.

it will however, not be an accord. a honda accord u can just drive it, pump it up, drive it and forget it, rx8 is not like tat. Treat every gas stop as a Pit stop, check oil, (have 1 quart of oil in ur trunk in a bag), premix maybe?(i do) drive it light (redline once a day, 2nd gear if possible, that highway on ramp is a nice place to do it at =D), and if you wanna save a lil, go for the midgrade gas. (drive it light the 1st 1/2 a tank, for me it felt like the engine was weird for the 1st couple drives, but then it smooths out)

finally, hide that grin on ur face when you spot ppl and girls turning their head over to look at ur car XD (its pricesless when some hot chick turns to look at ur car holding her boyfriend's hand walking towards a run down pick up truck!! XD)

Riken

So since you said you went at got it already, lets see some pics.

usmc320

Just so you know according to his post he already bought one on 3/7. You guys are a little late. Better late then never though (although I don't think that applies in case) J/K