About to buy an 04 RX8
 

Hello all, I just had a few questions. I am looking to buy a 2004 rx8 with 70k miles on it. Its in very good condition and I really like it but I wanted to make sure I would be making the right investment. I was wondering if there are any problems with the 04 model. What is the life expectancy on them? I drive about 15k a year and take very good care of my toys. Would it be a good investment? Any opinions and thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I am looking to finalize everything within the next few days here. Thanks in advance!

you never know the condition of a used rotary engine. I would see if you can get the compression checked on the engine to ensure it's in stable condition. The engine is the only real worry you have and if it wasn't treated right in the past, it will have issues. From what I've seen, once you hit the 50-70k mark, the engine is usually pretty solid, but who knows when you get to 100k and beyond. There's still not a lot of history as to how far the engine will go.

If you're getting a really good deal on it, I'd go for it. Just understand that you may need an engine around 100-120k. There's people with more experience than I, but I thought I'd chime in for you.

Do I have to take it to the dealership for the compression test? I only need it to last to 10k miles as I graduate with an engineering degree in a year and will hopefully get a brand new car. My dealership said they would give it a full inspection for $100 but I didn't ask anything about the comp test. Can I do that test at an outside mechanic?

yes, take it to a mazda dealer and they can do the test. I am not sure about outside places. Are you buying the used 8 from a mazda dealership?

No private local seller. I have never driven a rotary before so unfortunately I can't really tell I it's driving like it should.

You can test-drive a brand new RX8 at the dealership to get a baseline of how a new rotary drives. I believe a good '04 will drive just as well, if you exclude the slight difference in gear ratios. You could spring for a compression test, if that checks out ok, you're good to go.

Ya I just got ahold of the dealership and a compression test is $92 and that includes a multi point inspection (which wont tell me much other than the fact that the brake pads and rotors r new and the tires have xx% tread on them...). So I will be taking it in for that, are there any other things I need to get checked before finalizing anything?

compression is really the only thing. I would find out from the seller when the last time he changed the plugs, coils and wires were and maybe you'll want to replace those. Maybe do a seafoam of the engine also to clean out all the gunk.

This is on top of stuff a carfax report might tell you, like accident damage etc.

I say if compression checks out, change and do all the above and you'll have, almost, a brand new feel.

If the compression doesn't check out, you might be able to get a new engine from Mazda under the warranty but hope they don't give you shit about not having records.

EDIT: ask seller if he has maintenance records!!

Then go have fun and make it beep at you!!!

Ya he has new plugs n magnacor hot wires but hasn't changed the coils.

2 out of three aint bad, I would get new coils and you would be set.

Cool now I just gotta get the compression test done. He's been running mobile 1 with k&n oil filters. I know synthetic isn't advised unless it's really high quality and I think I read in 1 thread that mobile 1 was a good synthetic to run. Thoughts?

What numbers should I be looking for from the compression test?

It depends on what kind of "investment" you are refering to.

Financial: No. The resale value is not good for these cars. If you plan to sell it for 2X what you paid for it later in life; forget it

Investment in fun: Yes. This car delivers maximum bang for the buck in that department.

I got the car and i guess i meant best bang for my buck. I dont plan on reselling it hoping it lasts me 2 years... And I plan on taking very good care of it, already started.

I am going to tell you something that about 95% of the guys in here won't. BUY THE CAR CAUSE YOU WANT IT. Everyone in here seems to have this "warning" about this, and about that. Mainly cause you have all these "do-it-yourselfers" who make all these mods to their cars and have tons of issues. take care of the car and it will take car of you. besides the type of engine, its no different than EVERY other car out there. enjoy it, drive it and don't obsess yourself thinking you have all these tests, and checks and things that you have to do just to see if the car moves forwards and backwards.

lol thanks, well i ended up getting it because i did want it so lets hope now that nothing goes wrong with it!

For an '04. . .

You'll want to look at the starter... '04s and '05s had weak starters that can become problematic later. Post the part number (or even a picture) and we'll be able to tell you if its an old one or a good one. )

Inspect the accordian tube in the air intake. The '04s and '05s had the oil overflow hoses routed into the intake that caused oil to build up in there, which can cause problems with the valves in the lower intake manifold.

When under the hood, look at the radiator overflow bottle... the overflow hose should be pointed straight down. . . right on to the power steering wiring harness... Inspect that wiring harness to ensure it isn't damaged from the poorly designed overflow.

Are the tail logs fogged up with condensation?

The solder connections for the heater/climate controls were weak in '04. To test this, hold the stereo power button on the seek-up button to get into diagnostic mode... as you turn the temp knob (red and blue) it should record 0 being coldest and 16 being the hottest.

As for compression testers... you'll need to go to a mazda dealership. A rotary engine requires a special compression tester that logs each rotor face.

Additional questions for the owner. Did he ever have the cat converter replaced? Thats a common problem and will cost $250 plus to purchase a used one. There really isn't any way to test it though.
What type of oil did they use for most of the cars life? Did they ever use a rotary premix?
What types of fluids are in the transmission and diff?

That's all I can think of right now. . . . . :eyetwitch

Look at this guy.... Reading his ONE post it would amost discourage you from wanting to get the car. If you were buying a Ford Escort, which so happens to have RX-8 parts in it, NOONE would be writing you this long book of things to check and double check and be scared of. Again, Like i said, treat it like any other car you have and you should be fine. My best advice is to STAY AWAY from to many engine mods. Then you will like tons of guys on here, making your owns mods and having problem after problem. Enjoy man!!! I love mine, just the way it is. :)

My post is based on facts that I can back up with people in this community that have experienced these problems. I've also experienced a fair amount of issues with my '04 with a 7/03 build date.

If there is anything that is untrue in my post, please let me know.

Vyn... listen man. I have seen your pics AND you're part out. You made more mods to that car that God would have. You will deny it, but i'm willing to bet the majority of your issues came around the same time of mods. THATS a fact about ALL cars. Its a reason they are not built WITH the mods that are put out. Im not saying all mods are bad, but the majority of engine/transmission/performance mods will cause issues sooner or later. i bet if you would have left the car alone, prolly alot less in repairs you would have had to deal with.

What mods in particular?

im not here to argure with ya Vyn. just saying man. it goes both ways. every car has issues. all these guys on here that are doing all these mods themselves are scaring people EVERY single time someone posts about gettin an 8. its getting redundent and annoying.

The issues I listed were all problems from the factory and have nothing to do with performance mods at all.

I wish someone would have told me to check for an upgraded started on my '04 when it was still a free TSB from a Mazda dealer instead of costing 200+ dollars now. Or why my heater wasn't working before I bought the car.

The list I put together is of things I wish I would have known before buying my '04 first model year car...

Now, you're saying that my list is going to scare people off and is misrepresenting the RX8 as a whole because I have mods...
The fact of the matter of is that the list of things to check have nothing to do with mods at all. They're all known and documented failure points from the factory.

I would have put together a very similar list for any car I have knowledge about if someone was looking at purchasing one.

I'm glad your 8 is running well and its perfect for you just the way it is.

Vyn thanks for the list, treaven its cool man calm down he didnt scare me off I still love the car! Vyn the starter is pretty new. Dealership did a compression test and said the engine passed it. I know the car needs new coils pretty bad which I am going to get this weekend by the dealership. The rear passenger tail light is all fogged up and it is annoying me but im not sure what to do and havent had time to look up possible solutions. The heat blows plenty hot, even right now in ohio with temps below freezing I cant have it on for too long or it gets uncomfortable at the highest temp. I will do the diagnostic thing though that sounds interesting I didnt know u could do that. As for the cat, well its still stock so i guess I should plan on saving money for that. Im going to look into it and see if the dealership will install a high performance high flow cat for me instead at a reasonable price without voiding the warranty but I might end up just going with the factory cat I havent decided yet. I did end up buying the car and so far I love it (even with the snow we just got today). Man the condensation in the tail light is bugging me even more now that I know it is a common issue! As for the stuff under the hood, well the dealership took a quick look under there with their brief multi point inspection when they did the compression test and didnt say anything about any issues but I will have them check those specific things out this weekend thanks for the info it has been super helpful!

The important thing is that you're comfortable with it. This forum offers very easy solutions to all the of the problems I mentioned above.

The biggest concern you've already covered, and that's the compression test. The rest are nickel and dime fixes.

Where in Ohio? We have a very a very active 8 club in the Cleveland/Akron area.